msc cruise ship meraviglia reviews

MSC Meraviglia review: What it's like to cruise on MSC's 1st New York-based ship

For the first time, MSC Cruises has based a ship in New York. Given that the vessel, MSC Meraviglia, is the fifth-largest in the line's fleet of two dozen ships in terms of tonnage and the sixth-largest by passenger capacity, the ship's presence in the Big Apple is a big deal. As one colleague astutely pointed out, when it's docked there, it's the largest hotel in the city .

I recently sailed on MSC Meraviglia out of its Red Hook homeport in Brooklyn, and I have mixed feelings. Overall, the ship is lively and aesthetically beautiful. Its specialty restaurants and nightly shows are some of the most consistently superb on any vessel, and it offers one heck of a luxury product in its Yacht Club suite enclave .

However, passenger flow is an issue, with many public spaces so crowded they're uncomfortable, and service is painfully slow in some bars and restaurants. You'll likely end up paying a lot more than you originally planned because some of the most enticing things to do come with added fees. And, as my travel companion so succinctly put it, I've never been told "no" so many times on a cruise.

Here, I'll take you through some of the activities I tried, the places I ate and the experience I had so you can better determine if MSC Meraviglia is right for your next voyage.

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Overview of MSC Meraviglia

MSC Cruises' Meraviglia was the first in the line's Meraviglia Class of ships. When it debuted in 2017, it became the line's largest vessel, with space for up to 5,655 people at capacity (4,475 at double occupancy). It has since been overtaken, in terms of passenger capacity, by subsequent vessels in the Meraviglia Class, as well as those in the World Class.

The ship exudes the same glitz that's typical of other MSC vessels, despite its mass-market appeal and penchant for attracting budget travelers. Lavish artwork, chrome accents and bold jewel tones convey a sense of opulence throughout public spaces, and no ship in the fleet would be complete without an atrium staircase adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals.

Like MSC's other modern ships, MSC Meraviglia has an extra-fee chocolate shop on board — this one through a partnership with chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury — where you can purchase chocolate, macarons, candy and specialty coffees.

There's also a sizable water park on the top deck, a shopping mall-style promenade area and several decks of cabins that are part of the line's Yacht Club, which affords passengers exclusive access to a dedicated restaurant, lounge, bar and pool deck just for them, as well as butler service.

What I loved about MSC Meraviglia

Largely, my onboard experience was great. Crew members were friendly, my cabin was comfortable, and the daily activity options were plentiful, varied and fun. At night, most shows fell into the "excellent" category, and the food in every extra-fee restaurant and the Yacht Club was phenomenal.

Specialty dining

MSC's food consistently receives less-than-stellar reviews from passengers, particularly regarding the line's complimentary dining experiences. Much of the main dining room fare is indeed so-so — palatable but largely underseasoned and mass-produced, so that it often looks like it's been sitting under a heat lamp when it reaches you. Food in the buffet is varied and tasty, but it can also become repetitive after a week, and the space is frequently crowded and confusing to navigate.

So why am I including food under the "what I loved" category? I think that MSC's alternative, for-fee restaurants — including the ones on MSC Meraviglia — are some of the best. If you're willing to shell out the money, you can have a fantastic meal on this ship.

Of the ship's specialty restaurants, my favorites are Hola! Tacos & Cantina and Kaito Teppanyaki.

Even though Hola! levies extra charges, passengers have the option of paying a la carte for items individually priced as low as $2.95 or paying $17.99 for unlimited menu items. The salsa and guacamole are wonderful, the tortilla soup always hits the spot for me, and the tacos are small, so you'll be able to try several to find your favorite without feeling overstuffed.

If you know me, you know the fact that I'm recommending Kaito Teppanyaki is shocking. I'm notoriously not a fan of this type of cooking, particularly when it comes with a side of cringeworthy performances by the chefs. However, the food there on MSC Meraviglia was so great that I didn't mind the cook's jokes.

The MSC Yacht Club is a private section on select MSC ships that offers cabins across several categories, including suites. Passengers booked in those cabins have special keycard access to a dedicated guest services and concierge desk; an exclusive pool, sun deck, lounge and bar (with free drinks); and complimentary anytime dining at a special restaurant just for Yacht Club cruisers.

Cabins are outfitted with higher-quality materials and furnishings, and each comes with the services of a butler. Meri was mine, and she was the best. She was able to make dining and spa reservations for me, escort me to priority seating in the theater for nightly shows and have crackers and green apples delivered to my cabin when the second night's rough seas made me feel seasick.

I absolutely loved the special touches MSC provides to Yacht Club passengers, including a special afternoon tea service and a private, intimate final-night performance by Lorraine Crosby — the female vocalist from Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" — who sometimes makes guest appearances on board. (She also put on two larger shows for the entire ship earlier in the sailing.) Additionally, I had access to Yacht Club perks at private island Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , including dedicated trams, a shaded waiting area with cold water and access to a private beach and restaurant.

Although the Yacht Club comes at a premium — at the time of publication, rooms on MSC Meraviglia started at $1,199 per person for a Yacht Club inside cabin on a six-night Bermuda sailing — fares include drinks and tips, along with Venchi pillow chocolates, free room service and minibar selections, plus one round of in-cabin snacks and a choice of one bottle of vodka, gin or whiskey delivered to your room. (I normally drink rum, and they were able to substitute it for me, even though it's not one of the spirits normally offered.)

Above all, the most valuable component of the Yacht Club for me on this sailing was the ability to escape the general chaos that is the rest of the ship. Don't get me wrong: I immersed myself in the buzz outside of the Yacht Club as often as possible, but as an introvert who dislikes crowds and noise more and more the older she gets, I found it essential to have a separate area to which I could retreat.

Galleria Meraviglia

One of the most fun and flashy locations on MSC Meraviglia cruises is the Galleria Meraviglia, a central indoor walkway similar to the Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean ships. It's a long space flanked by bars, restaurants and shops with a feel similar to a shopping mall. However, the highlight for me is the giant LED screen, which runs the length of the space and hosts what the line calls "dome shows."

During these shows, themed scenes — including deck plans for the muster drill, dinosaurs and volcanos during the "Jurassic" dome show and even famous ceilings — appear overhead. They're the metaphorical heartbeat of the ship, and you can't help but stop to watch.

The nearby chocolateria, Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, is an excellent place to grab a cuppa, and the adjacent Meraviglia Bar & Lounge is home to trivia, live music and more. Mix in a shore excursion desk; shops that sell high-end jewelry and purses; a counter serving for-fee gelato, crepes and smoothies; and Hola! Tacos & Cantina (one of the best Mexican restaurants at sea), and Galleria Meraviglia feels like the place to be.

There's little I enjoy more than a relaxing arcade day , and MSC delivers with its Sportplex gaming complex. It features a small traditional arcade with air hockey, alien shooter games and first-person driving games, as well as prize machines; several immersive virtual-reality pods (most of which were down for maintenance during my sailing); two Formula One racing simulators; a 4D cinema where several players attempt to take out zombies and killer clowns; and a sports court that hosts basketball, pickleball, dodgeball and other activities.

But my ultimate favorite was the bowling alley. My travel companion and I inexplicably wound up in Sportplex after dinner on formal night. We played for half an hour — enough time for two games if it's only two people and you move quickly — and were ultimately joined by the Yacht Club director, Craig (who won easily). It was a ton of fun, but I don't recommend bowling in a ballgown.

The drawback is that, like lots of other cool pastimes on MSC Meraviglia, it all costs extra (except for sports court use). The arcade charges per game with the tap of your keycard. The simulators can be purchased on a per-ride basis, and bowling is charged in chunks of either 30 or 60 minutes.

To save money, passengers can purchase packages where you get a certain dollar amount free. (For example, if you prepurchase $150 worth of gaming credits, your card will be loaded with $220.)

What I didn't love about MSC Meraviglia

As with all things, in travel we take the bad with the good. While most experiences on this sailing fell in the latter category, it wouldn't be a fair review without calling attention to the things that I think the line needs to address.

The departure port

When MSC first announced that MSC Meraviglia would be sailing from New York, the ship's homeport was Manhattan. I groaned when I heard its docking spot had changed to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood.

Brooklyn's terminal is difficult to reach, particularly if you don't have a car. Anyone venturing to the port from Manhattan will need to take the subway, followed by a ferry — not an easy feat if you're toting luggage. Park-and-ride-style buses also seemed to be an option, according to several passengers on my sailing who arrived from outside of the city. If you're like me and decide to drive to the port, know that parking is at a premium, and fees are steep. (At $45 per night, I paid $360 to park there for eight nights.)

Waits on embarkation day are another concern. When I arrived, lines snaked outside the terminal and down the sidewalk in front of the building. I had multiple passengers throughout my voyage tell me that they waited between two and three hours in line to board the vessel.

It's unclear whether the terminal is ill-equipped to deal with passenger flow for such a large ship or if MSC hasn't quite brought its embarkation processes up to speed, but if you don't have priority boarding privileges, either through a high loyalty status tier or a Yacht Club booking, expect the process to take a while.

On the plus side, you'll have great views of the Statue of Liberty as you sail away, assuming the weather isn't rainy or foggy.

At 19 decks, MSC Meraviglia is huge. On my voyage, the ship was only sailing at about half capacity (about 3,000 passengers out of a possible 5,655, or 53%). However, a perfect storm of events converged to create a situation that was less than pleasant for anyone not booked in a Yacht Club cabin.

A large group booking of about 1,000 people overtook many of the public areas on a daily basis, which drew complaints from cruisers who weren't in the group. For example, trivia was standing-room-only on several days, and the buffet was so continuously crowded that I ate there only twice on the entire voyage.

Additionally, it rained during our first two days on board — embarkation day and the following sea day — meaning that the ship's outdoor spaces weren't utilized. Because everyone was stuck inside, the ship felt even more crowded. (I shudder to imagine what it would have been like if the ship had been sailing completely full.)

Although the weather certainly isn't the cruise line's fault, it seems that the ship should be better equipped to deal with situations where passengers are stuck inside. I also thought that, perhaps, the large group booking was a one-off and that it wouldn't be the norm on other sailings. However, I spoke with one of the officers on board who told me that the cruise line is actively recruiting similar large group bookings.

One of the biggest contributing factors was the ship's layout and flow. Some areas lead to dead ends, while others force you to enter busy areas — like the massive Marketplace Buffet — to find stairs to go up or down a deck. In several bars and lounges in the main atrium, tables and chairs are scattered so close to the main staircase that it's difficult for two-way passenger traffic to move through the space.

The feeling of overcrowding was exacerbated by service inconveniences like long waits for drinks, meals and elevators.

Confusing policies and procedures

Some of the things MSC does truly confuse me, and they began almost immediately after boarding.

When cruises first returned following the 18-month COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, many lines decided to go digital with their muster drills. Passengers watched videos on their mobile apps or on their cabin TVs before reporting, at their leisure (to maintain social distancing), to their muster stations for verification. MSC has chosen to institute a bizarre version where all passengers watch a video and then report to their muster stations at the same time.

If everyone is going to the same place at the same time, why not do the muster drill in person? On the flip side, if you're going to make people watch a video instead of doing a live demonstration, why make everyone go to their stations simultaneously? The process creates a chaotic environment where, in my case, people were required to walk into the theater, do a lap around it (for reasons nobody ever actually explained) and immediately exit again.

Speaking of the theater, no drinks are allowed in there, which is odd, given that all other cruise lines allow passengers to order drinks during shows or at least carry them in with them to enjoy while they watch. We saw several surprised cruisers being told they had to dump their beverages or drink them before they'd be allowed inside.

The drink situation gets worse when you try to order cocktails in the ship's restaurants. When I did so in one of the main dining rooms, I was told that only wine was available. When I visited the alternative eateries, I was told I could only order from what was on the menu, some of which wasn't included with the beverage package. What's the point of selling pricey beverage packages (which can cost more than $70 per person, per day, for the most expensive) if there are so many exclusions?

