Convince me *not* to take a Divina Cruise

[Beamafar]

Bea,,,we are seriously considering rebooking our 11 night sailing in January from a YC1 to another Fantastica aft balcony stateroom. We're waiting until May 1st when MSC is planning on announcing new package pricing including new drink packages and wi-fi. Unless MSC starts to offer some sort of compensation in regards to reward points and the YC,,we have no problem sailing in steerage!! Our TA advised us that the new U.S. booking system will be launched June 1st which will allow for many more options in regards to ordering onboard packages and services.:)

 

That's interesting to hear - keep us posted if you would, Mike.

 

I've booked YC for September on Divina for an anniversary but I'll get the Allegrissimo Package as well as I spend the evenings outside YC. When I'm not booked in YC I usually get the Premium Allegrissimo with the savings I make to compensate :D and the wines in the MDR are better on that package. Unfortunately that doesn't apply in the buffet where the wines aren't nice at all so I don't eat there as much as I'd like :mad:

 

I totally agree with you about not getting extra points for higher category bookings. I've always felt it's unfair that someone booking Bella Inside will get the same points allocation as someone who's forked out multiples of the cost for the YC and Aurea! Celebrity (and others probably) have award systems based on stateroom category.

 

While I have you, do you know anything about the alterations MSC are having done to Divina when she's in dry dock? I'll be on her just before and, again, just after and am curious about what changes there'll be. I haven't come across anything other than speculation around these parts but you seem to have your ear to the ground on matters MSC so I reckon if anyone would have the skinny it'll be you! ;)

[Mikesa1721]

That's interesting to hear - keep us posted if you would, Mike.

 

I've booked YC for September on Divina for an anniversary but I'll get the Allegrissimo Package as well as I spend the evenings outside YC. When I'm not booked in YC I usually get the Premium Allegrissimo with the savings I make to compensate :D and the wines in the MDR are better on that package. Unfortunately that doesn't apply in the buffet where the wines aren't nice at all so I don't eat there as much as I'd like :mad:

 

I totally agree with you about not getting extra points for higher category bookings. I've always felt it's unfair that someone booking Bella Inside will get the same points allocation as someone who's forked out multiples of the cost for the YC and Aurea! Celebrity (and others probably) have award systems based on stateroom category.

 

While I have you, do you know anything about the alterations MSC are having done to Divina when she's in dry dock? I'll be on her just before and, again, just after and am curious about what changes there'll be. I haven't come across anything other than speculation around these parts but you seem to have your ear to the ground on matters MSC so I reckon if anyone would have the skinny it'll be you! ;)

 

Bea,,,by booking the Fantastica experience,,we received our 4 points for the 4 nights,,but we spent close to $1,400.00 onboard between Allegrissimo Adult Premium packages,,champagne packages,,shore excursions,,,etc. We racked up 11 points for this sailing while sailing in the YC,,we would have most likely racked up 6. I'm really hoping,,,and we did hear from a little birdie while onboard last week,,,that there will be a new reward level above "Black Level" and that YC reward points may be doubled!! I'm hoping this will come to fruition.

 

Dry dock for Divina was supposed to be this year while she was in Europe. I had tweeted Andre the cruise director about this Monday and Ken Muskat from MSC replied back telling us that Divina will be going into dry dock in 2016 now,,,:(

[Beamafar]

Bea,,,by booking the Fantastica experience,,we received our 4 points for the 4 nights,,but we spent close to $1,400.00 onboard between Allegrissimo Adult Premium packages,,champagne packages,,shore excursions,,,etc. We racked up 11 points for this sailing while sailing in the YC,,we would have most likely racked up 6. I'm really hoping,,,and we did hear from a little birdie while onboard last week,,,that there will be a new reward level above "Black Level" and that YC reward points may be doubled!! I'm hoping this will come to fruition.

 

Dry dock for Divina was supposed to be this year while she was in Europe. I had tweeted Andre the cruise director about this Monday and Ken Muskat from MSC replied back telling us that Divina will be going into dry dock in 2016 now,,,:(

 

When in YC you are less likely to have much onboard spend due to drinks being included in the 'enclave' so it's true that you're likely to gain more points by not booking it! On my most recent trip I got 38 points :D

 

On my last cruise, as a Black Card holder, I dined with the Guest Relations Manager, Valentina. I asked her about the new level being introduced. Her take on it is that they are planning something and she reckoned that the points required to attain the new level would be in the region of 300! I don't recall anything being discussed re extra points for YC, yet you've stirred a feeling that something similar to what you've said was intimated - you know how it is with conversation, though. Sometimes the crew discuss the issues for feedback purposes. They never flat-out confirm anything, which is understandable, I suppose. Until the ink is dry, as they say ;)

 

The dry dock news is interesting as I've just had a look at the UK website to see the Divina itineraries and there's a gap from Oct 10 to Oct 24 which is the date she's leaving Genoa to return to Miami - that's the one I'm booked on (but isn't on the Ireland website :rolleyes:) That gap was to be her dry-dock period. I'm sorry to hear they won't be making the alterations then - I was sooo looking forward to a before and after experience!

