Just off the meraviglia

[WeIsCruisin]

Just off the meraviglia today and wanted to touch on a few things for those who are sailing soon. We booked 2 days before the cruise after Royal Caribbean canceled our Symphony of the Seas trip less than 24 hrs prior to sailing. As upset as we were, we were determined to make the most out of a crappy situation and were so glad we found msc. It felt like our own private yacht and impeccable service everywhere. The staff went above and beyond to help and serve us. Wonderful people. 

 

We had a 10am check in time and were waiting outside with a small group before they unlocked the doors. We were then covid tested and sat in groups waiting for our results to come back. We were the last in our group to get our negative test which was nerve wrecking. 

 

We were temp checked every day when entering the buffet and our passes scanned. Staff were great with cleaning and ensuring guests also sanitized/washed their hands prior to entering any facility. 

 

Bar seating at any bar was forbidden which was a bit of a bummer, but there were servers everywhere except by the pool. Of all places, the pool was the hardest to get a cocktail, especially the aft pool. There were cocktail servers by the bar but never walked around or asked if we needed anything. But as soon as we approached the bar they would intercept and ask what we wanted, which to me made zero sense. First world problems. Drinks were excellent and we had the easy plus and saw no need to upgrade.

 

Casino was empty but we spent a good amount of time in there and it was good to us 😉 We found out a few days into the cruise that there is no ATM on the ship, but you can take out cash from a slot machine and just cash out the voucher with the cashier. No interest charges.

 

Room was cleaned morning and evening. No complaints. It took me forever to figure out how to get the bedside lights to turn off but by day 3 I figured it out lol.

 

Husband was status matched to black in 2018, but it had expired. We were able to get it back on this sailing after a little back and forth with guest services and the future cruise consultant. The diamond perks are nice.

 

We needed no reservations at any restaurant and we ate at each one with the trio dining package. Sushi/teppanyaki was closed until later on in the week so they substituted Hola cantina instead. The food in there was great and all you can eat, but we weren't starving so I don't feel like we got our monies worth.

 

The seafood restaurant was very good and there was only 1 other party in there with us. Excellent service and food.

 

Butchers cut- Food was good service and ambiance was so-so. Our server kept trying to make sarcastic jokes which we weren't really into. With the trio we had a limited menu but added the oysters Rockefeller as an additional appetizer. On the menu it states 1/2 dozen oysters and we were served 5. We brought it to the servers attention and he said because they were larger oysters they only gave us 5. What? Lol. It made zero sense to us but we let it go. It was only the 2 of us so we didn't mind much, but it's still an odd explanation as it doesn't state the oysters are served by weight. Steaks were very good, and we took the desserts back to the room as we were stuffed

 

Hola cantina- excellent guac, great salsa options and tacos. We were so full we didn't try anything else, not even dessert. 

 

Buffet- we went daily for breakfast. It had everything we needed. The BEST sausage links ever. I had them every day and husband laughed at me. We did several late night pizza trips there before bed. I saw somewhere that they didn't allow you to take food back to your room but we did it a couple of times and no one stopped us.

 

FRENCH FRIES- these were right on par with McDonald's fries and I craved them every day. 😋 

 

Entertainment- we went in with low expectations but felt there was always something going on. A theater show every night and live music in multiple venues. The magic show was really entertaining!

 

Overall we had an amazing time on the meraviglia and I'm actually happy royal caribbean canceled on us. It was a blessing in disguise. 

[castlegetaway]

Thanks for your review. It all sounds great. We are scheduled for the Meraviglia January 23 rd and are doing the 4 day back to back following. This is also our first time on MSC. Glad you enjoyed your trip and thanks again for sharing.

Sandy and Rick

[JT1962]

Thanks for the review. I will be on the Meraviglia solo on January 23 for the seven night sailing. This will be my first time on MSC as well. I had been somewhat hesitant and was hoping they would give me the opportunity for a refund, but based on your review and a few others I’ve read recently, I’m looking forward to having a ship with may be only 10 to 15% of the normal capacity.

[ew101]

42 minutes ago, castlegetaway said:

Thanks for your review. It all sounds great. We are scheduled for the Meraviglia January 23 rd and are doing the 4 day back to back following. This is also our first time on MSC. Glad you enjoyed your trip and thanks again for sharing.

Sandy and Rick

Lovely review.  What did they say on back to backs- how hard is it in terms of testing?  

[castlegetaway]

12 minutes ago, ew101 said:

Lovely review.  What did they say on back to backs- how hard is it in terms of testing?  

From what others reported, they take you to a certain area where you are tested free of charge and then after you get your results, you go back onto the ship. We chose the same room on both so hopefully it goes smoothly. 

[dmfloghouse]

Did your cruise go to their private island?  
if so, what to do on the island?

[cafevita]

 Thank You for the review. So nice to hear some positives coming out of  MSC cruising. How were the ports? Any changes to your itinerary?

[WeIsCruisin]

19 minutes ago, dmfloghouse said:

Did your cruise go to their private island?  
if so, what to do on the island?

Yes it did. We were scheduled to do an overnight on the private island, but we got a letter in our stateroom notifying us we'd only be there until 9pm the first night due to weather, adding a sea day. I didn't mind, i looked at the weather and it showed wind and cooler weather, not exactly beach friendly. We stopped at costa maya and cozumel as scheduled

[WeIsCruisin]

8 minutes ago, cafevita said:

 Thank You for the review. So nice to hear some positives coming out of  MSC cruising. How were the ports? Any changes to your itinerary?

Ports were great. Loved Ocean Cay! Beautiful calm water. They cut out the overnight and added a sea day due to wind/weather, I didn't mind. We were there until 9pm

[Fla Mike]

Thanks for the review, glad you had a good time and makes me anticipate our February cruise more.

