MSC Divinia with 5 year olds?

[YellowDog]

Ok, I am looking at cruises for later in the year. Last year my family with the kids then 3.5 loved the NCL Getaway. Well, one of my options is the NCL Epic. On the cruise we are looking at there is no kids sail free :(. So that same week I can go on the Divinia in the same stateroom and what I think is a slightly better itinerary and one day longer for $1000 less! BUT, the Divinia makes me nervous. Every ship as some lousy reviews and the Divinia has been here a while now...so here is the big questions: Is NCL $1000 better? Has anyone been on Divinia recently with younger kids? What was your experience? I'm posting this on the NCL and MSC boards as well.

[flhokie]

We sailed Divina with DD (nearly 4 at the time) last year. We had sailed RCCL Allure of the Seas with her a year earlier.

 

DD did enjoy the children's program on Divinia when she went. The children's staff was very good.

 

The biggest turn off was when, onthe last sea day, we were told by an officer on the pool deck that children under 7 or 8 are not allowed in pools on MSC ships. There was a stream like area around the main pools with water about 3 inches deep (it looked like there might be sprayers on the side, but they were never on) that they considered the kids pool--the only place they said kids could "swim." While I've never been able to find this policy in writing, their guest services staff confirmed it.

 

The buffet was very limited at night (& dining room meals were long). There is a cute children's area of the buffet, but it was only open at night for kids eating with the children's program. The only real evening dining options were the set time dining rooms, the limited buffet and an alternative restaurant (a la carte).

 

Overall, we did not find it very kid friendly.

 

We will stick with RCCL (or possibly another line) in the future.