MSC for Dummies - A first timer's photo review of the MSC Divina

It had been many years since we had taken a 7 night summer cruise to the Caribbean, mostly due to the oppressive temperatures during that time of year in that region, and also because of the peak pricing during high season. But with two young kids who are now in regular school, we were left with little choice but to sail during the summer months.

We decided to take the cruise during the kids first week of summer vacation when prices seemed to be a bit more forgiving. Initially, we had selected a Carnival cruise out of Port Canaveral. However, as the cruise date approached, we came across a fantastic deal on MSC. They were offering a 2 for the price of 1 promotion, a kids sail free promotion, and a loyalty match program. By the time we added all the discounts, we were looking at sailing in a balcony stateroom for 7 nights during the busy summer season for a little over $250pp, all taxes included! The itinerary was a huge drawback (three ports, one which I despised, one with limited port time, and one where I was born and raised and which I visit multiple times a year). However, at those prices, it was hard to pass up the opportunity to sail on a cruise line which we've never sailed on before and on a fairly new ship. And that's how we ended sailing aboard the MSC Divina to the Eastern Caribbean visiting Nassau, St. Maarten and San Juan!

PRE CRUISE

We flew from Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale early on the morning before the cruise for a little pre-cruise stay. Initially, we had planned on staying close to the airport at a Hampton Inn. However, upon doing a bit of comparison shopping, we realized that we could stay at the W Ft. Lauderdale Beach Resort for about $25 more. It was a no brainer, so we decided to upgrade our hotel and jump start our vacation in style. The W provided a fantastic experience, with modern facilities and breathtaking ocean views from our balcony room.

I was a bit concerned about booking a modern hotel with an adult vibe while traveling with kids, but I was pleasantly surprised at how welcoming they were towards families. They even provided a kids scavenger hunt that took us all over the resort and at the end, the kids were allowed to select a prize (actually decent toys) from a red wagon which they rolled into the lobby area while the staff cheered them.

We had lunch at nearby Casablanca Cafe (a favorite of mine from my days living in South Florida), enjoyed a bit of pool time, and called it a day early since we had been up since 4:00 am.

The following morning we drove our car to the rental office in downtown Miami which provided complimentary shuttles to the port of Miami. Considering the hundreds of passengers dropping their rental cars off, and the small size of the office (with many passengers waiting on the sidewalk with their luggage), the process was fairly efficient, although it was still a bit chaotic and time consuming. We finally boarded our shuttle and within 10-15 minutes we were dropped off in front of terminal.

MSC LOYALTY STATUS MATCH PROGRAM

One of the incentives to book this cruise was this program where, as a first time MSC cruiser, you're given loyalty status matching that of another cruise line that you've sailed on. MSC gave me Gold level to match my Carnival's Platinum level. The perks were much appreciated and they included an initial 5% off an already cheap cruise fare, passes to the thermal suite (according to the literature it should've been one, but I was given four), a complimentary photo (a 5X7 from the Italian Night dinner), a commemorative gift (a blue baseball cap with white MSC logo), fresh fruit in the stateroom, and a complimentary cocktail drink. Not a bad way to begin experiencing what MSC had to offer!

EMBARKATION AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Upon entering the terminal, we immediately sensed the European vibe with music by Italian singer Eros Ramazotti playing softly in the background which quickly made us realize that we were not sailing on a cruise line pushing a cheesy, fake Caribbean atmosphere. The check in process went smoothly and we found ourselves boarding the ship within 20-30 minutes of arriving at the port.

We found it a bit odd that we needed to stop at a self-serve kiosk onboard to set up our onboard account but we didn't think much of it as we were eager to try a different cruise line, specially one that had its roots in another part of the world. Word of advice: credit card transactions are handled in Europe, so make sure that you use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. I learned about this after I came home and I saw the transaction processed in France and the associated fee on my statement.

We proceeded to our stateroom, a Fantástica class balcony stateroom on deck 12. Upon entering, we were very satisfied with the overall appearance, size and layout of the stateroom. Our 6 year old son had been looking forward to sleeping on a bunk bed but he was a bit disappointed once he learned that there wasn't an upper bunk and that he would be sharing a convertible double sofa with his younger sister. The disappointment only lasted a few minutes once we left the stateroom to have lunch and explore the ship.

