Miami Cruise Port Hotel Review of The Embassy Suites

Miami is a popular cruise port and home to many cruise lines. On our recent trip to Miami to sail on the MSC Divina we decided to stay overnight at the Embassy Suites in Miami, as we wanted to ensure an early arrival to the cruise port the next day. The Embassy Suites had received quite a few good reviews on sites like Trip Advisor, although guests reported outdated decor, so we were curious as to how true the reviews were. I can happily report that our hotel stay was delightful and enjoyable-and the decor really did not seem that dated! :) We ended up arriving at 2 pm-earlier than check in time but we were promptly given our room, as well as a bag of goodies, which included water bottles, cookies and chips. Our room was large, as all Embassy Suites have a bedroom, bathroom and living/dining area. The couch was a comfortable pull out queen bed for my son to sleep on. There was a mini fridge and a flat screen television. I asked for a room toward the front of the hotel as I read the rooms in the back get noise from the airport. Our room was extremely quiet. 

 The room was extremely clean, as was the entire hotel. The staff at check in was very friendly and eager to help make our stay a great one. We headed out to eat a late lunch after checking in at the yummy La Esquina del Lechon-
http://esquinalechon.com/

As we were in the Doral area of Miami, this restaurant was about a 10 minute drive from the hotel. While I did not have pork, my husband and son did and thought it was delicious. This restaurant was packed and it seems to be a popular and authentic dining spot. Their chicharrones, plantains and spice wheel at the table made this Cuban restaurant a real treat!

After our feast we headed back to the Embassy Suites to enjoy their Manager's Happy Hour from 5:30-7:30. The open bar was outstanding-with a large variety of cocktails and well drinks, wine, sangria and beer available. A selection of soda from the fountain was also offered for those guests who did not drink alcohol and for children. Snacks offered were cookies, nachos with salsa and pretzels with honey mustard dipping sauce. We were still so full from lunch that we actually made this our dinner! :) The bartender, Carmine "Santa" was awesome and made the best drinks for all the guests! The manager of the hotel even came by to inquire whether guests were enjoying themselves too. This complimentary event was truly a great perk to staying at The Embassy Suites! 
Here is the drink menu and the fabulous bartender "Santa" Carmine-

After the reception ended, promptly at 7:30, we wandered around the hotel to take some photos of the beautiful lobby and check out the picturesque pool and adjacent gym. There was a Starbucks coffee machine for guests to purchase-so if you are a Starbucks fan you can indulge! We were tempted to stop by the restaurant but besides not being super hungry the prices were really too high. I was disappointed there were not some reasonably priced dishes on the menu so the guests from the reception could continue over to the other area of the hotel near the restaurant and continue relaxing and socializing. If they were to have a few low priced appetizers available for guests, as well as bar specials, offered after the reception I'll bet many guests would take advantage of it. We certainly would have! For anyone curious here is the menu from the hotel restaurant-

 Here are some more photos of this pretty and tropical hotel-

We hung out in our room and watched some television before turning in early. The next morning we enjoyed a complimentary made to order breakfast, which was really good! The majority of the breakfast foods were standard for complimentary breakfast buffets-fruit, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage, muffins, pancakes, donuts, etc. The one unique thing about the Embassy Suites Miami is that they also make eggs any style to order-including omelets. I got to order my favorite tomato, mushroom and cheese omelet-and the cook was surprisingly quick! We all had specially made omelets and we were all very pleased with them. :) 

Checking out was a breeze- and we did not pay a parking fee either. In fact, parking was easy as there were plenty of spots both in the front and the back of the hotel, so you really did not need to valet. Our drive to the cruise port took 12 minutes. Overall our experience with the Embassy Suites Miami was a fantastic one-and we plan to make this hotel our go to port hotel for Miami! 
http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/embassy-suites-by-hilton-miami-international-airport-MIASPES/index.html

 

Buying a Beverage Package on MSC or Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

Continuing on my quest to find out more information about beverage packages offered on the major cruise lines has led me to MSC and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. While I have cruised on MSC's Divina, I have yet to cruise on a Royal ship-but I will! :) Hopefully you will find the following information helpful for your next cruise on either MSC or Royal Caribbean!

