New Years on MSC

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 7

Helpful Votes: 88

Review summary

My review... The Basics: We had the pleasure of sailing on MSC Meraviglia from December 29, 2019 to January 5, 2020 on the New Years Cruise. Our cabin, a Interior Fantastica, was located on the 10th floor mid-ship. We were assigned to our requested 2-top table in the Olivio D’oro Dining room for the 715 p.m. seating. The Details: The Ship – The MSC Meraviglia is stunning and absolutely spotless. The design is 100% Italian with lots of sparkle and modern lines. The interior promenade with LED Ceiling is amazing. There was plenty of space for all, even at full capacity. Elevator landings, corridors etc. are offering a very wide design. There was never much of a wait for the elevators. We also did not have a problem finding a chair around the beautiful main pool. Spaces in the shade however are very limited. The Cabin – Our cabin was roomy. Décor was bright and modern. The bathroom had a nice shower with glass door. Shampoo, Shower gel and hand soap were offered. There is a flatscreen TV with some international channels, pay movies and interactive screens to check your pay balance, the daily program etc. We wish we could have traded some of the extra floor space for more storage. More shelving would have been wonderful. Again, everything was extra clean. The cabin was serviced twice a day by our very friendly steward. The Entertainment – The Entertainment team on the Meraviglia was friendly, approachable and 100% fun. The New Years Eve Party was absolutely fantastic. I have never had this much fun on NYE before. If you have a chance, go on sailing over this date. It is so worth it, just for this event alone. The 60/70/80’s Party in the Promenade was very fun as well, but could have featured more 80s tunes. Shows in the theatre were classic cruise fare featuring singers and dancers. All were enjoyable. For NYE MSC brought in the british band Jack Pack. They offered a wonderful concert. Entertainment around the pool offered everything from games to music. All were fun and made us laugh quiet often. We loved the Ibiza Tunes. The Food – I appreciate the European approach of MSC to cruise food. The on ship made fresh Mozzarella was delicious and I really enjoyed the daily changing meats, cheeses and breads. The pizza is definitely the best at sea. There was never a line to get a fresh slice of pizza, great hamburgers or crispy fries. The buffet offered daily changing options. We loved the beverage order buttons in the buffet area. Allow some time for dinner in the Main Dining Room as service is friendly, but not the most efficient. Once again I enjoyed all my selections, especially both duck dishes I tried. The NYE menu of filet and lobster was a lovely upgrade. Misses were the Chicken Parmesan and Martha Stewart Fettucine. Breakfast offered all the egg standards. We wished breakfast hours could have extended a little longer. Overall though a good experience. The Staff – This is where Meraviglia truly shines. The service we received was excellent. Stand out was the entire team in the Sky Lounge. From the moment we boarded they treated us like old friends. The cabin steward, pool waiters, restaurant team and entertainment staff were all friendly and kind. The Spa – We enjoyed a wonderful couple’s massage by the lovely staff. The space was beautiful. We also experienced the thermal area, which offered innovative relaxation rooms in a stunning atmosphere. The Shore Excursions – We booked the exclusive MSC Martha Stewart Tours in Ochos Rios and Grand Cayman. Both were absolutely amazing! Focus is on local experiences in small groups. Both included a history, activity and food component. I will never forget riding a horse through the bright blue waters of Grand Cayman or having the most delicious lunch overlooking the mountains of Jamaica. Unforgettable and 100% recommended. Overall – We loved our cruise on MSC Meraviglia with her wide open spaces, stunning design and friendly service. The European take on food and beverage offerings was appreciated and enjoyed. The exclusive Shore excursions were an absolute highlight. The New Year’s Eve Party was outrageous fun and will never be forgotten. We are excited to travel with MSC again this coming summer through Northern Europe. It should be noted that the minority of travelers on our sailing were American. The vibe was definitely relaxed Mediterranean and we really enjoyed that.

Embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

Onboard Activities

Entertainment

Service and Staff

Ship Quality

Cabin / Stateroom

Ports of call

George Town, Grand Cayman

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Miami, Florida

Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico

Disembarkation

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