Janedoe2012

For Paradise Beach, I like that you aren’t out any money if you choose not to go if the weather is bad and you can pay ala Carte vs an all inclusive fee.  The pool is much larger then Nachi too and well landscaped around it. There was a taco truck as well as the restaurant area.

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g150809-d574699-Reviews-Paradise_Beach-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

I have been to Nachi twice and loved it. Limited # of guests, quiet, good food and good service.  It’s probably 15-20 minutes from the cruiseport and taxis have a flat rate. Nachi is all inclusive and you need reservations. The beach chairs and umbrellas are spread out on the beach .

Last time I went to Paradise Beach and while there was a larger crowd of people, it was just as enjoyable. I liked there was a small entrance fee, no reservations required and as long as you spent $10 or $15 for food and drink there was no charge for chairs and umbrella. It was a shorter van ride from the port.  Beach chairs and umbrellas fairly close together.

http://www.paradise-beach-cozumel.com/

Neither beaches have good snorkelling. Nachi is more spread out,  Paradise has a ton of inflatables in the beach area (you have to pay extra to use) .

That's troubling if the inspection failure comments are true.   CDC scores have always been good in the past.

Their last CDC inspection was March and they scored 96.  Maybe things fell off the rails when they left US and returned to Europe for summer itinary.

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/InspectionQueryTool/InspectionResults.aspx

Yes

I suggest you consider booking it with Native Choice Tours. The office is about a 5 minute walk once you exit the cruise port area. Excellent tour guides, clean and comfortable vehicles and it was great being in a smaller tour group once we got to the site.  

https://www.thenativechoice.com/

I read your post. You went to a MSC Cruise Critic party and wanted a Roll Call Party. You enjoyed it but you felt MSC didn’t grasp the concept of a Meet and Mingle in YOUR opinion. Sea Shark offered a valid opinion as well. Not all cruise lines need to have the same cookie cutter format for parties. One of the reasons I sail MSC is because it is different then other cruise lines in North America.

Good advice recommending the Roll Call group to hold separate function.

The one commonality we have is we all enjoy cruising and socializing. We can all have different views on format of party, date and time and level of participation without people getting overly sensitive and throwing out the term “flaming”. I think we can both agree MSC does value CC members.

MSC has done a great job to make CC members feel welcome at the party they are hosting. I like their format and the interaction with the crew. To be honest if the party included all the extra activities the Roll Call organized I probably wouldn’t go. I am on vacation to relax and get away from hectic work days (less meetings, less structured activities)

There are numerous sea days for the activities to be spread out over plus as Sea Shark mentioned, people are more then welcome to circulate during the party.

Love Hampton Inn Brickell. Great staff, clean hotel, lots of great eating places nearby as well as the People Mover station which can take you over to Bayside Park for some great sightseeing. Free breakfast that is decent.

Agree with toinoi

Ready2cruzagain, be sure to bring printed confirmation of any of the “extras”you purchased for your 32 nights on the Divina Nov & Dec. You haven’t sailed MSC yet so you probably shouldn’t be critical of the Original Poster. Assuming MSC addresses issues on board as other cruise lines isn’t always the case.

Hi Chris-the photos are great! Just wondering what kind of camera you are using?

Thanks

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Black card dinner reservations- I called Eataly the second day on board and mentioned the complimentary dinner. They confirmed and booked a table for my preferred date and time.

Ala carte options are limited on Divina but they were never overly busy.

Cabin availability was early in the afternoon.

The lunch buffet was a bit chaotic the first day but tables to be found usually at the back of the buffet.

My experience boarding Divina last Nov:

-Internet ID was printed on my cruise card

-If you are in the same cabin, silver would check in with you in Black Card Status line and board with you

-There’s 2 or 3 kiosks by guest services on board to register your credit card for purchase. Depending on when you board the lines can be a bit long but move quickly. Really doesn’t matter when you do it the first 24 hours onboard.

I highly recommend you bring a print out with you of your paid drink packages,internet package and excursions. It assists guest services should there be any hiccups with those items being linked to your room. I believe they will show up on your e-ticket as well.

I

Bon Voyage Nikki, looking forward to your posts!

Morgsmom- Thanks for the review. You have sailed both the Divina & Seaside. Comparing the two, would you say in your opinion crew: passenger ratio was the main issue? If the ratio improved would you sail Seaside again or a ship with 5000 passengers just to much?

I am debating sailing the Seaside or NCL in January. (Both are same price and I miss the NCL entertainment but I did enjoy my Divina 2017 cruise)

I would suggest considering riseshare such as SAS Transport or Jiffy Jeff to FLL or Uber/LYft to MIA-much cheaper and faster. I have done the MSC transfer before and found we waited quite a while for the bus to fill before we headed off to airport

I really enjoyed Perricones last time I stayed at the Hampton. ( Five minute walk towards Mary Brickell village). Excellent service, great ambiance and food was reasonably priced). There are so many great choices within a short walk of the hotel

Jeff is usually pretty efficient with the airport pickups. In my experience the issue is how quickly FLL gets the luggage out on the belt in the baggage area. The other thing to consider is Jeff goes does the drop offs based on ships location. Ie NCL is the first terminal “a” and then he stops at c-f depending which ships passengers are boarding.

Jay the vouchers given for Fantasica package do not have a surcharge ( didn’t on Divina last Nov). We were able to use them for specialty coffees and gelato as well.

Last Nov with Sunwing it was a bus both ways.

Last Nov the Divina’s first seating was 6pm

From the US promo flyer h

Hi Tom-my experience last year was they waited had us wait in the arrival section of the FLL terminal until they had enough passengers for a full bus. Our plane landed at 10:45 am and it was closer to noon before we boarded the bus.

I would suggest using SAS or Jiffy Jeff. It’s cheaper and even though you might make a couple of stops along the way you will get to the ship quicker.

Just checked my cruise card from my Divina Western Caribbean Nov 2017 cruise-first seating was 6pm

Other then room service charge,really no difference if you were given a Fantasica room vs a Bella room ( I am assuming you have drinks on us package). Sailed Divina last November and had a great time. Remember a rainy day in the Caribbean still beats a snowy day back here in Canada :)