MSC Cruise Line-  
All-Inclusive Unlimited Drinks More for Less Adults Package-This is a mouthful to say! :) The cost is $45 per person, per day (age 21 +) and you will not be charged a gratuity fee if you purchase this prior to your cruise. Unlimited drinks from the Bar and Wine list are included, as well as draft, bottled and canned beer, energy drinks and coolers, canned sodas, fruit juices, mineral water/bottled water, coffee-based drinks, premium teas, hot chocolate delights, a large selection of call-brand spirits, all cocktails from the bar list, and take-away ice cream/gelato in a cone or cup.
*Premium Version of this package- An unlimited consumption of beverages from the entire bar list selection including top-shelf spirit brands, premium cocktails, drinks from your mini bar and mineral water in your stateroom, as well as all items from the ‘Gelateria’ menu and the Pastry Shop. The cost is $61 per adult age 21 and older, per day. The child's premium version of the All Inclusive package (below) is $31 per child, per day and includes all items from the ‘Gelateria’ menu and Pastry Shop.
The Child's Version of the All Inclusive-For $23 per person, per day this package is for anyone under age 18 and includes unlimited consumption of non-alcoholic cocktails, smoothies, milkshakes, canned soft drinks, energizers, mineral water, fruit juices, coffee-based drinks, premium teas, hot chocolate and take-away ice cream/gelato in a cone or cup.
Allegrissimo Adult All Inclusive Unlimited Drinks- This package for guests 21 and older and while it sounds a lot like the All Inclusive Unlimited More for Less Package listed above there are a few differences. The price of this package is $31 per adult, per day. Unlimited consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including a wide range of drinks and cocktails from the bar list, a dedicated selection of wines by the glass, draft beer, an extensive selection of sodas, bottled water, fruit juices and classic hot beverages (coffee, espresso, cappuccino) as well as takeaway ice cream in a cone or cup are included. Items on the drink menu with an asterisk are not included in this package. An example of this exclusion is on the menu below-

The Child's version of the Allegrissimo package appears to be virtually identical to the All Inclusive More for Less with the exception of items on the menu with an asterisk, like a specialty milkshake for example. The cost is $14.50 per child, per day.
*Premium Version of this package-For adults the cost is $53 per person. per day and for children the cost is $25 per child, per day. The only identifiable difference for the premium version of the Allegrissimo package is the ability to order any of your beverages via the room service menu.
Cheers Adult and Child Unlimited Mealtime Drinks Package-The cost for adults is between $20 and $22.50 per sailing and includes unlimited house wines and draft beer at lunch and dinner, as well as bottled water, sodas and fruit juice. Specialty restaurants will not honor this package. The price for children is between $11 and $12.50 per day, depending on the sailing you are on, and includes unlimited soda and mineral water/bottled water during lunch and dinner in either the main restaurant or the buffet. From our experience on the Divina, with a similar package we had coined the "104", which is for short cruises only, the wine choices were one red, one white and one rose. The only draft beer they had was Heineken. 
Things To Note- MSC sells a multitude of alcoholic and non alcoholic voucher packages for guests as well. We happened to purchase the More for Less Caribbean Escape Voucher package, which cost $84 flat when pre-purchased before your cruise. This included 18 voucher coupons (paper) which were good for any cocktail, wine, beer, coffee specialty drink bottled water or gelato under $7.50. These coupons can be a great option for a port intensive cruise where you will not spend much time on the ship and you just want to get a few drinks here and there. The value of this package if you got all 18 beverages at the $7.50 price is $135, so the $84 price tag is a nice savings of $41. Here are the links for their various packages, so you can view the cost of each, as well as the amount covered for drinks in each voucher package:
 https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Already-Booked/Cruise-Upgrade/Alcohol-Packages.aspx
 https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Already-Booked/Cruise-Upgrade/Non-Alcohol-packages.aspx
Here is a photo of what the voucher coupon packs look like-don't lose them if you buy them! :)

Advantages to the Beverage Packages- The large variety of all inclusive and voucher based drink packages are a huge boon for MSC- although it takes some time to figure out what works best for you and your fellow travelers. It should be noted also that all packages must be booked up to three days before departure, either through travel agents, MSC personal cruise consultants or on the MSC Cruises Web site. Packages must be purchased for the entire cruise and all adults (along with minors) in a cabin or traveling party must purchase beverage packages to be applicable.  A 15 percent gratuity is included in package prices if bought prior to cruising. If you buy any packages on the ship you will be charged the 15% gratuity fee.
Bottled Water Basics- Bottled water is included in many of the beverage packages, which is good because you cannot bring bottled water on board the ships. We found what was termed mineral water was actually bottled water- and we would be asked if we wanted flat or bubbly when we got our bottles with our package. Here is an example of a "flat" one-

