Overall not a bad cruise for the less than $1K we spent for it but the extra onboard costs can make it frustrating. Good for those on a budget.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Embarkation took a while. Our boarding time was 11am and we didn’t get on until 1:30 because of the style of boarding MSC used. They give you a card based on when you get to the check in counter which for us took almost an hour after we arrived at the port so we boarded waaayyyy later then we were supposed to. At the end of it all I did get in the boat though which is the important part.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
Overall the food was okay. The good outweighed the bad in terms of the buffet and specialty dining. The bar service/drinks were awesome.
Ocean Cay
2 out of 5
Food is way too overpriced for what you get. We had king crab leg and Alfredo pasta. They advertise $13/3.5oz for crab legs but require you to buy 14oz. The pasta dish was $22 for a portion the size of a can of coke. For two of us we paid $157 for two 24oz of crab and the pasta. Not worth it at all.
Marketplace Buffet
3 out of 5
Food rotation was lacking I felt. Most of the food was the same everyday and very much lacked variety. The pizza bar had different styles everyday and the fresh cut butcher bar changed daily but most of the other food remained the same. The quality of the pizza is by far the best I’ve had on any cruise ship. The fresh mozzarella makes the pizza taste like it came straight from a back home pizza shop. The salads were okay but sometimes the only lettuce would be pure white and inedible. The hotdogs and burgers were pretty good. The pork chops and steaks were raw the four times I attempted to eat them. Pass for me. Overall they kept the tables clean and ready for use.
Mervaglia Bar & Lounge
5 out of 5
Great atmosphere and great staff. Drinks were made perfectly. No complaints.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
The pools were closed the first two days and so far on the second to last day as I am writing this portion of my review the solarium pool has been closed all day aswell as the hot tubs next to it. We never tried the bowling alley or anything because it’s ridiculous to have to charge for them in my opinion.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
We did the love and marriage game show and the comedian which were good. We would have loved to try the shows in the carousel lounge however we weren’t going to pay watch them. The performers in the sky lounge made such a nice atmosphere and vibe the whole time. I spent most of my time here in the sky lounge.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Every waiter I have interacted with has been awesome. To mention a few names John and Andrea from the Sky Lounge have been great and made us feel at home. I only saw my room steward three times the whole sailing but everyday my room was spotless, freshly made bed, and a nice clean bathroom. No complaints there. We only had one crew member who gave us an attitude when we got lost on deck 4 looking for the gangway and asked for directions.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The size was actually larger than I expected. Plenty of room for two. It was clean and modern. It was a pretty nice place to call home for a week. Location was convenient for elevator access.
Ship tip
Honestly be prepared for a fee for a lot of things. Compared to other cruise lines which already nickel and dime you this line by far does it the most in my experience.
Disembarkation is terrible. They shut down almost all the elevators and force everyone to use the stairs to get to the gangway. Very confusing and very long uncoordinated lines to even get to the gangway.
Wow, pools closed most of your cruise, not a good sign. I hope this is corrected soon. I’ve said it before, it’s time for MSC to drydock & upgrade the Meraviglia & bring in a newer ship. It’s now been 1 year since they started sailing from NYC & it seems like every review details something falling apart after 5K + passengers week in & out. Sorry for the disappointing notes, but glad you were still able to find pockets of fun & enjoyment.
Thanks for sharing & Happy Cruising 😎⚓️🤩❣️‼️
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