Divina questions, Yacht Club.

[sverigecruiser]

 

Today it's only 100 days until we are going to the airport for our Divina cruise!! (It's still far away but much closer than the over 500 days it was when we booked the cruise!)

 

I have some questions now and I'm sure that more will come.

 

We will be on the February 10 cruise and the itinerary is Miami-Ocho Rios-Oranjestad-Cartagena-Colon-Costa Maya-Cozumel-Miami.

 

1. What time will we be able to check in at the port in Miami?

 

2. Will they offer us an escort from the Yacht Club to Le Muse for the first lunch? If yes, shall we accept that so that they can show us the easiest way to get there? We really don't need an escort but maybe it's good if they show us the best way.

 

3. Will they have Champagne by the glass included in our drink package and if yes, will they have it in every bar? Will it be the same Champagne (Nicolas Feuillatte?) in every bar or is the selection different somewhere? (On Meraviglia they had Laurent Perrier in the Champagne bar but I know there is no Champagne bar on Divina.)

 

4. If we book any ship excursions, how does that work on Divina with our itinerary? Will someone meet us in the Yacht Club and escort us to the bus?

 

5. When we return to the ship, will it be a special Yacht Club entrance?

 

6. Do the have the elevator "override" on Divina and if yes, how does it work? We don't plan to use that but if they have it we might use it when we are the first into an empty elevator, why not?

Edited October 29, 2018 by sverigecruiser

[Zephyr173]

Hi SC,

 

1. You can probably check in from 12:30-1:00PM.  If your cabin is not ready, you can walk around the ship or relax at the TopSail or One Pool.

2. Yes, they will offer an escort.  We found the best way was outdoors, on port side of deck 15 (i.e. main YC deck).  Walk around the Garden Bar, and enter back in the ship just behind the bar and there you are.  In case of inclement weather, we would go down to deck 13, walk all the way back to the last stairs and lifts and take the stairs up to 15.

3.  NF is the only champagne that is included in the YC drinks package.  Other champagnes are available, but at a cost.  On Preziosa this summer, I asked for NF at the YC restaurant.  It was not available by the glass, but they were sooooo nice with us that there was a bottle waiting for us every evening from the 2nd supper until the end of the cruise.  And I didn't even ask for this.  Wow.

4. Yes, you can be escorted to the exit.  In fact, you will want to be escorted to the exit.  When you have an excursion with the ship, you show up at the concierge area a few minutes before, and can either wait there or at the Top Sail.  The point in being escorted is that they set up shortcuts throught doors and hallways that non-YC guests do not access to get off the ship.

If you just decide to go out on your own, maybe with another excursion company, then you just tag along with whatever butler is escorting YC guests off the ship.

I don't know when the escorts stop.  I guess after the rush to the exits is over.

5.Yes.  It's usually at the front of the ship, so that you re-enter the ship in line with the lifts that go up to YC.

6.Yes.  The butler who escorts you onto the ship will show you.  Very easy.  I must say, however, that "hijacking" an elevator does not seem to work when there are others in there with you.  Maybe I was doing it wrong… I'm sure someone else on this forum will let me know!

[sverigecruiser]

 

Thanks for that excellent reply and answers to my questions!

 

I have to ask about number 1 again. Do you mean that we probably have to wait until 12.30 before we can check in? I was thinking maybe 9.30 or 10? On NCL we have always been at the port around 10 and then we have been able to check in.

[Kwaj girl]

We were able to check in around 11 am IIRC

[Hlitner]

Just some info for cruise newbies :).  The time when they begin allowing passengers to board (embarkation) is dictated, to a great degree, by the local authorities (CBP) when in USA ports.  CBP requires that the ship be "zeroed out" before any embarkation and they really do enforce this rule.  It means that all passengers, on the previous cruise, must be off the ship and accounted for....after which CBP will clear the ship...assuming they do have any issues with 1 or more crew members.  Even those doing back to back cruises must get off the ship. clear Passport control, and then wait (or go off into town) before they can reboard.  We have been on some cruises where boarding started by 11:15 and other cruises where nobody was allowed to board until after 1 pm!  The norm for Florida ports is that ships are normally cleared shortly after 11am after which the cruise line has control over when and how to start embarkation.

 

But all it takes is one idiotic back to back cruiser to hold up an entire ship.  About 2 years ago, a Celebrity ship's embarkation was delayed for more than an hour because of 1 young mother and her 7 month old baby.   She assumed that nobody cared about a mom and her baby so stayed aboard while her DH went off the ship.  The CBP folks made it clear that both Mom and baby had to present themselves to Passport Control.  They made several PA announcements on the ship and went to search for the Mom who was apparently in some public rest room changing her baby...and she had not heard (or ignored) the announcements.  When they finally located this lady, she was escorted off the vessel.  When she passed by the "holding area" where other back to backs were waiting to reboard there was a chorus of "boos."  Such is life in the cruise world.

