This was our first cruise and it was disappointing. We felt that the ship was overcrowded and understaffed. On board activities are pretty mediocre, unless you enjoy binge eating at the buffet and splash in a crowded pool full of kids. We would not recommend it.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Our embarkation took close to 1 hour going through a long, winding line. It was very disappointing as a start to a long awaited cruise experience, a first for our family.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
After the long embarkation process, we went to the buffet as it was around lunch time. We were shocked at the large crowd at the buffet restaurant, lack of seating, and a general madhouse atmosphere. We thought that maybe it's just the first day and then later the buffet would not be so crowded. No, it was like that every single day of the cruise except very early in the morning or late evening. The buffet food pretty mediocre in general with occasional tasty items. The food quality was better at the restaurant where we ate dinner, the Black Crab. It aspires to provide a more high class dining experience but doesn't come close. The service was very slow as it seemed that the waiters were overwhelmed due to under staffing.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
The pool area was even more shockingly overcrowded than the buffet. You couldn't swim in it since people were very tightly packed, although it seemed that kids didn't mind and there were a lot of them in the pool. The fitness center was well equipped and I enjoyed a couple of spinning classes, for which you pay extra.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The general quality of bar entertainment was typical of lounges in Las Vegas hotels, which is very average but creates an atmosphere for drinking and hanging out. The main theater performers were of a higher quality and did an adequate job.
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
Our friend's kids who were with us enjoyed the kid's clubs and seemed pretty happy with the other kids and all the activities.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
The staff in general seemed very friendly and tried to help - but there were two major problems. First, it seemed like the staff were not very familiar with the ship's layout when you asked for directions and only knew their specific task in the immediate area where they were working. Second, many staff members working in the guest facing positions like bars couldn't speak English, the only language that connects together a ship staffed with people from all over the world and passengers from all over Europe, US, and Latin America.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
In general the ship seemed to be clean except in the stair cases around the buffet restaurant. The layout was very confusing and it took a few days to understand it despite the maps provided on embarkation. This experience with the ship's layout was also expressed by other passengers in our conversations.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was fine for two adults and a child and seemed clean. The furniture looked heavily used.
We booked our excursion outside the ship and it was a fun tube river ride downstream to an ocean beach. In general the town and surrounding areas looked run down. The local guides on our excursion were very friendly and helpful.
We went to the "royal beach" which was a typically nice Caribbean beach. You have to pay to enter and then pay again for everything from a chair to an umbrella - prices are high.
Traveling during summer and school break season is chaotic Lots of families travelling making it very crowded. Some people going on their first cruise either love it or hate it . if they are not enjoying themselves they usually end up complaining about everything. Cruising isn't for everyone. Go in the off season if you can when the kids are in school. You may relax and enjoy it more. We do and we are looking forward to our first cruise with MSC this October. Have cruised before with Carnival a few times. I have read many mixed reviews but I tend to go with the positive because I like to experience something new and I relax, enjoy and go with the flow.
a cruise is what you make it. 2nd time on Divina coming in December. I enjoy time just relaxing on vacation. I don't need to be do something 24 hours a day.
We loved our week on the Divina. We found time to ourselves in the hot tub, and the infinity pool in the adult area usually wasn't too crowded. The shows were great, and there was often something going on. And when there wasn't, it was good to relax for a moment.
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