[Mikesa1721]

When in YC you are less likely to have much onboard spend due to drinks being included in the 'enclave' so it's true that you're likely to gain more points by not booking it! On my most recent trip I got 38 points :D

 

On my last cruise, as a Black Card holder, I dined with the Guest Relations Manager, Valentina. I asked her about the new level being introduced. Her take on it is that they are planning something and she reckoned that the points required to attain the new level would be in the region of 300! I don't recall anything being discussed re extra points for YC, yet you've stirred a feeling that something similar to what you've said was intimated - you know how it is with conversation, though. Sometimes the crew discuss the issues for feedback purposes. They never flat-out confirm anything, which is understandable, I suppose. Until the ink is dry, as they say ;)

 

The dry dock news is interesting as I've just had a look at the UK website to see the Divina itineraries and there's a gap from Oct 10 to Oct 24 which is the date she's leaving Genoa to return to Miami - that's the one I'm booked on (but isn't on the Ireland website :rolleyes:) That gap was to be her dry-dock period. I'm sorry to hear they won't be making the alterations then - I was sooo looking forward to a before and after experience!

 

I'm going to keep my eye on that period between October 10th and the 24th. I'm going to see if two itineraries pop up or if Divina actually does go into dry dock and Ken Muskat was just mistaken.

[Beamafar]

I'm going to keep my eye on that period between October 10th and the 24th. I'm going to see if two itineraries pop up or if Divina actually does go into dry dock and Ken Muskat was just mistaken.

 

That'd be great, Mike. :cool:

[Isasprings]

Bea,,,by booking the Fantastica experience,,we received our 4 points for the 4 nights,,but we spent close to $1,400.00 onboard between Allegrissimo Adult Premium packages,,champagne packages,,shore excursions,,,etc. We racked up 11 points for this sailing while sailing in the YC,,we would have most likely racked up 6. I'm really hoping,,,and we did hear from a little birdie while onboard last week,,,that there will be a new reward level above "Black Level" and that YC reward points may be doubled!! I'm hoping this will come to fruition.

 

Dry dock for Divina was supposed to be this year while she was in Europe. I had tweeted Andre the cruise director about this Monday and Ken Muskat from MSC replied back telling us that Divina will be going into dry dock in 2016 now,,,:(

 

Wow..Mike...Looking at my yellow invoice I only spent $368.29 but I got

$50.00 OBC ....total $318.29 lol...I don't want to spend more because I am

Planning to book another cruise in May or June on Carnival, Royal or NCL...

7 day cruise....ISA

[Mikesa1721]

Wow..Mike...Looking at my yellow invoice I only spent $368.29 but I got

$50.00 OBC ....total $318.29 lol...I don't want to spend more because I am

Planning to book another cruise in May or June on Carnival, Royal or NCL...

7 day cruise....ISA

 

I'm all about reward points Isa!!! We didn't need to buy 4 bottles of Moet or some of the other extras we purchased onboard,,,but I wanted to reach Silver Level before we sailed again in January,,,a little better discount on our entire booking now.:)

[Isasprings]

I'm all about reward points Isa!!! We didn't need to buy 4 bottles of Moet or some of the other extras we purchased onboard,,,but I wanted to reach Silver Level before we sailed again in January,,,a little better discount on our entire booking now.:)

 

Mike I think the shows were great the

Michael Jackson and Pirates super good

But in my opinion the food in the MDR

Was not good the buffet was a lot better.

[Mikesa1721]

Mike I think the shows were great the

Michael Jackson and Pirates super good

But in my opinion the food in the MDR

Was not good the buffet was a lot better.

 

We never ate in the main dining room. We either ate at the buffet or one of the specialty restaurants. We've been dying to try Galaxy so we were finally able to do that,,,and who could resist the pizza from La Cantina Di' Bacco!!!

[coldflame]

We're waiting until May 1st when MSC is planning on announcing new package pricing including new drink packages and wi-fi.

 

ooooh looking to the new Wi-Fi options! Hope they go like DCL and now will charge for bandwidth instead of time (which is a completely silly metric).

[Mikesa1721]

ooooh looking to the new Wi-Fi options! Hope they go like DCL and now will charge for bandwidth instead of time (which is a completely silly metric).

 

If I was to guess,,,,I would think MSC will include a certain number of minutes depending on the experience package. I would like to see an unlimited minutes package as well. Divina has a very strong network backbone so I wouldn't think bandwidth would be an issue.

