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Hi All! We're looking for suggestions for hotels in the Miami area that have shuttles to/from the airport and/or to/from the port.

 

Thanks!

If you want a less expensive hotel try this:

La Quinta Inn & Suites Miami Airport East

3501 Northwest 42nd Ave (Le Jeune Rd)

Miami, FL 33142

1-305-871-1777

It's nice and clean and you get a continental breakfast. There is also a nice restaurant very close by.

They have shuttles to/from the airport and a shuttle to the port. You can pay 20$ for a shuttle back to the hotel.

I am a first time cruiser. Thankfully, I have enough friends who are TAs to have a good idea of what to expect of cruising in general. Several are antsy for pictures-and I am a very willing shutterbug.

 

Some of my experiences will be different from the normal MSC sailings, as I'm on a full-ship charter. We'll have the same crew, but none of the usual shows. No formal night, more themed nights.

 

Also, I am traveling with an electric scooter and have booked a HC room, so there will be some feedback on how MSC is for those in wheelchairs and ECVs.

 

Your mindset is similar to my own, I am often called Mary Poppins. :D It is a vacation, time to let go of the stress.

My hubby and I traveled on the Divina and had no problems with his electric scooter. We ordered it from "Special Needs at Sea" and it was there waiting for us when we arrived at our cabin.

BTW - this was our 16th cruise and our 1st with MSC. They win - hands down!:D

DH and I just returned from a cruise on the Divina and it was the most DIVINE cruise we have ever been on. We are well aware of the "European Style" as we have traveled extensively thru Europe. I have raved about our experience with MSC and hope to have sent the many new customers. So...............:p:p:p:p

My DH and I were on the 11/30 sailing and had the honor to be in the Yacht Club - it was the finest experience we have ever had on any cruise we've been on (and this was our 16th cruise!!).

Service was second to none. We were escorted to Le Muse on the first evening and were waited on promptly. AND the second evening, we were again waited on promptly and were finished with our meal in a little over an hour - we skipped dessert. The food was delicious!!

In every aspect of the Yacht Club, we were treated like VIP's and they catered to our every whim without being overbearing. Many an afternoon we spent at the One Pool. All we had to do was catch any waiter's eye and we were served whatever we chose, be it a drink or food.

I have no clue as to what the OP was talking about, but we will never travel with another line as the Yacht Club has spoiled us!

Brenda & Fred

I also had a problem with my documents from MSC. I contacted them directly thru the number on their website and I received a return call within one hour and had all of my documents the same day via e-mail including printable luggage tags.

This is who I spoke with: david.maceus@msccruisesusa.com

He was wonderful!!

Being such a large ship, walking with a cane may be slow. A wheelchair means someone has to push you. My husband and I just came off the Divina and he is handicapped. I ordered a scooter thru "Special Needs at Sea" and it was delivered directly to our stateroom and all we had to do was leave it there when we were finished. We were also able to take it with us when we left the ship (pier only - we could not take it on a tender). It made a world of difference for him as he had much more independence. It was also great for me as I didn't have to push him!

Consider it - it was WELL worth the price.

How refreshing, an objective, positive review, loved it, thanks Rich. With under 6 weeks to go we can't wait to go cruising on the Divina. One question to someone who must know the definitive answer: how did the gratuity/hotel charge work for you on this cruise?

 

John and Sandra

Leeds, UK

We just left the automatic deduction on so we didn't have to be bothered. We did, however, give our butler and cabin steward an extra tip as they were outstanding.

denandben: Most of the time, even in the YC, dress was casual resort. I saw a few people all dolled up, but I wouldn't worry about it.

We arrived at the pier at 12:30P and went right aboard.

DH and I were met at the port by MSC rep and were taken ASAP to our point of entry to the ship which only took about 5 minutes. (the only thing I was curious about was that we were only offered water - not champagne - but that's OK).

Our Butler was outstanding - his name was Nata - and he was with us thru the entire cruise, catering to our every whim and being there on a moment's notice.

Being all inclusive, we enjoyed many cocktails in the Top Sail Lounge, The One Pool Bar, our butler service and the mini bar in our stateroom. If something was missing, all we had to do was call the butler!

