First MSC Cruise (Divina to Bahamas) review

[rkacruiser]

Thank you   for a very interesting review with very good pictures.  I noticed that you were reading The Woman in Cabin 10.    Did you enjoy the book?  

[GonzoWCS]

Great review.  Thanks as we are considering our 1st MSC cruise in the near future!

 

Cheers

[dznymom]

Very enjoyable review!  Brings back memories of my Divina cruise, and makes me excited because I am doing it again later this summer!  Thanks for taking the time to post and for including the great photos.

[HunterBarb]

Great and Detailed review, 1Kaper !  Ocean Cay review is quite interesting; I have been to CocoCay several times and loved it, and food is  fairly good there & staff all great --

I am trying to book my first MSC sailing - a 3 night on DIVINA thru URC - and I don't drink a LOT, but DO like to have free drinks in casino !    I also like to carry aboard my favorite Wine, but I am not seeing that I would be allowed - Does anyone know if you can bring your own WIne aboard, like on RCCL and Carnival and Celebrity ? 

If I cannot, may be a deal breaker  😞   The sailing I asked for would be Leg 1 of a Side to Side with RC HARMONY ~ Thanks again !

[JAGR]

28 minutes ago, HunterBarb said:

Great and Detailed review, 1Kaper !  Ocean Cay review is quite interesting; I have been to CocoCay several times and loved it, and food is  fairly good there & staff all great --

I am trying to book my first MSC sailing - a 3 night on DIVINA thru URC - and I don't drink a LOT, but DO like to have free drinks in casino !    I also like to carry aboard my favorite Wine, but I am not seeing that I would be allowed - Does anyone know if you can bring your own WIne aboard, like on RCCL and Carnival and Celebrity ? 

If I cannot, may be a deal breaker  😞   The sailing I asked for would be Leg 1 of a Side to Side with RC HARMONY ~ Thanks again !

Sadly, MSC specifically bars passengers bringing any beverages on board, including any alcoholic beverages, soda, and bottled water.  Specifically, MSC says that no beverage or food may be brought on board, unless it is shown to be medically necessary.  Baby formula is allowed, but good luck finding that these days!

In the case of the side-to-side, you could put your wine in your checked baggage.  Worst case scenario, they hold it until the last night or last day, and then at least you would have the wine for Harmony.

Edited May 22, 2022 by JAGR

[Nunagoras]

3 hours ago, HunterBarb said:

Great and Detailed review, 1Kaper !  Ocean Cay review is quite interesting; I have been to CocoCay several times and loved it, and food is  fairly good there & staff all great --

I am trying to book my first MSC sailing - a 3 night on DIVINA thru URC - and I don't drink a LOT, but DO like to have free drinks in casino !    I also like to carry aboard my favorite Wine, but I am not seeing that I would be allowed - Does anyone know if you can bring your own WIne aboard, like on RCCL and Carnival and Celebrity ? 

If I cannot, may be a deal breaker  😞   The sailing I asked for would be Leg 1 of a Side to Side with RC HARMONY ~ Thanks again !

As JAGR says, officially you can't carry wine or any other drink onboard an MSC ship. Here in Europe there is an exception though: If you purchase any drink on the duty free shops after port security you can bring them to the ship, granted they have the ports authority's seal on them. You can't consume them on public areas though. Don't know if they have such duty free stares after security on the US though. Have a nice day and a nice sailing. 3 days is not the end of the world and you'll see if MSC is for you or not.

[deliver42]

I just got off the Seashore, and booked the Divina for a 7 day while on board for next May. It will be our 3rd time on the Divina, so obviously we love the ship.

[HunterBarb]

6 hours ago, JAGR said:

Sadly, MSC specifically bars passengers bringing any beverages on board, including any alcoholic beverages, soda, and bottled water.  Specifically, MSC says that no beverage or food may be brought on board, unless it is shown to be medically necessary.  Baby formula is allowed, but good luck finding that these days!

In the case of the side-to-side, you could put your wine in your checked baggage.  Worst case scenario, they hold it until the last night or last day, and then at least you would have the wine for Harmony.

Hi and TYV for the info - yes I suppose I could do that - and if I do NOT get it back, it's not expensive wine ! LOL - but it's my Preferred wine - oh Well - I have RCCL Diamond and Casino Prime  - I will NOT go without !   This cruise is a casino comp offer, so I will probably go, anyway as my Toe-in-the-Water cruise with MSC !

