My review of the MSC DIvina (June 2017)

This is a difficult review for me. This was our first time cruising with MSC and we deliberately chose them because we've mostly cruised with RCCL but I was very interested in trying something different, in particular international and MSC seemed to be the right way to go. I'll keep this review restricted to the ship only and not the destinations or ports we stopped at.

Let me first highlight what I liked about the cruise:

THE GOOD:

1. Boarding

The boarding process went smoothly. My wife and I had chosen a package they gave us a priority boarding and because our daughters were with us they were allowed to join us and avoid the long lines.

2. The Ship

The Divina was absolutely beautiful. I definitely like the artistic design and effort that was put into the ship. It had a very unique layout which in some ways it was good and in other ways bad. But I'll get to that in a minute.

3. The Food

For the most part food was delicious but in the dining rooms it definitely lacked in the area of presentation. It also seemed that as each day went by they (the kitchen) weren't trying to impress us with the next day's meal. One of my daughters actually up-charged her dinner every day to Surf n Turf because she was afraid of being disappointed by an upcoming meal. But overall the dinner offerings were varied such as prime rib, duck, and lasagna. The buffet on the other hand offered a wide variety of foods both domestic and international. Of course the problem as with most buffets you are fighting with the crowds during busy times but good news is we were able to usually find a seat without a problem.

4. The Price

On this one I would say it's great and I'd also say you get what you pay for. There were a few times when I up charged my meals because I wanted something a little better than what was being offered for dinner. On some cruise lines I may have to pay more money but I would've gotten more consistency with the quality and presentation of the dinner selection.

As far as our accommodations were concerned they were fabulous. We were in room 10005 which is toward the fore of the ship. Even though we didn't have a balcony we had an expansive view from the front of the ship in a very large room which gave us a table, couch, a desk and plenty of room to move around. The bathroom was also a full-size bath instead of one of the standup glass showers.

5. The Casino & Bingo

Hallelujah for a non-smoking casino! That was rather moderate and size and had quite a variety of games and tables available for passengers to try. There was also a bar nearby for those who wanted something to drink and refresh themselves. We also had plenty of time to enjoy daily bingo games which I wish we're done a little bit differently. There were were only two games played and only three prizes per day that could be won. They should have staggered the prizes from $10,000 to $5,000 to $2,500, to $1,000 to $500 and $250 (considering cards were $20 each or 3 for $50).

6. Entertainment

We truly enjoyed the entertainment on the Divina. It was an interesting mix of pop music, opera, and theater. We saw a tribute to Freddie Mercury and Queen, a take on the Pirates of the Caribbean, excerpts of Italian opera and lastly a tribute to Michael Jackson. Each show was better than the one before. Lastly, I cannot say enough about the cruise director. He made every performance and day awesome aboard ship!

THE BAD

1. The Demographic

Traditionally we've always taken our cruises during the month of June. Let me say first that I realize that families for the most part may travel during this time and also the children are out of school but Divina had more than his share of families on board. Maybe it's because on RCCL there seem to be plenty of areas designed for young people and small children to spend most of their time. Our ship had a few areas for them but they didn't seem to cater to children on an 12-16 hour basis. This put parents in a tough situation. For example, at night when most adults like to relax and enjoy jazz, karaoke or conversation in a bar or lounge we often found ourselves accompanied with families with children under the age of eight years old down to small kids in strollers running back-and-forth playing skipping yelling across dance floors and bar room areas. And I'm not talking about in the earlier part of the evening I'm talking about 10 PM to midnight maybe even later sometimes. I understand that for the parents to be cooped up in their rooms with their kids all evening might be a bit nerve-wracking but I grew up in a time where after 9:00 pm small children would be in bed. This was rather frustrating throughout most of the trip.

2. The Invisible Valet

During the whole trip I never saw my room valet. There were occasions when our room wasn't even made up, I never saw a note or anything until the very last day when he left his name card. I was a little perturbed by this considering my wife decided to pay the gratuity fee before the cruise and he left his card as an afterthought or a reminder that we should leave something for him.

3. Ship Noise and Motion

As far as the ship noise I'm referring to whenever the ship was reversing into port. Whenever the engines were put into reverse there was a huge amount of cavitation which vibrated throughout the entire ship. As I mentioned earlier our room was in the front of the ship and it was loud enough that it would wake me in the morning when I was sleeping and that's how I knew we were pulling into port.

Also there was a tremendous amount of motion with the ship. Don't get me wrong it didn't bother me swaying left and right. Walking down the hall never got me to a point of feeling seasick but that feeling of the ship waving back-and-forth was felt quite often in the evening. I don't know whether it was because we were in rough waters or the design of the ship. I will say this the ship is extremely narrow you can literally stand on one side and easily throw something across to the other side of the ship. Wider ships seem to be more stable and I attributed this rocking motion to that.