Hank

[dgakers]

It has been our experience that the YC tent is setup about 10:30 am.  We always try to arrive sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 and then we're in the YC boarding lounge relaxing shortly after.  We plan to follow this same procedure on our next sailing in 30 days on the Divina which will be a B2B.

[helen haywood]

In Miami (my only experience) even if it is too early to be allowed to board the ship YC cruisers will be escorted to a waiting room in the terminal with snacks and champagne.  Start enjoying yourself!

[mafig]

6 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

In Miami (my only experience) even if it is too early to be allowed to board the ship YC cruisers will be escorted to a waiting room in the terminal with snacks and champagne.  Start enjoying yourself!

 

I just came back from a cruise (on Royal, not MSC), so I may have missed your feedback on MSC (if you've gone, that is).  How was it?

[dexddd]

We only did one ship excursion on Divinia but the butler escorted us from YC down to area where the local operator was stationed on the pier.  Getting back on the ship they will have several butlers with paddles on the pier - just go to them and they will escort you to gangway.  In the case of Grand Caymen being a tender port, they had butlers or attendants there with a separate line to get onto tender.

[sverigecruiser]

2 hours ago, Zephyr173 said:

 

3.  NF is the only champagne that is included in the YC drinks package.  Other champagnes are available, but at a cost.  On Preziosa this summer, I asked for NF at the YC restaurant.  It was not available by the glass, but they were sooooo nice with us that there was a bottle waiting for us every evening from the 2nd supper until the end of the cruise.  And I didn't even ask for this.  Wow.

 

 

Does anyone know which bar closest to the YC that has the Champagne on the menu so that we know for sure that we can order it without them being extra nice to us? It will feel strange to leave the YC to get Champagne and then go back to the Topsail Lounge to drink it but I will do that if I have to! ( I will not ask them to do that but should a butler get it for me if I asked or do they only deliver what's available in the Topsail Lounge?)

 

I assume that I can get two glasses even if my wife stays in the Topsail Lounge, right? 

[helen haywood]

1 hour ago, mafig said:

 

I just came back from a cruise (on Royal, not MSC), so I may have missed your feedback on MSC (if you've gone, that is).  How was it?

 

I don't write reviews as such....not as gifted as others.  But we've sailed Divina YC three times and absolutely loved it!  I'm looking for a time to sail Seaside.  I think YC value is fantastic comparing to Celebrity or NCL suites.  However, much as we love YC, I am happy sailing X's S Class ships in regular balconies....so that price point compared to YC is of course a factor.  But back to YC, there wasn't a wrong note in all of them.  Impeccable service and great luxury.

[mafig]

Thanks, Helen.

I'm glad you enjoyed MSC.

[Zephyr173]

SC,

 

There is NF champagne at Top Sail, even if it is not on the menu.  It is also at One Bar (deck 18), at the Piazza del Doge (deck 6) and Divina Bar (deck 5), and Silver Lounge (deck) 6.  Maybe elsewhere, but I don't recall with certainty.

[JAGR]

3 hours ago, helen haywood said:

In Miami (my only experience) even if it is too early to be allowed to board the ship YC cruisers will be escorted to a waiting room in the terminal with snacks and champagne.  Start enjoying yourself!

They have Prosecco in the YC pre-boarding room, but no champagne.

[JAGR]

1 hour ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

Does anyone know which bar closest to the YC that has the Champagne on the menu so that we know for sure that we can order it without them being extra nice to us? It will feel strange to leave the YC to get Champagne and then go back to the Topsail Lounge to drink it but I will do that if I have to! ( I will not ask them to do that but should a butler get it for me if I asked or do they only deliver what's available in the Topsail Lounge?)

 

I assume that I can get two glasses even if my wife stays in the Topsail Lounge, right? 

They will have NF champagne in the Top Sail Lounge.  They may not have it in the dining room on Divina.

[sverigecruiser]

1 hour ago, Zephyr173 said:

SC,

 

There is NF champagne at Top Sail, even if it is not on the menu.  It is also at One Bar (deck 18), at the Piazza del Doge (deck 6) and Divina Bar (deck 5), and Silver Lounge (deck) 6.  Maybe elsewhere, but I don't recall with certainty.

 

Thanks.

