Best Cat Mom

Get the burger and put the lobster salad on top. Surf and turf and oh so good. 🙂 And maybe some champagne to wash it down!

Glenn and Ryan took great care of us during our transatlantic. They are still on Divina and I saw a few comments here and elsewhere that they are still one of the top teams in Le Muse. They told us they'd still be on board in April so you should see them next week. PS: Remember that Ryan loves to have his picture taken. 🙂

Flying into Venice can be as "variable" as an MSC cruise! 🙂

Our favorite pizza is arugula and prosciutto. Keep in mind that you have to order tomatoes to get sauce on the pizza -- and don't forget to choose a cheese too.

We noticed that the pizzas were a bit smaller on Divina last November than they used to be so consider ordering 2 instead of one with two sets of toppings on the two halves. Of course, this might not be your experience since we're all used to MSC's variability (how's that for being kind? LOL).

One thing needed would be drinks -- since TSL is usually closed by around 1am, depending on how long guests linger there.

I hope you'll be able to share your thoughts about your first YC experience. Wishing you only the best!

Mehmet and Pepe told us that they would still be on Divina when we sail on 7 April.

I hope that you'll enjoy the Divina as much as we do. We were on a 17-day transatlantic last year and liked it so much that we booked the same crossing again for 2024. We also have a cruise on Divina coming up in April with a similar type of Western Caribbean itinerary as your current cruise. What was especially telling for us was how the crew continually commented to us that Divina is one of their favorite ships too. They say that the more intimate size allows them to get to know the guests better. Fingers crossed that you have a great trip and love your time on the Divina. Buon viaggio!

Ocean Cay is scheduled for temporary closure beginning 7 April, the departure date of our next cruise. We did not stop there on our last cruise (a transatlantic) so we added a cruise in September when <fingers crossed> it will be open again and perhaps vastly improved. We know there is a chance that the re-opening will be delayed whilst they perform their work on the dastardly combination of "Italian time" and "island time" but are hopeful that by September it will again be open. We are also hoping that the start of closure might possibly be delayed, but know that we are probably not going to be that lucky. PS: I spent my entire management career quoting that "hope is not a strategy" but what else is there in this situation? LOL

@JAGR 😞

True that there are no permanent TVs in TSL. I have seen on this board where YC added a special celebration for the game. Not sure if boarding day is too soon to have developed a relationship with staff where they'd want to accommodate fans of American football in a special way. Also, that first day might be too hectic with all else going on. (This is when the European-style of boarding at multiple ports may have been an advantage.) Just a thought -- if there are enough B2Bers interested, maybe it could have been pre-arranged? I don't know if YC Director Pepe is a football fan, but I do know that is very interested in keeping his YC guests happy. 🙂

TSL will be open and serving whenever you get back there. 🙂

We go as early as possible down to the muster station, making us some of the first to "swim upstream." We've always been recognized while fighting the crowds to go up the stairs and offered an elevator to get back to YC.

Always has been good for us. Imagine having to carry in 3+ glasses each to Butcher's Cut? Well, I guess the butler could bring them if they walk you to the restaurant. 😉

We also were asked about pillows in the "pre-sailing" email. There was a link to a web page in that email: https://info.msccruises.com/Yacht-Club-personalization_ENG_pillow-Menu-YC.html Here's what the web page displays:

Were they still in that front section? We had them in the back, on the raised area, but they said that Mehmet was moving them to the front starting with the next cruise.

I'm SO SO sorry! It was in one of the brochures in the cabin. See how it says pages 12 and 13 at the bottom? I cannot recall what the brochure general "topic" was though. 😞

Here's the Pillow Menu. We always get the first one on the left -- really firm and great for side sleepers like us:

Those are the exact scissors I always have in my checked luggage. I've never had problems at airports or with MSC.

If it is helpful to anyone, I've posted 17 days of Lunch menus in this thread: This is from a transatlantic that began in Barcelona and ended in Miami so it's likely the menus are a mixture of what will be on both Europe and Caribbean menus.

If it is helpful to anyone, I've posted 17 days of Dinner menus in this thread: This is from a transatlantic that began in Barcelona and ended in Miami so it's likely the menus are a mixture of what will be on both Europe and Caribbean menus.

Just found out that there is more than 1 Pepe in YC: Pepe (Guiseppe) Terminiello is indeed still on Divina as YC Director Pepe Arru (I believe that is the correct surname) is Food and Beverage Director on Lirica, currently in Brazil

And it'll only get better next time -- because you know what to expect and how to handle any blips. I can't wait to read about your next YC adventure! 🙂 Wait, do I see June 2024 in your signature? Only 5 months to go...

Just read through your entire trip comments while on the treadmill (only use it at home, never on the ships though). At first, I felt really bad that I wasn't around on CC to offer suggestions as to how to handle some of the difficulties you had early in your holiday. But as I kept reading, I saw that things were improving for you. And then when you mentioned Pepe, Rudy and Simone by name, I thought "Aha!" she's gotten to know the people who can help. 🙂 I hope that in the end you feel that this is just the first of many YC cruises for you! Thanks for sharing your journey with us.