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line-  
Ultimate Beverage Package- This is the most comprehensive of all drink packages, and covers all wine, beer, cocktails, bottled water (500 ml or less), juice, specialty coffee and teas. Guests age 21 and older may purchase this package for $67 per person, per day.
Premium Beverage Package- This package for guests 21 and older includes  beer and wines by the glass, cocktails and bottled water. The cost is $57 per person, per day.
Select Beverage Package Package-Adults age 21 and up can get this package for beer and wine only. The cost is $42 per person, per day.
Royal Replenish and Royal Refreshment Packages- A Coca Cola souvenir cup, as well as all fountain sodas, bottled flat and sparkling juices and specialty coffee and teas are what makes up the Royal Replenish Package. The Royal Refreshment Package includes a souvenir cup and fountain soda only. The Royal Replenish package varies a bit on price depending on the length of your cruise, but the average price is $22 per day. The average price for the Royal Refreshment package is $9 per day. These prices are inclusive of gratuities.
Things To Note- All alcoholic beverage package prices include the 18% gratuity, so there is no concern for guests to factor in the extra cost. Packages cannot be shared.
Advantages to the Beverage Packages- The biggest advantage to the Beverage Packages on Royal Caribbean is that every adult or child does not have to purchase the same package if they are in the same cabin. This is a great thing for families and friends who have one cabin mate who likes to drink alcohol and another who cannot or does not partake. Sharing the beverage package is not allowed, however. 
Bottled Water Basics- Bottled water is included in several of the drink packages, including the Royal Replenish soda package. If you believe you will consume lots of bottled water than one of the drink packages may be perfect for you. Royal Caribbean does not permit water to be brought on board officially, but they do sell bottled water packages. Prices appear to be for Evian Bottled Water and are 8 bottles for $28.45, 12 bottles for $40.30, 16 bottles for $50.55 and 24 bottles for $71.10. These prices are for each person and do not include a 15% gratuity charge. Those guests interested in the bottled water package at Royal should contact their personal cruise consultant or travel agent for specific pricing. 
If you are wondering about what liquors are included in the Royal Caribbean drink packages check out the link here: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/shared_assets/pdf/menus/beverage-flyer-general-v4.pdf

Buying a Beverage Package on Norwegian or Carnival Cruise Lines

On our first cruise in 2012 on the Carnival Fascination we never thought to buy a beverage package. Being our first voyage on the seas we decided to keep expenses down by drinking only what was offered on the ship. This actually worked out fine as we enjoyed the complimentary water, lemonade and ice tea until we were ready to float away with the ship! LOL! :) We were unaware that we could bring any beverages on board then, so we just did without soda and alcohol for five days. Other than bringing 2 bottles of wine, half a dozen sodas and a case of bottled water on our next 3 Carnival cruises we pretty much enjoyed the complimentary beverages. On our trip on the Carnival Liberty in 2014 we tried some of the frozen cocktails like the yummy Mocha Getaway and the refreshing Miami Vice. That had us hooked. :) However, a couple of drinks were close to $20 with a tip (automatically added on by the cruise line), and we had spent more than we planned on at the conclusion of the cruise. So, when Norwegian offered an Unlimited Beverage Package as a perk to getting a balcony room in 2015 we jumped over to try them out. At the time we did not need to pay the gratuities on the package, it was just 100% complimentary. Between the awesome Mojito Bar, the snazzy Sunset Bar and fun drinks offered all around the ship we had a ball! Plus, soda was included as well. Fast forward to our cruise on the Spirit and Getaway again in late 2015 and May 2016- we received the drink package again but did need to pay the gratuity on the total value of the package per person. This amount was 18% of the total price- roughly $86 per person for my husband and myself. Our son had the totally free soda package on the Getaway in May 2015, but he is not a big soda drinker so he only drank 3 sodas in 7 days! This led us not to get the additional kids drink package for him on later cruises. We figured if we drank at least enough to meet the amount we paid in gratuities the UBP was a good deal for us. Being that the UBP on NCL included just about all cocktails up to $15, we easily met our money vested in the first two days. On the MSC Divina we ended up getting the 104 package for sodas and water (plus wine and beer at dinner), as well as two voucher booklets for 18 cocktails each, which we happily used for alcoholic drinks, smoothies and gelato. MSC offers a plethora of beverage packages- almost too many as it can get confusing! :) So perhaps you are wondering if getting a beverage package is right for you or your family- and only you can determine that based on your budget, typical consumption of beverages and personal wishes. :) As I was feeling curious about what all the major cruise lines offer as a beverage package I decided to research the topic and post my findings here. While this information is timely as of July 2016, please don't use my blog post as your ultimate point for information. Before your next cruise ask your personal cruise consultant, travel agent or contact the cruise line online or over the phone to access their latest information regarding your beverage options. My plan is to post two cruise lines at a time otherwise my posts would be too long! I hope you find this information helpful. :)