 

Do you know if you were contacted traced at all by the pools, indoor lounges or solarium'

That is my only real concern,  hanging out in the Brass Anchor, Bamboo Pool, or the MDR and someone from across the room tests positive and we get quarantined because of it.

[mscdivina2016]

9 hours ago, castlegetaway said:

From what others reported, they take you to a certain area where you are tested free of charge and then after you get your results, you go back onto the ship. We chose the same room on both so hopefully it goes smoothly. 

Off Meraviglia yesterday myself and I was b2b last month on Seashore.

We were tested day prior to turnover in a dining room. Tested and told we were all done. Leave!

I don't think they want people hanging so if there is an issue, they know where you are.

[mscdivina2016]

45 minutes ago, Fla Mike said:

 

 

Do you know if you were contacted traced at all by the pools, indoor lounges or solarium'

That is my only real concern,  hanging out in the Brass Anchor, Bamboo Pool, or the MDR and someone from across the room tests positive and we get quarantined because of it.

Yes,yes, and yes.

 

This little bracelet knows where you are. I refused to wear it and I also refused to use my room key in the casino. No points for me, but no tracing. I did lose out on that key chain though. Lol.

 I was YC so they might not have pushed it. They did one time.

 I too was afraid like your concerns. I brought one of those 500lb fishing magnets to hang my bathing suit from on my balcony. Let me caution you!!!! It can wipe out the bracelet so be careful😉

[mscdivina2016]

9 hours ago, JT1962 said:

 I’m looking forward to having a ship with may be only 10 to 15% of the normal capacity.

Are you a loaner?

Getting off yesterday we had 438 I was told. It was always a ghost town. Venues closed early because no one was there except us. 5 of us in the casino. Only two people in a pay restaurant.

 YC club always had 10-12 each night so that was the only good thing.

[JT1962]

3 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Are you a loaner?

Getting off yesterday we had 438 I was told. It was always a ghost town. Venues closed early because no one was there except us. 5 of us in the casino. Only two people in a pay restaurant.

 YC club always had 10-12 each night so that was the only good thing.

Sounds perfect to me.

[castlegetaway]

1 hour ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Off Meraviglia yesterday myself and I was b2b last month on Seashore.

We were tested day prior to turnover in a dining room. Tested and told we were all done. Leave!

I don't think they want people hanging so if there is an issue, they know where you are.

That makes sense. Hope that is the case!

[skyking]

Outstanding review, we are also loyal Royal cruisers, and we LOVED the Meraviglia.  Can't wait to sail on her again. 

[speedyt]

18 hours ago, WeIsCruisin said:

Butchers cut- Food was good service and ambiance was so-so. Our server kept trying to make sarcastic jokes which we weren't really into.

We were on the same cruise also. Pretty sure we had the same waiter and I thought he was funny. We just played back with him. He treated our daughter great with magic tricks. On the other hand that was probably one of the best ribeyes I have ever eaten. 

[M2ice]

We are going in a month and all of this is very helpfully,   Thanks.

[karmamule]

Our introduction to MSC was very similar: we were booked on NCL Joy when it was first brought over to the U.S. but it was canceled on us close to the last minute because the ship conversion took longer than expected. The only cruise we had interest in was a 7 day on MSC Seaside so we gave it a shot and loved it. We got a Yacht Club balcony room for the same price as our regular balcony would have been on the Joy. 

 

Since then we booked our first ever back-to-back on Meraviglia and did that in January 2020 right before all the madness broke out, and now we'll be back on the Seashore for our 3rd MSC cruise in just 5 days! (It can't get here soon enough 😊)

[FrostyJoe]

11 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Yes,yes, and yes.

 

This little bracelet knows where you are. I refused to wear it and I also refused to use my room key in the casino. No points for me, but no tracing. I did lose out on that key chain though. Lol.

 I was YC so they might not have pushed it. They did one time.

 I too was afraid like your concerns. I brought one of those 500lb fishing magnets to hang my bathing suit from on my balcony. Let me caution you!!!! It can wipe out the bracelet so be careful😉

I thought MSC disabled ability to open ur cabin with the cruise card and only allow the tracker band to open the cabin?  Is that not true?

[miataman19]

19 minutes ago, FrostyJoe said:

I thought MSC disabled ability to open ur cabin with the cruise card and only allow the tracker band to open the cabin?  Is that not true?

Just got off Meraviglia also. You can open your cabin door with either your room card or your NSA/CIA/FBI tracker bracelet

[Fogfog]

12 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

 

Getting off yesterday we had 438 I was told. It was always a ghost town. Venues closed early because no one was there except us. 5 of us in the casino. Only two people in a pay restaurant.

 YC club always had 10-12 each night so that was the only good thing.

Hey MSCDivinia2016

I think the next sailing is like 1000 pax, yes?

 

DH counted suites available in YC and we think it will be more crowded than your recent sailing

 

 

[FrostyJoe]

3 minutes ago, miataman19 said:

Just got off Meraviglia also. You can open your cabin door with either your room card or your NSA/CIA/FBI tracker bracelet

Hahaha. I bet Google and Amazon knows more about us then any government 🙂

 

but glad to hear both works.  Someone posted recently that only their big brother bracelet worked for some reason 

[mscdivina2016]

27 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

Hey MSCDivinia2016

I think the next sailing is like 1000 pax, yes?

 

DH counted suites available in YC and we think it will be more crowded than your recent sailing

 

 

Current sailing is 1000 we had 40+ then aurea got bumped up so 66.

Was told it was 90 so far.

[Fogfog]

1 minute ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Current sailing is 1000 we had 40+ then aurea got bumped up so 66.

Was told it was 90 so far.

TY

Hate that they bump up aurea into YC --like the smaller # of pax--