resstation

Thank You Resstation!!! I have a cabana reserved so I guess I better go to my concierge as soon as I board and request cabana #1,,I've heard from the NCL board that this is the one to have so I better try and get it asap!!

I was told they assign cabanas as they are reserved. I'm assuming we got #1 because we reserved it 7 months in advance. ha! I was just happy to get one because they don't have many and they sell out so fast.

I have no idea if I'm supposed to reserve something quickly for the Barcelona trip on Divina in June. I've been reading the boards but nothing jumps out at me. I guess we'll wait in see. The good thing is that we already know our way around, and we know we don't want to see the shows again - so we will have plenty of time to enjoy the YC while not in port.

Sorry to get a little off topic,,which cabana did you have at GSC Resstation?? And did you feel it was a good location for you??

We had cabana #1 and LOVED it. It was on the end so we also had a little area to the side where our hammock was, where everyone else had their hammock behind their cabana.

We are from Florida so we were happy to lay around on the lounge chairs and hammock and enjoy the beautiful views - those who would prefer to swim or want a quieter beach area should choose cabanas 11 through ...whatever number they go up to. This is because those cabanas are at the FAR end of the island and have MUCH less foot traffic. There are restrooms just a very short walk behind the cabanas and a bar is directly between the cabanas and the beach. It is quite a ways from the food, but you only have to go over there once.

You will be VERY happy if you reserve a cabana. The general beach area is extremely crowded - much like the pool area on the ship. If you look through my pictures I believe I took pictures of the area. (The link is above).

The buffet is huge, with so much to offer. Here is a link to my photos from our cruise. Somewhere in the middle I have pictures of the names of every station at the buffet. Each station had at least four or five different choices. There is plenty to choose from.

http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/resstation/library/

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Other than the first night, the show was at 9 pm. Late seating show was 7pm. You need go to the Michael Jackson show early to get seats.

Oh wow! It just occurred to me...the dining room staff saw the Michael Jackson show and THAT'S why they drag out dinner. They're just trying to help! :D

We are in therapy, but a different kind. We are dealing with complex trauma from long term neglect (http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/complex-trauma/effects-of-complex-trauma). The food stuff is the least of our worries :-)

 

thanks for caring :-)

For some reason I was not notified of any posts to this thread and just noticed your reply.

I applaud your efforts. What special folks you are. Wishing you smooth sailing, literally and figuratively.

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Just an FYI to the earlier discussion about eggs - the average age of the egg when it GETS to the grocery store to be sold is 22 days. I had researched this last year when my neighbor started raising chickens. Same day eggs are such a treat!

We were in 16008 last year and LOVED it. The three of you could easily stay as the separate living room has it's own pull-out bed (the couch) and the two rooms are separated by a closable door. Unfortunately for you, there is no separate tub/shower combo, but it was perfect for me and my DH. The balcony, IMHO, was incredible!

This year we have 16035.:)

Oh, and also - did you have any trouble with the water pouring out of the shower?

We were in 16008 last year and LOVED it. The three of you could easily stay as the separate living room has it's own pull-out bed (the couch) and the two rooms are separated by a closable door. Unfortunately for you, there is no separate tub/shower combo, but it was perfect for me and my DH. The balcony, IMHO, was incredible!

This year we have 16035.:)

That's what I wanted to hear - that it is not some strangely unusable balcony. Although I've seen the pictures, I wondered why anyone hasn't mentioned much about it. Is it only accessible from the living room area? I see that there is a large window in the bedroom - is that a door or only a window?

The middle yc2 cabin is quite a bit smaller than the other 2. I had also read that the yc2 on your right had the connecting door to yours. Supposedly that eliminated another piece of furniture to accomodate the door. That is why we took the one on the left.

 

Luckily, we have the ability to be open about travel dates. With so few of those rooms, it is the only way to get them. I checked about 6 different weeks to be able to snag the yc3 in March.

 

I think the YC3 and Sophia Lauren cabins are the same except for the decor.

Whatever piece of furniture was missing we didn't miss. There are only 3 of us and there was plenty of space. We could definitely have used the separate tub and shower because our combo was so poorly designed that they had to stuff towels along the edges between the tub and glass surround to keep the water from pouring out onto the floor (there are pics of this in my review). I think the Sofia Loren Suite has the same set up, unfortunately.

