Mikesa1721

Thanks for everything, Mike. You brought back great memories of the YC...and as we will be on the awesome Divina YC again in just one week, I have loved reading your tips on things I missed the first time around! I will be sure to ask for the cooler bags for GSC. Such a great idea! Our butler the first time around was Aron. I know he is on leave now so I'm excited to see who took his place. He was the most wonderful butler...anticipated our needs after only one day! Counting the hours!!!

Have a great cruise kathiean!!!! We love the Yacht Club and especially our butler Johnny!!! It's the little things that they do that make your trip memorable,,,we just hope to see Johnny back onboard in January after he returns from his 3 months off in December. Please say Hi to "Dayman" and "Sri" at The One Bar from the Zing Zang guy,,,they'll know exactly who you're talking about!!! They both are wonderful and just took fantastic care of us all week long!!!

I booked an October 5th Eastern Med cruise on Fantasia through an American TA. When I went to the MSC USA web page to book the Allegrissimo Adult package I found this description:

 

"ALLEGRISSIMO ADULT

Unlimited consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks including wine by the glass (white, red, rosé and sparkling chosen from the “Allegrissimo Selection”), draft beer, soft drinks, mineral water, hot drinks and a wide selection of drinks and cocktails from the bar list, as well as take away ice-cream in a cone or cup".

 

However, when I went to book it through Special Services, hot drinks aren´t included!:

 

ALLEGRISSIMO ADULT - UNLIMITED 24 HOURS

Unlimited wine by the glass (choice of 2 whites, 1 rosè, 2 reds, 2 sparkling wines - 1 dry and 1 sweet), draught beer, soft drinks, mineral water and a wide selection of drinks and cocktails from the bar, as well as take-away ice-cream in a cone or cup.

 

I contacted MSC through Facebook and they promised to look into it! Any suggestions from you kind folks here?

 

Madeleine

Madeleine,,,just when I thought the website couldn't get any worse!!!! I tried to access one of my bookings to check on this info for you,,,well,,not only can't I access my reservations in the MY MSC Area,,I can't access any of my reservations to even reserve a drink package, excursion,,,,nothing!!!!! The website just laughs at me and gives me the "INTERNAL SERVER ERROR" message!!!!:mad::mad::mad:

Just heard from someone that the Divina dont have an ATM machine anywhere on the ship, yet the slot machines take only cash. Well that sure makes alot of sense, Maybe this explains why Gambee mentioned it was the most empty casino he's seen on a cruise in his review. Is there another way to get cash while you're on the ship? or do you have to bring tons of cash which I tend to not feel comfortable with.

Divina does not have an ATM on the ship. The best way to get cash and to avoid the 10% fee is to sit at one of the tables in the casino and use your room key to buy chips. Play a hand or two and then take your chips to the cashier. You'll avoid the fee and still be able to get cash,,it is a bit of a quirky way to do this,,but MSC does not bank here in the U.S.,,all financial transactions go through their main offices and banks in Europe. BTW,,when we were onboard,,,the casino was packed. I waited for almost two hours before a seat opened up at either the poker or blackjack table.

Thanks for all your great info on YC Mike, I have a small silly question for you.

In the bathroom, if there a swivel shaving mirror, does it have a magnified side ? Age is taking its toll on my eyes so need that close up mirror to assist with the make up ha ha ha :)

 

Thanks Anne

Yes it is a magnifying mirror Anne,,,Kim used it for the exact same reasons!!:D

Here is an illustration.

 

https://twitter.com/mscfancommunity/status/510158199031619584/photo/1

I like the illustrations!!! Thank You for the link Karar!!! Looks like I've found another source for everything MSC!!! http://www.mscfans.net Great pics of the work in progress as well!! http://www.mscfans.net/2014/09/programma-rinascimento-work-in-progress.html

Upon popular demand … a little break from all the sporty stuff…

Let’s talk coffee!

 

The only other cruiseline we tried before was RCI. They have their own coffee brand which is called “Seattle’s best”. If I were Seattle, I’d be a bit insulted by that. It’s drinkable (although some of our fellow cruisers at the time would disagree with me here), but certainly not an experience to remember. I loved the “American” taste to it out of nostalgic reasons however.

Now – with MSC being an Italian cruiseline, I had very high expectations in regard to their coffee. Since we had the Allegrissimo package, we could order a huge variety of coffees…the classical selections…nothing fancy like you would get at Starbucks like weird flavours added to it, soymilk stuff and so forth…just plain old (wonderful) coffees in many combinations mixed with foamed milk like in cappuccinos etc. You’ll get to see their coffee selections later on, when I show you some bar menus.

But for now just let me tell you this:

it surely was the most wonderful coffee I ever tasted!

I’d get the Allegrissimo again and again JUST for the coffee again. We especially fell in love with the cappuccinos. I can’t even try to remember how many of those babies we enjoyed.

