lovemycrazy cats

I sailed on the Divina Dec 2nd. There were only between 800-900 passengers. Ship felt empty compared to my other sailings. I was extremely impressed with the precautions MSC has put in place to control the spread of Covid on their ships! Looking forward to my next sailing on the Meraviglia next week!

56 minutes ago, JAGR said:

Hey!  PT  "saved" Alabama! 🤣

Right, like they were EVER in the cone of concern. 

On 9/3/2019 at 8:28 AM, Beardface said:

 

Only the outward bands hit Ocean Cay.  While Grand Bahamas and Freeport was hit badly, Ocean Cay is located 85 miles to the southwest, which was largely avoided by the storm.  It even sounds like Freeport was largely avoided, with all lines expected to resume their sailings there within the next couple weeks.

You must mean Nassau not Freeport. Freeport is on Grand Bahama Island and was slammed!

On 9/3/2019 at 6:37 AM, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

The only bet I'd take at this point is that when it does open (2020 cof cof), it will remain a construction site for the first several sailings. 

 

 

That is accurate based on my understanding also, and largely protocol for all major cruise line private islands.

 

The destruction in the Northern Bahama's is incomprehensible. I plan to drop off recovery supplies today at our local red cross. Heartbreaking.

 

The devastation in the Abacos and on Grand Bahama is really heartbreaking. Having been to both places several times it is very saddening for me. I really loved visiting Hope Town, such an idyllic place with pastel colored homes and white picket fences. Now, that may just be a memory. That is very generous of you to donate goods to the Red Cross. They need all the help they can get! Right now the problem is being able to get deliveries there . I may follow your lead!

I'm going on the Divina for a short sailing in December. They had great special activities for 7 night cruises but I was wondering what is on the daily planner for 3 nights? I'm talking about things like Elegant nights ,White Party & The Quest. Not the typical dance lessons, trivia contests and language classes. Any info would be appreciated. TIA.

When I sailed on the Divina I found they used the outdoor screen for a background for things such as the White Party, Snow party etc. I don't remember movie showings there but it is possible I just did not attend them.

17 hours ago, ssmea03 said:

With a cat 5 Dorean making direct hits on Abacus and Grand Bahama, causing massive devistation. I believe all construction crews will be diverted to emergency work immediately post storm. I now think Dorean will likely cause an opening delay, even if Ocean Cay has been left largely unscathed. The manpower will no longer be available to finish the island on time.

Ocean Cay was scheduled to be open by my last cruise on the Seaside this past December. Unfortunately the island opening was delayed, largely in part, due to the destruction caused in the area from hurricanes Irma and Maria last year. Even though I am looking forward to seeing this beach day island completed I am more concerned about the destruction that has been caused on Grand Bahama island (Freeport) and in the Abaco Islands. My prayers go out to all the families living in that area. Marsh Harbor Great Abaco and Hope Town are such beautiful areas of the Bahama chain. I have fond memories of visiting there some years ago. I wish them safety and a rapid recovery. Ocean Cay is significantly further south and west of the area being plummeted by Dorian right now.

On 8/30/2019 at 10:54 AM, BermudaBound2014 said:

Based on the latest photos from Ocean Cay (8/27) and the published 'caution' from the COO two weeks ago, I highly suspect the opening will be delayed regardless of Dorian.

Add to that the fact that, as of last night, it is reported they have evacuated all the workers. I know I must sound like Debby-downer, but I think it's wise people are prepared in their mindsets. And just because I'd bet against an on-time opening, who knows? You may be pleasantly surprised 🙂

It is my understanding that all of the workers were evacuated so that they could get to their homes to prepare for the impact of Dorian on the islands they live on.

On 8/29/2019 at 9:37 PM, Fogfog said:

Was really hoping for a quiet hurricane season.

Fingers crossed Dorian doesn't roll over Ocean Cay and rip out all of the plantings

or destroy the beaches etc before they are even completed 😞

I was hoping for a quiet hurricane season too! But, you know it ain't over til the fat lady sings....or in this case Nov.30th. We have been having a lot more rain than usual in Florida this summer but fortunately only a few tropical storms until now. Sept is typically the worst month.

On 12/15/2018 at 8:57 AM, stp_mmh5 said:

Surprise bonus content, the Meraviglia now has the "express" elevator system.

