MSC Divina, Yacht Club Experience 5-14-2016 Western Caribbean

[musik07]

Another question. On the One Pool Deck are their lounge chairs in the shade? I like some sun but tend to spend a good part of the day in the shade.

[valancy1]

Another question. On the One Pool Deck are their lounge chairs in the shade? I like some sun but tend to spend a good part of the day in the shade.

 

Check out this picture... plus the One Pool is covered, too, but wear sandals to get up there because the surface/deck can get OUCHY hot.

 

 

These glass things create almost a pergola effect and where we sat it was shady and comfortable. Plus, over at the One Bar, it is outside, but covered and so wonderful to sit at a table and relax:

 

[musik07]

Thanks we will definitely need some shade and loungers are preferable! If those walls make shade then that is perfect!

[Freespir8]

I have had someone check for me just about every week annie and so far no luck. I've gone as far as checking e-bay with no luck there as well.:( I had asked Jeff Herzfeld from MSC about the diffuser and he was going to check but no reply back from him either,,,:(:(

 

Darn it! I did a search on the internet too and came up with nothing too. :( Fingers crossed you hear back from Jeff. I would love to try it. Okay, the funny thing is, I have never been on a MSC cruise before but reading your posts about the scent and "bringing your cruise home" just sounds like such a fantastic idea!

[BosoxI]

That's very disappointing, guess it's b/c we weren't on your cruise :p

 

Seriously though, when you say you were "less impressed", may I ask what you're referring to? Was it just the décor or the crew or the food...? Just wondering since we aren't in YC for our first MSC cruise so....

 

BTW those things aren't especially important to me/us... the décor, hey it's for a week, on a cruise, on a, what most feel will be a beautiful ship, with enough food we won't starve even it's not Swiss Chalet (j/k)

 

Anyway, guess it'll be what it'll be or what we make be :p

 

I've written a number of opinions scattered around recent threads, so I don't want to be repetitive. I will say this: Italians are masters of design and cuisine. To my surprise, both were lacking on the Divina.

 

The public areas are confining, ceilings usually 8' or lower, colors are dark and outdated, windows lacking. There were some exceptions but I am used to open, bright public areas; I like my man cave in my basement, not on a cruise ship.

 

I have been told the food in the MDR is pretty much on a par with the food in Le Muse. If true, good for the non-YC cruisers but don't get your hopes too high. Le Muse provided very average food; we dined there lunch and dinner perhaps eleven times and I can recall only four or five items that were memorable and most of them were appetizers.

 

All other aspects of the cruise were fine, and once behind the doors of the YC, the experience was outstanding. To each his own, but I would not recommend MSC to a friend unless he could swing YC.

[All-ready2cruise]

I've written a number of opinions scattered around recent threads, so I don't want to be repetitive. I will say this: Italians are masters of design and cuisine. To my surprise, both were lacking on the Divina.

 

 

 

Thank you for your honesty and your opinions, it's important to me to, at least, attempt to understand the differences we may find on the MSC ships, so I appreciate you taking the time outline your findings.

 

I've only cruised on NCL, 50% in suites the other in balconies and we've enjoyed both. I'm hopeful that the Aurea Experience will meet our needs with both the cabin and the other things as well. Since this will be our first cruise with MSC, we've kept it short and hopefully sweet, and will likely plan another cruise in YC if all goes well.

 

Thanks again,

[BosoxI]

I hope you love every minute of your cruise. There are many reasons why you will. As I said, to each his own and I'll add another original: One man's meat is another man's poison :)

[dexddd]

Sirene is available to all passengers dexddd. MSC has a no tipping policy, but we have always tipped our butler and other YC staff,,they have always made our voyages extraordinary!!! :D

 

Le Sirene is actually a public pool & area for anyone wanting to use it. We used to walk outside the YC doors on 15 and look directly down into Le Sirene on 14. I will show more pictures of it later.