However, before leaving we had our first bad experience when we realized that the stateroom hadn't been thoroughly cleaned. We pulled the vanity chair out to find debris, including a used bloody band aid under the desk. The bathroom mirror and sink were smeared with caked toothpaste. This unfortunate snafu in the part of the cabin team set a negative tone as we found ourselves questioning the overall cleanliness of the ship. We called housekeeping who promptly sent someone to clean our stateroom again and rectify the situation while we went to eat.

One thing to keep in mind is that the stateroom lights are controlled by placing a key card in a slot adjacent to the door. We started leaving a card in there even when we were out of the room. After we realized that our cabin steward had missed cleaning our stateroom, we promptly asked him about it (specially after our initial cleanliness issue). He told us to take the card out of the slot every time we left the room. Leaving the card in triggers a small green light outside the door which lets the steward know that someone is in the room, so they'll bypass it. Lesson learned and we didn't do it again!

Thankfully, these initial issues with our stateroom seemed to be isolated

incidents. We didn't encounter further issues pertaining to cleanliness, in our stateroom or around the ship. In fact, as we walked around the ship for the first time, we were impressed at what a beautiful, modern and clean ship the Divina is. We found very few indications of wear throughout this still fairly new ship. Overall, we felt that the Divina is a wonderful ship. New, yet it felt more traditional and less gimmicky than other new ships that we have sailed on recently. We proceeded to the Shore Excursion desk to book an excursion for our first port of call (no interactive TV system where to book).

FELLOW CRUISERS

We may have been sailing from an embarkation port in the USA, but that didn't translate into a large percentage of fellow cruisers being from the USA. Based on what we had read, we were already looking forward to sailing with fellow cruisers from several countries. Italian speakers seem to outnumber any other onboard (and for a good reason since MSC is Italian), but we also heard French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and others that we couldn't quite pinpoint. The staff seemed prepared to handle the multiple languages and cultures onboard. More than once I heard an employee talk to a passenger in one language, and then talk to the next in a different language without skipping a beat. I never had a problem finding a crew member who was fluent in either English or Spanish, both languages which I speak.

Just watching our fellow passengers and learning about the different cultures onboard was a highlight of this cruise. However, I can see how this may be a turn off for passengers who prefer traveling among fellow cruisers of similar backgrounds and who may not be tolerant of the contrasting behaviors that such a diverse group will inevitably exhibit.

EXPLORING THE SHIP

As mentioned before, we were very pleased with the overall appearance and condition of the ship. We appreciated the modern, yet elegant feel throughout the ship. It took us a bit of time to find our way throughout the ship, either because we were unfamiliar with the layout, or because the design was truly disjointed in several areas. We found ourselves boarding multiple elevators or climbing stairs and walking down passageways in odd places in order to find several venues on the ship. The location of the members only Yacht Club seemed to disrupt the passenger flow in the forward part of the ship but eventually we found our bearings.

We ate our first meal at the Calumet Buffet. Our initial impression was good. We were happy to see options that we enjoy on land but that are not frequently found on cruise ship buffets. However, as the week progressed, we started noticing that the buffet was repetitive and there wasn't much variety from one day to the next.

As mentioned before, the Divina is a beautiful ship, and there were some venues that caught our attention:

- The Pantheon Theater: Not only one of the most attractive theaters at sea, but it had great sightlines and acoustics, just like a true theater should be.The Sports Bar: We didn't go here for the bar food (which cost extra) but for a few drinks while enjoying a few rounds of bowling (there are two lanes located inside the Sports Bar). I think that the big sign by the entrance with food priced a la carte turned a lot of people away since this venue remained eerily empty every time we walked by.

- The Divina Reception and atrium: One of the most beautiful atriums at sea, featuring staircases encrusted with Swarovski crystals.

- The Casino Veneziano: Didn't play one game, but it was such a pleasure to walk through a casino that didn't stink like stale cigarettes.

- The Áurea Spa: We were given several passes to the Thermal Suite as part of the loyalty match program, and while the passes were for one hour sessions, nobody was really timing us. The facilities were beautiful and tranquil with its Balinese theme. Steam rooms and Saunas were either for men or women only, but don't expect to have much privacy from the opposite sex as most rooms open right into a common area with heated tile loungers. But most fellow cruisers didn't seem to mind much as several would casually walk by nude from one room to another, which just highlighted the culturally different views concerning nudity between Americans and Europeans. After a few days we didn't give it much more thought and even lost a bit of our inhibitions as well. The one thing that I wish this ship had was a thalassotherapy pool.

