msc divina cruises reviews

• Vacation Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• MSC Cruises
• MSC Cruises from Florida
• MSC Cruises from Miami
• MSC Cruises from New York City
• MSC Cruises from Southampton
• MSC Cruises from London
• MSC Cruises from Kiel
• MSC Cruises from Barcelona
• MSC Cruises from Venice
• MSC Cruises from Lisbon
• MSC Cruises from Athens
• MSC Cruises from Copenhagen
• MSC Cruises from Civitavecchia
• MSC Cruises from Hong Kong
• MSC Cruises from Dubai
• MSC Cruises from Yokohama
• MSC Cruises from Tokyo
• MSC Cruises from Rio de Janeiro
• MSC Cruises from Shanghai
• MSC Cruises from Buenos Aires
• MSC Cruises from Cape Town
• MSC Cruises to Caribbean
• MSC Cruises to Barbados
• MSC Cruises to Puerto Rico
• MSC Cruises to San Juan
• MSC Cruises to St. Lucia
• MSC Cruises to St Martin / St Maarten
• MSC Cruises to France
• MSC Cruises to Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
• MSC Cruises to Spain
• MSC Cruises to Andalucia
• MSC Cruises to Catalonia
• MSC Cruises to Barcelona
• MSC Cruises to Italy
• MSC Cruises to Campania
• MSC Cruises to Lazio
• MSC Cruises to Taormina
• MSC Cruises to The Netherlands
• MSC Cruises to Portugal
• MSC Cruises to Lisbon
• MSC Cruises to Dubrovnik-Neretva County
• Family MSC Cruises
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

MSC Divina Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• 4D Cinema *
• Arts Classes
• Cybercafé *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• F1 Simulator *
• Hot Tubs (12)
• MSC Aurea Spa *
• MSC Sports Arena
• Power Walking Track
• Shuffleboard
• Sports Bar Bowling *
• Sports Tournaments
• Video Games Arcade *
• Virtual World *
• Waterslides
• Teens Toboga
• Black & White Lounge
• Casinò Veneziano *
• Comedy Performances
• Pantheon Theater
• Piazza Del Doge
• Silver Lounge
• MSC Yacht Club
• Bar - Pool Bar *
• Calumet Buffet - Casual
• Manitou Buffet - Casual
• The Cigar Lounge - Cigar Bar *
• Silver Lounge Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Caffé Italia - Coffee & Pastries *
• The Black Crab Restaurant - International
• Villa Rossa Panoramic Restaurant - International
• Eataly Steakhouse - italian *
• Ristorante Italia - italian *
• Golden Jazz Bar - Jazz Bar *
• Divina Bar - Lobby Bar *
• La Luna Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
• Poseidon Bar - Pool Bar *
• The Garden Bar - Pool Bar *
• Tritone Bar - Pool Bar *
• The One Bar - Top Deck Bar *
• La Cantina di Bacco - Wine Bar *
• Le Muse MSC Yacht Club Dedicated Restaurant - Yacht Club Guests
• Top Sail Lounge - Yacht Club Guests
• Excellent 60
• Very Good 56
• Terrible 163
• All languages ( 401 )
• English ( 258 )
• Italian ( 97 )
• Spanish ( 28 )

Upcoming itineraries

Travel Blog

MSC Divina Cruise Review – Is It Really Worth It?

Are you looking for an honest and thoughtful cruise review of the MSC Divina? Then you are in the right spot.

The MSC Divina is a stunning, 333 meters long cruise ship that has been roaming the seas since 2012. It was christened by no one less than Sophia Loren herself – and follows the motto of timeless elegance.

Obviously, it is hard to know if the ship is perfect for your next cruise just by online pictures alone. They are rarely accurate and never show the full picture of the experience.

My husband and I have just returned from a 12-day cruise on the MSC Divina. And I am here to give you my brutally honest and unfiltered opinion.

First of all: Yes, the MSC Divina is definitely worth it. Keep on reading to find out why and who will enjoy cruising on this ship.

Let’s set sail!

Table of Contents

The embarkation process, buffet calumet (breakfast, lunch & dinner), the pool area, the spa & gym, villa rossa – fine dining, the ship itself, the itinerary, the disembarkation, which is the best route for a cruise on msc divina, what is the best time for this cruise itinerary, when was the msc divina last refurbished, is the msc divina a big ship, is cruising safe, is msc yacht club worth it, conclusion: msc divina review, more 1 day cruise itineraries, about the author.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my  disclaimer  for further information.

MSC Divina Review – Pros and Cons

😊 Modern and Elegant Design

😊 Friendly and Competent Staff

😊 Spacious Ship & Cabins

😊 Great Entertainment Opportunities

😊 Delicious Food

😊 Fine Dining Dinner Settings

😊 Relaxing Spa & Fitness Area

😊 Amazing Service

😊 Lots of Bars and Restaurants

😞 Ship was Crowded at Times

😞 Spa Treatments, Internet, and Specialty Dining are super expensive

😞 Excursions were pretty booked up & expensive

😞 Drone was not allowed

😞 Embarkation and Disembarkation was a chaos

⭐ (3/5 Stars)

The Embarkation process on the MSC Divina was sadly less than optimal this time. I am used to this smooth and streamlined procedure from MSC.

In our case, the previous ship in port, MSC Fantasia, did not leave the port on time. This meant, a three-hour delay in our embarkation. We weren’t given too much info and we had to wait forever in a crowded hall.

Once the ship arrived, the embarkation process luckily went a lot smoother. We quickly handed our documents at the counter (our luggage was already taken) and got our embarkation card.

Once on the ship, our cabin was already waiting for us fresh and clean. Also, our luggage was delivered to the cabin in the meantime.

⭐ (5/5 Stars)

We loved our cabin from the moment we entered. It was elegant, modern and so comfy.

The balcony was equipped with two chairs and a footrest. Inside, we had a couch with a small table, a vanity with a chair, and a TV. And of course a super fluffy king-sized bed.

There was absolutely nothing to criticize about our cabin. Our sweet steward Arjun came 2-3 times a day to make sure everything was spotless and perfect.

We also had a lovely surprise waiting for us: a bottle of champagne with strawberries dipped in chocolate. The perfect welcome for our honeymoon.

Justin and I had a Love/Hate relationship with the big buffet restaurant.

On one hand, the food was absolutely fantastic, and the view and the service were both amazing. Nothing to criticize on the MSC side. I ate Pizza Vesuvio every single day because it was so yummy.

But the buffet was always incredibly packed. It was hard to get a nice table, and people were loud and rude. This is not the fault of MSC per se, but I think they need to give people more space for lunch and breakfast especially. On sea days you had to wait sometimes to sit down for lunch.

The food was amazing. You could sample daily changing dishes, ethnic dishes, pasta, pizza, salads, and much more. And this basically 24/7. Everything was fresh and looked totally good. I can’t compliment the chefs on this ship enough.

The ship has a wide variety of indoor and outdoor pools.

At the main pool area, you can find a big pool and a couple of hot tubs. This is also where all the entertainment happens. Be prepared for some music and good vibes all day long.

In the back of the ship, you can find the big infinity pool (I loved it) and some hot tubs. This was my favorite place on the ship. There was also a less-crowded pool bar.

The indoor pool area was also pretty nice, but I only used it once on a bad weather day. Otherwise, it is a lot nicer to be outside in the sun with some music in my opinion.

Lastly, make sure to go down the water slide. It was so much fun!

⭐ (4/5 Stars)

We splurged a little and treated ourselves to a 12-day spa access package (about USD 150,00 if booked before the cruise).

The spa had a couple of saunas & steam rooms and a relaxation area as well as a tea & smoothie bar. I was a bit disappointed because there was no hot tub, but for the rest it was great.

I booked a massage, which was absolutely divine . Sadly, it was also pretty costly with EUR 150,00 for 60 minutes.

We never used the gym but it was spacious and had lots of great equipment.

My tip: book the spa access pass and the massages in advance, it is a lot more expensive on the ship!

In typical MSC fashion, dinner is served in a fine dining manner. You can choose between the first and second seating. We took the first, as we like to eat early.

