Onboard the Mera (12/11-12/15/22): a Tale of Woes, a Tale of No's....

[Morgsmom]

Ok, to preface this, I am a big MSC cheerleader despite understanding the company's many weaknesses.  I will give a lot of leeway for service issues and errors given the enormity of running a small city with 3500 needy souls at any time on it, however, if I have paid for a service I certainly expect to receive it.  And if that service/item is unavailable then I would fully expect the make good to be at least at that level, or better.

 

Background:  Sailing solo as my yearly "me" trip, YIN (first YIN, but not first YC), Diamond level

 

So on the plus side:  ship looks gorgeous all decked out for the Christmas season with trimmings and trees and festive wreaths on cabin doors.  Absolutely charming.  The ship and common areas are clean, well maintained, etc etc.    Random public bathrooms are clean and well stocked.  So that's all good.   A 5 for decor and cleanliness.  

 

Embarkation:  a hot mess. Since the ship got in after 8am on Sunday everything was backed up.  There was a lack of staff in the YC waiting area with 3 bottles of warm (I am not kidding) prosecco, no OJ, some bottled water, no snacks other than chocolates, and no butler to pour a welcome drink.  We waited for a good 80 plus minutes to get onboard.  Let's give that a 1.  Then escorted to Top Sail where I sat for 2 hours waiting for cabin to be ready.   Butler later said  that there were a LOT of last minute bookings/upgrades and changes that sent them into a tizzy.  Escorted to YIN cabin and won't do it again.  Frankly while I enjoy alone time the space really was too claustrophobic.  Lesson learned.

 

So, sitting in Top Sail YC maitre d' introduces himself and asks me if I am sailing solo.  I say I am. He then invites me to dine at SIX --or-- NINE pm.  Not anytime between the two, but at 6 OR 9.    To which I say, um, no thank you.  I'll be there at 7.  What the ever loving is that about?  Not my first rodeo cowboy.

 

YC - so many "no's no's no's" it's hard to count.  First night:  "May I have a glass of Oberon?" Answer: no.  The last cruise drank it all.  They say: "How about a La Terre?"  (Um, NOPE).  So let's just add up the no's:  Newspaper, no (after the 2nd day I managed to get one).  Welcome Prosecco for either YC or Diamond.  No.  Cutbacks.  750ml bottle of spirts - asked for Ketel One, given Absolut because the 3/4 night cruises don't warrant Ketel (reserved for 7 night).  Little MSC trinket (string backpack? pen?)? No.  Chocolate boat? Oh, heck no, but not even a chocolate BAR which we had last month on the Divina.

 

Houdini show (that I pre-booked and paid for) - cancelled for the week for reasons unknown. Ok, I say, rather than fighting for a $12 refund (which I might see next spring) I ask if I can be reaccommodated in the "Rock Show."  Was told no but finally had that overturned.  Um, hello, you have my money and the show certainly has one empty seat so what's the big deal?

 

Today:  Ocean Cay was super rocky with high surf.  I was told that officially my kayak tour was not going to happen, but they would not officially cancel it so I couldn't get a refund.  Rather I could take a kayak out in a restricted area in the lagoon and do figure 8's or something.  So $39 down the drain since I wasn't going to toodle around like that.

 

Oh, wait, forgot the BEST.  Went to Ocean Cay restaurant for Diamond Club meal today.  Ok, cool.  May I have this champagne that is listed on your menu?  No.  Ok, may I have this chardonnay that is clearly listed on your menu?  NO.  We don't have it.  Great, what can you offer me.  Drumrolllll please:  a glass of Woodbridge Chardonnay.  I literally hate making waves but I know that I can have a glass up to $15 with my package.  They would not offer anything to substitute for what they were out of.  I asked if I could go upstairs to yacht club and get a kinda-ok glass of wine and bring it back with me.  They told me that it was out of policy.  Shaking head, left restaurant, wondering what alternate universe I was in.

 

I could go on and one, but the big thing I noticed is that last night I went out about 10pm out of the YC "bubble" to get a slice of pizza.  Yes, I could have ordered a whole pie but didn't want all that waste.  So I walked through the pool deck (15) and it was like entering a whole new world.  The smell/fragrance/aroma of the , um, wacky weed was out of control.  Like I don't care what you do AT HOME if you have a medical card, but open flames and mary jane on a ship make me go "uh, ,no".  To note, the ship has admitted that there are issues with this (as I also experienced on Ocean Cay where a family openly pulled out a couple of fatties and lit up on the pathway.)  

 

So, the long story is, buyer beware.  The ridiculously low starter fares with beverage packages are bringing in a whole group of folks that are new to cruising in not the best way.  And the very tight margins as a result are leaving the cruiseline to cut corners literally everywhere.  

 

Happy to answer questions.

 

[jame_g]

I have a Mera YC cruise booked out of Port Canaveral in March. Some of these recent reviews are leaving me a bit nervous. Especially since they really screwed up our first cruise with MSC and wouldn't recognize that we were supposed to be in YC until halfway through the cruise. This cruise next cruise was supposed to be for them to get it right so we could enjoy the YC experience from day 1!  Hope we don't have the types of issues you had and that we've been reading about. 

