Divina 9-30-21 to 10-3-21 - probably only time we’ll go on MSC
by wgeddings
Thurs, Sept 30, 2021 to Sunday, October 3, 2021
Sailing on MSC Divina out of Port Canaveral with stops in Nassau and Ocean Cay
Category B2 Balcony Cabin (13103)
EMBARKATION (Sept 30):
We parked at Cruisetime parking. The lot did not to be in a nice area and more closely resembled a junkyard due to all the cars parked there but it was nice enough and the people there were extremely nice and friendly. Parking was $8.00 per day including day of departure and return so although this was a 3 night cruise, we needed to pay for 4 days. It was no problem and clear on the website but just mentioning it as an FYI. They helped unload our vehicle and put luggage on the shuttle then took our car and parked it, giving us a ticket. When the shuttle was full (just a few more minutes), we left and rode to the port where we were dropped off right at check in. Could not have asked for more and so far, so good.
We arrived at the check-in at the port about 12:30 although our official check-in time was 2:00-2:30 (originally 1:00 to 2:00 but texts the day before asked us to come in at 2:00). There was no line and no one ever mentioned a check-in time. Everyone was very polite, helpful and friendly. First was checking our vaccination and recent test paperwork then security. My wife and daughter came through with no problem but I had a backpack with a lot of wires and batteries and such that was all in the bottom of the backpack and a jumbled mess on X-Ray so I had to unload some. They were very polite about it though and patient. Our travelling companions had a little more difficulty. He had a butterknife he brought from home (for some reason, he claimed to break up ice) so that was fun to watch. Then they confiscated an extension cord and made our companions fill out a bunch of paperwork to get it back at the end of the cruise (and we felt bad because it was part of a Welcome bag we gave them right before the cruise). Meanwhile, I had 3 extension cords and a power bar in my bad which they saw when I unpacked and re-packed and they never said a word about it.
From there you talk through another checkpoint where they make sure you have passport, vaccination and recent COVID test. Again, very quick. Then we walked forward to a line that moved very fast where the ticketing agents (for lack of a better term) checked you in, gave you your card which served as your key and onboard charge card and again verified the passport, vaccination and recent test cards. They also took your picture. There was a good bit of paperwork that we were sent (numerous times) before the cruise to fill out and sign but he never asked for any of that. I asked if he needed it but he said no. Oh well, I had it if needed. We were told our cabin was ready and we could board and that lunch was being served in Deck 14 in the buffet.
We were extremely impressed with how nice and elegant the ship looked upon boarding. Lots of glitter and glam with a lot of elegant furnishings (compared to other cruise lines). There are plenty of online pictures of the common areas so I will not belabor it except to say that they really look better in person than in the pictures. Found our cabin with no problem and it was nice and spacious. Very well laid out. Although we had 3 people in the cabin, there were only 2 sets of towels but our cabin steward quickly fixed that when it was mentioned.
IMPORTANT NOTE – see a post I am putting in the First Time Cruiser forum about electricity for the cabins. Our companions did not realize it and so went to guest services to wait in a long line to report that their cabin had no electricity. If we had known, we would have warned them that there is now a little card reader thing just inside your cabin. A card (keycard or other card) had to be in that slot for the lights and electricity to work., I assume it was intended to discourage people leaving the lights on when they leave the cabin but it is simple enough to put any card in the slot and never have to worry about it again. Or you can store your keycard there and never wonder where it is when time to leave the cabin.
Lunch was very good with a wide variety of food. It was striking how friendly, polite and helpful the crew was in the buffet and hallways. They were all anxious to help and quick with a hello. We were all struck with that since we were expecting MSC to lack the friendliness but so far they outshone everyone else (except Disney). Overall, we were very impressed as we all headed back to the cabin for naps and the muster drill process.
Muster drill process was different from Pre-COVID. On MSC, apparently now everyone has to watch a video in their cabin and then call a number to record that they have watched it. Then, an announcement comes out asking everyone on Decks 16, 15, 14 and 13 (for example) to proceed to their muster stations without using the elevators. We were on 13 so we went. We all filed into the muster station where they recorded your card and then you left to return to your cabin. Since I know some would have a question about mobility impairment, I truthfully told the crewman that my knee was sore (muster for us was on Deck 7) and I did not want to climb that many flights of stairs and it was no problem as he summoned an elevator for me and several other passengers. The whole process was smooth, easy and quick and a blessed relief from the old drills standing on a crowded hot deck!
