kevsue

Hi, we were supposed to be on that cruise but had to cancel when I was diagnosed with a tumor. I hope you had a lovely time! We were going to be in San juan for my 50th and instead I was in hospital having an open bone biopsy! Another time for us!

Hi all, sadly this is a farewell from me. After booking our cruise for my 50th over a year ago, I have just been diagnosed with a tumour which means I can't travel. I need an operation to stop my leg breaking and more scans to look for the primary source of my problem.

Whilst I remain positive can I ask you all to take a moment and reflect on how much of a disaster is it really if your steward doesn't provide ice or speak good English. How bad is it if the lobster isn't quite warm enough or the service is a bit slow

Please enjoy your cruise and dont hunt for imperfections. Life, as I have discovered is imperfect

CARPE DIEM my friends

Hi Kevsue,,, It's my husband with the sugar problem...he has been able to control it with diet and exercise so far.... Hoping we can stay way from insulin for awhile....good luck to you..and listen to that nurse....she knows best....

Hopefully he will continue to manage it that way, and he will be really healthy too. I have type 1 so always been insulin for me, but you are right, the nurse does know best. So difficult when you are on holiday though :( !!

Unfortunately, the only way some of us can enjoy desert is without sugar...therefore, we are grateful for sugar substitutes.

I am one of those roepost, sometimes I would just rather go without (or I'm naughty and just inject a few more units of insulin....just don't tell my diabetes nurse!!) A few "diabetic" chocolates and I suffer terrible tummy cramps...... :(

Thank you for posting, I look at the boards and hadn't seen it either so if it's dupliaction,thank you anyway!!!

Mmmmm. Aspertaaaaaame. My favorite.

 

:eek:

Isn't it banned in USA? We still have it in the UK, anyway it's the sorbital that gets me every time.....hmmm. stomach cramps!!!

We are on this cruise and there is nothing much happening on the roll call. Sadly we have already booked an excursion for cozumel (private taxi tour) otherwise we would have joined you!

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1964582

The menus are on this thread! (I worked put how to post!!!)

I am certain that I have seen sugar free on the desert menu, on a recent post (I am not clever enough to be able to put a link to it!) But it definitely said sugar free gelato. Maybe msc usa can confirm? I was looking at divinas menus so I'm not sure on other sailings (insulin dependent diabetic so it would be nice to know!)

We found the vouchers to better suit our needes since we travel with our two small kids, so can't spend too much time at the bars plus the kids would also have to get the package, which makes it completely uneconomical.

As my husband does not drink and we are not great eaters of ice cream, I cannot justify the cost and have pre-order packages like you. These seem reasonably priced and by my calculation they will work out much cheaper for us non drinkers on divina!(Well I have bought a cocktail package for myself.....!!)I will compare costs and cover in my review when I get back as this may help non or light drinkers decide what to book

We are on Divina in March and I am packing maxi dresses and cocktail dresses - it has been a fantastic excuse to go shopping (let's hope it all fits in the suitcase!!!)

Well strangely enough on my first TA to the US from Europe! they served tea and coffee at the table at dinner and always left an open jug with milk along with sat heats of sugar and sweetener. First night we were in a US Caribbean port our milk jug had gone and was replaced by those stupid little UHT tubs that you get on planes. Of course we all moaned and asked the waiter where our real milk had gone and were told the changeover was to comply with US Health regulations. He said an open jug of milk just sitting on the table like that was not considered safe for us anymore!

 

You're correct about there being 2 of each type of outlet, it's the same the fleet wide.

As I was brought up on unpasteurised milk straight from the cow I guess I would not comply with US health regulations!!! Will prepare my tastebuds for uht!!

I asked re power outlets in a previous thread and MSC USA replied there there are 2 outlets for each, 2 x European 220v and 2 x American 110v. Personally I very pleased there is European voltage too as my hair straighteners wouldn't work on 110v (coming from the UK we need adaptors for both!!)I would be interested in the response to the milk question -if anyone knows? I assumed it would be Uht, which is the normal thing in many European country's (though not in the UK)I can't believe it would be fresh pasteurised on a cruise?I'm not sure if this is what you mean by 'real milk'??

