Made the best of it. Met some nice folks. Bermuda was great. We took an island tour booked thru cruises. Other exploration we planned independently
Embarkation
1 out of 5
MSC Meraviglia at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal needs to make critical updates to Embarkation process. 1) Why assign an arrival time only to be directed to a warehouse where we were all herded like livestock for hours? Need sections delineated for boarding and some basic amenities available. Horrible experience.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
We did not book a specialty restaurant on this cruise. Main dining was okay. Our waiters Levi and Gianni were great. Buffet lacks variety of options found on other cruiselines and no service staff for drinks in the Marketplace.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
There was usually something on schedule throughout days, but nothing great.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Carousel Lounge is extra money, although they do provide you a cocktail. The Rock production was very good. The Houdini production was pretty bad. The performers were all really good...and the acro and aerobatics were good. The performers need a story we can follow and that starts with performance director. The Irish Comedian in Broadway Theatre was great. The jazz musicians in Sky Lounge fantastic.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
We had little interaction with room steward, waiters good in dining bit very slow at bars. They are short staffed and most were new. Not their fault, but leadership obviously lacking from the top...don't blame the first line supervisors.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Not all that impressed. Other lines have such interesting hallways, and artwork between stairs levels on this ship was dull and boring. Bathrooms kept clean but no touches like flowers provided on competitor lines. Bare bones on MSC.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
Supposed to be a deluxe balcony cabin. The seating on balcony not comfortable as other cruise lines. The closet was of poor quality, minimal storage. Bed was comfortable. Cabin size for this category too small.
Ship tip
Maybe try the Yacht upgrade? Or another cruiseline.
It's NOT the cruise ship issue at the port. It's the port authority and Customs Border Protection on how they want to operate. It's the same for the Queen Mary 2 which passengers pay a lot more money than people boarding any MSC ship. Yes, if you're Yacht Club, Aurea, or Diamond guests you board in the first go around, and no matter what your status ARRIVE first thing in the morning like 8:00 am and bring your own water and package snacks. YOU can bring water onboard as long as it is a very small amount for personal use, not a case. I did. You can not bring wine etc. Just do the same thing you would do if you were boarding a plane that was held on the tarmac for hours and couldn't move and had no provisions left, happens quite often. Don't depend on other people for your necessities, including airlines. Plan in advance. That comes with anytime you leave the comfort of your home. Sorry to hear about your issues.
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