MSC Divina Cruise Reviews - Reviews

Only one thing: I forgot my watch at home and nowhere on the ship I could find a clock. There was so much going on on the ship and I missed some activities because I did not have a watch and the ship did not have a clock. I thought it would be a good idea to have a digital clock on the large screen at the aqua park. Or, I could purchase a watch at one of the onboard shops.....

iy was perfect

I was not sure about the cruise heard many things that were not good . I was surprised. Food and service was great and deserts were the best. Check in was so easy and fast. The pools were great for kids and families.  Ship was so clean and cabins as well. Shows were great  A ton of shopping on board. Things I didnt like as much is gelato was a charge and the free ice cream  was only open a short bit each day. Kids program was good . Overall . I was so surprise. I was on the other ship for msc and the children program was so small...

My girlfriend and I sailed this ship and loved it.  Suite was lovely, ship immaculate, great service, friendly, helpful.  Variety of food which we both found a pleasant change from most cruise ships.  I enjoyed the ship so much I booked a yacht club suite for a December sailing for my husband and I.  

We took a 7 day Caribbean cruise and we loved it. The ship is beautiful, excellent service, super clean, the food delicious, the entertainment very good, very good shows,live music in all the lounges...very organized into going to ports by tender. We liked that the bar attendants don't follow you at the pool area trying to sell you cocktails/beers and when you buy something the 15% tip is already include in the total, no extra line for more tips.

We have just returned from 2weeks aboard Msc Divina . We flew from Londonderry Heathrow to Miami to embark the ship . Excellent transfers and very quick embarkation . We had balcony cabin 13002 and it was massive and very plush ,large sofa to relax and chill out on as well as king size bed . Bathrooms not massive but manageable with glass shower screens rather than curtains sticking to your legs .

The ship itself is amazing out of this world . It is very plush and very up market . Staff are constantly walking round cleaning it keeping it in tip top condition . The central atrium has crystal stairways and you feel like a super star . 22 bars on board you can go on a pub crawl . Entertainment fantastic and always something on in every bar and lounge so something for everyone . Drinks package is amazing worth every penny . Staff are so friendly and helpful you be friendly to them and they will be your best friend . The staff work so hard and deserve to be praised especially the pool deck guy who looks like tiger woods he never gets time to get off out putting sunbeds out early and keeping the deck cleaned . Msc he is a star of the month please recognise him .

Food is plentiful and a good range in all areas . Only down side is sometimes it wasn't hot enough only Luke warm but the staff listened to these comments and hopefully took it on board .

Trips are very well organised .

During the 2 weeks we should have gone to Princess Cays twice but we never stopped they say sea was too rough .this was disappointing and they never offered us anything else or a partial refund .we have been told they only stopped 4 times in 4 months so I think MSC should swap this for Nassau or at least have contingency plan in place .

Disembarkation is very smoothly run but I don't agree with everyone having to be off by 10 am especially when our flights back to UK are not until 9 pm and we were shipped off to the airport to wait . Other cruise lines let you stay on until nearer the time .MSC this is a big downfall .

Highly reccomend to anyone you will have an amazing time .

This was my 10th cruise, but my first experience on the MSC line.  The Divina came highly recommended and we were not dissappointed.  Everything from check in to disembarking was smooth . The crew were very helpful and friendly.  We made many friends, both fellow cruisers, and crew mwmbers in the cigar lounge.  The only thing that we didn't like , was having to get tickets and wait in lounges everytime we were in a port to be called to get of the ship.  Would deffinitly recomend this line and this ship.  Will be sailing with you again sometime in the future.

The elegant MSC Divina is the newest and largest (4,000+ passengers) of the 12-ship fleet of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC.) The MSC Company founded in 1970 is the second largest global cargo shipping company.   The MSC cruise line, however, is still not familiar to most Americans.  Originally called Fantasia, the ship was renamed Divina to honor Sophia Loren, the Godmother of the fleet.    When the cruise line first began cruises in America, I attended a luncheon aboard the MSC Lirica that included a tour of the ship. The cleanliness and elegance of that ship so impressed me that I decided then to definitely cruise on an MSC ship in the future.

We planned our cruise on the MSC Divina a year ago when we booked it while onboard our 2013 MSC Poesia cruise.  The 7-night roundtrip cruise from Miami, Florida, February 1-8, 2014 visited St. Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. Our party of six traveled with a larger group of almost 800 Irishmen for tenor Andy Cooney’s Cruise of Irish Stars 2014.  There was a real feeling of camaraderie among all of us.  Many have cruised annually with this group - some for 8-10 years.   It was fun meeting Jaime, sisters Eileen and Claire all from Ormond Beach and Francesca from the Villages in FL.  

