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MSC Divina 7/22, midway point review

wetwash

By wetwash,
in MSC Cruises

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wetwash

wetwash

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Hi all… I found the reviews and tips before I left to be very helpful and so I'd like to repay the favor. We are in San Juan, midway through our cruise and I'm utilizing my phone to post while I have service…

 

Dictating this so hopefully it won't be too many errors… I need to get off the ship for some shopping/touring soon so here goes…

My husband and I are traveling with her two daughters, age 17 and 18 and two of their friends. They are in a separate cabin though I'm registered in that cabin so notices and such come for me there and I have to make sure to check daily because they're not good about pissing things on. Including the bottle of percent go that arrived in the cabin the other night, LOL (by chance we found out about it so my husband and I enjoyed!)! Don't really know who sent it as they threw out the note but told me it said welcome aboard!

 

Anyway I want to say that I have had no problem with any of the staff, everybody's been very accommodating and no problem with understanding/communicating. There are a lot of different nationalities a board but we're from New York and are used to a lot of different cultures. If you want to be surrounded by only English speakers and maybe this is not the cruise line for you. But if you're open to a different experience then go for it. English is the main language of the cruise although there are some entertainment options in different languages but easy to find something else if that's not your cup of tea.

This is not an action-packed cruise for us so in that sense it's perfect and relaxing. The girls do not like to get up early so we did not book any excursions but are just doing our own thing. Yesterday walked to the nearby beach in Saint Maarten and spent the day on rented lounge chairs under umbrellas enjoying a relaxing beach day. Two of the girls rented JetSki's (had to be 16) and we did a little shopping and had lunch. Today in San Juan we are just doing the same thing lunch and shopping and a little touring in the old town. So I can't comment on excursions but there are plenty available!

 

We found the food to be fine… One of my daughters is very picky and did not like the choices in the dining room one night so she just got french fries as I told her she couldn't sit there with nothing… She's a big burger fan so The fact that she couldn't get that in the buffet until late was good… Girls also ordered room service one night!

 

We're not doing any specialty dining and we're not in your club so I can comment on those but maybe in the future when is just my husband and I! We have the Fantastica package in a balcony room. You can read up on the differences but we're happy with or 11th floor location. We did not purchase all inclusive drink packages so the vouchers or a good deal. I suggest ordering ahead of time if you want the extra package(S) of 18 as you save the 15% service charge but you can always buy on board. Then you just handing a ticket and your card for whatever drink you want that doesn't have a store on the menu so that's basically the premium drinks and/or certain things he cocktails that you have to pay for but there's plenty to choose from otherwise.

 

Sometimes there's a wait at the bar, but there's a wait at boards at home also… Not enough of an inconvenience to comment negatively. Also service in the main dining room was a bit slow the first few days but last night was quick and efficient. We are pretty easy-going people and learn to relax on vacation The extra wait in the main dining room means more time together [emoji12]

 

I could go on but I'll end here saying that we're enjoying our cruise, the decor, the service, the food and drink, the casino and the entertainment. We've been on seven previous cruises in the past 11 years and each is different but enjoyable all the same. Part of it depends on who you're traveling with I think and what you expect… This is not as big a party ship as carnival and maybe not as many activities as our RCCL (so if you're looking for the indoor ice rink or rock climbing wall or wave rider etc l this might not be your cruise).

And by saying that we were able to get to balcony rooms for six for about $2-3000 less then two insides on the Norwegian or RCCL cruises we were looking at and I'd rather put that money towards a future cruise! Feel free to ask questions and I'll try to answer while I still have service and/or on Saturday when we're back!

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Beamafar Great Review Rare

Beamafar

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Sorry for the typos - I should've reviewed better LOL!

 

It's not easy when you're posting 'live'. In fact, it's more time-consuming to post than it seems. Good for you to take the trouble and time out of your vacation to share your experience here. Nobody minds the typos!

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cnspots2

cnspots2

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thanks for the update. If it wouldnt be a problem could you post a pic of the red and white wines menu? I like to get an idea of what they serve and get a bottle before we cruise :-)

no biggie if you can't or dont want to.

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wetwash

wetwash

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It's not easy when you're posting 'live'. In fact, it's more time-consuming to post than it seems. Good for you to take the trouble and time out of your vacation to share your experience here. Nobody minds the typos!

 

 

 

[emoji1303]

 

 

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wetwash

wetwash

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So it sounds as if you weren't able to get extra key cards to swap around?

 

 

 

Correct… They would not give us another key card, said it was against Coast Guard policy? But we did it a couple years ago on Royal Caribbean so I don't know if it's just their rules. Anyway, I minor inconvenience but since were able to contact each other with iMessage it's not hard to find my husband to let me in the room or for my daughter to find her sister or friends…

 

 

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wetwash

wetwash

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thanks for the update. If it wouldnt be a problem could you post a pic of the red and white wines menu? I like to get an idea of what they serve and get a bottle before we cruise :-)

no biggie if you can't or dont want to.

 

 

 

Will try to remember! If not I bet you could search the Forums and find drinks/wine menu posted!

 

 

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wetwash

wetwash

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Great review, thanks. Will be our first sailing on MSC after 20 NCL cruises, so I am trying to gather as much info as possible

Safe sailing

 

 

 

I think you will enjoy - just realize there will be some differences and be open to them! Hope you have an enjoyable cruise!

 

 

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wetwash

wetwash

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Ok pulling out of port after an enjoyable afternoon shopping and eating lunch in San Juan. I'll post again this weekend after the cruise (and edit better) so if you have any questions I'll try to answer! Off to get some relaxing up on deck before dinner - there is an Italian classics show tonight - don't know if that is the opera one I've heard about but we may or may not go depending on how we feel. One thing they tell you in the beginning of the cruise is that they try to have entertainment that will appeal to all (not just English speakers) so no comedians etc but they perform

With music that has worldwide appeal. We enjoyed the first 2 nights but last night chose to have a drink and listen to some music in the piano bar before our late (8:30pm) dinner!

 

 

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nikkiw60 "Live from...." Rare

nikkiw60

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thanks for the update. If it wouldnt be a problem could you post a pic of the red and white wines menu? I like to get an idea of what they serve and get a bottle before we cruise :-)

no biggie if you can't or dont want to.

 

 

 

From January if any helpc4dccedfebfb34270474c6c366990b71.jpg7e73249b9895d24e8b915c3d5d9bda9e.jpg

 

 

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wetwash

wetwash

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Hey there - relaxing at a restaurant near the dock in Nassau after a

Few hours shopping (everyone slept late today and it was nice to easily find a seat in the buffet and deck while most had left the ship earlier - we had been to and done excursions in Nassau before so we decided to play it by ear today ) might as well take advantage of the wifi !15fe69739e0f6d5e525c0895ca32e48c.jpg

 

 

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wetwash

wetwash

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First half of the dinner wine menu. Different bars have different drinks available. For instance we wanted a mimosa today in the buffet on our last day on the ship but they do not have a sparkling wine so you have to go to the pool area to get that

 

 

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