Specialty coffee from the onboard chocolate shop also isn't included with the packages, nor are coffees on private island Ocean Cay, which leads me to my next head-scratcher. I had the single best coffee drink of my life when we called on Ocean Cay. The Coco-Nilla Latte is espresso, vanilla flavoring and coconut milk, and I loved it so much that I tried to have it replicated on board.

I went to three of the ship's regular bars, each of which is equipped to make espresso that's included in the line's beverage packages, as well as the specialty coffee bar at the for-fee chocolate shop. At each location, I was given some sort of excuse:

"We don't have vanilla syrup at this bar."

"We don't have coconut milk here."

"Oh, those are only made at Ocean Cay."

It's likely if this happened on a ship in any other fleet, the response would have been, "We don't have the ingredients, but let me see if we can find them."

The crew culture on MSC Meraviglia seems to be one that either doesn't encourage them or doesn't allow them to go the extra mile. My request wasn't a lavish one; vanilla syrup and coconut milk are standard accouterments at most cafes on land. The ship has a passenger-to-crew ratio of 3:1, which is better than that of other cruise lines with fares at a similar price point, so I don't feel like I'm asking too much from an affordable cruise line.

I must also mention some weird food-related practices I saw on board. Both times I ate at the Marketplace Buffet, I witnessed crew members stopping adults from taking food from a particular section of kid-friendly foods. "No, those are for children only," a crew member behind the counter told a parent who was trying to grab dessert for his son, who was outside by the pool.

"You mean I can't take this out to my kid?" the guy asked in shock. The crew member told him he would have to go to the pool, get his son, bring him inside and have him pick out the dessert, which he grudgingly did. But talk about a disruptive experience.

On the other occasion, I saw a couple of adults eyeing the chicken nuggets that were on offer. They were forbidden by a crew member from taking any. I have never seen something so absurd on a sailing in my life. Children aren't the only ones who enjoy chicken nuggets, nor are they the ones who pay the cruise fares. Adults, whether they have kids on board or not, should be allowed to eat whatever they wish from the buffet that they paid for — even if it comes from the children's menu.

Another head-scratcher is you might still have to pay a supplement to eat in certain restaurants, even if you booked a dining package that includes a set number of specialty restaurants for a set fee. It depends on what you order.

For example, I had a dining package, but when I dined at Kaito Teppanyaki, the waiter informed me that there would be an extra $10 surcharge to order the Geisha and Samurai options and a $30 upcharge for the Emperor option. Again, what's the point of selling dining packages if they don't cover what they're supposed to?

Additionally, on a ship of 3,000 people, MSC Meraviglia had only one of four main dining rooms open for lunch on a rainy sea day when everyone was stuck inside. It was open for one measly hour, from noon to 1 p.m. I saw the hours posted as I was passing by the line that was quickly forming, so I decided to eat there to evaluate the situation. Spoiler alert: It wasn't great.

Finally, MSC Meraviglia's sports equipment is kept under actual lock and key. You have to sign out everything from pickleball paddles to basketballs for use on the indoor sports court and volleyballs for the pits on Ocean Cay. However, when I tried to sign out a basketball during posted rental hours, the person working told me no and offered no explanation. When I checked with guest services, they told me that shouldn't have happened. But it did. Twice.

On a separate occasion, when my travel companion and I showed up for scheduled volleyball time, the attendant cut the game off at 45 minutes because he said he had to leave. When we asked if we could keep the ball to continue playing, he refused. There seems to be no flexibility, and staff members are not empowered to deviate from protocol on the fly, even when it makes sense.

Most cruise lines' ships have unmonitored equipment available for passengers to use when the courts are open. It's often stored in unlocked chests that passengers can access at any time. Sign-out, which seems like an unnecessary step, is not required with most other cruise lines, which brings me to this: To quote one of my TPG colleagues when she referenced an MSC sailing on a different ship, "I have never said, 'No other cruise line does it like this,' as much as I did on [my cruise]. And it wasn't a good thing."

MSC Meraviglia cabins and suites

MSC bookings can be confusing for first-timers because, in addition to selecting a cabin type (inside, outside, balcony or suite), passengers must also choose from one of three experience packages. Dubbed Bella, Fantastica and Aurea, they all come with different perks and inclusions, as noted below.

Bella: This is the most basic, bare-bones package. It includes accommodations, free meals in the main dining rooms and buffet, and free daily activities and nightly entertainment. Passengers with this package will be assigned to set-seating dining times after they board. They also will be charged for any room service orders, as well as changes to their cruise booking reservations.

Fantastica: This package includes everything listed under the Bella package, plus the ability to change sailing date reservations one time for free, complimentary delivery of room service breakfast and the ability to choose a preferred set-seating dining time for dinner prior to embarkation.

Aurea: Aurea comes with everything in the Bella and Fantastica packages, as well as free access to the ship's top-deck Solarium area, a welcome package that includes prosecco and chocolates, anytime dining (go whenever you want with no set seating time), a 10% discount on spa treatments, priority boarding and free 24-hour room service (not just at breakfast).

MSC Meraviglia houses 2,244 rooms in various types with several configurations, some of which sleep more than two passengers. Of those staterooms, 55 are accessible for cruisers with mobility issues. In those cabins, passengers will find additional space for maneuvering things like wheelchairs and scooters, as well as zero-entry door thresholds and shower grab bars. (Theaters and most public areas are also accessible, but unfortunately, I didn't see a single lift at any of the ship's four pools.)

Cabin types are the standard ones found on just about all cruise ships: inside or interior (no windows or balcony), outside or ocean-view (a window or porthole that doesn't open), balcony or verandah (a sliding glass door that opens onto a small balcony, usually with chairs and a small table) and suite (cabins with balconies and more square footage and/or special perks like those afforded in the Yacht Club).

On my Meraviglia sailing, I was booked in an MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite — a balcony cabin in the Yacht Club suite area — on Deck 18. At about 280 square feet, plus an additional 54 square feet of balcony space, the room felt generously sized for two people. (Note: Yacht Club has all types of cabins, from insides all the way up through massive Royal Suites and two-deck duplexes.)

The room was furnished with a king-size bed that converts into two twins on request, a couch and a desk/vanity area. It featured a closet and cabinet space for storage and an en suite bathroom.

Standard amenities included a hair dryer and a TV (with a random smattering of TV channels, for-fee movies and ship-created programs like jewelry and port seminars and navigational information). My cabin had several electrical outlets, including three 110-volt North American outlets, three 220-volt European outlets and one USB port at the desk/vanity area. One USB port is not enough, and there were no outlets near the bed, which was frustrating.

Special for Yacht Club guests, the suite was equipped with a Nespresso machine, free minibar drinks restocked daily (including bottled water, San Pellegrino, juices, flavored iced teas, soda and beer), one complimentary round of snacks (Toblerone chocolate, Pringles and mixed nuts) and a choice of one complimentary bottle of spirits (whiskey, gin or vodka).

My cabin came with a pillow menu, which I only discovered after two nights of neck pain, thanks to mismatched pillows. The bed was topped with a memory foam mattress, which was like sleeping on a cloud.

Closets in my cabin were just the right size for two people. There were two, one with a bar to hang clothes and another with cubbies for shoes, intimates and the cabin safe. I did find the closets' location in a small enclave that led to the bathroom a bit awkward.

Underbed storage was perfect for hiding empty suitcases. Bathrobes and slippers were provided, and I made good use of both when I went for a massage at the spa.

Cabin bathrooms in the Yacht Club are stocked with MSC's own brand of toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, bar soap, a shower cap and sewing kit. Fluffy white towels and elevated fixtures like marble countertops and floors and showers with both standard and rainfall showerheads add to the air of elegance.

However, some of that was offset by the fact that the shower in my bathroom had no lip, so water leaked all over the first time I used it. Each time after, I put towels outside the door to sop up the mess. The toilet also often smelled like sewage, even when not in use.

The storage space for toiletries could also have been more generous. There were only two small metal shelves, which weren't enough for two people's things. The rest had to be stored inside cabinets where the garbage can was located.

Gratuities, room service and premium alcohol and Wi-Fi packages are included in all Yacht Club fares. You do not need to purchase add-ons or pay added fees like you would in cabins outside the Yacht Club.

A Yacht Club booking also entitles you to priority embarkation, disembarkation and tender access; 24-hour butler and concierge services; complimentary spa thermal suite access; luggage unpacking and repacking services; daily newspaper delivery and one free pre-cruise booking change.

I made good use of the free Wi-Fi inclusion (for two devices per person). The free room service was handy when I just had to order late-night pizza. Plus, the priority boarding perk meant we went from shore to ship in less than 10 minutes while other passengers waited two to three hours in rainy conditions to embark.

My butler, Meri, went above and beyond to help me make spa and specialty restaurant reservations, and she met us each evening to escort us to dinner and to the theater, where reserved Yacht Club seating was waiting. She did her job superbly, but I generally like to do things for myself. Having someone else handling the minutia felt frivolous and unnecessary; it took a few days for me to acclimate.

Concierge service was generally good. However, on the first day, when I had questions about dining, the person who assisted me waived me off in the face of a long line at the desk and told me to ask my butler. My interactions there improved markedly after the stress of the first day calmed down, and all of my subsequent questions were answered promptly and cheerfully.

The exclusive Top Sail Lounge was a great place to relax with a drink and view, read or get some work done. The Yacht Club sun deck was a lovely space, but it was often too hot for me, so I didn't spend much time up there. The area was home to a pool, a hot tub, tons of seating, solarium access and a daily outdoor buffet at the Yacht Club Grill. Although the food looked tasty, it was, unfortunately, often surrounded by flies.

The indoor Yacht Club Restaurant, however, was a dream. Everything I ordered was fantastic — flavorful, well prepared and cooked to order instead of looking like it had been sitting out for a while. I particularly enjoyed the breakfasts there and highly suggest the omelets and pancakes.

Overall, I found my Yacht Club experience to be a great way to escape when other areas of the ship felt overwhelming, which they often did.

MSC Meraviglia restaurants and bars

Included in the price of each sailing is free dining at the massive Marketplace Buffet, in one of four main dining rooms or in the Yacht Club Restaurant (depending on your booking). The four main dining rooms often felt crowded, and service was inconsistent. The buffet was even worse.

The quality of the complimentary food was unremarkable — not great but not terrible, either. Waiters in the dining rooms often seemed rushed and unwilling to fill drink orders. (I found out later it's because the galleys don't have bars, so waiters have to run all over the ship to fill drink orders, which often take an inordinate amount of time to arrive.)

Due to its size, MSC Meraviglia can offer lots of different cuisines. While the Marketplace Buffet has an "ethnic" section typically serving Asian and Indian fare, the largest variety and the highest quality come from the specialty restaurants. They include seafood, steak, Mexican, sushi and teppanyaki, and all cost extra.

MSC offers dining packages, which allow passengers to pre-purchase a set number of meals in alternative restaurants. When those meals are cashed in, cruisers can choose from a preselected list of menu items designated for package holders. Generally, if you're planning to eat at more than two or three specialty restaurants, booking a package will save you money.

There's at least one bar in every public space, so you won't have to go far to whet your whistle.

Restaurants

Free restaurants

Waves, Panorama, L'Olive Dorée and L'Olivo D'Oro are MSC Meraviglia's four main dining rooms, where passengers can eat dinner for free. (Specific restaurants will also be open on certain days for breakfast and lunch, depending on the day's schedule.) Menus, which change daily, are the same across all four.

Waves, on Deck 5, is the smallest. The largest — L'Olive Dorée and L'Olivo D'Oro, which are mirrors of one another — are found on Deck 6, across from one another and flanking the hallway that eventually leads to Panorama. All four dining rooms offer set seating, except Panorama, which also accommodates passengers with Aurea bookings who have anytime dining.

As mentioned above, I was booked in the Yacht Club and dined in either the Yacht Club Restaurant or one of the specialty restaurants for dinner each night.

However, I did try lunch in Waves twice, as it was the only main dining room open to the ship's 3,000 passengers for lunch. The first time, we were seated at a table for two that might as well have been a table for six; it was so close to the tables for two on either side of it that there were only about 2 or 3 inches separating them.