The drive from home on the day of sailing took around 3 ½ hours. After dropping off our vehicle at a convenient off-site parking garage, we took the complementary shuttle van to the terminal.  We arrived at 12:30 and boarded the ship within mere minutes.  We quickly headed up to the sumptuous buffet on Deck 14 for a light lunch.  After 42 cruises, this was one of the smoothest embarkations ever.  Our disembarkation went just as smoothly and swiftly.  We utilized the Self-Assist Program of carrying off our own luggage.  

The Compulsory Emergency Drill was a little chaotic at our Muster Station; so many passengers crowded in the area, all carrying life jackets and trying to put them on at the same time.   The straps were a little confusing for many passengers but we all helped one another.  The crew did their best to conduct the drill, checking attendance by scanning room key cards. The predominant language on board is English, by the way. There are few announcements so be sure to read your Daily Program for specific information about events and procedures.

Although I have read many complaints about MSC, mostly when they first entered the American market, I found little to fault the company on this cruise.  What impressed me the most was the sheer beauty of the MSC Divina.  The deco throughout the ship is inviting and elegant. Little touches that you do not first notice catch your attention later. The public rooms are tastefully decorated in a modern Italian style.  As I boarded the ship on Deck 5, I was drawn to the dazzling two deck Swarovski crystal staircases. They were a favorite spot for passengers to take photos.   I especially loved the décor in the stunning Pantheon Theater with its gorgeous silver curtain.   There are no obstructive views.  The stadium-style seating affords every seat an excellent view of the stage.  Since there were so many other live entertainment performances going on at the same time as the production shows, including our own Irish live entertainment, we were always able to get good seats even when we arrived just before Showtime.  No food or drinks are served in the theater.  In general, drinks are not pushed.  

All seventeen lounges and bar areas are beautiful and we would often stop to listen to live music either before or after the Production Shows. My favorite lounge was the Silver Lounge, Deck 6 because of its convenient location and beauty.   Many passengers including us enjoyed the beautiful and timeless classical music played by The Elegant Trio & Igor nightly from 5 PM until late in the reception area on Decks 5 and 6.    I truly felt that I was back in Europe listening to their music.  Since the clientele on board is international, so is the live music around the ship.  Many passengers enjoyed dancing to live music.  The varied dance lessons (Grease Lightning, Country, Cumbia, Bachata, Triburon and Latin - Mambo, Merengue, Samba) offered in the lounges and Aqua Park were very popular and the steps easy to learn.  The Irish passengers especially participated in the Riverdance class.

Our quiet balcony cabin # 9125 also had the same attention to detail, as did the public areas.  It had a very sophisticated décor. The lovely cabin was well- appointed with: a king-size bed, end tables with drawers, sofa with a small cocktail table, tall framed mirror, desk (with mirror) and ample closet space for our belonging.  Gray wall-to-wall carpeting, a safe, framed art and a small fridge completed the furnishings.   Our balcony furnished with a table and two chairs afforded beautiful views of the water.  I really looked forward to returning to our serene and comfortable cabin each evening.

The compact bathroom had a small shower stall with clear, unique folding doors that made the room seem larger when opened.  I appreciated the retractable clothesline inside the stall and the two robes.  Dispensers (for environmental reasons) held liquid soap at the sink and shampoo and shower gel in the shower.  The shower cap and sewing kit were nice amenities, although I did miss the usual small bottles of hand lotion and hair conditioner.  There was a regular clean supply of white fluffy bath and hand towels including face cloths.  

Yani did a wonderful job of unobtrusively cleaning and refreshing our stateroom when we vacated it.  I never did get to meet her - although my husband did. Yani also fulfilled our additional requests faithfully.   The ship has a small secret amber light hidden above stateroom doors that alerts the steward whether you are inside or outside the cabin. To turn on lights, you must place your stateroom card in a slot.  I always knew where my card was so I liked this feature.  It also is cost saving for MSC, which is very environmentally oriented.   This system allows your steward to enter your cabin without disturbing you.  What a neat idea!

The stateroom corridors were light & cheery with spaced wallpaper panels of Italian scenes.  At one point our passageway widened and we could look right down through broad curved glass walls onto the huge chandelier and the reception area below.  It is most unusual for ship stateroom corridors to have an open feeling.  Just off to the side was a lovely sculpture where we often arranged to meet before getting on the elevators.  

The same unobtrusive service found in our stateroom we also experienced in the lovely Villa Rosa Main Dining Room.  I had requested a table by a window for our party and we received it. Our servers, Putera from Indonesia and Rudy from Bali did a professional job of attending to our requests, often anticipating them.  Our wine bottle was always on our table when we arrived.  The servers replenished our beverages and breadbasket without prompting. The congenial Assistant Maitre‘d Tommy stopped by our table nightly to check on our dining experience.  Fiorentina from Romania was very prompt and carefully assisted passengers receiving Special Request Meals in our section.  She also helped the wait staff when she saw a need.

I enjoyed all the Italian dishes and loved the “flaming” Baked Alaska that the wait staff presented with a flourish. We enjoyed the food and service so much in the main dining room (MDR) that we often ate breakfast or lunch there or in the Black Crab Restaurant (another MDR.)  I especially enjoyed the delicious French toast.   The buffet on Deck 14 had a great selection of fresh produce, casseroles, Italian dishes, cheese, breads, meats & cold cuts.  We all enjoyed the pizzas.  Deserts were plentiful at lunchtime & I enjoyed their chocolate mousse more than once.  We, therefore, never felt the desire to visit a specialty restaurant.  Many passengers frequented the soft serve ice cream machines as did I, which were conveniently located on two sides of the Aqua Park available 2:00-5:00 pm.  

Besides the elegance and European style service on the ship, what impressed me greatly was the quality of the nightly shows.  One of the reasons I enjoy cruising is to see the extravagant theater shows and MSC did not disappoint.  Every night there was a different production show.  My favorites are Witches of Paris (French Variety,) Simply Italian (Best Loved Italian Songs,) Frank (Sinatra) Forever and The Tribute (Arias.)  If you like Michael Jackson’s music, you will enjoy Star Walker.  Children seemed mesmerized by Pirates and Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland.)  The costumes were all magnificent and the quality of the singing and dancing was wonderful.  Attending a different variety show each night was a delight for me. Often performers came down the aisles into the audience. I did not really miss hearing a live orchestra because there was so much live music elsewhere on the ship.   Since the passengers are international, it probably is a good move to make the shows mainly singing and dancing sprinkled with acrobats and other stunt performers.  There were no comedian performances for this reason, I think.   Sometimes in the theater prior to the production shows, the energetic animation (entertainment) staff performed impromptu comedy antics that surprised unsuspecting passengers to their amusement and the rest of audience.  The fun helped the wait time seem shorter.   Aside from port and shopping lectures, educational presentations were almost nil. Again, I feel the multitude of languages spoken by passengers may be a factor.  There were plenty of parties and other activities.  I attended the culinary demonstration conveniently presented poolside but wished that they had the recipes printed.  The Flower Glory Party in the Black and White Lounge featured popular music of the 60s-80s.  The MSC Factor Talent Contest was entertaining.   Be sure to pack white clothing to wear to the White Party held under the Caribbean Stars on Deck 14. The Celebrate Chinese Wealth Day in the Galaxy Disco and MSC’s Little Italy parties were other fun events.   The single women on the cruise enjoyed dancing with the MSC Divina officers.  I enjoyed the fashion show in the reception area.  All the clothing was for sale in the shops onboard.  I do not remember seeing a fashion show on my other cruises. The open-air Aqua Park screen showed Pavarotti:  The Event Live, Pacific Rim and Captain Phillips.   If you are into fitness, there is a schedule of events going on throughout the day - morning walks, stretching, Aqua Cycling, Aerobics, Zumba, etc.  Jewelry Making, Art & crafts, Scrabble, sport tournaments, napkin folding, Veteran’s Meet, bridge games, Italian lessons, bingo and trivia rounded out other offerings. On Super Bowl Sunday, football fans watched The Seahawks VS. The Broncos in the packed Sports Bar.  

Some extra cost events were fun, too.  The men in our group enjoyed the Formula 1 4D Simulator.  Find out if you have what it takes to be a racecar driver.  One unique event was the Winemaker Experience where you join winemaker Greg and custom blend you own bottle of wine.  Another unusual event was the opportunity to try five different “solid” cocktails in one glass.  

The young energetic animation team did a great job with organizing and participating in poolside games and other activities.  I answered a math trivia question and won a colorful MSC mouse pad.  My husband & brother-in-law each won one also in a ring toss game.  The lively music poolside played by our Irish group of entertainers was fantastic and quite popular with even those not traveling with our group.  Dancers crowded the limited space in front of the stage area to do Ceili dancing. For me, the water in the five pools was a little too cool so I did not stay in the water a long time.  I did enjoy the whirlpools because the temperature was not too hot for me. There are 150 fountains in the Aqua Park.   Kids loved the waterslide. Shallow areas in the Aqua Park were great for toddlers and young children. There seemed to be no organized activities for children younger than six.    The ports of call were all wonderful but I have been to most of them many times previously.  In St Maarten, we shopped in the village of stores right at the pier.  In San Juan, we rode the complementary trolley near the terminal out to Castillo San Felipe del Morro, “El Morro.”  Later we walked back to the ship stopping along the way in several shops in Old San Juan. I hope to exploere this port more on future cruises.  I understand that new terminals are going to be built.   In Great Stirrup Cay, our MSC shore excursion was an eco-boat tour.  We learned interesting facts about the history of the Bahamas, its local ecology and marine life. We were all encouraged to touch, hold and photograph many marine species.  What surprised me was the necessity of signing a waiver for the eco tour.  Later, we visited the vendor tents at the beach, relaxed on beach lounges and swam in the clear Caribbean water.  The only issue that I had with our day at the beach was the exceptionally long buffet lines that we encountered unprotected from the hot sun.  The wait took away a good portion of our beach time.  Perhaps a box lunch handed out as we departed the ship might be an option to the long lines for the buffet.  

One unusual thing that I noticed while on board was that there was a # 13 deck and # 13 lifeboat.  However, there was no # 17 lifeboat.  Cruise Director Andre explained that in Italy # 17 is considered unlucky; #13 is not. I especially recommend MSC to young families since children under 11 sail free when staying with the parents in their cabin.   There were many families on this cruise because of this policy.  In fact, there was a wide range of ages onboard from many foreign countries.  I spoke with passengers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Japan.  What an opportunity to get to know people from different cultures!

I have a few thoughts for MSC.  Perhaps the ship could stock non-fat milk.  We were always served 2 % at best which they assured us was skimmed milk.  Other times they served whole milk and called it skimmed.   I prefer choosing my own time to dine and this option is not currently available on MSC.  Since we were with a large group with specific entertainment schedules, we all had to choose Early Dining anyway, so this was not an issue on this particular MSC cruise for me.  Be aware that the dining room doors close fifteen minutes after the start of the dining seating.  Another issue was the early 7 AM time for vacating our stateroom on disembarkation day.  This surprised me since our staterooms were not ready until 2 PM on Embarkation Day, which is late for most cruise lines.  You may find some onboard difference if you sail MSC in Europe.  Many passengers found navigating the ship to be a little confusing because the two MDRs used the same main kitchen.  This means passengers sometimes had to go up or down a deck to get from one end of the ship to the other.  Many new ships, in fact, have this similar arrangement.   

What it all comes down to is will I book another cruise on MSC?  The answer is a definite yes. The food and service were good, the shows were wonderful and the ship was simply beautiful.  Best of all, the pricing is very competitive with the major cruise lines and an excellent value.  Special online sales offer even greater savings.    I am already a member of the complementary MSC Club for returning guests. There are several benefits to becoming a member including a complementary cocktail party and various discounts.   Be sure to join after your initial cruise.  Arrivederci, MSC!

I have been on Divina twice for these Baseball Cruises,I just booked my 5th Annual Group Cruise due to free Bus to Miami from Clearwater and we all get a Balcony 7 days for under $600.00,I for one did not like the Italian European food but I don't cruise because of the food,Entertainment was best ever,puts all other cruise lines back a step,Divina was as elegant ship I have ever been on.It is comparable to Princess Royal which I was on but Price $250.00 higher FOR Balcony.All in all I will always go for the Shows and Price before food.I will always find food to my liking some where on the ship. Cubbie

Smooth saling; perfect tempertures; sunny pool deck; food to kill for; very clean spacious cabin  balcony class

near perfect cruse

granted no chocklet buffet   but baked alaska night

no choklets on bed pillows; or towel anamals; no welcome champain; or chocket covered straberys

luggage tags got detached on leaving ship so hour delay

grand camin tour went well very good guide

other tour was disaster

the pluses warm location; smooth seas; large comfy broom;food to kill for large public arira; international passingers;baked alaska negitives luggage took over 1 hour to show up tour of corospol guide was disaster saw fake mia runins got tekelia tour bus broke down

large cabin; smooth ride; food to kill for; good entertainment buffet as good as it gets cabin very clean; few minor things casino not a good bet no chocklets on pilo; and no chocklet buffet but backed alaska

The ship is new and the shows in theatre are great. But the service is poor. The dinner time takes 1 hours 40 mins to 2 hours per day. You have to wait for a long time for the dishes to come. It was hard for me because I picked the 2nd seat to start at 8:30 PM. Every night when we came back to cabin, it was already around 10:15 to 10:30 PM. Sometimes we just skipped the dissert.

The activities on the ship are very limited. You don't have too much fun there, except the swimming pool and sun tanning. The daily list showed the ping-pong tournament at 10 AM for one day in sport arena at 16th floor. But when I came there, nobody was there.

The selection of foods are limited compared to other cruise liners. But compared to lack of activities, it was not that much worse than Carnival and Royal Carribeans. 

I have sailed on MSC line in Florida since the Lyrica was here for about 3 times had a wonderful time then I was on Poisier quite a few times and raved about it as it was bigger and nicer and the Staff was so friendly as some of them came from the Lyrica that i got to know,

Last time on the Poisier was last year March and December I went on the Divina 11 night and it was out standing.

the ship was a palace of lights and crystals the food excelent service could not want for more and one felt special every where on the ship.

We heard there was a delay in service in the dining room but we never found it they all moved in super time.

I am now booked to go again In August on a 7 day cruise this year and cannot waite.  

by the way I have sailed on Carnaval line it was ok would not say you must try,NCL the Sun was terrible never again   

A lovely ship, very large, but glitzy.

It was a short 7 or 8 days cruise . Too bad I went alone. It’s so much funnier when sharing good times .

Msc Divina

The Hardware: This ship is beautiful. Three large pools, including an infinity pool. Many bars and lounges that are generous in size.

 A multi deck theater that doesn’t have a bad seat for viewing the show anywhere!! (Pretty incredible sound system in there as well)

 You feel as if you have walked into the Mediterranean. Great attention to detail has been placed into all public areas.

There is an impressive Swarovski crystal staircase that really stands out.

I was in a standard balcony stateroom, the floor plan offered lots of space a full sized couch ample closet space and an average sized balcony. Opportunities lie in the small bathroom (with no face towels or soap) and the extremely small stateroom TV where I found it challenging to find a channel broadcast in English.

The kid’s area looked like fun with a nice sized arcade, a 6D simulator and a race car simulator (small fee for these toys but worth the WOW factor)

The sports bar had many large TV’s lining the walls and a variety of sporting events always playing. It offers a soccer theme (one would expect) and a 2 lane bowling alley… this smoke free area adds a nice touch to the variety of venues offered onboard

The food: I expected more homemade pasta and sauce choices. The buffet was average although daily offered an extensive display of Mediterranean cheese and meats that would please any pallet.  (Unfortunately the wine selection wasn’t at par to be able to properly complement the cheeses and meats)

Dining room food was average. Steak was over cooked, the soup had little flavor but the homemade breads were very good. Service was very slow and inaccurate (This is due to the language barrier)

The dining room felt cramped, it was always warm and loud.

Homemade gelato is offered on the pool deck all day long… I counted 26 flavors and tried most. Fabulous! There is a small charge for this.

There were a few classic cruising traditions that I haven’t seen offered in sometime. One that stood out, the parade of Baked Alaska on the Gala evening. Well-presented and classic!

The Service: Spotty at best. There is an obvious staff to guest language barrier. Most of staff doesn’t understand English. Many weren’t going out of their way to please or serve. I sat poolside for 3 hours and was never approached with offer of beverage service.

My room steward walked in without knocking and didn’t even know what time our dinner seating was daily.

Overall the crew lacks attention to detail and doesn’t complement the awesomeness of the hardware.

As MSC improves the food and service quality this product will be a good option for families looking for a different experience in the Caribbean this summer.

The ship is superb. The ports of call were very good. The staff, however, could not sort out a problem with a drinks package. It took a week and a lot of wasted time and effort. The process was unacceptable and the receptionists useless and unhelpful. Also I was grossly overcharged for laundry. There was an offer they advertised and I took the offer up. They charged me four times the offer and to this date they have ignored me although they have the evidence of their own mistake. Because they have chosen to keep my money and because of the appalling manner they had of mishandling my drinks package I will not book MSC again. If you expect good service do not book MSC.

As the name implies is divine, a marvel of the seas, with refinement the atrium is absolutely spectacular with the stairs of Swarovski crystals, fascinating as well as the theater.

Having just returned from our twelfth cruise with the eastern Mediterranean route on the MSC Divina, we are stumped at the abundance of negative reviews we had read in advance. Our experience was just the opposite. No cruise is perfect but the MSC Divina came pretty darn close for us. Yes, we had some reservations prior to our departure. First, we’ve always been most comfortable on ships averaging 1,500 to 2,000 passengers (MSC Divina carries around 4,000). Second, we’ve been spoiled in the past by lines catering almost exclusively to the American passenger. But the allure of the MSC Divina design coupled with the Venice base and very appealing ports including Izmir, Istanbul and Dubrovnik clinched the deal for us. The ship is a beauty. Sleek, understated, elegant and full of surprises (and after a year, still with the feel of a sparkling, brand new ship). The MSC Divina feels very Italian and yet very international all at once. The staff, somewhat reserved (but as you get to know certain members of the crew, you’ll find some great, friendly personalities), is always right on top of your requests and always striving to be as accommodating as possible. The crew is just as international as the passenger roster, unique to most cruise lines – you’ll find nametags from Bali to Bosnia, South Africa to Scotland. Some of the bartenders weren’t always at the top of their game – but with so many bars and so many attendants, just hop over to the next; you’ll soon have your favorites (and they are quick to recognize you after a day or two). Embarkation in Venice was a snap. Of course, it helped that we took a private water taxi to the dock from our hotel (the wonderful A Tribute to Music hotel) to the private dock located next to the ship (great tour and what a way to arrive, all for about 70 euro). Your luggage is immediately tagged at the private water taxi dock so you skip the long lines to check in luggage at the terminal and immediately head up to registration. It’s a quick confirmation at registration -- just make sure all information such as dinner seating time and any drink packages are printed on your cabin card. Mention that you arrived by private water taxi and instead of waiting for your boarding number to be called (group numbers are handed out at the crowded luggage check-in), you are immediately shown to the front of the line to board the ship. Embarkation with registration was a matter of 20 minutes for us – and after we boarded and grabbed a quick bite, we were amazed to find our luggage already at our cabin door in less than an hour. Our MSC Divina cabin 13038 could not have been better. Designed in beautiful dark brown, orange and gold tones, the cabin seemed a bit more narrow than other cabins we’ve had (from our favorites with Holland America, Celebrity and NCL to the “unique” Costa Fortuno to the not-so-hot Carnival) but certainly more comfortable. Plush sofa, ample storage and cabinets, compact but convenient bathroom (exceptionally clever design to fold in the shower doors when not in use to expand the bathroom space), thick carpeting, beautiful lighting options and comfortable seating on what seems to be a bigger-than-usual veranda with jaw-dropping views (and ideal privacy dividers from your neighbors). And the bed – the bed! – wow, just about the most comfortable bed we’ve ever had on any cruise. It was a plus that the forward cabins on the 13th Cupido deck are on hallways that dead-end with the captain and upper management rooms, so the hallways and cabin are dead quiet. Just ideal. Not sure how they did it – or when they did it – but our cabin was always clean, bed made, spotless bathroom, ice bucket filled, and turn down service with next-day information packets always waiting for us no matter the hour we returned at night. Our balcony and large windows were thoroughly scrubbed down twice on two port days. The best deals on the MSC Divina, as frequently mentioned, are absolutely the all-inclusive allegrissimo drink package (which also includes fantastic gelato from various stations) and the laundry package (20 items per cabin during the cruise cleaned for 25 euro total, and all came back to our cabin on the same day). While many cruise lines seem to be scaling back on entertainment and shows, MSC pulls out all the stops on the Divina in the sophisticated Pantheon Theatre with lavish and large (very large) productions. No live orchestra means more performers, singers and dancers on stage. I can’t remember the last time we went on a cruise and went to every evening performance. On the Divina, the highlights for us included a spectacular Moulin Rouge Cadeaux show, mind-blowing Michael Jackson tribute and beautiful Sogno Italiano of Italian arias and operas. Astounding that in one week we saw everything from “Swan Lake” to Cirque-like aerials, can can dancers to electronic violinists, swashbuckling pirates to Italian tenors, all spectacular! The MSC Divina has a wide variety of bars, each with distinctive décor and entertainment in the evening. Our favorites turned out to be the