I had big problems with my Voyager Club membership. Back in July, I put in for the status match and submitted the paperwork. I should have been Gold and my wife and daughter should have been Silver with all the perks that come with each of those. I had tried called several times over the last couple of months and tried e-mails but could get no answer. Finally it was suggested that I try to take care of on board when I might be able to speak to a human. We waited for the “cruise consultant” who was supposed to open at 4:00. Lucky we got there early because a few minutes before 4:00, several others came in behind us. About 4:10, a woman came up to man the station. I explained the problem and she said she would have to send an e-mail to check on it. I explained that would not help since we would be off the ship before she got a response so we needed it dealt with now or the perks were moot. She apologized and said that the company just hired a new person because they had been so busy. I replied that was great for the future but does me no good since this is time I need it resolved. She asked what the big deal was about gold or silver perks and I told her and she proceeded to argue with me that they were not really that much anyway. Yes, you read that right, a “cruise consultant” telling you that her own cruise line’s perks were basically meaningless. Sure made me want to be a report customer – NOT. She then said that we could go to the spa for an hour thermal treatment and to just tell the spa to call her and she would confirm it was complimentary. I thanked her but said that I felt confident that what would happen is we would go to the spa, they would try to contact her to confirm it and she would not be available and it would create a massive mess. I asked if she could give me something in writing to show them and of course she refused. Same when she said we could pick a single ship photo and it would be complimentary.
I like sodas and I drink several a day to maintain a consistent caffeine level. On other lines, I have brought sodas aboard or bought a soda card. There was no option to purchase one for this cruise since it was only 3 nights. Onboard, I learned it was $29 per person per day plus 15% gratuity! Granted that covers other non-alcoholic beverages but holy ripoff Batman, $29+tip per person per day and you are not allowed to bring a 6/12 pack abord is just awful. I’ll end up having buy 4 or so a day at $3.90 each and still be much cheaper.
Dinner was in the Main Dining Room (MDR) which for us was the Black Crab. Very nice although the chairs really reminded us of what we would expect in an old woman’s living room. It started out well as we were some of the first seated and liked our table but it quickly went downhill. Refills of water was very slow, things were brought out piecemeal with one person getting an appetizer before anyone else and one person getting 2 appetizers while some had none. There was nothing that appealed to me for the entrees so I ordered the NY Strip for an additional $9.95. Big mistake. My wife’s chicken was rubbery and a friend’s fish was only so-so. Friend’s wife and daughter had the gnocchi and said it was like chunks of wallpaper paste. My steak, which arrived after everyone else was through with their meal, was marginal at best and something I would expect from a Waffle House. Only my daughter (who had the roast pork loin) was pleased. Although we were among the first to enter the dining room and order, we were some of the last to leave because service was so slow and bad. Our waiter asked how everything was and we told him honestly and he just said “oh”. The helper apologized and claimed they were having some trouble with first night stuff but I do not think the waiter could have been less concerned although I could tell the helper was genuine in her embarrassment at how our dinner had gone.
The show, which we went into while it was just starting since we were so late with dinner, was pretty good. It was a tribute to Tina Turner. There was one woman singer and 2 guy singers. I had never realized how low Tina Turner’s voice was apparently but all the songs sounded good although a few were not songs I would have picked (Theme from Goldeneye, Disco Inferno, etc.). The dancers were excellent I thought and, as is fitting in a Tina Turner tribute, danced with high intensity. I think I liked it more than all my companions and my daughter commented that one of the male singers looked like the Italian version of the Tiger King (that is an image that stays with you!) but I look forward to the next show.
OVERALL impression thus far – Divina is a very nice ship, great crew in the buffet and cabin stewards but awful guest services and “cruise consultants”. Pre-cruise customer service is horrendous and frustrating. Let’s see how it goes from here. There were approximately 1,200 passengers with a max capacity of 4,345 so there was plenty of room and there were about 1,200 crew so it was almost 1 to 1 passenger to crew.
DAY 2 – October 1, Friday, Nassau
We were scheduled to dock in Nassau about noon. So we slept late and had a big breakfast. None of our group was really interested in going ashore in Nassau as we have been there many times. I could not get the room cool enough to sleep comfortably (I like a very cold room). On other lines, I have been able to request a fan to use but I went to guest services this morning was told that they do not have fans as the woman looked at me as if I had asked where the best location was for skinning a baby. Once again, MSC Customer Service shines. In contract, everyone in the buffet was excited and friendly and hard at work. They had about everything available for breakfast, including grits! They were not great grits but we joked that few people say “Let’s go to Italy and get some great grits” so edible is about the most you can expect. A quick example of how helpful and friendly the crew was. My daughter got a bagel and asked the guy toasting them where the cream cheese was located. He said “over there” but did not give any indication of where “over there” was so she asked if he could point. He smiled and just said, you wait here and I will get it and disappeared. Another crew member took his place toasting things. Another woman asked where the cream cheese was and he smiled and said, just wait here and I will get it and disappeared. A third crew member filled the spot. First crewmember returned with a huge slab of cream cheese and gave it to my daughter with a big grin. The point is that they seemed to relish a chance to be of service and would quickly dash off to get things if they thought you wanted something while other crew were always nearby to fill in any gaps. We happened to be in the buffet while they were switching from breakfast to lunch and it was like watching a fine ballet or an aircraft carrier launching and recovering air craft. Everyone was dashing about know exactly what they needed to do and getting it done while also watching to see if someone else needed help. Impressive.
They are working on the dock in Nassau and there were other ships parked there so we were the third ship out. It was a good distance from the ship to shore and since we had all been to Nassau before, we stayed on the ship to just relax. Plenty of pools and space to relax but one common complaint/observation was that there were no lounge chairs in shady areas. You either had a lounge chair in the sun or regular chairs in the shade so my girls wanted to layout in the shade on deck, read and maybe nap. The crew would not allow you move the lounge chairs. I wanted to be sure to mention Norbert Luis Mirasol who was an incredibly friendly and attentive bartender that helped make the day special.
Prior to dinner that night, our travel companions had spoken with Anabella in the dining room about our horrible experience the night before. She was extremely apologetic and moved us to a different table and section. That night (and the following night) we had Allan and Mustafa, supervised by Sheryl, and it was a world of difference. Allan and Mustafa were very attentive and things arrived promptly and just as we had ordered. Sheryl is from Indonesia and one of our travel companions had a best friend growing up who was from Indonesia so they had common ground. Sheryl even had the kitchen prepare a plate of Adobo Chicken (probably misspelling it). As bad as the first night was, the second and third nights were to the opposite extreme. Thank you Anabella, Sheryl, Allan and Mustafa!
We thought this was going to be “formal” night but there was no mention in any of the daily activity things or online. Of course, there were people in T-shirts and jeans in the MDR even though that was clearly stated as not allowed and earlier there had been plenty of children in the adult areas and pools. People cannot read and understand rules apparently.
The show that night was “Autumn in Paris” and included singing, dancing, juggling and acrobatics. It was just okay in my opinion but the rest of our party loved it so it is a good example that not everyone is going to like the same things.
DAY 3 – October 2, Saturday, Ocean Cay
Ocean Cay is quite beautiful. There is construction going on because apparently MSC leased it from the government and is trying to completely transform the island. The palm trees are still mostly braced but it is obvious that a lot is going on and I am excited to see the final result because the interim result is still pretty great. We got off the ship and got a 6 person tram driven by Jaliyah, who is a beautiful woman from Nassau. She was so very happy and friendly, full of smiles, with an attitude that makes everyone around her happy. As we started, my wife asked if she would take us on a tour of the island and she said that she was not supposed to but, sure. If any MSC folk read this, it was NOT Jaliyah, it was a huge bearded man named Horst from Norway so please ignore any mention of Jaliyah. Jaliyah showed us the various beaches, stopped at a few locations for us to get pictures of the scenery and helped pick a great beach spot. She told us about living on the island and showed us where they stay. She was incredible.
The others in my party stayed on the beach and had a great time in the sun, sand and water. Their biggest complaint that was the waiters kept just going to a noisy group of college kids and ignored our group and others. Also, another group of 20 something year olds were blasting club music that was very annoying. People need to consider other people so that everyone can have fun. Other than that the water was great and the breeze kept everyone cool.
Meanwhile, I went to the outdoor cookout buffet where they had a nice assortment. Hamburgers, hot dogs, jerk chicken, BBQ ribs, fish and all the sides. The honey glazed plantains were really great and so were the chocolate chip cookies. I waited with others for the tram back to the ship and saw how different Jaileah was with the next tram driver. He was an older man and quite grumpy. Several times he stopped the tram to tell pedestrians to stop walking on the cart path. They were out of the way and it seemed he went out of his way to berate them. I did not get or want his name.
That night for dinner, it was Italian night. The Chicken Parm was my favorite although I also got the lasagna and the veal ossobuco. Everyone commented it was the best food of the trip. Sheryl, Allan and Mustafa took great care of us. The show was “Extreme” with a sports theme. There was some singing and dancing along with acrobats, basketball tricks. Although several of our group chose to pack, those who went to the show really enjoyed it.
In my cabin when I got back was a message from the “cruise consultant”. She had checked on the status of my “status match” requests and they have no record of receiving everything. Guess the several times I submitted it, sent follow up e-mails, called customer service to wait through the long hold times did not really happen. I guess now I know what happens to the people deemed unfit for working for the cable company’s customer service – they go to MSC.
DAY 4 – Disembarking
All of us planned to carry our luggage off. We met as planned at 8:00 AM and despite crew giving very conflicting and confusing instructions (such as telling people to go to the left while someone over there was telling people to go to the right), we eventually got off the ship and re-entry into the US was incredibly smooth and simple. You just smile for a camera and it clears you. No forms, no need to show your passport, simple. I really like the new process.
The Cruisetime shuttle was waiting where it dropped us off (and of course I initially headed in the wrong direction) and got us back to the facility. We had a dead battery but the folks at Cruisetime had jumper cables so we were back in action. I will use Cruisetime again.
OVERALL – We all had an okay time. The ship was beautiful and the cabin was very good. The food was average although there was a large selection and the pizza was very good. Crew in the buffet area was outstanding but the customer service crew was very bad. Entertainment was good to very good. Cost of beverage plan, individual drinks, internet, etc was extremely high in my opinion. The general consensus of our group was that the customer service crew (onboard and land based) especially needs a lot of training needs to learn to not behave like snotty Europeans toward Americans. We might consider cruising MSC again if it was an exceptional promotion or deal but otherwise none of us wanted to return to MSC.