Norwegian Cruise Line-  
Unlimited Beverage Package- Known also as the "UBP" this package is $79 per person (21 and up), per day, and an additional 18% gratuity will be added to the package per adult as well. 
Corks and Caps Package- This package for guests 21 and older includes soft drinks, beers, and wines by the glass. The cost is $59 per person, plus an 18% gratuity fee for the package.
Adult/Teen Soda Package-Endless Pepsi products including Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew, Ginger Ale, Tonic Water and Club Soda available to purchase for $7.50 per person per day. An 18% gratuity for the entire package is additional, but a Souvenir Thermal Mug is included with this package. This package is for anyone age 13 and older.
Kids Soda Package- Children age 12 and under can get an endless soda package for $5.50 per person, per day. This includes a Souvenir Thermal Mug. An 18% gratuity will be charged on the package total, which is extra. 
Things To Note- All alcoholic beverage packages purchased must be bought for every adult in the cabin who is over age 21. Soda packages are not subject to these stipulations. This means that if you buy the UBP, every adult over age 21 in your cabin will need to purchase it. No sharing is allowed. If you choose the UBP as a Perk, however, only the first two adults listed for the cabin in your room (age 21 and up) will receive the UBP perk. Other adults will need to purchase the package should they want it. If you only have an adult and a guest under age 21 in your cabin and select the UBP as a perk the underage guest will automatically receive the soda package. 
Advantages to the Beverage Packages- If you think you and your traveling companions will utilize the value of any of the above packages (minus the cost of gratuities) as either a perk or to buy, then these are absolutely an advantage, Receiving the UBP as a perk, or freestyle choice, for example is a benefit if you think you will drink more than $86 in alcohol for the week (cost of gratuities on the package). The value of the UBP as a freestyle choice/perk can be great for some cruisers. If you are buying the package you would need to drink more than roughly $600 worth of alcoholic beverages and sodas in a week. If you typically get $15 cocktails you have to drink roughly 40 of these in a week to break even- on average, per person. All drink packages, either purchased or received as a perk can be used on Norwegian's private island of Great Stirrup Cay.
Bottled Water Basics- Bottled water is not included in any of the beverage packages and you cannot bring bottled water on the ship either as of today, July 15, 2016. NCL sells bottled water individually and by the case here-  https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/bottled-water-packages
As of now the bottled water packages are pricey, so drinking the filtered water on the ship will be our best bet!

Carnival Cruise Line-  
Cheers Beverage Package- This package is for adults age 21 and older and is for alcoholic beverages. The charge prior to your cruise is $49.95 per day, plus a 15% gratuity. If you wait to purchase the Cheers package on the ship you will pay $54.95 per person, plus the 15% gratuity. The cut-off for pre-purchasing is 11 pm the day before embarkation, EST, via the call center.

The Cheers package includes wine, beer and all spirits and cocktails under $50 per beverage. While you cannot get a $49 bottle of wine you can get a $49 glass o wine! Also included are non alcoholic cocktails, sodas, hot tea, specialty coffee, energy drinks and bottled water 500 ml or less. Guests will also get a

