Bibble

Can anyone tell me how easy it is to pick up beer vouchers upon boarding the ship?

Can we go to "any" bar, or a specifici bar? or do we get them at check-in in the terminal?

Thanks for any info!

Regarding these drink vouchers what do you do with them when you are at the pool. We are so use to having a sticker on our cruise card and have a lanyard to put the card on but with paper vouchers there is a good of losing them.

I was thinking the same thing. I suppose the savings garnered by buying vouchers will warrant dealing with coupons :)

You can always use the Divina app to keep in touch onboard

Oooh!!! thank you for that!!!

off topic for a moment, make sure you have a notarized permission slip from both parents for your friends child and a medical authorization slip too. (sorry if you already knew this)

No apologies necessary :)

Yes, I've had that typed up for a week

Today I went ahead and got a copy of her birth certificate at Vital Statistics, and I have the permission document signed, so we're all set!

Yay!

Everyone involved is beyond excited :)

If the child is 16 or 17 you do not have to submit the birth certificate. Just the expired (un damaged) passport. I just did this with my 16 year old daughter and had to argue with the lady at the passport office. But she went a head and submitted it with out the birth certificate, and I received the new one in 2 weeks with no problems. Good luck to you!!

 

Here is the link to the website http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/16-and-17.html

 

 

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Unfortunately, she's 11, so we have to go the "child" route.

But that's definitely good to know for future!

Yes, I have done this on MSC on my most recent trip. I booked two inside guarantees for my mother and me on the same booking. As this was a repositioning cruise and expected to be far from full and as I was MSC Club Silver (turning Gold on the trip), I thought there was a reasonable chance of an upgrade. Neither of us got an upgrade and I was surprised to find despite booking a year in advance, that MSC had allocated us cabins on different decks and in different parts of the ship.

 

I waited until around 10 days before departure to request cabins closer together. I thought there was still a chance of one of us being given the outside near the other. Instead we were given two new insides next door to each other.

 

In your case, as you have been given upgrades, you risk losing them to be nearer each other.

 

As for an empty cabin, cabin attendants see it all the time. There is little they have not seen.

Thank you for your experience :)

I would rather keep my upgrade than be close. I have no problem getting around the ship, and I'm sure we'll keep our meeting places closest to my parents' cabin. And for a short two-day cruise, texting will work for us to find each other.

Even worse....not only does everyone in your cabin have to purchase it, anyone you are cross-referenced with for dinner has to as well. Well, if you want to sit at the same table that is.

 

Bret

Oh man!!! and here I thought, better off for me as DH and I are booked in separate cabins due to no triple occupancy at time of booking (daughter is with him). BUT, now , my parents are linked to us... no way would they pay it.

Okay, maybe I"ll just stick with beer vouchers :)

Thank you all!!! That's what I was thinking.

On to Plan B - I did find that Vital Statistics is 3 blocks away from my office. I'm having the mother sign all the necessary forms, and picking up another birth certificate tomorrow morning. THEN booking the daughter :)

Yay! Well, I should hold my victory dance until I have the BC in my hand...

No, it's not a GTY. I booked an I1 and I got to pick my cabin. You have to go to the next screen to pick your cabin.

It turns out that although the category isn't a guarantee, the only ones available were guarantee.

I have a question for anyone who has renewed their child's passport lately.

Do they keep the birth certificate with the application and it comes back with the new passport, OR does the agent just check the parental connection and give it back, and only send in the old passport for renewal?

I have a situation with a friend who is working on renewing her daughter's passport for an upcoming trip. In the meantime, I'm trying to take the daughter on a cruise. I haven't booked the daughter yet, because I'm afraid that when she goes for the passport, they will keep the birth certificate.

(My next step that I just thought of today is to have her order a copy of the birth certificate to be safe, but I wanted to check if anyone knows this first).

I DO KNOW I COULD GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM THE PASSPORT PEOPLE, but I've called and been stuck on hold, then had to leave my desk,,, called back, hold again.. I can call tonight, but they will be closed.

Thank you for any experience anyone can share!

I don't want to sound harsh, but that's the risk of booking guarantee cabins. There's always the option to pay more and select specific cabins if you have specific needs.

I do understand that.

I was just asking the possibility. I'm nowhere near upset, we got upgrades which are great!

And I'll get a lot of exercise, as my cabin is two decks below, and much further back than my husband and daughter (booked in two double occupancy cabins because no triples available). But I'm guessing more that I'll be kicking my daughter to the couch, and sharing their cabin, and subsequently leaving an empty cabin. Makes me wonder what the cabin steward would think with it staying empty the entire trip - LOL!

You're welcome! I'm guessing you'll be on the May 17th sailing? So am I. I did also purchase the Classic drink package for $88 so it truly can be an all-inclusive weekend getaway.

 

If he's still onboard, make sure you go visit George the bartender from Jamaica. He's usually in the Golden Jazz Bar after 4pm. Ask him about a "Steel Bottom"....it's a drink he turned me onto in Jamaica.

 

Bret

Is the drink package on MSC like on Carnival - that all adults in the cabin have to purchase it?

I know that when we booked 3 guarantee cabins, we had no guarantees (no pun intended! LOL!) that we would be near each.

We have just been assigned our cabins, and two are on the same deck, opposite sides of the ship. I found available cabins, in the same category, same deck, next to each other.

I called to see about moving, and was told that the agent on the phone couldn't do it, that we'd have to go through inventory. (oh, and we got great upgrades) and might lose our upgrade. I said "No, that's okay, I'm not going to risk that".