We were seated with other Austrians together, so we had some nice conversation and we loved our dinners.

The food was outstanding , and the service as well. Every day you could choose between around 5 starters, main dishes, and desserts . You could also order seconds (as I did with the chocolate mousse).

You will have the same two waiters for the entire cruise, so make sure to bring a little tip at the end of the cruise if you like the service. This is not mandatory but we felt like they deserved it.

Good to know: you can also go to the buffet if you don’t like fine dining. We only missed our seating once, when an excursion ran longer.

Important : most days the dress code is casual, but bring something white (for white night) and something fancy for gala night.

Last but not least in this MSC Divina review, I want to talk about the other parts of the ship.

The ship is modern, and elegant and has a lot to offer. There is a casino (we won, yay!) and a big theater, as well as a Formula 1 simulator (we did not win there) and a 4D cinema.

There is a huge amount of bars, lounges, cafés and nightclubs. I totally lost count, but we did not manage to have a drink in all of them.

The shops are nice, but a bit overpriced in my opinion. They will have a final sale every day , so no need to rush.

The ship has 18 decks, although the highest one is exclusively for MSC Yacht Club members. There is also a sports area, but we did not go there.

⭐ (1/5 Stars)

The people on the ship is sadly something MSC Cruises can’t influence. But I still feel inclined to warn you about those.

We were sad to see many loud, rude, and horrible people on the ship. Since I never had it this bad on MSC ships, I can only assume that they sold the cruises at an insanely low price to get the ship full.

People pushed, shoved, screamed, and harassed the workers. They put so much food on their plates that they never finished. We were so sad to see this.

Nothing about this was upscale or luxurious, as my previous MSC cruises had been. I truly hope this was a one-off.

We absolutely loved our itinerary. It was a great mix of amazing stops and some sea days to relax. There is nothing we would change about this.

Here is our itinerary, and my rating of the ports of call:

• Day 1: Barcelona ⭐ (5/5 Stars)
• Day 2: At Sea
• Day 3: Casablanca ⭐ (4,5/5 Stars)
• Day 4: At Sea
• Day 5: Tenerife ⭐ (5/5 Stars)
• Day 6: Lanzarote ⭐ (5/5 Stars)
• Day 7: At Sea
• Day 8: Malaga ⭐ (5/5 Stars)
• Day 9: At Sea
• Day 10: Marseille⭐ (4/5 Stars)
• Day 11: Genoa ⭐ (4,5/5 Stars)
• Day 12: Barcelona ⭐ (5/5 Stars)

Disembarkation was a bit of chaos again. We were supposed to disembark at 02:00 in the afternoon, but we already had to leave the cabins at 09:30 in the morning.

This led to masses of people clogging up the buffet and the bars. It was a super uncomfortable, long morning that I would have rather spent in my cabin or on shore, to be honest.

Luckily, the cruise card still worked so we could get cocktails.

In the end, the disembarkation was super smooth (the actual going off the ship part). We got our confiscated drone back (thanks) and happily left the ship with plenty of new memories.

MSC Divina Review – Frequently Asked Questions

We booked a Mediterranean Cruise with a small venture out on the Atlantic Ocean to the Canary Islands. The waves on the Atlantic were super high and it was a bit uncomfortable.

For first-time cruisers, I suggest booking an Eastern Mediterranean or Western Mediterranean Cruise . They are known for calm waters and easy-to-access ports.

More advanced cruisers will probably love the Caribbean Cruises that cover ports like the Dominican Republic or Aruba and Curacao . If you don’t love the sun as much, why not try Northern Europe, with cruise ports like Southampton ?

This question is a bit tricky. In some ports (Casablanca, Tenerife, and Lanzarote) we had the perfect weather, as they are so far south (our cruise was at the end of October).

In other ports, like Genoa and Marseille it was a lot colder and rainy. All in all, I think it was a good time for a cruise, but ideally, you go a couple of weeks earlier. This way, you can avoid all the rain in the northern cruise ports a bit better.

To be honest, we could only use the balcony on certain days and it was also a bit too cold to swim sometimes. If you truly want a summer vacation, try going in September at the latest.

The MSC Divina was first sailing in 2012. It was last refurbished in 2017. The ship was dry-docked for a while in 2021 and is in great shape.

Also, we noticed that little improvements, for example at the floors or the pool are done basically all the time (mostly at night) to keep the ship up to date.

The ship is in amazing shape and I couldn’t see any imperfections on the cruise.

Yes, I would consider the MSC Divina a big ship. It is 333 meters long and has 13 decks available for passengers.

Admittedly, it is a lot smaller than the newer vessels from MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean.

However, it is still big enough to have a good time without being crammed.

Yes, cruising is pretty safe. There are barely any incidents on bigger cruise ships and the crews are well trained to handle any emergency.

On land, you are responsible for your own well-being, so I suggest good travel insurance for any accidents that might occur.

Do you need travel insurance on a cruise ship? Yes, travel insurance on cruises is highly recommended. Especially during shore excursions, travel insurance could come in handy.   EKTA offers worldwide travel insurance  with 24/7 service and no hidden fees or restrictions.

Yes, I would say MSC Yacht Club is worth it. The MSC Yacht Club offers a private sundeck, a private restaurant, and other small perks.

Most importantly, you can avoid the masses that haunt the buffet. We will definitely book MSC Yacht Club on our next cruise.

That’s a wrap on my in-depth MSC Divina cruise review. As you’ve seen, we have loved the ship, the crew, and the ports of call. One thing that bothered us was the huge crowds of rude people on the ship.

But in the end, we managed to avoid them and had a really good time. The pool area, the restaurants, and the spa on the ship were excellent, and we especially loved our balcony cabin.

All in all, it was the perfect cruise, with less-than-perfect people. We would definitely book it again and totally recommend the MSC Divina to any cruise enthusiast.

🚢 1 Day in Malta – From Valletta Cruise Port

🚢 1 Day in Gibraltar – From Malaga Cruise Port

🚢 1 Day in London – From Southampton Cruise Port

🚢 1 Day in Aruba from Cruise Port

🚢 1 Day in Curacao from Cruise Port

🚢 1 Day in Bonaire from Cruise Port

🚢 1 Day in Santorini from Cruise Port

🚢 1 Day in Mykonos from Cruise Port

🚢 1 Day in the Dominican Republic on the Cruise Ports

🚢 1 Day Blue Mountains Itinerary – From Sydney Cruise Port

Sabrina is a passionate travel blogger and content creator, originally from Austria. She spends most parts of the year abroad at various destinations with her husband.

She provides slow-paced itineraries that focus on quality over quantity. Sabrina wants to help her readers to get more out of their travel experiences – while doing less. Read more.

You May Also Like

One Day in Marseille From Cruise Ship: Ultimate Itinerary

MSC Fantasia Review – Western Mediterranean Cruise (Updated 2024)

Perfect 1 Day Blue Mountains Itinerary (Local’s Guide)

Courtesy of MSC Cruises |

Find a Cruise on MSC Divina

with a cruise advisor

Introduced in 2012, MSC Divina is among the largest ships in the fleet. It can host up to 4,345 passengers and 1,388 crew members. Some past cruisers noted that the disproportionate staff-to-guest ratio translated to slow service, especially in the dining rooms.

Still, MSC Divina offers plenty of activities to keep guests entertained. Standout facilities include a 4-D theater and four pool areas, including a 22,507-square-foot Aqua Park. Dining is on just as grand a scale: The ship contains eight restaurants, including a sushi eatery. On top of that, there are 12 bars and lounges.

Members of MSC Yacht Club (an exclusive amenities program) who sail on MSC Divina can receive benefits such as dedicated priority check-in and check-out, 24-hour butler service and concierge room service, complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa, one free cruise change and a discount on prepaid restaurant packages as well as spa packages and treatment. 

Suites in this exclusive area feature floor-to-ceiling windows. For MSC Yacht Club members, MSC Divina also includes the Sophia Loren Royal Suite on deck 16, which was designed with the help of Loren and includes a replica of her dressing table. More budget-friendly accommodations include Interior and Ocean View staterooms, which come equipped with TVs and minibars. 