25% discount off the menu price for any spirit or wine by the glass which costs above $50, a 25% discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle and a 25% discount off any beverage seminars or classes. If your cruise includes a visit to Half Moon Cay you cannot use your Cheers package there. Bottomless Bubbles Soda Package- Adults and Kids- Adults are charged $6 per day for the duration of the cruise and kids will be charged $4.50 per day. Kids are considered to be anyone under age 18! :) A 15% gratuity will be added to all packages. This unlimited soda package includes Coke, Diet Coke, Ginger Ale,Caffeine Free Coke, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Orange Fanta, Mr. Pibb, Barqs Root Beer, Tonic Water and Club Soda. Also included are Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Tomato Juice, Pineapple Juice and Grapefruit Juice.This package cannot be shared and one beverage serving, per sticker on your Sign and Sail card (indicating your Bottomless Bubbles purchase) will be given at a time. Sodas are served by the glass (16 oz) and juice is served in a 10 oz glass. If your cruise includes a visit to Half Moon Cay you cannot use your Bottomless Bubbles package there. 
Things to Note- For the Cheers package every adult in the cabin must purchase the Cheers package if one adult decides to purchase it. There is a five minute waiting period between drinks and no sharing is permitted. A maximum of 15  alcoholic drinks may be obtained in a 24 hour period of 6 am to 6 pm. If you happen to sail from Galveston or NY you are unable to activate (or be charged) for this package until the second day of the cruise.
Advantages to the Beverage Packages-While there is a 15 drink limit on alcoholic drinks, the Cheers package does include unlimited bottled water, soda and bottled energy drinks. This is a nice addition to the package. The soda package does not have to be purchased for everyone in your cabin so if you have folks who are not fans of soda pop or juice they will not have to pay extra for the package. So, for the soda package, or Bottomless Bubbles, the cost for an adult for a 7 day cruise is $48.30 for the week, and for kids under 18 it is $36.23 for a 7 day cruise. At a couple bucks a soda this could definitely be worth it for anyone who drinks at least 4-5 sodas or juices daily. The alcohol package can be as low as roughly $400 with gratuity per person, if purchased ahead of time. Considering this package includes bottled water, soda and other beverages, which are unlimited, it may be a great deal for many guests. Cocktails at the Alchemy Bar, for example, cost my husband and I almost $20 with a tip- for two drinks. This can add up quickly throughout the day! If you tend to drink cocktails, high end spirits or specialty wine the Cheers package could work out to your advantage. 
Bottled Water Basics- As Carnival does not permit guests, like NCL, to bring bottled water on board any longer they instead offer bottled water at a reasonable price which can be delivered to your room. A case of 12 bottled of Carnival water is $3.99. There is no limit on cases you can order. You can find detailed information on this and their other offerings here:https://www.carnival.com/FunShops/in-room-beverages/water

Stay tuned for beverage package info for Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruise Lines next! Cheers!

Bringing Beverages on the Major Cruise Lines

Beverages and what you can and cannot bring on board your cruise ship is the hot topic right now. I started thinking about what we have done as far as bringing water, soda and alcohol on our cruises thus far-as well as what the new rules are from the major cruise lines for our future cruises. This research gave me the idea to put all the information in one place so other cruisers could find out about the latest guidelines easily. Below you will find the most up to date information regarding what beverages you are allowed to bring on board the major cruise ships:

Norwegian Cruise Line-Beginning July 15, 2016 guests are not allowed to bring any beverages aboard with them-or check any beverages in luggage. This includes including liquor, beer and non-alcoholic drinks like soda, juice and bottled water. The only exceptions are distilled or purified water if needed for medical devices (CPAP machines) or to reconstitute infant formula. Wine bottles which are corked and unopened may be brought aboard by guests age 21 and over. This appears to be a one bottle per guest limit and NCL has stated that a mandatory corkage fee will be charged per bottle. The corkage fee is
$15.00 for a 750 ml bottle or $30.00 for a 1,500 ml magnum bottle of wine. Perhaps more than one bottle can be brought on the ship than one per person-we will know exact information when this new process begins in a few days. If you purchase any beverages at a port they will be held for you by the staff until the morning of debarkation.

