Passengers: 4,345
Best for: Families, night owls, and anyone wants to mingle with an international group of travelers
Sails: The Caribbean and the Mediterranean
At a Glance: This European ship has a distinctly international vibe, with as many Brits, Brazilians, and Italians as Americans onboard. Glamour rules here: Think Swarovski-crystal-covered stairs in the main atrium, Italian marble everywhere, and a suite designed by Sophia Loren.
The Cabins Are Spacious
Don’t stress about that stuffed suitcase: All the cabins on the ship are comfortable with plenty of storage room, and range in size from 120 square feet for the smallest oceanview cabin to 560 square feet for the two glam Royal Suites. (The one swathed in red and hung with black-and-white photos of Sophia Loren was designed by the star herself.) The Royal Suites are part of the ship’s Yacht Club, cabins that have a separate restaurant, lounge, concierge, and pool deck all to themselves. Drinks are complimentary in Yacht Club areas, and there’s even a private elevator to the Aurea Spa and a dedicated massage room.
The Activities List Is Long
This ship spends a lot of time in the Caribbean, so many of the high-profile activities involve water: there’s a waterslide, an infinity pool, a pool with a retractable roof, and a pool just for Yacht Club passengers, as well as a collection of pools and hot tubs on Deck 16 known as AquaPark. But techies will also want to head to Virtual World to check out the 4D Theater and the Formula One racing simulator. Wine lovers can blend their own vintage—and bring home bottles of the stuff—during the Winery at Sea program. Bowlers can knock down some pins at the Sports Bar. As for the entertainment, productions in the opulent Pantheon Theatre are excellent—especially the ship’s abridged version of Verdi’s La Traviata.
Kids Sail Free
This is a family-focused ship: Children under 11 are free as long as they stay in the same cabin as their parents. By day, the kids clubs entertain children, tweens, and teens. In the evening, kids can eat with staff in the buffet restaurant, or do a quick meal with their parents during appetizers, then head to the club while the grown-ups finish their meals.
There’s an Eataly Onboard
This line has deep Mediterranean roots, so when in doubt, order the pizza. Or pasta. Or gelato. Food in the two main dining rooms is included—Yacht Club passengers also have access to the excellent Le Muse—but it’s worth the extra cash to eat at the ship’s popular Eataly whenever you can. It’s split into Eataly Steakhouse, Ristorante Italia, and Eataly Shop, where you can buy wine, olives, olive oils, and other Italian goods. You can also order Eataly pizza through room service or at La Cantina di Bacco, the ship’s wine bar. (Pizza and pasta are also served at Divina’s buffet restaurants.) For something sweet, grab a gelato poolside or stop by the Nutella cart for a crepe. If you want to go upscale, try the Mediterranean Fusion at Galaxy Disco: the windows are huge and the sunset views are amazing.
The Parties Go Late
On some ships, the fun shuts down after 10 p.m. or so. Not on MSC Divina, where the European clientele are used to staying up late. There’s a piano bar, sports bar, jazz club, wine bar, and even a Venetian-square-inspired café where you can sip limoncellos before bed. And there are the MSC theme nights: At the White Party, for example, passengers dress in all white and have a party on the deck; on Italian Night, it’s red, white, and green; and during Flower Glory, it’s 70s wear. For an after party, head to the Black and White Lounge or Galaxy Disco, which stays open until the wee hours.