Golden Jazz Bar (still amazed at the unique glass bubble chandeliers), Black and White Lounge (terrific dance band) and of course, the atrium bar with those gorgeous Swarovski crystal staircases and an ever-changing entertainment line-up from a concert pianist to a chamber orchestra to opera singers. We opted for the late dinner seating and chose the smaller of the two dining rooms, the Villa Rossa. It’s an elegant room of deep reds with black and gold trims, and surrounded by panoramic windows – and have to say the Villa Rossa was far more elegant and not as cramped as the “signature” dining room called the Black Crab (don’t get me wrong – it’s a beautiful room but the Crab seemed crowded, somewhat claustrophobic and very understated in black and very muted plum and gold colors). Service in the Villa Rossa was of course impeccable and friendly, and that dining crew works darn hard to keep your meal flowing and anticipating your needs. The menus were varied, interesting and extensive. Sure there were some misses (our dining captain could tell I was having a tough time with a certain dish, whisked it away and immediately replaced it with another choice), but for the most part all the selections ranged from good to great. I am still dreaming of an incredible smoked gouda risotto…loved it so much I had a second helping and then for dessert, a third serving! Somewhere along the line, the MSC Divina got a reputation for serving dishes only lukewarm to cold. Not in our case – every hot dish was just that – hot! Amazing, by just our second night, our favorite bottles of wines, dishes of ice and favorite breads were waiting for us every evening. The big (and I mean BIG!) grand buffet sprawling over the Calumet and Manitou wings can be overwhelming. I would guess it extends about a third the length of the ship of the 14th floor deck, and you will be blown away by the selections of entrees, Mediterranean and international specialties, salads, wide variety of pizzas and pastas, meat carvings, unique Italian sandwiches, desserts, and expansive and truly fantastic cheese selections. Yes, the buffet can get very crowded – name one ship when a breakfast or a specific lunch period isn’t crowded – but just take a breath and keep proceeding to the rear of the buffet into the Manitou sections (with stylish American Indian motifs). This buffet is smartly designed and selections continue to repeat themselves throughout the wings -- you’ll find the rear portions much less crowded (and quiet) with more than ample window and booth seating. The MSC Divina is a marvel of not only design but also management of a large passenger ship. The many pools and tiered decks were never overly crowded (you’ll always find outdoor seating – the attendants go out of their way to find comfortable spots for you). To escape the action of the unique Aqua Park, head aft to the Infinity Pool and hot tubs (always pretty quiet). The MSC Divina interiors have a variety of easy, comfortable seating (loved the silver two-person banquettes in the Black and White Lounge as well as lounging on the large full-body cushion sofas of the Golden Jazz). Exiting at ports was a breeze -- just wait ten minutes after port doors open so that the excursion groups can pour out first. I might guess tendered ports could be a bit challenging with so many passengers, but fortunately we didn’t have to deal with any tendered ports. The only time the ship felt somewhat crowded was that hour or so between the 1st dinner seating/1st show and the 2nd dinner seating/2nd show. The beautiful and oh-so-comfortable 1,600 seat Pantheon Theatre is located at the front of the ship and the two dining rooms at the rear, so of course there is the intersecting flow from end to end during that evening interval (and there can be some gridlock pending the great opera singer or dance band in a lounge, or how good someone is bowling in the sports bar, or a jackpot being hit in the casino). Some good (and some not) surprises we discovered aboard the ship: • This is one spotless, sparkling, always white glove clean ship, at all hours of the day or night. Like others, we couldn’t help but marvel at how the crew was always subtly cleaning every inch of the ship (never before seen attendants appearing from nowhere with handheld vacuum cleaners). • We are not fans of the White Party, but the MSC Divina’s is so different: all ages having a great time, dancing with crew members and performers, fantastic bands, wonderful service and just a great spirit that is so inclusive of all ages, all nationalities, all types of folks (at one point I was dancing all at once with a very senior woman from Stockholm, a Japanese businessman and one of the reception desk attendants). • The Aurea Spa is one of the most elegant spas you’ll ever see. We took a tour and were blown away – and had every intention to indulge (we were so intrigued by the coconut and opium saunas) but simply ran out of time. • Do not miss the 4D HD theatre – it is a hoot! We took in the “canyon ride” film and were hollering and grabbing the sides of our seats! Loved it! It’s a six euro charge for the wild ride. • The first gala night is definitely a dressy affair (this international passenger roster took it seriously!) – the second gala night was a bit more subdued when it came to the ‘glamour’ quotient. • If you attend one of the 20-minute daily cooking demonstrations (interesting watching the chefs create dishes, but alas, no sampling), you’ll qualify for a 15% discount at the upscale Galaxy restaurants or the Sacramento TexMex steakhouse. We opted for the Galaxy one night and found the dishes somewhat interesting but the setting and service lacking anything close to “upscale” or special (we definitely do not recommend it). The Galaxy is just the very hip Galaxy Disco’s adjoining bar made over for the dinner hour. We were going to try the Sacramento TexMex steakhouse one evening but 1) it always seemed empty, which we didn’t take as a good sign; and 2) we were simply enjoying the Villa Rossa dining room too much. • Yeah, yeah, yeah. No matter the ship, parents of all nationalities (yes, that includes you American parents, too) have a tendency to let their little monsters run loose now and then, thinking it’s cute and that others will also enjoy the dancing tyke sprawled on a dance floor or pounding their spoon against a table. Just smile, shake your head and move away. • The MSC Divina doesn’t push photo opportunities (too much), and there are mostly fixed positions for photo sittings and not cameraman climbing all over the decks. And give it a try – have to admit this ship’s photographers are very stylish, very creative and very professional with some truly great photography! A word about the ports (and they can be short – but then again, every port stop is too short when you are truly enjoying yourself): Bari, Italy: fascinating old town and some glorious cathedrals to visit – then wander into the old town neighbors, down colorful alleys, and you’ll glimpse Italy from decades gone by (and on this Sunday, there were local bands playing on hidden corners throughout old town Bari). Easily accessed from the port by taxi, bus or on foot. Katakolon, Greece: we wisely skipped Olympia (knowing Ephesus lay ahead the following day) and enjoyed the quaint town right on the port with some fantastic (and very reasonably priced) shopping. Also loved an open air tourist train ride from the town into the Greek country side, with fantastic views and stops at a beautiful vineyard and a breathtaking beach resort. Izmir, Turkey: we’re not one for the ship excursions but prefer to book private (and much less expensive) tours. We scored big time with booking a private tour of the astounding Ephesus and Artemis along with a fantastic buffet lunch through Gizem Gencer at www.ephesustours.biz (and insist on Erman Gokbora as a guide – wonderful, knowledgeable and gracious guide). Istanbul, Turkey: once again, the massive mass ship excursion were not for us, so we booked a sensational private Byzantine tour and lunch with Ender Boz at www.privatetoursinistanbul.com. Regret to say we can’t recall the name of our wonderful hostess, but we saw all the major historical sites of Istanbul in a knowledgeable, whirlwind tour tailored to our interests (and our guide knew how and when to maneuver past long lines and avoid the crowded mass tour times). Dubrovnik, Croatia: so this was our one trip-up. Had booked a private tour through Pero Klaic at pepoklaic@yahoo.com and his www.dubrovnikshoretrip.com. He was a no-show (luckily we had no deposits with him – definitely a tour service to avoid!) and were about to panic when we luckily discovered that for only 50 euro (compared to Pero’s 150 euro trip), we could get a private one and a half hour taxi tour of the views, historical sites and then the jaw-dropping old town and walled city of Dubrovnik. Just hail any taxi at the port gate and make the request. And finally, disembarking in Venice. Well, all good things come to end. And all good procedures, too. This is where the MSC Divina stumbled a bit…disembarking was a chaotic mess. No one seemed quite sure where to go, when to go, who was to go, etc. We were one of the lucky ones (sort of), as all cabins on the 13th floor Cupido are for some reason marked as Gray One for priority disembarking. The 8 am disembarkation time became 9 am and then finally, finally, Gray One group was allowed to leave (and yes, our luggage was right there waiting for us as we departed). Now in all fairness, there could have been good cause for the confusion and concern that morning. There were massive and disruptive news-generating protests all day long by Venetians, protesting the arriving and departing cruise liners as being destructive to the Venice environment. Seeing how many (there were nine ships in port on our arrival in Venice) and how close these ships sail to the Venice docks and canals, I somewhat agree with the protestors that there are just too many that are sailing too close for comfort. And the MSC Divina seems to be always singled out of all ships by the protestors because of her enormous size and her namesake “godmother’ Sophia Loren (many are demanding their beloved Sophia have her name removed from the ship). So we are privileged to offer a counter to those negative reviews of the MSC Divina and instead marvel at and appreciate the extraordinary experience aboard this glorious ship. We’re excited to now be MSC Club members!