KIDS CLUB

One of our first stops was at the Kids Club. Our first impression was positive, with a friendly and attentive staff who quickly walked us through the registration process. This is where we had our first taste of how diverse and well prepared the crew on this ship was. They were handing out information in various languages and communicating with fellow multi lingual passengers from various countries at the same time. The facilities were nice but basic, and they paled in comparison to the facilities found on other family friendly cruise lines. The list of activities was extensive though, and most didn't rely on the use of modern technology, flashy gadgets, or sensory overload which seems to be the way to keep kids entertained these days, not only on modern cruise ships, but also on land. The most "high tech" thing that I saw on this kids club was a Wii connected to a TV. MSC has a partnership with Lego so several activities revolved around them. They even had a Lego character in addition to the MSC mascots.

The list of activities almost felt like a throwback to the days of cruising when I was a child cruising for the first time. Initially I wondered if my kids would enjoy the more traditional approach, but I was surprised to learn that, not only did they enjoy it, but they loved it to the point that they would wake us up early in the morning begging to go to the kids club. This either meant that my wife and I are extremely boring parents whose kids would rather do arts and crafts than spend time with us, or it meant that kids don't really need all of the high tech stuff that they are bombarded with these days in order to have an enjoyable time. I'd like to think that it's the second! The kids participated in activities like language classes, cooking classes, dancing, crafting, and even a talent show held on the last sea day at the main theater.

CUISINE AND DRINKS PACKAGE

As mentioned before, our first meal was at the buffet and the initial reaction was positive. However, once we started trying different venues and revisiting previous ones, we felt that overall the cuisine on this ship left a lot to be desired. I had read previous reviews commenting how terrible the food was, and then others replying that it wasn't bad, just geared towards a broader clientele. Whatever the truth may be, we didn't enjoy it much. It's not that we couldn't find anything to eat (we could find plenty). We just couldn't find anything that stood out, or that would make us want to ask for more. Overall, we considered the cuisine to be uninspired, and what was offered felt very generic, as if trying to appeal to as many passengers as possible which inevitably meant somewhat basic offerings. We ate because we were hungry, not because what was offered provided a memorable culinary experience.

About drinks, we are not big drinkers, only having one or two alcoholic drinks a day while on vacation, but we do drink soda regularly. Purchasing a full beverage package didn't fit our needs but we purchased a soda package for $30 which gave us 15 soda cans to be purchased anywhere on the ship.

I was given an actual voucher booklet which seemed retro. It was a bit of an inconvenience carrying paper vouchers around, specially when going to the pool or spa, but it worked. Interestingly, the bartender would still need to swipe my card every time I ordered a drink and I would need to sign a receipt showing an amount of $0. When I asked about this procedure, a bartender told me that this way they are still paid a gratuity even though I was paying with a voucher. This made me feel better since I had read here on Cruise Critic that the service staff got stiffed when using those vouchers.

ENTERTAINMENT

We appreciated the entertainment on this ship. The Italian opera singers at the main Atrium drew huge crowds. The dance music in the outdoor DiSaronno bar by the infinity pool kept the area hopping all the time. Even pool games (which I normally don't care for) made me stop and watch for a while. Once again, the staff did a great job engaging people who spoke different languages to participate and compete against each other.

As previously mentioned, the main theater is a fantastic venue, which is a reason why I attended more performances than on other ships. All of them were professional and very enjoyable. Several shows were a hodgepodge of various acts loosely tied together by a common theme but each act entertaining on its own merits. The only negative that I would point out is that many of these acts kept getting recycled night after night, just in different costumes (the same exact act would be performed in a pirate costume one night, then in a witch's costume the next, etc). But as mentioned before, many of these acts were very entertaining so I didn't mind too much.

THE ITINERARY

As mentioned at the beginning, for me the itinerary was a big negative which almost stopped me from booking this cruises. Had the promotions that allowed us to book this cruise for such a ridiculously cheap price not been offered, we would've never taken this itinerary.