 

[sverigecruiser]

18 minutes ago, JAGR said:

They will have NF champagne in the Top Sail Lounge.  They may not have it in the dining room on Divina.

 

Thanks.

 

I can live without Champagne in the dining room! The Prosecco they served in the dining room on Meraviglia was okay. If I really want Champagne with dinner I can stop somewhere on the way there and get it.

Edited October 29, 2018 by sverigecruiser

[karenlovesparis]

They have NF champagne in the Golden Bar and in Le Muse every night for dinner.

[sverigecruiser]

1 hour ago, karenlovesparis said:

They have NF champagne in the Golden Bar and in Le Muse every night for dinner.

 

Thanks.

[max996]

On 10/29/2018 at 4:43 AM, sverigecruiser said:

 

Today it's only 100 days until we are going to the airport for our Divina cruise!! (It's still far away but much closer than the over 500 days it was when we booked the cruise!)

 

I have some questions now and I'm sure that more will come.

 

We will be on the February 10 cruise and the itinerary is Miami-Ocho Rios-Oranjestad-Cartagena-Colon-Costa Maya-Cozumel-Miami.

 

1. What time will we be able to check in at the port in Miami?

 

2. Will they offer us an escort from the Yacht Club to Le Muse for the first lunch? If yes, shall we accept that so that they can show us the easiest way to get there? We really don't need an escort but maybe it's good if they show us the best way.

 

3. Will they have Champagne by the glass included in our drink package and if yes, will they have it in every bar? Will it be the same Champagne (Nicolas Feuillatte?) in every bar or is the selection different somewhere? (On Meraviglia they had Laurent Perrier in the Champagne bar but I know there is no Champagne bar on Divina.)

 

4. If we book any ship excursions, how does that work on Divina with our itinerary? Will someone meet us in the Yacht Club and escort us to the bus?

 

5. When we return to the ship, will it be a special Yacht Club entrance?

 

6. Do the have the elevator "override" on Divina and if yes, how does it work? We don't plan to use that but if they have it we might use it when we are the first into an empty elevator, why not?

The YC Priority only works in the middle elevator in the forward bank and aft bank of elevators. Just swipe your card (without pushing a button) to call the elevator. When it arrives insert your card, press the desired floor and off you go. Easy!

[sverigecruiser]

46 minutes ago, max996 said:

The YC Priority only works in the middle elevator in the forward bank and aft bank of elevators. Just swipe your card (without pushing a button) to call the elevator. When it arrives insert your card, press the desired floor and off you go. Easy!

 

Thanks.

[Zephyr173]

Hi Max996

 

well there you go. Both times we were in YC the welcome butlers taught us to press the call button and the ones that say 15th and 16th deck. I will try it with simply swiping the card. 

 

Patrick

[sverigecruiser]

 

Is it possible to press more than one desired floor?

 

If the elevator arrives and we get in in it with other people, can we ask about their desired floor and press that too to be nice to them and feel better using it for our floor?

 

(If we enter on floor 10, they want to go to floor 12 and we to floor 15. Can we press 12 and 15 and that's where it will stop?)

[CGTNORMANDIE]

The problem with arriving at the tent early: 

A lot of people want to arrive as early as possible.  I find that creates congestion just at the time the butlers are trying to set things up.  I recently read a review where the person arrived at 10:30 AM and then complained in her review that the boarding process was not organized, etc.  Give me a break!  If you arrive around 11:30 to 12:30 I think you will find a very easy boarding process.  The entry into the Yacht Club is a special event.  You should take advantage of it and enjoy to the max.  I know I actually stayed in the entry lounge for an extra 15 minutes just to soak it all in.  Have an extra flute of Prosecco...love those almond macaroons!!

 

 

[sverigecruiser]

9 minutes ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

The problem with arriving at the tent early: 

A lot of people want to arrive as early as possible.  I find that creates congestion just at the time the butlers are trying to set things up.  I recently read a review where the person arrived at 10:30 AM and then complained in her review that the boarding process was not organized, etc.  Give me a break!  If you arrive around 11:30 to 12:30 I think you will find a very easy boarding process.  The entry into the Yacht Club is a special event.  You should take advantage of it and enjoy to the max.  I know I actually stayed in the entry lounge for an extra 15 minutes just to soak it all in.  Have an extra flute of Prosecco...love those almond macaroons!!

 

 

 

The reason why I want to arrive early is that I see the embarkation as a special event and I want it to start as soon as possible! I really want to enjoy it to the max so I want to be early.

 

I want as much Prosecco and macaroons as possible before I'm allowed to board!