Mattingly23

Im very happy for you now that you've found something else to complain about.

Mattingly23, Mrs. Squirrel, thank you both for the specification! One more happy future new cruiser! :D

 

Do you remember if there were many tables for 4 in the MDR? My daughters don't speak English fluently. It will be weird to hold a conversation between the 4 of us at dinner with other guests probably not understanding what we are saying and vise versa, for my kids not to contribute easily to the conversation or properly answering questions....

We were assigned a table for 4 without asking. We did a group high five when we sat down.

It's definitely preferable, as some of the larger tables are squished. We sat at one for breakfast and there wasn't even enough room for the waiters to walk around the table to properly serve people.

Love your review! Thank you!

One of my kid will definitely be happy with the pastries selection.... I have shown her the picture, she almost cried... Oh! Dear! :rolleyes:

The other girl would like to know about proscuitto.... She expects to eat a lot of it since MSC is an italian cruiseline. Can you confirm we can find it at the buffet or MDR? Thanks!:)

All the prosciutto you could ever want, and of excellent quality as well.

Oh, one more thing:

Memo to the Irish music guy: How dare you post such blatant untruths such as raw bacon and Tang. You should be ashamed of yourself trying to dash others hopes with false postings. Tang indeed.

NOW my tirade is over.

I was going to write something up after my divina cruise last week, but life is getting in the way, so here's my take on the food:

MDR: We got very lucky and were assigned a table for 4 for the 4 of us. It was on the first level of the Black Crab, starboard side, around the corner from the entrance. Very roomy and good service. Our last cruise was a year ago on Sillouhette, so that's my benchmark. It's banquet food just like Sillouhette. Always warm or hot, deserts average, pastas excellent. Every bit as good as Sillouhette with the exception of the beef (we had fillet & strip on different nights) which was very below average. We had breakfast there a couple mornings not at our table and found the areas we say to be very crowded to the point where the waiters couldn't walk around the table, so it's hit or miss. We're not seafood eaters, but I have a feeling that the seafood might be good. I heard a few compliments.

BUFFETT: Breakfast was underwhelming. I usually find one item that stands out but not here. Breads are excellent, croissant just ok, scrambled eggs MUCH better than Sillouhette. VERY crowded as was all of deck 14. Think mall on Christmas Eve type crowded and I found the entire deck uncomfortable except on port days when it was a pleasure. Lunch buffet was better with better selection than Sillouhette.

PIZZA: I'm a pizza snob. I've had the best the USA has to offer: Patsy's in Harlem, New Haven, Trenton tomato pie... I rate the buffet pizza as excellent just below this. The seperate pizzeria downstairs makes a more crafted pie that is every bit the equal of those mentioned above. My only compliant is not enough char, but I expect if they chared it they'd get complaints from the uneducated people that think that Ragu & cheese on wonder bread is pizza.

PASTA: I'm a carbaholic. I eat pasta 4 nights a week at home and never order it out because it always sucks. This pasta, both in the buffet & MDR is superb. Every one of them. Red sauces with that wonderful olive oil sheen that coats the sides of the plate...cream sauces that aren't heavy goop, nothing overloaded with stinky Romano cheese. Every one of them made with love.

Pasta & pizza are both crafted cuisine (yes, cuisine) that, unfortunately, most Americans pass off as junk food, and scoff at their presence as cheap or unimaginative. I pity them because they're sticking their nose in the air at the best part of this ship.

Tirade over. All told, food was no better or worse than celebrity.

Looks like you & I were on the same cruise. It is clean, but I'd say not any more so than any other ship I've been on.

I do think they need to work on hand sanitizer though. Some of the hand sanitizer stations were not always operative, and many times it was in an out of the way location...kind of an afterthought. I rarely saw people at the Buffett entrance pushing sanitizer. It needs to be more "in your face" or people won't bother. My last cruise it was so in your face you felt shamed into using it and that's what I like to see.

The pizzas they make at the pizzeria, any good? Also, will they make what you want or only have a select few to pick from?

I'll go heavily into pizza when I get back. For now let's just say that if anyone is disappointed by the pizza on this cruise they don't understand pizza.

My internet time is running low and I've got to save my minutes for less important things like work. More when I return.

How is the service. And what about the entertainment. Is there anything u would say is a lot diff than other companies. My wife and I would book in a heart beat and just wing it but were talking a couple for their first time and I don't want to disappoint them

If you take away deck 14 it's a fantastic cruise/ship/crew. Deck 14 is a mess....picture 10# of bologna in a 5# bag. Just too many people.

I'm a carbaholic and eat pasta at least 4 times/week so I'm in heaven food wise. I've had nothing that was bad and some things were exceptional. Every pasta dish I've had has been exceptional (and that's coming from someone that refuses to order pasta out because I'm always disappointed). I rate the food experience slightly higher than my silhouette cruise 1 year ago.