We have only been there with NCL not MSC but when we were there with NCL the had a veggie burger:) I had to ask for it and had to wait a few minutes to cook it.

 

We just went to RCCL private Island Labadee and they had no vegetarian offering just sides like coleslaw and fruit. They did have red bean and rice(which I usually like) but these were mushy and cold:eek: I ended up making a sandwich with bread cheese lettus and tomatoes so maybe that will be an option for you.

 

I will be on the Divina in April after you and would love to hear from you when you get back about what was offered on the island:)

I will let you know! From the on board menus it looks like vegetarians are well catered for. We are used to the struggle - we often holiday in France where vegetarians don't exist outside of tourist areas!!!it's hubby who is veggie - I will eat anything!

Thanks all for your comments, I will now be well prepared (although hope I remember to take the hp sachets out of my shoes before I put them on) This thread has been very useful for us tea loving Brits! I had thought the posts on this message board would be like tripadviser but it all seems to get a bit personal on here!!Thanks all only 51 days to go, fingers crossed my knee injury is healed by then or I will ensure I cover MSCs disability friendliness in my review :)

As I am sitting here thinking about our cruise I tried to come up with some complaints and I did think of 2 things that I would ask MSC to do better... the first would be cleaning....more specifically the timing of the cleaning of the bathrooms...the mens and ladies rooms outside the dining are were always being cleaned immediately after the 1st dinner seating, it was posted on the wall charts on the door that it was the proper time, but I think if they made it a 1/2 hour earlier, they would have less issues....the 2nd issue would be debarking....we thought It was silly but we had to go back to the reception area to sign that we knew that my daughter left $1 on her prepaid card.... Now both of these things aren't really complaints but I just wanted to say that not everything was perfect....but it came close...now if I was one of those irrational reviewers I suppose I could say that you could never use the public bathrooms and they made you go all the way back to your cabin or they wouldn't even let me get off the ship (not a bad thing)..... take things in stride people in the words of Bob Marley....I say don't worry ...bout a thing...cuz evry little ting .is gonna be allright!

Just one question - when is your next cruise - we want to come with you!!!great review, great outlook on life and quoting the great bob marley too. Best review ever!

I would definitely go for early October as the weather starts to change during October. The traditional tourist season for the Mediterranean is may-october for this reason. You may get some rain but it should be around 20 degrees (centigrade) or maybe a bit warmer. The countries you are visiting are fascinating regardless of weather - we have been to the Mediterranean and had rain in August, there are never any guarantees with European weather. You will have a fabulous time (just pack a rain mac!)

Do they offer a vegetarian option?thanks

Thanks both, looks like the marmalade for us, followed by shopping :) can't wait for our cruise (though not looking forward to the big 5-0 !!!)

I have already started my hp sachet collection....... what are we all like!Thanks all, I am sure I would cope without hp, marmite and decent tea but it's good to be prepared (and msc, I won't mark you down for not having them, I am not expecting you to pander to my British eccentricity!!)

Nothing wrong with cultural differences!!!have you ever tried Dorset tea? Fairly new to the market but quite similar in taste to Yorkshire!

I cannot survive 2 weeks without a decent cuppa!

Don't suppose you can remember if they have hp sauce? I can live without it but love it with breakfast!!

Didn't mention but we are sailing on Divina so a bit worried it will be American tea. Will pack my pg tips and some marmite just in case - may have to pack one less dress!!!

I am certain that I have asked this before but sadly due to the high number of opiate painkillers I am taking I have forgotten! This is a question for my fellow UK cruisers - does the breakfast buffet have marmite, and did I dream it or did someone say the tea bags are Twinning? I always take both on holiday with me (yes I am that sad!!! - I still take them for my brother who has lived in USA for 30 years so it's a family thing!!!)Thanks all - 54 days to go, sadly I think I will be testing msc's disability friendliness as looks like I won't be fully mobile :(

We are only 55 days away from our first cruise and are very excited. Whilst we are very well travelled across Europe, USA and Asia it is a very different holiday for us. We are cruising the Caribbean so hope for better weather than we are currently enjoying although if this rain continues we may need to build a boat to get to work!! The med will just be warming up in April so pack a fleece for evening and you may get some rain but you will love it, so packed with history and beautiful places. Hope you have a lovely time