2/13/2022 – Rainy (pouring) cool day today. It is 64. We are leaving on an 11 night MSC Divina cruise today. This is our first cruise since cruising was halted in March, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We got off a cruise ship the day before the cruise industry came to a screeching halt.
We have never taken a cruise out of Miami before. We took a cruise that ended in Miami and also ones that stopped for the day in Miami. The drive from the Hilton Garden Inn in Miramar to the port had some really nice Miami skyline views.
The Divina is waiting for us. It is loading up supplies and passengers. Our check in time is 2:30 – 3:00 pm.
The Miami cruise port is very confusing or we are easily confused. We stopped and dropped off our two larger suitcases and headed to the parking garage.
There were many different cruise line ships loading passengers. We circled the parking garage three times before we figured out where to park. We first parked on level 1 of the parking garage. We got our carry on luggage out of the car and starting walking away and realized that we were parking in a police only parking spot. So back to car put everything back in and on to level 2. Hope we we are parked in a legal spot. The cost is $22.00 a day and you pay when you leave.
It was across from the Virgin Cruise lines loading dock. No kids waiting to get on that ship. It was a fairly long walk to the MSC pier with no sidewalks
Before we could even go into the MSC terminal, we had to show our covid vaccination cards. In order to get on an MSC cruise you have to be fully vaccinated if you are over 11 years old.
They then put a green wrist band on us.
After that we waited in a huge line to get covid tested again
We were just covid tested on Friday. In the MSC terminal we did see some children. Waiting in the covid testing line with a mask and most people not speaking English was very strange. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to board the ship. They checked our covid vaccination cards, the covid results letters from two days, and our passports about five times. They also did another covid test that brought tears to my eyes and temperature checked us. We will be temperature checked once a day while on board.
Once on board the ship we were allowed to go straight to our room.
MSC is an Italian Cruise line and a large portion of the passengers are European. Therefore all signs and announcements are made in six and sometimes seven languages. Like this sign in the elevator.
In our room was the change to our itinerary. Aruba stop was replaced with Honduras. Darn Covid.
The muster drill was viewed on your television and then we called a number to verify we watched it. After that we just walked to your muster station to check in. We watched a few cruise ships depart. One was a Carnival cruise ship with lots of loud music and on the back it said CHOOSE FUN. Hmm and no one around me was speaking english.
We went and checked out the dining room menu and our table assignment. We are eating at table 607 in the Black Crab Reataurant at 6pm on the 6th deck.
At dinner we did get to sit with another couple from Chicago that spoke English. Last MSC cruise we sat with two other couples and no one spoke the same language fluently. It was fun but awkward for all.
To see more about the MSC Divina click here: https://deestimes.com/divina/
To see more about the Port of Miami click here: https://deestimes.com/ports/
Today’s product recommendations are traveling essentials. 1) Luggage hand cart – we love this cart for easy rolling for easy cruise carry on bags. Even when you can’t go to your room right away this is so easy to walk around the ship with. Here’s the link https://amzn.to/3s37EOw
2) This large toiletry bag is the best. Steve has the black and I have the pink. We both absolutely love them. Here’s the link https://amzn.to/3v1p6ok and picture
