For background information, my husband and I are seasoned cruisers. Most of our cruises have been on Carnival - not out of brand loyalty so much, but because they have a wide range of itineraries at reasonable prices. We can usually find something inexpensive that fits the dates we have available to travel and visits some interesting ports of call. When the opportunity presents itself to try another cruise line, though, we look forward to trying something new. So, when we made a somewhat last-minute decision to take a short cruise before the busy holiday season, I was delighted to stumble across a deal on the MSC Divina that included a free balcony upgrade and $100 onboard credit. It was a short trip to their private island and Nassau, and sounded perfect for just relaxing and recharging. We didn’t have any expectations other than being able to chill out on our balcony, eat good food, and get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, we didn’t even get those things.

First the Pros:

—The ship is absolutely beautiful! Very classy and sophisticated decor, and the Swarovski crystal staircase is definitely something to see! Read more