Smooth seas to  all !

[HunterBarb]

3 hours ago, Nunagoras said:

As JAGR says, officially you can't carry wine or any other drink onboard an MSC ship. Here in Europe there is an exception though: If you purchase any drink on the duty free shops after port security you can bring them to the ship, granted they have the ports authority's seal on them. You can't consume them on public areas though. Don't know if they have such duty free stares after security on the US though. Have a nice day and a nice sailing. 3 days is not the end of the world and you'll see if MSC is for you or not.

Wow - that is great ! Yes US Sailings do HAVE the Duty-Free port visits, but as far as I have experienced,  US sailings cannot consume port purchased beverages aboard.   As mentioned, I will NOT go "thirsty" with comp casino and other drinks ~   I really want to try MSC !   Much appreciated info !

 

[JT1962]

Thanks for the review. I was on Meraviglia in January and was pleasantly surprised based on so many negative reviews / comments regarding MSC. I am booked on the Divina for 19 days in October and am looking forward to it. 
 

The low or no solo upcharge (at least in the US) is a big advantage for MSC. Most cruise lines charge double for solo cruisers. I’m not sure if MSC is just doing this during Covid or if it is their normal policy, but it’s nice for now.

[quattrohead]

On 5/20/2022 at 2:00 PM, 1kaper said:

My friend went to bed and I stay up a little bit more to soak up my last night on the ship. Boy did I regret it the next day. 

With the weather we had that day it wasn’t surprising that we had a rough night heading back. I didn’t mind it at all. It was actually kind of fun. 

We had a rough return to PC too in February but Divina handled it very well. We were hauling arse at 22 knots but she does not pitch and roll, more of a determined shudder. Divina is a beautiful and powerful ship.

[HipHipOnAShip]

13 hours ago, JT1962 said:

The low or no solo upcharge (at least in the US) is a big advantage for MSC. Most cruise lines charge double for solo cruisers. I’m not sure if MSC is just doing this during Covid or if it is their normal policy, but it’s nice for now.

It's an occupancy thing; they did not have reduced solo fares before Covid.  Take advantage of it while you can!

[JT1962]

2 minutes ago, HipHipOnAShip said:

It's an occupancy thing; they did not have reduced solo fares before Covid.  Take advantage of it while you can!

I’m definitely taking advantage. I’m going on my 3rd cruise this year in 2 weeks (1 MSC & 2 Carnival), have the 19 day on Divina in October and probably will do a few more. At an average of $ 40 per day (before port fees / taxes) or less solo, it’s a great time to cruise.

[JAGR]

14 hours ago, HunterBarb said:

Hi and TYV for the info - yes I suppose I could do that - and if I do NOT get it back, it's not expensive wine ! LOL - but it's my Preferred wine.

You would definitely get it back from security at the end of the cruise.

[1kaper]

On 5/21/2022 at 6:07 PM, rkacruiser said:

Thank you   for a very interesting review with very good pictures.  I noticed that you were reading The Woman in Cabin 10.    Did you enjoy the book?  

I did. It was a great “beach” read although I read it the day at the pool. With no sea days I didn’t get much reading done. 

[Nunagoras]

19 hours ago, HunterBarb said:

Wow - that is great ! Yes US Sailings do HAVE the Duty-Free port visits, but as far as I have experienced,  US sailings cannot consume port purchased beverages aboard.   As mentioned, I will NOT go "thirsty" with comp casino and other drinks ~   I really want to try MSC !   Much appreciated info !

 

This! I don't know how things work in the US, but here in Europe, once you pass the port's authorities security point, nobody will ask you for anything purchased on the shops after security. Cruise lines depend largely on ports authorities and so they'll "close their eyes" for things purchased on said duty free shops. It is quite such a "secret" part of the deal... This is why it recommended that the boxes do have the port's seal. Here they mostly have them before you buy. Things on said duty free shops may be more expensive than at the street, but you'll may be able to purchase items not available at the ship itself or cheaper than the ship's ones. Have a nice day!...

[Match Game 72]

Great review. Thanks for sharing!

[sfaaa]

On 5/22/2022 at 2:49 PM, deliver42 said:

I just got off the Seashore, and booked the Divina for a 7 day while on board for next May. It will be our 3rd time on the Divina, so obviously we love the ship.

Do you still get OBC for booking a future cruise on the ship?

[deliver42]

$200.00