NCL Epic or MSC Divina - Western Caribbean

[Minstrel*]

Help please! looking at both for WC 7 day cruise next year flying in from UK. Itinerary and price fairly similar accounting for the free drink and dine packages provided on NCL. However, both have some bad reviews, Divina food to be poor and NCL ship lacks sea views other than balcony cabin and no WOW factor although food better.

 

Previous cruises have been with RCCL but the price is way above budget.

 

Will be travelling with 3 first time cruisers.

 

all advice greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks:)

[nipponcruiser]

Not to say there is anything wrong with the Epic, we are Platinum on NCL.

But in this case, MSC Divina WITHOUT ANY DOUBT!!!

Been on her a few times and always had a great time.

Food is genuinely European, forget the fatty, greasy USA garbage stuff.

Unfortunately MSC gets a bad rap in the United States because their food is not so much "American".....lol....and we all know that for many US cruisers, there is no other world beyond the end of Main Street, USA!

 

 

Thanks,

Fred

Edited September 15, 2016 by nipponcruiser

[Sissaaaaaa]

Help please! looking at both for WC 7 day cruise next year flying in from UK. Itinerary and price fairly similar accounting for the free drink and dine packages provided on NCL. However, both have some bad reviews, Divina food to be poor and NCL ship lacks sea views other than balcony cabin and no WOW factor although food better.

 

Previous cruises have been with RCCL but the price is way above budget.

 

Will be travelling with 3 first time cruisers.

 

all advice greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks:)

 

I love the Epic. I have not sailed MSC yet, but the "bad food" reviews would turn me off. I also never had a problem viewing the sea from the Epic.

[RanchoDeluxe]

Hi Minstrel

How important is entertainment for your party? That may be a big factor between these two lines.

 

What are the ports of call on each ship's WC?

 

These may be factors on which we can give advice and which may help you decide.

 

.

[spanishguy1970]

Not to say there is anything wrong with the Epic, we are Platinum on NCL.

But in this case, MSC Divina WITHOUT ANY DOUBT!!!

Been on her a few times and always had a great time.

Food is genuinely European, forget the fatty, greasy USA garbage stuff.

Unfortunately MSC gets a bad rap in the United States because their food is not so much "American".....lol....and we all know that for many US cruisers, there is no other world beyond the end of Main Street, USA!

 

 

 

Thanks,

Fred

 

 

I wish other cruise lines adapted more European cuisine. I think is probably too much to ask. I agree, I met two people who were on the DIVINA and they could not stop raving about it. I think after what happened with the MSC CONCORDIA the cruise line started getting a bad rap. These people said to me the food was very italian, fresh, different every night, no set menu, organic etc. whether that is true or now who knows but they were on it when it was first launched. :D

Edited September 15, 2016 by qtaromar1970

[WeehawkenCruiser]

I wish other cruise lines adapted more European cuisine. I think is probably too much to ask. I agree, I met two people who were on the DIVINA and they could not stop raving about it. I think after what happened with the MSC CONCORDIA the cruise line started getting a bad rap. These people said to me the food was very italian, fresh, different every night, no set menu, organic etc. whether that is true or now who knows but they were on it when it was first launched. :D

 

No experience with the Epic but did the Divina and loved it! Food was definitely not standard American cruise fair but we loved it (wonderful options of cheeses and meats all day, different than usual bread and pasta). We also thought the outside pool space was VERY generously sized for the size of the ship and loved that and the fact that they showed movies at night on the deck so you could swim and watch or just relax. Service was great and the entertainment, while not "Broadway" style was very good. They had an amazing Opera singer and good comedians.

 

They also had a Nutella bar which even though you had to pay for it, was pretty awesome!

[debster11]

I wish other cruise lines adapted more European cuisine. I think is probably too much to ask. I agree, I met two people who were on the DIVINA and they could not stop raving about it. I think after what happened with the MSC CONCORDIA the cruise line started getting a bad rap. These people said to me the food was very italian, fresh, different every night, no set menu, organic etc. whether that is true or now who knows but they were on it when it was first launched. :D

 

Not trying to point out an error but wasn't it the Costa Concordia? Anyway, I've never sailed on MSC but it sounds great. I'd really like to try that ship as I heard great reviews on it.

[mom2tcdx2]

It was Costa that had the Concordia accident, not MSC.

 

We have sailed on MSC and my mother has done both MSC and the Epic. She would do MSC hands down before attempting the Epic again. The Divinia is a beautiful ship, smoke free casino.

 

The customer base is more European so we did find out of all cruises we have been on the customers themselves were more rude, cutting in the buffet, taking food you may have been already waiting for, not letting people off elevators before getting on, etc. But staff was wonderful, though many are bothered by the announcements in all the different languages, which I actually thought was kind of neat and interesting to see how multi-lingual their staff is.

