Thought I’d share some items that might be of interest to other Divi owners from our January visit.

Slice – A new food stand selling pizza by the slice and whole pizzas has been built by the top level of the larger pool complex. There are a few outdoor tables for seating as well. It appears that the resort simply moved the pizza oven that was at Gizmo’s up to this building, removing pizza from the Gizmo’s menu. The pizzas use premade frozen crusts, so they were just OK, but it was convenient.

Mix – The new bar on the 5th level of the new Oceans building opened when we were there. The menu offers pricey exotic drinks ($15+) and appetizers. We stopped one evening and had a couple drinks and shared the Wagyu sliders – 3 small burgers that were very tasty. The bar is open air with glass panels from about waist high on three sides, so the view across the resort grounds from the cushioned seating was pretty at night. You can’t see back to Philipsburg because of the hills, but we got to watch a brightly lit cruise boat leave. It was pleasant to spend an hour admiring the starry sky, but I don’t expect we’ll spend many evenings there. The staff was friendly with good service.

Sea Breeze. The pool café is now open for dinner several nights a week, with a fancier menu and cloth-covered tables. They were featuring meats cooked on a “stone,” where they bring you the meat on a sizzling stone to finish cooking. We didn’t try it, but it seemed to have a decent business.

The resort seems to be pushing its all-inclusive program, probably as a complement to the new Ocean’s building rooms. They provide those guests with a removable wrist band, which we could see on people at restaurants. I’m guessing that’s one reason they are offering dinners at Sea Breeze, too. We ate at Gizmo’s, which still has the typical bar foods and a new menu option for dinner skewers, presented with a fancy rack they hang from, and at Pure Ocean. The more formal meal eaten inside at Pure Ocean tasted fine, but the presentation and haphazard and harried service were far from the quality we find in comparably priced restaurants off the resort. Given the limited choices and menus, I can’t imagine spending a week eating 3 meals a day at the resort.

Despite the resort being busy, there were plenty of chairs and beach umbrellas and the large pool complex had lots of seating available. There were small groups or families of cruisers who made their way to the beach most days, but not enough to be an issue.

The activity program with things like an escorted hike into Philipsburg, afternoon bingo and crab races, etc., is busy. They also had live entertainment several nights at Gizmos with some good musicians and singers, plus karaoke one night. The Manager’s Cocktail party on Monday night was a pleasant couple hours with drinks and some appetizers, lots of give aways and good music. We always enjoy seeing the many long-time, friendly staff at the resort.

At check in, the pressure to do the “resort update” is even more intense than ever. We have no interest in wasting our time on a sales pitch to upgrade, so now we aren’t even given our free Divi tote bag, since we refuse to schedule a time!

Glad you had a good experience at Mix. Ours was not so great. While the view is great and the place has the potential to be a wonderful experience, the service level was nowhere close to acceptable Given the prices charged. Only one server and one bartender for the entire place. I’m sure that they are struggling with finding help just like everyplace else but they were not ready for a full house. We will wait before we try them again.

Isn't the pressure to do the "resort update" ridiculous?
I had a chat with the guy who did ours last February. I said "this is not a resort update. this is a "buy more timeshare" update.
When we went in December, I was prepared to fight them when they tried to get us to sign up. However, they did not argue at all when I said no. Perhaps they have a picture of my husband and I with a caption that says "Don't argue with these two. You won't win".
And, I'm sorry. The $20 they want you to give them to hold your spot which you get back when you show up? NO WAY!

The service at the restaurants at Divi have ALWAYS been suspect and often downright bad. I had high hopes for the former manager of food and beverage. But he has since left.
At the manager's party in December, I talked to the head chef and the manager of food and beverage. I think they have some grand plans which might work out. They certainly have some desire to see things improve.

However, given our experience, with Divi, we would NEVER be all inclusive there. I can't image coming to SXM to do all inclusive anyway!

Thank you for your informative report. We haven't been to Divi since before the hurricane and wondered what changes had been made. However it sounds like the resort update has gotten more intense so I doubt we'll ever return. It was the nasty way we had been treated , actually demeaning, because we wouldn't upgrade from our 40 week plan.

We were happy with our unit a 1 BR Delux facing Point Blanche and cruise ship dock but sick of complaining that updates to the unit were not done year after year.

Sea Breeze sounds like the old Stone restaurant that used to be in Simpson Bay.

We agree about Mix. Spent Saturday evening there, and it was great. Pricey, yes, a bit more than other restaurants around the resort, but I think that will keep the masses from flocking to Mix. For the view, and the very quite atmosphere, worth ever penny.

As for the $20 fee to hold the time for your resort review/sales pitch.... we paid it, so we can get a tour of the new building, and see what is available. They are paying $125 in restaurant credit, plus the $20 cash back, so I can see the new building, so I will go. To each his or her own...