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I was given a tour of the YC when we last were on Divina, I did a b2b and they arranged this during turn around time. The Sophia Loren suite was beautiful. Beautifully decorated and some beautiful towels and linens. Layout of the suite was quite nice too. You will enjoy it! Lucky YOU!!

Thank you. It is for my 50th. I know it will be very special. I'm so grateful to be able to do this.

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I have a hunch we will go back to a yc2 after that.

 

The yc2 on the left is the best one because it is the only non-connecting one.

 

After looking at videos of a yc3, they are indeed smaller but I want to try it for the balcony.

 

The 2 MAJOR things for me will be....looks like no seperate dressing table area. It looks like that is in the bedroom.

 

Bathroom looks half the size. Our yc2 had 2 sinks and a totally seperate shower with lots of jets. The yc3 looks like the shower is in the tub.

 

Also, as an insomniac, I like to watch tv in the middle of the night. The yc2 tv was mounted in front of the bed. This one looks over to the side which is a bit more awkward.

 

I cannot change my booking without losing my rate & $400.OBC credit we got from the coupon we bought onboard the last cruise.

 

I know I will love it but will definitly reconsider the yc2 next....although the prices really seem to be going up for these rooms as they are now in such demand.

Your YC2 was also different from our middle one, so it won't be such a drastic difference for us it seems. The connecting door wasn't an issue at all. Couldn't hear a peep from either side all week. Our dressing table was in the bedroom too. Our tub and shower were also together, not separate and I'm pretty sure we only had one sink. What I will miss is the two closets and safes.

Frankly I'd rather take a square YC balcony on 15 or 16 than go back to 12 again. The butler RARELY came down there, we never got a newspaper and our breakfast room service order was never picked up. Not to mention the constant up and down in the elevator. I'd just rather be closer, in the YC area.

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Resstation,,we are staying in 16008 which is the other YC3 Suite this coming week. I have posted a Live review in which I will be posting pics of the stateroom and balcony as well as a lot of info from the Yacht Club itself.

On our sailing this past May, Marco, who would post here from time to time, gave us a tour of the Sophia Loren suite and it was very nice. We have it booked for our January sailing andlucky for you, you were able to secure this suite. It is the first stateroom to go usually.

Thanks for your reply, I've seen pictures of the YC3 suites and we really enjoyed the YC (I posted that LONG LONG LONG review that seems to be taking its rounds on the forum again lately). I was hoping someone who has cruised in both could give me some insight but I would imagine that combo hasn't happened that often yet.

Enjoy your cruise!

Last March we stayed in the middle YC2 Family Suite, deck 12, on the Divina and it was perfect for us (My husband, myself and our teen son). I missed having a balcony but the view and the cabin were great. Loved having the two separate closets and two safes. I found and booked an available Sofia Loren Suite in June, but from what I've been reading it is smaller than the YC2 suite, there is only one closet/safe but it does have a balcony (albeit a strange one). Has anyone reading this post seen both suites? I know the Sofia Loren Suite is "special" because it is the only one that she designed but is THAT the draw or am I missing something? I'm looking forward to actually being in the YC area this time instead of deck 12.

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We looked into CBT a year or so back and was advised to wait till he's a bit older and wanting to address the issues. We were told it wasn't terribly effective for a six year old who isn't interested in even discussing it.

 

We don't, and never have, medicated him. We simply manage his environment so that we avoid triggers as much as possible whilst slowly and gently extending his comfort zone. And he seems to be responding really well. Two weeks ago was the first time he has not had a complete emotional meltdown when buying shoes - so nice not to have to deal with hysterics in the sneaker aisle! :D

 

Taking an anxious/phobic child overseas, as the previous poster has indicated, is very much challenging them right out of their comfort zone but it's good to do it occasionally especially if you can manage to provide some safe/familiar choices (eg food, activities etc). America is going to be a trial run for us in many ways as we are planning on taking the boys to Europe in 2016 - with an MSC cruise being a key part of that holiday. I'm concerned that he's not going to be able to get a balanced diet whilst we are away but we'll manage.

 

I am regretting not booking a Divina cruise for this trip. The prices are amazing and we had a fabulous time on the Preziosa. But the boys are fixed on going on a Disney cruise!

