MSC Divina Daily Activities (Mediteranean cruise 5/19/19)

[Cynm]

Does anyone know anything about the Divina and the daily activities?  Are there formal nights? I know each cruise ship has daily newsletters with all activities, etc, outlined.  Not sure what to expect as we have not been on the MSC line yet.  Thanks in advance for any help.

 

 

[stp_mmh5]

Cynm, 

 

We just got off the Divina after her first lap of the Med this season and was taking pictures of the dailies as it was for a review. 

 

There are two formal nights, one called Gala and the other Elegant night. 

 

Otherwise activities are generally light if you are used to things like belly flop contests, "Quest" like games etc. There is a lot of live music throughout the night all over ship and the occasional trivia game or sports contest. 

 

Our particular trip was in Yacht Club so our Daily Planners reflect that, but the activities across the ship would be the same, but won't always reflect the restaurant hours. 

 

-Shane and Macon

 

[styles27]

Thanks for posting those...we’re boarding Divina in 10 days!!  So excited!

 

Did you enjoy the cruise?  It will be our first time in Europe and first MSC cruise.

[Cynm]

5 hours ago, stp_mmh5 said:

Cynm, 

 

We just got off the Divina after her first lap of the Med this season and was taking pictures of the dailies as it was for a review. 

 

There are two formal nights, one called Gala and the other Elegant night. 

 

Otherwise activities are generally light if you are used to things like belly flop contests, "Quest" like games etc. There is a lot of live music throughout the night all over ship and the occasional trivia game or sports contest. 

 

Our particular trip was in Yacht Club so our Daily Planners reflect that, but the activities across the ship would be the same, but won't always reflect the restaurant hours. 

 

-Shane and Macon

 

Thank you for posting this info. It is truly appreciated!  Hope you had a wonderful cruise

 

Edited April 16, 2019 by Cynm
Addition

[Cynm]

Did you check out the thermal spa? Is there anything more than steam and sauna?

[brighteyedwanderer]

Thank you so much @stp_mmh5! I've been looking for a current daily program for our cruise in June. Big help for sure. 

Did you by any chance join the Meet and Mingle party? If so, what day and time did it happen? 

 

I also read somewhere that they have an Italy (red, white and green) theme night but couldn't see it on the programs. Is that still going on? 

 

thanks so much!

[stp_mmh5]

Cynm, 

 

You are most welcome for those.  Also we did check out the thermal area. No where near as good as the one on Meraviglia.  Divina's thermal area consisted of a steam room with showers and two saunas. Both set-ups are duplicated, one designated for women and the other men. There is also a small relaxation room, with six loungers and floor to ceiling windows.  As well as changing rooms.  It was never really busy, but the loungers were almost always taken. Hope that helps a little

 

Brighteyedwander,

 

We did not join a meet and mingle, because I do not believe there was one.  There was a roll call for our trip, but it had few posts and was not active at all.  Plus scheduling one would be harder, as there is no real sea day on this itinerary.

 

For the Italian theme night, it was called Mediterranean Night in the dining room, but else where on the ship it wasn't really advertised or made a big deal of. It was on night between Cagliari and Palma  Other than limoncello being the drink of the night, and one of the entertainment staff was dressed in red/white/green bar staff vest pulling a spilling tray prank on guests in the theater prior to Treasure Island.  Most of the theme nights were like this on this particular trip.  We will mention it more when we write our full review.

 

-Shane and Macon

[notley-cruise]

"Did you check out the thermal spa? Is there anything more than steam and sauna? "

 

We were onboard 11th-18th April 2019 Western Med.

There were busy times, i.e. pre-dinner, and quite times, during day. 

 

For us as Europeans having separation of the sexes was unexpected, particularly since swimwear is mandatory,

so we mostly ignored it and mingled.

 

Massage treatments were competently delivered and at the pressure requested, although if not included in your package, overpriced; look for daily promotion discounts.