So I sent a note online, and explained our situation, that for at least two of the cabins, one has my daughter in it and one is my parents, who would watch my daughter at night if we go to a late show or such, and that it would be great if we could be closer.

I'm hoping that would be enough (and no, I'm not counting on it, and I"m not looking for any extra upgrade or anything like that, I'm just hoping to get near each other).

So, has anyone ever managed to move guarantee cabins?

If you do rent a car, I will also confirm that it's an easy drive right up the interstate. I'd say from rental car (downtown Miami) to rental car at PBI it would be roughly an hour and 10 minutes. and very easy.

Yes, much different that CCL (though that may be a good thing). I'm just wondering if this is a rule meant for the European market or also for the American market. I don't want to break the rules but this seems very unusual for a mass market cruise ship. And as I joked about in an earlier post, how would one get to and use a pool?

Exactly!

I'm cool with "different", just want to be prepared. But also don't want to spend the night dressed up if I could be in jeans at the casino... I guess I'll just have to overpack! LOL!

How do you know if your requested seating has been granted? My edocs only state that early seating was requested.

 

As for clothing, I also read on the website that no shorts or jeans are supposed to be worn around the ship after 1800. Really???

We're in the same boat! (no pun intended - LOL!)

I just read about "no shorts after 6pm".

After 6:00pm, jeans, t-shirts, shorts, and bare feet are not permitted in the ships' public areas.

I'm only doing a 2-nighter, but wow, that's VERY different from Carnival & RCCL. I'm glad I saw that here. I wouldn't be allowed out of my cabin if I didn't!!

Yes they could go down. They did not like it though, it was to slow. They had to crawl out the end of because they did not make it all the way to the bottom.

Thank you for your help!!!!

Also, another question if you don't mind - I just read somewhere about "no shorts after 6pm?"

Did this hold true for a Caribbean cruise? Kids too?

Thanks!

I'm still new to MSC...

I booked my cruise over the phone, I have my booking number, and I have an "account" on the website.

Is there a way to view my reservation online? (I do see where I can checkin online, but I'm not ready to checkin, as I don't have my passport with me). I just want to check if I've gotten a cabin assigned yet, etc.

Thanks for any help you can give this newbie!

I've been on both, I'd say choose by itinerary or price, you'll be happy either way :)

We just brought water on board the Divina last week. No alcohol though.

Have a great trip!

That's good to know :)

Expect check in to begin around 11:00.

 

If everything is proceeding according to schedule, boarding will begin around 12:00, Cabins should be ready about 2:00. Plenty of food at the buffet until your cabin is ready.

Thank you! I'll probably end up at port around 10:30 just because I can't help myself. But at least I Know I'll have to wait.

You will have a great time!

My boys tend to enjoy hanging out in the pool, so that's what we did on the sea days. That was one thing I wished they had more kids activities for sea days. My boys don't like the kids clubs on ships.

Were they allowed on the water slide? I saw somewhere else that it's called a teen slide or something, and wasn't sure if that meant there was an age minimum.

Yes, boarding is still early. Anywhere between 11:30 and Noon depending on CBP clearance.

 

No, you can't bring food, water, soda or alcohol. Now that is the official answer. Many people on here have said they have gotten it on with no issue. Feel free to try....just be aware they can confiscate it.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Bret

Thanks so much!

With it only being 2 nights (I saw on my other thread you're going too), I think I can handle not bringing my own water. Next week I'm going to investigate the drink packages... (who am I kidding? I'll probably look it up & down tonight!)

Yes.

Great!

I'm so used to Carnival, that I don't want to just assume anything in particular is the same... trying to get it all sorted out before I step foot on the ship :)

you never get tired??? luch and dinner ARE free on MSC you pay 3.5 after 11pm for delivery. On what line you get free specialty coffe? an I hope you know about Princess and HAL special adult decks for charge.

So you're saying that room service is free (just like Carnival) up until 11pm (then extra charge for delivery)?

Thank you!

Our family of 4, mom, dad and twin boys 10, had a great time on the Divina.

My mom and her friend also joined us. I will give you a quick review of the experience. The ship was BEAUTIFUL. My mom has stated to many people that this is the most beautiful ship she has been on (she's been on about 4). Check in went very smoothly and we were on board and have lunch at 12:30. We then went to tour the ship. CLEAN! This ship was so clean.

We did not have our bags before dinner so my husband had to wear shorts.

The dining room was great. Gusti was our waiter. Every night he would cut my sons' steak. He loved that. My husbands complaint was it was challenging to get a cocktail during dinner. The drink coupons were very easy to use.

 

The first night I went to the excursion desk to double check that my reservation for the dolphin swim in Grand Cayman was scheduled. I did this online before we left and called to confirm it. It was not, so we needed to sign up again. We had to rooms going. The night before they give you the meeting place and time, well they did not put my room together with my moms. Long story short, we did finally get together- my complaint was how it all was handled. We tend to vacation a lot in Disney and I feel that they have superior customer service. MSC could learn from them. This error was MSC's mistake, yet not one person apologized to me. The excursion was awesome until the end when we had to take a hot taxi back to the ship and their was not enough room for all of us. My 10 year old did not even have a seat. I know this was not MSC's fault, but it is good to let them know. I did bring this politely yo the excursion desk and still was not thrilled with the way managed my complaint.

 

The shows onboard were amazing, I think we saw 4 or 5 of them. The food I thought was comparable to any other ship I was on. I wished that had a few more kids activities. All and all we had a wonderful time and would sail on MSC again.

Thank you for this. Just booked Divina for a short sailing in May.

Did your sons find enough to keep them interested? (my 11 year old daughter is very comfortable on Carnival, and I'm hoping it will be the same on the Divina).