Our Divina Cruise, the good and the bad

[Katgoesonholiday]

Was the glass too slanty as well? :D

 

Slanty? That's a new one to me! Mind you, I haven't been bothering to read such posts. I can confirm though that the plants and flowers in the Yacht Club were not organic - darn near ruined my trip for me!

[papcx]

Slanty? That's a new one to me! Mind you, I haven't been bothering to read such posts. I can confirm though that the plants and flowers in the Yacht Club were not organic - darn near ruined my trip for me!

 

 

I can imagine that will be the one memory from your cruise that outlasts the others.

[Mikesa1721]

Was the glass too slanty as well? :D

 

I know exactly what you mean about the "slanty" glasses. The rim of the glass is angled, rather than having a flat rim. I have two pics of them,,there was only one of these glasses on our bar tray. The slanty glass is the glass which is in front of all the other bar ware,,the second pic is a bit out of focus, but you get a better look at the infamous "slanty" glass on the left.

 

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Edited September 3, 2014 by Mikesa1721

[American Bear]

Another bit of info I just remembered. If Great Stirrup Cay is on your itinerary, here is a bit of advice on this place. We had been there before on a NCL cruise (it IS their island). Most of the people head right for the main beach as soon as they get off the tenders and it does get crowded there.

We were in no rush to get there and got to the island about 10:30 or so. By that time I would say all the lounge chairs were taken and every conceivable spot in the shade was occupied. No worry though. As I read on the GSC port of call board, they have a sort of tram that will take you to another location called the Lagoon. This place is remarkable. They had lounge chairs all over the place with hardly any people on them. Walking around, there are several areas, where you can take the chairs to and sort of have your own private lagoon. There is a very nice 'lake' right in the middle that is not very deep. They also have the BBQ stand there with free water and lemonade as well as the usually BBQ food. And shade, just move your lounge chair under one of many palm trees and viola, instant shade.

If you wish to go there, just ask anyone where the tram stop is and the lagoon is about a 10 minute ride away. If there were 300 people in this entire area it was a lot. Why they don't publicize this part of the island, I have no idea, but why fight the crowds when you can have a lagoon to yourself.

 

Cheers

 

Len

 

You're absolutely right Len, this is the best kept 'secret' on GSC, the lagoon at the end of the tram ride!

As you exit the tender on GSC, there is a walking bridge to the left, and the tram stop is at the other end of the bridge! Take the tram all the way to the end! The trams run about every 15 mins.!:D

[American Bear]

How did you split it ?

 

I hope it is 14/26 so you have 1 Classic and 1 Silver

 

If you go again the booking made by the SILVER will get the 8% discount for all guests in their cabin.

 

if the split is 20/20 you'll only have CLASSIC cards and so only get a 5% discount

 

The way to play the system is to pile the points on to one card and get to black asap.

 

There are rumours of a fifth level to be added in the very near future. I was told by an on board rep, 12 months ago, that a new tier, PLATINUM???, would be added in 12 - 18 months; so that is now!!!

 

 

Pete

 

Exactly what we did Skier, I put all the excursions, drink pkges, and on board spending on my acct., and got all the extra points on my card!:D

Edited September 3, 2014 by American Bear

[American Bear]

 

Haaaa!!! I wouldn't need to worry about the Black Card at that point,,my girlfriend would throw me overboard if I lost 20k in the casino.

 

LOLLLLLL! My wife would grab our CC's and go shopping!:eek:

Edited September 3, 2014 by American Bear

[American Bear]

When someone is kosher and they say they don't eat meat, they mean non-kosher meat which includes chicken.

 

The OP has been attacked for saying the "salmon sucked"

 

Why can't you (members on this board) accept that at face value?

 

If OP has been on 15 cruises, I am sure he has ordered salmon on average 3 times per cruise. Why? Because salmon is an EVERY NITE menu item on most ships. On Lobster nite, Prawn nite, catfish nite etc, OP probably ordered the salmon.

 

So, it probably makes him a cruise ship salmon expert.

 

as to why he ordered it 3x, I just explained...it is a goto item.

 

Secondly, if the man grew up in Brooklyn in the 50's and 60's he actually does know food.

