sirrroyston Cruise Review on MSC Divina on Jul 15, 2017

MSC Divina Cruise Review

sirrroyston

Contributor Level: Purser

24 Days Till Next Cruise

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 68

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

Sail date: July 15, 2017

Ship: MSC Divina

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

ATTENTION! All of the negative reviews are, I think down to the package you choose. Do not be put off by the Awesome MSC Divina! Just remember this one thing. THERE ARE 4300 OTHER PASSENGERS THINKING EXACTLY LIKE YOU!! So be nice, there is no need for rudeness... And I found that from, not the Europeans as expected but the Americans! If anything, skimp on the room, do you really need a balcony for a week? Or is that just to impress your social media viewers? Ok, we had a balcony (family of 4) but I have sailed on an inside before and for a week I think it's fine. Any more than a week I like a little light. But this is the room & package I received from my vacation organiser. I don't use a high street retailer. Package: Go for the Aurea Experience or above. Screw the type of room. Aurea, you are not fighting for a sun lounger on sea days. You have a private area on deck 18 I think, it is mid ship above the slide. It's extra for non Aurea passengers. Full drinks package, including the speciality coffees. A free massage for everyone in the room (we did a back to back cruise so got a free massage on both weeks ) On tendering days you get priority tickets to get off first which is helpful if you have private tour bookings. Dining: Yes breakfast is a bit chaotic as everyone is wanting breakfast so they can all disembark asap. Dining hall: we chose anytime dining and never had to wait more than 4-6 mins to be seated. We had the same waitress and front of house staff from just after the 3rd night. The waitress was just amazing. Alicia from Jamaica. That girl earns her money. We didn't bother with the other specialty restaurants... We had it in our heads to try a few on the nights we got the kids to goto the buffet but to be absolutely honest the service we got in the main dining hall we just loved it. Entertainment: If you have read other reviews, the MJ show is amazing but I'm a MJ fan and the dude can dance. The pirate show was fantastic also. Queen was poor. I'm also a Queen and Freddie fan. The rest of the shows are great and worth going. The night club on the top deck was fun. We are 41 & 46yrs ( I am the toy boy ;p) Few cocktails and prosecco and we were trying to salsa. I don't do that kind of thing at home bcos I think I'm too old to be jumping around like I did in my 20s but it was great fun to go do it. My mate was on the ship the week before me, his first cruise, basic package and hated the sea days as it was packed. Billing: Register a credit card. it's so much easier. Go down to the desk on the second day and ask for the tips/gratuities to be removed, there is zero problems with that. Internet package is reasonable. I had it for the duration. @$101 for the 2 weeks. The only problem we had was a trip, booked online with the MSC before departure. The trip was rushed, delayed, etc. I was a little disappointed so I mentioned it to the cruise excursion guy and we were awarded 10% discount. One last thing. The only place, if you are into it, If you want your passport stamped, Puerto Rico, you need to get it done in the morning. They close the office at 1400 hrs. Everywhere else was fine I heard. As we forgot to do it in Jamaica and Grand Cayman. I would have no hesitation in booking again with MSC. Being my 10th cruise I still think Royal Caribbean are the worst customer service wise. But, everyone will have their own views on each company. Personally I still like Norwegian as a whole but MSC Divina is a very close 2nd. Other than that, Enjoy your cruise! And remember, it is what you make it! Arrivederci🚢

8 Comments

sirrroyston 6 years ago

I have sailed with Island Cruisesx2, RCLx1, and a lot of NCL shipsx8... all in the Mediterranean. Our passports where always taken at registration. MSC Divnia was my first Caribbean cruise and my passport was only requested on arrival. I have now another Caribbean (south) with MSC Armonia on July 2018.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

JohnsonL 7 years ago

Sirrroyston: Thanks for the clear information and suggestion on the cruise packages with MSC. We mostly cruise with RCCL but are always looking for additional vacation experiences and have been following MSC reviews for a few weeks. Your review does help explain why we see excellent reviews on MSC ships next to very poor reviews on the same sailing. We will definitely budget for and purchase an upgraded MSC cruise package if we decide to try a cruise with MSC, thank you.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

JohnsonL 7 years ago

In October of 2016, Rome precruise on our own and Eastern Mediterranean cruise, our passports were never requested to be held by anyone. Our practice is to securely carry our passports with copies left in secure locations whenever we leave ship or hotel. We did this through multiple countries on pre-cruise activities and cruise ports but the passports were not 'held' by anyone other than ourselves, although, I recall the ship announcement recommended carrying passports on at least one port. We have followed the same passport carry practice for our full Mediterranean cruise in 2000 and for other travel by ship, bus, plane and train in Europe and Asia Minor. Of course, hotels from Munich, to Rome, to Istanbul wanted identification so we offered passports for identification, in our presence, but never for anyone else to hold.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

sirrroyston 7 years ago

I think it must be only Mediterranean cruises that keep your passport . Government ID can be your passport. Although most US citizens would use their drivers license. I used my MOD90 and my family used passports. But we brought all of them anyway to get stamped. Yes, fantasia is maybe 2 below. I think wellness was one below us. However, you can still use the upper quiet deck for $10-15 per day. $30 per day for a cabana.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

BrentH69 7 years ago

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

kwillia1994 7 years ago

We have been on several msc cruises and no one has ever held our passports. All you need to disembark is your cruise card but you need that and your government id to go thru the port you are visiting. I would never give anyone my passport to hold onto.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

LobsterPot 7 years ago

Thanks, comprehensive review, we're NCL people but trying the Divina in Nov. We have something called Fantastica, I assume that's a step down from Aurea... we're a good bit older than you (old rockers though)...

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

dianeco 7 years ago

I thought msc held your passports. If this is not the case as you disembark at the ports I guess there is someone checking passports.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag