Vaxxed, waxed,masked,relaxed-Divina Live

[maureencruiser]

Alright, as usual, I’m battling a weak internet signal, troublesome camera issues and my own dumbassery, which all contribute to a hot mess.  

 

So, to back up a little, once I was onboard, I perused the info in my cabin  so I could catch my breath, then I headed out to the buffet.

 

Every time I went to an elevator, there was no one there.

 

 

I walked the buffet, seeing what was available there.  I started with the desserts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no bread like cruise ship bread.

 

 

 

 

This is blurry, but, it says, Welcome aboard, fruitcake!  Rude!

 

 

 

 

I settled on one of my favorites, Seafood Paella.  I rounded it out with Spicy Potatoes, Garlic Chicken and Cheese Bread.  When it comes to carb loading, I cannot be beat.

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Menus and such are available through QR Codes.

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, time for dessert, a walnut brownie, eclair and a little vino to cleanse the palate.

 

 

 

 

After lunch, I was wiped out.  It was a combination of very little sleep, stress, and a lot of pain from walking.  It was naptime.

 

I woke up just in time for muster,  At 5pm, we all had to go to our cabins and watch a safety video,  Once complete, we had to punch a code into the phone.  Then, they called the decks two at a time to report to muster station and scan your card.  I had already called and explained I can’t walk down 4 flights of stairs, so, they told me to wait till muster was over and elevators were back on and report to my station.  It was all very easy and fast and muster was done at 5:30.

 

[maureencruiser]

During sailaway, I went out on my balcony to see what was up.

 

 

 

 

Hmmm, what is this interesting ship?

 

 

 

 

Oh, I see.  Later, someone told me they saw the booster rockets, but, I didn’t see them.

 

 

 

 

A cruise ship for Flat Stanley, perhaps?

 

 

 

 

Luggage had arrived while I was napping, so, I got settled into my cabin.

 

Sailaway was 6 and early dinner was 6:15, so, I headed out.

 

The atrium was hopping.

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

As were the lounges. 

 

 

 

 

I could get used to a nearly empty ship.  Rumor says we have less than a thousand aboard.  Your intrepid reporter will try to confirm exactly how many. 

 

I had dinner in the MDR with Steve, another solo from our roll call.  He is also from MA, so we can understand each other.

 

The menu. Sorry, it's sideways and a mess.

 

 

 

I had the scallop ceviche.

 

 

 

 

Blackened grouper.

 

 

 

 

And, brownie stack.  I know, I know.

 

 

Steve had the pistachio something or another.  He offered me his paper menu, but, I insisted I had taken picture of it.  Dumbassery!  

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

After dinner, I headed off to the show.

 

The diffusers that Mike from the MSC board was trying to find a few years ago.  I sent him a message a few days ago that I was sailing again, but, I haven’t heard back.

 

 

 

 

This skinny ***** telling the rest of us how fat our butts would be if we kept cruising.

 

 

 

 

At the show, deck 6 was for vaccinated people and deck 7 for the unvaccinated.  The unvaccinated were only the families with young children.

 

I sat in the first row I came to, because my knees were SINGING!  This ended up being a mistake, as I had to get up four times to let people in and out of the row.  Tomorrow, I’ll go down a row or two.

 

The crowd.

 

 

Monica, the cruise director.  Today was her first day as an employee of MSC.  Good luck and welcome to her.

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

The show was Simply the best, a tribute to Tina Turner. 

 

 

 

 

It was nice, I generally don’t go much for just singing and dancing, but, when you haven’t seen a show in 2 years, it seems like it’s Tina herself up there. 

 

 

 

 

 

If Tina was a white woman with blond hair.

 

[maureencruiser]

I headed back to my cabin to work on my review and found some snacks along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm, MSC has their own Limoncello?

 

 

 

 

The gorgeous Swarvorski (sp?) staircase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, the ship was hopping.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, the Fun Girls.  They’re definitely getting ducks.  

 

 

 

 

All right, I have had zero pizza today and only one glass of wine.  That is no way to flex my drink package.  Let’s see how the wifi is holding up and if I can get this all posted.  It's 11:56, Villain cannot say I didn't finish today's post on time.  

 

[maureencruiser]

Arriving at the buffet at midnight, it was a ghost town.  At least the bread was there to greet me.

