tbmrt

We'd like to meet friends at sailaway. Which bar would you recommend (near the band)

Thank you.

I was in the Black Crab, upper area..it was fine...very lovely

I peeked at the other dining room and it was pretty too

 

You will be assigned to one or the other....how I don't know...

you may or may not be able to move but...why?

 

MSC often has groups onboard....so they may put them in one or another

 

I think many groups (mine included) were in Black Crab

 

Here is a bit of advice for you - relax :)

MSC is not the sort of cruiseline where you can forsee and plan everything

if you "go with the flow" as I and others have suggested you will enjoy it

 

I think you may be setting yourself up to be unhappy cause some of the stuff you want to know is really NOT known by anyone but MSC and they change stuff up a lot. Don't get your heart set on one or other dining room....they are all nice, "que sera sera">> :) Enjoy

Just curious....Not getting nuts about "stuff"....I know that cruises will vary...The only time I was totally crushed was when our planned Dawn cruise was cancelled the day we were leaving for Miami due to propulsion problems and a bit of disappointment at waking up to miss Stirrup Cay. We did make the best of things though!

Barbara

a porcupine's spines move too

 

When the animal is calm the spines lay down and you can pet him.. When in defense mode .. another story.

 

As I mentioned b4, the urchin's spines are 'benign' and won't hurt you unless you stick yourself as with a pin. Unlike say a lion fish where even the slightest touch to the back fin can result in the spines firing off their venom.

 

If you are stung, a loose sheath surrounding each spine is pushed down, compressing two venom glands located down then length of the spine. Neurotoxic venom then travels through two parallel grooves up the spine and into the wound.

 

The overwhelming majority of lionfish stings result from people simply not paying attention.

 

Stings can occur even after the lionfish is dead. Stings can occur even after the fish have died.

 

One spear fisherman swore that if someone had offered to amputate his stung foot, he would have accepted the invitation gladly.

 

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/08/the-truth-about-getting-stung-by-a-lionfish/

 

but lion fish are also good eating!

Thanks so so much! I surely was going to wear my water shoes...such a newbie I guess! Didn't know all that. Should I leave water shoes on inside rental fins??

Barbara

I'm confused as to why they would hurt if you step on them, but yet you can handle gently

 

I can touch and pick up broken glass ... but if unseen and stepped on with bare feet often results in a cut!

So I guess they are sharp in any case...I seem to remember being on a cruise and the guide gave them to us to hold and they were soft and "wiggly". Guess there are different types.

Thanks

Barbara

We were there on a Sunday this past April.

 

Some of the stores were closed and didn't open on a Sunday. Some were open but closed in the early afternoon (around 1:30 - 2:00). However, there were "market" type vendors near the pier that were open until we boarded the ship later in the afternoon.

 

Hope this helps to answer your questions :D

Yes..tx much!

I see the MSC is promoting the Disaronno Bar and the Garden Bar by the zen area...Are these one and the same or is the Disaronno Bar new?

I wasn't too successful in the Curacao port boards so thought I'd try here.

Has anyone been to Curacao on a Sunday recently? Are vendors selling their wares around this port? We'd like to shop after our snorkeling trip, but am getting mixed information. Some are saying shops close on Sundays. Others say they are open til 1:30.

I don't want to miss snorkeling in Curacao, but would also like to shop!

I'd like to know if the vendors will be there on Sundays later than 1:30pm.

Thanks so much.

Barbara

Just curious....

Did you like the layout and ambience of your assigned restaurant or would you have preferred the other restaurant?

They both look gorgeous in the photos I've seen.