4. Design/Layout

Earlier I stated that the Divina was a beautiful ship and it is but I think there are flaws in the design. I'm not referring to the mechanical or technical design as much as I'm talking about operationally. For example on one deck three or four lounges are located inside the length of the ship. Instead of them being located down the middle of the ship with doors enclosing them they actually extend the width of the deck and people who need to walk to the ship walk through the lounges this is whether you're listening to music dancing or participating in a karaoke contest. So there's a constant foot traffic of adults, children, strollers and people in wheelchairs walking through these areas. I would think and prefer to be secluded from the public in these areas. It felt like you were more in a common area instead of a closed space.

Overall my family enjoyed their time aboard the Divina but aren't too thrilled about returning anytime soon. They are a relatively new cruiseline and from what I've read from earlier reviews they are getting better each year. My wife and I are willing to give it a try again (during the time when school is in session). While playing Bingo we won a trip for 2 for a 7-10 day cruise anywhere MSC goes and we're still debating on whether to use it. Their international destinations look great but to go through all we did for 10 days would be challenging to say the least. If we go I'll be sure to post a review and let you know!

So do I recommend MSC and the Divina, yes. They have a lot more to do to make it a #1 cruise in my book but they're at a 7 out of 10 for me.

Glad you enjoyed your cruise.

Thanks for your objective review.

Appreciate the feedback.

A lot of children has to do with kids sail free. Glad you mostly enjoyed the cruise though.

I'm on Divina now, just got to San Juan.

I don't have the same experience, at all, with kid cruisers or room steward. I have felt the ship's engines when leaving port, but nothing more so than carnival or norwegian. same with at sea, it's been a smooth sailing.

the rest of the feedback is pretty closely aligned to my experience.

I have found the staff delightful.

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Can you explain the add on at dinner please? Only surf and turf, or choice of just lobster, and the extra charge was?

TIA for any info

Safe sailing

This is a difficult review for me. This was our first time cruising with MSC and we deliberately chose them because we've mostly cruised with RCCL but I was very interested in trying something different, in particular international and MSC seemed to be the right way to go. I'll keep this review restricted to the ship only and not the destinations or ports we stopped at.

 

Let me first highlight what I liked about the cruise:

 

THE GOOD:

1. Boarding

The boarding process went smoothly. My wife and I had chosen a package they gave us a priority boarding and because our daughters were with us they were allowed to join us and avoid the long lines.

 

2. The Ship

The Divina was absolutely beautiful. I definitely like the artistic design and effort that was put into the ship. It had a very unique layout which in some ways it was good and in other ways bad. But I'll get to that in a minute.

 

3. The Food

For the most part food was delicious but in the dining rooms it definitely lacked in the area of presentation. It also seemed that as each day went by they (the kitchen) weren't trying to impress us with the next day's meal. One of my daughters actually up-charged her dinner every day to Surf n Turf because she was afraid of being disappointed by an upcoming meal. But overall the dinner offerings were varied such as prime rib, duck, and lasagna. The buffet on the other hand offered a wide variety of foods both domestic and international. Of course the problem as with most buffets you are fighting with the crowds during busy times but good news is we were able to usually find a seat without a problem.

 

4. The Price

On this one I would say it's great and I'd also say you get what you pay for. There were a few times when I up charged my meals because I wanted something a little better than what was being offered for dinner. On some cruise lines I may have to pay more money but I would've gotten more consistency with the quality and presentation of the dinner selection.

 

As far as our accommodations were concerned they were fabulous. We were in room 10005 which is toward the fore of the ship. Even though we didn't have a balcony we had an expansive view from the front of the ship in a very large room which gave us a table, couch, a desk and plenty of room to move around. The bathroom was also a full-size bath instead of one of the standup glass showers.

 

5. The Casino & Bingo

Hallelujah for a non-smoking casino! That was rather moderate and size and had quite a variety of games and tables available for passengers to try. There was also a bar nearby for those who wanted something to drink and refresh themselves. We also had plenty of time to enjoy daily bingo games which I wish we're done a little bit differently. There were were only two games played and only three prizes per day that could be won. They should have staggered the prizes from $10,000 to $5,000 to $2,500, to $1,000 to $500 and $250 (considering cards were $20 each or 3 for $50).

