MSC Divina Review Mar 15-22

[hkto]

Generally experience was positive. We liked the ship, food & service.We landed @MIA on time, around 2pm on the departure date. The best option to get to the port from MIA is by taxi which is $24. SuperShuttle is more (because price by pp & slower). Taxi ride is around 15 min. Upon arrival luggage can be picked & delivered to the cabin. This is one of part that we didn't like. Attendant was aggressively soliciting tips & somehow I got an impression that I may not see the luggage later if tip is not paid. But it was & luggage arrived at the cabin three hours later. That is too long especially if people get first seating at dinner. So my advice would be is not to drop the luggage if possible & just take it to the cabin yourself. It's allowed.

Check in procedure is efficient for the ship that size (3500+ people); took less than 30 min.

 

 

 

Cabin (we had balcony on the 9th deck) was good. Room had double bed, dresser, climate control, couch, and coffee table, balcony with 2 chairs + table & nice bathroom. Water was hot all the time & excellent water pressure. Sound insulation wasn't that great; we could hear people in next cabin if they spoke in above average volume. Ice was delivered every day & room cleaned more than once.

 

 

Food

 

 

We liked it but tastes differ; I've seen bad food reviews for Divina. Yes there were glitches. Sometimes appetizers looked liked they just got taken from the freezer but I guess logistics of preparing for 3500+ people are not that straight forward. Didn't go to any paid restaurants so can't comment. Buffet on the 14th floor is open most of the time. Breakfast is till 10:30am, then lunch from noon till 3pm or so & then dinner. There is always some food like pizza or sandwiches between services. Breakfast had usually good selection of hot & cold dishes, also fruit & cold cuts. Juice & coffee machines were also there (but get closed later), only water & ice machines are open 7/24. Lunch had similar good selection. On sea days we ate lunch in MDR; also quite good. Dinner was in two sittings and seats were preassigned. Times are 6 to 8, and 8:30 to 10:30. Menu structure always same, 2 appetizers, 2 soups, salad,2 pasta choices & 4 main courses (meat, veg, fish, pasta) + 4 fixed choices (steak, fish, chicken, pasta). There are 2 gala nights (with lobster tail on one of them) but dress code is not enforced.

 

 

We also bought prepaid alcohol packages from MSC website before departure. They get booked to the account & get paid upon departure. Allegrissimo & beer tickets can be collected from the casino. Wine packages from MDR. We got basic $85 wine package which is Italian red or white house wine (actually quite decent). Next level is $155 which features a subset of a variety of mid-range wines. Minimum MDR price without package is $25+ plus 15% sc. Beer works out to $3.70 vs. $5.75 in the bar. Allegrissimo tickets are $4.80 (still below most bar item prices). Cocktail will be $6.50+. Entertainment was OK, not awesome but not bad. Performers are a mix of dancers, circus acts & singers. We went to 3 shows. Also there is a movie on the big screen every night. Gym was good but small for the ship size & always busy. Gym classes are paid ($10+). Other entertainment options (bowling, arcade games,3d theater) are paid. Internet is min $30 for 1 hr. Up from there. Casino was small for the ship size. Black Jack $5 min & up.

 

 

Ports

Divina was docking in St.Thomas & St.Juan & tendering in Great Stirrup Cay. Island belongs to NCL. Tendering was done on NCL vessels and was very slow (1.5 hrs+ wait). Getting back was faster. In St.Thomas we went to Lindquist beach located on the North East side of the island not too far from St.John ferry terminal. Most taxi rides there are $10pp o/w. Beach was great (probably the best one I've been to). Cost $2pp but no services there so I would advise to buy water or beer before going there. Lots of stores near the dock. Taxi driver picked us up 3 hrs. later. In San Juan we just walked around. Old city is clean & nice. City tour is $20pp by private operators outside the port (covers old & new San Juan)

 

 

Disembarkation

MSC asks people to leave cabins by 7am & ship - by 10:30am. Technically it's possible to stay in the room longer; we left at 8 when steward

knocked on the door. Breakfast is open till 10:30am. Departures are timed (each cabin block gets its own color & time slot). Baggage carousels are tagged by color. Overall departure takes about 1 hr (lineup for luggage, Homeland passport control, etc.). For people know need to go early MSC suggests not to leave luggage outside & leave any time they wish (self assist). Which means no assistance. Outside port terminal there are lots of transportation options to MIA & FLL and taxis of course. Taxi to Miami Beach is around $30.

