Meraviglia 12/23-12/30 - big let down

[Lisi15]

On 1/24/2023 at 4:41 PM, L1211 said:

Look forward to hearing about your experience.   Enjoy!!

Well I'm back. Just had the chance to log back in to CC. I will have to eat my words. I will not be back on MSC if I'm not in YC. Lines everywhere. The best part was being on OC. But, couldn't get a drink or food at the buffet on the island. The MDR wasn't too bad. Just average. But we stood in line over 30 mins to be seated. The bars all over the ship were either understaffed or the staff was super slow. The room was comfortable and our cabin steward was awesome. However,  we did have to ask for washcloths, a bathmat and water from the minibar - which you can't serve yourself. Oh and don't get me started on embarkation. We stood outside for almost 2 hrs. The arrival times mean nothing. Lesson learned. I don't know how MSC can fix it. I'm in YC this fall. If it doesn't live up to my expectations, I'm done with MSC. I know I sound like sour grapes. I don't blame anyone who makes fun of me. 😂

[L1211]

2 minutes ago, Lisi15 said:

Well I'm back. Just had the chance to log back in to CC. I will have to eat my words. I will not be back on MSC if I'm not in YC. Lines everywhere. The best part was being on OC. But, couldn't get a drink or food at the buffet on the island. The MDR wasn't too bad. Just average. But we stood in line over 30 mins to be seated. The bars all over the ship were either understaffed or the staff was super slow. The room was comfortable and our cabin steward was awesome. However,  we did have to ask for washcloths, a bathmat and water from the minibar - which you can't serve yourself. Oh and don't get me started on embarkation. We stood outside for almost 2 hrs. The arrival times mean nothing. Lesson learned. I don't know how MSC can fix it. I'm in YC this fall. If it doesn't live up to my expectations, I'm done with MSC. I know I sound like sour grapes. I don't blame anyone who makes fun of me. 😂

Oh my!  I’m now considering talking my daughter and friend into YC. They have an Aurea suite with hotub which I cannot deliver in YC, but other issues may make that change worthwhile.  Sorry you had cruise troubles- vacation is suppose to be stress free! 

[styles27]

7 hours ago, Lisi15 said:

Well I'm back. Just had the chance to log back in to CC. I will have to eat my words. I will not be back on MSC if I'm not in YC. Lines everywhere. The best part was being on OC. But, couldn't get a drink or food at the buffet on the island. The MDR wasn't too bad. Just average. But we stood in line over 30 mins to be seated. The bars all over the ship were either understaffed or the staff was super slow. The room was comfortable and our cabin steward was awesome. However,  we did have to ask for washcloths, a bathmat and water from the minibar - which you can't serve yourself. Oh and don't get me started on embarkation. We stood outside for almost 2 hrs. The arrival times mean nothing. Lesson learned. I don't know how MSC can fix it. I'm in YC this fall. If it doesn't live up to my expectations, I'm done with MSC. I know I sound like sour grapes. I don't blame anyone who makes fun of me. 😂

I’m sorry you had to eat your words but now you’ve experienced for yourself what I and others have reported (and we’ve gotten slammed for doing it by some)

Unless people have cruised in the  last 2 months they really have no idea how much it’s deteriorated.
It has zero to do with the poor hardworking crew. 
 

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by styles27

[Greenhopster]

My wife and I have done 30 cruises on all different lines, including 3 on MSC, our favorite is Oceania. I did this Christmas cruise. Had a balcony on deck 10. Room and attendant were great. But no wow factor regarding the food. Buffet did have some good entree selections here and there. Dining room menu average. had to scrutinize the menu to find something of interest. I bought the entertainment pass pre boarding for $80. But did not use all of it because out favorite amusement was the 4D theatre that you shoot zombies. Of the 8 seats inside only 3 worked. And one of the working chairs didn't work properly. We decided that regardless of the inexpensive pricing of MSC cruises, we will not be joining MSC again. I hope to find the wow factor again sometime in the near future.

[hollyalyn]

On 1/2/2023 at 1:20 PM, CTGirl74 said:

 

Yes. I haven't been cruising lately, so I can't comment on the staffing problems of ships; however, staffing problems are everywhere on land still, which logically would spill over to the cruise lines. 

 

This line right here is why I don't really give much credence to the review:  "Heard on last day they were short 500 crew members - unacceptable!"

 

Anyone who has simply existed in the world since the pandemic started knows there have been many staffing issues, supply chain dispuptions, etc. I'm not sure how much a cruiseline can do on short notice when they have an at-capacity holiday sailing and come up short on the crew.