[mawvkysc]

Wow. Just wow. Shocking 
I will say that I didn’t smell weed once once our Mera cruise recently. Maybe that can alleviate some

people’s worries. It must not be like that every cruise. 

Edited December 15, 2022 by mawvkysc

[mawvkysc]

Question? I thought dining in YC was open seating, as in show up whenever you want within the open hours. As in you can come at a different time each evening if you want? 

[morpheusofthesea]

Speechless.....

[bigblue1952]

I certainly hope that this is an aberration and not the norm from now on.  So sorry you are experiencing this.

[Seadweller001]

Been on the Meraviglia YC for two weeks now and it has been excellent.  The word NO was never uttered and we have never smelled or withessed pot anywhere on the ship.

 

The YC Maitre'd George from Romania is excellent and the food super great.

 

Butchers Cut filet mignon was not as good as the filet in the YC Restaurant.  We will skip the Diamond Comped dinner on the next cruise.

 

We are being treated royally on this ship.

Edited December 15, 2022 by Seadweller001

[JT1962]

The cruises less than 7 days always seem to attract more of a party crowd on all cruise lines. I did not notice any marijuana smoking on the Meraviglia in January or Divinia in October, but it was constant on my Carnival cruise to Alaska in May and out of Mobile in June. With more US states & many countries making it legal, some of the cruise lines seem to have given up trying to stop it onboard.

[Morgsmom]

3 hours ago, mawvkysc said:

Question? I thought dining in YC was open seating, as in show up whenever you want within the open hours. As in you can come at a different time each evening if you want? 

Yes, of course it is.  But the Maitre D' was trying to push me to the shoulder times..... Needless to say, it didn't work

[Morgsmom]

1 hour ago, JT1962 said:

The cruises less than 7 days always seem to attract more of a party crowd on all cruise lines. I did not notice any marijuana smoking on the Meraviglia in January or Divinia in October, but it was constant on my Carnival cruise to Alaska in May and out of Mobile in June. With more US states & many countries making it legal, some of the cruise lines seem to have given up trying to stop it onboard.

this is EXACTLY the issue!  After I showered and blow dried my hair this evening I opened the balcony sliding door only to be SMACKED in the face with a not easy to hide smell. I called the YC Director whose response was...... wait for it..... would I (emphasis ME!) LIKE to move cabins for the (last) night? Um, no?  Please put on your big boy pants and address the issue. 

[Morgsmom]

2 hours ago, Seadweller001 said:

Been on the Meraviglia YC for two weeks now and it has been excellent.  The word NO was never uttered and we have never smelled or withessed pot anywhere on the ship.

 

The YC Maitre'd George from Romania is excellent and the food super great.

 

Butchers Cut filet mignon was not as good as the filet in the YC Restaurant.  We will skip the Diamond Comped dinner on the next cruise.

 

We are being treated royally on this ship.

Must respectfully disagree. George is the one who asked me to dine at 6 or 9.  

If you haven't smelled the pot then likely you haven't ventured too much out of YC (though the cabin next to me is having the most EXCELLENT Trip (pun intended)

 

However, agree on the filet in YC.  Very tasty. 

[Morgsmom]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Speechless.....

Did think of you today, sir, as a guest asked for six YC towels for his enclave.  I thought, well done, sir, morpheus and wife would be proud 🙂

 

[Essiesmom]

5 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

this is EXACTLY the issue!  After I showered and blow dried my hair this evening I opened the balcony sliding door only to be SMACKED in the face with a not easy to hide smell. I called the YC Director whose response was...... wait for it..... would I (emphasis ME!) LIKE to move cabins for the (last) night? Um, no?  Please put on your big boy pants and address the issue. 

Wait…in your opening post, you said you were in a YIN.  Isn’t that an inside?  So where did you get the balcony?  EM

[Morgsmom]

13 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Wait…in your opening post, you said you were in a YIN.  Isn’t that an inside?  So where did you get the balcony?  EM

After the 2nd day I paid to upgrade to a balcony cabin.  Nice catch! 

[Georgia_Peaches]

Sorry to read this. Had the complete opposite experience last month. They really need to work on their consistency. 

[Morgsmom]

Agree!  Fortunately they have brought on a new YC Director who has been charged with just this.

 

[Fla Mike]

We were on the Mera last February, although not in YC.

Also was on Divina in the last year.

Both were four day'ers and left from PC.

 

We did not notice the weed smell, but will agree with everything else you have pointed out.

The bars were out of almost everything on Easy Plus.

Mike: I'll have a Jamesons on the rocks

Server: (comes back from bar empty handed) We are out of Jamesons

Mike: Ok, Jim Beam on the Rocks

Server: (back with a glass) We were out of J&B, so here is a Canadian Club

 

It was an awful cruise, total opposite of our Divina cruise which Lovey said was one of the best she had ever sailed, in 40 years!

