richnorto

We are on the Divina now (Feb 28 - 11 day out of Miami)  No signs of sickness and regular cleaning/sanitizing is taking place. Based on what I have seen, I would not worry about getting on board this ship for the next cruise.

This being a European line, no FNC.  We will be getting that on the internet and skipping tv.  Hopefully they play some good movies to help us fall asleep.😀

Our upcoming Divina, booked as a Bella interior (and upgraded to Fantastica balcony - yea!) with internet, easy drinks upgraded to premium, OBC (most from TA) and the additional we need to pay for grats after using the OBC will be $3000 for 11 days for 2.  MSC is a good bargain.  This was a last minute " I've got to go somewhere" cruise.  We are super excited to try a new line, although I will miss having crew on board that I already know.  I will have to wait for the hugs and "we missed you" until another few cruises down the line if this works out well.  Here's to learning to love a new line and crew as well!

I am considering booking the specialty restaurant package in advance for our upcoming cruise on the Divina.  Since we don't eat Sushi and my husband is low carb anyway, can we just eat twice at the Steak House restaurant or are you stuck with 1 meal in each?  Thanks in advance for your insight!

I loved your Blog!  This will be our 2nd MSC sailing, but the 1st was about 10 years ago on the Peosia and not relevant now.  This is good information.  Thank You!

We received our cabin assignment 11 days out.  Scored a great upgrade as well from Bella interior to Fantastica balcony for the Feb 28 Divina sailing.

I think the main question is if this line pays gratuities differently from the American lines.  We are all aware how RCL and CCl (and probably NCLH) owned lines pay (all tips split and extras kept by SP if gratuities are kept in place) and are fine with that.  We keep them in place and tip extra accordingly.  This is a European line and therefore may have a different set-up.  If they are keeping part of that to pay for return airfare promised at hire or "training" the cruise line should pay for, I would prefer to make sure tips I pay go to those deserving them - just my opinion.  This will be our first cruise outside of American lines, so I DO want to know.  Our cruise was NOT cheaper than Celebrity all said and done.  If only $200 of $300 paid in gratuities goes to Service Providers, I would rather take my $300 and the additional $100 we would add and tip personally.  We cruised many years ago (American lines) when you were expected to tip in person, and many never showed up the last night at dinner to do so.  Very poor form, so I do understand why the automatic gratuity was put in place.  I just want to know if the full amount goes to employees like everyone else here.  No need to get ugly about it.

We did this on our upcoming 11 night Caribbean.  We did it ahead of time through our TA so possibly got a pre-book discount?  11 nights pkg upgrade was $297pp, so I assume $27pp per night.

Deck - 7 Equinox

Cabin # - 7350

Class – Veranda

Starboard or Port Side - starboard

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – balcony

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – Very quiet! No noise other than neighbor's door closing - every cabin has this.

Balcony View - great view! The Silk Harvest restaurant roof was on 6, but did not effect view

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Normal, 6th floor balcony below had a larger balcony.

Was wind a problem? No

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? No

I would book this cabin again any time!:)

The smell of the shampoo was not offensive to me, but it left a film on my hair. I suggest bringing your own as it left my hair heavy even washing every day!

We have unlimited WiFi on our upcoming cruise. We have never tried WiFi calling etc., but... turn on WiFi and turn on airplane mode? This will disable phone charges, but allow texts and calling?

We have been on the Reflection and the Equinox. I love both! I really enjoy the Glass Blowing shows and the open usable lawn on the Equinox! I love the Sunset Bar on the Reflection although the sea views on the lawn are blocked by cabanas on this ship. They are both beautiful ships and you cannot go wrong! I can't speak yet for the other 2, although we will be on the Silhouette Nov 26.:D

There is no glass blowing on Reflection. The Lawn Club Grille is there.

I am aware there is no glass blowing on Reflection. I enjoy that on the Equinox. I like the Sunset bar seating on the Reflection more as it is more comfortable.

