Overdue cruise review, Meraviglia 20-27 Nov 22, YC (long review w/ pics)

[LouChamp]

Aloha.  Thank you for your report and especially the food pictures! Have a great new year.

[psmarkle]

10 hours ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha.  Thank you for your report and especially the food pictures! Have a great new year.

I get so much research from these threads that it's the least I can do to give back! Glad you enjoyed. I love the cruise life, and appreciate the folks here on Cruise Critic!

[psmarkle]

On 12/25/2022 at 8:17 AM, Luke gs Daddy said:

What time did people start getting off the ship once back in PC ?

 

Thanks.

We started disembarkation around 7:45-8am. If you're worried about return flight times out of Orlando, should be OK with anything after 11am if you do self-walk off with your luggage as they are the first group.

[Luke gs Daddy]

20 hours ago, psmarkle said:

We started disembarkation around 7:45-8am. If you're worried about return flight times out of Orlando, should be OK with anything after 11am if you do self-walk off with your luggage as they are the first group.

We like to live on the edge, have a 10:15 flight with TSA Pre Check, carrying off luggage and car service scheduled for 8 am. If all goes as planned then we make it if not, rut roh!! 

Thanks.

 

[tweety33]

Thank you for the review. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to give a review. Happy New Year all!

[Nashna]

Great review...Thank you.  We will be sailing her in October in YC, so I got several good tips from you.  I also found it interesting to hear how the point system works with casino discounts.  

[L1211]

Nice to read a positive Mera review!  Much appreciated. 

[cyndyga]

On 12/31/2022 at 10:38 AM, Nashna said:

Great review...Thank you.  We will be sailing her in October in YC, so I got several good tips from you.  I also found it interesting to hear how the point system works with casino discounts.  

I was on boarded Nov. 27 and they stopped the 30% off discounts the prior cruise was the last. Very disapointed as I always get alot more than needed...10% off for like 3000 points now...

[psmarkle]

Looks like our summer plans are changing and we won't be doing the Greek Isles this year on Divina. Sooo, looks like the Mera out of NYC! For me, a perfect cruise would be 7 days out at sea without getting off the ship, and this cruise goes down the east coast w/ a brief stop at Port Canaveral (we have relatives living nearby the port), Ocean Cay (hello again YC Cabana!), and Nassau (not getting off the ship). It's pretty close to 5 full days on the ship, so, yay!

[no1talks]

5 hours ago, psmarkle said:

"It's pretty close to 5 full days on the ship, so, yay!"

I, too, like staying on the ship. We don't take long excursions and return before the crowds arrive. Ideally, we get back in time for an afternoon tea service, even if the official tea isn't being held.

It is too bad about the tightening of the casino rewards. 

[Cruisergal1208]

Great review and pictures.  Agree 100 % on the Filet.  Bummer on the casino changing the points system now.  I'll be saving money and using it to book the YC cabin that I want.

Can you tell me more about the place in Costa Maya you went to? Been there so many times need something different. Will be on Meraviglia again in March with 7 other family members.

[psmarkle]

The place is called Hayhu, it's an eco-friendly beach club that is definitely away from any tourist spots! hayhubeach.com  For your group, I'd recommend the VIP deck that comes with a $300 food/beverage credit for up to six people, then you pay for each extra person that also comes with their own food/beverage credit. There were 4 of us and we couldn't spend our $300 despite our best beer drinking efforts! The transportation there and back is included with your price. 

 

It's a very laid back vibe with really great service and great food...def try the homemade guac! You'll want to purchase extra chips. On our VIP deck, the water was not running to the toilet (again, this is an eco-friendly, back-to-basics kind of place), so I took the trash can, filled it up in the shower, then poured it into the toilet tank as needed to be able to flush 🙂

 

They have massages avail on the beach, 1 kayak, and the kite surfing school which we had booked, but the instructor cancelled on us the day before. Bring lots of sun screen and poss some bug spray. The mosquitoes were non-existent while on the beach due to the breeze, but were swarming all around us as we walked to our cab for the ride back!