[Loopyloo12]

I've just come off the Epic last week so fresh in my mind....

 

Food was superb, buffet had endless choices, from all corners of the earth! Lovely salads, amazing seafood, so certainly more than only American on offer. The restaurants (we didn't do speciality as no need) were also lovely, again very varied, just needed to ask for extra veg!

 

Plenty of deck space to look out to sea so not sure what that's all about...indeed at breakfast lunch and dinner you can also be sitting in the restaurants with panoramic views of the sea from inside too.

 

Hope that helps....

[Blondie008]

EPIC - not a WOW :eek:

Love EPIC - she's a fab ship!!

Last two cruises have been on Celebrity - but booked to return on Epic as well as two other NCLs -

MSC - I hear good things too - guess Id choose EPIC though - great ship!

[jakoblovesships]

We just sailed the Divina in July. We thought the ship was very pretty and the food was good. We prefer the activities on Norwegian. We missed the happiness and friendliness of the crew on Norwegian. We just booked the Escape for Thanksgiving and can't wait!

[the wandering two]

Hard to pin down a definite answer, have sailed Epic many times & loved it. Haven't sailed Divina but loved Magnifica & Fantasia in the med. For you it may come down to logistics & price. Where are you flying into? Epic is based in P Canaveral, Divina, Miami. If your party are big drinkers NCLs included bev package is great, even taking into account the price difference between a guarantee no perks cabin vs the next step up to get a feel free promo. On the other hand MSC's drinks coupon books that I have read about sound like a good affordable half way house. Freestyle dining may suit non cruise folk as first timers. For what it's worth, a work colleague's first cruise was Davina Med & loved it.

Which ever you choose your friends should have a ball, IT'S A CRUISE!

 

Regards

Mark & Heather

[jakoblovesships]

We sailed the Divina back in July. We thought the ship was very pretty, but the activities were lacking. We really missed the atmosphere that Norwegian creates for their guests. The crew on the Divina wasn't friendly to us. A few times they were actually rude. The cabin steward yelled at my mother because she lost a form and asked for another one that was on his cart. At dinner the waiter would roll his eyes at people. They made it clear that they only wanted you to order a salad and an entree. We won't go back on another MSC cruise. Everyone has different experiences but we'll take our vacations elsewhere.

 

I'd read reviews too. This one felt like our experience on the Divina

MSC Divina Review - cruise with gambee

http://www.cruisewithgambee.com › msc-divin...

Edited September 15, 2016 by jakoblovesships

[wwwfla]

Not to say there is anything wrong with the Epic, we are Platinum on NCL.

But in this case, MSC Divina WITHOUT ANY DOUBT!!!

Been on her a few times and always had a great time.

Food is genuinely European, forget the fatty, greasy USA garbage stuff.

Unfortunately MSC gets a bad rap in the United States because their food is not so much "American".....lol....and we all know that for many US cruisers, there is no other world beyond the end of Main Street, USA!

Fred

 

This!!

Especially since you are from Uk/Europe. This is the ship many Europeans use in the USA. They also have wrapped burgers like McD's!

[jakoblovesships]

I put more details in my post below. It's above now! :)

Edited September 15, 2016 by jakoblovesships

[iamaqt2]

I personally would not sail MSC again... they gave me a horrible cruise experience with no apology. Also the ship is very difficult to navigate and the activities are lacking. The lounges are small, and fill quickly, especially if there is an event being held there. My review is here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=265224

[LMaxwell]

Loved the Divina. Fantastic entertainment, thought food quite good, crew professional and friendly, ship is spotless and gorgeous. The deals are unbeatable.

 

I have not been on the Epic but don't think you'll go wrong with Divina

[LMaxwell]

They made it clear that they only wanted you to order a salad and an entree.

 

Interesting; wait staff treated us like honored guests. Encouraged ordering multiple dishes, brought out kids menu for our baby which had REAL food, not just nuggets and fries, we often ordered kids dishes for the table to share (mozarella plate, shrimp, etc). Service in MDR was usually very good, but then slowed down at dessert time a bit too much for my liking.

 

Staff at the buffet, aft pool, and a few bars simply could not have been friendlier or nicer to us. Sent my kid home with arm loads of MSC gear at no charge. They weren't overly fake friendly, but if you took time to talk to them they opened right up. Our room attendant was professional. Not friendly. not NOT friendly. Just very businesslike.

[Minstrel*]

It does, thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

[Minstrel*]

Many thanks :)

[Minstrel*]

Hi Minstrel

How important is entertainment for your party? That may be a big factor between these two lines.

 

What are the ports of call on each ship's WC?

 

These may be factors on which we can give advice and which may help you decide.

 

.

 

The 3 first time cruisers are family late 20s early 30s so entertainment at night is a must for them. The ports of call for both ships are almost identical. A must for us is Jamaica for the 'blue hole' swimming etc.

 

Thanks