Thank you

Barbara

We didn't know about the themed nights before boarded. The third night, it was suggested that people dress in green, white, and red to celebrate Italy. It was carried out in the dining room, with the evening's show, "Simply Italian," and a team game, MSC's Little Italy, was dedicated to Italian music, dance and folklore and held in the Black and White lounge. The fourth night, it was suggested that people dress as you would have in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. This was for the Flower Glory Party that was also held in the Black and White Lounge. "Fancy a trip back to the 60's, 70's, and 80's? Join us and be sure to wear some flowers in your hair! Step back in time to the 60's and 70's by wearing your finest floral garments! The suggested dress for the fifth night was casual white. There was a White Party held at the Aqua Park on deck 14. Of course, Gala Formal Nights were held on second and sixth nights while the first and last night's dress was casual.

 

Did many people dress up for these events?

 

Also, was there any opera on your cruise?

 

Thanks again for your review!

Barbara

If you are going to be in water where sea urchins are present, please wear water shoes. Something with a sole. They can be very painful to step on. OK to handle gently.

Thanks for your response.

I'm confused as to why they would hurt if you step on them, but yet you can handle gently. Is this due to different types?

BArbara

RE: Your comment:

We had a wonderful meal; it cost us around $110 including the wine. (the wine served in this restaurant is not including in a drink package but our after dinner limoncello was)

We have the Allegrissimo package and it was my understanding that wine was also available in the specialty restaurants (although it may be by the glass)...Was this not possible?

Did you happen to visit the martini bar? I'm wondering if the tasting was included in the Allegrissimo?

Any other problems using the Allegrissimo onboard? Was it on your card when you got it?

Thanks again.

Barbara

I agree there. I have found myself studying Italians trying to work out what it is that makes them look so smart. They are usually very crisply dressed - everything perfectly fitting and very good quality - and often dress in darker shades if not in black. Then the city dwellers of Italy spend their money on looking good and being out. Their 'homes' are just to sleep in. Plus there is that Mediterranean complexion and hair.... I think I would like to come back as an Italian.

I married two of them!

Saw your review below:

WAY TOO MUCH SMOKING! Damn!! There was alot of it. Especially on deck 14, the main pool area. Just walking from one end to the other to get to the Calmute buffet was ridiculous with all the ciggarette smoke.

Was this in the "permissible" smoking area (port/left side)? If so, I really intend to avoid that!

Thank you for your review!

Was there a big delay getting off Deck 7 for private excursions these? I read a review this morning saying it was chaotic.

Thank you

Barbara

I explored the ship at length and took a large number of photos of all areas of the ship, so I have a certain amount of knowledge of the shipto back up what i'm saying.

I also have a reasonable amount of experince of MSC (10 cruises on 7 ships, at least 2 ships of each class). How about you? Care to name your experience of MSC? I see it's listed in your signature's list of cruise lines but no reference to an actual cruise with them

 

LInk to a selection of photos of none YC areas of MSC Divina

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=164&t=4473&p=70937#p70937

 

 

as well as my review of YC experience

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=270&t=4472

 

 

 

Pete

Pete,

I see you have two pictures over the "indoor solarium" heading...I understand the first pic, but what is the pic below? (Ceiling looks different than the one above)

Thanks so much!

Barbara

Superb idea about the resort and looking forward to the second part of your cruise review

Thanks for your post.. I look forward to your review.

What type accommodation did you have? Gorgeous!

Barbara

We are interested in snorkeling with a nice beach. Understand that it is rocky upon entering. 2 adults, decent swimmers. Have vests, but no fins. Can rent if needed.

Read so many good things about Cas Abou and Porta Marie. We have a prearranged cab to take us back and forth for $25 per person round trip.

Thanks

Barbara

Yes, they still charge for the sun deck on 18 -

The aft pool area should have been adults only, but we observed parents taking their small children in there

I do not have the menus - I do have a record of what we ordered - will put a good bit of that in the review -

Look forward to your review!

Barbara

My family of 4 just got off a fabulous Thanksgiving cruise.

 

A litttle information about my family and cruise history. Our family is Myself and Husband and two adult children but when I realized the Davina would be in port we switched from the Oasis which we are D+.

