I Felt Ignored as a Turkish Guest on MSC Divina Aegean & Mediterranean Cruise

My family and I joined the MSC Divina Aegean & Mediterranean cruise departing from Kuşadası from May 26 to June 2, 2025. Unfortunately, the experience fell far below our expectations. Despite the large number of Turkish passengers, the ship had only 7 Turkish-speaking staff members, and after the first day, no announcements were made in Turkish—while other languages were used consistently. During shore excursions, there were no Turkish-speaking guides available.

Even worse, the time allocated in Italy was too short, while small Greek islands received more time, which felt unbalanced. Turkish guests felt like second-class travelers—treated like “get-on, get-off” customers. If you don’t buy a drink package, even water costs extra. The buffet was underwhelming, and onboard store discounts ended before reaching Italy, which made no sense.

We expected a culturally inclusive and relaxing experience, but what we got instead was a cruise tailored for Italian guests, not for those boarding from Turkey. It was a complete letdown, and I sincerely hope MSC reconsiders how it treats passengers from different regions. I do not recommend this cruise for Turkish families unless major changes are made.