MSC Cruises MSC Meraviglia ship review

msc meraviglia cruise reviews

The good thing about the main dining rooms is that, unlike old-school cruising, you’re given your own table, even if you’re only a party of 2. Another head-scratcher is you might still have to pay a supplement to eat in certain restaurants, even if you booked a dining package that includes a set number of specialty restaurants for a set fee. Specialty coffee from the onboard chocolate shop also isn't included with the packages, nor are coffees on private island Ocean Cay, which leads me to my next head-scratcher. I had the single best coffee drink of my life when we called on Ocean Cay. The Coco-Nilla Latte is espresso, vanilla flavoring and coconut milk, and I loved it so much that I tried to have it replicated on board.

Restaurants, dining, and food options on the Meraviglia

Much of the main dining room fare is indeed so-so — palatable but largely underseasoned and mass-produced, so that it often looks like it's been sitting under a heat lamp when it reaches you. Food in the buffet is varied and tasty, but it can also become repetitive after a week, and the space is frequently crowded and confusing to navigate. However, passenger flow is an issue, with many public spaces so crowded they're uncomfortable, and service is painfully slow in some bars and restaurants. You'll likely end up paying a lot more than you originally planned because some of the most enticing things to do come with added fees. And, as my travel companion so succinctly put it, I've never been told "no" so many times on a cruise. As far as the complimentary dining goes, the food is unfortunately not great.

MSC Meraviglia Cabins & Staterooms on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

MSC Meraviglia Cabins & Staterooms on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:06:34 GMT [source]

The Marketplace Buffet

It’s both really nice (albeit too small) and not terribly expensive, especially when booked in advance. The thermal suite is not big enough for a cruise ship the size of the Meraviglia but it does suffice with all the expected therapy rooms like steam, sauna, salt, and various hydrotherapy pools. While an effort is made and a basic system is in place to limit occupancy, it’s not strictly adhered to, so it can get a little crowded. It’s best to go in the evenings when passengers are at shows and for dinner. If you’re a “spa person”, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised and it’s probably worth the spa pass (can be as low as $120 for 5 days when pre-booked). It’s good to know that if you are GOLD level in the Voyagers Club loyalty program, you get one free entry to the thermal suites!

msc meraviglia cruise reviews

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

It leaves a lot to be desired and leaves us wondering things like … why would they offer a steak if it’s inedible? Just don’t have it on the menu if it can’t be prepared properly. I saw quite a bit of food waste, which is my biggest “personal issue”pet peeve” with cruising, but that could be curbed if the food served wasn’t just downright bad.

Cabin Review

It has a decent variety of stations, but the food is often the same from day to day. The layout is confusing to navigate, too, with lots of nooks and crannies that can make it difficult to find what you're looking for. It was crowded beyond reason during mealtimes, so I avoided it whenever possible, only eating there twice during the voyage for research purposes. As mentioned above, I was booked in the Yacht Club and dined in either the Yacht Club Restaurant or one of the specialty restaurants for dinner each night. I made good use of the free Wi-Fi inclusion (for two devices per person). The free room service was handy when I just had to order late-night pizza.

MSC Meraviglia Drink Packages

A couple of 11-night Western Caribbean voyages visit Port Canaveral (the port for Orlando) and Miami in Florida, Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Ocean Cay. "Born to Rock," "One Day More," "Cool" and "Journey" are the ship's recurring shows, which each appear once per weeklong cruise. They focus on popular songs in the rock 'n' roll and pop genres, Broadway hits, music from the '70s and '80s, and cultural favorites from Spain, Italy, France and more. Speaking of children, the ship has a dedicated kids club, called Doremiland (named after the cruise line's mascot, Doremi, as in the first three notes of a musical scale). The club is divided into Baby Club (infants and toddlers up to 3 years), Mini Club (ages 3 to 6 years), Junior Club (7 to 11 years), Young Club (12 to 14 years) and Teen Club (15 to 17 years). Napkin folding, bingo, movie screenings, arts and crafts, and passenger talent shows (yes, you have to audition) round out the list of pastimes.

It wouldn’t surprise me if people book the Yacht Club and never venture out to any other part of the ship, instead choosing to spend the cruise in the lap of luxury. There are plenty of drink stations within the Marketplace, and if you want to dine outside, there’s space on the back patio that overlooks the wake. There are two thalassotherapy pools within the thermal suite, steam rooms, a snow grotto, a salt room, an aromatherapy room, and a relaxation room.

The MSC Meraviglia Yacht Club Experience Review

It’s not as much of a full pool as it is a plunge pool. If you were to go into Manhattan and stay the night out there, you can quickly get onto the ferry from Wall Street over to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. All that said, MSC Meraviglia is an absolutely gorgeous ship that should appeal to a wide variety of cruisers. Elsewhere, the youth programs are interactive and (like most kids today) very tech-savvy, making it one of the most unique kid’s programs at sea. The televisions in the staterooms are interactive, allowing you to check your folio.

MSC Meraviglia Dining: Restaurants & Food on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

MSC Meraviglia Dining: Restaurants & Food on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:06:34 GMT [source]

How many pools are on the MSC Meraviglia?

Of course it's good to know where the MSC service falls a bit short, but nothing in this world is perfect, but good to manage expectations in that sense. "The ship was beautiful. The staff and crew offered a great service. Every single bartender there treated us like family." Cabin has a full bathtub and is the last balcony room near the aft. We had high hopes for this family cruise for eight people that was rescheduled due to the pandemic.

Thrill-seekers will love the Himalayan Bridge ropes course, located almost 200 feet above sea level on deck 19. One of the great things is that the lounge chairs aren’t only located around the pool. You’ll find them in expected and unexpected places, allowing you to be in the heart of the action or far from it, should you choose. Read on, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about what the Meraviglia offers so you can decide if the ship is right for you. I read all the reviews ahead of time too and was a little concerned, but went in with an open mind and didn't really experience what most others were complaining about.

Her biggest claim to fame is that she rocked the female vocals in Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love, But I Won't Do That." As you pass back and forth between events, don't miss the regularly scheduled dome shows along the Galleria Meraviglia promenade. You'll see the LED projections on the ceiling, covering topics like famous ceilings, dinosaurs, space and the changing of the seasons. The daytime schedule features plenty of options for those with a competitive spirit.

The atmosphere, food, and fun are great, especially for a family. You are effectively sitting in the hallways of the ship while being served. Unfortunately, the service can be quite slow and hindered by the fact that the sushi chefs are also preparing items for the Teppanyaki tables while trying to keep up with sushi orders.

A smaller menu with better food would go a long way to improving customer satisfaction and reducing food waste. Then the Horizon pool which is supposed to be “adults only”. The adult part wasn’t enforced very well and parents were letting their kids … do their kid things around this pool area.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship Review

South Lake Tahoe Sunset Dinner Cruise Zephyr Cove Resort & Lake Tahoe Cruises