 

As far as tipping, we did tip our butler additionally at the end of the cruise. We gave him $40, which is more than we've ever tipped additional on the cruise; but what he gave for us really couldn't have been paid adequately. Whomever gets Carlos (his name is Juan Carlos Cruz) is lucky, lucky, lucky.

 

P.S., the cabin pictures were of our cabin 15027.

 

Thanks for the info.

[valancy1]

It's my goal to work more on this review with pictures in a little bit. Have to run an errand and the afternoon is mine to do what I want. I appreciate your patience--I really do want to show you more!

[Mikesa1721]

Valancy1 can you check to see if the MSC fragrance diffuser is available in the gift shop?

 

A fellow passenger, currently onboard, messaged me and told me that the "MED" fragrance is available in different varieties: Finally!!!:D

 

[BermudaBound2014]

Sachets! Wonderful. I always like to take a few Sachets on cruises because sometimes the rooms can have a damp smell. I think I will purchase these for my Mediterranean Cruise in August on RCL (ha!).:).

[SuiteTraveler]

Ok, you are going to LOVE getting off the ship. Especially on tender days. Carlos took us down, escorted us and I don't know where this was or how we got there, but we were in a private exit area on the ship and we got the very first tender. He walked off the ship with us in Jamaica to explain where we needed to go. If you tell your butler you want an escort, you get one.

 

Nothing can be done about getting BACK on ship. Same as any other cattle call.

 

I don't have a list of wines... it's funny, they say Prosecco, Red, White or Rose and you get what you get. There is no wine list.

 

I will say that every wine I had was delicious.

 

Debra,

Great review. For future reference, they rotate the included wines daily, BUT, there is an actual wine list where you can buy bottles of wine - yes you have to pay for the bottle you order from the wine list in the Yacht Club. When my husband did not like the included wine of the day he would request the wine list and order whatever bottle he wanted and it's a very comprehensive wine list. Many great choices!

[Freespir8]

A fellow passenger, currently onboard, messaged me and told me that the "MED" fragrance is available in different varieties: Finally!!!:D

 

 

Wahooo!!! That's awesome! Thanks for the update. Okay, 30 bucks... I hope that is a big diffuser...I am going to have to start saving now.:eek:;)

[dst87]

I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for more of this wonderful review.

 

Just a little nudge in case you've forgotten us! ;)

[valancy1]

OK, where was I!?

 

I was trying to group things together so you could see it. My ADHD brain just is having a time, so I'm going to just go with it and see what I end up with. I hope it is not too confusing for you all.

 

There are a couple of things I want to say:

 

1. The food was not a cut above any other line that I have had the privilege of sailing. I will say that as food goes, I did really enjoy Royal Caribbean and I still think Norwegian's food (in specialty restaurants) are definitely a cut above.

 

However, that said, ALL pastries and desserts on Divina are homemade on the ship. That goes for morning pastries, too. I don't think I have ever had anything so heavenly as a powdered sugar donut made just minutes before. NOM NOM. The rest of the food is GOOD. Don't let anyone fool you. We ate in the buffet most breakfasts and lunch--we didn't go to LeMuse, so I know of what I speak. It is pretty much the same as any other line we've been on--good, tasty, lots to choose from; the fruit was unbelievably good and each day they had a different international choice.

 

The ONLY thing that annoyed me on that ship was the line or lines in the buffet. The choices are endless, but the Europeans on the ship don't feel the way Americans do about their personal space. They expect you to move for them, they bump into, ride up on you from behind, push push push. But other than that (and I have a HUGE anti-touch problem to begin with), once we sat down everything was fine.

 

Another thing we LOVED about Divina was the lack of "hawking" wares. They set up a Maxwell Street type thing on 6 by the gelato and the shops, but outside the shops for anyone to stroll and buy. They never got on the loud speaker and touted all the specials day after day. If you were interested, you asked and they helped you. Other than that, they left you alone. We loved that!