- Nassau, Bahamas:

I've lost track of the number of times that I've been to Nassau, and even though it's an ok port on a quick weekend getaway, I hate wasting a perfectly good port day in this island when there are so many other places that can be reached on a weeklong cruise.

But we made the most of it and looked hard for something different to do in our limited amount of time there (8:00am to 2:00pm). We decided to book a Balmoral Island and Stingray encounter excursion (the difference in price to swim with the stingrays was minimal so we said, why not?) We met at the main theater to then be escorted off the ship to the boat that would take us to Balmoral. We departed the harbor and headed west along the north coast of New Providence and along Cable Beach. The ride was very enjoyable, with a wonderful breeze and beautiful views of the crystal clear turquoise water.

Ever since I booked this excursion I had been very curious about this private island's location. As we finally approached Balmoral, it finally dawned on me that it was the Sandals Resort's private island, located just off Cable Beach. So you're sharing the island with Sandals guests, although in different areas roped off from each other.

The facilities in Balmoral are nice. Everything looks recently built and well kept. Dolphins were queued by their trainers to leap out of the water as our boat approached the dock to "oooohs" and "aaaahs" from the passengers. This was a smart way to get passengers excited about "upgrading their experience" and add a Dolphin swim to their beach day. Attendants were waiting at the dock ready to take money from people who'd taken the bait and who quickly lined up to swim with the dolphins.

We continued walking since our beach day already included swimming with stingrays. We were given a brief introduction and we were then taken to the stingray area. There were around 20 other people taking part in this excursion, so it wasn't crowded and we had plenty of elbow room. It was interesting to say the least, and the kids enjoyed it. We were given pieces of fish to feed the stingrays and lure them towards us. My wife freaked out a bit because seagulls kept flying overhead trying to snag pieces of fish as well, and they were not shy about diving straight towards us to get them!

We were in the water for about 30 minutes and then proceeded to the actual beach area for the rest of our day there. The beach was lined up with white umbrellas and loungers. Recorded music played over speakers throughout the area. Very relaxing! This is where the day started taking a negative turn and where I learned a valuable lesson.

While we were in the water with the stingrays, I started developing a headache which quickly got worse. MUCH worse. I didn't think I had any pain medication with me, so I went to the one shop in the island hoping to purchase some there. Needless to say, they didn't sell any medicines. We inquired about leaving the island early, but they said that there was only one boat returning to the ship and that it wouldn't be for another 2 hours. We asked about riding back to shore on one of the frequent boats for Sandals guests departing from a pier a few feet away but they said that they couldn't allow that. My wife finally found some crushed Tylenol packets in our backpack. That, along with a Coke (I may have been caffeine deprived) finally eased the pain. I was able to enjoy my last hour in the island, playing with the kids on the beach and jumping in the pool before finally returning to the ship.

But there are a few things that I learned from an excursion to a private island. First, carry some basic medication (even if you're the kind of person who never gets sick like me). Second, either bring your own drinks or get ready to get raped with their prices because literally you have no other place to buy things than at their one store. And third, understand that you're stuck there until they are ready to boat you back. There's no leaving when you want to and you will feel a bit like a hostage. I probably would've never cared about taking an early boat back, but it was an eye opening experience to realize that I couldn't when I wanted to. I hope that this is valuable information for those considering this excursion.

St. Maarten:

We spent a day and a half at sea before arriving in St. Maarten for an eight hour stop (1:00pm to 9:00pm). This was the only port that I had excitedly been looking forward to. The last time that I visited St. Maarten was in 2008 and the weather had been so horrendous that we couldn't visit Maho Beach which had been in my bucket list for a long time.

The afternoon arrival meant that we would miss the wide body jets arriving from Europe, but I checked the arrivals online and there were a couple of narrow body jets arriving from the US in the afternoon which made it worth our while.

We took a shared shuttle from the cruise terminal to Maho Beach and we were dropped off at a bar right next to the beach. Interestingly, the only time that we interacted with Americans on this cruise was on the shuttle. There were two other couples with their kids, and their conversation revolved around how much they disliked MSC and how they were going back to Carnival. Listening to their reasons for not enjoying MSC, I quickly understood that they truly didn't belong in a cruise line that didn't cater heavily to American tourists. This is why it's so important to do some research before sailing on MSC (or any cruise line).

