How can Divinia offer such cheap fares???

[Bosjoe]

Putting aside your nasty tone,

I posted AFAIK regarding room service fee = it's to be clarified.

MSC website says about room service breakfast but nothing at all about lunch and dinner.

 

I did not state that regular movies on the Divina are for fee.

I don't know how regular cinema works on the Divina, never had this question before.

May you can tell us about regular cinema on the Divina?

 

 

No, your google is not as good as mine.

As you have not cruise on other lines, I am telling you about them:

 

Other lines have "pastry shops", "atrium cafes" in various forms (International Cafe on Princess, Promenade Cafe or Park Cafe on Royal Caribbean, Atrium Cafe and O'Sheehan's on NCL, Exploration Cafe on HAL, Cafe Al Bacio and Aqua Spa Cafe on Celebrity..) where all food is free. Specialty coffee/tea and specialty ice cream are for fee.

 

 

What NCL ship charges for sun deck and what deck is that?

 

Oh did I hit a nerve?? lol

 

Vibe Beach Club on NCL Breakaway a charge per day or week.

 

Carlos Bake shop Breakaway a charge for pastry

 

The better desserts on Celebrity, Bistro on 5. Cheese cake chocolate cake, creme brulee, chocolate moose and pie. Alot better then the little things they have at the Cafe.

 

Edited March 26, 2014 by Bosjoe

[jchipgcs]

I have sailed on MSC numerous times & have never seen prices this low. My advise is cut the crap about what you get & don`t but try the option to sail on a magnificent ship for a very low price. Don`t try to compare it but see if what they offer is what you like. They have what I consider the cleanest ships afloat, cabins are smaller, the size of NCL. You can reserve larger for a larger price like any other line. They do not have anytime dining & meal times are not 24 hrs a day. When I`m sailing with them in the US everyone wants to compare to US ships, accept them for what they are or sail elsewhere without having a fit. In Europe they are considered one of the best, & they know value.

 

Well said, Boca7

[Mattingly23]

Oh did I hit a nerve?? lol

 

Vibe Beach Club on NCL Breakaway a charge per day or week.

 

Carlos Bake shop Breakaway a charge for pastry

 

The better desserts on Celebrity, Bistro on 5. Cheese cake chocolate cake, creme brulee, chocolate moose and pie. Alot better then the little things they have at the Cafe.

 

 

I don't consider those "things" at the cafe on Celebrity to be pastry. They're worth the price they charge. Agree that Bistro on 5...a pay restaurant...has the real sweet treats.

[Typhoon1]

You get what you pay for.

 

That's exactly what MSC delivers.

[resstation]

You get what you pay for.

 

That's exactly what MSC delivers.

 

*Only when you're paying the sale price for anything other than YC.

[mom2tcdx2]

Personally I think the prices are really good, we booked a group of 14. Allowed one of my relatives with their family of 6 to be able to take their first cruise. The thing is all cruise lines have extra stuff, whether we choose to pay for those extras is up to us.

 

I don't spend a whole lot in the casinos, I usually bring Mtn Dew onboard as I don't drink coke products. I rarely buy pictures, if I do it will be one or two at most. The drink vouchers IMO are a really good deal for drinks and their price I think makes up for the extras of other areas.

 

I can't wait to sail and check out a new cruise line and a new ship for us.

[Bosjoe]

I don't consider those "things" at the cafe on Celebrity to be pastry. They're worth the price they charge. Agree that Bistro on 5...a pay restaurant...has the real sweet treats.

 

Point being on MSC pastry shop these are the type of goodies they have, only free desserts are in the buffet that I know of. Those type of pastries are basics like on RCCL and Celebrity. They are passable but not superior as pay for goodies.

[Fla Mike]

I have sailed on MSC numerous times & have never seen prices this low. My advise is cut the crap about what you get & don`t but try the option to sail on a magnificent ship for a very low price. Don`t try to compare it but see if what they offer is what you like. They have what I consider the cleanest ships afloat, cabins are smaller, the size of NCL. You can reserve larger for a larger price like any other line. They do not have anytime dining & meal times are not 24 hrs a day. When I`m sailing with them in the US everyone wants to compare to US ships, accept them for what they are or sail elsewhere without having a fit. In Europe they are considered one of the best, & they know value.

 

I agree.

 

It is only human nature to compare things to each other but in fairness, doing so will drive a person nuts.

 

If you've read enough reviews of this ship, and all you have to do is google, you will know by now that it is a different experience than the standard North American cruise, RCI, Carnival, and NCL.

