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Fresh off Divina - notes and more notes

tencruises

By tencruises,
in MSC Cruises

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tencruises

tencruises

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Just got back from the E Caribbean 7 day. I wanted to put a few of my thoughts online. Excuse me for the format, as I don't have a lot of time to write it all out like some others do:

 

LIKES:

 

Room service was always within timeframe promised. Even breakfast. Big plus.

 

Crew practiced emergency drills in every port as if they were serious. More so than any other cruise we've been on. Felt safe and in good hands.

 

GREAT burgers, pizza, fries, and pasta in the buffet. I've been so ripped off by other cruise lines and their renditions of these simple items, even Disney doesn't do these as well.

 

I liked the ability to order room service on the TV and also see the bill and movies, etc. Very convenient.

 

Wonderful area to get snacks/coffee on deck 6, but service was lacking. One person to serve all guests and also one at the counter, however, prices were very good.

 

The casino called me at about midnight on the last night of the cruise and had me come down for a FREE CRUISE certificate. Mostly good for non-US departures, but Divina is on there too. Good for 2 people for another cruise! YEAH!

 

Design - the design of this ship is both contemporary and timeless. This ship is my favorite from a design standpoint, but not from a functional design standpoint.

 

Quiet rooms - could hear some talking through the walls at night and some normal running down the hallway from some kids apparently without parents...but the through the walls conversation was very muted, couldn't make out any words. Balcony door sealed well and no noise from there either.

 

 

DISLIKES:

 

Having to take and wear life vest for drill - not used to that at all

 

No trash cans readily available. Had to go into the restroom a few times to throw something away. Like a banana peel from our son. I get the intent, but just inconvenient.

 

Ship is not as open as other ships I've been on. Makes it really tough with a stroller and when the kids want to go to the arcade/simulator/4D during the evening. They won't let you go through the Galaxy restaurant (understandably so), so you have to carry the stroller up the steps directly below the arcade. Worked, but a pain.

 

No drinks of any kind included with room service during non-breakfast times. Extra charge and no drinks even printed in menu. At least on RCCL you can get lemonade at no charge.

 

More non-US residents cruising this ship vs any other I've been on. I appreciate all people and all cultures, however...let's just say that even in the most rude of countries, cutting in line should be looked down upon. However, it definitely happened more often here than on my past 10 cruises combined.

 

Cruise was completely booked. 100%. I prefer a sailing that's not so crowded.

 

 

That's it for now... Overall an 8/10 for me. Better than all of the RCCL I've been on in the past...(Freedom, Navigator, Enchantment)

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Cruisergal1208 Great Review Rare

Cruisergal1208

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Thanks for your comments. Glad to see no longer allowing through traffic in the Galaxy during dinner. That was very distracting when we last dined there. Cutting in line is common on every cruise line we have sailed. Even happens when I'm patiently waiting in line for my turn!! Glad you enjoyed Divina, we really like the ship/crew/staff.

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tencruises

tencruises

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One more thing I wanted to add: The food at the Sports Bar was complimentary, as someone had previously mentioned elsewhere. Just wanted to confirm this post dry dock change as correct. Fish and chips here were great. My older son liked them, as he never did see the fried fish on the buffet and was disappointed. For some reason he loves that stuff.

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mafig

mafig

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Noon to 11pm on sea days

4pm / 5pm to 11pm in port

 

That's what we did wrong. We went looking for it to be open and it wasn't. I think it must have been a port day. Also, it might have been open starting at 1 pm on another sea day .... because we had already had lunch when we noticed the hours.

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All-ready2cruise Holiday Sharing Rare

All-ready2cruise

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Tencruises, thanks for your review and wise words about Divina. We'll be on our 7th cruise over new years (6 previous on NCL) and was just wondering about Sports Bar as a meeting place for our small M&G group. I was kind of thinking might be a good spot to meet up and share our NYE finery for the NYE party the next night.

 

I know you can't tell I'm excited about our NYE cruise, hehe. :p :D

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riclop

riclop

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How was the casino? Do you get comp drinks while playing or after earning a certain number of points? Was it smokey?

