Divina 7/22/17 - first impressions

[wetwash]

I enjoyed reading these posts and learned a lot too so I thought I'd take a few moments while I still have service and post a few thoughts about our first hours on the Divina!

 

(A little background - my husband and I brought our 17 (today) and 18 y/o daughters and two of their friends). We only booked about 4 months ago so were limited in cabin choices but managed to get two balconys on deck 11 - fantastica package (which included 12 drink vouchers per person). We flew in late last night from NY ( to Fort Lauderdale because it was much more economical), took a shuttle

from the hotel (quality limousine service -$13/person door to door) and arrived at the port at 12pm and made it on the ship by 1pm. Excellent experience embarking!

 

Then to the casino for the drink vouchers. We had also prepaid for some additional as well as the coffee and bottled water packages. There was a mix up and a bit of frustration because they didn't have all our vouchers. Was told to go down to guest services and after waiting a while in line was told to go back to the casino (but while there we managed to register our credit card at the kiosk next to Guest services with no trouble). Ok so back to the casino and eventually they found another envelope with more vouchers for us and then made up new ones for the ones we were missing so it all worked out but was a very frustrating hour or so! But since embarkation was so easy with very little wait I guess I can't complain that by about 2:30 PM we were sitting in the sports bar eating lunch and having a frosty drink… Didn't go to the buffet after reading lots of reviews that it was a madhouse so I can't comment. Sports bar was empty and enjoyable!

After lunch went to our rooms. Now one minor inconvenience is that I am booked with three of the girls and my 18-year-old is with my husband. Asked about getting duplicate key cards but was told they don't do that. On our last cruise with Royal Caribbean we were able to get the duplicate key so now I will just have to track down my husband or daughter to get into my room and my daughter will have to be with her sister or friends to get to hers. Not a big deal but be aware if you're traveling with teens under 21 in a separate/non adjoining room.

The muster was at 4:30 and by 4:15 PM they had closed the bars in order to get everybody to their assigned muster station. We had to bring and put on our life jackets. I had taken a wander around the ship and the pool areas were packed, lots of people out on deck but surprisingly the inside of the ship was not crowded. Another minor gripe is that none of the bars had the bottled water. We had prepaid for a lot of those bottles as I know the kids drink a lot of water and I thought it would be nice to have some in our room in the fridge. They do supply you with starter bottles but since I prepaid I didn't want to have to pay again . One bartender said they were still loading but by later this evening they should have our water and I'll make sure to take some bottles back to the room.

So after the muster went back to the room and I unpacked my bag which was there. My husband's was not. The girls all had theirs. Then off to wander some more… Pool bar and upper decks/bars were still crowded… They had a going away party with music and dancing… Then walked a bit before we settled inside on deck seven at the golden jazz bar. We had the place to ourselves and listened to a band playing lovely jazz music. Back up to deck 14 for sail away at 7 PM which is where I am now as I write this. We have a late dinner so I don't have to rush but I guess those in the earlier seating would have to head down soon.

 

Anyway, my first impressions are mostly positive. Ship is lovely and the staff very accommodating - no problem with communicating, everyone we spoke English. We have a lot of different languages so it's true that this is a multi -national cruise. So even though there are few little annoyances we're not going to let it ruin our trip! I'll try to post be again on Wednesday in San Juan (when my phone works again ;) but if anybody has any questions you're welcome to post and if I can answer I will try! :)

[wetwash]

Still have service and it's 8:20om - eventually I know I will lose my 4G but I realized that before I thought the early seating would be going down after sail away but evidently they eat at 6pm so I guess you miss sail away if you do early dinner? Or you eat and then see most as we are by land for a good 30 min. Other ships we were on always took off before dinner!

Speaking of - I'm heading down now - hope it's good (and that the cake I preordered for my daughter's birthday is there! We also have a gluten free guest with us and I did notify special services before the cruise. Tried going into speak to someone in the dining room earlier but they were closed -

So I didn't confirm!

[riclop]

Off to a good start.

[easyboy]

Nice start. Will be following along.

[tbmrt]

Also interested in how early seating would work if sailaway is at 7 PM? What time is early and late seating?

 

Would also appreciate the time for main shows

 

Have a great trip.

[tjlj]

 

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[tjlj]

 

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[cnspots2]

just wondering why you cant just switch room cards with your daughter? Do you have to show/scan your card around the ship?

[wetwash]

just wondering why you cant just switch room cards with your daughter? Do you have to show/scan your card around the ship?

 

Hi… In San Juan today so I'll try to answer a few questions… You need to show the room key/cruise card in order to get anything at the bars, even a soda, and even using the vouchers, (which I think are a great idea by the way). No signing required but since I like to order a drink or two;) having the 18-year-olds card would prevent that. Did take her card one evening when she wouldn't need it and my husband and I were off doing our own things so it's worked out so far!

[jkrislc]

If you could comment on his the dining room is handling the gluten-free dietary needs, I'd appreciate it. I'm headed on the Seaside in December with someone who has celiac.

[wetwash]

The dining room is great with our gluten intolerant friend. Let them know ahead of time and then again that night and they give a separate gluten-free menu for dinner. We have not eaten breakfast or lunch in the dining room so I don't know but my daughters friend went to the buffet and asked about gluten-free items and the chef made her something on the spot so they are accommodating even in the buffet but there are lots of choices… Seems that the pasta is good and then of course there's lots of other choices. The good thing is it's a separate waiter, don't know if he's a head waiter or something, but he handles the gluten-free requests so it's not mixed in with the regular meals. He brings it out separately! As a sidenote, it's my daughter's friend who is 17 and doesn't eat much but everything she's had that I asked her about she enjoyed! She had gluten-free bread last night with her pasta. And we ordered a gluten-free cake for a birthday celebration the first day but they had it mixed up and it came out singing happy anniversary song, LOL but the chocolate gluten-free loaf cake was fine.

 

 

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[wetwash]

Also interested in how early seating would work if sailaway is at 7 PM? What time is early and late seating?

 

 

 

Would also appreciate the time for main shows

 

 

 

Have a great trip.

 

 

 

Early seating at 6 PM and late sitting is 8:30 PM they have two times for most of the shows. Times only one show which is at 7:45 PM. We've been to a few of the 7 PM shows and enjoyed them. I don't know how they handle dinner the first night with early seating… Guess you missed the sail away. Or maybe some people just kept the dining room that night and ate in the buffet or the sports bar?

 

 

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[Clarea]

Thanks for the review, especially the scans.:)