My View: A Merry Meraviglia Christmas in a Fantastica Balcony

[APDMOM]

My View:  Day 2 - At Sea

 

[APDMOM]

Set Clocks Back 1 Hour

 

I could tell you my long story of how I found out the ship clocks don’t change until 6 a.m., but suffice to say that you can not trust the phone clock in the cabin.  It caused me to get up at 4:30, because I had assumed the clocks change at 2 a.m. like in the USA during daylight savings time.  Yikes!

 

TIP: When there is a time change on the ship, use your phone or electronic device of choice (or watch) and take it off “automatically adjust”.  Just turn the time back one hour before you go to bed, otherwise it will be very difficult to tell what time it really is.  You can not trust your cabin phone for the time.

 

The Saga of the Bands:

 

I did an early morning trip to guest services to get our bands fixed, as they were not opening the cabin door.  The rep replaced our 3 bands and I walked the 6 decks back to our cabin, just to find that these three did not work either.  After another trip and 25-minute wait in line at guest services, we had to return the bands.  Apparently, a whole box with muster station K had defective bands.  The rep told me that many people had trouble with these specific bands.  She did not have another box to open and I did not want to spend any more of my vacation time in line at guest services.  It is too bad, as we really enjoy the bands.  At least I got a head start on the steps for the day 😊

 

TIP: They do sell bands at the shops too, but they are different.  They cost $15 and can be used to locate people on the ship.  If you have children, they may be a good investment as you can track where they are on the ship through the app (as long as they remember to wear the bracelet).

 

Regarding Guest Services:

 

Even between 5:10 and 6:30 this morning, it took 20 to 25 minutes each time to stand in line.  It will really be better if they have a dedicated person to help people with the app.  The most time consuming issue was just about people not knowing how to use the app.  Naturally, that early this morning they only had one rep assisting customers.  She was very patient and helpful with everyone, but it must have been frustrating for her to be alone with grumpy people early in the morning (current reviewer excluded, who is annoyingly chipper, except when somebody cuts in line😂 )

[APDMOM]

Breakfast:

 

We enjoyed an early breakfast in the buffet.  Due to the time change, many people got up ‘early’ and it got crowded fast.  We did find some good seats but it was difficult to find a place in line to get eggs and sausage.

 

I have to say that the coffee and breakfast pizza are the best!  The fresh croissants are baked much darker than I prefer.  I don’t know if we do it wrong in America and the darker, toasty color is the ‘right’ way, but I like my croissants less toasty and more moist.

 

Tomorrow, I am ordering room service.  The buffet is just a bit too challenging to navigate and they did not have cereal boxes, which we can order through room service.  The cereal in the buffet is served in bowls and you scoop the cereal with a serving spoon.  There was no bran option.

 

 

White Chocolate Mocha:

 

Since I got up so early, I started feeling the need for another cup of coffee around 8:30 a.m.  We decided to splurge on a white chocolate mocha from Jean Philippe Café.  It was out of this world good.  It did not taste anything like coffee 😁

 

 

A Few Views of the Chocolate Creations:

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

If you prefer to enjoy a sit down breakfast, here is the menu from Waves Restaurant:

 

TIP: You can access all menus in the app.  These are screen shots that I took directly from the app.

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle:

 

We received our invitations for the Meet and Mingle after turn down last night.  

 

TIP: If your invitation is not in your cabin by the end of the first night, contact Guest Services.  I highly recommend this meet and mingle, so be sure to register at least a week before the cruise.

 

As usual, the Cruise Critic meet and mingle put on by MSC is excellent.  We were served treats and complimentary drinks, entertained with live piano music, greeted by the officers, and treated like royalty.

 

 

Captain Stefano cut the cake:

 

[APDMOM]

A Few Views of some Holiday Cheer around the ship

 

 

[Preziosa]

Thank you for asking Gene. Then he Maybe Will leave the ship with us the 12 th of April where Meraviglia start her sailing for the new homeport  Copenhagen, Denmark. Our country. It s a fantastic update you are making. Our sailing on Meraviglia were in Europe so something is different for the sailings i the Caribbean. We are visiting other ports than you do now, men the life on board Will Be the same I Think. The menu card for the first evening looks great. I have to have 3 starters that Night....Mery Christmas and Take good Care of Our ship....

[jacobichka]

Hello.

Thanks for the pictures. I see that you have Aft balcony cabin, with extra long balcony. Can you let me know your cabin number? I will be on next cruise and I have also aft cabin 11388.

Thanks.

[APDMOM]

Lunch:

 

TIP: If you want to avoid the crazy crowds in the buffet on a Sea Day, we can highly recommend the MDR on Meraviglia.  Get there about 10 minutes before the doors open to get a window seat.

 

My View at Lunch:

On the menu:

 

 

 

Our Verdict on the dishes we ordered:

 

APDMOM:

Artichoke dip and chips - very good.