 

 

And sadly they no longer sell coffee or beer packages onboard

 

-Shane

On 12/18/2018 at 2:55 PM, DLA57 said:

Thank you for posting all the lovely pictures we too will be taking the Meraviglia on the TA in April 2020 in the Yacht Club.  It will be our first time on this ship.   

Question: are any of the pools heated? 

I really enjoyed all these pictures and comments from your cruise. I am also sailing on the Meraviglia on the TransAtlantic eastbound 2020. Unfortunately, I will be in an ADA inside cabin with the other poor folk, LOL. But, I'll bet my stateroom will be bigger than yours, even if it doesn't include YC service.  Seriously, I am having the YC experience on a short Divina cruise in Dec 2019 and really looking forward to it. Re: Express elevators....If you are paying 3 -4 times the cost of other cabins on the ship, you deserve the ability to hijack the elevator, just saying. Stp_mmh5 Thanks again for all the great info and photos. I'm still trying to figure out how you got that shower shot. Was someone standing on the sink?

Thank You, Macon & Shane for this wonderful info of your cruise. It will certainly be helpful when I sail on the Meraviglia in April 2020. Sharon Rogers

On 12/18/2018 at 1:10 AM, CarrieAP said:

Anxious to hear about your stay in YC interior cabin. We are balcony folks but can’t afford one in YC during our 2020 TA so have booked the interior. Aware storage will be super tight but other than that hope it’s worth it to sacrifice a balcony for the great YC service and amenities. 

Hi Carrie

   Weren't you just on the Seaside Dec 8th sailing? I was on that sailing. I recently booked the eastbound transatlantic on the Meraviglia if you are going east bound. I started a roll call for that sailing.

On 12/16/2018 at 2:51 PM, SirWolf said:

following... great photos ! Thanks for taking the time and writing this review. We are on Bellissima (YC) in April 2019 and interested in every detail. We have not seen the express elevators on Seaview last September, must be new on Meraviglia and maybe on Bellissima.

I was just on the Seaview about 3 weeks ago and they do have the express elevators for Yacht  Club guests. They work the same way. If a YC guest calls it they over ride other guest calls. I noticed them when I was having dinner at Butchers Cut.

Back in January, we had another cruise out of Miami and I told the taxi guy I needed an accessible taxi to the hotel. He refused to call for one and told me to get into the first taxi. I said I can't do a regular taxi, and he told me if I didn't get it to that car, I wasn't going to get into any one as long as he was working. My sister had to lift the scooter into the trunk, without any help from the driver, and I had to struggle into the small taxi.

 

Miami is a horrible airport.

That is absolutely shameful! Even in Cozumel the taxi drivers found someone to lift my scooter into the back of a van to take me to the beach. Totally unacceptable!

Over the years I have received multiple gratuity pins from different cruise lines and I usually just threw them in a drawer when I got home. I think many of them ended up in the trash. Recently I decided it would be fun to collect pins from the various ships I have cruised on (30+) and put then on a lanyard where I attach my cruise card. I have found some pins from past cruises on Ebay. So far I have 8. The most surprising find was a Commodore Cruise line pin. That was one of the lines I sailed on about 30 years ago.

LOVE the Rootbeer to make rootbeer floats idea. Why haven't I thought of that?

 

Carnival cruisers: Love banana splits? In the MDR, banana splits are on the children's menu! :p

 

I am a bit - ok, a lot :rolleyes: - obsessive/compulsive and cannot stand clutter in the cabin. Throwing our non-hanging clothing onto the shelves in the closet makes me cringe. Dollar General to the rescue. I've purchased several of the fabric "drawers." They cost less than $5 each for the larger square/cube ones and @ $3 for the rectangular ones, weigh practically nothing, and fold completely flat. When we get our luggage in the cabin, I open our "drawers" and put things away. The smaller rectangular ones are great for corraling bedside items, too.

 

We've also started leaving things on hangers when we pack. Makes unpacking a breeze. When shopping, I ask to keep the store hangers and put the black ones away for cruising. Even the Hubs likes this one. :o

Prepacking items in packing cubes works great for cabin shelf organization too. Make unpacking so much easier too. Last cruise I bought an inexpensive set from ebay that had 3 cubes and 3 pouches. It was great!

