Earliest time you can board MSC Divina in Miami

[liveinns]

We will be on the MSC Divina on the March 8th sailing from Miami. What is the earliest you will be allowed to board the ship?

[GOLDENBONNY]

We will be on the MSC Divina on the March 8th sailing from Miami. What is the earliest you will be allowed to board the ship?

 

It’s all up to US customs. nothing to do with cruise line . one cruise on MSC by 11:30 I could use my cabin , on second one they just opened custom doors by 12: 30 .:(

[MSC Cruises USA]

We will be on the MSC Divina on the March 8th sailing from Miami. What is the earliest you will be allowed to board the ship?

 

We look forward to seeing you onboard MSC Divina. The time of embarkation will be printed on your cruise ticket as it varies between cruises. Hope this help!

[mrstrod]

So my ticket for November 23rd on the Divina out of Miami says:

 

Embarkation time: 16:00 (4:00pm)

Departure from Miami: 19:00 (7:00pm)

 

 

It is my experience that they usually do start boarding before the stated ticket time. But my advice would be not to show up more that 2 hurs before the designated embarkation time. I would rather spend my time enjoying a relaxing lunch or cocktail somewhere than to sit around the crowded terminal with a bunch of cranky impatient people.

 

Mind you I book in the Yacht Club so I don't have to have around that mess since our butlers will take care of us. LOVE THE YACHT CLUB!

[IowaChuck]

So when did you get your tickets? I have the same sailing in the Yacht Club and I haven't gotten mine yet. Of course, I went through a travel agency and you may be gone directly through MSC.

[riclop]

You should begin boarding 1130-1200.

[mrstrod]

So when did you get your tickets? I have the same sailing in the Yacht Club and I haven't gotten mine yet. Of course, I went through a travel agency and you may be gone directly through MSC.

 

MSC directly - agent emailed them the day I booked (paid in full that day).

[mrstrod]

You should begin boarding 1130-1200.

 

Based on all of your experience on the Divina out of Miami? That was pretty crappy advice you gave the OP considering you have absolutely nothing to go by on that since it hasn't sailed from there yet!

 

In may I sailed the Splendida out of Rome - the ticket said embarkation was to begin at 4:00pm but they started at about 2pm. But that doesn't mean I would tell a person to go sit and wait at a different port for a different ship.

Edited October 24, 2013 by mrstrod

[monicajay]

Since Divina has yet to arrive in Miami nobody can actually confirm the boarding situation.

 

My experience boarding MSC in FLL (3 times) is that boarding time was indicated as 3 pm on our documents. We arrived before noon and were on the ship before 1pm and enjoying lunch on all occasions.

 

I understand the cruise lines would prefer people board later so they can get the ship ready but I just can't help myself :rolleyes: and always arrive at port very early. Only once, NCL Star, did we have to wait but that was due to a repair needed on the gangway. Arriving early at least we waited inside and sitting down. Others stood outside in the sun for hours.

[liveinns]

Thanks for all the info. We have not gotten our tickets as of yet. We are MSC Club members and it indicates that we get "preferential check-in". Does that mean we get to skip the checkin lineup or is it a separate lineup for MSC club members?

[GOLDENBONNY]

Thanks for all the info. We have not gotten our tickets as of yet. We are MSC Club members and it indicates that we get "preferential check-in". Does that mean we get to skip the checkin lineup or is it a separate lineup for MSC club members?

 

 

I don't think "preferential check-in " valid in Miami. :confused:

[mrstrod]

I don't think "preferential check-in " valid in Miami. :confused:

 

What would make you say that?

 

I know they still have priority embarkation for Yacht Club.

[GOLDENBONNY]

Based on all of your experience on the Divina out of Miami? That was pretty crappy advice you gave the OP considering you have absolutely nothing to go by on that since it hasn't sailed from there yet!

 

In may I sailed the Splendida out of Rome - the ticket said embarkation was to begin at 4:00pm but they started at about 2pm. But that doesn't mean I would tell a person to go sit and wait at a different port for a different ship.

 

It has nathing to do with Divina or no Divina.

FAster previous cruiserds leave the ship ,faster they will start embarkation (if US customs in good mood :rolleyes:) .

[GOLDENBONNY]

What would make you say that?

 

I know they still have priority embarkation for Yacht Club.

