BLAND FOOD ~ SMALL PORTIONS ~ POOR ENTERTAINMENT

MSC Divina Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

ObstructedView

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 33

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: February 18, 2017

Ship: MSC Divina

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 13061

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

After over a dozen Carnival Cruises where we saw them cut back on quality we decided to try an MSC cruise to see if they were any better.

Our representative should have made us aware that when we spent the extra money for a high 13th Level balcony, we would have an obstructed view!

We were not happy with the food quality and the portions were small.

There was no "anytime" seating for the restaurants so you had to eat ether too early or too late. The food arrived cold on a few occasions. On the first formal night there was no lobster special, unless you paid extra. The surf and turf filet mignon special that they offered was a hockey puck size piece of meat and ONE shrimp. The onion soup was inedible mud. I expected more from an Italian cruise line. The buffet was pretty much the same food every day and the staff was slow to buss the tables so there was usually no place to eat without walking across the entire ship to find someone getting up and waiting for them to buss.

The entertainment was mostly pre-recorded with poor or no sets or stage design. I heard YMCA at least twice at different productions. The musical staff around the ship were also mostly playing along to recorded music.

The pool areas were taken over early in the mornings by people laying out their towels for the entire day so no chaise lounges were ever available.

They charged extra for things like gelato and bowling which they show on their website like it's all included.

They list times on the itinerary that we will spend at each port that are not actually true. When they say in their advertising we will be in San Juan from 7am till 4pm and then when we get there it's changed to 9am to 3;30 They are not being truthful and cheating you out of beach time.

ON THE PLUS SIDE: Carnival tries to sell you booze everywhere you are every day, and there is always someone trying to take your picture so they can sell it to you later. This is not the case on MSC. There were very few photographers taking photos and there was no drinking in the pools and hot tubs which means much less drunken idiots to deal with.

I don't think I would try another MSC Cruise, mostly due to the poor food portions and quality.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

We paid extra for an upper balcony.. on the 13th level.. and it had and OBSTRUCTED VIEW! I think the rep should have known that about this ship!

Ship tip

Expect small portions of food arriving cold.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

3 out of 5

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

5 out of 5

San Juan, Puerto Rico

5 out of 5

Nassau, Bahamas

3 out of 5

18 Comments

Gwbigdog 2 years ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise.

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watsonink 7 years ago

Funny, this is our 4th time on the Divina and I cannot relate to your "issues". Entertainment was fantastic, 10X better than carnival. And I have been on carnival before. Food was not bland at all. We have traveled in Grand loft suites, carnival biggest suite and now the Sofia Loren Suite. Maybe you just got a bad week to sail. You can get "free bowling" if you ask. Sorry you had such a bad time, it is usually great. BTW: the staff has pretty much no turnover, the camp and the steakhouse restaurant waiters remembers us from the previous years.

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Teamstrong 7 years ago

*shows not shoes

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Teamstrong 7 years ago

Food on MSC isn't very good I had two decent meals from there, dessert ð¨ was amazing, shoes were okay mostly singing ð¤ also was pretty bored pools were busy no room to sit, staff is rude on the garden deck. Photographers are great pics over priced but great photos. I wouldn't choose MSC next time I like a fun ship so maybe carnival will be action packed. Divina is elegant and most entertainment is Spanish so count me out they need somethings for all people not just Spanish and Italian. Oh and the steak and shrimp ð¤ what a joke lol seriously I was starving and did buffet after a few times in main dining room. Best breakfast everything else was mediocre.

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harlyri11323146 7 years ago

That person complaining must be a nut the life boats were on deck 6/7 I was on 9 and had a great view,,, let's say this your on a cruise ship , portions not big enough the first nite ok order a 2 no entree or go to the buffet ,my god if you go hungry on a ship , your challenged

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KatYarski 7 years ago

A filet mignon is suppose to be a small portion of meat. A person is only suppose to be 4oz.

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mjfrier 7 years ago

We leave on this cruise this coming Saturday. It's our 2nd time and we're excited. This is a European ship that caters to Americans so keep that culture in mind! Beautiful and very clean

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harlyri11323146 7 years ago

Cruised a Divina 2/11/17 booked 8 mo,s in advance the reviews scared me , but mostly it's only the complainers , we had a great time in our balcony , food was good , the buffet is open if you don't get enough or order 2 portions , yes it's an international passenger list but we had a great time , we ate in the dining room every nite no complaints, the buffet food was hot and fresh, the pool was crowded show me a ship where it isn't, the shows were great , my wife is handicapped and the staff was wonderful, will do MSC again

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rmancuso 7 years ago

Obstructed view is usually a corner cabin. The Divina and some of these newer ships are not straight all the way down the side with balconies. At a couple different section the cabins are pulled back making some balconies obstructed by the balconies that are protruding from the ship more. I always check the ship floor plan to know exactly where I'm at. I suggest you do the same. I have been on the Divina 2 times and had a great time. It is not a party ship. It seems to cator to an older cruiser. That is fine with me. I have always had a good time. The shows are very well done but may not appeal to others. It is very European and I think some will not like that. Portions at dinner are smaller but I believe that is a European influence. You can always order 2. I have had not problems with showers and I'm over 200lbs in curious if the cruiser who complained understood how to work the shower. During the day the shower doors collapse in to allow a little more room in the bathroom and if you don't know how to open it correctly it could be a little small to shower in. Just ask the Room Stewart to show you how. I wish they had comedy club and a piano bar. But I think all that will change as the MSC Seaside arrives. From what I have read they will be having both. Give MSC a chance don't go into with a plan to be disappointed or you will be. Your on vacation enjoy!!!

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Neukids 7 years ago

Bottomline Your agent duped you ? Obstructed view No any time dining etc

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RobsonandDebbie 7 years ago

Hubby and I cannot wait for our cruise in april 29th on the MSCDivina

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mellissa1977 7 years ago

We have a 13 floor balcony booked what exactly where your obstructed by?? Do you have a pic? This is our second sailing with MSC and we paid to have the anytime dining it's worth it! ð

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linkerrj 7 years ago

We were on her in June and we loved it.

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DRZF 7 years ago

Booked MSC as well and they upgraded is to a balcony! I've heard great things about MSC from Vlogs.

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pandaman802 7 years ago

Have sailed Celebrity, Carnival and MSC and although there are minor differences in each of them for the good and bad I feel all 3 have been very comparable with none of the 3 standing out as being clearly better? I will be back with MSC in July for the 3rd time!!!!

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bleety17 7 years ago

Booked an interior room and was upgraded to a 12th deck AFT room at no extra charge. Sailed carnival 3 times and they have never upgraded me. Excited for my march 25th cruise. If the portions are small I'll Just order two menu items to fix that problem.

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vanesonica 7 years ago

I haven't been on MSC yet, so I'll only say that from what I've researched you have to pay to choose when to eat.

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SleepySkipper 7 years ago

Thanks for the heads up. I was contemplating trying out MSC. I'm going to give Norwegian a try instead. I have been on Carnival once (we had a blast) to western Caribbean and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line a few times. (I love the package deals on RCL. Drink pkg. and new Internet pkg.)

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Other reviews of this sailing

It was ok.