Overall we were very pleased with both the ship and itinerary. The production shows and Cirque are a definite must-see. The weather wasn't as cooperative with only Belize and Honduras being exceptionally warm in the 26C to 29C/78 to 84F range. Most of the days were a comfortable 23C/73F. Would we go again? Absolutely.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Due to the Carona virus, what is normally a quick walk-on turned into 2.5 hours. No blaming of the cruise line here. They did the best under the circumstances, although communication of the delay could have been improved.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The main dining room and food overall is in a Meditaranean style which we enjoyed. The food quality was very good. If you're expectations are of huge, overloaded American style dishes you'll have to order more. No complaints here. If you need or want a special dish, just ask. We loved the selection and food overall.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We are seniors and can not appreciate the activities such as the gym or waterslides but from what we saw there are more than enough activities to keep everyone busy no matter their interests.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We are theatre-goers and managed to see every production show including Cirque du Soleil. We thoroughly enjoyed them all. Virtually every performance received a standing ovation from an appreciative audience. The MSC's troupe are very talented and to see a Cirque show for $18USD/pp is phenomenal as it usually costs hundreds of dollars to see them on land. As MSC caters to an international audience the performances, in general, are not only in English but this doesn't diminish the quality and actually adds to the enjoyment in many ways. I have often seen reviews complaining that the shows are all opera. that is not the case on the Meraviglia. Only one show was an operetta and if you read the overview when booking then you knew that going in. For us all the shows were must-sees. Great job MSC.
Carousel Lounge
5 out of 5
This dedicated lounge for Cirque du Soleil is very well laid out with every seat having an excellent view. We had front row seats for Viaggio and seats at the back wall for Sonor and enjoyed both locations.
Children's Programs
No children with us.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Having been on three cruises with MSC I can say they excel in serving their guests. We have been pleased with the cleanliness and service all over the ship. If we had an issue (the computer decided it would glitch and charge for drinks in our drink package) they are quickly fixed with a smile and apologies.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
We have been on the Seaside and liked it's layout better. As nice as the MSC Galleria is, it can feel overcrowded during peak periods such as when the theatre lets out right into the mall. Cleanliness is never a problem with MSC. They are some of the brightest and cleanest ships we've been on. Overall we love MSC ships.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The living and sleeping areas are fairly spacious as cruise ships go. The bathroom is sufficiently roomy with a nice sized shower. Storage is tight but we managed to fit a week's worth of clothing and the luggage fit nicely under the bed. I have a CPAP machine and found that my cord was long enough to reach the outlet across the room. An extension cord is available at guest services (refundable deposit required) and distilled water is supplied free of charge from guest services as well. Our cabin was exceptionally convenient to the elevators and getting around the ship was very easy given that the Galleria runs right through the ship on decks 6 and 7.
Ship tip
Using the MSC and Me app on your phone is easy and convenient. You can check you bill, get directions, find times and locations for all daily activities. It is especially convenient for reserving your shows and specialty dining. We highly recommend booking your shows in advance. With 5500 people onboard and only seating for 800 per show this is a must.
This was our second visit to this port. We discovered this trip that they have a pool area open to the public. Quel surprise. I don't know how we missed that one the first time. Nice show by the locals is also free and included. There is lots of shopping as this, like many Caribbean ports of call was purpose-built for the cruise industry.
We only visited the pier shopping area as we had heard the city itself is considered dangerous. We knew of several deaths of tourists due to motor vehicle accidents involving excursions.
Again we have been to Roatan before however at the Mahogony Bay pier. Having seen Roatan during excursions taken previously we opted to stay in the purpose-built shopping area at the pier. This facility is brand new and is clean modern and very nice to spend a morning or all day.
Wow, MSC spent a ton of money on this. So new the palm trees are just recently transplanted. A very nice facility with lots to do. A bonus is that your cruise card and drinks package are useable on the island. There are a few local merchants which require cash.
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