 

Yacht Club yes ,but not regular cabins like in Europe ports :(

[bzv143]

We are booked in a Yacht Club suite in December. When we arrive at the terminal, will there be a special place for the taxi to drop us off--and where, ostensibly, a butler will meet us to escort us on board? This will be our first time on MSC and want to know what to expect at embarkation....:rolleyes:

[mrstrod]

We are booked in a Yacht Club suite in December. When we arrive at the terminal, will there be a special place for the taxi to drop us off--and where, ostensibly, a butler will meet us to escort us on board? This will be our first time on MSC and want to know what to expect at embarkation....:rolleyes:

 

My answer is assuming that it is being done as it is in Europe.

 

When you arrive at the terminal, you should see a MSC tent set up with signs for the yacht club. You will go to them and they will take your checked luggage and if you have other bags you would like to give them they will also tag them and take them as wells. If they are already boarding then a butler will escort you right up to the check-in counter where you will meet one of the concierges to check in and then they will escort you on to the ship and up to the yacht club where you will then meet the other concierge. They will then tell you all about the yacht club and get you familiar with everything. Your butler will then take you on a tour of the yacht club before showing you to your cabin.

If they have not begun boarding or if the yacht club check-in consierge is busy the butler will show you to a yacht club waiting area where he will offer you refreshments and snacks while you wait a few minutes. You can use this opportunity to check out the restaurant menus and if you have kids visit the kids activities table. But you will not here long so do not worry!

 

Again, this is how it has worked in Europe - I assume Miami will not be much different.

[bzv143]

MRSTROD--you are an angel and a half! Thank you for such a wonderfully detailed response. Now, I am really excited! First time MSC...and we are booked into the Sophia Loren Suite! Can't wait.

[mrstrod]

MRSTROD--you are an angel and a half! Thank you for such a wonderfully detailed response. Now, I am really excited! First time MSC...and we are booked into the Sophia Loren Suite! Can't wait.

 

You are very welcome. Enjoy your cruise and the yacht club!

 

One piece of advice since you are new to MSC - Bear in mind that the staff has been trained in more of a European style. This means that they are more reserved and less chatty than you may be used to- some Americans confuse this for rudeness. You will also finds that waiters and staff do not hover over you waiting to fill your glass after every sip, Istead you may need to call them over if you need something. They are not intending to be slack in their jobs but this is the Italian way of letting you feel relaxed and enjoy your conversations instead of always being interrupted. This is not behavior exclusive to MSC - This is how service staff behaves all over Italy!

[long cruiser]

The first sailing is on nov 20 for a three day cruise.So we can not guess now what time the earliest boarding would be at this time.

We are also in the yacht club for the 23rd sailing.We live in pompano beach roughly 20 miles from the port.I will call the cruise line on the 20 th and let every one know.

long cruiser

[mrstrod]

I'm thinking that the departure for the 20th is not a really good measure of what the normal boarding time will be. As a matter of fact our departure on the 23rd may be too soon to judge as well. I would think it would take a few cruises for all crew to get their new rhythm with a predominantly American passenger assortment.

[bzv143]

For you MSC cruisers who are taking the Divina out of Miami: in recent years, Cruise Lines now have us download tickets/docs from the web before embarkation. Will this be the case with my Divina sailing in December, or will we get tickets "the old fashioned way"--in the mail? And how soon before cruise time will we have docs in hand?

Thanks!

[mrstrod]

For you MSC cruisers who are taking the Divina out of Miami: in recent years, Cruise Lines now have us download tickets/docs from the web before embarkation. Will this be the case with my Divina sailing in December, or will we get tickets "the old fashioned way"--in the mail? And how soon before cruise time will we have docs in hand?

Thanks!

 

I am booked in November and have already received my emailed tickets so I would assume that tickets will continue to be emailed. unless a person does not have email.

Edited October 28, 2013 by mrstrod

[bzv143]

If booked through a TA, will my TA email/send the tickets, or does MSC email/send directly to me?

[MotownVoice]

If booked through a TA, will my TA email/send the tickets, or does MSC email/send directly to me?

 

Once you start working with a Travel Agent you will never be able to communicate with the cruise line again. That includes if you miss a departure on a weekend and the ship sails without you. If your travel agent can't be reached to arrange a re-connect, you might as well buy a house wherever you are.

[bltrn]

Once you start working with a Travel Agent you will never be able to communicate with the cruise line again. That includes if you miss a departure on a weekend and the ship sails without you. If your travel agent can't be reached to arrange a re-connect, you might as well buy a house wherever you are.

 

 

Not necessarily so. I was getting the run-around with my TA so I phoned MSC. I spoke this morning with my "Cruise Vacation Consultant" from MSC who stated that he would have MSC send me the e-docs and if I had any problems or questions, to call him, and he gave me a phone #. :)