Thank you for not taking offense to the unsolicited suggestion. Wishing you all the best on your Disney cruise!

Sorry to get off subject: For the parents with the children with hightened anxiety- have you tried Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (with a professional who specializes)? It works in most cases and you won't end up with a child drugged up for a lifetime. Medical doctors LOVE their prescription pads!

*I'm not a doctor or therapist- just offering a suggestion that I've researched over the years.

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Just think, if the reviews were terrific those of us who enjoy MSC would have a much harder time finding available cabins!:D

Glad you enjoyed the cruise. Regarding bar service in the casino, there is no bar service at the slots but excellent, quick service at the tables.

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I just realized I never mentioned my son's favorite pastime (he was14) - drinking Nutella Shakes in the area with the bowling lanes. He LOVES Nutella but the pool deck was always a madhouse (that's where you can get the crepes). He said the shakes were incredible - way too rich for me - and served up fast because there were hardly any people there at any given time.

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Skip,,Isn't this what the cruise industry is resorting to now?? Sell, sell, sell?? Prices are low to get the pax onboard, and then once onboard, pax are faced with a barrage of salesmen selling drink packages, dinner packages, photo packages, spa packages, 50% off sales. I can understand the need to offset low fares with options and upgrades that generate revenue for the cruise line, but come on!!! If I want to expose myself to a sales pitch, I'll go visit my local car dealer. I'm on vacation and shouldn't be subjected to this. This is one of the reasons we love to sail on Divina,,no waiters walking around trying to sell you a drink of the day, no photographer in my face every time I get on or off the ship or go to dinner, just a laid back, casual atmosphere that we should expect when on vacation.

Maybe they haven't yet figured out how to get to us yet, what with no Promenade and stairs to decks that go nowhere. LOLOL!

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Hello!

If you book 11:40 am flight from BCN you have to be at the airport 3 hrs before. That's about 8: 40 am. Assume that you bring out your own luggage and explain this to the staff on the ship, they will let you out as soon as possible if you are ready with your luggage to disembark. If your ship does not dock until 9 am forget about morning flight.Don't forget some times the immigration may delay the starting of disembarkation. If the ship docks at 5 am it may not usually take 2 hrs for immigration check. Last time we were in BCN, we were out at the La Ramblas by 9am, in 2012.

Wish you the best!

Thank you. Just to be safe and not have to panic on the last day of vacation, we will just stay overnight.

Ok. All you yacht clubbers...

 

I have a balcony and I'm satisfied with that, there is hardly a better way to cruise IMHO.

BUT, I see so many great comments on getting the YC with MSC.

So, my questions are...

 

Are there only a certain number of YC rooms that are available for purchase?

Can I give up my room for one of those and pay an upgrade?

And the average cost for two in the YC is....?

 

Thank U

Any of the travel search engines online should give you the price for Yacht Club if there are cabins open on your sailing.

If I'm not mistaken, Divina is returning to the Med for some add-ons to "Americanise" her which I would imagine are as a response to feedback from Americans. Things such as an omelette station and perhaps a grill poolside for cooking burgers fresh have been rumoured. However, nothing has been announced by MSC (quelle surprise!) so it's a wait & see. Considering they haven't yet disclosed the new layouts for the "Renaissance" refits on the Lirica Class ships which begins soon - it would be nice to have some info which would help with future booking considerations.

Oh my goodness. They can't possibly be thinking about putting ANYTHING more poolside! The place was a total zoo. That area alone will keep me paying extra for YC. When I saw the deck long line to check out towels and the overcrowding of deck chairs, tables, and wall to wall people I knew I would never get one of those fantastic balcony deals. I don't find that relaxing at all.

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Uh oh. I think we are. I guess a night in Barcelona at the end of the trip is in order. There is nothing later than 11:40am. Thanks for your reply.

Just to confirm, if we have an 11:15am flight out of Barcelona to the US we would get to the airport early enough if we disembarked with our luggage? (We will be in the YC)

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I am 63 and thinking about a solo cruise....I think the hardest part for me would be dinner.....I cruise with 2 teen girls so for the most part I am "solo" but most nights I have a dinner buddies!

I think you would have fun. Just ask for a large table at dinner and you will have plenty of people to talk to.

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