After we sat, it took 15 minutes for someone to bring us water. We never received bread. It was another 10 minutes until our waiter took our food order, and not once did anyone ask us if we'd like something other than water to drink. When my travel companion finally requested a beer, the waiter's response was, "Be patient, sir." My jaw dropped.

The pacing between courses was silly. Our appetizers arrived shortly after we ordered, which was great, but mine — spinach and artichoke dip — arrived looking dried out and crusty with five broken chips on the side. (The waiter obliged when I requested a few more.) After the starters were cleared, it was another 10 minutes until our mains were delivered. I thoroughly enjoyed my cobb salad, but my beef burrito was build-your-own style, and it was largely flavorless.

My companion never did see the beer he ordered. Eventually, we gave up and left, as did the man at the table next to us, who said he had been waiting half an hour for a dessert that didn't materialize.

The second experience was significantly better, with our waiter seating us at a table for two near a window and asking if we wanted drinks (which arrived quickly). The food was still just OK, and both experiences were crowded and exceptionally loud.

MSC Meraviglia's buffet, Marketplace, spans the entire aft of Deck 15. It has a decent variety of stations, but the food is often the same from day to day. The layout is confusing to navigate, too, with lots of nooks and crannies that can make it difficult to find what you're looking for. It was crowded beyond reason during mealtimes, so I avoided it whenever possible, only eating there twice during the voyage for research purposes.

Stations include bread; salad; soup and pasta; a rotisserie section with a carving station and sides like mashed potatoes, rice and baked beans; cold cuts and cheeses; an "ethnic" counter, which tended to serve Asian and Indian cuisine; and outposts for desserts and both hot and cold drinks.

The pizza was both a highlight and a pleasant surprise. It comes out hot and fresh, and it's available by the slice in several types from two separate counters in the buffet.

There are some other small complimentary food locations throughout the ship, too, including a poolside grill with burgers, fries and hot dogs and an ice cream counter with free soft-serve in cones or cups and optional toppings.

Restaurants that cost extra

Hola! Tacos & Cantina is the Mexican restaurant on MSC's newest vessels. It offers tapas-style small plates; I highly encourage you to order a few, as there's a lot on the menu that's delicious. My favorites are the guacamole, tortilla soup and cheese quesadillas. For tacos, I highly recommend the Chipotle Carnitas (pulled pork with chipotle, black bean salsa and cilantro), Barbacoa (ancho-chili beef, chipotle and red cabbage) and Ancho Tingo (shredded chicken, poblano peppers and pico de gallo).

You can pay a la carte if you're in the mood for something light or go with the all-you-can-eat option if you've worked up a serious appetite.

Margaritas are also a must if you're craving an adult beverage. Basic margs are included in the line's alcohol packages, but specialty ones — featuring frozen flavors like mango and strawberry and on-the-rocks selections with smoky salt or sweet berry sugar rims — cost extra, ranging from $11.99 for a single drink to $30 for a 1-liter pitcher. There's also a selection of Spanish beer, fresh fruit juices, spiked milkshakes and other fun concoctions. The service was so great there that I returned on a different night just to order drinks.

If you've done one teppanyaki restaurant, you've done them all. Or at least that's what I thought when I grudgingly made a reservation at Kaito Teppanyaki, another of MSC's extra-charge dining choices.

Yes, the cheesy jokes, singalongs, "catch this food in your mouth when I throw it" challenges and other performative cooking are standard, but the actual dishes are so much tastier than any of a similar variety I've had on land. Top-notch quality and expert seasoning make the dishes stand out. (For context, I usually skip meat when I order teppanyaki, but the sirloin steak looked so good that I ordered it. I'm glad I did.)

Every person who orders receives miso soup and a small salad as starters, along with sushi and sashimi with tempura vegetables. Then they choose from one of several prix fixe menu options: Geisha (sea bass fillet and chicken breast), Samurai (Scottish salmon, tiger prawns and sirloin), Emperor (yellowfin tuna tataki, scallops and half of a Maine lobster), vegetarian (egg wash roll and sesame tofu steak) and a kids menu (spring chicken teriyaki with vegetables).

I ordered the Samurai, and the salmon and sirloin were absolutely delicious. All options include egg fried rice and a dessert of caramelized pineapple, ginger ice cream and mint. The latter was underwhelming. Drinks are limited to what's on the Kaito-specific menu (Japanese beer, whisky and sake, plus a small selection of wine by the glass and Champagne by the bottle).

Kaito also has a separate sushi bar with an a la carte selection of sushi, sashimi, nigiri, tataki, yakitori and other items, including combo platters and desserts.

Butcher's Cut, MSC Meraviglia's a la carte steakhouse, is heaven for meat lovers, but vegetarians beware: As expected, there's not a lot on the menu for you to eat, with the exception of some of the starters.

When you arrive, your waiter will bring a breadbasket for the table. Ours included baguettes, raisin walnut bread and bacon cheese rolls, but what stood out to me were the smoked maple and paprika butters served alongside them. They were so good.

Appetizers include burrata and beet salad, Caesar and house salads, hearts of palm, a goat cheese tart, shrimp, crabcakes and oysters Rockefeller. Or, if you're feeling extra-spendy, try one of the featured starters, such as caviar, a shellfish platter, bone marrow, Kobe sliders and foie deviled eggs. For soups, choose between smoked tomato and lobster chowder.

Non-steak mains consist of roasted chicken, scallops Benedict, halibut and sockeye salmon. However, if steak is what you're after, you can choose from a 36-ounce dry-aged tomahawk for two, 24-ounce dry-aged T-bone, 12-ounce flat iron, 8-ounce filet mignon, 20-ounce rib-eye, 14-ounce New York sirloin, 16-ounce American bison and 13-ounce double lamb chops.

I ate there on one night of my sailing and decided to go big by adding jumbo lump crab to my filet mignon. However, I misread the menu and didn't realize it was actually jumbo lump crab Oscar, which meant it arrived mixed with hollandaise sauce. It looked like scrambled eggs, and I'm not a hollandaise fan, so I didn't eat it.

The steak, however, was phenomenal, particularly with the accompanying sauces (mushroom, peppercorn, chimichurri and bearnaise). Each steak comes with one side; additional sides cost extra. Choose from Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, French fries, asparagus, onion rings, macaroni and cheese, and more.

Among the dessert options, the best are the chocolate lava cake, the New York cheesecake and the peanut butter and milk chocolate cookie.

I'm not a huge seafood fan, so I avoided Ocean Cay, but I heard rave reviews from other passengers. This intimate restaurant, found on Seaside-class ships and MSC Meraviglia, offers a menu of fresh fish and seafood dishes, as well as a selection of wines for appropriate pairing.

For a between-meal treat or a caffeinated pick-me-up, snacks and coffee tied to chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury are solid options. The cookies-and-cream gelato at the Jean-Philippe Crepes & Ice Cream counter is to die for, as is the Green Goddess smoothie, made with coconut juice, spinach, fresh mint, banana, passion fruit and lemon sorbet. They didn't have the lemon sorbet when I ordered, but I asked to substitute mango instead. It was exceptionally good.

At the cafe just across the way, you can buy chocolate replicas of the ship, chocolate bars with fun toppings like nuts and berries, macarons and candy by the pound, as well as gift boxes of sweets. It also sells coffee drinks that include espresso, cappuccino, Americano, lattes and spiked coffees.

If you're a coffee lover who's heading ashore at MSC's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , you won't want to miss the extra-fee Coco-Nilla Latte, found at The Smiling Fish. A combination of espresso, vanilla syrup and coconut milk, either hot or iced, it's far and away my favorite coffee drink anywhere, ever.

A more affordable option than most alternative restaurants is room service. My pick is the pizza, which will be delivered to your room hot and fresh, with a variety of options available, including Margherita, vegetable, pepperoni, four cheese, marinara, MSC style (tomato sauce, ham, arugula, mozzarella, Grana Padano cheese and olive oil) and supreme. It's free if you're staying in the Yacht Club. A la carte pricing and delivery fees will apply to other cabin types, depending on the experience package you book.

As with most cruise ships, you don't have to go far to find a stiff drink on MSC Meraviglia.

My go-to was the Brass Anchor Pub, reminiscent of an English local where you can snag a bottle or a pint and some extra-fee pub grub. TVs throughout the space broadcast a variety of sporting events (subject to satellite availability), and trivia and live music take place there throughout the sailing.

I also spent some time at the Casino Imperiale bar, which was open on my sailing longer than any of the other onboard watering holes. It serves a selection of beer and cocktails.

The centrally located Meraviglia Bar & Lounge, found along Galleria Meraviglia (the ship's promenade) next to Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, is also home to trivia competitions, live music and dancing throughout the day. It's the bar often frequented by passengers before and after shows in the nearby Broadway Theatre.

Sky Lounge is the place to be for sweeping views through floor-to-ceiling windows. It provides a comfy and often quiet space to read, work or gather with friends.

If you're seeking the oft-missed cigar lounge, look for the entrance on the starboard (right, when facing forward) side of the Sky Lounge entrance, or enter the lounge and follow it around to the starboard side.

Edge Cocktail Bar is another centrally located place to grab beer, wine and specialty cocktails — including the delicious Purple Rain, a combo of vodka, white rum, blue curacao, gin, peach schnapps, sweet and sour, and grenadine that turns a shade of purple when you mix it. One deck above it is the Champagne Bar, which sometimes also serves seafood. One deck below is the Infinity Bar, so named because it's found at the base of the Infinity Atrium.

The ship's TV Studio & Bar is where you can find the cruise director filming the ship's daily morning show the night before. It's also the site of trivia competitions, several of which were standing-room-only.

There's a Sports Bar in the ship's Sportplex, but I never saw it open, even when the area was crowded. Three bars (Atmosphere Bar North, Atmosphere Bar South and Bamboo Bar) by the main Atmosphere Pool serve up classic umbrella drinks, as well as beer and other libations. You'll also find bars in the Marketplace Buffet, on the Yacht Club sun deck and in the Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge.

MSC Meraviglia activities

MSC Meraviglia hosts a variety of activities to keep you busy when you're not ashore. You might start your day with a free guided morning stretch or aerobics, or pop into the gym for a self-led session or a for-fee class like yoga or spin.

The daytime schedule features plenty of options for those with a competitive spirit. They range from golf putting, foosball, Ping-Pong soccer and pickleball tournaments to giant darts and trivia (visual trivia like airline logos and "name that place," as well as "name that tune" and general knowledge trivia).

If you'd rather get your groove on, keep an eye out for dance lessons and themed parties hosted by the entertainment team. My favorite was the Snow Party, when the crew blasted fake snow (which appeared to be suds of some sort) as we danced on the blazing hot pool deck.

Napkin folding, bingo, movie screenings, arts and crafts, and passenger talent shows (yes, you have to audition) round out the list of pastimes.

As you pass back and forth between events, don't miss the regularly scheduled dome shows along the Galleria Meraviglia promenade. You'll see the LED projections on the ceiling, covering topics like famous ceilings, dinosaurs, space and the changing of the seasons.

Beware of seminars on jewelry, health and wellness, and other topics that are thinly veiled sales pitches.

Feeling like a day of swimming or sunbathing? Pull up a lounge chair by the main Atmosphere Pool. If you're looking for a more sauna-like experience, head to the Solarium's covered Bamboo Pool; check out the aft Horizon Pool for better views and more peace and quiet. There's also a small pool on the private Yacht Club sun deck.

Looking to relax in a hot tub instead? You can find two of them one deck up from the Atmosphere Pool, as well as two at the Bamboo Pool and one on Deck 18's aft sun deck (behind Sportplex). There's also one at the Yacht Club Pool.

The Polar Aquapark on Deck 19 aft offers plenty of wet fun for kids and adults. Attractions include three slides — a bowl slide, where riders awkwardly end in the bowl and then exit via a flight of steps, and two twisty slides that require rafts — and a splash area with sprayers and dump buckets. There's no fee to use the space, but you'll need to sign a waiver and obtain a wristband before riding the waterslides.