MSC Divina offers sailings around the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. 

Pros & Cons

Large ship with many activities

Service subpar due to disproportionate staff-to-guest ratio

• Expert Rating » 3.5
• Traveler Rating » 3.8
• Health Rating » 5.0

MSC Divina ranks # 4 out of 22 MSC Cruises Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 4 in Best MSC Cruises
• # 17 in Best Cruises for Singles
• # 47 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 58 in Best Cruises to Europe
• # 65 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 80 in Best Affordable Cruises

MSC Divina offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

MSC Divina contains 14 decks. Find out which features are available on each MSC Divina deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1521 guests have reviewed MSC Divina , giving it a rating of 3.8 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

You Might Also Like

MSC Splendida

MSC Fantasia

MSC Magnifica

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

• Holiday Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• MSC Cruises
• MSC Cruises from Florida
• MSC Cruises from Miami
• MSC Cruises from New York City
• MSC Cruises from Barbados
• MSC Cruises from Southampton
• MSC Cruises from London
• MSC Cruises from Barcelona
• MSC Cruises from Venice
• MSC Cruises from Lisbon
• MSC Cruises from Athens
• MSC Cruises from Copenhagen
• MSC Cruises from Civitavecchia
• MSC Cruises from Hong Kong
• MSC Cruises from Dubai
• MSC Cruises from Yokohama
• MSC Cruises from Tokyo
• MSC Cruises from Rio de Janeiro
• MSC Cruises from Shanghai
• MSC Cruises from Buenos Aires
• MSC Cruises from Cape Town
• MSC Cruises to Caribbean
• MSC Cruises to Barbados
• MSC Cruises to France
• MSC Cruises to Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
• MSC Cruises to Spain
• MSC Cruises to Andalucia
• MSC Cruises to Costa del Sol
• MSC Cruises to Seville
• MSC Cruises to Balearic Islands
• MSC Cruises to Italy
• MSC Cruises to Campania
• MSC Cruises to Lazio
• MSC Cruises to Tuscany
• MSC Cruises to Portugal
• MSC Cruises to Lisbon
• MSC Cruises to Civitavecchia
• MSC Cruises to Province of Naples
• MSC Cruises to Province of Rome
• MSC Cruises to Lisbon District
• MSC Cruises to Central Portugal
• Family MSC Cruises
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

MSC Divina Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• 4D Cinema *
• Arts Classes
• Cybercafé *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• F1 Simulator *
• Hot Tubs (12)
• MSC Aurea Spa *
• MSC Sports Arena
• Power Walking Track
• Shuffleboard
• Sports Bar Bowling *
• Sports Tournaments
• Video Games Arcade *
• Virtual World *
• Waterslides
• Teens Toboga
• Black & White Lounge
• Casinò Veneziano *
• Comedy Performances
• Pantheon Theater
• Piazza Del Doge
• Silver Lounge
• MSC Yacht Club
• Bar - Pool Bar *
• Calumet Buffet - Casual
• Manitou Buffet - Casual
• The Cigar Lounge - Cigar Bar *
• Silver Lounge Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Caffé Italia - Coffee & Pastries *
• The Black Crab Restaurant - International
• Villa Rossa Panoramic Restaurant - International
• Eataly Steakhouse - italian *
• Ristorante Italia - italian *
• Golden Jazz Bar - Jazz Bar *
• Divina Bar - Lobby Bar *
• La Luna Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
• Poseidon Bar - Pool Bar *
• The Garden Bar - Pool Bar *
• Tritone Bar - Pool Bar *
• The One Bar - Top Deck Bar *
• La Cantina di Bacco - Wine Bar *
• Le Muse MSC Yacht Club Dedicated Restaurant - Yacht Club Guests
• Top Sail Lounge - Yacht Club Guests

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

• Excellent 60
• Very Good 56
• Terrible 163
• All languages ( 401 )
• English ( 258 )
• Italian ( 97 )
• Spanish ( 28 )

Upcoming itineraries

MSC Divina Review: A Spectacular Caribbean Cruise Option for Families

This article may contain references to some of our advertising partners. Should you click on these links, we may be compensated. For more about our advertising policies, read our  full disclosure statement  here.

This MSC Divina review is a complete and accurate portrayal of our experience on the ship. Since honesty is the best policy, please note that some of the links are from our sponsors. Thanks in advance for using them to book your trips. Enjoy!

Not too long ago, I had a pretty jaded view of cruising and cruisers in general.

I thought that cruising was for people too cheap to splurge for a “real vacation” and that I surely wouldn’t like being stuck on some random ship for a week or more.

I thought that all cruise food would be akin to eating in a high school cafeteria. I thought that, due to the fact cruises have you captive on the boat for days, I would be nickeled and dimed from morning until night.

I thought the ship would be crowded and get dirty as a result. I thought my kids would be annoyed that we couldn’t sit on the beach all day. But, most of all, I thought we wouldn’t like it.

I was wrong. Dead wrong.

My thoughts have definitely changed after spending 11 nights and 12 days on the MSC Divina in January of 2018. Our cruise left from Miami and visited an array of beautiful islands, but there was much more to our trip than our stops at port.

The ship was fun, beautiful, and bright – and quite frankly everything I thought it wouldn’t be. While I typically thought of cruising as a mode of transportation in the past, I now see that time on the ship can be pretty darn enjoyable, too.

This entire trip was rather enlightening for me – a budget traveler who loves luxury and all-inclusive resorts. I feel so strongly about our time on the ship (and had so much fun) that I wanted to break the entire thing down into an epic review. If you have any questions at all about MSC Cruises or the MSC Divina, I want to answer them. So here goes.

Embarkation Day

The first day of our cruise was probably the worst, mostly because we’re basically first-time cruisers who had no idea what was going on. We also flew from Indianapolis to Miami, stayed overnight in a hotel, and carried a ton of luggage around that entire time. We were a little frazzled by the time we arrived, so we stressed out easily.

It did take an hour or so to get from the cruise terminal onto the ship. We stood in line and waited for our turn to submit our cruise tickets and get our “cruise card” – the key to our room and everything else on the ship.

This was easily my least favorite part of the cruise. But since it takes a while to get 4,000 people on a ship, it’s understandable. It took us an hour from the sidewalk to being on the ship, and that’s not too bad.

We hung around for a while and were able to get in our room around 3:00 p.m. Our room was great, by the way, but we’ll go over that in more detail later.

At 4:45 p.m. on embarkation day, we did the drill where you go to your safe spot on the ship and learn how to put your life jacket on. I have read a lot of reviews about how bad this is on the MSC Divina since they do the drill in four different languages, but I thought it was really seamless. It took maybe 15 minutes from beginning to end, and it was done. From that moment forward, our cruise was a dream come true!

Our Cabin on the MSC Divina

We had a balcony cabin on the MSC Divina – room 9015 to be exact. Our room was perfect for the four of us, with myself and my husband on a queen bed and our kids (ages 6 and 8) sharing a fold-out couch.

At first, I was a little worried that our kids would sleep on a fold-out, mostly because the couch took up the whole room when extended. Fortunately, our amazing cabin steward Christian folded up the bed every morning and folded it back up at night. I had no idea he would do this, so it was a big relief!

Our room was super clean and it was stocked daily with toilet paper. They cleaned and refreshed our room several times per day, and we never went without fresh towels for showers or the pool. You’re supposed to get a fresh pool towel every day on the MSC Divina, but I know there were days when our towels were traded out 2-3 times. For future reference, they also have a towel area by the outdoor pool during the day where you can trade in for a fresh towel whenever you want.

Our bathroom was also nice. The shower doors fold in to make more room, and that really helped us save space. I also like the fact that, no matter the hour, we had super hot water in the shower.

Pools on the MSC Divina

I wanted to go over the pools on the MSC Divina in-depth, mostly because there are so many of them. We have been on one cruise before a few years ago, and that ship only had one pool and maybe 2 hot tubs. The MSC Divina has three pools and probably 6 or 7 hot tubs which were never full.