 

I swore we would NEVER cruise with MSC again, but booked again for Nov '23 on Seashore.

 

Agree that with the bargain basement prices come bargain basement crowds.

[CTGirl74]

9 hours ago, JT1962 said:

The cruises less than 7 days always seem to attract more of a party crowd on all cruise lines. 

 

Out of curiosity, what could I expect on an 11 night cruise from NY to NE & Canada (Meraviglia YC)? I'm booked for October 2023. I've only cruised twice, and that was almost 10 years ago. I'm guessing it would likely be maybe a more mature crowd?

[Morgsmom]

4 minutes ago, CTGirl74 said:

 

Out of curiosity, what could I expect on an 11 night cruise from NY to NE & Canada (Meraviglia YC)? I'm booked for October 2023. I've only cruised twice, and that was almost 10 years ago. I'm guessing it would likely be maybe a more mature crowd?

My guess would be that due to the time of year (kids in school) and destination that it would be a more mature crowd. 

 

However the services issues are around the over promise and under deliver.  

 

Another example, I had read a tip about going to the Bamboo Bar for fresh pressed juice. How bougie!  So I asked for a green one - nope.  How about the orange one (can't remember names) - nope.  They had no spinach, no green apples, no celery, no beets and no carrots, etc. So I asked what they COULD make and they could do sort of a yogurt smoothie with Monin syrup.  That's about the opposite of a healthy pressed juice.  If you can't support the offering reprint the menus and be done with it.

 

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, CTGirl74 said:

 

Out of curiosity, what could I expect on an 11 night cruise from NY to NE & Canada (Meraviglia YC)? I'm booked for October 2023. I've only cruised twice, and that was almost 10 years ago. I'm guessing it would likely be maybe a more mature crowd?

It appears the caveat emptor, in this case, is stay away from short cruises. However, I know full well that a great cruise might never be repeated the next time I board. Similarly the odds are the same that a real rotten cruise will be remembered but never occur again. That is what is so great about cruising. The next cruise has such great potential and expectation. Changes occur every cruise.

[mawvkysc]

10 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

Must respectfully disagree. George is the one who asked me to dine at 6 or 9.  

If you haven't smelled the pot then likely you haven't ventured too much out of YC (though the cabin next to me is having the most EXCELLENT Trip (pun intended)

 

However, agree on the filet in YC.  Very tasty. 

(Not sure of your age) I have heard of solo female travelers of a certain age being ignored, or getting less than great service. I was solo at a bar on Mera and ignored for about ten minutes.  Another two people walked up and were served fairly quickly before I was. 
 

Not in YC but we also noticed very inconsistent bar service and my worst drink of the cruise was from the Bamboo Bar. It was a Frozen Toblerone that tasted like a watery milk slushee.  Literally no sweetness to it at all. Bars on OC kept running out of ice. 

Edited December 15, 2022 by mawvkysc

[blueskadoo]

Just out of curiosity, who is the new YC director they brought in? It seems to make a big difference who they are with consistency even if it shouldn't. 

[JAGR]

11 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

this is EXACTLY the issue!  After I showered and blow dried my hair this evening I opened the balcony sliding door only to be SMACKED in the face with a not easy to hide smell. I called the YC Director whose response was...... wait for it..... would I (emphasis ME!) LIKE to move cabins for the (last) night? Um, no?  Please put on your big boy pants and address the issue. 

You, "Opened the balcony sliding door...?" That's hard to do, I suppose, from YIN!  I assume they upgraded your room type.  If it was on them, that should be a positive.

[JAGR]

1 minute ago, JAGR said:

You, "Opened the balcony sliding door...?" That's hard to do, I suppose, from YIN!  I assume they upgraded your room type.  If it was on them, that should be a positive.

Sorry!  Didn't read the whole string before replying.  Just got to #10 and responded.

[styles27]

That stinks (literally)

I know you cruise a lot so I believe everything you’re reporting and it’s disheartening but not surprising. 
 

We figured with MSC’s bargain pricing it was only a matter of time before the party crowd started finding their way on board. 
 

I hate short cruises for this reason and it’s not unique to MSC. 
 

I’m really concerned with the last 4 days of our upcoming 14 day cruise on Divina (12/30-1/13)

We booked it as a 14 day cruise and didn’t realize that it’s actually a 10 day and a 4 day combined. 
 

Really hoping the 4 day part doesn’t turn into a party ship.
 

We’ve  even considered getting off after the 10 days that’s how much we’re concerned about that part of the cruise. 
We said we’d never book another cruise that’s less than 7 days and here we are ugh

 

I don’t understand how people are getting marijuana on the ship.
 

That smell really makes me sick and triggers a migraine if I’m around it. (We were at an outdoor concert at Fenway where people were passing the joint down the row of seats right in front of the Boston police who turned their heads) couldn’t believe it.
I’m 56 not 86 but still surprised when I see people my age acting like unruly teens. 

I will not hesitate to say something if our balcony neighbors think they’re going to smoke that crap and expose us to the smell. Nope not happening.