DavidMcG

Thanks for the review. I'd like to know a bit more about dinner choices at the buffet. Was there a meat carvery, choice of potatoes, possibly offerings a bit more ordinary than the fru-fru choices in the main dining room?

We don't go in for "fancy" food with strange sauces and are hoping there will be some plainer "American-style" food offered in the buffet. I know, we're odd, but some of the entrees I've seen on the menus that have been posted here just leave me cold. I love Italian dishes, pastas and such, but much of the rest of what I saw really didn't appeal to me. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the food choices.

If its American style food you are looking for then you won't be disappointed. Every lunch and dinner there were always cheesburgers, hot dogs, pizzas, fries etc etc so those are always an option.

There is a meat carvery every dinner which I believe rotates between beef, pork and lamb. Loads of choices of vegetables, pastas, fruits etc along with loads of choices for dessert as well - cheescakes, jelly, eclairs etc

You will be spoilt for choice that's for sure and nobody can say there isn't a wide choice of options for every taste. As stated the quality of food is 'ok' - I didn't have anything that blew my mind but everything did the job

Tipping - Wow this is a pain to get removed from your bill. I was shocked when it was automatically added. The staff all.receive a wage , there is nobody working for tips only so I am happy to tip as I see fit upon good service. I know it's a cultural thing as in the UK we only tip for a meal and that's about it but I wouldn't expect it to be added automatically. If the cost is an extra $12 a day then why not just add that to the price of the room? If they are adding it as a separate charge then make it simple to come off. Have it one.way or another, not.this gray area in the middle.

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Thank you for your wonderful balance review.

 

 

 

Just a word of wisdom when traveling to other countries, this is not your fault its the way you do things in your country. As americans in this country we are use to tipping for service for all kinds of things. The newspaper boy, the hairdresser, the servers at eateries, cab drivers etc. If I go to a foreign country I go by their customs, be it tipping or shaking a persons hands. All cultures are different and I would hate to offend someone not giving a worker their due tips, which it could be consider offensive in this country.

 

The tips are needed by these workers as they make very lil money from the cruise line. I always frown upon when I hear people remove their tips. For me the service has to be so bad to remove something so minimal.

 

This is an excerpt here on cruise critic with a employee from carnival about pay.

 

CC: Can you talk a little about what a crewmember earns and how tips play into it?

BDB: Tipping is serious stuff. It represents well over 95% of what the crew makes. Carnival gave me something around $60 a month or so when it was all said and done. "Salary" also included the cabin you share, plenty of food and two crew parties a month. I don't remember the exact amount, but it was less than $80 for sure.

 

Tips were everything. Auto-tips were a Godsend, because anyone who thinks he/she tips enough voluntarily is usually wrong. The auto-tips were figured by how many guests are assigned to your dinner section. If you had a small section, say only 18, you were constrained by that number. The biggest sections were 22 or 24, which are a whopper of a section. But there is a lot more money to be had for that extra strain during dinner. Thus, even if the guests don't go to dinner, you get those auto-tips. They are automatically split between you and your assistant waiter for the cruise. Since you work breakfast, lunch, midnight buffet, and room service without any specific pay, those tips are well earned even if the guest opts out of the dining room constantly (by going to the supper club, for example, or eating in port).

 

 

 

Thanks for letting me know that, I was under the impression and was told on board that MSC staff all get paid a standard wage (that isn't a 'tipping' wage and is similar to a normal minimum wage). I'm not against tipping and happily tip when I receive service that goes over and above there job role. I'm aware that it's a cultural difference and perhaps I'm in the wrong but I simply can't afford to tip everyone for just 'doing their job'. Regardless, the thing that bugs me that if it is such an offence not to tip then why not just 'make that the price' if that makes sense? I think the whole thing is quite confusing and when I asked about it (politely) to be explained to me, I was made to feel like such a tight a*ss.

 

An example - in Miami before the cruise, me and my wife went out for breakfast to a cafe. The bill came and was marked as $32 for the food and an extra $6 or $8 as a recommended service charge. The waiter got our meals mixed up, and the food wasn't particulary great for the price. So I left $35 (still a tip) and walked away, only to be chased by ther waiter and told that we HAD to pay the full amount. This is what makes it so confusing, if you have to pay it then why not just make that the price? Even when I explained why I wasn't tipping fully, I got made to speak to the manager and feel like crap. What an embarrassment for me

Hi all, thought I would give my review of the Divina trip last week for others out there. I should put a disclaimer in at this point stating that this was my first ever cruise so I can't compare it with anything and can only give my honest opinion from my experience.

22/02 - 01/03 Jamaica, Caymans, Mexico, Bahamas

Embarkation - A breeze, we were early so not sure if that helped but no issues at all and hardly a queue. We did have to wait until 9pm for our bags though (we dropped them off at 12)

Room - Balcony room on 9th floor. Was great, really nice room and well cleaned with lots of storage space. Constant auto toilet flushing noise was a bit of a pain but otherwise room was as nice as you would expect. It should be noted that you can see into balconies on both sides of you if you want through reflections and holes in the balcony screens. One for the pervs.