Beware though… if you intend to order a regular coffee you should order a café

Americano

--- because if you just order café …. You will end up with an espresso:D. It was very funny to see the confusion on some faces…but some of the bartenders got a hang of it and asked the English looking passengers when they ordered coffee, which kind they would like….lol—most of them looked confused then as well, probably asking themselves, why the guy would always ask them if they would like an Espresso when they had ordered coffee:o. But now you know and you can order your coffee properly.

Their espressos and regular coffees were absolutely excellent as well. Well – with one major downside. The coffees you had to

pay

for were all divine --- but they also had

free

coffee for the masses in the restaurants…both in the buffet and the regular ones… I tried it once, just to be able to tell you guys the difference. I didn’t even finish my one cup. I thought if I’d have a choice between Seattle’s best and this brew…I’d definitely go for Seattle. Tanja thought it wasn’t so bad, she even situated it a tiny bit above the RCI standard….but in any way it is not comparable to the “pay” coffees. If you don’t have the Allegrissimo, but you love coffee --- do yourself a favor and get the coffee coupons… I don’t think they’re that expensive and their coffees are soooo worth it. Oh – and I forgot to add, that the regular coffee dispensers were always overcrowded and usually at least one was broken and closed off for repair.

But of course tastes differ and you might just LOVE the free coffee…so please don’t let me stop you from trying it….just because I don’t like it doesn’t really mean it’s bad coffee – it just means I didn’t like it.

….so there – and now back to the sporty stuff.

Stay tuned!

Stef

Did you happen to notice the brand of coffee they were using Kreuz?? We love the coffee onboard The Divina and found out they use the "Segafredo" brand. I'm wondering if MSC may use the same brand on The Magnifica??

Sorry to jump off topic here for a minute!!! AmoMondo and Skier52,,,a little birdie told me that you may have some hotel recommendations in Genoa. I would love to hear your opinions as well as your experiences. Could you please post your replies into this thread:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2096940

You're advice as opinions are highly regarded and appreciated!!!! Thanks so Much!!!:D

thanks, Mike the TA :) Anything is good. Off to Miami @ 9. I will be in touch after the voyage. Just love this line.

Have a GREAT CRUISE Joy!!!!! We want to hear all about it when you get back!!!:D:D

Yes, I have cruised 3 times bef. I was upgraded, just a sm. one. I am not complaining, but they have balconies open, and if I am a prev. cruiser, I don't get it.

Joy,,,I would try to do what Riclop suggested and go to guest services and see if they may be able to upgrade your room. On our sailing in August,,I know of 3 YC1 staterooms that were empty, there may have even been more. I would have figured MSC would have given someone a nice discount just to fill them,,but they just went unoccupied.

Ok ; because on the e ticket it says 16.00 !??

Like Riclop has stated,,,arrive to the port between 11:00 and 12:00 and barring any delays,,you should be onboard before 1:00pm.

We loved Barrachina's!! http://www.barrachina.com/indexb.php

Home of the Pina Colada. They also have the Flamenco Dancer show Friday and Saturday evenings between 8-9pm. The mofongo is sensational!!!

After taking the MSC Spendida a few years ago in the Mediterranean out of Genoa, we swore that we would never set foot on an MSC ship again. The food was awful, the shows short and poor, unfriendly crew, and the prices high. Attracted by the bargain prices for a 7-night cruise and the promise that the Divina was modified to cater to American tastes and expectations, we decided to give MSC a try again. We embarked on the Divina on August 30th in Miami and just returned last week. Well --- the Divina is unlike any other MSC ship. There is a full production show every night, the food is of good quality and tailored to American tastes, the pricing is in US Dollars and reasonable, and the crews are friendly with smiles. My wife says it was her best cruise ever and the production shows far exceed any of the other shows we have seen on our previous 16 cruises. We enjoyed dining in the Galaxy Specialty Restaurant which she raves about. I am now an MSC Divina fan and have booked another trip on the Divina for late 2015 in the Caribbean and Central America. I'll never take MSC in Europe due to the poor food quality that seems to cater to foreign tastes, but highly recommend the Divina in the Caribbean. Give it a try and the discounted prices are great for the balance of the winter 2014/15 season.

OneNewTexan,,I see you're sailing on the November 11th, 2015 10 day sailing from Miami. We were originally booked for this sailing as well, but couldn't pass up the chance to sail on the Repo cruise from Genoa to Miami. Divina will be refreshed before she returns back to Miami, so it will be interesting to see what,,if any changes have been made to her.

Sailing tomorrow on the Divina. There are balconies still available. Is there any chance for an upgrade (or perhaps an upsell) when I get there and how do I go about it?

Mike - I am picking you brain. I won't hold you to anything! :)

Joybaby

Our cousins were offered an opportunity, before we sailed, to upgrade to the Yacht Club for $900.00, but I haven't heard of anyone ever doing this once they've arrived at The POM, though.

