Great time! Will try the Meraviglia again one day.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
The Meraviglia returned later on Embarkation day, so physically boarding the ship took an extra hour. I’m a big person. I’m learning you need to be in great physical shape to endure embarking on ship at the Brooklyn Terminal. While the line through security and to get your cruise moved along, you’re on your feet the whole time. Once you get your cruise card there is a seated waiting area, but then to get on the ship, it’s down a long hallway then several corridors to get in the ship. In all, likely a couple miles of weaving through roped stansions(?) and walking through corridors. The elderly and disabled waited hours for people to help them get on board. Perhaps in a couple years the MSC Meraviglia will get it right.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The food was very good! I ate in the MDR all but one night. I’m in the first seating, so my food was hot to very warm. I ate at Teppenyaki and I loved it. I also ate at the buffet and it was mainly all right, nothing bad at all. The alcoholic drinks were kind of strong. Overall, food is not the problem on this trip. Service was pretty good, too. Lots of circulating waiters and waitresses, never waited more than a few minutes for my drinks. It’s obvious that complaints from previous cruisers were heard. Thank you!
I originally purchased the three-day dining package thinking I could just make reservations onboard using the app or the kiosks . Turns out MSC expected me to get in line every morning to make reservations, waiting in another long line. I cancelled that package. MSC really needs to sync up with their customers and the app company . If you have no problem with this, you’re fine.
Marketplace Buffet
4 out of 5
The much maligned buffet was just fine in my book. Practices like closing down the second side is annoying but not the end of the world. Also, because there is wide variety of food, it’s hard to say MSC needed to change daily, though: you try different foods at different times.
Jean-Philippe Crepes & Ice Cream
5 out of 5
Pricey but delicious! Treat yourself.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Tons of activities all the time, until the wee hours in the morning. I’m exhausted! From trivia, lots of great bands throughput the ship.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Great bands, top-notch Broadway-style shows, funny amateur hour shows. Comedians, meh. The Broadway-style shows were fantastic, well choreographed. The singers were strong and powerful. Save your money and stick to the free shows. My complaint here, is why can’t we reserve seating for shows through the app, pre-cruise? For MSC, “booking” and “reserving” are two different things. You can “book” a couple shows pre-boarding, but you still have to reserve seats for each show when you get on board. That was easy enough through the kiosks throughout the ship, and on through app once onboard.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Service staff was excellent! From getting room service, to getting drinks, and my room was cleaned every day. Lots of smiles and professionalism.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
I don’t like ships as big as the Meraviglia, they’re just too big. Be physically in shape before the cruise. The layout is okay though, there are signs to help you find your cabin, but remember your cabin number, because it’s not printed on your cruise card.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Love my cabin, my balcony. I’m on the starboard side, which is great coming and going I’m right near the panoramic elevator. My cabin attendant is from the Philippines and she’s awesome. It’s a good size for one person, two will be tight.
MSC can cut out the Cape Canveral port, and spend two days on their Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. It’s a very relaxing day at the beach, and I didn’t hear any complaints about the buffet on the island, and there were many food trucks throughout the island. I ate lunch on board before leaving the ship. One of the card swipe stations to re-embark onto the ship was temporarily shut down, so the line to get back onboard was extremely long for about an hour, so people just got out of line and went back to the beach.
I did the Space Coast excursion, it is the B-side of the Kennedy Center excursion and it’s brand new. We toured the monuments to the space programs throughout the city. What would make this one a lot better, is if it allowed tours of Blue Origin, the Air and Space Museum, etc. It was too hot to really enjoy the monument park, but the tour can’t depart earlier because the Meraviglia doesn’t arrive until Noon.
Self-debarkation was easy and quick, I was off the ship by 7:30 am. They called groups who checked their luggage until 10:30. Lots of police and terminal staff to direct traffic between those leaving and arriving.
We cruised the Meraviglia in May. You are absolutely correct about disembarkation at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Very physically demanding. We have 20+ cruises and have never had the extensive walking to disembark a ship that Brooklyn required. Admittedly, I have major breathing issues and I had to stop and sit no less than 3 times before finally exiting the terminal. Had I realized this, I would have requested wheelchair assist.
Glad you enjoyed the cruise. That was our ship on 2 cruises. November & December Oh how we love every moment of them. We love the crew and made friends with some. So sad to learn that we changed in Port Canaveral to the SEASIDE .
Don’t get me wrong we enjoyed it but we were spoiled to the Meraviglia We sailed May 14_21st. Now we are booked for September. I see that the Seaside is changing to the Seashore in November I believe.
Most cruises take a good while iTo get on but think about it Thousands if visitors trying to get on at one time practically. It’s ALL worth it. I LOVE. MSC. LOVE LOVE IT. We have been on Royal. Caribbean severer always times and once on NCL. MSC. Is the best. The cheapest and has the best crew. Thanks for the good review. Try to add names to special ones that stood out for you. It’s good to give the super hard workers a good word. 24-7. All mostly for 9 months. I really appreciate them. We tip all we can. We take extra cash to bless them for blessing us !!!
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