Penne pasta with shrimp - excellent.

Flan - excellent...wish they would have this on the daily menu!

DH:

Caesar salad with anchovies in the dressing, topped with chicken -very good, but small portion.

Cheesecake - very good (but not the same as on Seaside)

DS:

Meatball sandwich - very good.

Boston Cream Pie - very good.

 

I finally remembered to take some pictures of the meal... most of the dishes before a bite had been taken 😂

 

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

That Wake View - I never get tired of it:

 

Our afternoon consisted of one of my favorite activities - lounging on the balcony while enjoying the wake and writing some of my review.

[APDMOM]

2 hours ago, jacobichka said:

Hello.

Thanks for the pictures. I see that you have Aft balcony cabin, with extra long balcony. Can you let me know your cabin number? I will be on next cruise and I have also aft cabin 11388.

Thanks.

@jacobichka We are in 11390 😊

[jacobichka]

8 minutes ago, APDMOM said:

@jacobichka We are in 11390 😊

Thanks for the response. So, your cabin is next to ours. Do you like it, any vibration, noise? How many lounge chairs on the balcony? Can you take a few pictures, please.

Thanks again!

Edited December 24, 2019 by jacobichka

[APDMOM]

31 minutes ago, jacobichka said:

Thanks for the response. So, your cabin is next to ours. Do you like it, any vibration, noise? How many lounge chairs on the balcony? Can you take a few pictures, please.

Thanks again!

@jacobichka Yes, I will definitely post many cabin pictures later this week.  We are indeed right next to your cabin.  We have plenty of space on the balcony and have not experienced any vibration or noise - actually the quietest aft balcony we have had.  There are unfortunately no loungers - just 2 chairs and a footstool.  

[APDMOM]

 

Elegant Night:

Suggested dress code: Elegant.  We dress up just a little bit.

 

[APDMOM]

TIP: On elegant night you can get free sparkling wine and a few other drinks on the Galleria.  I recommend you show up early to get seating in Meraviglia Lounge.  

 

Elegant Dinner:

When we boarded, we asked if we could have a small table for the 3 of us.  They told us they would try their best, but that the ship is fully booked and it was not likely that they would be able to accommodate us.  This afternoon, we received a card at the door that our request had been honored, and we now have a lovely table for 3, where I can hear my family!

 

Menu for Tonight:

 

 

 

Our Verdict on the Meal:

APDMOM:

Terrine - Excellent, a new favorite.  Beef Tournedos - Very good, but not quite as good as on Celebrity Equinox.  Still a repeater!  Royal Cake - Good

DH & DS:

Barramundi - Excellent.  Peanut butter Pie - Excellent (a definite favorite for DS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pappahbuttz]

Amazing reviews and photos! Thanks so much for all the effort and information!! 12 more days till our cruise on the MSC Meraviglia!!!!

[starfish the second]

subscribing thinking about doing this cruise in nov

 

[APDMOM]

Show:  Born to Rock

 

This show was so entertaining, I felt like going to the last one of the evening too!  Although there were some sound challenges due to the live band being too loud for the voices, the show was very good.  I just wish they would find a way to adjust the volume of the mics for the vocals.

 

Views from the show:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Escapades after the show:

 

The Sequel to the Saga of the Bands:

LOL!  Believe it or not, DH convinced me to stand in the guest service line for a ‘date’ to see if we could get working bands now.  When we got to the front of the line, we were told that it is the whole system for the doors that is not working, which is why our bands were not working.  So, we gave up again. At least we had some good entertainment during our ’date’. 😁

 

 

After the show, we also ran into the Officers Parade on the Galleria.  Captain Stefano presented his brief speech in several languages (I think 5), which was very impressive.  The only language he did not tackle was the German.

 

 

[APDMOM]

My View:  End of Day 2 - Ban the Bands 😂

[sidari]

For Two days there were no phones working at the front of Deck 12, we have not bothered getting our wristbands this cruise.

Most of the crew have come from Divina, Seaside and Armonia with around 23 out of 25 of the pool staff who have moved from P and O cruises, our waiter Ravi is also Ex P and O.

Quite a large number of those we have spoken to who have sailed on Seaside before Meraviglia prefer Seaside including crew members off all levels.

Unlike on our two Seaside sailings and Divina last Xmas and New Year the Captain did not stay at the M and M to speak to people.

[sidari]

Our view from the front.

[APDMOM]

My View: Day 3 - Roatan

 

[APDMOM]

Our Day in Roatan:

We were just here a month ago, so we decided to just get off the ship for a few minutes to take pictures.  If you would like to see a bit of detail about our excursion last month (from Harmony of the Seas), you can click here:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2709325-my-view-family-of-the-seas-takes-on-harmonyagain-semi-live/

[APDMOM]

Morning View - No rain this morning!  I love to catch the sunrise: