I think that TMTIP is correct, and that the coffee is different at different locations. Cruisers have been told that at least some of the coffee is brewed, and I have absolutely no doubt that what I drank was definitely NOT instant.
So it may be that the coffee at the coffee station and/or some other places is instant (or just not fresh), but since I don't ever drink "old" coffee I would not even try that at the coffee station on deck 9. Also, getting coffee at lunch on a cruise is probably asking for old coffee, since I don't expect much coffee is consumed then. It has been mentioned that the umbrella of the Nescafe brand now actually includes regular bean coffee as well as the instant stuff, so perhaps if someone was told the coffee was Nescafe they incorrectly assumed instant.
Anyway, I had coffee every single morning. While it was not the absolute best I had ever had in my life, it certainly was perfectly acceptable and freshly brewed/perked.