Edited April 29, 2015 by Mikesa1721

[coldflame]

If I was to guess,,,,I would think MSC will include a certain number of minutes depending on the experience package. I would like to see an unlimited minutes package as well. Divina has a very strong network backbone so I wouldn't think bandwidth would be an issue.

 

What I was trying to get at is that I hope they move away from time-based Internet (which makes absolutely no sense), and move to bandwidth-based connection. For instance in DLC you buy a 300Mb package for $50. You can be connected all week or 10 minutes. Which is great to just have email/fb/twitter at all times. Where as with time-based, if you connect at a bad time it can literally be a waste of money.

[Mikesa1721]

What I was trying to get at is that I hope they move away from time-based Internet (which makes absolutely no sense), and move to bandwidth-based connection. For instance in DLC you buy a 300Mb package for $50. You can be connected all week or 10 minutes. Which is great to just have email/fb/twitter at all times. Where as with time-based, if you connect at a bad time it can literally be a waste of money.

 

I would need a ton of bandwidth!!! I manage quite a few systems, and if one was to ever go down,,I may have to send a 1 - 15 gig file.

[coldflame]

I would need a ton of bandwidth!!! I manage quite a few systems, and if one was to ever go down,,I may have to send a 1 - 15 gig file.

 

Sending a 15Gb file upstream on satellite network you might be done with the cruise before it's done uploading. Most CLs do QoS @ 128 or 256Kbps even on ssh and other nonstandard ports. The sensical way is to have those 1-15Gb in a server somewhere on land and then SFTP or SCP them to whereever they are needed needed.

[American Bear]

Hi Mike i'm glad you enjoyed your cruise in steerage:D. We just got off the Royal Princess yesterday and it was also great especially there retreat aft adults only pool which is way better than the garden pool area on the Divina because of all the smoking that they allow and that is a deal breaker for us because we enjoy the adults only pools so much and of course the entertainment on the Divina is better but my wife enjoyed the Royal much more than the Divina especially the food.

 

Another no smoking area is the casino!

[Mikesa1721]

Sending a 15Gb file upstream on satellite network you might be done with the cruise before it's done uploading. Most CLs do QoS @ 128 or 256Kbps even on ssh and other nonstandard ports. The sensical way is to have those 1-15Gb in a server somewhere on land and then SFTP or SCP them to whereever they are needed needed.

 

I agree!!! I need to upgrade my network soon. I need a reliable vpn so I can log into my home computer while I'm away,,,that would make things a bit easier for me.:D In the meantime,,I've been transferring most of my projects to the companies who actually own them. Let them store them on their own servers so I can't be held liable for any data loss.:)

[American Bear]

Mike I think the shows were great the

Michael Jackson and Pirates super good

But in my opinion the food in the MDR

Was not good the buffet was a lot better.

 

About the food in the buffet, the pizza, and the shows, totally agree, really enjoyed them all every day! The apps. in the sports bar looked and smelled great, but we were drinking then.:eek:

The buffet always seem to have a really good selection of meats, and cold cuts for us carnivores!

About the MDR, the service was very much to our liking, and we found the food good.

I think our opinion on the MDR (as good) is because we're used to the style differences between Italian and American food from a lot of traveling there.

I've never gotten a good meat in a fish restaurant, never got good fish in a steak house, and neither in an Italian Restaurant.

So I expected good Italian on MSC, and thought we got it. (freat pizza, fresh pastas, and yummy bread)

The rest, they tried, and we thought it was OK.:)

[Mikesa1721]

About the food in the buffet, the pizza, and the shows, totally agree, really enjoyed them all every day! The apps. in the sports bar looked and smelled great, but we were drinking then.:eek:

The buffet always seem to have a really good selection of meats, and cold cuts for us carnivores!

About the MDR, the service was very much to our liking, and we found the food good.

I think our opinion on the MDR (as good) is because we're used to the style differences between Italian and American food from a lot of traveling there.

I've never gotten a good meat in a fish restaurant, never got good fish in a steak house, and neither in an Italian Restaurant.

So I expected good Italian on MSC, and thought we got it. (freat pizza, fresh pastas, and yummy bread)

The rest, they tried, and we thought it was OK.:)

 

American,,,when are you sailing again???:)

[American Bear]

American,,,when are you sailing again???:)

 

Hi Mike, on MSC maybe this fall or next spring on the Divina again. We're cruising, but not on the Divina the last couple.

But it definitely will be a B2B.

I got a good deal in the mail from MSC that says I need to call them by the end of July, so we got some time to decide.:confused:

We're definitely going to try out the Seaside when it comes to Miami!:D

I hope if MSC is going to continue 7 day cruises with the Seaside, it will be like the Divina, one week eastern Caribbean, the western Caribbean the next week. We like the B2B's, and different ports!