 

Same with alcohol... what a treat to get a drink and not have 17 waiters walking around all asking if we want a drink. They didn't push ANYthing... no gold by the inch, no art auctions, no last-day sales... they were there, but you chose what you wanted to see.

 

Also, there was no over abundance of fliers in our stateroom trying to get us to buy. Can't say enough about that. We loved not being bothered.

[valancy1]

Debra,

Great review. For future reference, they rotate the included wines daily, BUT, there is an actual wine list where you can buy bottles of wine - yes you have to pay for the bottle you order from the wine list in the Yacht Club. When my husband did not like the included wine of the day he would request the wine list and order whatever bottle he wanted and it's a very comprehensive wine list. Many great choices!

 

that is good to know--for NEXT time. :) :) :)

[valancy1]

I just came back to look at my review and pictures. If anyone has questions (particularly about the Yacht Club) I would be happy to answer. I also realized, that I am jonesing for the Yacht Club. And now to wait for Seaside. How I can't wait to cruise with them again.

 

Anyone that has been back recently, did you see my friend Greg in the Wine Experience??

 

I am secretly hoping that for my national conference (it is held on a new ship each year) in 2017, it will be MSC Seaside.

 

:)

[mafig]

Thank you for your review.

 

I read it a few months ago when I was considering the YC and now that I am booked I re-read it. Made for a nice Sunday morning.;):)

[helen haywood]

I'm still trying to get a feel for what my husband should wear for dinner in Le Muse. Does he need a sports coat? Or will a tucked in collared shirt and khaki pants suffice? And at breakfast and lunch, will we be OK in shorts? Not pool shorts.

[deliver42]

Yes to both of your questions.

[helen haywood]

Well, that was actually three questions. LOL. Do you mean yes to the last two?

[boca7]

Well, that was actually three questions. LOL. Do you mean yes to the last two?

 

Shorts are fine for breakfast & lunch, slacks & shirt fine for dinner & jacket & slacks or suit for formal nights only. On our past June cruise didn`t see any tuxedo`s, sailings in Europe were more formal although our previous US cruise in area`s other than Y/C were dressier. Well I`ll find out again this Sat in Y/c.

[mom_coach_nurse]

I am a bit apprehensive since I have never been on MSC before and then last week they surprised us with an upgrade from Aurea to YC!

 

I am sailing with my husband and 13yr old daughter and 10yr old son. Did you see kids in the YC area? I'm hoping there are things to do in general for them. Our only other experiences have been a few RCCL and Norwegian cruises and we hardly ever saw the kids on those trips, lol. They don't like kids club things. :rolleyes:

 

Your pictures are amazing; I cannot wait to eat the cup of vegetables! (There's a sentence I'm pretty sure I've never said.) :D

 

Lastly, do you have any drink menus? Thanks so much for your helpful review.

[champagne123]

I am a bit apprehensive since I have never been on MSC before and then last week they surprised us with an upgrade from Aurea to YC!

 

I am sailing with my husband and 13yr old daughter and 10yr old son. Did you see kids in the YC area? I'm hoping there are things to do in general for them. Our only other experiences have been a few RCCL and Norwegian cruises and we hardly ever saw the kids on those trips, lol. They don't like kids club things. :rolleyes:

 

Your pictures are amazing; I cannot wait to eat the cup of vegetables! (There's a sentence I'm pretty sure I've never said.) :D

 

Lastly, do you have any drink menus? Thanks so much for your helpful review.

 

Wow!!!! You got upgraded on your first MSC cruise? Did they call you?

Here are the drink menu's:http://www.cruisewithgambee.com/msc-cruises-divina-drink-lists/

[mom_coach_nurse]

Wow!!!! You got upgraded on your first MSC cruise? Did they call you?

Here are the drink menu's:http://www.cruisewithgambee.com/msc-cruises-divina-drink-lists/

 

He asked if we wanted to do it and we said absolutely! :D I did see these drink menus, just wasn't sure if they were different in the Yacht Club. Thank you!!