 

And yes even some of the better lines.

 

We were on the Ruby Princess in February and the ship was wonderful, I was not wild about the dining room staff though. All eastern European and very stern and cold. Did I get all bent, no. That is the way they are, regimented and to the point, others at the table were complaining on how cold they were, and complaining how "these people" would never cut in on Celebrity or HAL.

 

Wrong, I've been on both. I want my service professional, period.

( I'm starting to rant)...

 

I've sailed HAL through "tipping not accepted", and "tipping not required", through today, has the service changed???, enough already.

 

Anyway, they are pricing as they do, IN MY OPINION to fill ships and end some negative vibes about them.

 

If the euro concept does not work here, don't worry, this ship will be back in the Med. and cruising full.

 

We should all enjoy our low prices and a new experience...and if you like it, sail with them again.

[cruisetrail]

Oh did I hit a nerve?? lol

 

Vibe Beach Club on NCL Breakaway a charge per day or week.

 

Carlos Bake shop Breakaway a charge for pastry

 

The better desserts on Celebrity, Bistro on 5. Cheese cake chocolate cake, creme brulee, chocolate moose and pie. Alot better then the little things they have at the Cafe.

 

 

You google the wrong question.

We are talking about options that are for free on other ships.

But you qoogle "What is for fee?":eek:

Hit the nurve!

 

BTW you forget to tell us about free cinema on the Divina. :)

 

Your contribution to this thread will be appreciated:

MSC Divina - where can you eat for free?

What free dining options other than MDR, buffet and poolside junk food can you recommend on the Divina?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Bosjoe]

Thank you.

I remember that I read something "complicated" regarding room service!

 

Wow as the know all of all ships and things, I'm shocked you missed this, as its been posted for months now.

[cruiseguyinorl]

As someone who has been on the MSC Divina three times since she got to the States, I can assure you that she is well worth many times the $199 price point. Gorgeous clean ship, good food, outstanding entertainment and increasing service satisfaction.

 

I personally believe, as someone stated, that it was a marketing move for brand recognition. Guess we will see if that works out for them in the end. I'm confident it will.

 

Bret

[alexkrn46]

rccl the cupcakes cost a small fotrune and often are not freshly baked.

 

Cruise trail, based on your posts MSC is not for you, enjoy your cruise on other lines and allow passengers and soon to be passengers enjoy their opinions based on their personal experiences.

[cruisetrail]

Wow as the know all of all ships and things, I'm shocked you missed this, as its been posted for months now.

 

Really? You saw it months ago?

Then why are you blaming me??:D

 

 

We are all listening:

 

BTW you forget to tell us about free cinema on the Divina. :)

 

Your contribution to this thread will be appreciated:

MSC Divina - where can you eat for free?

What free dining options other than MDR, buffet and poolside junk food can you recommend on the Divina?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Bosjoe]

BTW you forget to tell us about free cinema on the Divina. :)

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

They have movies nights on the deck, they line up chairs in front of the big screen, for such movies on my cruise was Grown ups 2, RIPD, and Pacific Rim. I think they had free popcorn too, not 100% sure on that.

[VacationCrazee]

I used to be a frequent solo cruiser (Platinum on Carnival) but grew bored of the cruise experience about the same time that Carnival stopped giving solos a break on the dbl occup rate. I turned to land vacations for a few years. Missed cruising a bit but the prices for cruising on most of the mass market cruiselines was more than I paid for more days on an island resort (both all inclusive and ala carte). I have visited most Caribbean islands and was looking for something a little different this year. I decided to visit the solo board on this website and lo and behold, discovered MSC's bargain cruises and their extremely low prices.

 

I booked a b2b on Divina beginning on 09/27 - 10/11 inside cabin. Both cruises including port charges and tax cost me a whopping $807 for 14 days on this beautiful ship. This is about 2/3 of what it would cost me to cruise on NCL, RCCL or Carnival for 7 days.

 

I will not board the ship comparing it to other cruiselines but rather enjoy what I enjoy for such a low price. Many of the amenities and options I do not use or partake (pastries, room service, sun deck, movies in the cabin and so on) so it would not matter much whether they charge for these things or not. I am rarely in my cabin except to sleep, shower and change clothes.

 

What MSC will gain from selling me this bargain basement price is that in my circle of friends, family, co-workers and neighbors, I am the go-to person when someone wants info about vacation planning. I vacation several times a year and do loads of research. If I have a good time on this ship and enjoy myself, I will most definitely direct my people to give MSC a go. My circle trust my words because I will give honest information. This alone is worth more than whatever MSC is eating in allowing me to takes these two cruises for barely the cost of food. Word of mouth beats any tv/internet commercial any day.