 

Very happy with range of equipment and its condition in the fitness area, although avoid early evening busy time and spinning class times if you can.

 

 

 

[thetaro]

Do you remember which port has a transfer bus to the city center? I will be on Divina on 5/18.

[notley-cruise]

Do you mean 18th May 2019?  What would be itinerary then?

 

MSC transfers where offered were overpriced compared to local buses or taxis, particular if you are a group of four or more.

From memory;

 

Valencia, Spain - taxi from hotel, but could have walked from Metro.

Marseille, France - used taxi, port is some distance from town adjacent a motorway so walk not feasible.  

Genoa, Italy - short walk to Maritime terminal and main metro / train station, MT offers family day ticket.

Civitavecchia, Italy - We didn't get off the boat ;-)  

Palermo, Sicily - No transfer required, walk out of terminal you are in town, used local MT to get around.

Cagliari, Sardinia - Again No transfer required, walk out the terminal and you are in town, used local MT to get around.

Palma, Mallorca -  MSC Transfer was offered, but MT fast bus from terminal E3 each one way to town or slower line 1 bus, (taxi back was quicker and cheaper than local bus for four)

Valencia - taxi from terminal to main train station

 

NB Taxi drivers seem to have a 'fixed' price to and from cruise terminals, stations and airports, so ask up front how much. According to others, queues and waits for transfer were far greater than taxi queues. 

 

Edited April 19, 2019 by notley-cruise

[Cynm]

MSC DIVINA - DECK 18

 

We are on MSC Divina 5/19/19, Does anyone know if there is a complimentary adults only area on Deck 18?  Or is it only for Yacht Club Members?  Thank you.

[stp_mmh5]

9 hours ago, Cynm said:

MSC DIVINA - DECK 18

 

We are on MSC Divina 5/19/19, Does anyone know if there is a complimentary adults only area on Deck 18?  Or is it only for Yacht Club Members?  Thank you.

 

Cynm, 

 

The complimentary Adults only area is on Deck 15 aft, the Disaronno Garden Bar with the infinity pool. There is also a "hideaway area on dec 16, that you can access from the stairs by the Garden Bar with hidden hot tubs and plenty of loungers. Many people were not using this area, so may be a good option as well!!

Macon and Shane

[notley-cruise]

'Top 18' Aft Deck is reserved for Aurea Wellness and YC guests, so is pretty quiet and secluded.  Lacks toilets, bar or pool. Has loungers, tables, showers, jacuzzi and chargeable Rattans. 

 

YC pool area is forwards, smaller and includes a smokers corner.  But does have food service, bar and pool.  

 

Both are for all guests of the appropriate grade, no age restrictions.  

[Cynm]

stp_mmh5 To Shane and Macon, and notley-cruise Thank you for your responses.  I'm glad the Divina does have an adults only areas that do not require category restrictions. We will definitely check out the "free" decks.  Thanks again.  Really looking forward to this cruise!

 

 

[little britain]

@stp_mmh5 many thanks! We miss each other again!

Did you eat in Eataly?  My planner only shows Galaxy as a specialty restaurant... I had a disastrous meal in there on Preziosa and not overly keen on returning!  Did you get a pic of the Black menu? 

 

Did you notice whether the Top Sail Lounge is adults only like on the other ships? 

Thanks

LB

[little britain]

On 4/19/2019 at 1:53 PM, thetaro said:

Do you remember which port has a transfer bus to the city center? I will be on Divina on 5/18.

Valencia take free yellow bus 🚌 from ship to port gates.  On the other side of the roundabout there is a bus stop, catch the #4 or #95 to city centre. Runs every 8-10 mins. Costs €1.50pp e/w.

 

Marseilles walk out of terminal, turn right. Follow path for about 10 mins until you get to a white tented area. There is free port bus which will take you to the port gates. It is a bit of an odd exit through a gate in the wall so take note of where it is on your return otherwise you could easily miss it....!