The check-in agents don't work for MSC so I'm not sure if they would have the ability to offer an upgrade, but it sure wouldn't hurt to at least inquire about it.:D

just a query as first time with msc. have done my web check in but now cabin number has been changed do I have to do it again or will they accept pen alteration also a trip we have booked is under the old cabin.

Smokin,,,I would go back to the web check-in area and be sure your current stateroom assignment is correct. I would then re-enter the information and re-print the form. It's better to be safe than sorry, especially if you get to the terminal and the check-in agent has a problem.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/11089033/The-curious-art-of-stretching-a-cruise-ship.html

I'd love it if Fincantieri would just install a couple of web cams on either side of Armonia. :D

Hey mike! I will be sailing the Divina in Nov also in the yacht club... I have room 16032 any info u could pass along for me about the room, butler, yacht club etc.

Coimead86,,,great choice!!! That's one of those square staterooms!! Lots of room plus a larger balcony than a normal YC1 stateroom. I'm not sure who your butler will be though,,,they seem to come and go month after month.

Here's a little secret that I believe I passed along in this thread a while back. If you're planning to go to Great Stirrup Cay,,,go to the concierge(Thomas),,and ask him for a few cooler bags. Next,,,raid your mini-bar of everything,,,beer, soda,,juices,,and then go and see the One Bar bartender(hopefully Dayman) around 8:30 when he opens up. Ask him for some more beers,,sodas,,juices,,etc. Then grab some ice from the cooler on top of the carts that the room stewards use,,or ask the butler to fill your cooler bags with ice. This will save you a bunch of money once you get to GSC.

Hopefully Dayman will still be bar tending up at the One Bar,,,ask him to make you a few of his special cocktails. Some were very good,,,the Jamaican Paradise,,not so much.

Other than that,,just sit back, and relax, because you will be spoiled rotten in The Yacht Club!! Have a Great Cruise!!! Remember to come back and let us know all about your YC experience!!!:D:D

Mikesa1721, thank you so much for the quick answer! :)

Anytime Molole!!!:)

I've never been on MSC but after reading this thread I think I'll book a cruise on the Divina for my wife's Birthday. Thanks to all who have contributed. Bob

Great birthday gift CTBob!!! Our first sailing aboard Divina was a Mother's Day gift for my girlfriend,,,now we are hooked!!!

A website question:

 

Trying to book a cruise. On MSC website there are always only 4 cabins available no matter which category I look at, and this cruise is 18 months out so I doubt it's very full. So do I have to call them? There is no way like on RCI website where you can specify a cabin to check its availability? Anyone knows?

 

Thanks!

Molole,,,I've always called and booked directly with a personal vacation consultant at MSC. They have access to all the staterooms that are available, and if you have a specific one in mind,, they can add you to a waiting list if it is not available.

I would think many Americans would do this sailing. The Europeans love the hot weather and it will not be hot in Bermuda. It is a wonderful island. I can't wait to do this sailing and be in port 2 nights.

Us to Joy!!!! We were going to do a b2b, but now I think we will only be doing the Bermuda leg of the trip. We booked the TA from Genoa to Miami in October 2015 and really wanted to start saving for that trip.

MSC responded very quickly through FB asking for a email address to send docs to. So, we are expecting them soon.

Excellent!!!!:D:D

I used my outside TA for this trip. He is excellent but he had trouble communicating w/ them also. I booked w/ David for the Bermuda trip.

I wonder if that cruise is filling up?

Not sure Joy. The roll call is awfully quiet, wondering if we may say a large contingency of European pax onboard?? It is still early though,,I'm sure things will pick-up once the holidays have passed.:)

Thanks to our TA Mike from Naples :) the edocs came. I went to FB as you suggested and they were sent promptly.

Thank you.

Ahhhhh!!!! RELIEF!!!! Wondering why the delay in receiving e-docs has been so prevalent lately?? Time to put David under the spot light Friday!!!

Just sent a message through Facebook. Thanks for the help.

You're Welcome!!! Good Luck!!! Enjoy your cruise!!!:)

I did the web check-in some time ago, have a cabin number and printed a paper that says "form to show onboard". Is that actually actually the eticket? I called MSC to ask about luggage tags and boarding passes and they referred me to the TA. I called the TA and He said I should go back to MSC. I've never had this problem before with any other cruises. This is for the Sept 20, 2014 cruise on Divina. What confusion and buck passing...

EdnLisa,,,you should receive a boarding pass which has a "BAR CODE" on it. This is your boarding pass. The Web check-in that you printed, you give to the attendant who is checking you in. They match your web check-in form with your actual citizenship documents. Your boarding pass and luggage tags should be provided to you in a separate e-mail either from MSC or your travel agent. If you're having trouble receiving these documents, go to MSC's Facebook page and send them a private message,,they are excellent at answering your requests promptly. https://www.facebook.com/MSC.Cruises.USA