Aboard Meraviglia - any questions or requests

[Captain-John]

Currently aboard Meraviglia, just docking in Helsinki as I write. By no means going to write up a full account of experience so far but suffice to say we're enjoying the YC, although there have been hiccups and mishaps along the way. Finding the rest of the ship very crowded and public spaces all very 'concentrated' and not spread out. Thermal area in the spa also smaller than the pictures lead me to believe and again crowded - yesterday being a sea day may not have helped. 

 

Food so far has been excellent, as has the service in TSL and restaurant. Not had much interaction with butler but cabin is well taken care of. 

 

Bea - I've attached the Hola! Tapas fixed price section for the Black Card perk. We're trying Butcher's Cut tonight as YC dinner menu does not appeal. 

 

Still working on M'd details for October for you. Believe there is a sommelier in the restaurant as introduced himself on first night - but no sign of him last night. 

 

As in the title - if anyone has something specific to ask, let me know and I can work on it whilst aboard. Full review to follow when I return. 🙂

[Beamafar]

You're a gem, Cap'n!  😚 

 

I agree with your assessment of the ship - we, too, felt it was very overcrowded outside of YC. 

 

Delighted to hear the food is excellent - that also was our experience back in 2017.

 

Hope you have an amazing time.

[Captain-John]

Thanks Bea. I've attached some food pics to tide you over! And of the crowds... 

 

We've had some issues with a tour we booked for SPB, and I would have liked the YC concierge to be more proactive in dealing with it for me. But apart from that - service is spot on and nothing a problem as expected.

 

Docked in Helsinki 2 hours early, 15.99 for the shuttle bus into town (!!) - heading off shortly but I'll check this thread before we sail away as no signal in Russia tomorrow. 

 

[Beamafar]

Looks like a very busy ship, alright.  The food looks fab!

 

Enjoy Butcher's Cut, tonight! (I'll be very surprised if you don't - most reviews are very favourable).  😋

[mafig]

We are interested in this ship.  We've been on Divina and Seaside, in the Yacht Club.

 

I do keep reading about Meraviglia being (or feeling) crowded.  Happy to hear it's not so in the Yacht Club.  Have you been in the Yacht Club on other ships?  Can you compare that experience with Meraviglia?

[Beamafar]

We've been in YC on Splendida, Preziosa, Divina and Meraviglia.  We loved YC on Mera!  The fact that the restaurant is within the enclave makes it a thoroughly immersed YC experience (though we never minded the walk to the restaurant on the Fantasia-class ships).  We just loved the convenience of having the restaurant so close to the cabin.

 

We also spent much more time in YC on Mera than on the aforementioned ships due to the crowded feeling around the rest of the ship.  We're looking forward to another 23 nights in YC on Mera in Oct from New York after our Aug/Sept cruise in YC on Seaview (our first time on this one  😜).

[GOLDENBONNY]

OMG. I want to bite myself for not booking Seaside again . All this talk about crowds make me nervous . Any way , following your review. How is shows? do you need to book them on APP before cruise ? 

[Beamafar]

56 minutes ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

OMG. I want to bite myself for not booking Seaside again . All this talk about crowds make me nervous . Any way , following your review. How is shows? do you need to book them on APP before cruise ? 

 

It's mainly the Galleria area, GB - especially in the evenings and particularly at specific times such as just before dinner seatings and show times in the theatre due to the access being straight out onto to the Galleria area.  There are a few places that don't get so crowded, such as some of the bars that aren't immediately adjacent to the area.

[GOLDENBONNY]

11 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

It's mainly the Galleria area, GB - especially in the evenings and particularly at specific times such as just before dinner seatings and show times in the theatre due to the access being straight out onto to the Galleria area.  There are a few places that don't get so crowded, such as some of the bars that aren't immediately adjacent to the area.

🙄 I guess we will do what we did on Divina- hide in wine bar( Pub in this case) during rush hour LOL. My only hope that its first week of Dec. so ship may be not that full and less kids. 

[GOLDENBONNY]

Someone in review mentioned The Chef's Table ..do they really have it? How much and how to book it? Thank you.

[Beamafar]

On our Oct Meraviglia booking, they're offering Eataly Chef Table (despite the fact that Eataly is no longer 🙄 )  It's showing as $120 pp.

 

On our Aug Seaview (Med) booking, they're offering Butcher's Cut Chef Table @ €68 pp.  They may replace the Eataly one with this?   

 

[Cruisergal1208]

55 minutes ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

🙄 I guess we will do what we did on Divina- hide in wine bar( Pub in this case) during rush hour LOL. My only hope that its first week of Dec. so ship may be not that full and less kids. 

That's my worry now that I see pictures of the inside areas of the ship.  It makes me think of the Royal Caribbean ships we have been on.  We don't like getting crushed in crowds so may have to come up with a plan.  We too are sailing the first 2 weeks of Dec.

[Beamafar]

Hopefully there will be favourable (non-YC) reviews and reports from those on the NA/Canada sailings before you board which can reassure you that things aren't as bad as the impression being given at the moment.

 

Bear in mind that the ambiance and rhythm on the ship has, to date, been from the point of view of European sailings;  the demographic and dynamic may shift when the ship is based in the US.