Speaking of children, the ship has a dedicated kids club, called Doremiland (named after the cruise line's mascot, Doremi, as in the first three notes of a musical scale). The club is divided into Baby Club (infants and toddlers up to 3 years), Mini Club (ages 3 to 6 years), Junior Club (7 to 11 years), Young Club (12 to 14 years) and Teen Club (15 to 17 years).

Each group has age-appropriate activities scheduled, and all — except the tweens and teens, who can come and go as they please — are heavily supervised by qualified staff. Sample activities might include storytime, arts and crafts, and Lego playtime for younger children, while tweens and teens enjoy less structured pastimes like video games and dance parties.

MSC Meraviglia shows

As with most MSC ships, MSC Meraviglia's entertainment is stellar. From free live music, theater shows and promenade dance parties to extra-fee Cirque du Soleil-style performances, the options are varied and feature talented singers, dancers, magicians, acrobats and more.

Each production show is offered once per sailing, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Broadway Theatre. Some are staples, while others rotate.

"Born to Rock," "One Day More," "Cool" and "Journey" are the ship's recurring shows, which each appear once per weeklong cruise. They focus on popular songs in the rock 'n' roll and pop genres, Broadway hits, music from the '70s and '80s, and cultural favorites from Spain, Italy, France and more.

As part of a rotating selection of limited-time performers, English duo The Conjurors performed two shows during my sailing, featuring numbers games, mindreading and pre-show predictions that impressively came true by the end. The duo is scheduled for more than a dozen sailings. Other limited-engagement performers include comedians and pianists.

Speaking of limited-time performances, on the second-to-last night of the voyage, I sat in the theater unsure of what to expect from the headliner, Lorraine Crosby. "You might be thinking, 'She sounds like the lady who sings that Meat Loaf song.' Well, that's because I am the lady who sings that Meat Loaf song," Crosby joked. Her biggest claim to fame is that she rocked the female vocals in Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love, But I Won't Do That."

What followed was a vocal performance that gave me chills. Crosby's range and ability to adapt to different genres are astounding. She belted out favorites by Queen, Tina Turner and Celine Dion and arguably did a better job of it than they did.

On the final night on board, she held an intimate performance for Yacht Club passengers in the suite area's private lounge. Again, I shivered as she took on the likes of Adele, AC/DC and others.

Another free entertainment option worth mentioning is daytime street theater that includes contortionists, roving musicians, magic workshops and flash mob-style performances by the onboard singers and dancers. If you happen to be passing through the promenade area when a flash mob happens, you're likely to see a punk rock-themed song-and-dance routine or, perhaps, one where the cast is dressed up like flowers, insects and birds.

Shows for a fee

Carousel Productions, MSC's own brand of Cirque du Soleil-style shows, are offered six days a week on MSC Meraviglia, with each of two shows — "House of Houdini" and "Rock Circus" — running three nights, on alternating days, with two performances each night (8 p.m. and 10 p.m.). Originally designed to house dinner theater, the Carousel Lounge is set up as a theater in the round and no longer serves food. (That ended when the cruise line shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the line has no current plans to bring it back.)

The for-fee performances levy a nominal charge for attendance and include a welcome drink for each showgoer.

"Rock Circus" is a mix of acrobatics, aerial performances, and song and dance to some of rock's greatest hits, including songs by Guns N' Roses and AC/DC.

"House of Houdini," which follows a clearer storyline than "Rock Circus," loosely tells the tale of Houdini's great underwater escape from a straitjacket and chains. A group of singers, dancers, acrobats and aerialists dressed as circus performers show Houdini the ropes as he prepares for his greatest feat.

MSC Meraviglia itineraries and pricing

Through at least September 2024, MSC Meraviglia is sailing seven- and eight-night voyages to Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas from Brooklyn.

It also features six-night Bermuda cruises that spend three days docked at King's Wharf, as well as 10- and 11-night Canada and New England sailings that feature calls on Boston; Portland, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. The 11-night itinerary also visits Newport, Rhode Island.

A couple of 11-night Western Caribbean voyages visit Port Canaveral (the port for Orlando) and Miami in Florida, Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Ocean Cay.

MSC Meraviglia offers some of the lowest prices in the industry. At the time of publication, inside cabin prices were starting from $299 per person ($43 per person per night) for a seven-night Bahamas cruise, $379 per person ($63 per person per night) for a six-night Bermuda sailing, $449 per person ($41 per person per night) for an 11-night Western Caribbean voyage and $619 per person ($56 per person per night) for an 11-night trip to Canada and New England.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

As with a sailing on any ship, there's certain paperwork you'll need to cruise on MSC Meraviglia. If you're a U.S. citizen sailing from and returning to a U.S. port, you can sail with either an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license (both are required) or a passport. I recommend the latter, and it must be valid for at least six months.

MSC Cruises adds an automatic service charge of $14.50 per person, per day, to final bills on all sailings. For children 2 and older, the daily charge is half, or $7.25.

Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bills at bars for cruisers who do not have a drinks package. If you have a drinks package, you'll pay a 15% service charge when you purchase the package, but not on individual drinks. A 15% service charge is also added to items in minibars, salons and spas.

MSC Cruises' Wi-Fi, available through the MSC for Me app, is fast enough to be competitive with all of the other major cruise lines. But pricing varies, based on the number of devices you use and whether you're OK with simply browsing the web and checking e-mail or would prefer to use Netflix or other streaming services.

Expect to pay about $72 for one device with unlimited data on a basic package. A two-device plan for the same runs about $109. There's also a four-device plan for about $223. If streaming video is what you're hoping to do, you'll need one of the more expensive plans, which range from about $100 to more than $300.

Be warned that plans are tied to specific devices, and you cannot switch between them. For example, if you buy a one-device package, you cannot use it for your cellphone, log out and then log back in with your tablet. In that case, you would need to purchase a two-device package.

MSC's MSC for Me app allows passengers on the same ship to chat with one another for free without purchasing a Wi-Fi package. The app also lets you make dining reservations, check the daily schedule and view your onboard bill.

Carry-on drinks policy

MSC does not allow passengers to bring any of their own alcohol on board.

Smoking policy

Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is permitted in a few designated areas, including the port side of the main pool deck. It's also allowed on one side of the casino. Nonsmokers, beware: The separate sides do nothing to keep the smell from wafting. It was enough to keep me away from the area for the duration of my sailing. Smoking isn't allowed in cabins or on cabin balconies; violators will receive a $250 fine.

MSC Cruises does not offer self-service laundry facilities on any of its ships. However, passengers can send their clothing out to be washed, folded, pressed or dry-cleaned for a fee.

Electrical outlets

MSC Meraviglia's cabins all have a mix of 110-volt North American outlets, 220-volt European outlets and USB ports. In my Yacht Club balcony stateroom, I had three North American outlets, three European outlets and one USB port, all at the desk/vanity area — none near the bed.

The onboard currency for MSC Meraviglia when it sails from New York is the U.S. dollar.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on MSC Meraviglia's sailings from the U.S.

Passengers on MSC Meraviglia's warm-weather itineraries from Brooklyn can be found in T-shirts, shorts, bathing suits and cover-ups during the day, when there's no set dress code.

The line's American clientele tends to dress more casually at night, as well, but the line suggests "smart casual" attire for dinner. That might include khakis with button-down or polo-style collared shirts for men and sundresses or nice pants with a flowy top for women. Dark, unripped jeans are also acceptable for both men and women.

On "gala" evenings (usually one per weeklong sailing), the dress code is more refined. Passengers might choose to wear tuxedos, suits, khakis with button-downs and blazers, cocktail dresses or sparkly ball gowns.

On my sailing, the ship also had "tropical" and "white" listed on the daily schedule as suggested attire. Pack accordingly.

Bottom line

MSC Meraviglia is a beautiful ship with great food, shows and public spaces, but it has a few pain points.

In addition to feeling crowded, the vessel charges extra for many things that will make your overall cruise better. If you're on a strict budget, either resign yourself to doing only the free activities and eating in the main dining room and buffet, or plan to sail with a different cruise line.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

MSC Meraviglia

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1038 guests have reviewed MSC Meraviglia , giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Exciting Bahamas Cruise

Aug 21st, 2024

Overall a great ship. Food variety is great, a lot of activities and never have a boring minute. the entertainment director and Glenn are so talented and adorable. The Latin dancers are so great that I am sure they will become a super star one day!

Traveler Type

Family (young children)

Beautiful but never again

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend MSC Meraviglia. As a frequent cruiser, simple processes were very unorganized. Little signage, bad queues, and poor communication skills. Needs more staff or less people. The buffet is not designed to encourage flow of people; cups, silverware, and beverages were constantly out of stock. Fewer wait staff walking around to guests and the bars need more staff, dedicated runners or better queue management. For a 2017 ship, it seems dated, dingy and not cared for. Worst part, we checked in 2 luggages, only 1 made it. Spent first 2 days constantly checking in with Customer "Service". Only received emergency pack with cheap toothbrush, razor & too small tshirt. They were not compassionate, knowledgeable or forthcoming with how to continue a 7 day cruise with no clothes, deodorant, socks or toiletries. We finally got someone to confirm they cannot locate the luggage and we will be receiving $50 credit to spend at overpriced shops on board. If you think $50 would be enough to at least cover a 3 pack of underwear, you'd be wrong.

Love This Cruise Line

Aug 16th, 2024

My family and friends have enjoyed this cruise line so much that we are going on our 5th cruise with them.

Family (older children)

4-6 cruises

Good itinerary, beautiful ship. Very poor dining room management.

Aug 7th, 2024

I read all the reviews and knew what we were going into. This cruise served our purposes of spending a week together as a family of 13 celebrating my 70th birthday. It was convenient for us, as we live near the Brooklyn port and didn't need to fly-but my overall impression was the reviews are correct-MSC needs some major improvements. We will not be sailing with them again.

Nice Cruise for the money

We met some amazing people and had alot of fun, it seemed to be more stressful than relaxing at times because everything was so overcrowded but we made the best of it.

2-3 cruises

Disappointing, boring

Truly disappointing, very boring and uneventful. Parties weren’t great either. There are 19 floors in this ship, and only a handful has things to do. Most of the floors are rooms. I’d give my trip a 1.5/10

Absolutely wonderful!

Jul 31st, 2024

Wonderful experience. Clean ship. Good entertainment. Lots of activities to choose from. Tasty food selections. Friendly staff. Great service!!!

1 cruise (first)

MSC Meraviglia-Icon of the Seas

Jul 24th, 2024

We (family and friends totaling 26) absolutely LOVED everything about our experience aboard the MSC Meraviglia. The ship is huge, and we hardly ever felt it moving, yet we quickly familiarized ourselves with all its details. The variety of food options was immense and fabulous. From casual dining to fine dining, there was something for everyone. The entertainment was top-notch, featuring classical performances by highly ranked artists. It was truly memorable. However, we were disappointed with the photo booth experience. The process to get the photos at the end of the cruise was quite stressful, involving too much negotiation and hassle to obtain our own copies. This process could definitely be more friendly and streamlined. Overall, we had an incredible family vacation and didn't want it to end. We're already looking forward to sailing again soon!

Large Group

Got covid, ship very overcrowded, private island was a nightmare trying to get transportation to beach.

I’ll stay with Celebrity cruise line. However met some really nice people which made this trip better than it was. Again staff excellent.

You have to pay for everything

Ship is good clean but staff are not friendly, you have to pay for everything on ship ( drinks , intertainment, restaurants..)

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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MSC Meraviglia Review & What to Expect From This Unsual Ship

What to expect from an msc cruise on the meraviglia. .

The ship and the brand are polarizing, and the negative feedback or complaints would likely be fewer and less severe if passengers knew ahead of time what to expect. So that is the purpose of this lengthy article, to help prospective passengers set expectations before sailing on the MS Meraviglia (or any MSC ship). 