Entertainment is very good, but I'm not one that values entertainment highly.

I'll report more details when I get back.

I'm glad to hear that too. Usually I like to change after dinner into jeans and grab a jacket or sweater before going to the shows cuz the ac usually freezes me out. I'm glad to know I won't be too under dressed.

Based on what I've seen, you'll fit in fine in the dining room in jeans also (not on gala nights).

Also, the first show is for late seating, and I imagine people are better dressed there as they go to dinner after, but with first seating and second show, most of the people have already changed by the time they get to their show.

You'll like the ship. It's very nice. I'm gonna go through pasta withdrawal on Saturday.

I'm on board right now. You have nothing to worry about. Attended two shows tonight wearing shorts and fit right in. Just make sure you don't look like a slob and you'll be fine.

If you are are trying to decide on particular cabins, I have a listing of every cabin onboard with the square footage of the cabin overall (plus broken down into bathroom and living space) and the balcony. Let me know if you need that info on certain ones.

 

Overall, I think B2 is a safe bet though some forward have steel balcony siding versus plexiglass.

 

Bret

I'd love that info for 13045 if its not too much trouble.

Thank you!

Yuk. I board on Saturday.

I have never written such a negative review before

Actually, you have.

Another question - there will be three questions so far.

 

1. Divina excursions? Impressions?

2. Divina spa? Impressions?

3. How well do MDR dining time and show time match? Looking at real sutuation, what did you prefer: early seating or late seating?

 

Thank you.

This is personal information we will not answer.

It's time to prepare for the cruise.

How fast is laundry service on the Divina? What prices?

Thanks.

How are you going to survive not having all those old people blowing smoke in your face?

Two points:

-I found a couple travel agents to have lower prices than MSC direct.

-Not all available cabins are offered on any of the websites. I wanted to book 2 side by side B3's and couldn't find them available anywhere. I called msc, dealt with the half hour hold and the agent found me 2 side by side B3's that were perfect. I made note of the cabin numbers and then booked through the travel agent at the lower price. Saved me about $300 total vs booking direct with msc and I got the cabins I wanted.

During the day promenade deck is a huge open space that reduces the load of sun decks on top.

Yes, those 4 people on board that feel the need to have a promenade will reduce the load on the sun deck by 4.

Take a deep breath and realize its only drink coupons. We know they suck...it's just how it is and your blood pressure elevating isn't going to change them one bit.

Have your booking number handy, spend some time on their slow awful website, and reserve them just as the poster above described.

If you can't make it work, relax...you're going on a cruise. Worst case is you purchase your drinks or coupons once you get on board.

But not as much over regular product on some other ships that provide much better product for everyone in general.

This an opinion that should be expressed only by someone that has sailed on the ship(s) they are comparing.

Thank you for taking the time & effort on this great review. The pics are great!

Shall we start a pool predicting when the dress code police show up on this thread? My slot is 12:15 am EDT.

With all due respect, even my 14 yr old son didn't lose or misplace his vouchers. I told him to treat them like money. If you lose them it is not MSC's fault. The voucher system surprised me though, but that's how they operate. You'll have to decide if it's worth it to you. (They're small, maybe 1x3)

 

 

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Understood, but things do happen, including theft. If something happens to your key card, you get it deactivated and get a new one.

There's key card activated lights for gosh sakes, and they're selling hundreds of dollars worth of tiny paper coupons. I can't believe your account can't be credited with 15 prepaid drinks and move forward from 1975 technology. I think they're counting on humans being human raising their margins slightly.

One thing that did hit home with me in those reviews was the person that lost their vouchers.

Since researching Divina, the vouchers struck me as a stupid and archaic system. It's 2014 and they're selling paper coupons? Just dumb.

If I misplace my stupid coupons and they refuse me replacements I can assure you the entire ship will be aware of it.

I wouldn't touch cupcakes.

 

This sounds great:

"allow.. soon to be passengers enjoy their opinions based on their personal experiences"!

I cannot agree more.

I am a "soon to be passenger". Feel free to enjoy my opinion based on my personal experience. :)

 

 

With no names and no links, just a printscreen to think about: how can one miss this?

 

As I'm sure you know, I'm not a fan of yours, but if you'd like to sit and have a coffee & pastry on our cruise and compare notes on our experience, let me know. I'll buy the coffee, you buy the pastry.

Oh did I hit a nerve?? lol

 

Vibe Beach Club on NCL Breakaway a charge per day or week.

 

Carlos Bake shop Breakaway a charge for pastry

 

The better desserts on Celebrity, Bistro on 5. Cheese cake chocolate cake, creme brulee, chocolate moose and pie. Alot better then the little things they have at the Cafe.

 

I don't consider those "things" at the cafe on Celebrity to be pastry. They're worth the price they charge. Agree that Bistro on 5...a pay restaurant...has the real sweet treats.