Edited May 14, 2019 by Beamafar

[GOLDENBONNY]

2 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Hopefully there will be favourable (non-YC) reviews and reports from those on the NA/Canada sailings before you board which can reassure you that things aren't as bad as the impression being given at the moment.

 

Bear in mind that the ambiance and rhythm on the ship has, to date, been from the point of view of European sailings;  the demographic and dynamic may shift when the ship is based in the US.

Ya , I know . thank you for calming us down 🥂

[Beamafar]

Just now, GOLDENBONNY said:

Ya , I know . thank you for calming us down 🥂

 

It's not pleasant to have reservations about a cruise you've booked, GB.  I know how it feels.  We had our worst cruise ever on Orchestra at Christmas 2017.  We were booked on Splendida (YC) for 28 nights the following April (last year) and I was dreading it, such was the way we felt.  We never wanted to set foot on another MSC ship (it was our 18th MSC cruise!)

 

However, we had a fantastic time on Splendida.  Hopefully you will, too, on Meraviglia.

[jimbri]

We too are not in a YC.  We are in a Bella Ocean View Stateroom.  First time on MSC.  On other lines (Carnival and Holland) we have sailed in Ocean view on lower decks and it was fine.  Hoping for the same on MSC.  We are sailing to Canada in October so hopefully not too crowded. Would love to hear from anyone who has experienced the Bella Ocean View. Thanks.

[frannie]

wondering what is on the menu for the cirque show and dinner . 

we booked the show and have a 7 year old fusy eater

 

[GOLDENBONNY]

19 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

It's not pleasant to have reservations about a cruise you've booked, GB.  I know how it feels.  We had our worst cruise ever on Orchestra at Christmas 2017.  We were booked on Splendida (YC) for 28 nights the following April (last year) and I was dreading it, such was the way we felt.  We never wanted to set foot on another MSC ship (it was our 18th MSC cruise!)

 

However, we had a fantastic time on Splendida.  Hopefully you will, too, on Meraviglia.

I will never cruise Xmas again on any cruise line. We had back to back on Divina ,one before Xmas was amazing ,next one was Xmas cruise and I wanted to jump overboard. Same ship, same crew LOL. We had Xmas cruise on Costa and HAL and I did not like it as well. 

[mafig]

Have you ever done a New Year's Eve cruise?  We haven't but are thinking of it.

It's DH's b'day.

[CruisingFox27]

23 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

It's not pleasant to have reservations about a cruise you've booked, GB.  I know how it feels.  We had our worst cruise ever on Orchestra at Christmas 2017.  We were booked on Splendida (YC) for 28 nights the following April (last year) and I was dreading it, such was the way we felt.  We never wanted to set foot on another MSC ship (it was our 18th MSC cruise!)

 

However, we had a fantastic time on Splendida.  Hopefully you will, too, on Meraviglia.

 

Indeed, we were very apprehensive about our sailing on Orchestra following your experience but we had a fabulous trip. We met the M'aitre de on Preziosa, who had just transferred from Orchestra, he said he'd initiated a lot of changes during his tenure. We'll be back on her next week too.

 

Region and time of year do play a significant part, our 1st and 2nd sailings on Divina were worlds apart. Not the food or service, just the feeling on the ship and fellow passengers.

 

We said we'd not sail on Meraviglia after seeing a program on her, however, we will be in October. Bea's review convinced us 😀

[Beamafar]

Looking forward to reading more, Cap'n.  Hope the cruise is going well.

[Captain-John]

Thanks Bea and CF for filling in the gaps for me. Russia yesterday so no Internet. In Tallinn today, sun is shining and warmest day we've had so far. 

 

Butcher's Cut night before last was excellent, although too much food. But for a 'free' meal, very generous indeed. I'd gladly return and I'm pleased Preziosa is being fitted with a BC so in October we can use the perk there again. 

 

Last night the YC restaurant meal was the first 'miss' of the cruise. Not a notable meal, although it could have been poor choices on our part too. I had a vegetable tortilla and it definitely could have been better. 

 

However, the snacks in the TSL have been absolutely amazing, such a great variety. We're hoping to do an afternoon tea tomorrow if we remember. 

 

We were escorted to the front of the security queue by our butler (Bruce) yesterday which saved a bit of time as the Russian officials are notoriously (and deliberately, I feel) slow. Tour was OK but 40 minutes spent in the tat shop owned by the company that provided the tour? No thanks. Didn't seem to matter which tour you picked either, the busses were all piling up outside. 10 shopping stop is to be expected but 40 minutes was just ridiculous. 

 

Some pictures of BC and YC meals. Docked beside Regal Princess today and we have an excellent view into their pay-for retreat area.....

 

About to wander round the ship so will take a look for the Cirque menu for you Frannie. 

[Beamafar]

Sorry we went off-topic a little there, Cap'n.

 

I'm delighted to hear that Butcher's Cut was "excellent" - it means that standards haven't slipped.  👍

 

Can you post a couple of photos of the TSL snacks (just to make us all jealous and drooling lol)?

[Captain-John]

More than happy to oblige on that front Bea! 

 

I've just noticed all I have to hand are sweet things, except the mushrooms. I'll work on the savoury...

[Beamafar]

I'm sorry I asked, now!  😢 😢  (😋 😋)