What to Know Before You Sail with MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises as a whole provides a very different cruise experience to the American market. MSC being a newcomer, relatively speaking, to the USA, they are competing with the best-known brands in the world and is directly marketing to lure customers away from the established cruise companies. Because this cruise line is European through and through, there will be noticeable differences from that of American cruise companies like Norwegian, Carnival, or Royal Caribbean, many differences that may be jarring to people who’ve been on any other cruise in the United States.

Objectively speaking, many of these differences are not very positive for the typical American cruise passenger, but there may be a few pleasant surprises for cruisers testing a new brand and ship, including the MSC Meraviglia.

What we like about the MSC Meravigilia

• The Meraviglia is beautiful and doesn’t really compare to anything else in the American cruise market. It’s huge and lacks nothing when it comes to activities or things to do. 
• The Meraviglia exudes glamour in unexpected ways from the Swarovski crystal staircases to the shiny chrome accents and ultra-modern spaces throughout the ship. I can’t help but think it feels like Las Vegas… everywhere.
• The pool decks and multiple pools are quite large compared to other cruise lines, with plenty of loungers. For people who love the outdoor spaces on cruise ships, the Meraviglia will not disappoint. 
• The price of the itineraries is usually extremely competitive if not downright cheap for a cruise vacation. A whole family can experience a cruise for a fraction of the price of a similar beach vacation anywhere else.
• The Ocean Cay Reserve / private island is one of a kind. While each major cruise company has a version of a private island, passengers universally like Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.
• The theater shows are actually enjoyable, even though the bigger productions cost extra. A lot of effort has gone into making the performances professional and worth paying for. Even the free entertainment is better than most free shows on other cruise lines.

…and then there were the not-so-positive points about the MSC Meraviglia

What we didn’t like about the Meraviglia

It’s no secret that there are lots of complaints about the ship as well as MSC the brand. Just look at any Facebook group or Reddit forum, and you’ll see endless complaints, but you’ll also see plenty of people who have thoroughly enjoyed their vacation with MSC and on the Meraviglia. However, the things that put a damper on the experience are pretty significant.

• The food quality in general on MSC Cruises isn’t known to be the best and on the Meraviglia, that’s no exception. The main dining room and buffet are average at best and other dining options on the ship are all paid specialty restaurants… and they’re not terribly special. (more on that later)
• The mind-numbing nature of figuring out the MSC beverage & drink packages as well as the dining packages is enough to make the most experienced mathematicians lose their collective minds. 
• Customer service can be downright horrible. There’s no other way to put it. On this ship, if you experience any issue and are faced with the mile-long line to speak with someone at guest services, you better brace yourself. This is where the “European” aspect of the brand shines bright and clear. 
• General service on the ship, while everyone tries hard, doesn’t meet the standard of other cruise lines. It feels like the policies of MSC almost set the staff up to fail and not provide the best service possible, regardless of their efforts. I’m hoping this is because the staff is all relatively new and this will be sorted out with some training. 
• The lack of communication is apparent and frustrating, whether it’s trying to get something explained in basic terms or just knowing what’s going on around the ship. Even officers didn’t have answers to many basic questions.
• Room service was available but sometimes never arrived or arrived too late.

There’s more, and we’ll get into that next.

MSC Meraviglia Dress Code

In the evening some passengers do dress up, but more smart casual than formal, except for the “elegant” (not formal) nights. But even on those specified nights, there was a mix of looks throughout the ship, and no one seemed to take notice if fellow passengers weren’t dressed as well. Seeing men in a jacket the ladies in gowns would not be unusual, but it’s not at all required.

During the day, you see it all and it’s mostly bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, and resort casual. As you’d expect on a cruise!

Elegant Nights

There were several themed nights on a 7-night cruise, including “White Night,” a 70s & 80s Party, Tropical Night, and two Formal Nights, however, you might not find elegant nights or formal nights listed in the daily program.  We only discovered the nights while out and about on the ship, as they forgot to publish it on the program. If this is important to you, be sure to inquire early in the voyage so you know what nights to plan for. 

The staterooms on the Meraviglia are very clean and modern with a color palette that was picked out of an HGTV show with eggplant and dusty gray colors mixed with dark wood accents. Really quite nice and not at all like a traditional cruise ship.

• See : 360 tour of a balcony stateroom on the MSC Meraviglia

Everything in the cabin was comfortable, albeit felt a little cheap. Again, evoking a bit of Las Vegas. The bathrooms were huge compared to newer ships which was a nice surprise, however, the toiletries, or lack thereof, ruined the happy moment of seeing the huge bathroom. You soon realize that there are little things missing like no facial tissues, and there is only a single pump bottle with unknown goo that is supposed to double as body wash and shampoo, no conditioner, and It wouldn’t surprise me if the hand soap next to the sink were the same unknown goo. 

While the cabin size, at least for a balcony stateroom, was more than sufficient with (almost) all of the necessities, you soon realize there is almost no storage. The closet is extremely small and if you want to use the sofa bed, good luck ever getting back into that closet. In the end, it’s sufficient for 3 or 5 days, but for longer cruises, finding a home for your “stuff” will be a challenge. There is a simple answer to this problem, bring less stuff! 🙂

The “Promenade” (deck 6) on the Meraviglia

The Promenade is the main walkway through the center of the ship with many shops, restaurants, the domed screen above, and amazing people-watching. 

Various shops and stand-alone specialty restaurants line the long pedestrian walkway. It’s also where you’ll find the best gelato on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Look up, you will see a large LED screen that spans the avenue (again, the Vegas reference) this reminds me of The Freemont St Experience in Las Vegas, but better. The video and images are put to music several times throughout the day and night. For special seasons, look in your daily program for what “show” may be playing on the promenade ceiling. This feature is unlike anything at sea and is quite impressive and never gets old!

Pools & Water Activities

The outdoor spaces on the Meraviglia are impressive. For people who’ve cruised before, and feel like cruise ship pools are too few and too small won’t likely be an issue with this ship. 

Pools are on the MSC Meraviglia

Did you know, there are 5 pools on this ship? Unreal!

The Yacht Club saltwater pool and hot tub area is for exclusive use for Yacht Club guests and has a private bar area as well. 

Bamboo Pool area on decks 15 & 16, which is a solarium pool with a retractable roof including a couple of hot tubs. It tends to get warm in the hot sun because of a lack of air circulation and is unusable if the roof is closed because of the chemical smell. Additionally, there’s quite a bit of seating to relax and enjoy the Bamboo bar (when the roof is open).

The main pool is called the “Atmosphere Pool” . This pool is actually two pools connected. It feels less like a cruise ship pool and feels more like a hotel/resort pool with fountains and elevated seating/beds. There’s usually live music and bar service as well as drink carts when the ship is busy.

There is the Aurea pool reserved for the Aurea experience guests. It’s not as much of a full pool as it is a plunge pool.

The Aquapark pool area has a water park with slides and a ropes course which is popular with kids and families. The concept of removing this pool area from the main pool is absolutely fabulous. It generally keeps the concentration of children away from the main pools even when the ship is seemingly overrun with kids. 

Then the Horizon pool which is supposed to be “adults only”. The adult part wasn’t enforced very well and parents were letting their kids … do their kid things around this pool area. The Horizon pool is more of a dipping pool or plunge pool surrounded by stadium-style seating making it a bit strange to actually use the pool since you feel like you’re performing for everyone. Above the stadium seating is a bar that is open day and night.

For sun worshippers who aren’t as concerned about being near the pool, there are huge swaths of deck area to lay out and tan. More than I’ve seen on a ship, come to think of it.

A Note About the Pool Towels!

Bring your towel and don’t leave it behind! You’ll be charged.  There is no towel service at the pool, it’s handled by the room attendants. If the number of towels in your room don’t match the number from the start of the cruise, the attendant will make note of this and you’ll be charged after disembarking.

Restaurants, dining, and food options on the Meraviglia

At first glance, the selection of places to eat on the ship looks great, until you realize they are almost all available at an extra cost. The only complimentary food on board is the Buffet and the main dining rooms, with poolside food available at lunch (burgers, hotdogs, etc). If you want to participate in anything other than the main dining room at dinner, expect to pay extra, and it’s not inexpensive. 

Main Dining Rooms

There are two main dining rooms that serve the same food, just with different decor. This allows the ship to more effectively schedule times and service with so many passengers, and the concept works well. The good thing about the main dining rooms is that, unlike old-school cruising, you’re given your own table, even if you’re only a party of 2. No eating with strangers.

Dinner services were usually efficient but took a little while from start to finish (plan on spending 1.5 hours at dinner)

If you’re in the Yacht Club, you will have access to a more exclusive dining area with a different and allegedly elevated experience.

As far as the complimentary dining goes, the food is unfortunately not great. This is a common complaint among passengers. It leaves a lot to be desired and leaves us wondering things like … why would they offer a steak if it’s inedible? Just don’t have it on the menu if it can’t be prepared properly. I saw quite a bit of food waste, which is my biggest “personal issue”pet peeve” with cruising, but that could be curbed if the food served wasn’t just downright bad. A smaller menu with better food would go a long way to improving customer satisfaction and reducing food waste. 

That’s not to say that there aren’t some decent things on the menus, but largely our group felt like the main dining rooms on the MSC Meraviglia failed at many basic items.

It’s worth noting that if you want to change your dining time that has been assigned, you’re usually allowed to change it ONE time, and may feel like moving mountains to get it done. The staff holding guard over the host stand aren’t thrilled with these requests. Another option is if you book the higher level Aurea experience, you can dine on your own schedule.

The Marketplace Buffet

A pleasant surprise was the buffet on the Meraviglia . The buffet food, while sometimes repetitive, was actually pretty good. I’d say it’s better than most cruise ships and in the evenings the food was elevated compared to serving the same lunch items with different names. 

The pizza was exceptional, which you’d hope for the high number of Italian staff on the ship!  

The buffet always gets crowded!

Right as you walk in, head straight to the rear of the buffet where there are more food items and far fewer people.  Many passengers don’t realize there are more food stations away from the long lines and crowds.

Specialty Restaurants on the MSC Meraviglia

Hola! Tacos & Cantina – An all-you-can-eat Mexican & Cantina, which ended up being our go-to location for lunch to avoid the madness at the buffet. The menu had enough variety that you could eat there many days and not repeat the same items. There is an all-you-can-eat price or an ala carte menu if you just want a quick snack. This was a great option if you have the unlimited dining package (highly recommended), as you are entitled to the all-you-can-eat menu & tacos with the package. See the Hola! Tacos Menu

The Butcher’s Cut – This is the signature Steakhouse on MSC Cruises and has everything you’d expect in a traditional steakhouse. The steaks are perfectly cooked but the sides and the overall presentation feel like it is more of a budget truckstop grill rather than an elevated steakhouse. It was enjoyable nonetheless, although a bit pricey for what it was if you weren’t using the dining package. On the Meraviglia, there is an unlimited dining package option where you can visit the Butcher’s Cut twice on your voyage making the package well worth it. See the Butcher’s Cut menu

Kaito Sushi & Teppanyaki – The Teppanyaki concept is quite good and you get exactly what you’d expect. The atmosphere, food, and fun are great, especially for a family. The sushi bar is a bit strange. You are effectively sitting in the hallways of the ship while being served. Unfortunately, the service can be quite slow and hindered by the fact that the sushi chefs are also preparing items for the Teppanyaki tables while trying to keep up with sushi orders. Overall the experience at both locations was quite good with a few misses in the sushi bar on quality and prep time. See the Kaito Sushi Menu .

Ocean Cay – The signature Seafood restaurant was probably the biggest disappointment among all of the specialty dining restaurants on the Meraviglia. Basic items were cooked improperly and some were downright inedible (Tuna steak for example). However, the service was amazing! See the Ocean Cay menu .

Brass Anchor Pub – We loved this concept and the pub design really did feel like you were in a modern London pub. There were plenty of beer selections not found anywhere else on the ship as well as a for-pay menu with chicken wings and other pub food. Why the food in this location is an additional cost is puzzling, as you’d never pay for these types of items on any other cruise line.