They could have offered some kind of perk for the inconveniences or even an apology 500 crew members short had a significant impact . I probably should have detailed better my negative experiences reading back it's seemed petty but trust me I am not a petty person 

When we arrived to embark at 11 am (aurea thank God) people were still disembarking so you could only image the parking lot of cars lined up picking up as well as dropping off 

We stood in line for well over an hour  asking numerous times about aurea priority boarding finally an older staff member heard me being told no, that infact we did have priority and being escorted to the correct line 

YC members were ignored 

It was a cattle herd 

Possibly reading some of the other experiences as well you can now take more credence in my review/opinion 

 

 

[DCGuy64]

12 hours ago, Lisi15 said:

Well I'm back. Just had the chance to log back in to CC. I will have to eat my words. I will not be back on MSC if I'm not in YC. Lines everywhere. The best part was being on OC. But, couldn't get a drink or food at the buffet on the island. The MDR wasn't too bad. Just average. But we stood in line over 30 mins to be seated. The bars all over the ship were either understaffed or the staff was super slow. The room was comfortable and our cabin steward was awesome. However,  we did have to ask for washcloths, a bathmat and water from the minibar - which you can't serve yourself. Oh and don't get me started on embarkation. We stood outside for almost 2 hrs. The arrival times mean nothing. Lesson learned. I don't know how MSC can fix it. I'm in YC this fall. If it doesn't live up to my expectations, I'm done with MSC. I know I sound like sour grapes. I don't blame anyone who makes fun of me. 😂

People can and do have the right to complain, but I would tend to agree that you might be better of in YC. That's all we'll do now, it is lightyears ahead of even Aurea (which we did in 2018 on our first MSC cruise).

 

5 hours ago, styles27 said:

Unless people have cruised in the  last 2 months they really have no idea how much it’s deteriorated.

I assume you mean just MSC? Because we cruised with NCL in December and it was awesome. Not perfect (there's no such thing as perfect, even people who cruise Oceania and Seabourn find things to complain about, it's the nature of this industry), but fantastic.

 

41 minutes ago, hollyalyn said:

They could have offered some kind of perk for the inconveniences or even an apology 500 crew members short had a significant impact

With all due respect, that's not true. There is NO WAY they were short 500 crew members. Whoever you heard say that, was misinformed or lying. And I don't doubt the veracity of your experience, but that statistic is flat-out wrong.

[ChattTenn]

MSC with one week of 3 & 4 days sailings (over run with peoples) and one with 7 days sailing sometime not a ship full of peoples so it is hard for them to staff.  People of 3/4 days would complaint not enough staff to support the sailing while the 7 days MSC might have too much staff.  So far we have been only on 7 days cruise while some area was not great but not too bad just glad to get on a cruise.  

 

 

[styles27]

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

 

I assume you mean just MSC? Because we cruised with NCL in December and it was awesome. Not perfect (there's no such thing as perfect, even people who cruise Oceania and Seabourn find things to complain about, it's the nature of this industry), but fantastic.

Yes I was referring to MSC.
Our first two MSC cruises were very good. 
 

I’m happy to hear that you had a positive experience on NCL in December.
We also had a positive experience in April 2022 with NCL and we just booked another for this April. 

The NCL 7 day cruise is costing us quite a bit more than our 14 day MSC cruise 

 

So I’m hoping the “get what you pay for” rings true. 🤞
 

*We will have our grandson with us this time but his fare was negligible (less than $500) for the week. 

 

I spent the last couple of weeks pricing cruises for April and was quite shocked to see Carnival come in higher than Celebrity and  Royal and even Virgin on some itineraries. MSC was of course the lowest of all by far. 

[Illbcruzn4life]

I hope you guys booked on NCL have a great cruise but just be informed they have recently had cuts as well.

 

Unfortunately I don't think that there is a cruiseline out there that hasn't.

 

Not looking forward to our June cruise on Meraviglia.

[DCGuy64]

32 minutes ago, styles27 said:

I spent the last couple of weeks pricing cruises for April and was quite shocked to see Carnival come in higher than Celebrity and  Royal and even Virgin on some itineraries. MSC was of course the lowest of all by far. 

Wow, Carnival more than Celebrity? Sheesh, never thought I'd see the day.... 😳 Where is your April NCL cruise to? We're also booked this April on our first Oceania cruise, it's to Japan so I'll believe it when I see it! We had cruises to Japan cancelled in 2021, 2022,.... 🤞

[styles27]

6 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Wow, Carnival more than Celebrity? Sheesh, never thought I'd see the day.... 😳 Where is your April NCL cruise to? We're also booked this April on our first Oceania cruise, it's to Japan so I'll believe it when I see it! We had cruises to Japan cancelled in 2021, 2022,.... 🤞

I couldn’t believe the carnival pricing either!