First off, there’s a really nice outdoor pool area in the center of the ship. The pool itself is HUGE for a cruise pool, and there are several hot tubs adjacent to it and on the deck above. There’s also a huge TV and stage in this pool area where movies are shown at night and aerobics classes are held during the day.

My favorite thing about the outdoor pool deck was the fact there were so many shaded tables around. We could always find an empty table to sit at, and this provided the perfect place to relax while the kids swam.

The MSC Divina also has a really nice indoor pool area. It has a retractable roof that they open when it’s really sunny, but it stayed closed for most of our trip. This was another nice pool area, and it had the most hot tubs – I think 3 or 4. Surprisingly, the hot tubs were also hot – not luke warm.

There was another adults-only pool in the back of the ship near the garden bar. We never swam in it, but it looked great and provided more of an adult atmosphere.

Dining on MSC Divina

The dining on the MSC Divina really stood out for me. We eat fairly simply and don’t eat meat, but we were impressed with the ship’s offerings. We were assigned the 6:00 p.m. dining time in the Villa Rosa dining room, and we had a few really great meals there. I loved the dining room because it was so fancy and elegant. It was also a great alternative when we got sick of the buffet.

But really, the buffet was fine. We ate there for dinner most nights. They had a revolving array of food that changed all the time, including a carving station, a Mediterranean section, fresh cheeses, fresh fruit, a salad station, a kids area with foods like pasta and chicken nuggets, and even ethnic food. You could also get hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and fries all the time.

Oh, and the pizza! The pizza was amazing. Even if you’re vegan, they had cheese-less pizza you would love. We never really got too tired of the buffet.

The only downside to the buffet is the fact that it can be chaotic. It can also be hard to find a seat if you go at a peak time – like at 8:00 a.m. on a port day.

A lot of people in the Cruise Critic reviews have complained about how their food gets cold while they look for a table. My advice is this: Find a table, sit your hat or sunglasses down, then get your food. It makes life much easier.  I saw a lot of people walking around with food looking for a table, and it just annoyed me. It makes no sense, so stop.

In every case, we eventually found a table, searching for 5 minutes at most. Honestly, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Just find a table before you get your food and you’ll be fine.

We also ate at the Eataly Italian restaurant on the ship once. This is a meal you pay for that is not free. It was good! I also found it relatively reasonable in terms of pricing, as was everything else on the ship. It was a nice change for once to have a sit-down meal. We all got pasta, and you get a free glass of champagne when you dine. It’s hard to beat that.

Last but not least, the ship has a little sports bar with some basic appetizers and mains you can order during certain hours. We had the spinach and artichoke dip with chips, but they also had wings, mozzarella sticks, and sandwiches. It was really good, and it was nice that this was included in the cruise price as well.

Over all, I thought the food was really good. There were a few things I tried that I didn’t like, but the great thing is that you could always just go back and eat more. We even made a few late night trips to the buffet for pizza and dessert, and that was a nice treat!

Find a Great Deal – Are you looking for a great cruise deal? MSC is a great place to start. Contact our travel agency and we’ll help you find a great deal for your trip on the MSC Divina. Get started here!

Bars on the MSC Divina

I didn’t get any good pictures of the bars on the MSC Divina, but let’s suffice it to say they were everywhere. Bars we went to that I can think of include (but aren’t limited to):

• A gorgeous piano bar in the center of the ship
• A fun “jazz” bar with a really good band every night (FYI, we never heard any jazz)
• A few outdoor pool bars
• The bar by the indoor pool
• The sports bar where, of course, they have a bunch of TVs playing sports
• The Garden Bar in the adults-only section

There were other bars, too. We drank a lot of beer but also had some mixed drinks.

Speaking of drinks, the ship had special theme nights with featured drinks, one of which was the Aperol Spritz. Since we drink these all the time in Italy, we had to have some of those. We also had limoncello, and I had some generic Chambord (raspberry liquor) which can be found all over the ship.

I thought pricing of the drinks was really reasonable. Beers were typically between $5 and $5.50, and mixed drinks were usually $7-$8. This is less than I pay for drinks at bars in my area, so I was happy about that.

The bartenders were always friendly and quick to help. No matter where we got drinks, we never waited more than a a few minutes. I read a lot of reviews saying the bars had slow service and the bartenders on the MSC Divina aren’t friendly, but this is simply untrue. I spent 12 days on the ship, so I should know.

Entertainment on the MSC Divina

Let me just be honest here – we didn’t go to any shows on the ship. I know this is terrible! We heard people rant and rave about how great the shows are, but we just never made it.

Well, that’s a lie. We caught the tail end of some acrobatic show that looked really fun, but that was it. I also snuck in when it was empty to take a picture. BAHAHAHA!

I know people enjoyed the shows, but we enjoyed the fact we could have free reign over the bars and the pools while most of the people were in the shows. So, we never went.

Entertainment on the ship was great otherwise. The people who work on the MSC Divina are always trying to make sure you have fun. They had really good bands singing different types of music in various bars most of the time, but especially in the evenings. The pool decks were always lively with music or contests. Basically, a good time was had by all throughout the ship.

If you’re a gambler, the MSC Divina also has a pretty decent-sized casino. It had a bunch of slots and some fun table games like Roulette and Blackjack. We went once, made a deposit, and never went back. (Unfortunately for Greg, and fortunately for our bank account, there is no craps table.) I hate losing money and gambling isn’t really my thing, but I’ll admit it was fun.

Kid’s Club on the MSC Divina

If you have kids, the MSC Divina is an incredible place to spend a family vacation! This was easily one of the best parts of our trip, and for more reasons than one.

The crazy thing is, we’re not usually big on sending our children to kid’s clubs. We have stayed at a lot of all-inclusive resorts with supervised clubs, and we usually only use them for an hour here or there to give mom and dad a break.

The kid’s club on the MSC Divina is a huge step above any other club we have ever experienced.

I kid you not, my kids would have gone to the club every day all day if we let them. We let them visit the club a lot, but we had to tell them “no” other times just so we could spend time with them!

The kid’s club on the ship is much more than just a babysitter. They did dozens of fun activities with the kids, including arts and crafts, language lessons, dance parties, and talent shows. I think my kids came home with some kind of prize almost every day from the club. They won little stuffed animals, coloring kits, and more. These prizes were just one of the little touches we loved, mostly because they made the trip really special for our girls.

On port days, you could leave your kids in the club all day while you went ashore. We only did this at one port, Curacao, and only because there was a special party that day they couldn’t stand to miss. On ship days, the club was open 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For a fee, you could also sign up for late night hours, but we never did.

My kids enjoyed going to the morning and the afternoon sessions, but I think they had the most fun at night because they had lots of “parties” and took a group trip to the buffet for dinner.

The kid’s club is one of the main reasons we are booking another cruise on the MSC Divina over Christmas in late 2018. My kids cried the last night on the ship – like bawled uncontrollably – because they had so much fun and didn’t want to leave. I promised we would go back, so we are.

Kids Sail Free  – Want to take a great family vacation at an affordable price? Kids ages 17 and under sail free (or at a discount) on many sailings. Our travel agency can help you book your cruise on the MSC Divina here!

Service on the MSC Divina

I read a lot of reviews of the MSC Divina before our cruise because, well, I’m a travel writer and that’s what we do. After reading some of the negative comments about the workers on the ship and the service received, I am shocked at the bad information people have put out there.

The people who work on this ship are kind, hard-working, and helpful. They greet you when they see you, and they go out of their way to make sure you have what you need. I think every single day someone bent over backwards to help us, whether that meant carrying drinks across the dining room or giving my kids a special treat of some kind.

Honestly, I was blown away by the service and professionalism of everyone on board. I cannot think of a single instance over a 12-day cruise where a single person was rude or unhelpful.

If you experience bad service or rude workers on the MSC Divina, please be assured that you are the problem .  I’m not saying this to hurt your feelings or make you feel bad, but it needs to be said.

The people on this ship work long hours and have some of the best attitudes I have ever seen. The only way you could possibly feel negatively toward them is if you are having some sort of internal crisis. Please people, be nice and the world becomes a better place!