Jean-Philippe Maury – The specialty chocolate shop on the ship across from the Gelato stand is a great treat for sweets lovers. The prices were reasonable and they had a great selection of chocolates which were packaged nicely and would make great gifts.

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Bars & Lounges on the MSC Meraviglia

With about 30 bars on the Meraviglia , there is no shortage of places to get a drink of just about anything. The only challenge is usually the lines and slow service.

We found the best bar on the ship to be the Sky Lounge on deck 18 overlooking the pool deck while the other lounges are primarily just set up in open spaces and aren’t very cozy or lounge-like. While those spaces are good for people watching, they’re not great for relaxing as they have more of an airport lounge feel than a luxury cruise ship lounge feel. So most afternoons and evenings, we’d end up in the Sky Lounge which had a variety of music performers throughout the week, all were generally good.

There is a “night club” as they call it – but it’s really just a random space small space on the upper decks and was not managed properly, often filled with children. When people migrated from the poorly executed night club they often improvised and went to the open bar at the end of the Promenade. Very strange to say the least.

As far as the quality of drinks and speed of service, it was a mixed bag. It felt like some bars really tried hard to get it right, while others just couldn’t care about what they were serving or how fast it was going. I point back to the very “European” service level in this particular situation. (And I can say this, being an Expat living in Europe!)

MSC Meraviglia Drink Packages

Speaking of bars and lounges, the drink packages for MSC Cruises will make your head hurt. They come in several varieties with strange limits and rules on how to use them. We put together a complete MSC Drink Package guide just for this purpose, so take a moment to look it over. In general, though, the packages are relatively affordable and should be considered if you’re even a moderate drinker. If you purchase a package, BUY IT BEFORE THE CRUISE! The prices have just increased for each beverage package, and they are substantially more expensive when purchasing onboard vs. pre-cruise.

MSC Meraviglia Spa (Aurea Spa)

A pleasant retreat on the ship is the Aurea spa / thermal suite. It’s both really nice (albeit too small) and not terribly expensive, especially when booked in advance. The thermal suite is not big enough for a cruise ship the size of the Meraviglia but it does suffice with all the expected therapy rooms like steam, sauna, salt, and various hydrotherapy pools. While an effort is made and a basic system is in place to limit occupancy, it’s not strictly adhered to, so it can get a little crowded. It’s best to go in the evenings when passengers are at shows and for dinner. If you’re a “spa person”, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised and it’s probably worth the spa pass (can be as low as $120 for 5 days when pre-booked). It’s good to know that if you are GOLD level in the Voyagers Club loyalty program, you get one free entry to the thermal suites! See our Voyagers Club status match guide and get to the GOLD level by matching with other cruise and hotel companies.

The treatments and prices are what you’d expect on a cruise ship, if not a little less expensive. A 50-minute massage is $129, which is in line with other major cruise lines. 

• Read : See the Aurea Spa & Thermal Suite on MSC Meraviglia

There are always the outliers that love to work out on a cruise 🙂 – Those of you who enjoy getting a workout in, even though it’s a vacation… a gluttonous cruise vacation, will be pleasantly surprised by the size of the gym and included equipment. On some ships, a gym is an afterthought tucked away in a corner while MSC has made the gym a central feature overlooking the pools. It’s a large, well-kept space with everything you could imagine for a workout and every cardio machine possible.

The Crew and Service

We found everyone on the ship in a service capacity generally trying really hard to do a good job, however, the overall feel of the service feels a bit “junior level” compared to other cruise lines. The service rapidly declined the further up the ranks you got with the staff. Odd, right? We, unfortunately, had to deal with a few management-level staff members on the Meraviglia as well as the customer service staff, and it was downright horrible with a few exceptions (shout out to Giuseppe, the specialty restaurant manager, a real professional!) – The customer service staff look overwhelmed, cranky and are extremely argumentative, and borderline unprofessional as are a few of the staff encountered in the specialty dining restaurants. While we are all human and have bad days, this behavior was noticed across many staff members over multiple days, so that speaks volumes. 

Another unusual experience is the language barrier that exists between staff and guests. For sailing out of a USA port, I was surprised at the communication problems with a number of staff. Not that they weren’t trying, it was simply a language issue… something I’ve never experienced in 20+ years of cruising. 

Entertainment Onboard on The MSC Meraviglia

In the evenings, various live music spaces around the ship have an eclectic mix of music types. There will be something for everyone. The only real issue is with the venues to experience the music. Most weren’t set up to get comfortable and listen to the performer. Another issue with the live music on the ship is that they didn’t adhere to the daily program very well, so making a plan to show up to a bar or lounge expecting to hear a specific performer at a specific time was hit or miss. Another very European “feature” of the Meraviglia. 🙂

Theater Shows

Multiple times per night is a Cirque Du Soleil acrobatic show, in the ship’s specially-built Carousel Lounge. The shows were interesting and inexpensive to see. If this is someone’s first cruise or for people who’ve only sailed on MSC Cruises, the shows will likely be fine, however, they may not meet the standards of people who’ve cruised on Royal Caribbean or NCL and have seen the high-value production shows of those cruise companies.

Overall, the shows on the MSC Meraviglia are worth seeing (book in advance for the best price). 

Other nightly shows are available at no charge, but reservations are required (or strongly recommended)

Onboard WiFi

There are multiple “packages” for wifi on the ship, again, better purchased in advance. It was possible to buy basic wifi for a single day or the whole cruise and have multiple devices (for a fee). I generally do not purchase wifi on a cruise but like to keep in touch with my travel group. It is allegedly possible to do that through the MSC App, but no one was ever able to get it to work which led us to buy the least expensive wifi package to communicate. 

Costs Included With Your Cruise Fare:

All meals in the two main dining rooms and Marketplace Buffet · Water, tea, coffee, and milk; juice available at breakfast only · Use of the water park, sports areas, and mini-golf · Use of the fitness center, excluding classes or training sessions · Most daily activities onboard, including trivia games, live music, and classes and workshops · Use of the kids’, tween and teen clubs · Access to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, including buffet lunch and use of sun loungers on the beach

Not included with your cruise fare:

Gratuities & “hotel service charge” · Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with the exception of water, tea, and coffee · Room service (included for higher-tier cruise packages only) · Some evening shows · Meals in specialty restaurants · Shore excursions · Wi-Fi (except for Yacht Club passengers) · Spa treatments, fitness classes, and training sessions · Photos · Purchases from onboard shops · Bowling, F1 simulator and arcade games

Fellow Passengers & Demographics

When MSC Meraviglia first set sail in the late 1980s, the passengers were mainly European; however, now a much more diverse mix of people can be found on the ships, particularly during its Caribbean cruises, where you can see all nationalities represented. Being an Expat in Europe and vacationing on an MSC ship in the Caribbean, it was quite entertaining to hear all of the languages!

The average age is mid-40s, though with the strong emphasis on family vacations, expect hundreds of children during school vacations, which may be distressing to some travelers without kids.

The Safety Drill

It’s worth mentioning that the safety drill/muster drill was one of the worst we’ve ever experienced. You are required to go to your stateroom, watch the drill on TV, and dial a number to prove you’re there. Then each level is called to check into their muster station location. This in itself seemed like a safety hazard as everyone piled into the narrow halls fighting to get to the stations. It would have been better if they just would have said “Check in to your muster station before XYZ time” … rather than forcing everyone at once to go to their station. It was a bit mind-boggling.

Final Thoughts on the MSC MeravigliA

There’s no question that the ship is beautiful and well maintained. However we found the experience of sailing on the Meraviglia chaotic to say the least.

Food was mediocre (but better in the specialty dining restaurants) and we found the drinks menu/packages confusing.

If the ship had an itinerary that was a “must try” or included a few places I really want to go, I’d consider the Meraviglia again. However, it almost felt too stressful to enjoy most days so for that reason, I’d likely pass on booking this ship again.

More MSC Cruises Information

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MSC Cruises Drink & Bar Menus With PriceS – UPDATED We spent a lot of time on a recent voyage with MSC Cruises trying... Read This

MSC Cruises Drink Packages & Prices (UPDATED)

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Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

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MSC MERAVIGLIA REVIEWS

Find out what our guests have to say.

" We've been cruising with MSC for years: good service in restaurant, nice staff around the ship. "

" The ship was beautiful. The staff and crew offered a great service. Every single bartender there treated us like family."

" Really had a fabulous time. The ship, transfers, excursions, staff, food, drinks and entertainment were amazing. "

" A beautiful new ship : the cabin was spacious and the buffets were plentiful with lots of unique offerings. "

" Beautiful ship, great staff, awesome facilities This was our 4th cruise with MSC and we will come back. "

" MSC Meraviglia is the most beautiful ship I have been on: service and entertainment were excellent. "

" Staff was wonderful. Ship is stunning and well maintained. We absolutely loved our cruise. "

" Great shows. Never seen such wonderful performances at the broadway shows. Great food and great service everywhere. "

" Impressive, beautiful and modern ship: the MSC Aurea Spa, the gym, the swimming pools and the buffet were excellent. "

" Amazing experience. The MSC Yacht Club staff and facilities are above and beyond. Already booked 2 additional MSC Cruises. "

" First time cruiser in MSC Yacht Club. Fantastic experience, food, friendly staff and absolutely amazing. "

" Love MSC. I liked that it was so international. Our room was spotless and cleaned twice daily. "

Data source: Post-cruise comment forms submitted by MSC Guests on board MSC Meraviglia

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MSC Meraviglia cabins and suites

Msc meraviglia staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

MSC Meraviglia cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by MSC Cruises en-suite amenities and services.

The MSC Meraviglia cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite with Balcony Jacuzzi

Layout (floor plan).

All passengers booked in MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite accommodations receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• interactive large LCD TV, phone, electronic safe (in the closet), Nespresso coffee machine
• Myform Memory mattresses
• Dorelan pillows menu
• Egyptian cotton bathrobes, slippers
• luxury bedding (by Mascioni)
• marble bathroom with shower / bathtub
• fully stocked mini-bar
• goodnight gourmet chocolates (by Venchi)
• private balcony with a whirlpool tub and dining area (6-seat table)
• Nintendo Wii gaming console
• Priority services (check-in / check-out, embarkation / disembarkation, tendering)
• 24-hour personal concierge, butler service, room service (free delivery)
• Unlimited drinks in all MSC Yacht Club venues (including the suite's mini-bar drinks)
• All-inclusive (complimentary) free-time dining (lunches and dinners) in the exclusive MSC Yacht Club restaurant
• Unlimited drinks in all onboard bars and restaurants
• Free Thermal Suite access
• Direct access (via private elevator) to MSC Aurea Spa
• Exclusive access to "The One Sun Deck" and "Top Sail Lounge"

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

All passengers booked in MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite accommodations receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

MSC Yacht Club Spa Suite

All passengers booked in MSC Yacht Club Spa Suite accommodations receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• in-cabin Kinesis equipment by Technogym

MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite

All passengers booked in MSC Yacht Club Interior Suites receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• 1 queen bed (or 2 single beds/ upon request)
• private bathroom with shower
• Priority services (check-in / check-out, embarkation / disembarkation, tendering)
• Unlimited drinks in all MSC Yacht Club venues (including the cabin's mini-bar drinks)

Duplex Suite with Balcony Jacuzzi

All passengers booked in Duplex Suite accommodations receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• 2-deck-high (lower / upper level) stateroom - main level (living/dining room, double sofabed), upper level (master bedroom, queen bed convertible to 2 single beds / upon request)
• 2 interactive LCD TVs, 2 phones, electronic safe (in the closet), mini-bar
• 2 walk-in wardrobes
• 2 private bathrooms with shower (1 with bathtub)
• private balcony with whirpool hottub
• Priority services (boarding, tendering, dinner seating / at onboard complimentary restaurants)
• 24-hour room service
• Unlimted drinks by MSC's "All-Inclusive Classic Drink Package"
• Complimentary Spa package - welcome cocktail, your-choice massage (spa menu), tanning shower, private wellness consultation, Thermal Area free access (throughout the cruise, adults only), private solarium access
• Complimentary room diffuser (100 ml)

Angle-Balcony Premium Suite with Terrace Jacuzzi

All passengers booked in Angle Balcony Suites receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• interactive TV, phone, electronic safe (in the closet), mini-bar
• 1 queen bed (or 2 single beds / upon request)
• large wardrobe
• private (angle) balcony with whirpool hot tub
• Priority services (boarding, tendering, dinner seating / at onboard complimentary restaurants)
• Unlimited drinks by MSC's "All-Inclusive Classic Drink Package"
• Complimentary Spa package - welcome cocktail, your-choice massage (spa menu), tanning shower, private wellness consultation, Thermal Area free access (throughout the cruise, adults only), private solarium/sundeck access

Super Family Plus Cabins

All passengers booked in MSC family cabins (connecting staterooms for families) receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• Note: Super Family Plus cabins combine 3 connecting rooms (1 Inside plus 2 Balcony).
• 3 nteractive LCD TVs, 3 phones, 3 electronic safes (in the closets), 2 mini-bars
• 3 wardrobes
• 3 private bathrooms (2 with showers, 1 with shower / bathtub)
• 2 private balconies
• bed configuration (max sleeping capacity 10 people) - combination of lower and upper beds plus double sofabeds
• Dedicated and supervised kids activities (educational and recreational), "Doremi Chef" cooking courses
• Classic dining (assigned first or second sitting) or Flexi dining (your-time). Switching dining styles is available after booking and also after boarding the ship.