 

So, again, why are you'all attacking him for what appeared to be a fair and balanced review?

 

 

I hate to stir things up here:D, but as a former northeaster like the OP(go Giants) before moving to Florida to retire, we found the best seafood in the northeast!

So I can understand the OP having a strong opinion on seafood!

We 'never' had a great seafood meal on a cruise ship in over 20 years of cruising!:eek:

Edited September 3, 2014 by American Bear

[Fredric22]

Fredric

 

have you been reading what I have written?

 

We ordered the salmon one night and it was dry. We told our waiter. He assured us, next time it would be much better. We specifically told him to have it undercooked, instead we got an inedible piece of dry, overcooked salmon. If you told a waiter that you wanted a steak rare and he brought you one well done, would you never order it again?. If you complained to the Maître' D about this and he personally said he would make sure the next time you ordered it, it would be to your perfection, would you not order it again and see if the Maître 'D kept his word?. Well that is what we did, and yes, the least time, when the Maître 'D, personally served us our salmon, it was better, but still not very good. At least this time it was edible. This isn't rocket science, but you seem to want to make it very difficult.

 

As I have said, which maybe you missed, we certainly didn't starve and we did order other dishes. But the fish dinners were our main entrée and, as I have said several times, they were all over cooked, except for the Mahi Mahi which was decent.

 

I'll tell you what, if you are going to cruise MSC on the Divina, you order the fish, you order the salmon and then come back here and tell everyone what you thought of it. I'll be waiting.

 

Cheers

 

Len

 

I am cruising on the Divina soon. I, however, will not be ordering fish. I have been on 30+ cruises and I know that fish on a cruise (pretty much any cruise line) is not up to the standards I would require to eat it. The fish is almost always frozen and is not of the same fresh quality you would get at a local seafood restaurant. Therefore, I stick with other options which tend to be better. To answer your question, if after I ordered the same dish two times and it was bad each of those times, I would certainly not request it again (even if I was given it from the Maitre'D). I would have politely said no. Even if a dish is delicious, I can rarely eat the same dinner three nights in a row. I am glad you enjoyed the other food on board, though.

[Giantfan13]

Just a bit of info. I have been posting on CC for almost 8 years, mostly on the Northern Europe/Baltics Port of Call boards. I also post on the Alaska, Bahamas, Canada and New England Port of call boards. All in an effort to help other cruisers enjoy their port of calls to their fullest. To give advice and to listen to what they say when they return from their cruises.

In all those years, if some one, anyone, comes on, posts a review of their cruise, I cannot remember people attacking them, making light of what they felt was wrong with their cruise, like some of the people here.

 

I posted what I felt was right and wrong about my cruise. One of the main things was the fish dinners, yet there have been so many posts questioning this, it is utterly unbelievable. I guess people who can afford to be Yacht Club members, don't realize that there are about 3500 other people on the ship what have to survive without a butler, private dining options and all the rest that goes with a regular cruise.

 

I tried to enlighten people as to what they MIGHT expect if they sail the Divina, yet some feel this is the cruise to end all cruises, nothing can be wrong, and if one criticizes something, it must be the poster and not the cruise lines fault.

 

I have been questioned on my choice of food, my religious options, even a bar of soap we found in our cabin and trying to let MSC know about it. People read what they only want to read and not what is stated, while others simply make up menu items that are no where to be found on the ship. (eggplant Parm).

 

I have explained our dilemma when cruising, trying to keep a Kosher style, we DO NOT EAT MEAT, yet here is some one still suggesting I order chicken. (if y0ou didn't know, chicken is considered MEAT).

 

If anyone decides to take a Baltic cruise, come over to that board and you will be treated with respect. Your likes and dislikes will be accepted with no questioning. You had a bad experience, no one questions whether or not YOU might be the cause. We listen and learn.

 

I am very sorry for the rant. Maybe I do have a bit of a thin skin. But when you make the effort to report your cruise, your likes and dislikes, and others simply question why I ordered salmon, and tell me, maybe it was me and not the salmon, get advice from people who hate salmon, well it does get a bit annoying.