The food is pretty good. The scrambled eggs at breakfast are from a carton, so I recommend fried. Bacon is icky on every line - I'm really picky, so that is just me. Desserts/cakes are tasteless and don't have enough sugar - same on every line. The exceptions are creme brule and ice cream - both are excellent! I have no issues with any other foods we have eaten on Celebrity.

We don't bother with printing luggage tags anymore. It is easier to grab some at the dock and pop them on there. Bring a roll of clear duck tape if carrying something without a handle.

You can have the minibar emptied. We have been on cruises with underage kids in separate rooms and didn't want a surprise bill. It is best to have the steward have the minibar guy do it as he will drop in to do inventory and restock periodically and you may not be there to explain it is in a drawer.:eek:

I don't know how far out you are from the cruise, but keep an eye on the Celebrity site under your cruise planner for the non-alcoholic drink package discounts. They will offer 20-30% off at some point.:D

WHAT??? is the grass gone or is that a joke...:( Reflection was so great in 2013 when we took her on a transatlantic! We have been on the Equinox 3 weeks since and have 3 weeks this month (into next) and another week in December. I love the glass blowing, but the seating in the oceanview bar is not as comfortable as Reflection was back then.

Our one experience on RCI was bad. It was a Christmas cruise out of NOL. The staff was rude and very unfriendly and the food just eegh! We generally cruise Celebrity, HAL and Princess. We took our first Carnival cruise a couple years ago and it was pretty good! The food was good - surprised me as I was not expecting that! We loved guy's Burgers - really good, although everybody doesn't love that type burger. My biggest issue was that the ship we chose did not have a back deck/bar - we love to sit and watch the ocean passage on the back deck. This was poor research on my end as we had not run into this before. It would have ranked up there if the ship was set up more for our type of relaxation.

I think you get bumped up when you hit the nonrefundable phase. We are at select, but don't have the required days until after the cruise. Sweet!:D

The silly removal of shampoo, conditioner and lotion is really annoying and not doing the line any favors! Adding a surcharge for room service is just insulting! We always loved that we could order room service from the MDR on HAL for dinner during hours and eat on our deck! I'm sure we have done it on several other lines (Princess, Celebrity?). The nickel and dimeing is annoying and can be a cruise crusher. We have some ships/lines we will not use again just because we did not like the experience or did not feel like we were appreciated - more than that - we were a waste of time. When on a plane, you are getting from point A to point B. If treated poorly or crunched in like a sardine, you know it will be over soon and you will get over it. On a cruise, you do not want THAT experience!

I think the lines should look at the basics and offer them to everyone. Conditioner and lotion are pennies, yet take them away and it costs thousands! Room service saves money in wait staff yet costs many thousands when you take it away.

It's really stupid management! We own 2 companies and understand better than most of these big conglomerates that customer service is what keeps the business strong.

We already have our Holiday cruise booked and payed, but I have noticed some pricing much lower than we have payed in the last 8 years or so. This may not be connected, but I do think there have been last minute cancellations before final payment and outside the penalty period for the Caribbean.

We are doing the B2B Equinox Oct 16 and 27. I really don't want to repeat ports, but there is not much left on the east. I don't mind a few more sea days and have loved the transatlantics we have done! You really get to know a lot of people and make good friends! Put my feet in the sand a couple times that leg and I will be happy!

Haha! I saw the rope swing off the ship comment and had to backtrack and read twice!:D I didn't get the connection to the excursion 1st time. Pictures in my mind of rope swings off the ship.....!:eek:

I'm happy to be getting some information out of Celebrity! We are doing the Oct 16 and 27 B2B and were questioning Key West (2nd leg) - although I have an optimistic view that the Key will snap back fairly quickly. The first leg (east) has several upcoming changes as we are scheduled with at least 3 destroyed islands. God bless everyone affected! I would be happy to float around and stop at random beaches!