Traveling with EuroCaribe Getaways: September 2016

The MSC Divina, 133,000 tons and 1093 feet of luxury cruising....

First view of the ship on the way to the port (photo courtesy of Jennifer Hawthorn)...

From the moment you enter the atrium of this beautiful ship you realize you have stepped into another world. Quiet, understated, and of course the twin staircases, each inlaid with $40,000 of Swarovski crystals; welcome to the MSC Divina...

Her staterooms are large and very comfortable. I was in aft balcony 11305. Note: the aft balconies on deck 10 and 11 are twice the size of the regular aft balconies, 96 sq ft. vs. 42 sq ft.

This is where I hung out prior to sailaway :)

On the Divina you must bring your life jacket to the muster drill, which is held inside....

Sailaway from Miami is always spectacular....

The view of South Beach as you exit the channel and....


Head for open water.

The first stop anyone wants to make when boarding a ship is the Lido deck for a quick bite. The Lido spread of food on the Divina is huge and can satisfy any appetite. It is worth noting that the Divina has pastry chefs on board so the desserts are knock-your-socks-off delicious! The pizza is also true Napoli style. No thick crust, Chicago style pizza on this ship!

Speaking of dining...there are two dining rooms on board, the midship Black Crab....

And the aft, Villa Rossa....

Not done eating yet? There are two specialty dining areas on the Divina. These each carry an extra charge per person ($35).

First there is the Eataly Steakhouse....based on the quality of food and dining experience I cannot recommend this venue....

The other specialty dining venue is the Galaxy. This meal was sublime, service impeccable and I highly recommend trying this at least once. If you go at sunset the floor to ceiling windows from this top deck dining venue offer glorious views....

Like to get your cocktail on? Lots of choices on this ship....

The Silver Bar....

The Golden Bar....

The piano bar....

My personal favorite, the Black and White Lounge...

No ship would be complete without a sport's bar....

Yes, bowling on a ship (miniature, $8 per game)....

The entertainment on the Divina is top notch with a very talented group of performers. The shows are not to be missed....

Pantheon Theater...

The cruise director introducing the show...

After the Michael Jackson tribute the Captain came out to address the audience. He was very personable and very visible throughout the cruise.

Want to get your swim on? The Divina offers several options...

The aft pool....very quiet and serene here

The midship main pool...

There is one water slide on board...

Forward of the main pool is the solarium with yet another pool....

For quiet and serenity, semi-circling the aft on deck 16 is Le Prue. A solarium area with twin Jacuzzis, starboard and port. This was a VERY quiet and peaceful place...

For the sports enthusiasts or if you just want to get a quick game of basketball in, the Sport's Arena is your place....

One unique area on the Divina is the wine and pizza bar. Here, you can create your own wine blend with expert guidance. You can also create your own specialty pizza from the Eataly kitchen. Based on the quality of the pizza on the Lido deck, I don't recommend paying extra for this, but the option is there should you want to take it....

Very different from most cruise ships, the casino is completely non-smoking....

Casino entrance....

One of the main thoroughfares through the ship, the Piazza Del Doge offers a great place to have a glass of wine while listening to a jazz ensemble, grab a pastry (remember those pastry chefs on board?) or a cool gelato....

For late night dancing the night away, you'll find the Galaxy Disco on deck 16...

And for you gamers, they offer a game room, 4D cinema, F1 simulator and Virtual World....

Now....I saved the best part of the ship for last. The MSC Divina has an exclusive area known as the Yacht Club. Exclusive to only the guests staying there, it offers a level of service far exceeding the standard fare. Each stateroom receives the personal service of a butler and concierge. The area is key card entry only. Guests of the Yacht Club have their own lounge forward in the ship where snacks and beverages are served all day. The area also has it's own pool, solarium, bars, serenity area and dining room. The Yacht Club is all inclusive. These are but a small sampling of this breathtaking option. I highly recommend that you try this at least once, and check it off the bucket list. You will not be sorry :)

Just some of the breakfast offerings in the Top Sail Lounge...

The Swarovski staircase in the Yacht Club....

A very small part of the overall pool, solarium, serenity, bar area exclusively offered to Yacht Club guests, which encompasses the entire aft deck on level 18....