Mama Lo

You can send any number of items on any given day except the day before disembarkmenr, one that day you can send up to 10 pieces in the morning and you get it back the same day.

So they bring it back on hangers ???

You get to decide if you want it on hangers or folded. There is a place to indicate it on the form.

I'm looking at this cruise with kids next year wanted to know if you felt like Yacht Club was worth it with how Port intensive Mediterranean Cruises are

Floridian1,

I was trying to figure out how to message you directly as this thread is a bit old.

I was on the Divina that same week, when we booked YC wasn't available, we ended up with us in a fantastica balcony and our boys 13 and 15, across the hall in a fantastica interior. To answer your question above I think that it depends on your family. Where I do think it would be nice to have a less hectic breakfast, there was plenty of choice and we always found a clean table. We were off the ship as soon as we could get our acts together. We didn't have to wait in line more the 10 people to get off and they were really quick at scanning the cards. By the time we got back to the ship there was little time to enjoy any activities since we were getting up to do it again the next day. We had lovely dinners in the dining room most of the nights and ate in the buffet twice.

If we had to do it over I'm not sure that I would spend the extra $800+ per person. That probably equals more then we spend ashore in all the ports.

We did all the ports on our own and have the most wonderful time. I'd be happy to tell you about any of them.

Happy planning!!

Lois

Hi Dennis,

We just got off the Divina the week before last. We boarded in Marseille since people get on and off at every port this may be a bit different since the dock/ports are not all configured the same. Our table mates that got on the Genoa had a similar experience.

You will get to the port, you will give your luggage to a porter and get on a check in line. If you still have your luggage at that point they can take it from you then. You give your cruise documents that you print at home and show your passports. Seems silly but make sure that you know your cabin number, they keep the boarding paper. They will give you a boarding number and sent you to a waiting area. Then you wait until you number is called. You find your way to your cabin and you will find your cruise card on your bed along with any other stuff you might get like we were Fantastica so we had the drink coupon book, also we had pre purchased a coffee package and the internet that info was there too.

If I am remembering correctly they didn't take our photo until the next morning when we went to disembark. I am a little fuzzy about that piece.

As for setting us the credit card, its very easy. There are machines that you select your language stick your cruise card in then follow the instructions. You will need to have your credit card on hand for this step. There is no rush to do this, we were accruing charges for four days before adding our credit card. Just be sure to do in, as we saw people being denied access off at disembarkation and being sent to the giant line to settle up.

Drink packages and other info is noting on your card. One little issue we had was, when booking on the US website you are giving free water in the dining room. This wasn't noted on our card and the waiter at dinner insisted we pay for water at dinner. It took several trips to the desk and a few days to get this sorted out.

We had the most amazing time on our trip and I hope that you do as well!!

Lois

I was on the Divina two weeks ago, buying the laundry package was the best decision! We traveled from the states to the Mediterranean with only carryons!

We bought the 40 piece package and sent clothes each day. Besides what we were wearing everything was always clean. You have to have it ready before 10 am and it was on our bed the next day when we got back to the ship anywhere between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. You have the choice of folded or hung on hangers. Items were washed and ironed. Everything was returned perfectly and ready to wear.

Pukekolive, thanks. I had planned to go to guest services and explain that we have a train to catch. We will be ready to dash as soon as we dock. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly.

Laburgnoli, how exciting! We will just be one day ahead of you. :D

Labrugnoli, you are correct! I've mixed up the dates. We indeed embark on the 30th.

Sofsolnanny, that excursion does sound nice. Thanks for the feedback!

Cullyman15, I too found this curious but figured I'd see how it goes next week. I do remember something from when I did the status match about how you get your card in your cabin.

I'm about to burst with excitement for this trip, my kids are tired of hearing about it even though they are super excited too. We just had a day taken away from spring break due to the snow day from yesterday storm so it feels wrong to gloat when they are complaining that the kids have to be in school (while we are floating in the Mediterranean).

Thanks for the info, TupeloHoney!

I came across your video on another thread. Looks like you had a blast and your kids are adorable!

We are one week and counting. Let's just hope the NE USA doesn't have another northeaster! We have piles of snow outside.

TupeloHoney,

Thanks so much for this info! It sounds like everything will be fine for us on both ends of our trip. Was your arrival back at 7 earlier then scheduled?

Once you went aboard in Genoa, did you get back off the ship to explore? We are hoping to have enough energy in Marseille to do that.

Also, did you do anything exciting in Genoa? I am hesitant to plan anything because we will be suffering from the time change. I do know that we will want to have a look around and eat some salami! If anything stood out, I'd love to hear about it.

Lois

Preziosa,

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm glad to hear that we will be able to get on board immediately.

Sounds like if we are all packed and ready to go we will hopefully make it. Will we have to be out of our cabin at a certain time? I'm just wondering if we will be dragging our luggage around until we disembark.

