Hidden Charges- MSC Divina

I agree with this 100%.

if a crew member provides me with fantastic service, I do tip them very well, and then a nice write up in the cruise review thingy.

i like looking after those who look after me. I regularly tip on the first day of the cruise also to my cabin steward, and waiter etc. It does wonders :)

One evening we had an "issue" in the MDR where an escargot decided to make a great escape and it landed in my top.

Blushes all round from the wait staff and lots of apologies.

To be honest, I found it funny and tipped the waiter after service. Just to make him feel he did not make an intentional mistake.

(I am a woman with very nice proportions and i think he may have been distracted.)

Lynn is lovely

Nice review! You will reach more people if you post it here: Write a review (cruiseline.com) You can find the link at the top of the page if you can't click on it here.

Great commentary. Did you actually do a review? Would be fascinated to learn what response you get from MSC, if any. Seems like the crew onboard needed some help, in many areas. I wouldn't be happy either. Doesn't take much to ruin the experience does it?

Have had this discussion with many crewmembers on 3 different lines..i/e that "tip thing" for lack of a more descriptive term which wouldn't be printable anyway. Turns out, the VERY short version, is that the person providing the service DOESN'T get the tip included, or even if you left extra ON THE CHIT. It all gets divied up amongst the entire assortment of crew that qualify. No matter what the characters behind the desks say. You want to thank the person who provided a service, if you feel they deserved it?...Put a $20 in their hand. Or whatever amount you might like. Cash..We always settle in at one or two bars, or the VIBE if its NCL, or HAVANA if its CCL, and make sure we assure ourselves of who the regular bartenders are..or who the lead waiter is in the MDR, and especially the steward. but thats a special case. We stopped adding that extra buck or two for drinks, or adding a few extra in a specialty, because the people serving YOU don't get get it. Thats not the system. Think about the incredible amount of bookkeeping involved. Once upon a time I actually thought they got those tips as well..For many cruises we left our "traveling cash" in the safe...no cash needed on board, none..well...not always true...you'd be amazed what kind of memories certain crew have about you and what kind of service you get, for whatever time you have on board. Some folks might thing I'm wrong...entirely too many cruises have proven me right, at least to my satisfaction. So it costs an extra few bucks...I consider it insurance.

Hello Everyone,

We returned from our cruise on November 14th. Overall, we enjoyed our cruise. Food was good, and Pizza was amazing! Staff very helpful and friendly (except Spa). Tours we took were amazing. Highly recommend the Sloth tour in Costa Rica. Some of the shows were fantastic and some not so good. We booked a cruise while on this cruise for 7 nites on their new ship "Seascape" This was our first on MSC. Been on 20+ cruises. What you will read below is what I sent to MSC 2 days after our cruise. Hope this is helpful...

SPA: Was told by person who did procedure that the service charge is NOT her tip, so I gave extra. Asked guest services about this and was told it WAS her tip. Went back to spa and spoke with spa manager and she said the service charge is divided out to housekeeping, restaurant etc and the person who performed the service doesn't get any of that money. Been on MANY cruises (first w/ MSC) and knew this was not correct. We usually get MANY things done in spa, but because of this lie from them in the spa I only had 2 procedures, and my mom didn't get any. Spoke with others on ship who went to spa and were told same thing and they too tipped "extra".. Very, Very disappointing!! They are stealing from passengers!!!

HOUSEKEEPING: Had to ask 4 times for wash clothes. Asked cabin steward first time, called housekeeping 2 times and still didn't get them. I then left a note on bed one morning for cabin steward and finally got them. Never been on a cruise that didn't supply them in your cabin.

VOYAGERS CLUB: Never received fruit basket. Had to ask for things we were supposed to get. Was told by guest services that we would receive a welcome letter in cabin to invite us for cocktails. Never received that letter, nor did we get any cocktails. Was supposed to get a free pic on one of the formal nites. We didn't like the first nite pic so wanted to see how the 2nd nite pic would turn out. Well, never even saw the person going around that nite to take pictures. So, we never received the free picture.

OUTSIDE CABIN: Spray nozzles on outside of window turned on at 6AM and didn't shut off till 8PM. Called guest services several times about it. Was told they will report it and we were not the only ones complaining about this. Because of this we were unable to see out our window ALL day long.

****With all this being said something needs to addressed with the lies the spa is telling guest!!!!!!!!!!

HMMM...love the ubiquitous "I'm reading that...etc etc..." where were you reading what? and just how old was whatever it was? A link would help to dispel your worries. Then we could have a useful discussion. Most of those so-called "hidden charges" aren't hidden at all. Aside from the usual "nickel and diming" complaint, I would be fascinated to find true "hidden charges" on any ship. Granted, if you didn't know about it, a charge could easily morph into something "hidden"....sounds better....

I’m sailing on the Divina in April of 2023 …Please keep me posted taking the whole family and will be with teenage kids ……

I've never been, but they did cancel my reservation on Davina once without any rhyme or reason.

I wish I could help you, but we've never sailed MSC. I'll be watching for answers to your very interesting questions.