Nata offered to unpack for us, but I chose to do it on my own. However, every time we stepped out of our cabin, it appeared that they were watching (just kidding!!) because our room was spotless each time we returned.

The food in Le Muse was second to none. However, we only ate there 2 nights. We are very private persons and would rather order room service and eat on our balcony. We didn't try to order from the restaurant, but room service was very good.

ALL service staff were extremely unobtrusive (even those that we encountered in the "downtown" of the ship. All were extremely polite and an asset to MSC.

Congratulations on your new endeavor!!

Don't forget to choose from the pillow menu. I used the "Shadow" contoured pillow and slept like a log!

Know what? I didn't bother with the internet OR phone - I was on vacation. Screw the outside world. My family knew how to contact me in case of emergency and that's all that mattered!!!

We just returned from the 11/30 out of Miami. This was our 16th cruise (the 1st with MSC). We are officially spoiled rotten and will never go with another line. Unless you go with an extremely expensive luxury line, you will never find a comparable experience. We LOVED it. Go forth and enjoy!!!!

Yacht Club - NO contest: Butler service (who will unpack and/or pack your suitcases), all beverages included, private pool and hot tubs, TERRIFIC food in our private restaurant, wondefful buffet in the Top Sail Lounge for breakfast and lunch at the One Pool. There is nowhere you can get this type of service unless you go with a much more expensive luxury cruise. Grab it while you can!!

There is an awesome coffee machine behind the bar in the Top Sail lounge! You will love your suite, we were in the other Royal suite (16008). It was incredible.

Hi, Brenda. Thanks for the good review on Yacht Club. I just posted a question about coffee in Yacht Club but thought I would also ask you: is there a coffee machine in the Yacht Club suite? And how much did you have your butler do for you...dare I ask for morning delivery of coffee every morning? Did he escort you to entertainment venues? Did he unpack/pack for you? And did you tip him extra?

When I was on Celebrity, we had a butler but he was divided among 6 suites so was not always available. Is this the same on Divina?

Thanks for any info. :)

There is no machine in the suite, but if you ask the butler, he would be more than happy to deliver coffee each morning.

He did indeed escort us to where we wished.

He asked if he could unpack, but I chose to do it myself.

I did tip him extra at the end of the cruise as he WELL deserved it!

The staff was very kind and unobtrusive. All you had to do was catch their eye and you had anything you wanted. Food in Le Muse was outstanding as well as the small breakfast and lunch provided on the One Pool deck.

I'm spoiled rotten and don't think I'll be able to go on another line. You'll never get this kind of service unless you go on the luxury lines.

:D:D:D:D

Be careful....I have heard of people who have spent $70 on a cab!

Just returned from the 11/30 cruise in the Yacht club. It was by far the BEST cruise my DH and I have ever enjoyed a cruise (this was our 16th). Being in the YC was the best money we ever spent. Being handicapped, DH was treated like gold and they made sure that he was included in everything that was provided on the ship.

The food was FABULOUS in the dining room as well as the Top Sail Lounge, The One Pool, and Room Service.

Our butler was acutely aware that DH was handicapped and went out of his way to make sure that he was accommodated.

We are now completely spoiled and will never again travel in anything else except the YC. Dollat for dollar, you cannot beat the price!!

Any questions, let me know.

Brenda

Just came back - they were all male.

GO NUTS!!! :eek:

I am just glad I am not your TA :p

:D:p:eek: LOL

Wonderful review!!! I'll be on her next week!! :D

Why do you have MSC in your sig line?? I only put ships I sailed on in my sig line

You never sailed MSC did you ??

Don't bother, it won't answer. :cool:

7 - Western Carribean on the Divina. WHOOO HOOO!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D

This will be our 16th cruise as well. I have never cruised with MSC, but have done a TON of research and the Divina looks awesome. Last year we went with Carnival and I was disappointed with them. Don't get me wrong, we had fun, but the decor seemed too gaudy and there were too many drunk people. We had a Grand Suite and the only perk was early boarding. When we sail on the Divina next week, we'll be in the Yacht Club so there will be a LOT of perks!! Not only that, the price was outstanding.