 

We live in RI so we like to take advantage of the Boston to Bermuda cruises whenever we can. Pearl is our only option now (I miss HAL and RCCL from Boston)

 

 

I hope your Japan cruise happens. That’s a bucket list cruise for us.

Are you doing the crossing?

[DCGuy64]

2 minutes ago, styles27 said:

I couldn’t believe the carnival pricing either!

 

We live in RI so we like to take advantage of the Boston to Bermuda cruises whenever we can. Pearl is our only option now (I miss HAL and RCCL from Boston)

 

 

I hope your Japan cruise happens. That’s a bucket list cruise for us.

Are you doing the crossing?

Oh, nice, we were booked on the Pearl last year Boston to Quebec City but had to cancel. The Japan cruise is just Japan and one city in South Korea. We fly to Japan from DC and then around the islands. Definitely a bucket list one for us, too! 😊 Have a great time on your cruise!

[styles27]

21 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

I hope you guys booked on NCL have a great cruise but just be informed they have recently had cuts as well.

 

Unfortunately I don't think that there is a cruiseline out there that hasn't.

 

Not looking forward to our June cruise on Meraviglia.

Oh for sure everyone has had cuts. 

Honestly if the passengers on our New Years cruise weren’t so horribly rude it would have been a different experience for us. We love Divina and the crew and the dining room food was very good. 
 

It was just very hard to enjoy the ship. 
 

If we have the same experience in April on NCL, we will take a break and let the “wave” of folks getting comfortable with cruising again simmer down. 
 

Are you on a sailing from NY on Mera?

[styles27]

4 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Oh, nice, we were booked on the Pearl last year Boston to Quebec City but had to cancel. The Japan cruise is just Japan and one city in South Korea. We fly to Japan from DC and then around the islands. Definitely a bucket list one for us, too! 😊 Have a great time on your cruise!

Thank you! I hope you guys enjoy your cruise too! Can’t wait to hear about it!

[jinpasco]

We just got back on Sunday on the Mera. We were lucky to have not had some of the experiences others have had. And no, we were not YC, just a window room on Deck 5, Fantastica. 35 min from shuttle bus to boarding ship, dinners ( Panorama ) we less than an hour in and out.  Food in MDR was ok . Sometimes buffet  was better.

Was it perfect,  not at all. As stated, no washcloths  ( actually I found some on a cart and lifted 2) , no Kleenex ( given extra toilet paper but, it works)., Only pay movies in your room ( 10.00). Staff are hard workers doing best they can.

We status matched to Diamond so we had some extra perks. Best one was a free meal at a specialty restaurant. 

Any cruise is better than sitting at home .

[PTC DAWG]

Just off Meraviglia this past Sunday..7 day cruise...Deck 16 in the YC....all I can say is wow.  

 

I have never had better service.  YC director said we had around 180 out of 230 or so guests.  Butler and Assistant Butler were very helpful.  

 

Service in the Top Sail lounge was great.  Same in the dining room.  Same on the topmost pool deck.  The breakfast and lunch buffet's there were very nice...

 

I have sailed MSC once before the shutdown on Seaside, non YC.  This experience was totally different.  

 

I thought the price was reasonable for the standard YC balcony.  

 

All in all, Wife and I had a great time. 

[Illbcruzn4life]

9 hours ago, styles27 said:

Oh for sure everyone has had cuts. 

Honestly if the passengers on our New Years cruise weren’t so horribly rude it would have been a different experience for us. We love Divina and the crew and the dining room food was very good. 
 

It was just very hard to enjoy the ship. 
 

If we have the same experience in April on NCL, we will take a break and let the “wave” of folks getting comfortable with cruising again simmer down. 
 

Are you on a sailing from NY on Mera?

yes we will be cruising from NY on Meraviglia.  Have 4 other cruises booked too on different lines but to be honest I was looking at AI's last night if the next couple of cruises are duds.

 

I am flexible and go with the flow to a point. Been cruising since 91' and don't expect anything to close to the cruises from back in the day.

[onyournextcruise]

On 2/1/2023 at 1:22 PM, Illbcruzn4life said:

Not looking forward to our June cruise on Meraviglia.

Sailing on Meraate July and this thread is really making me regret the booking.

