!!! DIVINA !!! Eastern Caribbean ^_^ The Ultimate Review and Complete Pictorial Guide

[gambee]

 

 

 

 

The Mailman stopped with the other folks in the local restaurant, and told us where to go to get the stamps.

 

 

[gambee]

There they are making the line to get their passport stamped. I did not get mine stamped.

 

 

With 3 happy troopers, we went into the shopping area where my uncle purchased one of those fancy and classy shirts. Actually, he bought 2 one for him and one for his wife.

 

 

 

The weather was still gloomy, but it was still hot as hell!

 

 

 

[gambee]

 

 

By that point I was starving, so we decided to head out to Sarafina’s. The bakery is really very good, but ordering there can be confusing. The menus are in french and the fonts used are a bit confusing. The line also moves quickly, I basically had no idea what I ordered, lol.

 

 

 

 

 

[gambee]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gambee]

 

The food was excellent, and it hit the spot. We shared a few items. I think we spent around $25 and my uncle paid with his casino winnings.

 

 

 

The Panini was amazing, but so HOT!

 

 

Everything was fantastic. My mouth is watering now while I am watching the pictures over again. The one thing that I disliked was that there were a few people begging, and they were very pushy. They specifically stared at you while you were eating and then asked for a dollar. My uncle was about to give them a few coins, but he wasn’t sure what to do. It really did not seem like they wanted coins. They kept saying a dollar. Just not something that one enjoys while on vacation. I am not one that shies away from giving, and I do it often at home. But this situation was rather different, they put a lot of pressure on everyone who entered and left the restaurant.

 

 

[gambee]

We then grabbed our stuff and went to the bus, the stop there is about 45 minute, rather short.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next stop was Maho beach, and it was the main reason for me wanting to visit St. Maarten on the first place!

 

 

I will stop here now, this is about the half point for that day.

 

[helen haywood]

Pretty funny that the NCL ship looks the same in regular and illustration mode!

[gambee]

Pretty funny that the NCL ship looks the same in regular and illustration mode!

 

I thought so too.

[gambee]

GAMBEE!!! So glad to see this review. I figured I would wait a little bit to give you a head start, then come here to find our you're already on like...page 27??? Yikes. I have spent the last 2 days playing catch up.

 

Man, this ship is gorgeous! I'm loving the pictures as usual and your description of the daily activities is wonderful. Your uncle sounds like a hoot and a fun person to cruise with. I'm so glad you had him and your aunt along. It's making the story even more interesting with all the silliness.

 

So sorry to hear your mom fell. Ouch. Also so glad to know that she didn't break anything. I broke my hand falling on our 2010 Epic cruise, so I can completely relate.

 

You are so awesome to provide your family with this experience and especially bringing your aunt along and on here BIRTHDAY! What a great thing to do for her and one she'll never forget! It will be my husbands birthday on our next cruise and I plan to really do it up on that day! We will be in Belize and I'm taking him to swim with the sharks!!!! He thinks I'm trying to kill him on his birthday. :D

 

I really need to invest in a point and shoot Sony. I love Sony as well and my dslr is a Sony a77, which I never take on the cruises with me because there's just too much to lug around with me and I just find that I can't enjoy myself as much. However, if I had a smaller camera (and I have a lot of the Minolta & Sony lens), that wouldn't be as bad. I completely LOVE the illustration photos. I really wish my Olympus had that. I might have to use this as my new excuse to get, yet another camera. :p

 

I can't wait to read about the rest of your adventure and especially the ports. :)

 

Well hello there, I was not aware you were following this review. Sound awesome that you're taking your husband swimming with sharks. I can't wait to see the pictures that you get from that. Cage or no cage? I have always wanted to do that, but quite honestly, I don't think I will ever get the courage to do so.

 

Glad you're enjoying the review. Just so you know, pretty much all new Sonys comes with the illustration mode. The ones that don't, offer the option of purchasing the mode on their online app store.

 

It is really nice to see you here, thank you for following :)

[gambee]

You have an absolutely Outstanding Cruise Review...Your Photos are Fantastic...looks like your new camera's doing the trick for you...you may be the best photo reviewer on Cruise Critic...Your level of detail is remarkable...I can't say enough. :):):):)

 

 

Thank you very much for your kind words, they are very much appreciated :)

 

You're right, I am loving my new camera! There is so much more control than the NEX ever had.

[gambee]

Everyone has different tastes, for instance, we found the food on the Divina superior to the Getaway!:) (same ship as Breakaway basically, recently off, but haven't reviewed yet!)

 

Gambee keep up the good work!

 

That is very true. You have to read all reviews with a grain of salt.