Once we arrived at Maho Beach, we grabbed a table at the Sunset Bar and ordered some drinks while we waited for the next arrival. We watched a few Boeing 737's and Airbus 320's from Delta, American and JetBlue. We walked along the beach and the kids begged to jump in the ocean. I cautiously let them take a quick dip since the waves were strong and the beach was eroded with large rocks jutting out in several places. It just didn't feel safe for a 6 and a 4 year old with basic swimming skills.

We then took a taxi (this time by ourselves) to the downtown area where we did a bit of window shopping before taking the water taxi back to the cruise terminal. We arrived back on the ship just in time for dinner at the MDR but we were still in our beach attire. We knew that if we went back to the cabin to change we would most likely miss our time and would end up at the Buffet (which by now we had truly gotten sick of). We decided to take a chance and checked with the maitre' d to see if it would be OK to dine in our inappropriate attire. He was very nice and with a smile welcomed us right in. We quickly learned why. The MDR was deserted, and the passengers at the very few tables occupied were also wearing beach wear! The food on this ship may have not been the best, but the staff consistently was!

San Juan, Puerto Rico

First of all, I LOVE San Juan. I think that it's one of the absolute best ports in the Caribbean. And you know from the moment the ship glides right past the San Felipe del Morro Castle that this is not any ordinary Caribbean port. It offers a bit of everything for everyone. From beautiful beaches to rainforests and caverns. From high rise resorts & casinos to sleepy country inns tucked in the mountains. From modern buildings to beautiful colonial architecture steeped in centuries old history. All wrapped in one of the most vibrant and lively cultures anywhere in the world.

But I may be a bit biased. You see, I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and my family still lives there. I visit multiple times a year, most recently a month ago for 2 full weeks. So while I love my island, I wasn't necessarily looking forward to visiting on a cruise ship since it would've been nice to visit another port of call which I may have never been to before. Still, I was excited about coming home, this time on a cruise ship, and to spend a few hours with my family.

The ship arrived at 9:00am under beautiful, clear skies. We quickly walked across the street to the Sheraton Old San Juan where my parents had booked a room for the night (they actually live 2 hours away on the west coast of the island). We decided to have lunch, and while I've ALWAYS said that I would NEVER set foot at a Señor Frogs or any other "tourist trap" restaurant in Puerto Rico, it was right next door to the hotel and too convenient to pass up.

We had a surprisingly good meal (albeit a bit overpriced) at Señor Frogs. They have a few local selections added to the menu which truly hit the spot, including tostones (fried plantains) and a Cubano sandwich served in a mallorca (a locally made sweet roll dusted with powdered sugar, which by itself is delicious). We were joined by some relatives who work in Old San Juan which added to the lively and fun atmosphere.

After lunch, we took the free trolley to the San Felipe del Morro Castle where we explored for a while. It was nice to share the historical facts that I knew about the island's history and the importance of this fortress with my kids. After that, we flew kites on the lawn (something that I used to do as a child when taking school field trips to Old San Juan and which I wanted my kids to experience as well).

We ate piraguas (shaved ice with flavored syrup) and then went to Parque de Las Palomas (The Pigeons Park), another childhood favorite place where you can feed pigeons who aren't shy to cling to your body in droves looking for some peanuts or crushed corn.

We then headed to Pirilo's, a local hang out where we met my sister and nieces for dinner. It's a wonderful Italian restaurants which offers insanely tempting cuisine, all in a great, although crowded, setting. I was a bit skeptical about eating at an Italian restaurant after spending a week on an Italian cruise ship, but eating here made me realize that MSC can greatly improve their cuisine while appealing to a broad clientele and still remain true to their Italian heritage.

Our final stop after dinner was back at the Sheraton where the kids went for a swim at the rooftop pool overlooking our beautifully lit up cruise ship while my wife and I conversed with my parents. Shortly before midnight we headed back to the ship, with exhausted kids fast asleep in our arms in preparation for our 2:00am departure. Even though I come here so often and initially I thought that it would've been nicer to visit another port, our day in San Juan was completely memorable and it was one of the highlights of this cruise.

