MSC Divina December 28 to January 7, 2024. B2B in the YC

[Cathy in Boston]

I am so glad you like room 16033…since that is our room in April!

[jean87510]

1 hour ago, Cathy in Boston said:

I am so glad you like room 16033…since that is our room in April!

It's really nice with a decent sized balcony.  

[DaKahuna]

2 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

It's really nice with a decent sized balcony.  

 

 We are going to be on Deck 15 next month. 

 

[jean87510]

We did go to the show Extreme tonight which was about 30 minutes and featured juggling, acrobatics, singing, dancing, basketball, boxing ring.  It was odd but entertaining.  The singers were really good.  

We normally avoid production shows as we like some novelty acts that have talent (violinist, acrobatics, juggling).  We dislike comedians, ventriloquists and hypnotists.  We are kind of hard to please.  But MSC has an odd show and for some reason we stayed entertained.

 

We ate at Butcher's cut prior to the show.  Fantastic.  All the food there is much better than Chops on RCCL.  Not even close.  We have our own giant smoker and grill at home and go to the butcher for good cuts.  You can tell when a place does this and Butcher's definitely does.

[jean87510]

On 1/2/2024 at 6:47 PM, Mark_T said:

I'll be interested in your thoughts about deck 16, we were on 15 in June and decided to try 16 for our cruise next month.

 

Main motivation was it is nicely placed so it is only one deck up to the pool and breakfast, and one deck down to the lounge.

 

Only a minor point really of course.

 

 

So far liking it!

[Mark_T]

7 hours ago, jean87510 said:

So far liking it!

Excellent, your location experience will closely mirror ours I expect as we will be in 31 right next to where you are now.

 

Enjoy the extra space you have there though.

Edited January 5 by Mark_T

[countess5]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. We are long time Celebrity cruisers and looking for alternatives. Been reading a lot of the Live reports on MSC. 

 

Watch Carnival pass you yesterday during sail out.

 

 

Cheers! 

[jean87510]

Day 9 Ocean Cay.  We had 2 excursions shipwreck snorkel plus wave runners both of which unfortunately were canceled for wind. We took the golf cart over to YC and staked some chairs on the grass.  It's a little cloudy and windy but beautiful.  We have already seen 7 groups of interlopers tossed!  I was looking forward to this as a bucket list item.

[LorraineP]

18 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

Day 9 Ocean Cay.  We had 2 excursions shipwreck snorkel plus wave runners both of which unfortunately were canceled for wind. We took the golf cart over to YC and staked some chairs on the grass.  It's a little cloudy and windy but beautiful.  We have already seen 7 groups of interlopers tossed!  I was looking forward to this as a bucket list item.

We will be in the YC in October my DH has mobility issues (trouble walking a distance) is there a special golf cart to take us to YC area on Ocean Cay or can anyone take it. 

[jean87510]

5 minutes ago, LorraineP said:

We will be in the YC in October my DH has mobility issues (trouble walking a distance) is there a special golf cart to take us to YC area on Ocean Cay or can anyone take it. 

I will ask.  But maybe others can share with experience?

[LorraineP]

24 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

I will ask.  But maybe others can share with experience?

Thank you. 

[Mark_T]

49 minutes ago, LorraineP said:

We will be in the YC in October my DH has mobility issues (trouble walking a distance) is there a special golf cart to take us to YC area on Ocean Cay or can anyone take it. 

From the reports of others on here, there is a separate cart line for YC vs everyone else, but that doesn't mean it is necessarily quicker than the general line.

 

I have not seen mention of a separate provision for those with mobility issues.

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, LorraineP said:

We will be in the YC in October my DH has mobility issues (trouble walking a distance) is there a special golf cart to take us to YC area on Ocean Cay or can anyone take it. 

All the golf carts are chauffeured. One just has to get from the ship to the YC staging area to pick up the exclusive YC golf carts for ones trip to Ocean House. These chauffeurs are not supposed to pick anyone else up and they do not on their way to Ocean House. However on the way back from Ocean House to the YC/ship staging area we have experienced the driver stop to pick up pretty girls if there are any available seats.

