MTL=CRUISEFAMILY

Hello, we are on that same cruise, join our roll call:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1826358

We rented a car from FLL ON THE 21ST and drop off at MIA, next day for about $60

Will certainly add this to do shots in my next cruise video, well done!

For some reason, feeling hungry....

Thank you, once again increases the comfort when it comes from an experienced cruiser..

Cannot wait for our Feb cruise...still gotta shovel alot of snow here in Canada befor then:(

Have a great trip....we will have plenty of questions FOR YOU, once you return:D

I like to read about the new experiences of people on the Divina now that it is sailing out of Miami. It is rude to ask people not to start new threads. This is Cruise Critic, you can post what you want. If you don't like Divina threads, don't read them.

no one said NOT to post them, simply check if a similar subject already exists, and continue the discussion within that thread.

You can do this within the section you are in, and click the search this thread tab, on the top right corner, insert you query and you WILL find lots of info.

cannot post web site, but if you google sea scanner and the ship name you will find it....

bump...:D

Hope you are enjoying your TA,

If you have a chance, can you please let us know the overall feel of the ship, layout, space, pool area, and general references to some comments made on the boards about nickel and dimiing.

I understand that new crew started with your cruise and there must be some initial adjustments and adapting, let us know if this is the case and if the situation is improving.

Entertainment? Enough to satisfy a wide range of tastes?

..and of course, your personal impressions of food.

Thanks in advance.

We were in Quebec and I was just wandering thru the shops and happened upon two women we had nicknamed the "wicked witches* in a small, elegant gift shop. (You know the type, looks for things to complain about ... I could never be a crew member. I'm pretty sure i'd be fired for pitching such types overboard).

 

The were complaining "loudly" that these damned people should learn English. One wanted to pay $10 for a lovely silk watercolored scarf. It was priced at about $40 American. After listening to one old biddy speaking very slowly and loudly to the clerk ... then cuss at her for not responding I couldn't reign in my mouth. I spoke up and said ... we are in Quebec ... they speak French here. I got "the look" and they stormed off, throwing the scarf at the clerk, slamming the door and knocking over a display.

 

I helped the clerk pick up the mess and tried, in my best high school French to apologize for "my fellow shipmates". In perfect English (with a beautiful French accent) the "clerk" introduced herself as the shops owner. She presented me with the scarf as a gift.

 

I wore it all over the ship, until finally the old biddy rudely asked how much I paid for the scarf. I smiled sweetly and explained it was a gift from a lovely lady ... who spoke perfect English ... to "polite" Americans.

Loved this.

But you know, French Quebecers expect everyone to speak french to them everywhere they go too:D

We'll be on Century March 19 through April 3; Rich Clesen told me he will be CD on our sailing. I'm not sure of the exact date he joins Century - he's currently 'on vacation' state-side.

Thanks, we enjoyed him on the Constellation last year, very present and engaging

Will be on the Century in March, anyone have a current update on staff?

 

Does this also mean we don't have to settle our account until the end of the second week? Or do we settle at the end of both weeks?

 

Yes your account carries on until the end of your cruise, one total for both weeks

Gosh that would be excellent if that were the case! Anyone got any experience of B2B in the USA on MSC?

 

We did a B2B on the Poesia in 2010 USA

As stated the card you receive will be valid for both cruises

You will have to go through customs and will be able to go back on after about an hour

 

Make sure you are in the correct line, one for going off the ship, for a few hours, the other for staying and re entering the ship, it does get confusing, either way you will be informed through the dailies on procedures

 

Enjoy

Hi, I got more info. Divina will be sailing eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Miami to the usual marquee ports (Cozumel, and Grand Cayman, along with Falmouth, in the west, and St. Maarten/St. Thomas in the east). But here's the cool news: On both swings the ship will call at NCL's Great Stirrup Cay, its private island.