 

6. Entertainment

We truly enjoyed the entertainment on the Divina. It was an interesting mix of pop music, opera, and theater. We saw a tribute to Freddie Mercury and Queen, a take on the Pirates of the Caribbean, excerpts of Italian opera and lastly a tribute to Michael Jackson. Each show was better than the one before. Lastly, I cannot say enough about the cruise director. He made every performance and day awesome aboard ship!

 

 

THE BAD

1. The Demographic

Traditionally we've always taken our cruises during the month of June. Let me say first that I realize that families for the most part may travel during this time and also the children are out of school but Divina had more than his share of families on board. Maybe it's because on RCCL there seem to be plenty of areas designed for young people and small children to spend most of their time. Our ship had a few areas for them but they didn't seem to cater to children on an 12-16 hour basis. This put parents in a tough situation. For example, at night when most adults like to relax and enjoy jazz, karaoke or conversation in a bar or lounge we often found ourselves accompanied with families with children under the age of eight years old down to small kids in strollers running back-and-forth playing skipping yelling across dance floors and bar room areas. And I'm not talking about in the earlier part of the evening I'm talking about 10 PM to midnight maybe even later sometimes. I understand that for the parents to be cooped up in their rooms with their kids all evening might be a bit nerve-wracking but I grew up in a time where after 9:00 pm small children would be in bed. This was rather frustrating throughout most of the trip.

 

2. The Invisible Valet

During the whole trip I never saw my room valet. There were occasions when our room wasn't even made up, I never saw a note or anything until the very last day when he left his name card. I was a little perturbed by this considering my wife decided to pay the gratuity fee before the cruise and he left his card as an afterthought or a reminder that we should leave something for him.

 

3. Ship Noise and Motion

As far as the ship noise I'm referring to whenever the ship was reversing into port. Whenever the engines were put into reverse there was a huge amount of cavitation which vibrated throughout the entire ship. As I mentioned earlier our room was in the front of the ship and it was loud enough that it would wake me in the morning when I was sleeping and that's how I knew we were pulling into port.

 

Also there was a tremendous amount of motion with the ship. Don't get me wrong it didn't bother me swaying left and right. Walking down the hall never got me to a point of feeling seasick but that feeling of the ship waving back-and-forth was felt quite often in the evening. I don't know whether it was because we were in rough waters or the design of the ship. I will say this the ship is extremely narrow you can literally stand on one side and easily throw something across to the other side of the ship. Wider ships seem to be more stable and I attributed this rocking motion to that.

 

4. Design/Layout

Earlier I stated that the Divina was a beautiful ship and it is but I think there are flaws in the design. I'm not referring to the mechanical or technical design as much as I'm talking about operationally. For example on one deck three or four lounges are located inside the length of the ship. Instead of them being located down the middle of the ship with doors enclosing them they actually extend the width of the deck and people who need to walk to the ship walk through the lounges this is whether you're listening to music dancing or participating in a karaoke contest. So there's a constant foot traffic of adults, children, strollers and people in wheelchairs walking through these areas. I would think and prefer to be secluded from the public in these areas. It felt like you were more in a common area instead of a closed space.

 

Overall my family enjoyed their time aboard the Divina but aren't too thrilled about returning anytime soon. They are a relatively new cruiseline and from what I've read from earlier reviews they are getting better each year. My wife and I are willing to give it a try again (during the time when school is in session). While playing Bingo we won a trip for 2 for a 7-10 day cruise anywhere MSC goes and we're still debating on whether to use it. Their international destinations look great but to go through all we did for 10 days would be challenging to say the least. If we go I'll be sure to post a review and let you know!

 

So do I recommend MSC and the Divina, yes. They have a lot more to do to make it a #1 cruise in my book but they're at a 7 out of 10 for me.

Did you have the Aurea experience? If so how was the drink package it comes with?

Thanks for the review.

Thanks for posting your review.

I'm glad that you enjoyed your cruise overall. We are considering a Mediterranean cruise on MSC next year so read your review with interest.

With regards to your: The Bad, #3 what you probably felt were the bow thrusters used to dock the ship. Just about all cruise ships these days have them and are commented on by passengers early morning when docking. After years of military service aboard ships, I have learned to book cabins aft of the center of the ship for less motion. You were at the bow where the most motion is felt plus the narrowest part of the ship. And #4 is more than likely a marketing scheme to "invite" passengers to stop and enjoy a beverage. I agree with you though as I looked at a few deck plans of various MSC ships and noticed that it seems to be their theme throughout.