Tips for Saving on the MSC Divina

Okay, so I’ve basically covered every aspect of the ship I can think of. Now on to the best part. Even though the MSC Divina is a super awesome ship, it is not expensive. In fact, MSC Cruises in general are some of the most affordable out there, partially because of their low prices but also because kids under 18 cruise free on a lot of itineraries.

With that being said, here are some of my best tips for saving money when you book your cruise and once you’re on the ship:

• Sign up for a travel credit card.  There are several travel credit cards that can help you make getting to your cruise free or almost free. Make sure to check out our list of the best travel rewards cards for some ideas.
• Don’t over splurge on your cabin.  We had a balcony cabin on this cruise. It was nice, but I saw a lot of interior cabins in passing and they looked great, too. If your budget is stretched to go on this cruise, booking a lower class cabin is a great way to save. With so much to do on the ship, you’re rarely in your room anyway.
• Buy a drink package if you drink a lot.  If you’re a big drinker who doesn’t want to pay for each individual drink, definitely check out the drink packages on the MSC Divina. I think it was around $400 per adult for our 11-night cruise. That’s not super cheap, but it could be a big money-saver if you’re someone who likes to drink a lot on the ship.
• Prepay for laundry service if you need it.  Because our cruise was so long, I prepaid $50 to have the ship staff wash 40 pieces of our laundry. This was a lot cheaper than paying for individual pieces of laundry to be washed once you left on your trip. I will definitely do this again. Packing for a 12-day cruise is really hard when you don’t have a lot of extra clothes. Having laundry at our disposal was a game-changer, and it also helped us pack less.
• Book spa services 4-5 days into your cruise.  The MSC Divina starts offering sales on spa treatments a few days into your sailing. If you’re flexible on your spa appointment times and don’t mind waiting, you can potentially save up to 50 percent. I saw one treatment that started at $150 go down to $79 by the end of our cruise.
• Join the MSC Cruises loyalty program.  MSC Cruises has a loyalty program called Voyager’s Club that awards you with special perks. Once you have gone on at least one cruise with MSC Cruises, you also get 5 percent off most future cruises. Definitely sign up so you can earn points for all your future cruises with the cruise line.

Our Cruise Stops on the MSC Divina

Although our cruise stops on the MSC Divina don’t really have anything to do with the ship, I still wanted to talk about where we went and the parts I enjoyed. Our itinerary on this ship was a little different due to some changes after the hurricane season of 2017, but I loved almost every stop. Here’s a rundown of our cruise stops and how we spent our time.

I’m not going to lie – I hate St. Thomas. It’s beautiful, sure, but it’s too expensive.

I say this as someone who has been to almost every Caribbean island, including St. Thomas more than once. Even the more expensive islands like Aruba and Grand Cayman don’t hold a candle to St. Thomas in terms of outrageous costs.

When I woke up in St. Thomas on my birthday, I had a beautiful surprise waiting outside on my cabin balcony – a rainbow! That’s about where the fun ended until we got back on the ship.

We took a taxi to Magens Bay which cost $8 per person. Yes, $32 one-way for the four of us – so $64 round-trip for a 15 minute ride. The worst part is, we were in a shared, open air taxi with 16 other people. Seriously! We were crammed in like sardines both ways, and for way too much money.

Quite frankly, Magens Bay was crowded and overrated. It was $14 to rent a single chair. The beach was so crowded there was barely a space for chairs anyway, so oh well. I’ve had back surgery, so I mainly just stood there seething the entire time. But hey, at least my kids had fun!

To salvage what was left of my birthday, we stayed at the beach for just over an hour and went back to the ship. After that, my birthday was superb. MSC Cruises must keep track of birthdays somehow because they sent me a card and even had a cake for me at dinner. That was such a nice touch!

The lesson here: Stay on the boat in St. Thomas. It will be great because you’ll have all the pools and space on the ship to yourself.

Antigua is an island I had never been to before this trip. Now that I’ve sat on a gorgeous beach in Antigua drinking beer for a day, I am hooked. I was immediately impressed by the fact that a one-way taxi ride to Dickenson Bay was only $12 for the four of us. The taxi driver even set up a time to pick us up and bring us back to the ship for the same price.

Dickenson Bay is a gorgeous beach right next to the Sandals Resort in Antigua. You can rent chairs for $5 or little cabanas for $20. There are a few places for lunch. I think we spent $40 for the four of us, so not bad.

I loooooooooooooooooooove Antigua.

We went to the Hilton Barbados during our time on this island. The taxi ride was only $20 per way, and a nice guy named “Gooseman” set up a pickup time to take us back to the ship. It was all rather convenient after we got through the cruise port chaos.

The Hilton Barbados is absolutely divine. All the rooms had an ocean view, they have a club lounge for elite guests, and the beach is to-die-for. The beach is also huge. We got there late in the morning and still found beachfront chairs and an umbrella. They also had a beach attendant setting up chairs wherever you want.

I will be coming back to this hotel one day, as I really enjoyed our time there and I love Barbados anyway.

I had never been to Grenada before, so I was really shocked when our boat approached this gorgeous, crazy-green, mountainous paradise. Grenada is truly beautiful, and I couldn’t believe what I saw.

We spent the day at the Mount Cinnamon Resort, which has an ideal spot on Grand Anse Beach. The views here are unbelievable, the water is clear and warm, and you will love it.

The hotel itself is also spectacular, with amazing views from every room and accommodations that are as big as three-bedrooms. This hotel is one my husband and I want to come back to alone without kids. I can’t think of a more romantic place to spend time together.

My kids wanted to go to the kid’s club for a special event on the day we stopped in Curacao. We took advantage of that fact and parked our butts on a party beach. Mambo Beach is only 15 minutes from the cruise port, but it’s a great place to drink beer and swim with rocks sheltering you from the waves. I am not going to lie; this is not a cultural experience by any means. It was affordable though. Getting into the beach is only $3.50 per person and you get a chair. Beers were about $5, less if you bought a bucket at a time (which we did). Good times.

I already loved Aruba, but I am even more in love now. We were able to snag a room at the Holiday Inn Aruba for our day on the island, and this resort is amazing! The Holiday Inn occupies the best stretch of Palm Beach, and that really says a lot. The rooms are big, the property is clean, there are pools everywhere, and the beach…….the beach is out of this world. I will likely book this hotel for a family vacation in the future. Just saying!

MSC Divina Review: Final Thoughts

If you are thinking of booking a cruise on the MSC Divina (or any other MSC ship), I would definitely recommend it. This was easily one of the best family vacations we’ve had over the last few years.

Cruising is so much fun, and the MSC Divina takes that fun up a notch. The food was good, the ship was immaculate, and I can’t say enough good things about our experience.

I’m even more excited now for our Mediterranean cruise on the MSC Sinfonia this summer, and I can’t wait to cruise on the MSC Divina again next year.

If you have any questions about the cruise, please post them below and I’ll do my best to answer!

Sail on the MSC Divina – Love what you see? Let us help you find a great deal and the perfect itinerary on the MSC Divina! Contact our travel agency to learn more here.

MSC Divina Review

• Amenities & Features
• Ports & Excursions
• Customer Service

If you are thinking of booking a cruise on the MSC Divina, I would definitely recommend it. This was easily one of the best family vacations we’ve had over the last few years.

MSC Divina takes crusing up a notch. The food was fantastic, the ship was immaculate, there was tons to do, and I can’t say enough good things about the crew or our experience.

Holly Johnson is a financial expert and award-winning writer who has traveled to over 40 countries and counting. She is the co-founder of Club Thrifty , co-author of the book Zero Down Your Debt , and is recognized as one of the top credit card experts in the field.

Holly's work has been featured in publications like The Wall Street Journal , CNN , and Fox Business . She is also a regular contributor to publications that include Business Insider , Forbes , Bankrate , Money.com , LendingTree , U.S. News and World Report Travel , CreditCards.com , and more. Learn more about Holly here.

Similar Posts

Houston CityPASS Review 2024: Is It a Good Deal?

