Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

My "Finally getting around to it" Divina Review!

SteelCruisin

By SteelCruisin,
in MSC Cruises

 Share

Recommended Posts

AmoMondo

AmoMondo

Posted
Posted
Yes he works his was around the boards, I had my say with him on Celebrity side. He needs to keep his comments of dissatisfaction to himself till he cruises these ships.

 

Costa Board is now getting the "benefit" of his input at the moment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Again I will ramble...We did breakfast in the main dining room one day, the food was good but the service proved to be a challenge. We repeatedly had to ask for water and my fathers salmon was delivered after he was finished with his eggs, this was the only time that we felt service struggled on MSC and decided that we will probably do the buffet for the remainder of the cruise....our next cruise we will try again. We did notice that late arrivers to breakfast in the buffet, 9:30 on, will find things busy and crowded as sections of the buffet start their switch over to lunch...and they don't just do a quick swapping out of trays, they clean, sanitize, and re-present each area ....but you may have to look for eats during the switchover. Some random buffet area photos!

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131130_162747_012_zps30c34f8a.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131130_084653_399_zps5e77d074.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131130_084543_433_zpsa2ffa264.jpg

Edited by SteelCruisin
wrong picture
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

A couple more....

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/DSCF1951_zpsc424221c.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131123_131558_071_zps2edb5a29.jpg

These 2 pics were taken in the back are of the buffet where you will find it less crowded, you will have access to 2 drink stations, the international corner is extremely close as well as the kids corner.....the only drawback is you are like 47 miles from the good pizza....just kidding , but you are about as far as you can be.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Throughout the week we found ourselves gravitating to what became our favorite areas....The Golden Jazz Bar , which has a great dueling piano team...http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/372f9295-50ae-48f9-a098-ddcb968073f7_zpsf723c8cd.jpg?t=1389579494

and Piazza Del Doge , which has an open air market feel even though it's in the middle of the ship.

 

We did have to deal with the reception desk once, and did not feel that they had a care less attitude , but rather a we want to help any way we can one.

 

On Thursday morning a copy of our invoice was delivered, it was a nice touch by MSC to avoid any suprises that may have come up....also there never was the $1 per person UNICEF donation added that I had heard would be there. On Thurs. we went to breakfast late , 9:20, and had no problems finding a seat in the back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ports: Tues St Maartin Port time was longer than published....we had a leisurely breakfast and got off the ship at 10am with no wait, they also scanned your card upon leaving as opposed to putting it into a machine to go ding....thought it was much faster, also they had beach towels right on the pier on the way out that you could grab and return when you come back....again nice and easy. We have been to St.Maartin b4 so we just went to Great Bay and did some shopping....relaxing day!

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131126_151535_273_zpsde21864d.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131126_151540_068_zps13c794ad.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131126_111301_520_zpsd2cd9d23.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ports Continued:

Weds. San Juan....We decided we were going to do a walking that someone gives out for free over on the ports of call boards, it was awesome...very informative, we saw all kinds of cool stuff , visited the forts, had great homemade ice that you purchase from a local through his kitchen window.....all in all it was a great time and made me want to go back...we also bought some mojito flavored rum from DON Q Rums....it is fantastic...a couple of doors down from Senior Frogs....funny thing when we went back to the ship , we didn't try to hide it and security didn't take it from us,... not that we opened it till we got home .

 

Our last port was supposed to be Great Stirrup Cay but because of rough seas we weren't able to tender ....So that is all the notes... I took....looking back I would say MSC is my favorite cruise line so far when you combine all the things that matter to my family together, my wife and daughter feel the same way...my son ,who is 19 yrs old prefers Carnival because they have soft serve ice cream available most of the day....he liked everything else better on MSC but I guess ice cream plays an important part in his vacation... My parents also said that MSC may be their new favorite... I am so glad I gave this company a chance instead of listening to the naysayers... I will answer any questions you may have as well as post some more pictures for y'all as I have some food porn that I can't wait to share!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131130_182425_577_zpsfe24b569.jpg

A mixed Seafood plate.

Desserts anyone?

Baked Alaska....and the did the parade with the dessert flaming!

 

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_194215_212_zps09e48dac.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_140822_477_zps09fe547b.jpg

This was perhaps the 2nd best dessert behind the tiramisu...gateau opera.....so good!

