mermaidIamNOT

1) Does the buffet have a designated "kids" section for food.

2) I've read they have Free ice cream - Is this in the buffet or by the pool?

3) If we purchase a drink package before we board, do they add Florida Sales tax on top of the price+18%?

4) Are the shampoo/conditioner provided in little bottles like hotels or a bigger container hanging on the wall in the shower? We have an inside cabin on deck 8.

5) Do they make a lot of announcements on port days for excursion meeting locations?

6) What size bottles of water do they provide as people leave the ship for ports? - Classic non alcoholic package supposedly includes water.

7) Do they give Galley tours? If so cost?

8) Is OBC purchased through Celebrity website refundable or use it or lose it?

9) Anything special done for sail away by the pool/top decks?

10) Roughly when do the activities end at night? Been on some ships it's been dead by 11pm, while others have been jumping past 1am.

11) Ship leaves at 3:30. If we are at the check in desk at 1:35 what time might we be on the ship if everything goes smoothly?

Don't really care about getting points towards loyalty programs as we only sail with them one week a year and that is only if the large group we sail with picks MSC.

We don't do the spa, don't do the specialty restaurants, don't drink much if any alcohol, don't book our excursions through the ship and we get cheap inside cabins since we aren't in the cabin for very long anyway.

I just like having a final sign/sail card bill of as little as possible.

Been on MSC many times and always end up getting the Doremi 10 drink paper coupon soda/milkshake package once onboard. Can we pre pay for the voucher package instead of having it added to our sign an sail card bill if we have already sent in the final payment for the cruise. Sailing on Divina in a few weeks.

Praying for no blizzard that week as we're flying down the day of from NYC due to work can't go earlier.

Haven't been on Divina yet but have been on MSC Orchestra and Poesia multiple times an never had a bad cruise. Some in our family are picky eaters and none have had problems finding something to eat. The service can be hit or miss depending on if the staff is new an still getting used to the ship themselves as well as sometimes language issues. Nothing that can't be worked around if you are willing to try.

Personally I find many of the negative reviews are from those that wanted more Americanized food an service. If you want "Olive Garden" or " 5 star$100+ a plate" type Italian food you probably won't like the food. If you want the bar staff to be asking every five minutes if you want a drink you probably won't like the service. Dinner in the MDR WILL take a while but really what is the rush?

If your family has been on MSC before go with their reviews rather than some internet stranger as you know your families taste an what things they like or don't compared to your likes an dislikes.

Haven't been on Divina yet but have been on MSC Orchestra and Poesia multiple times an never had a bad cruise. Some in our family are picky eaters and none have had problems finding something to eat. The service can be hit or miss depending on if the staff is new an still getting used to the ship themselves as well as sometimes language issues. Nothing that can't be worked around if you are willing to try.

Personally I find many of the negative reviews are from those that wanted more Americanized food an service. If you want "Olive Garden" or " 5 star$100+ a plate" type Italian food you probably won't like the food. If you want the bar staff to be asking every five minutes if you want a drink you probably won't like the service. Dinner in the MDR WILL take a while but really what is the rush?

If your family has been on MSC before go with their reviews rather than some internet stranger as you know your families taste an what things they like or don't compared to your likes an dislikes.

Are you hoping that they come and look for you or would you rather they just leave you OP? :)[/quote

 

Personally my group an I would be easy to find as we will probably be back on the ship by noon-1ish even though the ship doesn't leave until 5pm.

 

Just love watching the reactions/hearing comments of people onboard to the pier runners and those lazy slow walkers as the ship is supposed to leave, people waiting onboard are yelling at them to hurry up. (watched a youtube video some lady actually was asking if the ship would stop and back up for two people who were running down the Nassau pier the husband kept running the wife gave up half way)

 

I was just wondering as a last tender with only 2-3 people on it might get similar comments/reactions.

Not really...they WILL NOT leave you there! When the see stragglers, they move you right along!!

Wouldn't expect anyone to actually get left on the islands but I can see leaving late due to searching for someone who didn't stay on the maintained beaches out of view of the staff.

Just wondering if there has ever been a pier runner/ waiting for someone who lost track of time at any of the private islands? See it a lot at the big ports but I'm curious if anyone has ever experienced having to wait awhile until a missing person is found on any of the private islands.

We're going to Great Stirrup Cay next month (our first private island experience) Looking at a map of the island it seems it might be easy for someone to wander off into the thicker vegetation areas towards the East and western ends looking for a private spot away from the bigger beach areas.

We used Jiffy Jeff to go from Miami Port To FLL last year. We reached out to him for an upcoming trip in Feb 2016 from the Fort Lauderdale Port to FLL and he said "I could but a cab would be your best best".

Considering $100 minimum fare for up to 10people as per his website VS $20-30 for a taxi unless you are a big group that can't fit in a single taxi he's saving you money by saying no.

After seeing so many rave reviews of shared shuttle services, I was wondering if anyone had any shared shuttle horror stories? Paid an they never showed at the airport/ ship, luggage taken by someone else at another stop, vehicle broke down mid trip, Anything???

Was so expecting far worse issues given the title of the thread.

Is the walk from the city gate by the water up to El Morro as steep a walk as from the pier straight up through the city to the fort?

While there a few years ago we wanted to walk down to the Cemetery next to the fort. We got the directions from a police man by the port who was directing traffic. After giving us the directions he added "I suggest you take a taxi instead, once you go down there you are on your own we don't go down there". We walked to the fort an looked down into the area and within 5 min heard three gun shots turned around an walked back to the ship. This was at around 2pm I could only imagine how safe it is as it gets dark. La Perla I think they call the area.

Can a non member of the YC get into the private areas on embarkation day just to snap a picture or two/ see what it is really like. If it looks worth the extra $$ might upgrade on our next cruise but rather see for ourselves rather than rely on reviews from strangers.