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MSC Divina

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MSC Splendida

MSC Meraviglia

Nevis

After the MSC Divina we were given free overland transfers to Genoa but as soon as we arrived I felt a downgrade in everything compared to the Divina. We were dumped around 500m away from the rather dirty maritime station with all our luggage along with a few fellow ex-MSC Divina passengers. Instead of offering help or even giving us directions MSC staff came to collect a few cardboard boxes belonging to MSC and just went away, leaving an elderly traveller to carry all his luggage along with his son who had a broken leg. At Checkin our NZ passports were confiscated with no reason at all except for a 'We need it'. This was in contrast to the friendly and efficient check-in at Venice for the MSC Divina. 

Entertainment: 
This was the biggest disappointment, on the first night the show consisted of acts that one would expect at a high school talent show or a childrens magician program. I won't go into details but it was a severe letdown after the spectacular shows on the Divina. Even in the following shows during the cruise the performers were simply unimpressive. If you want to be dazzled sail only on the Divina.

Service:
Apart from the initial encounter the crew were mostly polite and helpful throughout the cruise. 

Dining:
Food essentially the same as the Divina though you may notice a slightly inferior quality about some of it, e.g watered down syrups and drinks. Never tried the sit down restaurants onboard the Splendida, if it was mediocre on board Divina I'd hate to think what it would've been like on this ship.
Buffet at breakfast+lunch was chaotic and incredibly crowded, alot of fellow passengers cut lines and it felt like a food free-for-all. 

Excursions: 
At Barcelona asked an excursion desk staffmember if there was a shuttle to the city as the excursions availible were quite expensive, was frankly angry when he told me he didn't know. He works for MSC and has obviously been to Barcelona many times on board the ship he obviously knew and was simply pressuring us into buying a trip, even if he didn't know asking a superior would've been no problem. This was the night before landing at Barcelona. We never received this kind of service on the Divina, it shouldn't happen for a ship of the same class as Divina. After we discovered there was a shuttle they would not let us have a refund or even credit another excursion.

Appearance of ship:
Public areas kept quite clean though the pool deck got quite disgusting after a day at sea. Generally well kept.

For the Flagship of MSC I was quite disappointed with the Splendida, it seems MSC has allocated all the talent and money to the Divina and left the Splendida to rot and cater for less popular routes. If I cruise in the Mediterranean again I will most definitely go with MSC, but only with the marvellous Divina.

MSC Double cruise Part 2

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