 

 

 

 

I don’t know if anything else was available, I only had eyes for the pizza.

 

 

 

 

Glorious, glorious pizza.

 

 

 

 

I got 2 slices of the Margherita.

 

 

 

 

Now, that’s how you flex your drink package!  Five at a time!

 

 

 

 

It was wonderful, as always, if a tad lukewarm.  I’ll make sure to get some when it’s busier, hence fresher.

 

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

They already had the signs up for tomorrow’s breakfast, so, I took a minute to peruse them, off the off chance I was up that early.

 

You know how what Americans call cookies, British people call biscuits?  Well, the Americans and the British have confused the hell out of the Italians, so, this is what they’re offering for breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yummy!  Mint Oreos doused with a heaping helping of sausage gravy!  Deelish!

 

Got back to my cabin around 1am, there was a mystery ship off my balcony.

 

 

 

 

I unpacked my few remaining sundries and hit the bed at 2am.  My feet and legs were throbbing.  It was like I was back at work, on my feet all day.

 

[maureencruiser]

I awoke at one point and the room seemed a little brighter.  That could only mean one thing.

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous!

 

 

 

 

Come on out, no need to hide.

 

 

 

 

A little rainstorm behind us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, I leapt to my feet and raced to breakfast.

 

Yeah, right!  Have you met me?  Back to bed!

Edited September 20, 2021 by maureencruiser

[maureencruiser]

I finally got up and running around 11am.  I’ve decided to use my walker today because it is easier than the cane.  I’ll tell you, having this much trouble getting around is really putting my B2B on Harmony this November in jeopardy.  I just don’t know if I can do it.   I really underestimated how much walking there is.  Plus the fact that I have an FCC for $1300 that Royal says is invalid is not helping my situation.  

 

Rather than head over to Ocean Cay, I wondered if the MDR was open for lunch.  It was not.  Maybe tomorrow?

 

I hit the buffet for a burger and fries.  The buffet is all served by waiters, he thought I said hot dog, so, I took that, as well.

 

 

 

 

My first glimpse of the island.  

 

 

 

 

It’s beautiful.  

 

 

 

 

They’ve planted palm trees, but, while they grow, you can rent an umbrella for $12.  I rented one for each day, what with my alabaster skin.

 

 

 

 

Looking at the island, I decided against heading out, even though they have a tram.  I really wanted to get out and get some pictures for y’all, but, I really don’t feel up to it.  I’m sorry for the most boring review ever.  I might head out tonight, all aboard is 11:30pm, plus we’re here again tomorrow.  

[maureencruiser]

I went for a brief stroll around the pool deck.

 

 

 

 

 

I hid a few ducks along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

The credit card activation kiosk.  There’s several of these.  If you’re a newbie, don’t stand in line to activate, you’ve got plenty of time.  They say 48 hours, but, my first cruise, as everyone else was leaving the ship, ding, ding, ding.  I got DONGED. ☠️ Never activated my card. Dumbassery.

 

 

I ended up chasing my tail on my way back to the cabin.  I ran into a lot of dead ends, which I did not remember from before.

 

I thought the Cantina might be open for a drink, but, they were not.  Cute chairs, though.

 

 

I was trying to get from midship to aft.  I ran into roadblocks on decks 5,7 and 11.

 

A man who held the door for me told me I as a real trooper.  That helped a little.

 

 

 

I was practically in tears from pain and frustration when I found a steward on 11.  He said there were more closures because they had decks closed off for possible quarantines.  He told me to get to deck 11 aft, you have to go to 12 or 13 then come down.  His advice worked perfectly.

 

Back in my cabin, I discovered a leak under my sink.  I went out on the balcony and dozed while waiting for them to fix it.  It was fixed in under an hour.

 

Signing off now, I’ll see you all later.

Edited September 20, 2021 by maureencruiser

[waterbabyfish]

So glad you are doing this, very entertaining!

[FOXYDEBBY]

Hope your knees feel better. Loving your review!!! You will be a pro at maneuvering the ship by your last day lol.

[Kruizin'Kath]

I'm exhausted just reading! I feel your pain....literally!

 

[maureencruiser]

Hi guys, I'm having trouble uploading photos, so, I'll finish Monday's review on Ruesday.  We're overnighting at Ocean Cay, so, I should have plenty of time tomorrow.  Plus, I'm 6 Moscow Mules in, so, that might explain the photo problem.  🤪

[A&L_Ont]

6 hours ago, maureencruiser said:

Hi guys, I'm having trouble uploading photos, so, I'll finish Monday's review on Ruesday. 
 

 

Is it because you have been Rinking?

 

6 hours ago, maureencruiser said:

We're overnighting at Ocean Cay, so, I should have plenty of time tomorrow.  Plus, I'm 6 Moscow Mules in, so, that might explain the photo problem.  🤪

Yup, that could be an issue. 

[PyrHeaven]

I'm so excited following along with your review! Can you come back on Divina for the Oct 10th cruise? You seem like so much fun. 😊

 

Sorry to hear about all the pain you're experiencing getting around. All those road blocks sure didn't help!

[styles27]

6 hours ago, maureencruiser said:

Hi guys, I'm having trouble uploading photos, so, I'll finish Monday's review on Ruesday.  We're overnighting at Ocean Cay, so, I should have plenty of time tomorrow.  Plus, I'm 6 Moscow Mules in, so, that might explain the photo problem.  🤪

Good morning! 
Just wondering about the bracelets for contact tracing. Someone on Mera who is doing a live review mentioned they were given them to wear. 
Were you given one also?  
Reason I ask is a CC’er did a review of her 3 day on Divina last weekend and she said they weren’t given one. 
Maybe it’s just for 7 day cruises?

 

Also are they still making you wear a white bracelet to show who is vaccinated? I know everyone is supposed to be vaccinated over age 12 but then I saw you posted the theater has separate seating for vaccinated and unvaccinated. 
 

[green snakes]

Thanks for all the info.  We are doing a 7 day on Oct. 17th & have never been on MSC before.  I really enjoy your pictures & your sense of humor. 

We have been vaxxed & just got off Mariner of the Seas last week.  It also had separate areas for the theater & ice show so you didn't have to wear a mask the whole time.  We were 33% full & were told CDC only allows 35% until Jan. then MAY approve 50%.  Nice time to cruise if you have mobility issues.  

 

[maureencruiser]

3 hours ago, styles27 said:

Good morning! 
Just wondering about the bracelets for contact tracing. Someone on Mera who is doing a live review mentioned they were given them to wear. 
Were you given one also?  
Reason I ask is a CC’er did a review of her 3 day on Divina last weekend and she said they weren’t given one. 
Maybe it’s just for 7 day cruises?

 

Also are they still making you wear a white bracelet to show who is vaccinated? I know everyone is supposed to be vaccinated over age 12 but then I saw you posted the theater has separate seating for vaccinated and unvaccinated. 
 

 

No bracelets.  This is a 7 night cruise.  They take our temperature when we arrive at the buffet in the morning.  Everyone is wearing masks indoors except while eating and drinking.  Deck 7 at the show is for unvaxx.  I don't know if anyone is there, I cannot recall seeing any children.  

 

 

3 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

Is it because you have been Rinking?

 

Yup, that could be an issue. 

 

You'll Rue the day you said that.

[maureencruiser]

I'm just up, heading to the island for lunch.  I'll be back.

 in a few hours with all the news that's fit to print.

 

[Yorkvillain]

20 hours ago, maureencruiser said:

 I’m sorry for the most boring review ever.  

Boring? This is far from boring! 
 

Feel better and try to relax more. We don’t want you in pain while you make us laugh. 

Edited September 21, 2021 by Yorkvillain

[styles27]

57 minutes ago, maureencruiser said:

 

No bracelets.  This is a 7 night cruise.  They take our temperature when we arrive at the buffet in the morning.  Everyone is wearing masks indoors except while eating and drinking.  Deck 7 at the show is for unvaxx.  I don't know if anyone is there, I cannot recall seeing any children.  

 

 

 

You'll Rue the day you said that.

Thanks Maureen! I wonder why Mera is using the bracelets but Divina isn’t.

I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that the “my MSC app”doesn’t work on Divina. 

[syr fan]

Did they charge you for 2 days use of the umbrella? When I tried to buy it for the second day, I got a message saying it was already in my cart, I wasn't sure if the rental was good for both days.