What You Need to Know About MSC Divina, 2017
Summary
Our second time on the MSC Divina secured it as a favorite for us. We acclimated quickly having been on the ship before. This time we decided to cruise along with some friends, a younger couple new to cruising, on a shorter Bahamas cruise.
This ship blew their minds with how pretty it was and all that was available to do on board. As first time cruisers, they didn't really know what to expect and the Divina surpassed all possible expectations. They loved the main dining room and the drink vouchers that came with the Fantastica room. They loved the decor and the layout of the balcony room. Terry and I splurged a little and went for an Aft Balcony room and were so happy with it! We loved having the extra space to relax and of course the view of the sunset each night.
Itinerary
The itinerary for this cruise was quick and to the point. The Bahamas. We cruised out of Miami and went to Freeport and Nassau. This wasn't a great itinerary for Terry and I as we don't really like either location simply because we have been to both locations quite a few times. So we did a lot of research on things to do in both destinations that we haven't done before so that we could enjoy ourselves. We decided to try out Paradise Cove at Dead Man's Reef. It looked like the perfect excursion to try while in Freeport.
As for Nassau, we decided to taxi over to Atlantis for sightseeing.
We knew that this itinerary was perfect for our first time cruiser friends though. Perfect for beach days and a little taste of the Caribbean lifestyle.
Highlights
The best thing about this Bahamas cruise was that we got to hang out with our friends for the 5 day cruise and it was lovely. They really enjoyed the ship as they were new to cruising. Our friends loved the ship and how beautiful it is. They really enjoyed the food and all the different options available. They particularly liked the main dining room and being made to feel like VIPs by the crew.
Another highlight of this trip was a bit of misfortune. We did not end up going to Paradise Cove; decided to save it for a trip for just the two of us. We opted to stay with our friends and be good cruise hosts, so to speak. We decided to try our luck with some local cuisine for lunch and then find something else to get into.
For lunch, we asked our taxi driver to take us somewhere that he goes to. For the life of me, I didn't see the name of the restaurant anywhere and it looked rather suspect when we arrived. Isn't that always the case for some of the best food!? The place was packed but our taxi driver spoke to the hostess/manager and we were seated right away. I guessed because we were tourists and he was working for a good tip. Lunch ended up being quite delicious. I had a conch burger, which was essentially a giant crabcake-like patty but made with conch meat and shrimp.
We ended up going to Taino Beach and purchasing a day pass after lunch. It was fun and reasonable. We had access to non-motorized water sports, like kayaks and water trampolines. They also had food available. We mainly sat at the bar and enjoyed cocktails. This was our mistake. Somehow we ended all the way back at the cruise port before Terry realized that he didn't have his phone!
What's Missing
Considering this was our second time on the ship, we still agreed that this ship still needed more as far as a water park or more slides. But without our kids, we were able to be more laid back instead of adventurous. Other than that, this time around, we felt at ease maneuvering about the ship as it was familiar territory.
Main Takeaways
The MSC Divina is a perfect choice for first time cruisers as well as for families. The Bahamas cruise was also perfect for time cruisers as well. See the review of our family trip here. Our friends thoroughly enjoyed themselves and acclimated to cruise life quite easily. We love the entertainment staff and the shows. They are so fabulously talented! We really enjoyed our time at Taino Beach, probably a little too much. We loved our aft balcony and if you are a balcony lover then you must book an aft balcony at least once. It was a huge balcony and came with chaise loungers.
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