 

By the way Mike, for your info, NCL Haven cruisers get double loyalty points in their loyalty club the last time we checked, maybe you'll start MSC thinking!:)

[Mikesa1721]

Hi Mike, on MSC maybe this fall or next spring on the Divina again. We're cruising, but not on the Divina the last couple.

But it definitely will be a B2B.

I got a good deal in the mail from MSC that says I need to call them by the end of July, so we got some time to decide.:confused:

We're definitely going to try out the Seaside when it comes to Miami!:D

I hope if MSC is going to continue 7 day cruises with the Seaside, it will be like the Divina, one week eastern Caribbean, the western Caribbean the next week. We like the B2B's, and different ports!

 

By the way Mike, for your info, NCL Haven cruisers get double loyalty points in their loyalty club the last time we checked, maybe you'll start MSC thinking!:)

 

Soon you'll have 2 MSC ships to choose from. Divina will be sailing year round from Miami starting again in November so in 2017 there will be 2 ships to choose from. I'm hoping for some 10 and 11 day sailings,,,maybe even a two week Southern Caribbean sailing would be great!!!:D

[American Bear]

Soon you'll have 2 MSC ships to choose from. Divina will be sailing year round from Miami starting again in November so in 2017 there will be 2 ships to choose from. I'm hoping for some 10 and 11 day sailings,,,maybe even a two week Southern Caribbean sailing would be great!!!:D

 

If MSC chooses to keep both the Divina and the Seaside ship in Miami, in our opinion that would be a big step forward in their American business.

 

Mike, in Dec, MSC will have Orchestra (Musica Class) sailing out of Fort-de-France Martinique with 7 day and 14 day cruises.

The cruises look great, but getting to Martinique isn't easy. Wish they moved the ship to San Juan.:)

 

Both cruises have port stops every day.

The 14 day cruise

Fort-de-France, Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe, St. Lucia/Castries, Barbados/Bridgetown, Port Spain/Trinidad-Tobago, Roseau, St. George's/Grenada, Fort-de-France, Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe, Philipsburg/St. Maarten, Road Town, La Romana, Basseterre, St. John's/Antigua, Fort-de-France

The 7 day cruise

Fort-de-France, Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe, St. Lucia/Castries, Barbados/Bridgetown, Port Spain/Trinidad-Tobago, Roseau, St. George's/Grenada, Fort-de-France

[Mikesa1721]

If MSC chooses to keep both the Divina and the Seaside ship in Miami, in our opinion that would be a big step forward in their American business.

 

Mike, in Dec, MSC will have Orchestra (Musica Class) sailing out of Fort-de-France Martinique with 7 day and 14 day cruises.

The cruises look great, but getting to Martinique isn't easy. Wish they moved the ship to San Juan.:)

 

Both cruises have port stops every day.

The 14 day cruise

Fort-de-France, Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe, St. Lucia/Castries, Barbados/Bridgetown, Port Spain/Trinidad-Tobago, Roseau, St. George's/Grenada, Fort-de-France, Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe, Philipsburg/St. Maarten, Road Town, La Romana, Basseterre, St. John's/Antigua, Fort-de-France

The 7 day cruise

Fort-de-France, Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe, St. Lucia/Castries, Barbados/Bridgetown, Port Spain/Trinidad-Tobago, Roseau, St. George's/Grenada, Fort-de-France

 

I really like those itineraries. We loved St. Lucia and could definitely see ourselves going back some day. I'm wondering if MSC will sail those routes in the summer???

[JoseyP]

If they REALLY want our business, they would not sail from Martinique. Most people would not take the extra time or money to fly there.

 

I leave on the Divina at 5 today for our trans Atlantic to Rome!!

[Mikesa1721]

If they REALLY want our business, they would not sail from Martinique. Most people would not take the extra time or money to fly there.

 

I leave on the Divina at 5 today for our trans Atlantic to Rome!!

 

Josey,,,MSC Orchestra sails from Martinique,,,,now if she sailed from San Juan as American Bear suggested,,,that would be wonderful!!!!!!!:D:D

[American Bear]

I really like those itineraries. We loved St. Lucia and could definitely see ourselves going back some day. I'm wondering if MSC will sail those routes in the summer???

 

 

 

MSC for years left America in the summer for the Med., so who knows, it would be nice to have 1 ship stay here.

 

As a fellow Gulf Coaster, here's an idea we'd like to see, move that ship from Martinique to 'Tampa' and do all 14 day cruises!:D

I'm pretty sure a Musica Class 92,000 ton ship can get under the Tampa Bridge, if RCL's Brilliance 90,000 ton ship can.

If not, maybe a Lirica Class 58,-65,000 tons.