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131125_183039_424_zps48508da8.jpg

Tiramisu again..... wish I had it again...Mmmmmmmm

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jt1120

jt1120

Posted
Posted

I would have enjoyed your review more if it was condensed to just 2 or 3 posts. It took over a dozen posts just to get to where you got on board! Still, it was a well thought out review, adn the pipctures are very helpful as we will board Divina in April. Thank you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AmoMondo

AmoMondo

Posted
Posted
I would have enjoyed your review more if it was condensed to just 2 or 3 posts. It took over a dozen posts just to get to where you got on board! Still, it was a well thought out review, adn the pipctures are very helpful as we will board Divina in April. Thank you.

 

I actually enjoyed this one because it wasn't the usual rife summary. As I've zero inclination to sail the Divina out of the US, I've not been bothering reading a lot of them, but this one was very different and I looked forward each night to reading the next instalment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Okay , so I'm gonna post some pictures that I thought you guys might enjoy....

 

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131130_120346_361_zps0c24b1b0.jpg

This is the teen sunning area...notice the Nutella tables, they had Nutella stools in the club ...btw my 15y.o. daughter said she loved the teen club.

 

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/DSCF1959_zps77950836.jpg

Ping pong and foosball available on the surrounding deck above the indoor pool...

 

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131130_190014_833_zpsa7070c7c.jpg

Stayed away from the steak because of the bad reviews I read...mistake on my part because the steak I had one night was absolutely delicious...

 

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/DSC_0860_zps0924b691.jpg

Very pretty tile art above the indoor pool!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tigger89

tigger89

Posted
Posted (edited)
Ports Continued:

Weds. San Juan....We decided we were going to do a walking that someone gives out for free over on the ports of call boards, it was awesome...very informative, we saw all kinds of cool stuff , visited the forts, had great homemade ice that you purchase from a local through his kitchen window.....all in all it was a great time and made me want to go back...we also bought some mojito flavored rum from DON Q Rums....it is fantastic...a couple of doors down from Senior Frogs....funny thing when we went back to the ship , we didn't try to hide it and security didn't take it from us,... not that we opened it till we got home .

 

Our last port was supposed to be Great Stirrup Cay but because of rough seas we weren't able to tender ....So that is all the notes... I took....looking back I would say MSC is my favorite cruise line so far when you combine all the things that matter to my family together, my wife and daughter feel the same way...my son ,who is 19 yrs old prefers Carnival because they have soft serve ice cream available most of the day....he liked everything else better on MSC but I guess ice cream plays an important part in his vacation... My parents also said that MSC may be their new favorite... I am so glad I gave this company a chance instead of listening to the naysayers... I will answer any questions you may have as well as post some more pictures for y'all as I have some food porn that I can't wait to share!

 

 

 

Hi your review has been great as others have said been waiting to read the next installment.

 

Can you give me some more information on the walking tour you did in San Juan we are booked for October there are 9 of us doing the 14 night cruise and it can get expensive doing stuff in every port.

 

Thanks

Judith

Edited by tigger89
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Tigger,

I cut and pasted this from the boards...I think we did tour 1 and 2 and I want to say we spent about 4.5 hours doing it with most of the time spent ... the walking is very easy ...most of the time we spent was at the fort, and where the old jail is....have fun!

 

Here are some walking tours to get you started. Use Google maps of San Juan to follow the route. A printed map can be picked up from the tourist information office once you are in Old San Juan, opposite the piers.

 

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/old-san-juan-walking-tour-1/

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/old-san-juan-walking-tour-2/

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/old-san-juan-walking-tour-3/

 

http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/oldsanjuan/ss/WalkingTour.htm

 

The following link has aerial views of streets: http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~msscott/Walking%20Tour%20of%20Old%20San%20Juan.pdf

 

This one includes some routes to download including maps: http://www.gpsmycity.com/apps/san-juan-walking-tours-178.html

 

The streets are not particularly stroller friendly due to steep hills and cobblestones. I am visiting in early December with a toddler and will be better able to answer from experience then. I asked this question recently http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1905217

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SteelCruisin

SteelCruisin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

some food porn....Spaghetti and meatballs....probably the best I have ever had!

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_135205_072_zpsb37abf16.jpg

A mushroom pasta dish....MSC does the best pastas...

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131126_184137_755_zpsd300606f.jpg

Smoked salmon and shrimp appetizer...SOOOoooooo Good...

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131126_182142_606_zps6c922e4f.jpg

Osso Bucco over risotto.....

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131125_174216_993_zps7633ca8c.jpg

Scallop and quail egg appetizer.....

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131124_181328_318_zps9828fb55.jpg

Brownie with chocolate gelato....didn't know the difference between gelato and ice cream before this cruise....gelato wins hands down...

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131123_195240_200_zps43f63785.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...