Edited January 5 by morpheusofthesea

[Av8tor]

6 hours ago, jean87510 said:

Day 9 Ocean Cay.  We had 2 excursions shipwreck snorkel plus wave runners both of which unfortunately were canceled for wind. We took the golf cart over to YC and staked some chairs on the grass.  It's a little cloudy and windy but beautiful.  We have already seen 7 groups of interlopers tossed!  I was looking forward to this as a bucket list item.

Looking forward to OC or watching interlopers get tossed?  😁

[jean87510]

Still at Ocean Cay

 

It was really cold and windy and we just didn't feel like doing the YC OC lunch.  So we walked back to ship at 1130 and took a 2 hr nap.  Part of the reason we did this was the elevator music.  I get it, they are promoting an upscale experience.  But some Bahamian music would be so much better and more authentic.  

 

Around 2, we decided to head back out but instead of taking shuttle, we decided to walk around the entire island.  Our path was 3.5 miles.  We went to every single place on OC.  We love this place.  There are many areas other than YC to just relax all by yourself.  Currently we are at the Lighthouse people watching.  Our onboard is 730 pm.  

 

Compared to PDCC, this place wins hands down for us.  It isn't even the YC experience which I liked.  It's everything.  

[jean87510]

1 hour ago, Av8tor said:

Looking forward to OC or watching interlopers get tossed?  😁

of course the tossing!  😉

[jean87510]

We finally made it back to the ship.  Husband dropped his card somewhere on our close to 4 mile walk and honestly we didnt feel like retracing our steps.  If anyone enjoys walking, this is definitely the place to do it.  We saw joggers, and walkers like us.  We also saw the crew beach which is next to the YC.  Saw the housing where the OC staff stays.  I did hear folks complaining about the walking and yes, it is a lot but there are shuttle stops.  If you are able to walk around, this really is the place to do it.  We saw people with their towels down in remote spots and chairs also at remote areas.  

[Essiesmom]

I also liked walking around at OC, but I wish there were benches along the walkways where we old folks or perhaps those with tired children could sit for awhile.  EM

[jean87510]

6 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

I also liked walking around at OC, but I wish there were benches along the walkways where we old folks or perhaps those with tired children could sit for awhile.  EM

agree.  It is a shame because there are some interesting spots.

[jean87510]

I also didnt find OC to have that mobbed feeling that I do at PDCC.  

[RichYak]

5 hours ago, jean87510 said:

I also didnt find OC to have that mobbed feeling that I do at PDCC.  

Sorry, I hate to be that guy, but what's PDCC?

[CruisinMama2003]

40 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Sorry, I hate to be that guy, but what's PDCC?

Perfect Day at Coco Cay (Royal's private island) 🙂

[jean87510]

2 hours ago, RichYak said:

Sorry, I hate to be that guy, but what's PDCC?

perfect day coco cay.

[jean87510]

Day 10 Nassau 

 

A just had to share moment

 

Last night we went to le Muse and I decided to try some new dishes that I would probably avoid like sweet potato soup which was delicious.  We have already noted the difference in peoples behavior on a 3 day YC vs a 7 day YC.  In the restaurant a couple polished their plate then proceeded to complain to waiter and maitre D about how it was inedible.  A solo cruiser next to us who we saw complaining about the TSL snacks being bad was complaining lloudly about his food, the service, how the YC pales compared to the Haven.  Meanwhile he had the table manners of a neanderthal.  We just listened all throughout our meal trying not to laugh.  He actually wiped his mouth with his hand!!

[jean87510]

Disembarking today

 

So after 11 days I am comparing my experience in YC to RCCL suites.  YC wins hands down.  The service has been good.  Not exactly what others experienced but still good.   We didn't get the escorts around the ship anywhere but in hindsight, maybe it was better as we explored all over.  We enjoyed Ocean Cay and loved venturing beyond the YC.  We did go to Nirvana Beach on Nassau which was beautiful.  We had 4 excursions canceled last minute on Costa Maya, Ocean Cay and Nassau.  Weather was terrible initially.  Pools were always cold up in the YC pool area.  Hottubs were always cold.  Food was overall very good with decent portion sizes.  Only weak area was the salads which I just wish were less nuts and fish added.  Wifi was good the entire cruise.  Buffet in main area for breakfast was pretty bad and coffee was terrible.