DAYS AT SEA

This itinerary featured 3 sea days. One after our stop in Nassau and 2 after our final stop in San Juan before returning to Miami. The last two days truly allowed us to relax, unwind and enjoy the ship after 3 days of sightseeing.

As mentioned before, the Divina felt more traditional than other new ships that we have sailed on, but she still features several modern and technologically advanced attractions. There's a 4D movie theater with moving seats and sensory elements (for an extra fee). We were the only ones in attendance, and even though they had a set schedule for each movie, the attendant allowed us to select whichever movie we wanted. We were torn between two, but finally made our final choice. The attendant was very friendly and allowed the kids to ride for free. When the movie was over, the attendant walked in and told us to stay seated and that he would be playing the second movie, for free!

We also enjoyed a few rounds of family bowling at the Sports Bar. As mentioned before, the place remained uncharacteristically empty (for a Sports Bar) most of the time, so it was nice to have the place mostly to ourselves.

The Divina features one waterslide (called Toboga). I had looked online and even messaged MSC via Facebook concerning age/height requirements for my son, and even though we received written confirmation that he indeed met the requirements, when we arrived on the ship we were informed that he didn't. It wasn't until I showed them the messages directly from MSC that he was finally allowed to ride. The waterslide was fun, even for adults, but it's small in comparison to what other cruise lines are incorporating in their newer ships. It was nice that it was tucked along one side of the ship and out of the way instead of cluttering the main pool area.

We also participated in several of the children's activities including the DoReMi Chef (which is supposed to be a cooking class for kids by one of the ship's chefs, but it turned into an all out war with dough and flour flying everywhere!). We also attended the DoReMi Kids Live Show which was the kids talent show held at the Main Theater. It was a really sweet show and they also incorporated some of the more kid friendly acts from the evening shows (which, as previously mentioned, we had already seen a few times). There were many kids on the ship and the show was very lively and entertaining (probably entertaining for the parents but not others!). All seemed to be having a fun time!

DEBARKATION

We arrived back in Miami before sunrise and we decided to take advantage of MSC's express debarkation. We met at the Black and White Lounge*at 6:30am, and I initially thought that it had been a bad idea to do this instead of waiting for our color to be announced. The line looped around the lounge and spilled into the elevator area. I thought that the process would take forever. However, as soon as debarkation commenced, the line started moving fast and we were off the ship, through customs and standing on the sidewalk by 7:00am.

We decided to use Uber for our transportation to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Our driver picked us up literally within 60 seconds of requesting the ride! We were speeding away from the port of Miami within minutes and we arrived at the airport a little before 7:45am. Once I realized that we were so early, I quickly got on my phone and listed us for standby on an 8:45am flight back to Atlanta! Arriving so early at the airport meant ZERO lines both at the check-in counter and at the TSA security checkpoint! We landed in Atlanta at 10:30am or around the time when we would've been getting off the ship had we waited for regular debarkation. This was by far one of the most efficient, fastest, and stress free debarkations in all of my years of cruising!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, we had a very enjoyable time on the Divina. The negatives were minor and the ridiculously cheap fare that we paid for this cruise more than made up for those negative things.

I do feel that MSC is not for the American cruiser who goes on Caribbean cruises expecting for the atmosphere to be tailored to the typical stereotypes perpetuated by American cruise lines sailing in the Caribbean. There's an overall different vibe since it's a European cruise line catering to so many nationalities so culturally different behaviors should be expected. Those who embrace diversity and change will most likely have no problems sailing on MSC, but those who are hardcore cruisers used to an Americanized experience, even ashore, and who have little tolerance for any behavior different than theirs will have a hard time adjusting to the way that MSC does things, even if the differences are subtle.

My wife had a few minor pet peeves, including the mediocre free coffee, and the fact that you almost had to beg to get a water refill at dinner (more than once she just got up and grabbed the water jug from the waiter's station because there was nobody around to even ask for a refill). But we overcame those small hurdles by purchasing bottles of water which we kept in the stateroom and carried around in our bag, and by purchasing the extra fee specialty coffees. In the grand scheme of things, and considering how cheap this cruise was, the extra fees were well spent in order to enjoy the cruise instead of letting the little things ruin it.

To those wondering where MSC ranks in comparison to other major cruise lines sailing in the Caribbean, I would place it solidly between Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Even though we had an enjoyable cruise, the overall experience does feel a bit on the budget side (and it should at those prices), but at the same time, the overall design and decor of the ship makes you feel as if you're on a more luxurious cruise line.