Food - Only ate at the main dining room once. It's a bit faffy and upper class for me and my wife. Also don't like to be constrained to a time for eating so we ate at the buffet most days. Was quite happy with the food here, decent selection and all of a fairly decent standard for a buffet. Nothing mind blowing but all adequate.

Drinks - We had the Allegrisimo Premium package. Being our first cruise we probably lost a bit of money here in our niavity as I don't think we drank anywhere near for what we paid, that being said it was great not having to worry about tipping or how much we are spending and allowed us to sample drinks we wouldn't normally go for without 'paying' for them.

Entertainment - Wasn't overly impressed with any of the shows we saw (4 of them). The dancers were all excellent but the rest weren't great to be honest. The Italian opera thing wasn't to my taste. Pirates was ok and probably best of the bunch, Michael Jackson was fine but lacked a singer and Frank Sinatra was pretty terrible. I think the trouble lies with their lack of singers, they literally only have one male and one female singer which meant that the shows suffered as they were all mimed, performed to tracks or had unsuitable voices. The male singer had an ok voice but it is a.big booming Italian voice which meant he couldn't do Michael Jackson or certain Sinatra songs. Not his fault but he was the wrong person for Sinatra who should have appeared cool, sleek.and sophisticated whereas this guy has the slimeball Italian look which dint fit at all. I'm sure he is a great guy and as stated had a good voice but just doesn't fit the part. The female lead singer also wasn't very likeable or relatable. The dancers were fantastic though.

Should also note that I wasn't fussed one way or another about the dedicated 'Entertainment Team' and actually thought they were at times offensive and slightly insulting towards guests in their attempts at humour. They also had one gentleman who continually barked like a dog which became irritating and not in anyway funny. I'm sure they put in loads of effort behind the scenes but I could have done without the slapstick and more effort should have been out into organising the events.

Organisation - For me this was the major downfall of the cruise, the organisation was utterly abysmal in every sense especially when it came to organising people. MSC don't appear to have a queuing system for anything meaning that everything became a free for all and inevitably chaos. Getting on tender boats, getting off tender boats, waiting to get off at port, excursions etc. Anything that involved lots of people in the one area was guaranteed to have no queue or system in place. Really disappointing as such a simple thing to implement. Also for the excursions where you had to meet in the theatre there were no signs telling you where to go or what to do or who to see when you get there. If you don't know the process then there is a good chance you will be left behind or on the wrong excursion like many were on first couple of days. How hard is it to tell people in advance or put up signs saying that when they enter the theatre they have to go and see a crew member and get allocated a number?

Staff - In general were excellent. Lots and lots of them and all very nice and attentive. Never have I been somewhere so clean.

Other General Thoughts - Thought there were a alot of pretty rude people on board (I'm from UK) and ashamed to say most were European. Simple things like saying thanks if someone holds a door open for you or picks something up that your dropped. Also there is a clear no smoking policy on balconies so I'm not sure why so many continually persist with this one.

Casino was excellent although quite quiet. Staff were great there and good choice of games for all.

Tipping - Wow this is a pain to get removed from your bill. I was shocked when it was automatically added. The staff all.receive a wage , there is nobody working for tips only so I am happy to tip as I see fit upon good service. I know it's a cultural thing as in the UK we only tip for a meal and that's about it but I wouldn't expect it to be added automatically. If the cost is an extra $12 a day then why not just add that to the price of the room? If they are adding it as a separate charge then make it simple to come off. Have it one.way or another, not.this gray area in the middle.

Information and communication was excellent and daily programs were packed with stuff

Overall we had a good time both on board and on the excursions however it wasn't perfect.

Hope this is.of benefit to someone and happy to answer.any questions?

Incredible that people are complaining about kids wearing shorts and t-shirts for a meal. I can almost understand the baseball caps but come on guys, it's not the 1950s here. What does it matter if someone is in shorts and t-shirt? What should a kid wear on holiday in a boiling hot country?

So what can you actually do in Great Stirrup Cay? I am going there in Feb with MSC and the last thing I want to do is sit on a beach/chair all day. The MSC website doesn't list any excursions for it and trip advisor doesn't bring up much either?

 

MSC are very clear with thieir dress codes. For dinner, all are advisory-only except for the rule of no swimmwear or shorts anywhere on the ship - not just the MDRs as is often incorrectly stated on CC.

Surely a wind up :eek:

So in the Caribbean when its boiling hot on the evening you are expected to wear trousers? Its not being disrespectful to anyone else, its called being practical.

I accept in the main dining rooms etc but surely just walking about outside (not indoors) you can't be expected to wear trousers?

You are an utter legend!! Thanks so much :D

My Cabin is 9162 - can someone show me on above pic where abouts that is? I hope it isn't in the shade :(

Sorry bit of a newbie and will be going on my first cruise next year.

1. I will be on Divina going from Miami on 22/02 - what of the above packages are included on this cruise?

2. I booked my cruise through a travel agents, and I am able to log into my account on the MSC website with my booking number etc, however it is very limited. Only shows excursions for 2 of the ports and doesn't have details of any of the drinks packages or any of the other extras? They are there but when I click on them it says nothing is available. I'm very confused :confused: how do I go about booking one?

Yeah its the Divina I'll be on.

What does 'aft' mean ?

Does anyone know where cabin 9162 would be roughly on the above photos and if it would a glass or steel balcony