Carnival Cruise Line- Bottled beverages are prohibited from being brought on board which includes water and soda. Guests may bring a quantity of 12 sealed cans of sparkling water, juice, soda or milk in their carry on only. Alcohol is not allowed to be brought on the ship except for one 750 ml bottle of either wine or champagne for every guest that is 21 or older. This sealed bottle must be put in the passenger's carry on (along with the maximum 12 cans listed above). A corkage fee of $15 per bottle will be added to the guest's account if he/she wishes to consume this bottle in the dining room. It appears as though passengers may bring their own corkscrew and open/consume their wine in their stateroom without a charge of $15. Carnival does sell 12 packs of bottled water for guests to purchase at the cost of $3.99. If guests pre-purchase their water they will not be charged a gratuity on the 12 pack. However, if the 12 pack of water is purchased on the ship guests will pay an 18% gratuity. Guests needing distilled water for CPAP machines or nursery/filtered water for infant formula may do so. The CPAP machine must be brought on board in carry on luggage. Like Norwegian, Carnival will not permit guests to bring any alcoholic/non alcoholic beverages they purchase at ports to their rooms. These purchases will be held by the ship's staff and given to passengers the morning of debarkation.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line- The official word from Royal is that hard liquor, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be brought on board. The exception is wine- approximately 2 bottles maximum per cabin (for guests 21 and older) at a size of 750 ml. This being said, many guests report online, like in Cruise Critic forums, that they carry on cases of water or cans of soda which is sealed and there is no problem. Few folks have reported that they have been unable to carry on sealed, bottled water. Additionally, RC does not have a corkage fee.

MSC Cruise Line- All beverages are prohibited from being brought on board according to MSC. It appears that if you need to bring water with you for a medical purpose you can contact MSC and have them notate your account prior to boarding. Any distilled or nursery water should be brought on the ship in your carry on luggage. Cruisers who have traveled on the Divina, MSC's only ship out of the USA have reported that they brought a few bottles of unopened water in their carry on without issue. 

Disney Cruise Line- Guests who are 21 and older are able to bring 2 bottles of unopened wine, no larger than 750 ml or 6 unopened beers, no larger than 12 ounces. These may be brought on board at embarkation as well as at each port of call. If wine brought on board is consumed in the dining room guests will be charged a $25 corkage fee per bottle. Any alcohol brought aboard in excess of this will be stored until the cruise is ended. Water which is unopened, as well as unopened and packaged snack foods may be brought on the ships in a carry on bag. Additionally, Disney provides soda at no extra cost to guests.

Celebrity Cruise Line- Hard liquor and beer are prohibited from being brought on board a Celebrity ship. However, 2 bottles of wine per cabin, no larger than 750 ml, may be brought on board in carry on luggage. Should guests choose to bring their wine to the dining room for consumption there will be a $25 corkage fee per bottle. You are able to bring water and soda on board in "reasonable" amounts, either by bringing it in your carry on or in a checked luggage piece. Many passengers report no problems bringing a case each of unopened bottled water and soda.

Holland America Cruise Line- Guests ages 21 and older are permitted to bring one bottle of champagne or wine, no larger than 750 ml on board without charge. If this is consumed in the dining room a corkage fee of $18 will be imposed. Additional bottles may be brought on board-however, an $18 fee per bottle will be assessed at check in, whether the bottles get consumed or not.  Guests cannot bring beer, boxed wine, or any other liquor on the ship. Should guests wish to bring wine of 750 ml or smaller on board at a port they may do so in any quantity-but there are two options for this. The first is that the bottles will be stored (along with liquor purchased) until the end of the cruise. The second option is that the bottles will be assessed an $18 per bottle fee and can be consumed at any point on the cruise. Like with embarkation, whether the bottles of wine are consumed does not make a difference regarding the $18 per bottle fee if guests choose to bring them to their stateroom. Unopened bottled water and soda may be brought on board in carry on luggage-and there does not appear to be a limit other than what you can carry.

Princess Cruise Line- The only alcoholic beverage allowed on board at embarkation without a charge is one bottle of wine or champagne per person of legal drinking age (21)-which cannot be larger than 750 ml and must be sealed. Should guests wish to bring additional bottles they will be assessed a $15 corkage fee per bottle, regardless of whether the wine is consumed or not. Princess has not stated that guests cannot bring soda or water on board-and many previous guests report that they have brought sealed soda and water bottles in their carry on luggage without issue.

By far Norwegian,Carnival and MSC seem to have the most stringent policies regarding bringing beverages on board their ships. While the above information is up to date as of July 2016 you should always check with your cruise line before heading to port with several cases of water or soda! 

Cheers! :)

 

 

Nifty Nassau Activity-Visit John Watling's Distillery!