Would I sail on MSC again? Absolutely! Looking at their itineraries in other parts of the world and the features on their new ships under construction, there seems to be a lot to lure me back into another MSC cruise!

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. We're looking forward to the international climate and hope she isn't too Americanized.

We leave on Saturday for our first Divina cruise.

Thanks for your excellent review. You obviously went to a lot of trouble.

Very balanced review.

Personally I am put off sailing on Divina because of the perceived "Americanisation" of the experience. We were booked on a Trans-Atlantic re-positioning cruise on Divina but I cancelled it in favour of one out of Dubai.

The reason for this was the number of negative reviews from Americans and I did not want to be stuck on a cruise ship surrounded by negativity and faux American food etc.. I like visiting the U.S., having done so five times and if I want U.S. culture & food that is where I will go, not on an international cruise. In fact travelling around the U.S. (keeping away from chain restaurants etc.) there is amazing cultural and culinary diversity within your country.

I think your review will inform people what to expect from MSC on Divina i.e. more relaxed and European but not as European as their other ships.

Thank you for your detailed review, Tapi! We just booked our first cruise on MSC, and your review was extremely helpful! You had some great tips too! The one that sticks out in my mind is the foreign transaction fees on the shipboard charges. That's great to know.

I do understand that the shipboard experience will be a bit different because of the mix of passenger types, but I was hoping you might be willing to describe this a bit more. Specifically, what did you see as the differences between 'American' cruising and the MSC cruise? What was it that the Americans you met on the shuttle disliked so much?

Thank you very much for your great writeup!

I do understand that the shipboard experience will be a bit different because of the mix of passenger types, but I was hoping you might be willing to describe this a bit more!

Thanks! Some of the differences that I noticed and what the people aboard our shuttle complained about pertained to entertainment. For example, on the Divina they didn't have a comedy club or comedians (hard to make people laugh with spoken comedy in 7 languages at the same time). The shows were great, but they are mostly non-verbal. The Italian opera singer in the atrium was wonderful but she may not be everyone's cup of tea, specially for those looking for something a bit more lively. The music played at the outdoor bar by the aft pool played more of a euro-techno beat which was different than the reggae-Margaritaville vibe that many cruisers expect on a Caribbean cruise. Many fellow cruisers most likely won't find a rendition of "brown eyed girl" or sweet home Alabama" at the piano bar entertaining.

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Personally I am put off sailing on Divina because of the perceived "Americanisation" of the experience..

It seems like the Divina is stuck somewhere between American and European. For some, she may be too European and for others she may be too American. But either way, I think that the overall experience was a welcome departure from what other cruise lines have to offer.

Thanks, Tapi. I too miss comedians when they're not offered on ships, but I can completely understand why they're not there with a multi-cultural passenger base. That didn't even occur to me, but it makes sense. I don't think it's enough to prevent me from taking a cruise, though!

Opera is not my cup of tea, and I'd probably prefer the techno music to reggae, so I guess I'm okay there.... ;)

Thanks for the extra details. If it's just entertainment, I think we'll be fine. We've sailed on Celebrity a lot, and their entertainment is definitely minimal. But we just relax on the ship in the evenings.

One question: was there trivia? That's one activity my husband and I love. We have been on cruises with a lot of non-English-speaking passengers before, but for some reason English-speaking trivia was still a staple.

One question: was there trivia? That's one activity my husband and I love..

I honestly don't remember if they had Trivia or not. Sorry, we are not Trivia aficionados. I want to say no because I don't recall if it was even listed on the daily activities, but that I don't recall doesn't mean that they didn't have it.

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I have waited quite a while for your perspective on this ship. I have read many of your posts on the Carnival page. We are embarking Feb. 4th and got a very nice offer to upgrade to yacht club. This experience is going to be very different than our usual. We will keep an open mind and just try to relax. I am very interested in San Juan. Do you have a can't miss favorite for someone who has never been there ? Again thanks for your unbiased review, I can't wait !

Great review. May I ask what unpaid for Uber back to Fort Lauderdale airport. Thank you

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Great review. May I ask what unpaid for Uber back to Fort Lauderdale airport. Thank you

Hi. It was somewhere around $30-$35 dollars. Cheaper than a taxi and more efficient. Our driver was very nice (an older, retired gentlemen who even offered us complimentary bottles of water).

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However, as the cruise date approached, we came across a fantastic deal on MSC. They were offering a 2 for the price of 1 promotion, a kids sail free promotion, and a loyalty match program. By the time we added all the discounts, we were looking at sailing in a balcony stateroom for 7 nights during the busy summer season for a little over $250pp, all taxes included! !

Nice score!!! Congrats :). This is a terrific review that echoes many of my observations. If you sail MSC at a great price, it's probably not fair to have exuberant expectations. However; those that are willing to keep expectations in line with the price paid leave pleased more often than not.

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I have waited quite a while for your perspective on this ship. I have read many of your posts on the Carnival page. We are embarking Feb. 4th and got a very nice offer to upgrade to yacht club. This experience is going to be very different than our usual. We will keep an open mind and just try to relax. I am very interested in San Juan. Do you have a can't miss favorite for someone who has never been there ? Again thanks for your unbiased review, I can't wait !

Thanks!

One of my good friends did the Yacht Club and he said that it takes the experience to an all new level, and that cuisine at Le Muse addresses the issues with the cuisine onboard. Hope you enjoy it!

About San Juan: You can go to Puerto Rico for 10 days and not have enough time to see it all. For the limited amount of time in San Juan, I would suggest something similar to what we did (except the Señor Frogs part!) Stay in Old San Juan, walk the cobblestoned streets, visit San Felipe del Morro, and find a local restaurant and enjoy some of the local food. The Parrot Club restaurant is a favorite of mine with its Nuevo Latino cuisine. There's so much to do in Puerto Rico but many places require a long drive so that's why I don't recommend venturing too far from Old San Juan. You'll spend a large part of your limited amount of time just getting there and back.

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Nice score!!! Congrats :). This is a terrific review that echoes many of my observations. If you sail MSC at a great price, it's probably not fair to have exuberant expectations. However; those that are willing to keep expectations in line with the price paid leave pleased more often than not.

Thanks! Yes, the price that we paid was incredible. I kept doing mock bookings to make sure that the price was accurate. I thought that it was a computer glitch! [emoji23]

Keeping expectations in line is definitely key to enjoying this cruise!

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Thanks!

 

One of my good friends did the Yacht Club and he said that it takes the experience to an all new level, and that cuisine at Le Muse addresses the issues with the cuisine onboard. Hope you enjoy it!

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I respectfully disagree with your friend. I've sailed both Fantasia and YC. Don't get me wrong, YC is nice and all- but YC on MSC is significantly less expensive than haven on ncl. It's only fair to adjust expectations accordingly.

Lemuse food was just ok and the glitches in customer service aren't significantly better in YC. We sailed YC for less than 1,000 pp, 7 days, all in-so overall I was very pleased; but for those thinking of booking YC, I think it's wise to keep expectations in check here too.

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I thought the food in the Sports Bar was now free.

Once you experience Yacht Club on MSC you will never go back!! So, so, much more reasonably priced than NCL Haven or Celebrity suites!

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Can you tell me what is the height/weight restriction is for the slide?

Can you tell me what is the height/weight restriction is for the slide?

The message that I received directly from MSC CRUISES USA stated that kids had to be at least 47 inches tall OR 8 years of age. My son was 48 inches at the time of cruising. When I showed up on the ship, the staff said that BOTH requirements had to be met and that he had to be 8 years as well. That's when I went on my Facebook account and showed them the message from MSC CRUISES USA. Upon seeing it, they allowed him to ride.

I understand that each cruise line will establish their own requirements but I'll say that I was a bit dumbfounded that the requirement for this slide was 48 inches. From what I've experienced on previous cruises, slides of this kind have a 42 inch height requirement.

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Lemuse food was just ok and the glitches in customer service aren't significantly better in YC. We sailed YC for less than 1,000 pp, 7 days, all in-so overall I was very pleased; but for those thinking of booking YC, I think it's wise to keep expectations in check here too.

Thanks for that info. I've considered doing YC for a future MSC cruise to see if the negatives that we experienced corrected themselves there, so it's good to get some insight from someone who has been there.

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