For me it was in the early 990's on SS. Ocean Breeze.. Going through the panama Canal, then sailing & docking off the Achipelgo Islands, ( known as The San Blas Islands) seeing the indians in their own handmade Canoes come out to greet the ship, & their children jumping in the ocean to catch the quarters we would throw to them from the ship. Then at the end if the day, as the sun was setting over the mountains as the ship pulled away, seeing the silhouette of a few Kuna Indians paddling back home to their grass huts, infront of an orange sun set, passing the grass huts, with the faint view of the lush green mountains in the background.. Truly Story book right out of Peter Pan..

I know I went to San Blas on one of my cruises in the 90's (1995). I believe it was a Dolphin ship...not sure if Dolphin 4 or Ocean Breeze. I actually have a framed embroidered fabric panel done by one of the Kuna women hanging in my living room. That was certainly a unique place. I remember being greeted by boaters paddling up to the ship calling out "money, money, money" and passengers tossing coins out to them. I'll let you know if I have pictures of the ship/ crew if it turns out to be the Ocean Breeze.

I collect 1:1250 scale waterline models of ocean liners and cruise ships. I have about 300 models.

 

 

 

 

 

Wow! Quite a collection!

I have recently decided I want to collect pins from the cruises I have been on to put on a lanyard. I don't know what I did with my original ones from my sailings. Never thought to look at Goodwill. Thanks!

This is the first time I can recall hearing a request for this info. We do know of a group "Dialysis at Sea" who works with several cruise lines and actually provides specialized medical staff and equipment which is done with the cooperation of the onboard medical staff. You might Google this organization and see if they can provide you with specific guidance and perhaps the procedures of the various cruise lines. Otherwise, if you know a cruise line or lines that have your interest, you might try to call their toll free number, explain your question and ask if you can speak with their medical office. At the very least you should be prepared to obtain a letter from your treating physician saying that its OK for you to travel and cruise.

 

I also am posting a link to a site that talks about cruising on Carnival with home dialysis:

https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/196-cruising-with-home-dialysis-tips-from-a-platinum-cruiser

 

Best of luck to you...and we hope it all works out :).

 

Hank

That attachment post was awesome! I am not a dialysis patient, just a disabled RN who wants to encourage other folks with disabilities, be it physical mobilities, renal failure or other conditions that keep them from traveling to know that it is still possible to get out there and continue to enjoy that aspect of life that they assumed they had lost.

Very informative review. I have only once been on an inaugural cruise, Enchantment of the Seas, many years ago. I suppose I didn't realize how that affects dining room service at the time. Looking back, the service was a bit chaotic and slower than usual. I'm hoping the kinks will be worked out by the time I sail on the Seaside next December. I really loved the Divina's entertainment and I am actually glad they kept some of the Italian Opera flavor on this ship too.There are some Americans who actually enjoy that type of entertainment, believe it or not.

Cabin crawl... sounds like me on a cruise morning!

You must be on the all inclusive alcohol sailing LOL. We did our Cabin Crawl and it was quite fun to see the differences in the cabin layouts. 3 of the cabins were in the Yacht club so those members graciously offered us sodas and adult beverages when we visited their staterooms. I have my next stateroom picked out when I sail the Divina again.

Ugggg I just got my room....8th floor. Great views of the lifeboats.

LOL! I was upgraded from an inside to a balcony on Deck 8. I'm expecting a lifeboat view too! I'll be in 8119. Can't complain for the price I paid.

Aaahhh THANK YOU! That makes sense! Darn any idea how far the Fort Lauderdale aiport is from Port of Miami? I screwed up once thinking we were cruiseing out of Ft Lauderdale and it was actually out of cape Canaveral and I've still never lived it down! Wrong hotel, transportation, everything. I was scrambling last minute. Thank God someone on CC actually caught my mistake by saying "umm are you sure because that ship doesn't go out of that port!" Saved my butt...but still my husband makes fun of me!

 

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I'll bet you never lived that down!!! And for good reason. Port Canaveral is not exactly down the road from FLL. Luckily, Port of Miami is not that far. You can actually fly to MIA, FLL or West Palm Beach with reasonable commute connections. Might want to think about using an airline that flies to MIA instead for convenience sake and less transportation hassle. MIA now has connections to the Metro Mover and direct bus service to South Beach if you overnight in one of those areas.

The Cruise Critic Meet & Greet is planned for every sailing on MSC Divina and will be printed in your daily program on board. The ship selects the time/space depending on the availability of the lounges during each sailing; however, it is usually hosted during the first day at sea. At this time, there are no snacks or drinks provided during the meet & greet, but they are hosted near bars in the case that someone wants to purchase something.

 

Hope this helps!