Just back from Divina October 11-18

Not doing a whole review but will give a few thoughts...

We were a group of 10 ranging in age from mid 20's to mid 70's

Overall cruise was above average and there were only a few things I would like to see changed...

The good:

1. Not sure why others have felt the food quality was bad, but our group of 10 thought the food was amazing every night in the main dining room, our server Windi was great even working through the tables who would show up 30 - 45 minutes late every night. Everything we received was hot and amazing!

2. The entertainment - the Shows were all high quality and the best we have seen at sea.. the theater is truly one of the best i've been in on a cruise ship.

3. The ship itself is really great and pristine and the crew is always taking care of it.

4. The pool areas were really nice and we could always find a place to go.

5. We had an inside room, (12256) and felt it was good sized and had plenty of storage.

The changes we would like to see:

1. Bars did not have everything they had in the menu, very inconsistent some would have a brand of liquor and others would not. When they didn't have what you ordered they would just substitute something else without asking. For example, ordering a drink with Capt. Morgan would come back served with Myers Dark Rum, not the same thing at all. It was just very inconsistent if they would have something in stock, and even ran out of Apple Pucker on Thursday so you could not get an Apple Martini.

2. Inconsistent in what was included in the drink package, we had the drink tickets, some bars would serve us a drink and others would tell us it was not included. It even got to the point when we were at the piano bar that when my wife ordered a drink only to be denied by the server she just said never mind let us all order our drinks and she got up walked down the steps to the casino bar and ordered her drink and carried it back to the table to show the server she could get it in other bars.

3. Why don't the bartenders interact with customers... more often that not when sitting on a bar stool in front of the bartender ordering the drink from them they would tell the server to come over and get our order and take our card and ticket... very odd practice.

4. Yes this is a personal gripe, but the procedure to leave the ship in ports was chaotic at times.. what did not make sense was they had to scan your card then look at your picture then look at you then look at your picture then hand you back your card,... really need to learn from other cruise lines on this process. It just seemed to take FOREVER to exit the ship when you wanted to leave,

Like I said overall this was a above average cruise, and we all had a really good time. Would I do another MSC cruise, I'm not so sure right now... but I would not tell someone not to try a cruise on the Divina

If you would like me to answer a question or clarify anything please let me know.. just ask and i will try to answer...

I was on this cruise too and I definitely agree with you about the bar situation. I saw a bar tender use diet coke to make a long island ice tea. It may not seem like a big deal, but it totally changed the flavor of the drink! It also made no sense to have to have a waiter take your order while sitting at the bar. The bar tenders did not seem to like when you ordered a drink directly with them. Very strange! MSC needs to do some more training with their bar staff. I am not sure if it is a cultural thing either because I have been on Costa and I do not remember that being a problem.

thank you for your review, the bar seems to be a weak area,glad you had a good time.

The bar tenders did not seem to like when you ordered a drink directly with them.

i noticed this, as well. Maybe it is so the bar servers will get the tips? :confused:

I was on this cruise too and I definitely agree with you about the bar situation. I saw a bar tender use diet coke to make a long island ice tea. It may not seem like a big deal, but it totally changed the flavor of the drink! It also made no sense to have to have a waiter take your order while sitting at the bar. The bar tenders did not seem to like when you ordered a drink directly with them. Very strange! MSC needs to do some more training with their bar staff. I am not sure if it is a cultural thing either because I have been on Costa and I do not remember that being a problem.

This is indeed strange and not usual on MSC. Guess it must be a change they've made for the Divina. I always sit at the bar and order directly from the bartender and interact with them. Some chat a lot (if the bar isn't busy) others just chat a little. The waitress normally rings the drink up.

It could also be down to the overall manager of bars. I know one well who has worked his way up from being a bar tender to being in charge of all of them and he always interacted with passengers and allows/encourages it now that he is in charge. I've also come across one where the bar staff were scared to chat too much in case they got into trouble. It would appear that some managers don't think they can chat and work.

Sailed the Divina 4/12, sailed the NCL Getaway on 09/27. Incredibly happy and friendly bartenders on the Getaway. Not so on the Divina.

Nevertheless, we will be booking the Divina again and again. Much love here for MSC and the Divina!!!

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We just got off the Davina this past Saturday and we found the bartenders at the Davina Bar to be excellent - friendly and chatty! We thought it was the best location also - close to everything and able to listen to the musicians play right outside. Miss it! That being said we also wondered about the bartender/waiter interaction - puzzling. I now wished I had asked why they did this. Oh well, next time :)

This is indeed strange and not usual on MSC. Guess it must be a change they've made for the Divina. I always sit at the bar and order directly from the bartender and interact with them. Some chat a lot (if the bar isn't busy) others just chat a little. The waitress normally rings the drink up.

 

It could also be down to the overall manager of bars. I know one well who has worked his way up from being a bar tender to being in charge of all of them and he always interacted with passengers and allows/encourages it now that he is in charge. I've also come across one where the bar staff were scared to chat too much in case they got into trouble. It would appear that some managers don't think they can chat and work.

I am just off Preziosa on the Eastern Med itinerary, and noticed this quirk too. It must be part of their overall training unless we had some ex-Divina staff onboard Preziosa who were sticking to what they were taught for the US market?

Also noticed the quirk about security & getting on and off - never before have I been told to remove my sunglasses when LEAVING a ship!

We just got off the Davina this past Saturday and we found the bartenders at the Davina Bar to be excellent - friendly and chatty! We thought it was the best location also - close to everything and able to listen to the musicians play right outside. Miss it! That being said we also wondered about the bartender/waiter interaction - puzzling. I now wished I had asked why they did this. Oh well, next time :)

That's great to hear. Not that the bartender's attitudes back in April bothered me, but now I have nothing but great things to say about MSC!!!

I agree and like I said, maybe it is just how MSC likes to do things, I have no idea about if it is a tips thing or not, just found it odd.

Please by no means should anyone take my points as bad things, they did NOT make this a bad cruise.. we had a wonderful time.. they are just things that many Americans may find odd or weird.

Thanks for your review!

Good to hear you had a good time!:D

The bartender/waiter thing may be a throw back to European style cafes and bars. I worked in Greece in a cafe bar in the early 80's. The bar tenders job was to make drinks. The waiters job was to service the customers. I would ring the drinks up on the till to the individual waiter and at the end of the shift the waiter would pay "their" individual bill and keep the remainder (tips) as their wages. The same worked in restaurants for food. The most senior staff would get the best tables (terrace) and the juniors the inside and to the back.

It was strange for me to begin with but became second nature, as a customer I was not used to hailing a waiter to be told "I'll get your waiter to attend to you".

Took way to long to get a drink and then not always what u ordered. Most confused and screwed up wait staff have encountered in over 70+ cruises. Always tipped an extra dollar on every drink. Kept asking myself why, but just a habit. Wouldn't sail Divina again if it were free.

Took way to long to get a drink and then not always what u ordered. Most confused and screwed up wait staff have encountered in over 70+ cruises. Always tipped an extra dollar on every drink. Kept asking myself why, but just a habit. Wouldn't sail Divina again if it were free.

WOW!!! That is unfortunate! Back in April, it always took about 30-90 seconds to get a drink. I used the drink coupons and tipped the bartenders the final night. I suppose if I tipped after every drink, I may have gotten the drinks quicker but I figured that since I was on vacation, the minute wait was acceptable. I have cruised Royal Caribbean in the past and NCL recently. Although the NCL bartenders were amazing, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK ON THE DIVINA!!!

on the same cruise, i completely agree about the food. don't understand the complaints. i thought everything was tasty.

as far as the bartenders go, my experience was slightly different than yours. all of the bartenders that *i* interacted with were very friendly, and quite chatty. i could always place my order with them at any time.

but as you know i spent most of my nights in la luna. now they were crazy busy, and most times it was easier for a customer to go to the waitress then to wait for one of the bartenders. now when it slowed down they could serve customers directly and talk more..but for the most part they were super busy. apparently our cruise had the drinkers on it because they said its never like that at that bar. so i guess we bought the party last week.:D

during the day i hung out at the pool bar deck 14...i had my favorites there too. most were chatty and kept me laughing. actually they were wanna be comedians:D . now only 1 that i remember was about business, never made conversation..but i just thought that wasnt his personality. *shrugs* as long as he made my drank right, i didnt care! the assistant bar manager was a barrel of laughs the entire week also. so my experience most were pretty outrageous and friendly!

but since i travel solo and i spent about 80% of my time at the bar(s), so i guess they figured they better talk to me since i wasnt going anywhere:D:)

I was on this same cruise and had a wonderful time. I plan to write a review as soon as I have some free time but I have to reply here regarding the bar service. We were a group of 17 and the bar service was about the only complain with this cruise - You had to wait in line for cocktails, especially in pool deck during days at sea. You could go to other bars and get quicker service. Some of us in the dinning room actually started bringing our own glass of wine to the table.

Beverage sales is a huge revenue source for Cruise lines and so I believe MSC is losing out by not improving their bar service. On the positive side, it saved me some $$ since I don't remember the last time a resisted one (or more) of those cocktails that the bar staff (of other cruise lines) walks around with - "coco loco" :)

I din't see any bar service in the Theater and I actually prefer it that way although others may not like it.

I confess I was concerned about this cruise, especially after reading so many bad reviews on MSC Divina. I can conclude with 2 words - Pleasant Surprise. I had the most beautiful cabin for what I usually pay on an inside (I had a balcony on 13th), awesome shows, food (loved the Octopus stew for lunch) and not to forget the great entertainment staff !

Yeah my Lobster was slightly overcooked, waiter didn't speak much and I had to wait 3 minutes for a drink, but come on, I would NEVER say "Wouldn't sail Divina again if it were free."

I would sail Divina again and again.

Glad u liked it. Go for it.

I am just off Preziosa on the Eastern Med itinerary, and noticed this quirk too. It must be part of their overall training unless we had some ex-Divina staff onboard Preziosa who were sticking to what they were taught for the US market?

 

Also noticed the quirk about security & getting on and off - never before have I been told to remove my sunglasses when LEAVING a ship!

I always wear sunglasses, and I'm always asked to remove them!:)

I am just off Preziosa on the Eastern Med itinerary, and noticed this quirk too. It must be part of their overall training unless we had some ex-Divina staff onboard Preziosa who were sticking to what they were taught for the US market?

 

Also noticed the quirk about security & getting on and off - never before have I been told to remove my sunglasses when LEAVING a ship!

Ah the security. They are a serious bunch. All ex Israeli forces some even ex Mosad. They mostly don't care about contraband booze but they take everything else extremely seriously.

Those Somalian pirates made a big mistake attacking a MSC ship (little old Melody) a few years back!

That's nothing. On our cruise they were completely out of limes. They never bothered to mention it. I ordered a mojito or margarita at a few bars and they would just make it with lemons without saying a thing! Hahaha. - In the Yacht Club and other bars. After the second bar did the same I asked and they said no limes for the entire cruise.

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That's nothing. On our cruise they were completely out of limes. They never bothered to mention it. I ordered a mojito or margarita at a few bars and they would just make it with lemons without saying a thing! Hahaha. - In the Yacht Club and other bars. After the second bar did the same I asked and they said no limes for the entire cruise.

 

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They weren't out because they ran out, but rather because of the shortage due to high lime prices thanks to the triple D factor in Mexico (disease, drought, and drug cartels). Even Mexican bars were substituting lemons! :eek:

Thanks for the nice review.

They weren't out because they ran out, but rather because of the shortage due to high lime prices thanks to the triple D factor in Mexico (disease, drought, and drug cartels). Even Mexican bars were substituting lemons! :eek:

Yes, that's what we were told. My issue was not that they were out, but that they decided it's perfectly fine to use lemons instead of just saying "Perhaps you would prefer another drink because we are out of limes". I'm all for lemon drop martinis!

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Mmmmmm... Lemon drop martinis... Can I get one in the yacht club without paying extra?

Mmmmmm... Lemon drop martinis... Can I get one in the yacht club without paying extra?

Sure - but if they're out of lemons you'll get a lime drop martini without warning. :)