MSC Divina Yacht Club 9 October 12-Night Caribbean out of Port Canaveral

[phissy]

Dmhines - Thanks for posting pics of excursion.  It is a very interesting process to watch.

Yes, this cruise changed twice since we booked it. Each time 1 day added.

It was 10 day when we first booked it. 12 days now .
More ports added as Covid restrictions in these countries were lifted. As I mentioned earlier, we were the first cruise ship back to Limon , Costa Rica .

[styles27]

10 hours ago, phissy said:

Deb,

just want to follow up on Panama Canal excursion.

The 8 hour Panama Canal in excursions is the one most on ship did.

It was bus ride to ferry boat. Police escorted bus out of town.

Many reported they liked it but very long day.

If you do not want to do it….

I think you should be able to cancel and get credit.

We had to cancel excursions for Frank. He wrenched his back and unable to do much walking. They gave us refund for 48 hour notice of cancellation.

Pat

Thanks Pat! I’ll have to think about how adventurous I’m willing to get.
While having a police escort out of town sounds good it also makes me nervous. 

I’m so sorry to hear about Frank’s back. Having had a few spine surgeries myself I feel for him and hope he’s much better today. 

 

Good to know that they gave you a credit for cancelling. 

 

After I read your post last evening I did a little research and saw many articles warning about travel to that area of Panama. 

 

20 years ago I wouldn’t have given it a second thought but now the whole “older and wiser” thing is kicking in lol

[Best Cat Mom]

We have not encountered anyone trying to upsell spa services or specialty dining on this cruise. We did want a couple of couples massages (should I call that a quadruple?) but since no one has been walking around selling, we went direct to the spa to purchase them. They had a good deal: buy an 80-minute couples massage for the price of a 50-minute massage, which was a savings of about $100 for each couples massage. We don't need the dining, since we have our one Butcher's Cut meal from my Diamond status. We only have a few more days on board and we're still not sure if we'll even use that one meal. On our first MSC cruise on Seaside, we had purchased the Trio package of specialty dining and also had the one free meal. Having cruised NCL's Haven previously, which had the same menu each day, we did not yet know better. Now, we enjoy Le Muse so much, both the service and the food, we almost hate to miss a meal there. The maitre d' there has graciously provided us with both filet mignon and lamb chops from BC in Le Muse -- and we've had those wonderful lamb chops twice so far! -- so I think our free meal will go unused. It's too bad we can't gift it to another couple who might enjoy it. 😞

 

On our first MSC cruise, we brought our own washcloths, as we always do when we travel to Europe. We were pleased to find we did not need them. They have been in our YC cabins every MSC cruise, even the one in the Mediterranean.

 

There is a dedicated slot in our bathroom counter for the pop-up type of facial tissues. I saw a post in another thread where someone had to specifically ask for tissues. Given the configuration of the YC bathroom, I think there will always be tissues available. We've never had to ask for some. And there are even extra boxes in the under-sink cabinet that you could place on the nightstand or desk if that is more convenient for you.

[Best Cat Mom]

3 hours ago, phissy said:

this cruise changed twice since we booked it. Each time 1 day added.

Wow, really? As I had mentioned earlier, we booked only about 2 weeks out because Hurricane Ian cancelled our 29 September sailing.

 

Were the extra days at the end? I wonder if there was another cruise after this that lost those days. Bad for them, but what a nice surprise for you! 🙂

[Morgsmom]

Oh, Rodwin and Patricia are the best 🙂  Enjoy their impeccable service.

[styles27]

Sounds like you’re having a great cruise! 
Any word about how many passengers are on board?

 

We had 490 on Divina in 11/22 I know that’ll probably never happen again but I wonder if any recent sailings have been at or near capacity. 

[Best Cat Mom]

3 minutes ago, styles27 said:

Sounds like you’re having a great cruise! 
Any word about how many passengers are on board?

It has been a wonderful cruise -- don't you hate when you get to that part of the cruise where you change from saying "this is a great cruise" to "this has been a great cruise?" 😞

 

They said 106 in YC, which is about 60% to 70% capacity. The loungers in the pool areas that we see when walking to Le Muse seems to be about the same. If I have a chance to ask someone, I will.

[styles27]

1 hour ago, Best Cat Mom said:

It has been a wonderful cruise -- don't you hate when you get to that part of the cruise where you change from saying "this is a great cruise" to "this has been a great cruise?" 😞

 

They said 106 in YC, which is about 60% to 70% capacity. The loungers in the pool areas that we see when walking to Le Muse seems to be about the same. If I have a chance to ask someone, I will.

Yes! I love having more “sleeps” ahead of us than behind us on a cruise.

If only we could slow down the clocks on a cruise ship!

Edited October 19, 2022 by styles27

[phissy]

It seems the length of the cruise or the heat may be getting the best of some.

Yesterday, witnessed a few upsetting interactions from guests and staff.

Guests treating staff disrespectfully is not acceptable in my book.

 

At lunch, up on YC pool deck, table next us to ordered drinks.
When delivered, a loud lecture ensued. “ what is wrong with you, do you see the words diet on the can? Do you see the words no sugar on the can? I wanted Coke, the one  in the red can. This is not a red can. Can you see that ?

“This is a silver can, bring me Coke in the red can.”

The served returned with “correct color” can of Coke. Then I watched her go out to area with loungers and wipe away tears and take a minute.

This was horrible. I was going to make a comment to couple at next table but, they got up and left.

A few minutes later, 2 couples sit down and order drinks. Same server.

She tells them they are out of diet Sprite or Diet 7 Up.

They tell her to go and make sure. She confirms this.

Outrage from guests, “ How is this possible? What kind of ship does this? Go to restaurant manager and find out why. This is not acceptable.”

OMG, poor staff. 
Then….yes, there was more.

Another couple arrive and ask what pasta sauce is that day. Were very unhappy with answer, -Calamari with red sauce. “ I hate squid, why do  you make such disgusting food.? “ Server  started apologizing …when they start fighting between themselves and expletives  start flying.  I gave John (server) look like -“just walk away.”

Wow. 
I went and talked with Patricia and John, discreetly,  and told them how we appreciate them and thanked them for giving us a great cruise. 
 

[Best Cat Mom]

Wow! I'm flabbergasted!

 

Patricia is one of the nicest and most patient butlers there. It is very unfortunate that those rude guests never had the chance to appreciate her and John (you mean John Carlo, her husband, right?) earlier in the cruise.

 

We saw her in the early afternoon and she was her usually happy self. If the incidents happened earlier, I guess she was able to shrug them off. She and John only have one more week on their "honeymoon" contract and then the get to go home. They can forget the bad and remember all of us that appreciated them so much.

[parallax]

I witnessed the berating of staff when on the Seashore in August at the YC Pool as well.  It was over some minor mishap as well related to a drink not being mixed the right way.  These idiots were sitting right next to us and my friend and I let them have it.  It is all about respect and human dignity.  

[Morgsmom]

41 minutes ago, Best Cat Mom said:

Patricia is one of the nicest and most patient butlers there. It is very unfortunate that those rude guests never had the chance to appreciate her and John (you mean John Carlo, her husband, right?) earlier in the cruise.

 

In fact, neither Patricia, nor John (her sweet husband) are butlers - they are YC assistants or stewards or something.  (Well at least as of 18 September)  They WANT to be full fledged butlers and hope to get picked up for another contract again.  We met Patricia last March on the MERA and she remembered us 6 months later on a different ship --- that's amazing and wonderful.  Please tell her that "Maam Donna and Sir George" say hello and wish them safe travels home.

[Best Cat Mom]

1 hour ago, Morgsmom said:

neither Patricia, nor John (her sweet husband) are butlers

Patricia's name tag now says "YC Butler" but she said she is a butler at the YC pool. From our previous cruises, I also thought that the title butler referred to cabin butlers. Maybe they've expanded the title now?

 

I will give them your regards later today!

[Best Cat Mom]

2 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

In fact, neither Patricia, nor John (her sweet husband) are butlers

John Carlo has been our lunch waiter several times. Never saw him in the evening though.

 

Forgot to mention that Patricia had been the butler who escorted us onto the ship. That's when I first saw her name tag with the butler title. Maybe she is on the verge of being a cabin butler?

[Best Cat Mom]

22 hours ago, styles27 said:

Any word about how many passengers are on board?

Rodwin said about 2000 passengers total for this cruise. Next cruise is nearly full ship-wide and completely full in YC. He said that as a quick 3-day out of Miami, it will be a totally different type of passenger mix and not necessarily in a good way. 😞

[styles27]

2 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

Rodwin said about 2000 passengers total for this cruise. Next cruise is nearly full ship-wide and completely full in YC. He said that as a quick 3-day out of Miami, it will be a totally different type of passenger mix and not necessarily in a good way. 😞

Thank you so much! 
I’m not surprised Rodwin commented on the type of passenger mix that will be on the 3 day.

It’s the main reason we won’t book a 3 or 4 day.

We notice a huge difference in how the passengers act…although reading @phissyPat’s post above is concerning.

I expect that behavior from some of the passengers on shorter itineraries and have witnessed it. 
 

We go out of our way to be kind to the staff on board because number 1 it’s the right thing to do and number 2 I can’t imagine being away from my family for months at a time.

There’s no reason to treat another human being so poorly. We can only hope Karma will catch up with those people. 

[travelberlin]

4 hours ago, phissy said:

It seems the length of the cruise or the heat may be getting the best of some.

Yesterday, witnessed a few upsetting interactions from guests and staff.

Guests treating staff disrespectfully is not acceptable in my book.

 

At lunch, up on YC pool deck, table next us to ordered drinks.
When delivered, a loud lecture ensued. “ what is wrong with you, do you see the words diet on the can? Do you see the words no sugar on the can? I wanted Coke, the one  in the red can. This is not a red can. Can you see that ?

“This is a silver can, bring me Coke in the red can.”

The served returned with “correct color” can of Coke. Then I watched her go out to area with loungers and wipe away tears and take a minute.

This was horrible. I was going to make a comment to couple at next table but, they got up and left.

A few minutes later, 2 couples sit down and order drinks. Same server.

She tells them they are out of diet Sprite or Diet 7 Up.

They tell her to go and make sure. She confirms this.

Outrage from guests, “ How is this possible? What kind of ship does this? Go to restaurant manager and find out why. This is not acceptable.”

OMG, poor staff. 
Then….yes, there was more.

Another couple arrive and ask what pasta sauce is that day. Were very unhappy with answer, -Calamari with red sauce. “ I hate squid, why do  you make such disgusting food.? “ Server  started apologizing …when they start fighting between themselves and expletives  start flying.  I gave John (server) look like -“just walk away.”

Wow. 
I went and talked with Patricia and John, discreetly,  and told them how we appreciate them and thanked them for giving us a great cruise. 
 

Unbelievable! Fortunately I have never traveled with such rude people. 
Ivi

[phissy]

We were wondering how many on this cruise have returned home and taken Covid tests ? 
There were about 20 onboard who were quarantined on Deck 10 during cruise. A couple on our FB group have reported they have now tested positive. 
We have tested negative.