 

The prices are low for just that reason. Whether the actual cruisers come back, is secondary. If they can go home and tell their circle that they had a good time on a beautiful ship. . . . well.. . . Personally, I think it is an ingenious idea. Their marketing department should be commended for seeing the value of "let them on for next to nothing and then let them go home with pictures and great memories." Great marketing ploy. :)

[Bosjoe]

I used to be a frequent solo cruiser (Platinum on Carnival) but grew bored of the cruise experience about the same time that Carnival stopped giving solos a break on the dbl occup rate. I turned to land vacations for a few years. Missed cruising a bit but the prices for cruising on most of the mass market cruiselines was more than I paid for more days on an island resort (both all inclusive and ala carte). I have visited most Caribbean islands and was looking for something a little different this year. I decided to visit the solo board on this website and lo and behold, discovered MSC's bargain cruises and their extremely low prices.

 

I booked a b2b on Divina beginning on 09/27 - 10/11 inside cabin. Both cruises including port charges and tax cost me a whopping $807 for 14 days on this beautiful ship. This is about 2/3 of what it would cost me to cruise on NCL, RCCL or Carnival for 7 days.

 

I will not board the ship comparing it to other cruiselines but rather enjoy what I enjoy for such a low price. Many of the amenities and options I do not use or partake (pastries, room service, sun deck, movies in the cabin and so on) so it would not matter much whether they charge for these things or not. I am rarely in my cabin except to sleep, shower and change clothes.

 

What MSC will gain from selling me this bargain basement price is that in my circle of friends, family, co-workers and neighbors, I am the go-to person when someone wants info about vacation planning. I vacation several times a year and do loads of research. If I have a good time on this ship and enjoy myself, I will most definitely direct my people to give MSC a go. My circle trust my words because I will give honest information. This alone is worth more than whatever MSC is eating in allowing me to takes these two cruises for barely the cost of food. Word of mouth beats any tv/internet commercial any day.

 

The prices are low for just that reason. Whether the actual cruisers come back, is secondary. If they can go home and tell their circle that they had a good time on a beautiful ship. . . . well.. . . Personally, I think it is an ingenious idea. Their marketing department should be commended for seeing the value of "let them on for next to nothing and then let them go home with pictures and great memories." Great marketing ploy. :)

 

It worked for me, as I booked a second cruise at a lower price then my first one in January, the single supplement has been very good. I had friends going on RCCL Indy this weekend and it was over $1100 for a single inside. More then triple for my single inside for my September cruise and double on my January cruise.

[cruisetrail]

rccl the cupcakes cost a small fotrune and often are not freshly baked.

 

Cruise trail, based on your posts MSC is not for you, enjoy your cruise on other lines and allow passengers and soon to be passengers enjoy their opinions based on their personal experiences.

 

I wouldn't touch cupcakes.

 

This sounds great:

"allow.. soon to be passengers enjoy their opinions based on their personal experiences"!

I cannot agree more.

I am a "soon to be passenger". Feel free to enjoy my opinion based on my personal experience. :)

 

 

With no names and no links, just a printscreen to think about: how can one miss this?

 

Edited March 27, 2014 by cruisetrail

[VacationCrazee]

It worked for me, as I booked a second cruise at a lower price then my first one in January, the single supplement has been very good. I had friends going on RCCL Indy this weekend and it was over $1100 for a single inside. More then triple for my single inside for my September cruise and double on my January cruise.

 

NCL Breakaway wants $1,200 for a 7 day cruise out of NYC the same week as my first cruise on MSC. While I would save the $248 in plane fare, it will cost me about $120 to get to the NCL ship and back home via cab from my apt. However, I am using my frequent flyer club miles to purchase a plane ticket to Miami from NYC for the hefty price of $5.00 (tax). So. . .

 

$1,200 + 120 = $1,320 (NCL) vs. $372 + 5 = $377 (MSC) for a total savings of $943 for the first week. Even throwing in the $435 for the second cruise, I am still ahead of the game by $508. The remaining $508 will be used for my drink vouchers and the very occasional gelato and/or pastry treat.

 

This makes me a happy camper indeed. :D:D

Edited March 27, 2014 by VacationCrazee

[Bosjoe]

I wouldn't touch cupcakes.

 

This sounds great:

"allow.. soon to be passengers enjoy their opinions based on their personal experiences"!

I cannot agree more.

