OneParticularHarbour 71

I don't know the answer regarding how Royal's status matches up, but yes, you can get status matched prior to booking your cruise. I believe it does expire though if you don't book within a certain time period (3 yrs maybe?).

May I ask how you ended up booking the specialty restaurants?

Thanks for posting! We are counting the days until we leave for our cruise and appreciate hearing so many details!

Yes, it wraps around - that grey area is actually a little used staircase that goes up to deck 8 and down to deck 4 (however you can't get anywhere at deck 4 as it ends behind Animators Palate). At deck 8 when you come off the staircase, there is a small staircase tucked away on the starboard side that will take you into the back of Cabanas buffet. Very convenient if you are able to do stairs!

We have booked 2 cruises so far through ebates - one with Priceline and one with Travelocity - with no problems so far. One was Royal and one was MSC. On the one for MSC, we found out after booking that we qualified for an additional 5 and 10% off that MSC offers to past cruisers and first responders. Travelocity called them and MSC adjusted the pricing on the reservations. Perhaps DCL can do the same and apply the on board booking to the reservation after booking?

May I ask another question related to the teen card? What can they purchase with the teen card? Are they able to purchase the unlimited bowling/formula1/4d package for the cabin with their teen card?

Please just double check their policies. There may be a limited time frame where the sick person needs to notify the cruise line of cancellation rather than be a no show.

Also, if the person still traveling does end up somehow being charged a single supplement, it is possible their insurance may cover it.

Do both people have travel insurance?

Great, thanks. I was looking at pre purchasing the water package online but it looks like it is for individual bottles from the bars and I would rather just have them all delivered to the room.

With some new ports of call! Bermuda and Quebec City!

When we board on embarkation day, can we purchase a case of bottled water to be delivered to our cabin? If yes, does anyone know the cost?

In January on the Magic, it was 7.50 (8.63 with the 15% auto gratuity) for the bucket and 1.50 (1.73 with auto gratuity) for refills.

This was for the regular type bucket, not the cute Mickey shaped one shown above.

If you watch Chubby and Away's MSC Divina Ship Tour video on YouTube, they show the slide rules. It looks like it says minimum height of 120cm /47.24 in. Under 7 yrs not allowed. Over 242.5 lbs not allowed. It is shown in the video around the 10 min mark.

As an alternative to taxis you can catch a bus (same type of van as a taxi uses) at Back Street. That is, well, just after Front Street. Should be about $2 per person to get to Maho. They run constantly so getting another is no big deal. Look at the license plate it will say BUS and in the front windshield will be a board that says the destination. To walk to Back Street from the ship takes 15 minutes, or for, I think, $7 you can buy all day tickets for the water taxi that drops you off at the beach, a block from where the busses run. So even if you do all that you are around roundtrip to Maho and back.

 

I've taken busses and taxis in St. Maarten and find no real difference other than busses may make stops to let people on or off (they do hold 6 to 8 people). Bus drivers work for the govt and will politely refuse tips.

This is great info - do you know if the bus drops off near Mullet Bay at all? I think we are going to head there in the morning and then walk over to Maho to see the afternoon flights. Also, how do you get a return bus, are there bus stops near Maho?

No vendor at the Old San Juan beach at all, so pack your own water/snack/towel. There is a CVS or Walgreens? right at the pier if you need some get some stuff.

 

We been to ST. Martin several times, this time we just took taxi to Moho ($30 each way) to watch the airplanes, the sand is good at Moho, but again crazy wave there. Sunset bar near by has a small pool($5 fee pp), we let the kids playing in the pool for a while before we get back to the ship. In St. Martin, there is a beach in walk in distance too if you don't want to go too far. We found many sea shell at that beach before. My First time there, we did Bernard Tour II, that was good too that you get to see a bit of everything on the island.

Thank you, that is helpful!

Thanks for posting!

Did the beach in Old San Juan have chairs, umbrellas or food available?

What did you do in St. Maarten?

That is great news, thanks. Don't think we will hang out too late but 7 just seems so early, lol.

Thanks for your review - we are platinum on DCL, so enjoyed reading a review from a fellow DCL cruiser. We are looking forward to cruising Divina next month!

Looking forward to hearing more!

Thanks for posting your review and videos - I am enjoying them. I appreciate the tip about the taxis in St Maarten.

They had dancing (Teen Disco at night), wii video game stuff, etc. It wasn't super organized, but the boys liked it that way. They just did a lot of hanging out. They also really loved the soccer area and played a lot there with people from all over. One bummer thing...there is ping pong around the top of the indoor pool, but only people 18 and over can rent the paddles (free rental), so we had to get that for them a lot. They are rented from the area by the F1 simulator. Oh, and we paid the $60/room to let them do the bowling, F1 simulator, and 3D movies. They didn't like the F1 or 3D, but they did enjoy the bowling in the Sports Bar.

Thanks for the info! Very helpful.

Thanks for posting your review, looking forward to reading more. We are a family of 5 with 2 cabins booked and am disappointed to hear we can't get extra room keys - that will be very inconvenient!

What kind of activities did they have in the teen club that your boys enjoyed? We have 12 and 15yo boys that I am hoping will enjoy it.

I believe I read that you have to be out of your cabin by 7am on the last morning. I also read somewhere that black card members can stay in their cabins a little later as a perk - is this only on certain ships or sailings? Does it apply to Divina?

Also is breakfast served in the MDR as well as the buffet on the last morning?

Thanks everyone!

We will be driving in from Orlando the morning of the cruise, what is the all aboard time and what time is the muster drill? Sailing time is 7pm.

Thanks.