 

 

 

Link is for pixs that cover ship’s interior, port stops & last day in Miami Beach. They are not labeled. I’ll be glad to answer any questions.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/d3oy9irdn95g67m/-hHJoYfj_n

[kdawg954]

Thanks for the review.

 

What were your "themed nights" on this cruise? Italian night, 70's night, etc.

[hkto]

Yes, Italian, 70s, 2 formal (gala), white, green & casual. I think MSC should publish it on the website so people know what to pack

[dogchopper]

Thanks for the review and the photos!! Looks like a wonderful cruise.

We are going on the same itinary in sept. I can't wait.

We are MDR kind of people too so I'm glad to hear the food was good. Was there enough!? My husband sometimes orders 2 meals (he's a big guy) hopefully they will allow that.

I didn't know they had theme nights, does that mean you need to dress on 70's clothes or Italian ?. Not sure i have anything for either...

 

Anyways I'm glad you had a good cruise!!

[hkto]

Yes, I think they will allow 2 portions. Frankly if one orders each of the 4 courses that a lot as it is. The standard beef steak is quite big. Theme nights are a suggestion; no one is enforcing dress code there. Dinner attire can be casual within reason.

[dogchopper]

Yes, I think they will allow 2 portions. Frankly if one orders each of the 4 courses that a lot as it is. The standard beef steak is quite big. Theme nights are a suggestion; no one is enforcing dress code there. Dinner attire can be casual within reason.

I know I usually am full after dinner but my husband is another story... But even if they don't give him 2nds we can always hit the buffet :)

I just wish September would hurry up and get here :)

[cymraes42]

Thanks for the review. We are joining Divina on April 12th for 2 weeks.

Can you tell me if the ship time is based on CST .Trying to organise some tours and need to know if local time is different to ship time.

Thank you.

Karen

[hkto]

I believe it's EST (same time as in Miami)

[cymraes42]

Thank you.

[Big Jay]

Thanks, For Sharing!!!!

 

I Sail Her In May!!!!!:)

[SeaYa52]

Thanks for your review - we're sailing in the 12th also!

 

 

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[Bosjoe]

Thanks for the review. We are joining Divina on April 12th for 2 weeks.

Can you tell me if the ship time is based on CST .Trying to organise some tours and need to know if local time is different to ship time.

Thank you.

Karen

 

On my cruise in January we did change clocks forward and back from est to atlantic for eastern cruises. I do believe they will do the same for western cruises. Hopefully someone from the western cruise can chime in.

[hkto]

I am absolutely sure that clocks didn't change from EST on our cruise. Dinner was exactly same time every day and so was time in ports. And never had to set the watch or alarm clock since departure.

[Bosjoe]

I am absolutely sure that clocks didn't change from EST on our cruise. Dinner was exactly same time every day and so was time in ports. And never had to set the watch or alarm clock since departure.

 

That would be correct now, as we recently changed to DST. They are now on the same time as eastern time.

[flahagan]

Just returned from the Western Carib. cruise and we did set our watches back twice, then forward the two days prior to returning to Miami. We were always on port time, not ship time.

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review.

[jkgourmet]

Thanks for taking the time to review.

 

Can you explain a bit more about the wine package you purchased, please?

 

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[hkto]

We got the $85 package which entitles to 7 bottles of house wine in MDR only (lunch or dinner). Choice is red or white, both are Italian wines. Next level is $155 for 7 bottles. This package allows selection from a small selection (there is special menu for that). If I remember correctly it had a choice of 7 or 8 reds (same for white) mid-range wines (may be around $35 in menu) from different regions (France, Italy, US, Australia, South America), 1 or 2 sparkling & 1 or 2 rose. Regular wine line list was huge and prices started at $25+sc.

 

Allegrissimo tickets allow to purchase certain wines by glass anywhere on the ship (including MDR). As I mentioned before each was $4.80