MSC Divina Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,915 reviews

1st Divina, third overall MSC Cruise. I am hooked on MSC.

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on MSC Divina
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Iamasinglecruiser
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

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Additional details

Sail Date: Feb 2019
Cabin: Oceanview Stateroom – Wellness
Two oceans in one picture on St. Kitts.
Each elevator is different and you never know what language you're goin
Local beer!
Cane Garden Beach, Tortola
Martinique
Antigua rainbow from Garden Pool.

I choose this cruise for myself (single 55 year old male), my 24 y/o son and 21 y/o daughter because it scheduled well around her college spring break and we could all handle a 10 night getaway...we flew in from three places Thursday morning February 21st (all excited and a bit apprehensive about such an immersive family experience) and flew back to our respective places Sunday March 3rd wondering where all the time went and having had an amazing trip together. Who knows when we'll all be in the same place again for that long?! It was very special and memorable. The 10 night itinerary is perfect. I love the two initial sea days and have been to the eastern and western Caribbean on multiple cruises so like that we just steamed southeast. We met great people and settled in to our new home. Two sea days on the way home is also a perfect way to unravel the prior days.

We met people from around the world: straight and gay couples; large and small groups, single guys travelling together with women, other guys, family and alone; single women travelling with other women, men and family. 30somethings to 80somethings and every age in between. A pair of really fun 33 y/o Canadian couples were our pool/party buddies most afternoons and we heard no less than six languages around us at any time. There were many repeat MSC cruisers and a surprisingly high number of repeat/frequent Divina cruisers. I've been on Seaside twice (February 3, 2018 and February 2, 2019) so I've learned MSC is an international crowd (refreshingly so most of the time), the food is overall great and it is as or more professionally operated as Royal, which is the only other line I've frequented. We all found things to do and people to talk to, reconvening for dinner in the dining room eight of the 10 nights. More on that later.

MSC Divina is a beautiful ship. I was forward portside oceanview room 8005. My kids were midship starboard interior room 8194. I had Wellness package and no drink package. I drank what I wanted and paid at the end. I heard many people talk about getting drink packages as free upgrades, even balconies as free upgrades so I will be asking for upgrades when I book in the future. We spent a lot of time at the Garden Pool. We choose there because it overlooks the stern and the ocean/water is so close and hypnotic. You also avoid all the social announcements, dance classes, sexy man/woman, BINGO, etc., going on midship at the big pool. Shhh...it's an amazingly quiet, secret spot. Even though all of us are repulsed by cigarette smoke there was virtually no lingering smoke from the Garden Bar smoking area, which is on Deck 15 right next to the Garden Pool. We staked out spots on the wooden decking, got buckets of Red Stripes (well I did anyway) and didn't bother fighting over a chaise lounge. BTW they were mostly gone by 8, scarce by 9 and gone by 10. And staying on Deck 15, we'd get ready for dinner and meet there for an aperitif...live music, stars/sunset and really no smoke bothering us. SMOKERS: this is your spot! There is also a very nice Cigar Lounge with decent cigars for sale onboard. There are far better cigars for sale in the Mini Mall, which you can then bring into the Cigar Lounge. BRING a lighter (safely and legally of course) as it can sometimes be very hard to find an extra flame onboard.

Cabin Review

Oceanview Stateroom – Wellness

Cabin OW

Clean, large, very forward (think next to the A in Divina) with only drawback being vibration from thrusters when docking/maneuvering. I've never heard or felt such intrusive operations so I'm guessing it was my forward proximity.

Port Reviews

Antigua

very nice beach near cruise terminal

St. Kitts (Port Zante)

beautiful beach overlooking Nevis

Martinique

I got off the ship and went to the beach near the fort, visible and walkable from the ship. I swam there. then went into town and found Bamboo Snack, a Chinese restaurant, and had the most amazing prawns over noodles for about $12US. Speak Chinese or French? It will help. I don't speak either and did fine, too. Have a local beer, the Lorraine.

St. Maarten

We walked to the beach and had lunch at the Blue B*itch. I LOVE that place. Then we got beach chairs in front and hung out by the beach for the day. Perfect.

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