Yeah, odd about the kids. When we have been on we have seen the most well behaved kids, and nicely dressed, on any line. Yes, many were out with parents late, but nothing ever seemed to be overrun by them and none were disorderly or loud. Then again, this is a summer cruise. Our first time on the ship our room steward was fine; perfunctory and not much more. The second time we had a warm and inviting steward. The room was immaculate 24 x 7 and unlike NCL and RCI they didn't seem to leave carts in the hallway 24 x 7. Not sure saying someone ordered upcharge food each night for fear of the regular menu is a fair shot, on any line, but it is your experience. Did you take in any of the entertainment or deck parties?

As far as the lounges being congested thoroughfares, this is true, but they are not the entire width of the ship. There are wide exterior promenades on both sides of the ship to bypass the crowded interior passageways. The Golden Jazz bar is a real pinch point, and it would be nice if there wasn't so much foot traffic through La Luna, but there are exterior alternatives. For layout I'd put RCI clearly ahead. I think MSC is about equal to newer NCL ships, and ahead of Princess or Carnival.

Thank you for your review. I always enjoy reading others opinions and views on a cruise. Congratulations on winning a cruise! That's awesome. We sailed MSC last June on a 7 day cruise. 2 adults 2 children ages 4 and 6. We loved it! The price was very reasonable. We loved the different cultures and diversity from both the cruisers and staff onboard. It is true there are a lot of children. It might be because it was during the summer with school out and children 11 and under sail free. We were in the rear or aft of the ship and were awaken too by the shaking every time we entered a port. We loved the shows. MSC appears to be a more family oriented ship. You are correct we felt the same way having to walk around people dancing because there wasn't another way through. We thought the layout in the buffet was not designed well. We have cruised on Royal, Holland and Carnival. MSC was our favorite. We will be sailing next week on Carnival.

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While playing Bingo we won a trip for 2 for a 7-10 day cruise anywhere MSC goes and we're still debating on whether to use it.

 

Well, if, during your debate, you decide not to use it, let me know. There'd be no debate here ;).

I think it is awesome that you won that cruise! Definitely go!

While playing Bingo we won a trip for 2 for a 7-10 day cruise anywhere MSC goes and we're still debating on whether to use it.

 

 

 

Well, if, during your debate, you decide not to use it, let me know. There'd be no debate here ;).

 

 

 

I'll keep you in mind! :)

 

 

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Yeah, odd about the kids. When we have been on we have seen the most well behaved kids, and nicely dressed, on any line. Yes, many were out with parents late, but nothing ever seemed to be overrun by them and none were disorderly or loud. Then again, this is a summer cruise. Our first time on the ship our room steward was fine; perfunctory and not much more. The second time we had a warm and inviting steward. The room was immaculate 24 x 7 and unlike NCL and RCI they didn't seem to leave carts in the hallway 24 x 7. Not sure saying someone ordered upcharge food each night for fear of the regular menu is a fair shot, on any line, but it is your experience. Did you take in any of the entertainment or deck parties?

 

As far as the lounges being congested thoroughfares, this is true, but they are not the entire width of the ship. There are wide exterior promenades on both sides of the ship to bypass the crowded interior passageways. The Golden Jazz bar is a real pinch point, and it would be nice if there wasn't so much foot traffic through La Luna, but there are exterior alternatives. For layout I'd put RCI clearly ahead. I think MSC is about equal to newer NCL ships, and ahead of Princess or Carnival.

You're correct about the width of the ship. I guess the description wasn't the best. I guess I was comparing the width to a few larger ships I've sail on, particularly the Allure of the Seas. I loved the unique design of all the lounges just wish there was one with less traffic (especially in the Golden). Thanks for the comment!

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Can you explain the add on at dinner please? Only surf and turf, or choice of just lobster, and the extra charge was?

TIA for any info

Safe sailing

Basically you have the option to have other meals such as a Surf and Turf for a moderate up-charge ($25 I think). I don't remember what the other options were but they are listed daily on the menu. Enjoy!

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Did you have the Aurea experience? If so how was the drink package it comes with?

I think it was. The drink packed was unlimited, included alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and was included in the sailing package we purchased from Vacations-To-Go. We've used them each time we've cruised and they have been very reliable.

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A lot of children has to do with kids sail free. Glad you mostly enjoyed the cruise though.

Yep! Not that it was bad... just noticeable. Thanks for the comment!

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Thanks for the review. We are leaving next month and love all the info.

I think it was. The drink packed was unlimited, included alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and was included in the sailing package we purchased from Vacations-To-Go. We've used them each time we've cruised and they have been very reliable.

If you had an Aurea booking, it wouldn't matter who you booked with as you get the All-Inclusive Classic Drink Package with that 'Experience'.

If you had an Aurea booking, it wouldn't matter who you booked with as you get the All-Inclusive Classic Drink Package with that 'Experience'.

Thanks! Then that's what it was. :)

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