How much do you think you gambled to earn another comp cruise?

 

Thank you!

 

We don't gamble but there is NO smoking in the casino.

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NoName

NoName

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We don't gamble but there is NO smoking in the casino.

 

Wait, you don't gamble at all and they gave you a free cruise? Wow. Your lucky day!

 

Thanks for sharing your notes with us. I check these boards every day and am so excited when I see new information about the Divina. Do you remember what is on the menu in the sports bar?

 

Kim

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tencruises

tencruises

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Tencruises, thanks for your review and wise words about Divina. We'll be on our 7th cruise over new years (6 previous on NCL) and was just wondering about Sports Bar as a meeting place for our small M&G group. I was kind of thinking might be a good spot to meet up and share our NYE finery for the NYE party the next night.

 

I know you can't tell I'm excited about our NYE cruise, hehe. :p :D

 

I'm not sure of the size of your group, but yes I would think it would make a good meeting spot. The tables are lumped on the one side of the room though along the wall. A better spot might be the Eataly pizza spot (extra charge, but less than $10 for a nice size pizza and a drink.) Normal table layout gives more opportunity to talk to others.

 

How was the casino? Do you get comp drinks while playing or after earning a certain number of points? Was it smokey?

How much do you think you gambled to earn another comp cruise?

 

Thank you!

 

The casino was great. Non-smoking which definitely kept me there longer. No comp drinks that I know of. As a matter of fact, I only had one person ask me if I wanted a drink once during my entire (estimated) 12 hours in there. Actually I kind of liked that.

 

While I'm not going to get in to $$$ details on what I played, I can confirm that another person I was sitting beside said that she was on this trip due to them awarding her a free cruise. So it may happen more often than usual. She also said that some others got 30% off certificates when she was awarded her free cruise.

 

When I went to the casino to pick up the certificate, I was greeted by the casino manager. Very cordial guy. Seemed genuinely happy and was very congratulatory.

 

So when I add this into the mix with the free cruise offers I get from Royal Caribbean, I have too many free cruises. Such a problem... :D

Edited by tencruises
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tencruises

tencruises

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What was the menu on the gala nights in the MDR now that lobster isn't included?

Thanks

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Sorry, but I don't have the info for you. I didn't dine in the MDR once. Mostly because we have a 2.5 y/o and we didn't want him to distract from other's MDR experiences. I think someone mentioned that you can still get lobster, but it is just an additional charge? Maybe someone can confirm that if true.

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tencruises

tencruises

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A few other notes:

 

The wireless internet was great. A little tricky to get started, but the speed was much better than I anticipated. Bad thing is there is a limit (as to be expected.) Run out of MB and you need to purchase a new package. Regardless, my son had fun with some of the new apps he downloaded to his tablet. Beware automatic background app updates. They will eat your internet in no time.

 

One thing I didn't like, which I had never seen before...was people going to disembark the ship with using their cruise card the final time and then the security saying they needed to settle their account with guest services. While waiting in line I saw multiple people have to leave their group to go and settle their account. Not sure if this happens on other lines as much, but that definitely would be embarrassing. Make sure your CC is a good one for foreign travel and that you have a nice limit on it. Hopefully one without foreign transaction fees.

 

Bingo --- well it was disappointing. The day I went the prize was only $400. 3 cards for $40. Coverall. Not that I'm a bingo nut, but I guess I was lured in somehow. And I guess bingo is disappointing anytime you don't win. But, it was just one single game. Not 3 games like I've seen on other cruise lines. Quickly started and quickly finished.

 

One more positive: the elevators were very fast, even with a full ship. The doors shut quickly though, so watch out. When the train arrives, you'd better hop on quick!

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PTAngel

PTAngel

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Thanks for all this information. I am going on the Divina for the first time in May. I'm still fairly new to cruising (March 2014) so almost every cruise is an adventure. I'm quite excited about trying something new. This one is really different because it is with a large group & I won't know anyone before the cruise.

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