Pic of gate taken from bus. Gate is at the end of the row of cars,and you exit straight into the street.

Edited April 28, 2019 by little britain

[stp_mmh5]

Cynm,

 

You are most welcome.  I am sure you will have a great time.  If you swing by the Sport's Bar, be sure to say Hi to Miguel for us, and definitely rack his brain to make a great drink, both with and without alcohol.

 

LB,

 

We always seem so close yet so far when it comes to catching each other.  And we feel this may be our last turn through the Med for sometime as we are due to return stateside next year. But maybe we'll catch you on a Caribbean cruise!

 

But as for your questions, we did not eat at either Galaxy or Eataly.  We chose not to as neither menu really appealed to us this time.  Probably because we are spoiled with a local all you can eat sushi joint for the same price as the middle of the road sushi plate for Galaxy and we just haven't been too impressed with Eataly on land in the past. We almost had the pizza just outside Eataly in Cantina di Bacco as it smelled and looked amazing, but it was always right after dinner so food was far from our mind.  We did hear that the pizza was amazing though.  I do recall that both Eataly and Galaxy never seemed very busy, nor did I see people around the ship pushing the restaurants.  If I recall, Eataly is due to become a Butchers Cut sometime this summer, but I don't believe there was a set date. 

 

I presume you mean Black Crab for the Black menu, in which case we did not.  I did walk by once just to see what was on offer, and saw that it was very similar to Le Muse's menu in theme and maybe a dish or two, but had different main courses.  While our card said we could eat there on the lower level, I overheard Concierge tell another couple that Black Crab was full and that it would be difficult to get a table there.  Plus she seemed a bit confused why they would want to, until they explained they wanted to try simply because it was on the cruise card.  And this spurred a memory from the same conversation that they tried Galaxy and were very pleased with it.

 

For the Top Sail Lounge, it was all ages during the day.  It may have been adults only in the late evening, or it was just coincidence that kids were just never in the lounge after 10.

 

I hope that helps out a bit

 

-Shane and Macon

[little britain]

@stp_mmh5. Thanks! I meant the menu that Black members are able to have. It’s usually a cutdown set menu for about $30.

However I’d be interested to know when it’s turning into a Butchers Cut... I wonder if that is why it is not on my planner?

This is the one from Eataly on Preziosa...

 

Edited April 28, 2019 by little britain

[stp_mmh5]

LB,

 

After I typed that, I saw you posted a similar question on another thread, and had quite the duh moment.  But because we didn't eat in either restaurant, it never crossed our minds to take pictures of the menus.  And for as much as we like to say we know enough about MSC to our friends, I completely forgot that there were menus pared down for the Black status comps.  I'm sure that will stay with me in the future as we are so close to black status.

 

For the Eataly to Butchers Cut change, here is the thread I saw the information in.

 

 

-Shane and Macon

[badbibi]

On 4/19/2019 at 8:53 AM, thetaro said:

Do you remember which port has a transfer bus to the city center? I will be on Divina on 5/18.

Are you planning on doing an excursion in Cagliari? We are looking for people to join us for this small group excursion that sounds like fun: https://www.secretsofsardinia.com/shepherd-mountain-coast.html

[nikkiw60]

6 hours ago, badbibi said:

Are you planning on doing an excursion in Cagliari? We are looking for people to join us for this small group excursion that sounds like fun: https://www.secretsofsardinia.com/shepherd-mountain-coast.html

Shame we are on the following week,

[Cynm]

badbibi,

15 hours ago, badbibi said:

Are you planning on doing an excursion in Cagliari? We are looking for people to join us for this small group excursion that sounds like fun: https://www.secretsofsardinia.com/shepherd-mountain-coast.html

is this a cruise excursion or outside excursion?  Looks interesting.

[badbibi]

It's an outside excursion.  Looks much better than the cruise excursions to us--just hoping to get enough folks to sign up so that it will make!  They have other ones that look good also; we would be willing to switch to a different one, if others wanted to.