This is our 10th Cruise. Never Again on this ship, MSC have a very long way to go to get to international expectations for a good cruise ship on the Divana. We sailed the mereviglia last year and was much better. Their choice in cheap labour stands out a mile (you get what you pay for) The company is expecting to run a high end service and charge as such with budget staff with little or no customer service skills or experience. It was obvious everywhere, the ship is nice but won't remain that way with staff like this, and being worked this hard (I saw a cleaner asleep on the stairs with his trolley during the day when the ship had docked)
Standards of food are nowhere high enough, service is generally shocking, and not a relaxing holiday with many kids running around instead of being entertained in clubs or with activities.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Chaos, embarkation was on-board, didn't know our cabin number though they took all hand luggage off us and said we would need proof of cabin to get bags back. Keys in Cabin, though we didn't know what cabin!! Drinks package wasn't on Keys so had to que again to remedy!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Food less than mediocre, not what we have come to expect after 10 Cruises. No speciality dining (a Japanese couple of tables set up in a bar!) food often cold, waiter staff attitudes shocking poor quality meat and wine more like lighter fluid than quality Italian.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Apart from pool and Gym, no activities to speak of really
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Pretty good, excellent singers though their pronunciation of English while singing was quite comical and like something off a sketch show!! Well performed though, and a lovely theatre. Other singers on the ship were also very good quality and worked hard.
Children's Programs
Our daughter who was of age to go didn't, as the rest of the ship didn't it seems as there were kids all over the ship, This tends to mean the club is not very good or adequately staffed/organised
Service and Staff
2 out of 5
This is the first of 10 Cruises where we have been shocked by the laziness of bar staff and waiting staff. Our Cabin attendant was great but we used to take bets on how long the bar waitresses would disappear for when passengers wanted serving, especially in Cafe Italia!!! Basically menial tasks such as re-arranging the beer mats or counting the trays came above serving guests. As soon as Guests either sat down for a drink, or went to the bar to order the waiter staff (particularly the girls) used to disappear only to return after the guy behind the counter had served everyone, she would often then hassle people for there cards to claim the orders for herself. It seemed to be a cultural thing as we experienced this in most bars, apart from one guy who was particularly helpful in the wine bar/pizza place near the back of the ship. (la Cantina di Bacco)
Security Guys have a power trip going on and were quite intimidating at one point, especially a guy called Itali when we tried to disembark and there was some confusion. I complained to reception who did not seem interested in the least. In our main restaurant, Black Crab it seemed our waiter was like a Bear with a sore head! wasn't very helpful and pretty miserable, we know these guys get worked to death so gave him a bit of space and he eventually warmed up after day 3 (it seemed after a particular Italian family who shouted at him a lot had left us) There was always a bit of an issue about the wine as they serve very poor wine at your table and we expected the same quality as in the bars as we had purchased a drinks package.(every other cruise staff were happy to go and get a specific wine from the bar) My wife and her mother ended up bringing their own wine in from the bars, was easier than asking for any decent stuff. Due to medication I don't drink alcohol and found it very patronising and un-professional to be questioned and even laughed at by some bar staff the fact that I wasn't drinking!!!! Very embarrassing and demeaning.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Generally well maintained, and kept clean, a few rattles outside our balcony and ship speakers left on quite loud overnight which they couldn't fix but taped these up with towels to dim the sound, and very responsive. Our room did smell of drains for the first two days but this seemed to disappear.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Good size, good to have a mini bar (though we didn't use) Always clean, plenty of space, apart from the initial smell of drains, and the urine smell in the toilet which was rectified we can't fault the cleanliness of the Cabin.
No Excursion, getting back onboard was ridicules, only one door for everyone meant miles long cue apart from yacht club entrance which wasn't used, while people sued for silly amounts of time, maybe 1 hour!! NO COMMON SENSE SHOWN ON EMBARKATION
Major issue with payment of bill, system said Mother in Law had not paid when she had, we were stopped at the gangplank told to return to reception. This was dealt with, their system runs 3 different ways depending on if you use a debit card, a credit card or want to pay as you go. Not a simple system as done by a ATM style, as do other ships but this is our 10th Cruise and have never had this happen before. I overpaid on the other hand and had to que to get CASH returned when I had paid by card, they wouldn't just make a refund to my card (no doubt hoping many passengers dont realise or cant be bothered. more money in MSC'S bank!--Basically robbing passengers who arnt aware) Good Job our flight wasn't until the evening. Security staff on Disembarkation have power issues and like to bully. One guy told me he "would fight me if I wanted" and "it is not a problem, it is part of my Job here" What a total tool, I'm sure he gets off on intimidating all the elderly passengers that get on/off His name on his badge was Itali
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