The Houston CityPASS offers entry to five of Houston’s top attractions for less! In this review, we explain whether it’s worth it for you.

Wealthfront Review: Put Your Investments on Autopilot

Wealthfront helps put your savings and investment goals on auto-pilot. In this review, learn about its features, fees, and whether it’s right for you!

Boost Your Savings with Zero Effort: Digit Review

Digit is a simple but powerful app that can help jumpstart your savings goals. In this review, we explain its features and explore if it can work for you.

Living Like a Celebrity in Los Angeles: Trip Review and Recap

In this Uber Visa Card review, we’ll explore the pros and cons of the new Uber Visa Card, which includes a max rewards rate of 4% back on special categories. Plus, we’ll have some fun recapping my recent trip to Los Angeles. Enjoy!

How to Start a Blog: 6 Easy Steps to Get You Started Today

Starting a blog is a great way to be creative and earn a little bit of extra income. It may seem overwhelming, but we’ve got you covered. Check out this step-by-step guide to starting your own blog and get your new blog up and running today! Who knows? Maybe you’ll even be able to make over 6 figures from home like me!

Atlanta CityPASS Review 2024: Is It a Good Deal for You?

The Atlanta CityPASS helps save time and money on Atlanta’s top tourist attractions. In this review, we’ll determine if it’s a good fit for your plans.

Disclaimer: Comments, responses, and other user-generated content is not provided or commissioned by this site or our advertisers. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by this website or our advertisers. It is not the responsibility of our advertisers or this website to ensure that all comments and/or questions are answered. Club Thrifty has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Club Thrifty and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Holly, this is a great review! I’ve always wondered if my wife and kids would enjoy a cruise and I am guessing they would after reading this. I’ll have to figure out how to work it since there are 6 of us. I’m assuming that means 2 rooms. What cards are good for helping to pay for an MSC cruise?

I know they have family suites if you book soon enough. Otherwise two cabins would work. Fortunately, they aren’t super expensive and kids cruise free on a lot of itineraries. The Capital One Venture is a great card for cruises, so hopefully you get that one!

Thank you for the review. I am a little confused about the hotels you mentioned. Did you stay in Hotels?

No, we just went there for the day during our cruise stop! You can book your own excursions and do whatever you want. I write about hotels for a living, so I like to visit as many as possible.

This is the best review I have seen about the DIvinia. Your review is very encouraging as I have not seen many that detail a positive experience. We are frequent travelers who have cruised many times but this is our first time cruising with MSC. We usually eat dinner in the main dining room when we cruise, how dressed up did people seem when you were there? Polo shirts for the men or tie and a jacket? I hate to over pack and knowing this would be very helpful. Diana

It was pretty casual. My husband and I went to the gala night once on accident and my husband had on nice jeans and a Hawaiian shirt. He was fine. Some people do dress up but there are many, many others who just wear nice slacks and a top. Polo shirts for men would be just fine.

Hi! This is a very late question, we are taking the MSC divina cruise in Dec. Of 2019. We also have a 36 hour stop in Aruba, just curious.. so you booked a hotel room on the island as opposed to going back to the ship in the evening?

No. We just went to the hotel for the day to check it out and use the beach. We went back to the ship that night. Mostly, we wanted to see the hotel so we knew if we liked it for a possible future trip.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Pin It on Pinterest

Travel | MSC Cruises to bring a 2nd ship to Port Canaveral

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)

Daily e-Edition

Evening e-Edition

• Entertainment
• Theater and Arts
• Things to Do
• Restaurants, Food & Drink

Things To Do

Subscriber only.

MSC Grandiosa was the first Meraviglia Plus class ship for MSC Cruises. It debuted in 2019. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Wild Forest Aquapark on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Safari pool on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Galleria Grandiosa on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

L'Atelier Bistro on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Lego-themed kids club on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

MSC Grandiosa will begin seven-night Caribbean itineraries in December 2025 for the winter sailing season while MSC Seashore remains, but sailing short three- and four-night Bahamas sailings to Nassau and the cruise line’s private island Ocean Cay.

It’s the largest MSC ship yet to sail from the port. The Meraviglia Plus-class vessel is among the top 20 largest cruise ships worldwide at 181,541 gross tons and a maximum passenger capacity of 6,334. It debuted in 2019 and features a water park, five pools, nine hot tubs, spa, the MSC Yacht Club exclusive area and a Lego partnership in its kids clubs.

One of the more dramatic features is the 323-foot-long Galleria Grandiosa promenade with an LED projection screen over the length of the walkway. The ship features 10 restaurants including the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, Hola! Tacos & Cantina, Kaito Sushi, Kaito Tepanyaki and L’Atelier Bistrot.

This is its first time taking on North American duties, and its arrival coincides with the debut out of PortMiami of the MSC World America, which will be even larger.

“The Winter 2025-2026 season will mark our largest presence in the U.S. to date, and our expansion at Port Canaveral is a big part of that,” said MSC Cruises USA President Rubén A. Rodríguez in a press release. “We know people sailing from Central Florida want options, and we’re delighted to offer them two of our most modern and glamorous ships with itineraries that will appeal to everyone from first-time to seasoned cruisers.”

MSC first began sailing from the port in 2021, joining mainstays Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian. It has shuffled several ships for short runs for what Rodríguez said was a taste of what MSC has to offer. That has included MSC Divina, MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seashore.

The family-owned cruise line has its roots in Europe, so the line plays up its “unique international flavor” compared with the other lines, while also touting its environmental efforts such as can be found on the private Bahamas island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. It is undergoing a major expansion effort to support excursions and on-island activities.

MSC Grandiosa will trade off alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. Eastern trips will visit Nassau and Ocean Cay, Bahamas; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands. Western trips will visit Nassau; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; Montego Bay and Falmouth, Jamaica; and Belize City, Belize.

“We are honored that MSC Cruises chose Port Canaveral for the North American debut of their magnificent MSC Grandiosa,” said Port Canaveral CEO John Murray in the release. “Expanding their homeport fleet at Port Canaveral underscores their confidence in our partnership and shared commitment to success.”

The growing port for a time took on the title of world’s busiest cruise port after the pandemic, and while PortMiami has since retaken that title, Port Canaveral continues to expand its ship offerings.

The last sailing season saw 16 ships that either homeported year-round or sailed seasonally, and it expects that number to grow to 19 for the 2024-2025 sailing season, including the debuts of Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises this fall.

More in Travel

Travel | New issue of ‘Explore Florida & the Caribbean’ is going places

Travel | Bison in Florida? They roam with wild horses at Paynes Prairie State Park

Universal Orlando | First look: DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios

Theme Parks | Theme parks prep previews for Tiana ride, DreamWorks Land

Mon-Fri 9am - 7pm EST Sat-Sun 9am - 6pm EST

MSC VIRTUOSA

MSC Virtuosa's namesake comes from the word virtuoso, meaning "someone highly skilled in any field of activity", and so MSC Virtuosa was named to pay homage to the skill and expertise of the MSC Cruises architects and shipyard partners at Chantiers de l'Atlantique who designed and built this innovative class of ships.

MSC Virtuosa, along with her sister ships MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa and MSC Euribia, belongs to the “Meraviglia Class”, where the impressive array of onboard experiences come together in perfect harmony with the space and the destinations, to deliver the ultimate cruise holiday experience.

Itineraries

NORTHERN EUROPE

The Naming Ceremony of MSC Virtuosa took place in Dubai on 27th November 2021.

Read more  | Watch the video

MAIN FEATURES

Environmental stewardship.

Air emissions  98% reduction of sulphur oxide (SOx) and 90% reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions thanks to the most advanced technologies. Energy efficiency Wide range of energy-saving equipment to maximise efficiency such as smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Wastewater & Protecting Marine Life Advanced wastewater treatment system with higher purification standards than most wastewater treatment facilities ashore. Discover more on how the MSC Group is actively contributing to impactful environmental conservation and humanitarian programs at the MSC Foundation Centre on board.

Starship Club

Welcome to MSC Starship Club, home to Rob, the 1st humanoid robotic bartender at sea! MSC Starship Club offers a futuristic immersive experience, traveling on a journey through new galactic destinations all while Rob prepares your signature cocktail (and maybe even tells you a joke or shows off his dance moves)! 

Galleria Virtuosa

The indoor promenade features both Main and Specialty Restaurants along with numerous shops. With 1168m2 of retail space, MSC Virtuosa will exceed the already record breaking retail space onboard MSC Grandiosa, to present the largest shopping area at sea on any cruise ship with 11 state-of-the art boutiques and over 250 brands. The promenade is destined to become the ultimate destination for socializing and entertainment possibilities for guests.

Carousel Productions at Sea

Enjoy an all-new entertainment concept blending breathtaking acrobatics, dance and live music to create exclusive original productions specially designed for MSC Meraviglia Class ships. It offers avant-garde artistic and immersive performances combined with the innovative technology in a surprising mix of new expressions and experimentation that will make you feel part of the show.

On board MSC Virtuosa, you'll have the unique opportunity to admire two spectacular productions: AJEDREZ, inspired by the game of chess, and ARKYMEA, the story of a scientist in search of a hidden world. The shows take place twice a night, six nights a week, only at the Carousel Lounge, a glamorous, modern, technology-packed venue. Taste our Signature Cocktail while you enjoy a pre-show followed by this unique entertainment experience. (not included in the cruise fare, limited spaces, a signature cocktail package needs to be booked) DISCOVER MORE

Family & Children

MSC Cruises is known for its award-winning family offering and has a long-standing partnership with the LEGO Group to design the kids club areas as well as on board activities.  Discover all activities and services for children, tweens, teens and their parents here

MSC Virtuosa Pools

The numbers don't lie — 5 outstanding and unique pools, including one of the biggest and most intricate waterparks at sea!  The pools on MSC Virtuosa are capable of accommodating over 1,000 + guests with comfort. What's more? The Atmosphere Pool offers 18,000+ sq. ft. (which is equivalent to approx. 107 sq. ft. of public space per guest) and is one of the most plentiful to be found at sea. 

Spa & Wellness

MSC Aurea Spa includes a thermal area, massage & body treatments, facials and beauty services. Panoramic gym equipped with the latest Technogym machines, 5 outstanding pools and the TOP 19 Exclusive solarium.

MSC Yacht Club

Offering sweeping views and suites in the most premier location on the ship, the MSC Yacht Club  offers an all-inclusive, premium luxury experience. Guests staying in the MSC Yacht Club can enjoy private dining, a large private pool with solarium and whirlpool, a private lounge and bar and much more.

What's more? This all-inclusive experience includes complimentary drinks, unlimited wi-fi, complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa, an abundance of luxurious amenities and more.

  WATCH THE VIDEO

STATEROOMs & Suites

Whether you’re looking for a duplex suite with private whirlpool, an ocean view stateroom or stateroom for families, you’ll find it all on MSC Virtuosa.

• Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request
• Luxury suites with premium decor
• Select suites have a balcony with private whirlpool
• Sitting area with sofa or separate living area
• Spacious closet
• Bathroom with shower and/or bathtub
• Interactive TV, telephone, safe and minibar
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• ZOE - in-cabin Bluetooth speaker
• Approx. 182 - 624 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 54 -753 ft 2
• Located on decks 9 - 18

Choose the Suite that best suits you:

• MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite (approx. 624 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 753 ft 2 , deck 15)
• MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite with Whirlpool (approx. 635 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 248 ft 2 , decks 9 - 12)
• MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite (approx. 312 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 54 ft 2 , decks 14 - 18) 
• MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite (approx. 183 ft 2 , decks 14 - 16) 

Discover a world of privileges with MSC Yacht Club. 

The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same stateroom category).

• Sitting area with double sofa bed
• Bathroom with shower or bathtub, vanity area and hairdryer
• Wi-Fi access available ($)
• Approx. 269 - 420 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 32 - 388 ft 2
• Located on decks 9 - 14
• Grand Suite Aurea with Terrace and Whirlpool (approx. 420 ft 2 with a large balcony that is approx. 388 ft 2 , deck 12)  
• Premium Suite Aurea with Terrace and Whirlpool (approx. 291 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 280 - 323 ft 2 , decks 9 - 13)  
• Premium Suite Aurea (approx. 269 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 32 - 151 ft 2 , decks 9 - 14) 
• Sitting area with single sofa bed
• Approx. 129 – 183 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 43 – 86 ft 2 Choose the stateroom type that best suits you:
• Balcony Aurea (best location, approx. 183 ft 2 , decks 11 - 13)
• Deluxe Balcony (approx. 183 ft 2 , decks 8 - 14)
• Deluxe Balcony with Partial View (approx. 183 ft 2 , decks 8 and 14)
• Studio Balcony (single occupancy, approx. 129 ft 2 , decks 13 - 14) The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same stateroom category).

Entertainment

MSC Virtuosa will offer a superb choice of entertainment for the whole family, from days in the water park or sports center to evenings in the super-amusement park or the multi-purpose karaoke bar, comedy club, TV studio & bar.

Restaurants & Buffet

A choice of 11 dining venues promises something special for every taste including a brand new Indochine restaurant concept - a delicious take on the Vietnamese classics with a French twist.

Indochine Restaurant

Guests will be able to choose from a savory selection of French-Vietnamese dishes, along with a variety of Vegetarian and Vegan options. The carefully selected wine list features both Old and New World wines and Tropical signature cocktails complement the authentic experience.

Hola! Tacos & Cantina

The new, fast-casual street food dining concept offers a selection of Latin American and Mexican-inspired dishes and drinks to be shared and enjoyed in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, open for lunch and dinner. Choose from an array of dishes including blue corn tacos and nachos, authentic beef empanadas and tasty tamales, tortilla soup or vegetarian tacos, all to be savored with our selection of Top 10 Tequilas and Mezcals!

Sea Pavilion

This exclusive restaurant is a world of contemporary Asian culinary emotions.

Kaito Sushi Bar

Tradition and modernity go hand in hand in this stylish sushi restaurant. This charming venue offers deliciously authentic Asian cuisine prepared on the spot with only the freshest, highest quality ingredients.

Kaito Teppanyaki

Step in, choose your spot at one of four cooking stations and watch your delicious Japanese dishes come to life, right before your eyes. Our expert chefs cook with flair on an open grill: a feast for the senses that sees flames and the finest sizzling ingredients coming together to form delicious dishes you'll remember forever.

Marketplace Buffet

The extensive buffet area includes various multifunction corners serving international dishes, ethnic cuisine, healthy options and a multitude of other tastes. It’s the ideal place for enjoying a great informal dining experience with a spectacular sea view.

Butcher's Cut

The traditional American-style steakhouse, Butcher’s Cut, celebrates the skill of a master butcher. Serving specialty cuts of meats including dry-aged tomahawk, t-bone, as well as surf and turf, this is a true steak-lovers dream, cooked in an open kitchen, giving onto a relaxed and sophisticated restaurant, inspired by the Golden Age of America.

Minuetto Restaurant

Blue danube restaurant, il campo restaurant, bars and lounges.

21 bars: 5 outdoor bars with breathtaking view and 16 indoor bars, each offering a unique experience  including the first humanoid Robotic Bartender at sea. The robot will be at the centre of an immersive bar experience and will entertain guests in eight different languages.

MSC Starship club

The 1 st  futuristic immersive experience at sea, MSC Starship Club takes our guests to a different world. Featuring Rob, the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea! This futuristic venue is much more than just a bar, it's an immersive entertainment experience.

What makes Rob & MSC Starship Club unique?

• Over 40 ingredients to create your own recipe
• 16 signature cosmic cocktails (alcohol and alcohol-free)
• Infinite personalized cocktail options
• Interactive Infinity Touchtable (a futuristic experience traveling in the solar system & beyond)
• 3D holographic futuristic projections
• Souvenir glass (themed futuristic glass to take home) 

Not only can Rob mix a range of signature cosmic drinks, he also speaks 8 languages, and enjoys entertaining guests with jokes, riddles and space facts. If he's in the mood, he may even show you his dance moves!

L’Atelier Bar & Art

This warm, elegant bar offers a carefully selected wine list and creative signature cocktails accompanied by the sound of live jazz music and a pop-up art gallery.

In addition, discover the Art Wall and the current exhibition of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, the pioneers of Pop Art. Read more

Dance away into the early hours in our chic nightclub. Grab yourself a drink from our extensive list of cocktails, mocktails, Spritz, Mojito’s, classic cocktails, beers or ciders and feel the beat. Dance the night away as skilled DJ’s spin the best of today’s dance and club favorites through a state-of-the-art sound system in our trendy nightclub.

Carousel Lounge

Sit back and enjoy the fun with an exclusive Signature Cocktail at the Carousel Lounge, a glamorous and modern, technology-packed venue specifically designed to meet the needs of Carousel Productions at Sea. This custom-built lounge covers 1,000 sq.m. and can accommodate up to 400 guests. Taste our Signature Cocktail while you enjoy a pre-show followed by this immersive entertainment experience. (Not included in the cruise fare. Limited spaces; a signature cocktail package needs to be booked).

Jean-Philippe Crêpes & Gelato

A gourmet ice cream parlour and French-style crêperie dreamed up by award-winning master pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury. Located in the impressive indoor promenade, it's the perfect place to enjoy a mouth watering made-to-order crêpe, with your choice of delicious sweet or savory fillings. Treat someone you love to our unique house-made gelato or sorbet. Jean-Philippe Maury’s award winning gelato is made on the premises, using only the finest quality ingredients and fresh fruit purees.

Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café

French master pâtissier Chocolatier Jean-Philippe Maury brings his award-winning touch to this coffee and chocolate bar boutique where enticingly sweet delights are created just for you in our unique open concept chocolate kitchen. As well as choosing from a variety of exquisite Chef created chocolate candies, guests can also create their very own chocolate bar right at the tablet stations. The boutique offers also a wide assortment of delectable French macaroons and fresh roasted coffee. No matter your preference, there is something for everyone.

Red Gem Casino bar

Hit the jackpot at our spacious bar in Le Grand Casino. Get that James Bond feeling, order a drink from our skilled bar tenders and cast an eye over the Casino as you contemplate where lady luck will go to next. We have a wide variety of selected cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine and fine spirits to refresh yourself with as you take a break from play.

Enjoy the atmosphere of the big game in our unique sports bar. The wide and varied choice of draft beers, bottled beers, ciders and cocktails that we carefully selected are sure to quench even the strongest thirst. To satisfy any hunger pangs, you can snack on our freshly made hotdogs, a perfect accompaniment to any game.

Masters of the Sea

Atmospheric and charismatic, our traditional British pub is the perfect setting to drop in for a pint. Serving beer, premium spirits and a wide array of beer based cocktails, the pub is an ideal place to kick back and have fun. If hunger kicks in, you can also enjoy  burgers, hotdogs and the traditional beer battered fish and chips made with the freshest ingredients by our talented chefs to satisfy your hunger pangs. 

Infinity Bar

There are infinite choices in this ideal spot to join friends for an aperitif before a meal, or for a refreshing drink at any time of day. From traditional aperitifs, our Signature Cocktails to the contemporary classics, there is something to suit your taste.

TV Studio & Bar

Broadcasting live throughout the ship, our TV Studio and radio suite air live games, quizzes, talent contests and other fun content. An excellent selection of cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks are available to get you ready for your big performance.

Atmosphere Bar North

Relax at the poolside with friends and family, with a refreshing drink from the Atmosphere Bar North. From Signature Cocktails, beers, coladas, soft drinks, coffee and tea there is something to suit everyone’s taste.

Atmosphere Bar South

Days by the pool with the grill, what could be better! We realize that hunger can strike at any time and at the Atmosphere South Bar our expert chefs serve up fresh and tasty specialties hot off the grill 20 hours a day. Satisfy your cravings from our menu of freshly grilled food!

Savannah Bar

Top sail lounge.

Enjoy spectacular views in this elegant lounge, offering the Yacht Club bar list of spirits, craft cocktails, beers and wines, soft drinks and coffee drinks. You can also enjoy a fine selection of gourmet finger food throughout the day. 

DUBAI, ABU DHABI & QATAR

Use the deck plans to select your ideal stateroom or suite. The plan allows you to pinpoint the locations, while the colors distinguish the stateroom category.

{{deckPlanInfoHeader}}

{{deckPlanInfoText}}

• 6. Beethoven
• 10. Gershwin
• 11. Puccini
• 12. Paganini
• 14. Tchaikovsky
• 15. Morricone
• 16. Debussy
• 18. Schumann
• 19. Mendelssohn
• Studio Interior
• Deluxe Interior
• Junior Ocean View with Obstructed View
• Junior Ocean View
• Deluxe Ocean View
• Premium Ocean View
• Studio Balcony
• Deluxe Balcony
• Deluxe Balcony with partial view
• Deluxe Balcony Aurea
• Premium Suite Aurea
• Grand Suite Aurea with terrace and whirlpool
• MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite
• MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite
• MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite with whirlpool
• MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite

° Single cabin with reduced size bed (140x200cm).

°° Reduced size bed (140x200cm).

• Our ships offer the possibility of combining 2 or 3 connecting cabins based on the ship class. Call our Contact Center to choose the best accommodation for you.

• All cabins have one double bed convertible to two single beds except for Studio Interior°.

• 3rd and 4th beds available in all categories except for Junior Ocean View with obstructed view °°, Junior Ocean View°° and MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite.

• 5th and 6th beds available in Premium Ocean View and Premium Suite Aurea

• Cabins 13265, 13376, 14235, 14278 have only bunk bed.

Ship configuration, data and descriptions may be subject to change depending on the season and on the destination and must be verified at the time of booking.

• Gross tonnage: 181,541
• Number of passengers: 6,334 guests
• Number of staterooms: 2,421
• Crew members: 1,704
• Length/Beam/Height: 1,086 ft.  / 141 ft. / 213 ft.
• Maximum Speed: 22.2 knots

Thank you for visiting MSC Cruises

Your browser may be out of date or not compatible with our new site and may not be secure.

For a better experience and to continue your booking with MSC, please update your browser by downloading the latest version below.

Thank you for visiting our site and we look forward to seeing you on board soon!

MSC Cruises

• Holiday Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Holiday Homes
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

MSC Divina Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• 4D Cinema *
• Arts Classes
• Cybercafé *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• F1 Simulator *
• Hot Tubs (12)
• MSC Aurea Spa *
• MSC Sports Arena
• Power Walking Track
• Shuffleboard
• Sports Bar Bowling *
• Sports Tournaments
• Video Games Arcade *
• Virtual World *
• Waterslides
• Teens Toboga
• Black & White Lounge
• Casinò Veneziano *
• Comedy Performances
• Pantheon Theater
• Piazza Del Doge
• Silver Lounge
• MSC Yacht Club
• Bar - Pool Bar *
• Calumet Buffet - Casual
• Manitou Buffet - Casual
• The Cigar Lounge - Cigar Bar *
• Silver Lounge Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Caffé Italia - Coffee & Pastries *
• The Black Crab Restaurant - International
• Villa Rossa Panoramic Restaurant - International
• Eataly Steakhouse - italian *
• Ristorante Italia - italian *
• Golden Jazz Bar - Jazz Bar *
• Divina Bar - Lobby Bar *
• La Luna Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
• Poseidon Bar - Pool Bar *
• The Garden Bar - Pool Bar *
• Tritone Bar - Pool Bar *
• The One Bar - Top Deck Bar *
• La Cantina di Bacco - Wine Bar *
• Le Muse MSC Yacht Club Dedicated Restaurant - Yacht Club Guests
• Top Sail Lounge - Yacht Club Guests

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

• Excellent 60
• Very Good 56
• Terrible 163
• All languages ( 401 )
• English ( 258 )
• Italian ( 97 )
• Spanish ( 28 )

Upcoming itineraries