I am a "soon to be passenger". Feel free to enjoy my opinion based on my personal experience. :)

 

 

With no names and no links, just a printscreen to think about: how can one miss this?

 

 

Now this is where I hate cruise critic as we can not discuss sites. I would go on this if I lived in Florida. What holds me back is the 500plus airfare from the northeast as this is school vacation weeks.

Edited March 27, 2014 by Bosjoe

[Mattingly23]

I wouldn't touch cupcakes.

 

This sounds great:

"allow.. soon to be passengers enjoy their opinions based on their personal experiences"!

I cannot agree more.

I am a "soon to be passenger". Feel free to enjoy my opinion based on my personal experience. :)

 

 

With no names and no links, just a printscreen to think about: how can one miss this?

 

 

As I'm sure you know, I'm not a fan of yours, but if you'd like to sit and have a coffee & pastry on our cruise and compare notes on our experience, let me know. I'll buy the coffee, you buy the pastry.

[cruisetrail]

Thank you! :):)

This is OK for the Divina but won't be fair on other ships...

[alexkrn46]

I wouldn't touch cupcakes.

 

This sounds great:

"allow.. soon to be passengers enjoy their opinions based on their personal experiences"!

I cannot agree more.

I am a "soon to be passenger". Feel free to enjoy my opinion based on my personal experience. :)

 

 

With no names and no links, just a printscreen to think about: how can one miss this?

 

 

 

what cruise did you book? and why would you book a cruiseline you critical of?

 

you will not be able to jog, the menu is not to your standards, the entertainment is not great, the sun deck charges, no free pastry, there are no movies, etc etc etc.....why pay fa penny for something you will dread....

[American Bear]

NCL Breakaway wants $1,200 for a 7 day cruise out of NYC the same week as my first cruise on MSC. While I would save the $248 in plane fare, it will cost me about $120 to get to the NCL ship and back home via cab from my apt. However, I am using my frequent flyer club miles to purchase a plane ticket to Miami from NYC for the hefty price of $5.00 (tax). So. . .

 

$1,200 + 120 = $1,320 (NCL) vs. $372 + 5 = $377 (MSC) for a total savings of $943 for the first week. Even throwing in the $435 for the second cruise, I am still ahead of the game by $508. The remaining $508 will be used for my drink vouchers and the very occasional gelato and/or pastry treat.

 

This makes me a happy camper indeed. :D:D

 

We also saved over '$2000.' for a back to back balcony on the Divina! We are also happy campers!

That's a lot of pastry!:D

Edited March 27, 2014 by Russian Bear

[cruisetrail]

what cruise did you book? and why would you book a cruiseline you critical of?

 

you will not be able to jog, the menu is not to your standards, the entertainment is not great, the sun deck charges, no free pastry, there are no movies, etc etc etc.....why pay fa penny for something you will dread....

 

That is what you are saying.

 

Now this is what I have said:

 

Do I love HAL and RCI? :D You have confused me with someone else.

I like ships, not cruise lines.

 

I cruise on all ships, that fit my cruise plans regardless cruise line names.

 

I am an experienced cruiser and know how to have good time on any ship.

 

So my advice for you: don't panic.

As I said the Divina has its merits.

Yes, there are much better ships - you'll cruise on them later. It's not the end of the world.

You are not buying the Divina, you'll just take a cruise on her.

Posting nonsense about other ships won't help you feel better on the Divina.

The right way: focus on the positive side. Plan good things to do on the Divina or in ports.

 

It's important to study product before making purchase.

Once a cruise is booked, we have to think positively.

 

That is what I always do. Believe me it works!

 

Don't panic and enjoy your cruise!

 

As one can see again and again, the worst friends of cruise lines are their fans.

 

I am the best friend! :)

Edited March 27, 2014 by cruisetrail

[alexkrn46]

That is what you are saying.

 

Now this is what I have said:

 

 

 

As one can see again and again, the worst friends of cruise lines are their fans.

 

I am the best friend! :)

 

 

I have cruised as a paying passenger, on Carnival, Celebrity, NCl, Princess, Rccl, and msc. I would not say I am a fan of any cruiseline, I choose my trip by ports, price, and ship. after the awful noro cruise and the way the corporation handled the cruise that line again. While I enjoy end my Carnival Cruise I have problems booking with them again since they have had horrific problems

 

once again since you cruise ships not lines why would you book a ship that you have spent months ( in the same time I have cruised three times actual ships).

 

I would think cruise lines value people who spend money rather then someone who is critical of a ship visa ggogle search.