 

We had cabin 16027 and 16029 in the YC, cabins were in a great location, easy access to the one pool and very quiet.

 

 

Embarkation: It was bit chaotic , the ship did not clear until after 12 noon, I would not plan to get there early. The rooms were well appointed and had

the mini bar stocked well. There was a bottle of champagne waiting for us.

 

We ate dinner in the Le Muse the first night, the menu has been Americanized. The alternative menu consisted of a steak, salmon, pasta and ceasar salad.

 

I did not make copies of the menus, but I can tell you my family tends to be picky eaters and one once had to eat off the alternative menu.

 

Service was excellent in Top Sail Lounge, One pool area and the Le Muse dinning room. We had the same waiter each time, lunch, dinner or breakfast.

 

The first night there was a production show, witches of ???? it was well

attended and the costumes were breath taking. The theater is beautiful.

And the cast was great.

 

There were two sea days prior to arriving in Saint Martin, I have to say we were blessed with good weather except for the last day were we missed great stirrup cay.

 

There were very few announcements which we enjoy and the cruise director Andre was engaging. There were many activities on board we mostly hung out on the one pool area.

 

The buffet in the main area seemed to have a good selection including water and juices.

 

In Saint Martin , we went to Maho Beach, I have been there many times, the issue was there were 7 ships in port which made the island very crowded.

 

San Juan was our next stop it was a beautiful day and we did some shopping, the port authority would not allow to reboard the ship until the Holland American ship was tied down.

 

My men wanted to see the Patriots on TV and the game was broadcasted in the state room, they also did this for the Thanksgiving were they showed the game

 

Initial menus on Thursday did have a Turkey dinner listed, but when we got to the dining room turkey was listed. They also had lobster tails, which were the largest a juiciest lobster tails I have seen on a cruise.

 

 

The ship was spotless and beautiful . The staff seemed happy.

 

Disembarkation was not as smooth, waited over one hour to get through customs since they only had a few boarder control officers. We used a transfer to the Fort Lauderdale port.

 

There were a few hiccups, overall we had an excellent cruise.

 

I enjoyed not having drinks offered every few minutes and few announcements

 

There were 5 production shows, I did miss a live orchestra but the performer s were outstanding.

The ship rode very smooth

Nice to get good news!!!

I ran across this today on the Curacao CC site and am hoping that the shops will be open when we visit on an upcoming Sunday (not during holidays).

2 ships will be in Williamsted that Sunday, totalling about 5,200 passengers.

Though exceptions are often made when cruise ships are in town, shops and restaurants are generally closed on Sundays.

Are the restaurants and bars open on Sunday? We're snorkeling but really wanted to hang out in town when we return.

Thank you

Barbara

Love spicy italian!

Barbara

I wonder if you have to purchase a WiFi package to use it?

I'd be interested in this also...I thought we were supposed to put our phones on airplane mode and turn off data roaming to avoid charges for possible incoming voice messages, etc.

Thanks!

Barbara

We will be visiting Aruba and Curacao while on a cruise.

Definitely snorkeling in Curacao.

I love to snorkel, hubby not so much.

I've been looking at videos of Eagle vs. Boca Catalina and determined the following as plus' and minuses.

Eagle

Good - wide beautiful beach - good for long walk - Sandy bottom

Negatives - No snorkeling from shore - has jet skis, etc....Is there a certain section where water "traffic" can be avoided? Best place to sit? (Would want chairs or shade trees at least)

Boca

Good -snorkeling not far from shore, easy entry, pretty in a natural sort of way

Negatives - not walkable, smaller "ocean" view, tend to get crowded due to small size?

I would love to do both, but hubby won't do so!

Thanks for any help you may provide.

Barbara

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Pack your washrags...hysterical!

Barbara

Starting to plan our outfits for our upcoming Divina cruise....I always overpack and am trying to cut back!

Are dressy shorts and shirts acceptable for men in the dining room on non-formal nights?

Thanks

Barbara