SuperFamily Balcony Cabin

All passengers booked in MSC Super Family cabins (connecting staterooms for families) receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• Note: Super Family cabins combine 2 connecting balcony rooms
• 2 nteractive LCD TVs, 2 phones, 2 electronic safes (in the closets), 2 mini-bars
• 2 wardrobes
• 2 private bathrooms (1 with showers, 1 with shower / bathtub)
• bed configuration (max sleeping capacity 6 people) - combination of lower beds plus double sofabeds

Family Cabins

All passengers booked in MSC Family Balcony cabins (connecting staterooms for families) receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• Note: Family Balcony accommodations are 2 connecting cabins (1 Inside plus 1 Balcony or 1 Oceanview).
• 1 private balcony (or Porthole Window)
• bed configuration (max sleeping capacity 6 people) - combination of lower beds (queen and single) plus double sofabeds

Balcony Cabin

All passengers booked in MSC Balcony staterooms receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• private bathroom (with shower)
• private balcony
• 1 queen bed (or 2 single beds / upon request)

Note: Wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers) are sized up to 325 ft2 (30 m2).

Depending on Balcony cabin class, passengers additionally receive the following amenities:

• Bella Cabins - 20-hours-a-day gourmet buffet, dining preferences (Flexi Early or Late / at booking), free access to 5 different kids and teen clubs.
• Fantastica Cabins ("Bella” privileges plus) - upper deck room location, Classic dining (first or second assigned sitting) or Flexi / your-time). Dining styles can be selected after booking or after boarding. 24-hour room service, Dedicated and supervised kids activities (educational and recreational), "Doremi Chef" cooking courses.
• Wellness / Spa Cabins (“Fantastica” privileges plus) - upper deck room location, My Choice dining (anytime dinner, priority access to the ship's complimentary restaurants), Wellness Welcome Kit (MSC logoed T-shirt, shorts, sports towel), complimentary health check-up onboard, Inbody analyzer test (with personal Technogym-trained instructor), personalized Wellness program (1 complimentary gym class per day / every on 7+ day cruises), exclusive wellness-themed shore activities, unlimited mineral water onboard (at bars, restaurants, buffet, in-cabin bottled water), 1 sports drink per day (in-cabin mini bar), complimentary gym gear laundry service, 1 free souvenir photo.
• Aurea Cabins (“Fantastica” privileges plus) - priority boarding, Unlimted drinks (by MSC's "All-Inclusive Classic Drink Package"), My Choice dining (anytime dinner, priority access to the ship's complimentary restaurants), Complimentary Spa package (welcome cocktail, your-choice massage/spa menu, tanning shower, private wellness consultation, Thermal Area free access (throughout the cruise, adults only), private solarium access, room diffuser (100 ml).

Oceanview Cabin

All passengers booked in MSC Oceanview cabins receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• nteractive LCD TV, phone, electronic safe (in the closet), mini-bar

Depending of Oceanview cabin class (low to high - Bella, Fantastica, Spa), passengers additionally receive the following amenities:

• Wellness / Spa Cabins (“Fantastica” privileges plus) - upper deck room location, My Choice dining (anytime dinner, priority access to the ship's complimentary restaurants), Wellness Welcome Kit (MSC logoed T-shirt, shorts, sports towel), complimentary health check-up onboard, Inbody analyser test (with personal Technogym-trained instructor), personalized Wellness program (1 complimentary gym class per day / every day on 7+ days cruises), exclusive wellness-themed shore activities, unlimited mineral water onboard (at bars, restaurants, buffet, in-cabin bottled water), 1 sport drink per day (in-cabin mini bar), complimentary gym gear laundry service, 1 free souvenir photo.

Interior Cabin

All passengers booked in MSC Interior cabins receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

Depending of Inside cabin class (low to high - Bella, Fantastica, Spa), passengers additionally receive the following amenities:

Studio Single Cabin

All passengers booked in Studios/single-occupancy staterooms receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

• wardrobe, vanity table/writing desk with chair
• private bathroom (with shower)
• 1 French bed (sized 140x200 cm / 255x78 inches)

MSC's Studios (categories IS-Interior, OS-OceanView, BS-Balcony) are available for booking with single-occupancy rates only.

Handicap|Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins

For passengers with disabilities, MSC Meraviglia has a total of 45 handicap-accessible cabins (18x Inside, 26x Balcony, 1x Deluxe Suite).

Follows the complete list of MSC Meraviglia cabins for disabled passengers. They are listed as type and categories, with cabin numbers in brackets:

• Inside rooms: 8049, 8052, 8130, 8182, 9057, 9060, 10053, 10056, 10080, 11053, 11054, 11172, 11192, 12041, 12046, 12158, 12178, 13152, 13162
• Balcony rooms: 8087, 8088, 8089, 8090, 9108, 9110, 9113, 9115, 9134, 9136, 10083, 10085, 10110, 10112, 11091, 11093, 11100, 11102, 12079, 12081, 12088, 12090, 13073, 13075, 13088, 13090
• YC1-Yacht Club Suite: 15039

Each of the handicapped staterooms features: larger size (compared to the non-accessible counterpart), wider doors (width 35 inches / 0,9 m, sitting-level keycard slot), wider turning spaces (5 ft / 1,5 m), ramped thresholds, beds with open bed frames, lowered vanity in the sitting area, amplified phones, captioned TVs, wider bathrooms (door width 35 inches / 0,9 m, roll-in shower, fold-down shower bench, grab rails, lower sinks and closet rods, raised toilets, hand-held shower head, seat height from the floor 0,4 m).

All ADA cabins also feature a convenient location near the elevators.

The ship’s gangways are all wide enough for most types of wheelchairs and disability scooters.

All decks provide elevator access.

All passenger lifts have visual, audio and Braille deck indicators.

During an emergency, dedicated crew personnel helps all disabled guests (also those with reduced mobility) to board the ship's lifeboats.

MSC Meraviglia cabins review

Of all MSC Meraviglia cabins, 1587 are outside and 657 are inside. All cruise accommodations have a double bed (convertible to 2 single beds). The number of all cabin categories is 21, including the Wellness (Spa) grades YCW-Deluxe Suite, BW-Balcony, OW-Oceanview, and IW-Inside.

For accommodating more guests (up to 10), the ship offers 3 types of "family cabins", comprising of 2 or 3 modular connecting rooms (and their balconies). These are the categories FPB ("Super Family Plus"), FLA ("Super Family"), and FMB ("Family") balconied staterooms. A unique feature for an MSC cruise ship, Meraviglia has 8 Duplex Suites (2-level accommodations).

Follows the review of MSC Meraviglia staterooms as amenities, furniture and included (complimentary) services:

• All passenger cabins as amenities offer twin beds (singles convertible to king, or double upon request), leather headboard, bedside tables and wall lamps, pillow menu, flat HD TV (with an interactive TV system, allowing bookings from the cabin, also itinerary/ports of call and tours/excursions information, movies on demand, live webcam views), direct-dial phone (onboard connections only), safe, hairdryer, mini-bar/fridge, closet/wardrobe, sitting/lounge area (mirrored vanity table, chairs), en-suite bathroom (WC, sink, shower), individual air-conditioning (thermostat controlled), Wi-Fi Internet access.
• All MSC YACHT CLUB cabins additionally have Nespresso machines.
• All Suite cabin categories feature larger bathrooms with bathtubs.
• Interconnecting “cluster cabins” are specifically designed for large families and family group travel. This new concept allows up to 3 cruise staterooms to be linked together and opened up. Meraviglia ship’s family cabins are in 3 main categories – FAMILY (max occupancy 6 passengers, 2 connecting rooms, 2 baths, 1 balcony), SUPER FAMILY (max occupancy 6 passengers, 2 connecting rooms, 2 baths /1 with bathtub, 2 balconies) and SUPER FAMILY PLUS (max occupancy 10 passengers, 3 connecting rooms, 3 baths, 2 balconies).
• Angle Balcony Suites feature larger bathrooms and a veranda with a whirlpool bath.
• Duplex Suites feature 2 walk-in closets, 2 bathrooms (1 with bathtub, 1 with shower), veranda with a whirlpool bath.
• YACHT CLUB Royal Suites feature a spacious veranda (40 m2) with a 6-seat dining table and a whirlpool bath.
• MSC Cruises “BELLA cabins” are in categories I1-Inside, O1-Oceanview, and B1-Balcony. Booking Bella-class staterooms additionally offer as extra perks: 20-hour gourmet buffet, organized daily scheduled activities, access to a dedicated swimming pool, modern gym, open-air sports facilities, plus earning MSC Club points for more perks on the next cruise.
• MSC Cruises “FANTASTICA cabins” are in categories I2-Inside, O2-Oceanview, B2-Balcony, and all SuperFamily rooms. Booking Fantastica-class staterooms additionally offer as extra perks: 24-hour room service, 50% discount on fitness classes, specially dedicated to kids activities, free in-room dining (breakfast), free delivery, priority dinner sitting, cooking sessions with the ship’s Master Chef. These higher-grade cabins are with upper deck location and offer easy access to elevators and popular lounges.
• MSC Cruises “AUREA cabins” are in category B3-Balcony. Booking Aurea-class staterooms additionally offers: a complimentary Aurea Spa package, Thermal Area unlimited access, 60-min massage PP (max 2 per cabin), 20-min Solarium usage, welcome cocktail party, plus priority services (check-in, embarkation, tendering), bathrobes, slippers, luxury spa products, 24-hour unlimited drinks (specialty coffee, wine and beer, cocktails, soft beverages, gelato ice cream).
• MSC YACHT CLUB passengers enjoy an exclusive butler service (available 24-hours), dedicated concierge service (24-hour Concierge Reception), all-inclusive dining (a la carte menu, your-time dining in an exclusive gourmet restaurant (TBN), unlimited drinks (from cabin’s mini-bar and in all Yacht Club complex areas), exclusive “The One Sun Deck” (suites-only sundeck area) access, exclusive Top Sail Lounge access. The YACHT CLUB’s exclusive lounge areas are “Top Sail Lounge” (with its own restaurant) and “The One Pool Deck” (swimming pool, whirlpools, sundeck served by its own bar).
• The MSC’s new category “Super Family Plus” cabins are category B1-Balcony staterooms (location on decks 9, 10, 11). Facing forward, they interconnect with an interior room and another B1-Balcony (forward location too) making a “Super Family Plus”. Some of the aft-location B2-Balcony staterooms (location – decks 9 through 14) have an extra single bed and can be connected to make a “Super Family Plus”. When a balcony room is combined with an adjoining interior cabin it becomes a “Superfamily”.
• Passengers booked in MSC Wellness cabins (IW-Inside, OW-Oceanview, BW-Balcony, and YCW-Yacht Club) receive access to dedicated sports facilities, training equipment, and amenities, along with the personal trainer, personalized fitness program, exclusive fitness-themed excursions, healthy food/drinks, charge-free laundry service (gym wear only).