 

You want honest answers, I tried to give them. I will still continue to give them, but really, people who sing the praises of the Yacht Club shouldn't comment on us 'poor' people, who have to suffer thru the real world of cruising. I can see there is a distinct group of posters who just want to see the good in MSC and anyone who might see things being wrong, saying so, is jumped on. I never criticized MSC directly, just saying this was our experience and if we had to do it over again, we would probably not sail the Divina again. No more no less. If you can't handle that, please don't reply to my posts.

 

Cheers

 

Len

[alexkrn46]

Len,

 

I appreciated your honest review. I thought it was thoughtful and insightful. Fish is so subjective and coming from the Northeast I know good fish too.

[Mainah]

Just a bit of info. I have been posting on CC for almost 8 years, mostly on the Northern Europe/Baltics Port of Call boards. I also post on the Alaska, Bahamas, Canada and New England Port of call boards. All in an effort to help other cruisers enjoy their port of calls to their fullest. To give advice and to listen to what they say when they return from their cruises.

In all those years, if some one, anyone, comes on, posts a review of their cruise, I cannot remember people attacking them, making light of what they felt was wrong with their cruise, like some of the people here.

 

I posted what I felt was right and wrong about my cruise. One of the main things was the fish dinners, yet there have been so many posts questioning this, it is utterly unbelievable. I guess people who can afford to be Yacht Club members, don't realize that there are about 3500 other people on the ship what have to survive without a butler, private dining options and all the rest that goes with a regular cruise.

 

I tried to enlighten people as to what they MIGHT expect if they sail the Divina, yet some feel this is the cruise to end all cruises, nothing can be wrong, and if one criticizes something, it must be the poster and not the cruise lines fault.

 

I have been questioned on my choice of food, my religious options, even a bar of soap we found in our cabin and trying to let MSC know about it. People read what they only want to read and not what is stated, while others simply make up menu items that are no where to be found on the ship. (eggplant Parm).

 

I have explained our dilemma when cruising, trying to keep a Kosher style, we DO NOT EAT MEAT, yet here is some one still suggesting I order chicken. (if y0ou didn't know, chicken is considered MEAT).

 

If anyone decides to take a Baltic cruise, come over to that board and you will be treated with respect. Your likes and dislikes will be accepted with no questioning. You had a bad experience, no one questions whether or not YOU might be the cause. We listen and learn.

 

I am very sorry for the rant. Maybe I do have a bit of a thin skin. But when you make the effort to report your cruise, your likes and dislikes, and others simply question why I ordered salmon, and tell me, maybe it was me and not the salmon, get advice from people who hate salmon, well it does get a bit annoying.

 

You want honest answers, I tried to give them. I will still continue to give them, but really, people who sing the praises of the Yacht Club shouldn't comment on us 'poor' people, who have to suffer thru the real world of cruising. I can see there is a distinct group of posters who just want to see the good in MSC and anyone who might see things being wrong, saying so, is jumped on. I never criticized MSC directly, just saying this was our experience and if we had to do it over again, we would probably not sail the Divina again. No more no less. If you can't handle that, please don't reply to my posts.

 

Cheers

 

Len

 

Very well said Giantfan13. Thank you!

[American Bear]

Giantfan13

 

Don't let it get to ya! Football season is upon us!

And the other cruise line forums are tough too!;)

You got people on them other forums that have been cruising with a certain favorite line for decades, and they don't tolerate too much putting down their line! They're downright vicious!:eek:

Everyone has a different perspective, and there are different cruise lines for different people!

 

This Forum does have a couple trouble makers :mad:on it that are here only to put down MSC and the Divina, problably never cruised on MSC! They're easy to see, 'always negative', so some on this forum get a little quick if they perceive 'what they see as nitpicking', while it might be important to you!

 

Whatever your future cruising is, enjoy!:)

Edited September 3, 2014 by American Bear

[smeesme]

I've been following this thread since I also was on this cruise (non-yacht club.) I'm thinking of writing a review however, it's threads like this that always make me wonder if I should. I believe there's good and bad in every cruise and hearing some of the bad gives me an idea of what to expect.

 

So, thank you Giantsfan for this review.

 

And for the naysayers, my daughter also said the fish on board was way overcooked. She's had the fish on Carnival and enjoyed it there, so, this is not a one time incident on this cruise.