Our recent trip to Nassau, Bahamas was our fourth time on the island. The first visit to Nassau we went to Junkanoo Beach. The second time we went to Nassau we did a private city tour. The third time in Nassau we stayed on the ship to use the pool and relax. Being that this was a short cruise we figured it would be fun to try something new in Nassau-a visit to John Watling's Distillery! We exited the cruise ship and walked there- check out the map here-http://www.johnwatlings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Nassau-Bahamas-John-Watlings-Distillery-Map.pdf
It was a ten minute walk maximum, although it was hot outside! We did a tour of the facilities, which really lasts about 5 minutes if you don't ask any questions. Everyone (of age) received a small sample of a pina colada made with their famous Amber Rum. We then visited the gift shop and went to the tasting bar. There are plenty of seats available for folks to buy a drink and relax. Kids can get a non alcoholic pina colada or a soda. We did the tasting of all of their rums (4) for $6.50. My husband and I actually shared the tasting as the pours were ample. The bartender, Uncle Will, explained all about the rum they distill and produce-and he made some awesome and fairly priced drinks! :)

The area is really picturesque and very safe. In fact, on our walk over and very nearby we saw The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas. Many folks walked over there and then headed to the John Watling's afterward. We plan to do the art gallery on our next trip to Nassau in December. It appears from their website you can contact them and book a tour ahead of time. http://nagb.org.bs/
Our trip to check out the distillery was a fun jaunt-and a great idea for anyone looking for something to do in Nassau that is unique! http://www.johnwatlings.com/

Ten Tips and Truths About the MSC Divina

As a conclusion to my detailed review of our short but delightful cruise on the MSC Divina I thought I would offer ten tips/truths about this ship. While I do pride myself on being a cheerful and happy cruiser, always trying to look at the positives of any cruise, I am also honest and will share information if any part of my cruise experience was unacceptable. I am truly in awe reading some of the reports on Cruise Critic and other cruise review sites from folks who were on this same voyage as me and claim to have witnessed fights and horrible behavior by employees. These claims could be farther from the truth. I am a new MSC cruiser, and while I still absolutely appreciate NCL and Carnival for their unique experiences, I also think the MSC Divina is a beautiful cruise with a crew who cares to create a wonderful vacation their guests. That being said, here are my Ten Tips & Truths:

1. Embarkation is less complicated at the Miami Port, but also a bit different from other cruise lines- We happened to arrive at the port at 10:30 am- even though our Personal Cruise Consultant told us they would not begin boarding until around noon. Being our first time on the Divina we wanted to give ourselves enough time and we don't mind waiting. So we parked in lot G and walked over to F-the Divina's pier. We took a ticket when entering the lot and paid our parking fee ($20 per night) when we drove out. This was different from NCL and Carnival where we paid our for our parking at a kiosk in the garage. We originally thought we would keep our luggage with us for embarkation as this was a short cruise, but the porters got to us outside and said we would not be allowed to go in with 3 suitcases and 3 carry-ons (yes I overpacked!). So, we ended up giving them our 3 big pieces, a few dollars for a tip and off we went to the indoor check in area. This was unbelievably easy-there were no lines whatsoever at 11 am and there were plenty of workers to take folks waiting to check in. We got our room cards right away, as well as our paperwork and a schedule for the day and went to sit and wait in the super cold, air conditioned waiting area. We found a cruise port worker who we have seen in the past for Norwegian and went to chat with him a bit, and several of the workers by the escalator let us know they would be boarding soon (a bit after noon). Folks gathered by the escalator area with the numbers we had all been given at check in. We were in Group 1. After an announcement over the PA was made folks who were disabled or special needs were called, followed by Black Card members and then the group numbers. While there were people crowding the area initially to get on board no one was unruly or pushing others, as some reports claimed. Passengers we met on the ship who boarded later on in the day said they essentially walked right on without a problem. MSC offered water, pineapple juice and orange juice for guests in the port of Miami as well. All in all it was a nice embarkation-and if you are not okay to wait just head to the port in the afternoon. I suspect there were many more passengers at the port early since the majority of the cruisers were Americans for this unique cruise, and since it was so short folks wanted as much time as possible on the ship! 

 The best host at Port of Miami for MSC and Norwegian!

 2. You will need to register your credit card on the ship- Unlike many other cruise lines MSC does not take your charge card at the check in desk for your on board credit account-or your sign and sale card. No cash changes hands at all. Instead, once you get on board you will head to one of several kiosks set up on the ship to add your credit card information and link it to your account and room keys. MSC puts a $150 hold on your account right away, which you may see as a "hold" until your exact total is charged-for us about 4 days after we debarked. This process was made really easy for us as we lucked out and ran into the Assistant Cruise Director Miguel upon setting foot on the ship, and he kindly led us to the kiosk and helped us do the registration-which took less than 3 minutes. While I did see lines later on they seemed to move quickly and all passengers had 24 hours to do this process anyhow. 

