Smurf2017

When we booked on board a couple of weeks ago we received a 5% discount, $50 obc and double Voyager's Club points. The amounts received do vary according to the type of cabin and ours was a basic inside. The I think that suites qualified for $200 obc.

I have a leaflet somewhere with all the details that I can scan in, then I'll post it here.

The OP said "When it comes back from Europe" !!!!!!!!

We weren't in Europe. Our cruise was Caribbean, South & Central America.

We came off Divina 11 days ago and used Galaxy on the last night. It was a regular menu and I don't recall seeing any sushi on there.

In Ireland, we are used to food that scalds the osephagus(SP) so not quite as European as the continent! Enjoy the cruise! Ken

Easily cooled with a pint of the black stuff! Cheers!

Thank you both for your informative replies.

@CruiseIreland - As a Brit who has lived in five European countries and visited many others, with the exception of Greece, I'm not sure I can agree with you on Europeans serving warm food. In fact, only last year I enjoyed a wonderful 10 days touring your beautiful country, savouring piping hot, delicious dishes everywhere we went. I understand all the other points you make and, as we booked our flights today, I guess we are good to go.

Thanks again

We have recently returned from a 12 day cruise on Divina. On day 3 of our cruise we took the plunge and booked for Splendida for 2019, but by day 12 we were wondering if that was a mistake.

Our main problems with Divina were the food and disorganisation in the ship's operation.

As raised by many before me, the food was not hot enough, especially in the buffet. I do wonder if maintaining foods at these low temperatures is actually a cause for concern health wise. I have worked in the travel industry and our representatives had to make daily temperature probes of food in hotel buffets. None of what we were offered on Divina would have passed the test.

There were many issues on board with organisation and these were not handled particularly well when pointed out to staff. The main offenders being the staff on Reception or Guest Services who at times seemed to contradict one another.

To those of you who have experienced both ships, are we right to be concerned about our future booking? I did hear it mentioned several times by other passengers, that many of the original Divina crew had been transferred to Seaside. The vacant slots were then filled with newcomers who were still settling in. I can understand if that is the case, but surely at least the staff on Guest Relations should have a grip on company policy, wherever they have come from.

To save anyone taking the time to suggest cancelling the booking, as a UK customer we are not able to do that without losing our deposit.

The taxi journey will be a minimum of 20 minutes on a Sunday, but other days will take longer.

You do not say if you will be departing from T1 or T2 and whether a Schengen or non-Schengen flight. Answers to those questions will help others to give you advice on likely times to pass through security.

If you self-disembark at 8 a.m. you will probably be O.K.

Always print everything with MSC.

Thanks for the advice. Will do.

Our dinners have been over 90 minutes but we have made them so. We love sitting at the table chatting. Eating good food with a nice bottle of wine!

 

 

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Good for you Nikki. I've never understood this mad quest to gulp down good food and rush away from the table. As you say, relax a while and enjoy the company, good food and wine. You are on holiday after all. Why be in such a rush to end it?

We prefer a late dinner. So it will be the show at 7, a couple of drinks at the bar and then dinner for us.

Only 6 more sleeps!

Yes, it is in the number code on your cruise card. You have to make reservations onboard.

Thanks very much for that.

For the first time, we have booked a speciality dining package for our upcoming cruise.

How do the restaurants know that we have the package? Is it coded on our key card or should I print something off from our booking?

As an ex-coach driver in the UK and mainland Europe, I certainly never expected a tip. If I received one at the end of a trip, I would go home satisfied that I had done a good job and kept the customers happy. As Fiona said, sometimes you will find a basket at the front of the coach, but whether you drop cash in there or hand it to the guide, it is customary for it to be shared between them.

Exactly the same here and I thought I was going crazy until I read this. So thanks for putting my mind at rest.

I worked my way through a booking getting as far as cabin selection, where the system selected a cabin for me. It also offered the option to change the cabin. Selecting that showed all other cabins greyed out. That was using both an Android tablet and Chrome on a desktop. Iclop has given me an idea though and, when I'm back at the desktop, I'll give IE a try.

Personally, I don't see too much advantage to booking onboard - the T&Cs seem quite restrictive to my mind, anyway - and I've never been tempted. You'll get some OBC as an incentive.

 

You would certainly be able to avail of any promotions running in your neck of the woods - the Cruise Consultant can only offer you the current prices (and promotions) from your region.

Thanks for this. Can you explain what you consider are more restrictive T & Cs please.

Thank you all for that very useful additional information.

A couple of points. Into Cruise, you say that any booking is credited to our current TA, so after booking do I deal with MSC or my TA? Hopefully not my TA as I wouldn't pay them in washers. They were useless with our current booking.

Also, you mentioned the possibility of changing the booking, but that does not work for us in the UK unless we forfeit our substantial ($650) deposit.

Thanks for the heads up with the situation regarding the future cruise staff. I was going to hit them on our first sea day but will wait for one of the port days when we plan to spend some of our day enjoying the calmness on board.

I'm not sure the casino would be any help. I gave up on the machines when they started paying out on more than the middle line and took the handles off the side! :confused:

Thanks technoge, but can you schedule a pickup with Uber for the return? I do not have data included in the US with my plan and there is no wifi in Terminal F. There is wifi in Terminals D and E but I'm not sure if it is possible to walk between the terminals.

Mine is an Uber code.

 

Neal

 

 

 

Neal from Cincinnati.

Thanks Neal

Thank you everybody. We're checking out what is available locally before we weigh up our options.

I have never been in a position to book ahead before but find that I could during our next cruise. I have a few questions :

What advantages are there to booking on board?

Is it possible to book fly-cruise or is it cruise only?

Will they honour current promotions? For instance, in Europe at the moment they are offering a free classic drinks package for Fantastica bookings.

TIA

Mine was for Uber. We both get credit when you use it.

Thank you.

Thank you both. Are they for Uber or Lyft please?

Does anyone want to share a code for Uber or Lyft please?

We will be leaving for Caribbean cruise from Miami and have the deluxe drinks package.

I understand that until we are in international waters, we will have to pay 7% sales tax on any drinks. I don't have a problem with that, but was wondering how they handled drinks from the mini bar. I'm guessing that no tax will be due as the mini bar will not be restocked until the ship is outside the taxation zone. Is that correct?

Flymia is a lot nicer about it than I am.

 

It is a meh hotel in a bad location.

 

I would not stay there.

 

Please see if you can find other accommodations.

Thanks for that but the hotel is already booked and paid for so not an option. We arrive around 10.30 pm on a Friday and leave around 10 a.m. on Sunday so only a couple of nights.

I am about to hit the 'Buy' button on a day resort pass but will ask first this time. I'm looking at the Confidante at 4041 Collins Ave. for our post cruise / pre-flight last day in Miami. Any thoughts please?