How exciting that you go aboard on Friday! I will be watching for any info that you share. I hope you have a fantastic trip.

Lois

Hello smart travelers!

We are leaving for our first Mediterranean cruise in 9 days and we are new to MSC. Since all of the other cruise we have gone on were closed loop I was trying to understand when we are able get on and off the ship.

After a phone call with MSC it seems that the Divina will dock at noon on the 31st. We are scheduled to arrive in Marseille at 11 so I am assuming that we will be able to go directly to the port, check in and get on board soon after. Will we have access to our cabin to put our hand luggage down? Or better, take a nap?

This is where I am really hoping that anyone with experience can shed some light. We are scheduled to dock back in Marseille a week later at 1:00 pm. The representative on the phone told me that I needed to allow 5 hours to get off the ship. That just sounds crazy, they are scheduled to be leaving then! We are headed to Disneyland Paris for the weekend and I would like to be able to purchase train tickets. We will be able to move all of our luggage ourselves when leaving the ship. Do you think we will be able to make a 2:34 pm train? Bonus points for suggestions on the best way to get to the train.

Thanks so much!

Hello!

I see that you are in the same situation as my family. We will be arriving with our 13 and 15 year olds to Civitavecchia via ship and plan to spend the day in Rome. Although I have never been to Rome, I figured that I'd reply and share this map that I found while looking to plan our day. Check this out:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8986241,12.461387,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!6m1!1s1NMDsSlMJ5h7XnpPvJ6SuCXdpiME?hl=en

We are working to modify it to suit our taste.

Good luck and hopefully someone might come along with additional thoughts.

Ciao!

Hello,

I have read that there is only 1 electrical outlet in the cabin and that I should bring along a power strip to be able to plug more things in at once.

I am wondering if the outlet is 3-prong? All of the power strips seem to have 3-prongs but I would hate to not be able to use the one I bring.

Thanks in advance.

@CeleBrat

Could you let us know if you receive any communication about what is going to happen?

When I read that article I king of thought, I live right near NYC and it seems much scarier to go there then Havana. So I am not particularly concerned especially since we will sleep on the ship.

I do think that when you book a cruise one of the things that you agree to is that they can change the ports on you whenever they decide.

I am wondering how this may effect my 11/6 NCL cruise.

http://nypost.com/2017/09/29/us-cuts-havana-embassy-staff-stops-issuing-visas-in-cuba/?utm_campaign=iosapp&utm_source=message_app

Any thoughts?

I am booked on the Sky and it is my understanding that the daily per person gratuities of $18.99 cover all of "tips" for all who serve you once on board.

This is opposed to the $13.99 that you pay on a regular cruise where you are getting the drink package as a perk. In this case you pay the 18% gratuity on the amount it would have cost you to buy it.

I am so happy to have found this thread in time to order these:

http://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Pod-Replacement-Filters-Brewers/dp/B00A89FSTQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1445642244&sr=8-5&keywords=coffee+pods+hamilton+beach

Now I can take my own coffee pods filled with my coffee from home.

So excited!

The other alternative is parking at Port Imperial in Weehawken if we can't get across the river in a car, and take the ferry, walking up from 39th where the ferry lands to 48th where the pier is - I wonder if many take that route?

I will be taking the BA and have been looking at parking or other ways to get to the pier. (I see that we are practically neighbors, I'm in Scotch Plains :))

I have seen many suggest the ferry option and having just been at the pier this past weekend for the Avon 39 I saw how close it is.

If you have someone else take your luggage you could drive directly to the ferry. You could walk with your luggage but that would probably be a pain, its 10 or 11 blocks.

Whatever you do I hope you make the ship! Enjoy your trip.

I buy a new magnetic door sign (as seen on cars) for every cruise. Go to vistaprint dot com. They even have hundreds of backgrounds / styles. I buy size large.

Thank you so much for this suggestion! I just ordered one. I used code VPDEALS to save 25%.

Enjoy your trip and birthday celebration!!!

Thanks, rvsullivan, for the quick reply!

I am sailing on the BA in 11838 with family next door in 11840.

Looks like there is a bump out in between our cabins, ours is a mini-suite and theirs is a balcony.

Will they have an odd shaped larger balcony?

Also, can you open up the divider between the two balconies.

Thanks in advance!

i know the phones that DCL has in the rooms for contact while on board.

Seems you can download the NCL iConcierge app and pay a fee and call or text to other people on board.

See here: http://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/iCONCIERGE_05132014.pdf

I wonder how well this works? Maybe someone will know and share.

By the way, I think we are on the same sailing. Nov 1st?

This is great info to have.

Looking at the deck plans I think that my cabin, 11838 has the bed near the balcony.

Can any one tell me if I am understanding this correctly.

Thanks so much!!