3. Beverage Voucher Packs need to be picked up at the Casino Bar- Miguel was really helpful and took us to the Casino Bar after getting our credit card information entered at the kiosk. We simply gave the bartender our last name and showed our room key and they gave us an envelope with the two voucher packs we ordered. Easy peasy! :) Beware though that the paper drink coupons are small-so don't lose them! Folks who had a beverage package had that information printed right on their sign and sail card.

4. Debarkation is early!- Getting up at 6:30 am was not fun-neither was leaving the room by 7 am! We followed instructions to vacate our cabin by 7am, however there were many cabins we spotted on our deck who had not even retrieved their final bill from their door. I suspect quite a few folks don't really leave at 7! We chose to bring our luggage for self debarkation, which was to be at 7:30 am. The good thing about being up so early was that the buffet was pretty quiet, so we ate and left the ship- which was very simple and uneventful. I saw on our "dailies" that those guests who chose to check their luggage had been given staggered times to leave based on their decks. I honestly like Norwegian's method of debarkation better-letting passengers choose when they want to leave-and not being made to leave your cabin so darn early! I am not sure why MSC has such an early time for guests to vacate their cabin- as our room was not ready any earlier in comparison to other cruise lines. It certainly made for a swift trip home!

5. Many languages are spoken on the MSC Divina- I was impressed with the captain's ability to speak to the crowd at the final night's show in five languages! Many staff members spoke several languages, which is important as many of the travelers tend to be non American/English speaking most of the year. This short cruise was unusual as most of the cruisers were Americans- and from Miami, Florida to exact! This made for a Spanish themed cruise-which was still lots of fun! We are looking forward to being around a more diverse crowd in December, though, as we are Floridians! :) If you get a chance to meet Maria, the most enthusiastic member of the Cruise Director's Entertainment Staff you will be impressed. She fluently speaks English, Spanish and Italian. She even does Multilingual Trivia- so you might even learn a few new phrases!

6. Be proactive if you need something- As many of the staff speak languages other than English as their first language, communication may be challenging at times. Don't expect bartenders, your room steward, staff, etc. to constantly ask to get you a drink, help you find a certain area on the ship or if you want him/her to fill your ice bucket nightly. I think the inability of many of the staff to speak fluent English makes them feel unsure about striking up a conversation. However, this does not mean they are unhelpful or rude-it is actually quite the opposite! Every staff member we encountered was so friendly, caring and helpful when asked. The bartenders and wait staff worked extremely hard to please the guests and anytime we asked for something they made every effort to fulfill our request. Sometimes asking kindly with a smile goes a long way! :)

7. Plan to tackle the buffet in sections- if you want to ensure hot food! The buffet on the Divina is so vast that many passengers complain on Cruise Critic that by the time they circle the entire venue and find a seat their food is cold. We attempted to try different areas of the buffet at a time-sampling different foods and enjoying the variety at a slower pace. Find a table first for your party if possible, and then take turns getting all the goodies from the buffet. This is truly a "first world problem", but since no one prefers a cold plate of pasta some pre-planning is necessary for the ample buffet. 

8. Know your Package- MSC offers rooms based on "experiences"- Bella, Fantastica, Aurea and the Yacht Club. All inclusive experiences are also offered for many sailings on the Divina now as well. When you visit the MSC site online to book your room you can read about each of the categories. For example, a Fantastica guest can get complimentary room service, and has first choice for a dinner seating (early or late). 

9. There is no smoking in the casino- I am not a smoker, or a gambler for that matter, but I know folks who are. The MSC Divina does not permit smoking in the casino. To many guests this is a good thing, as there are no complaints about the smoky smell wafting all over the ship,like there are on many other cruise ships. However, for anyone who is looking forward to playing in the casino while smoking this information can be a bummer. There are areas to smoke around the ship though. Smoking is not permitted on balconies.

10. Drinks are not served in the theater- While you can bring a beverage into the theater you will not find waiters and waitresses taking drink orders on the MSC Divina. The theater is a venue for seeing a performance-not ordering drinks. We actually found this nice as during every show on Carnival, for example, we were constantly bombarded by servers during a show to ask for drink orders. This can be distracting and take away from the performance. You will appreciate the theater and productions on the Divina- and you can grab a drink afterwards! :)