 

At this point there's been no announcement about Poesia remaining in S. Florida during that winter season (remember we're talking Fall 2013, so a year and a half away). BUT I have heard rumors that a Poesia-class ship may well also be based in S. Florida over the winter months (and even that a Lirica-class vessel may ultimately, a couple of years down the road, be in North America year-round -- that's a first for MSC if that happens).

 

Carolyn

Thank you

Great news...

We really enjoyed our MSC CRUISES and the European feel.

Hello from the Bay of Biscay -- onboard MSC's new Divina. We boarded yesterday at the shipyard (it's the first time I've ever cruised from a shipyard, pretty cool) at St. Nazaire and are heading south to stops in Lisbon, Cadiz for Seville, and Gibraltar before we hop off.

 

What can I tell you about the ship? Happy to answer any questions and post impressions from time to time (we're also chronicling the trip on Facebook, Twitter, and on our blog so stay tuned).

 

Carolyn

 

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor in Chief

Cruise Critic

Would it be possible to inquire what itineraries are in the plans once the Divina is in the carribbean for late 2013, and if the Poesia will still be sailing out of Fort Lauderdale .

Thanks in advance

Although we are English, we sometimes switched to French so others wouldn't make conversation with us, didn't want to hear all the whining.

 

Bonjour Monicajay

LOL, I do this too.

Not just on cruises, but to hagglers on the beach, pushy salespeople etc.

The most practical item we bring is a foldable shoe bag, with space for 20 or so pockets

We put all our shoes, sandals etc in this over the door material shoe holder (from the dollar store)

We also throw any other item that can be kept off the floor, especially when you are four in the room.

Good Luck

We came from cruise last wednesday and received MSC Club cards this week. I think they were pretty fast.

Wow, good to hear,

I have cruised 3 times with MSC and 2007 to this past Xmas and still have not received my card but have a number which has an expiry date on the paper it is on. I have emailed them numerous times, called and nothing to date. I also have difficulty trying to find out the total amount of points i have. On our last MSC cruise met a TA who mentioned one can accumulate points to use toward a cruise.....is that true and where does one get that info. There USA site never responds to emails or phone calls though messages are left. Our Dec cruise with them was ok only complaint was the entertainment.... as not up to par as the other cruises on the same ship previous in years. It is time for them to change or put on a new itinerary for their shows and have there dancers learn more than 6 dance steps ...... so if you know how one can get their membership card in an efficient and quick way shorter than my time span, pls let me know.

Thanks

Chris

I did get through the USA office in Florida. Ask for the Person in charge of the card program. Lucy Schnorrbusch

Yes by accumulating points you can get a % discount on your next cruise (based on the level you are at)

..if all else fail email the president , Rick Sasso, I know he ALWAYS answers his email and makes sure things happen. I unfortunately cannot locate it now, hopefully someone online has it for you..good luck

T Kind of puts the antics on these forums into perspective doesn't it.

Indeed!

The evening news covers it extensively, between the flooding and Haiti disaster it kinda makes you enjoy what we have and take for granted.

Having cruised on both MSC and Celebrity, my experience is that they're at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to smoking. On Celebrity we didn't encounter any sort of "smoking problem". We never noticed smokers and were never affected or restricted by smokers. In contrast, apart from the theatre and dining areas, there was barely anywhere on Poesia where we could go without being affected by smokers. This included most of the lounges and bars ... especially the large Pigalle lounge where many mainstream activities are held ... but which "welcomes smokers".

I had issues with smoking too, the Lirica was much more controlled, the Poesia, not so much.

The large Zebra lounge, where most of the evening activities were held luckily did not allow for smoking, but to get to it you had to pass a few smoking lounges.

Off topic:

AndrewK, how is the situation in Australia, Re:Flood levels? I assume you are not in the vicinity of these?

Does anyone know how the MSC Club works? Does MSC actually send you a card? If they dont send a card how do they know if your a member, to recieve the member benefits. Thanks

After your first cruise, you can enroll online. Yes you do receive a card, but it takes a long time to get it.