[Katgoesonholiday]

 

I posted what I felt was right and wrong about my cruise. One of the main things was the fish dinners, yet there have been so many posts questioning this, it is utterly unbelievable. I guess people who can afford to be Yacht Club members, don't realize that there are about 3500 other people on the ship what have to survive without a butler, private dining options and all the rest that goes with a regular cruise.

 

...

 

You want honest answers, I tried to give them. I will still continue to give them, but really, people who sing the praises of the Yacht Club shouldn't comment on us 'poor' people, who have to suffer thru the real world of cruising.

 

*gapes in astonishment*

 

Well that is certainly more of a rant attacking other posters for their opinion than I have seen anywhere else in this thread! :eek:

 

And FYI, if you had read my post, as you seem to be demanding others do for you, you would see that a) I sailed in Yacht Club, and b) I agreed that the fish was poor and unappealing.

 

I only ate in the Yacht Club and whilst I sing it's praises I also see some of the things that weren't so great.

 

And also FYI, I took on three international Homestay students and skimped and saved for a year to be able to give myself and my husband a dream trip for our 15th wedding anniversary. It was a wonderful amazing trip and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't sneer at the choices we have made. It's offensive and mean.

Edited September 3, 2014 by Katgoesonholiday

[Katgoesonholiday]

I can imagine that will be the one memory from your cruise that outlasts the others.

 

Indeed!!! :p

[Grandmaflower]

I thank you for your review and appreciate that you have been on many different cruise lines. I do not think it is fair to compare MSC YC vs MSC at all. While I enjoy reading both I do not expect to even be on the same ship as those that paid for the YC. As well I do not expect that someone from the YC will really be able to comment on living in the main section of the ship with much real experience. There have been so so many poor reviews of this ship. I have never seen anything like it....I don''t think it is a fluke. I paid little to nothing for this cruise so I will bring my own pillow and granola bars and consider it an expensive camping trip. That way I can only be delighted. :p

[MsTabbyKats]

Len-

 

Sometimes a point can be made best by keeping it brief....such as:

 

"I eat a lot of salmon. The salmon on this ship was awful."

 

No need to bring up why you want the salmon....which brings on a whole lot of questions and explanations.

 

FWIW....my family ranges from people like me (eat anything) to "by the book" Haredim and everything in between. So, when you say kosher to me....it's a world apart from kosher style...which is why I mentioned the pre-packaged meals.

 

DH is fish eating sort of semi-kosher style guy....and never had a problem with cruise fish. I assume this includes salmon, because that's his favorite....but, we never sailed on MSC.. If we do, it won't be Yacht Club....and if the salmon is that bad, I'll tell him to try the mahi mahi.:)

[Skier52]

Len-

 

Sometimes a point can be made best by keeping it brief....such as:

 

"I eat a lot of salmon. The salmon on this ship was awful."

 

No need to bring up why you want the salmon....which brings on a whole lot of questions and explanations.

 

FWIW....my family ranges from people like me (eat anything) to "by the book" Haredim and everything in between. So, when you say kosher to me....it's a world apart from kosher style...which is why I mentioned the pre-packaged meals.

 

DH is fish eating sort of semi-kosher style guy....and never had a problem with cruise fish. I assume this includes salmon, because that's his favorite....but, we never sailed on MSC.. If we do, it won't be Yacht Club....and if the salmon is that bad, I'll tell him to try the mahi mahi.:)

Surprisingly the Yacht Club can cheaper than a balcony cabin overall

 

if you look at the table below

 

A Cat. B3 cabin is £839.20 for a 15 night ruise

 

A YC 1 Suite is £999.20

 

BUT, to make the B3 equivalent you need to add on an AI package which cost, at the time £22.00 pppn, an extra £330pp (15 x £22.00)

 

So the total for the B3 is £839.20 + £330.00 = £1169.20

 

That is £170 MORE expensive than a YC 1

 

The same reasoning applied when I sailed in the YC on Divina in the Med

 

 

 

 

 

It can pay to do the research, and you might get a good deal just as above

 

You may also see you could get a balcony for the same price as an inside

 

likewise you could get a suite for the same price as a balcony

 