Note: On decks 13 and 14, balcony cabins coloured in pink are the line’s new “wellness” class. In the same class are also the interior staterooms on deck 13, plus 4 outside staterooms on deck 8.

Meraviglia ship's MSC Yacht Club has a total of 78 balcony staterooms (suites) plus 15 inside cabins. Two apartments are with large living room and 2 balconies (with alfresco dining area and whirlpool).

MSC Meraviglia cabin and suite plans are property of MSC Cruises . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

MSC Meraviglia Ship Review: A Comprehensive Guide

This is a review of the MSC Meraviglia cruise ship. While Meraviglia may not be the newest or most innovative ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, it holds a special place as the first in the Meraviglia class.

Currently departing from New York and sailing to destinations like Bermuda and Canada/New England, the ship offers an experience as engaging as that of its more recent siblings.

Considering booking this ship for a future trip? Read on, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about what the Meraviglia offers so you can decide if the ship is right for you.

Notable Highlights:

MSC Meraviglia Ship Review

MSC Meraviglia is the flagship for the MSC Meraviglia class of vessels. Her sister, MSC Bellissima, debuted in early 2019. This ship is the first MSC vessel with an indoor promenade, Plaza Meraviglia, which runs the ship’s length.

MSC Cruises is an Italian line working hard to become a major player in the North American market. It attracts a more international audience than many might be accustomed to sailing with.

That will mean there are some differences that you’re likely to notice, including that announcements are generally made in multiple languages throughout the sailing.

MSC books their cruises by experience — Bella, Fantasica, and Aurora — which is slightly different from the mainstream lines.

You will want to pay close attention during the booking process and ensure that you understand exactly what your package covers and doesn’t. If you start to get nervous, call an MSC representative or work with a travel agent you know has experience with this line.

READ MORE: MSC Meraviglia Trip Report, Day 1

Essentially, each of the “experiences” offers a level of service. Bella, the entry-level experience, is sort of your very basic, bare-bones cruise without much in the way of perks.

It’s also going to be the cheapest way to cruise with MSC. This is a great place to start for people who don’t want added expenses like drink or dinner packages.

MSC Meraviglia Design

You embark on the ship on deck six, which puts you right into the heart of the promenade. Indoor promenades are nothing new to the cruise industry.

However, one with a digital LED ceiling is. You may go into sensory overload between that and the Swarovski crystal staircases. One thing you won’t say is “meh”, because the ship makes a heck of a first impression.

MSC Meraviglia was designed with passenger flow in mind, and that’s important when you’re on a ship with around 5,599 other people. Thanks to how things are laid out, you rarely find yourself dealing with issues of overcrowding or congestion.

There are three banks of elevators on this ship. The forward bank has ten elevators, eight are in the aft bank, and single elevators are on both the port and starboard sides.

These two panoramic elevators, found mid-forward, offer great views during the daytime.

Like their competitors, MSC has gone all-in where technology is concerned. From the dazzling LED screens of Plaza Meraviglia to digital, interactive signage that allows you to make dining reservations with a tap of your keycard, technology is seamlessly interwoven into every aspect of the ship in the most user-friendly ways possible.

There are plenty of activities both indoors and out on MSC Meraviglia. Sun worshippers and pool lovers will be happy to hear that four pools are on board. Two of the pools are located mid-ship and are connected.

Just ahead of the main pool is the two-deck solarium, which has not only a pool but several hot tubs to choose from. The final pool can be found on the aft of the ship. It’s here that you’ll experience a true connection with the ocean.

Lounger-wise, you should never have a problem finding a place to lay in the sun (or, if you prefer, the shade). You might have to wander around a bit, but there’s plenty of space.

One of the great things is that the lounge chairs aren’t only located around the pool. You’ll find them in expected and unexpected places, allowing you to be in the heart of the action or far from it, should you choose.

The Polar Aquapark features three slides and a kid’s splash area. Thrill-seekers will love the Himalayan Bridge ropes course, located almost 200 feet above sea level on deck 19.

Inside the ship, there’s, of course, a casino and plenty of shopping opportunities. You’ll also find a bowling alley, an interactive theater, and several virtual-reality-type games (all of which have fees attached). We tested our racing skills in the Formula 1 simulator (and failed miserably) for $10.

Nearby, you’ll also find Sportplex, which features a regulation-size basketball court that can be transformed for various purposes.

During our sailing, they used it for everything from a soccer game to a kid’s Masterchef cooking class.

If you have a sweet tooth, head down to deck six, where French chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury has a permanent presence on MSC Meraviglia. To call what you’ll find a “chocolate shop” is to understate the wonders it holds woefully.

This is probably the closest you’re ever going to come to visiting Willy Wonka’s infamous chocolate factory. Trained chocolate makers can often be found designing and making unique creations. You can even order a model ship made out of milk, dark or white chocolate.

The MSC Aurea Spa is massive. There are 20 treatment rooms (most ships only have a handful) and one of the nicest thermal suites at sea.

There are two thalassotherapy pools within the thermal suite, steam rooms, a snow grotto, a salt room, an aromatherapy room, and a relaxation room. Both day and voyage-long passes are available.

MSC Meraviglia Dining

With 12 dining venues onboard, there is no shortage of food options. Four main dining rooms are spread across deck five and six, with the other venues spread throughout the ship.

You can purchase a dining package for the sailing if you want to save a few dollars. Otherwise, the specialty venues are a la carte, except Teppanyaki.

The four main dining rooms serve Mediterranean and international foods with a different menu each night. A standard nightly menu is consistent throughout the voyage, offering traditional dishes like steak, fish, and chicken.

In the past, many have complained about the food aboard MSC Cruises. On one of my previous voyages on an MSC ship, I found the complaints valid.

The food issues made me think twice (and even three times) before sailing with them again. Happily, that did not prove to be the case on Meraviglia.

Overall, the food was what I’d classify as “solid.” It didn’t necessarily blow me away, but it was far, far better than what I’d experienced on the line in the past.

Main Dining Rooms:

Your dining time will depend on the experience you choose when booking your cruise. They offer early, late, and anytime seating in the main dining room.

The Marketplace is the buffet area located on deck 15. We found the selections on the buffet to be sufficient and standard. There is a meat carving station, salad bar, ethnic dishes, breads, desserts, and a full-service bar.

There are plenty of drink stations within the Marketplace, and if you want to dine outside, there’s space on the back patio that overlooks the wake.

It wouldn’t be an Italian cruise line if we didn’t talk about the pizza served onboard. The pizzeria is located at the very front of the Marketplace buffet.

The pizza makers toss 500 pies daily here, ranging from a basic cheese pie to supreme. There’s also a mozzarella-making station next to the pizza area where you can watch the chef making cheese from scratch.

We learned on our sailing that not every beverage package is accepted at every restaurant. As a rule of thumb, the basic Easy package is only accepted at bars around the ship and not in dining venues. Again, it’s worth researching the various packages and what they do and don’t cover.

Specialty Restaurants on MSC Meraviglia:

For-fee venues like HOLA! Tapas features bite-sized dishes made for sharing by Spanish chef Ramón Freixa. Ocean Cay is the line’s fresh seafood restaurant featuring Boston lobster, oysters, crab, and fish options.

The Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse offers brunch on sea days and nightly dinner selections. You can order off the dinner menu if you’re having brunch here. However, there is no actual lunch menu.

Kaito Teppanyaki Restaurant & Sushi Bar are home runs thanks to freshly rolled sushi they make right before you for a reasonable price.

The teppanyaki experience was fun and an affordable seven-course experience. (It’s also a place where “the more, the merrier” holds, as this isn’t just dinner, but a meal and a show by your chef.)

Bars and Entertainment on MSC Meraviglia

There’s a variety of entertainment options onboard, including nightly free shows staged in the Broadway Theater and Cirque du Soleil performances (for which there is an additional fee). While entertainment is subjective, the Cirque show was one of the best things I’ve ever seen on a cruise ship and is, in my opinion, well worth the price.

Elsewhere, there are no shortages of places to relax on MSC MeravigliaThe promenade is lined with bars on both levels. Among the standouts is the Brash Anchor Pub, which feels like an authentic British pub and features a limited bar menu, including fish and chips.

Poolside, you’ll find two bars near the midship pool and one in the solarium. And if you get the munchies while lounging in the sun, there’s an extension of the Marketplace Buffet poolside as well offering basics like burgers, hotdogs, and pizza.

Back by the aft pool, there’s the Horizon Bar which, given its location and killer views, is perfectly named.

One of my favorite watering holes was the Sky Lounge, thanks in part to its walls of windows overlooking the pool and jogging track.

MSC Meraviglia Cabins

The ship comprises a mix of interior, oceanview, and balcony staterooms. Solo travelers will be happy to hear that the ship offers 136-square-foot studio cabins. (This does not include the suites available in the Yacht Club, which will be discussed separately.)

The cabins feature a stylish decor that is modern and simplistic at the same time. They’re well-appointed with USB chargers, plugs, and plenty of storage space. Bathrooms are decent size with actual shower enclosures instead of the dreaded shower curtains. The televisions in the staterooms are interactive, allowing you to check your folio. Still, it’s worth noting that with interior staterooms, the TV is not well positioned for watching from the bed.

The Yacht Club

Spend any time reading reviews of this or other MSC ships, and you’ll inevitably find people raving about The Yacht Club.

This is MSC’s version of the ship-within-a-ship concept, wherein passengers willing to pay the price have exclusive access to their own dining room, lounge, sun deck, pool, hot tubs, and a butler.

Among the other perks that come with booking the Yacht Club include priority seating for shows and a private elevator bank of priority embarkation and debarkation.

Given the limited amount of rooms in this space and the square footage dedicated to the Yacht Club sun deck, it’s a great option if you’re a sun-seeker who doesn’t like crowds and is willing to spend a little (or a lot, depending on the type of stateroom booked) extra. It wouldn’t surprise me if people book the Yacht Club and never venture out to any other part of the ship, instead choosing to spend the cruise in the lap of luxury.

Kids and Teens

MSC Cruises breaks down their kid’s programs into different age groups: one to three, three to eleven, 12 to 14, and 15 to 17 years old.

The Doremi Kids Club is full of activities to keep little ones entertained throughout the day. MSC has a partnership with LEGO, and, as every parent knows, LEGOs are to kids what the drink package is to most adults. Elsewhere, the youth programs are interactive and (like most kids today) very tech-savvy, making it one of the most unique kid’s programs at sea.

Final Thoughts

Over the past few years, MSC Cruises has been making a play for a bigger share of the American cruise market. While they hit a few rough spots along the way, Meraviglia (along with ships like MSC Seaside) proves they are a serious contender.

There are differences between MSC and other mainstream lines, such as Norwegian or Carnival Cruise Lines, and it’s important to do some research and ensure you understand those differences.

On the most basic of levels, a cruise is a cruise. But I’ve long believed that not every cruise (or cruise ship) is right for every person. That’s why it’s a bad idea, especially for a first-time cruiser, to simply book a sailing without doing some research or talking to a travel professional first.

All that said, MSC Meraviglia is an absolutely gorgeous ship that should appeal to a wide variety of cruisers.

Whereas some other lines emphasize top-deck attractions, MSC has continued to recognize the importance of giving people pools and lots of space to soak up the sun, especially with this ship. If you’ve never tried or even considered MSC, this might be the ship to look into.

MSC Meraviglia Tour (2019)

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By: Doug Parker Title: MSC Meraviglia Ship Review: A Comprehensive Guide Sourced From: cruiseradio.net/msc-meraviglia-ship-review/ Published Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2023 01:50:21 +0000

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