[gambee]

Gambee....really enjoying the pictures...and you haven't overdone it with the illustration mode. Heck, it's like Bedrock and Fred Flinstone. Yababdabado. Sorry about your Mom falling. Your uncle sounds like he needs to get out more! He is crazy/funny. That was very kind of you to pay for your aunts cruise! You are a very kind man. Glad you're enjoying the cruise (or should I say enjoyed the cruise? Your camera is taking awesome shots. Love the colors. The entire ship looks first class.

 

Thank you for your kind words :)

 

I would really like to take another cruise with him, on a more active vessel. You never know, life has a funny way of happening :)

[janeyzee]

 

 

[/color][/b]

 

I love love love your illustrator photos. This one is great, that yellows pops. Puts another perspective on cruise memories doesn't it? Enjoying all the photos and commentary.

[gambee]

Gambee, I am another fan of yours and love the illustration mode of your pictures! They show how talented a composer you are and appeal to the whimsy in all of us. Don't change a thing; your personal instincts are, as always, spot on!

 

 

Thank you for expressing your support. I really enjoy how they come out. Glad you enjoy them as well :D

[gambee]

Great pictures of your approach to St. Maarten. I agree... St. Maarten is gorgeous, really enjoying going there a lot.

 

Thank you Chris, I got some great pictures that day. I think my best were in Maho!

[gambee]

I love love love your illustrator photos. This one is great, that yellows pops. Puts another perspective on cruise memories doesn't it? Enjoying all the photos and commentary.

 

The mode actually pumps all colors, but you can tell that yellow and red are the ones that pronounce stronger.

[janeyzee]

 

 

OMG this one cracked me up. You get the most interesting photos of anyone I've ever known!

[lorenzod]

Gambee, I am another fan of yours and love the illustration mode of your pictures! They show how talented a composer you are and appeal to the whimsy in all of us. Don't change a thing; your personal instincts are, as always, spot on!

 

I was on the Divina 3 weeks ago. Am enjoying your pictures and am able to see the things I missed. I noticed that some of your photos look like caricatures. Is this some special setting your camera has? I have never seen this before. If so what kind of camera and what is the setting called?

Keep enjoying the cruise and what ever you do do not miss the Michael Jackson review. He does an amazing Moon Walk. Best show of the cruise. Also they actually do the traditional Baked Alaska on the last formal night. They parade around with the baked Alaska on fire. A special treat is it does not have vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream. Instead it is pistachio and coffee ice cream. Best I have ever had. Also no smoke detectors went off as these flaming cakes past close to the ceiling. Just beautiful to see when the lots go out.

Marsha:D

[BugsyCruiser]

Thank you Chris, I got some great pictures that day. I think my best were in Maho!

 

They are indeed excellent pictures! Looking forward to Maho :)

 

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[lindy sails]

They are indeed excellent pictures! Looking forward to Maho :)

 

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Hi Bugsy!

When is your next cruise? I'll be on the Eclipse Christmas/New Year's cruise.

Linda

 

 

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[joand452]

Can't wait to read your thoughts on Maho! We've been to St. Maarten four times now and spent my birthday this past April there! We just took the water taxi into Phillipsburg as my destination was the Pandora store so I could get my birthday gift!!

 

We've been to Maho twice, but never to a beach. I wonder what they're doing to renovate the Iguana Farm. It was just a dirt lot when we went there.

[BugsyCruiser]

Hi Bugsy!

When is your next cruise? I'll be on the Eclipse Christmas/New Year's cruise.

Linda

 

 

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Was hoping it would be soon. Doesn't look like anything sooner than Quantum next April

 

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[lindy sails]

Was hoping it would be soon. Doesn't look like anything sooner than Quantum next April

 

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Sorry to hear Bugsy that you don't have a cruise in the line up but the Quantum is worth the wait. Looking forward to reading your review!

 

 

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[CruiseReg]

Are they seriously serving Coca Cola Light? That's the European calorie-free version of Coke, and to any Diet Coke addict like myself, it is not the same! I find it to be a little impractical for them to serve Coca Light, considering they probably restock in Miami? Why are they not serving the US Coca Cola products?

 

It's not just European, they also serve it in China (I've had it Beijing and Shanghai). I'm glad that soda is that important to me, especially for a week or two...

[swwake]

Loving your day in St. Martin/San Maarten. We did Bernard's in 2012 on Allure and Sexy was our tour guide. He was very funny and very good. Thanks for taking me back to Orient Beach. It is by far the prettiest beach I've ever visited and I really want to go back someday. Maybe next November when we're there on Allure again. I've seen pics of Aruba though, and it may have Orient beat. We are about to book Carnival Breeze for 11/22 this year, so hopefully I'll get to see Aruba and compare to beautiful Orient Beach!

Edited September 1, 2014 by swwake