Pete

Edited September 3, 2014 by Skier52

[IJustWantToGo36]

Surprisingly the Yacht Club can cheaper than a balcony cabin overall

 

if you look at the table below

 

A Cat. B3 cabin is £839.20 for a 15 night ruise

 

A YC 1 Suite is £999.20

 

BUT, to make the B3 equivalent you need to add on an AI package which cost, at the time £22.00 pppn, an extra £330pp (15 x £22.00)

 

So the total for the B3 is £839.20 + £330.00 = £1169.20

 

That is £170 MORE expensive than a YC 1

 

The same reasoning applied when I sailed in the YC on Divina in the Med

 

 

If you don't drink alot and pay $349 USD for a balcony for 7 days PP, there is no way to justify YC.

 

Budget conscious and retired means that they sail ONLY when the ship is giving rooms away.

 

They never give YC away.

Edited September 3, 2014 by IJustWantToGo36

[Aussiegrlfl]

Thanks for your review, it sounds like you may like X, we have been on it once and thought it was very boring so we will never return. Good luck on your next cruise.

 

Wow see this is where everyone is different....we went on Reflection in March and I've never participated in so much in my life.......bocce tournament with the officers, the amazing race which was intense over three different courses..............zumba etc....did you attend a cruisecritic meet and greet with the staff......it was fun..........I had a blast......but everyone has different tastes....I can't wait for the Divina......it's always a better day than at work...........especially mine..............sorry you didn't like Celebrity.....

[American Bear]

There have been so so many poor reviews of this ship. I have never seen anything like it....I don''t think it is a fluke. I paid little to nothing for this cruise so I will bring my own pillow and granola bars and consider it an expensive camping trip. That way I can only be delighted. :p

 

 

Grandma:),

MSC is trying to 'build' a customer base the other cruise lines already have in the US!

The other cruise forums with their diehard cruisers, who cruise only one cruise line, will attack:mad: with a vegence a poor review of their favorite cruise line!

Those forums are far worse then the Divina!:eek:

[Skier52]

If you don't drink alot and pay $349 USD for a balcony for 7 days PP, there is no way to justify YC.

 

Budget conscious and retired means that they sail ONLY when the ship is giving rooms away.

 

They never give YC away.

I Think you're absolutely right and deals like the one I posted may be a thing of the past when the new "experiences" system kicks in everywhere.

 

My next cruise in Nov was bought via the new system, which I may add is RUBBISH; Pay more and get less choice.:(

 

So grab the deals in the US before "experiences" hits you :(:(

 

The best deal i ever saw, offered in the UK 4 years ago if I remember correctly it was Orchestra, was a repo from Miami to Genoa four days before sailing. They said if you could get to the ship you could sail on her:- Cruise cost £0.00. But i couldn't find any flights across the pond unless you paid £ (thousands) which would have defeated the object.

 

 

The next best was March 2013; Lirica 22 day repo from Dubai to UK. Cost £199 with 5 days till sailing. This time flights were availbale for £345.00 and landing at 10:00am, local Dubai, on sailng day. Would have been perfect but there was no way i could go as my OH was in hospital. Such is life.

 

Still one can but hope that with 2 (or maybe 4) new ships coming they may be pushed to fill the berths and the good deals will come again

 

Pete

[Aussiegrlfl]

We totally get the "bird" reference............just like Aussies use "Shelia".....my hubby's very DRY Aussie humour (spelt the right way):D is even more nuts than the "pommies".....:D

[IJustWantToGo36]

I Think you're absolutely right and deals like the one I posted may be a thing of the past when the new "experiences" system kicks in everywhere.

 

My next cruise in Nov was bought via the new system, which I may add is RUBBISH; Pay more and get less choice.:(

 

So grab the deals in the US before "experiences" hits you :(:(

 

 

Can you explain Experiences please?

[jkgourmet]

Though I realize this thread has gone totally off topic, I'll publicly apologize to GiantFan if I have offended,

 

But I'm still unable to understand why trying to keep kosher REQUIRES not eating meat. Seriously, I'm asking to be educated.

 

Why can't someone who is trying to keep kosher eat a grilled chicken breast with vegies on the side? No dairy on the plate.