[Illbcruzn4life]

2 hours ago, onyournextcruise said:

Sailing on Meraate July and this thread is really making me regret the booking.

you and me both. I checked around but if I canceled now there is nothing out there that is halfway decently priced. Everything is sky high now.

[ready2cruzagain]

15 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

you and me both. I checked around but if I canceled now there is nothing out there that is halfway decently priced. Everything is sky high now.

Don't be worried. I just got off of an 11 day cruise on the Meraviglia and would do it again in a heartbeat. Writing up my review right now. Hope you can read it.

[Illbcruzn4life]

10 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

Don't be worried. I just got off of an 11 day cruise on the Meraviglia and would do it again in a heartbeat. Writing up my review right now. Hope you can read it.

I definitely will. Looking forward to it. Need a ray of sunshine.

[ready2cruzagain]

On 12/31/2022 at 6:57 PM, hollyalyn said:

Spent our honeymoon on meraviglia for a Christmas cruise 

I've cruised RC and Carnival thought we would try MSC - Big mistake 

ship was pretty - balcony cabin very nice -  that's about it....

buffet was bland 

Specialty dining - not worth the cost 

EIther a surcharge or limited choices on menu 

service was inadequate - seemed wherever we were on the ship, bars or restaurants "didn't have" many items on their menu 

 

Hola - no guacamole

gelato and crepes - no crepes 

Irish pub - several beers unavailable

buffet- ice machine not working 

always out of juice 

guest relations were rude - had a strange $300 charge on our account - they told me to come back tomorrow - and was annoyed w me for even asking 

on and on and on.... 

Heard on last day they were short 500 crew members - unacceptable!

won't cruise MSC again ! 

 

 

 

 

 

I just got off of an 11 day cruise on the Meraviglia this past Thursday and just feel the need to respond to some of your comments. I read your review before I left and since I have read so many people rethinking their MSC cruise because of this I decided to check these problems out myself.  I have never written a review but this review made me rethink that.

 

Below in red is my responses to what I found. I only answered the things that I knew about or dealt with during the cruise.

 

Spent our honeymoon on meraviglia for a Christmas cruise 

I've cruised RC and Carnival thought we would try MSC - Big mistake 

ship was pretty - balcony cabin very nice -  that's about it....

buffet was bland Food is subjective and everyone is different. We did not find the buffet food bland at all. Lots of variety. 

Specialty dining - not worth the cost I did have the Butchers Cut, was Diamond Meal but the food was awesome. Had the Lamb Chops that were cooked to perfection and so tender. Paid extra for the Seafood Tier and WOW, so much food and it was great.

EIther a surcharge or limited choices on menu I don't understand the surprise since most people look at the menu before they purchase the package.

service was inadequate - seemed wherever we were on the ship, bars or restaurants "didn't have" many items on their menu We were on the cruise for 11 days and rarely found this issue. 

 

Hola - no guacamole 

gelato and crepes - no crepes 

Irish pub - several beers unavailable We did not try all the beers on tap but found they had everyone we asked for. They did run out of Blue Moon on tap the next to last day but had it in bottles.

buffet- ice machine not working Due to this comment, I decided to count the ice machines in the buffet. There was 8 different machines that I counted, I may have missed some. Maybe one ice machine might not have been working but all of them?? Did you not walk around to the next station?

always out of juice Wow, very surprised because with 8 drink stations I found lots of juice, Cranberry, OJ, Apple, Pineapple, Strawberry Kiwi, Tea, Fruit Punch and Lemonade to name some.  If one was out, the next station had several different types.

guest relations were rude - had a strange $300 charge on our account - they told me to come back tomorrow - and was annoyed w me for even asking 

on and on and on.... I am sorry you had a problem. I also had a problem and went to GS. I was very nice and patient and after a short while my problem was solved. I find with MSC CS, you get more action by being nice when trying to solve a problem.

Heard on last day they were short 500 crew members - unacceptable!

won't cruise MSC again ! 

Edited February 5, 2023 by ready2cruzagain

[morpheusofthesea]

On 2/1/2023 at 1:51 PM, styles27 said:

It was just very hard to enjoy the ship.

Yes, your review was very enlightening. We were on for the same two weeks on the Seascape and it wasn't as bad (rude). Perhaps due to a more 'refined' audience that have to pay more to get to Miami from over seas spending more time on longer cruise than 3/4 day cruises combined together to become longer. None the less, we are taking your observations to heart and will concentrate on cruising on more 'sedate' cruise ships during peak vacation times.

  Don Terrace of Don's Family posted his recent NCL trip and listed some caveats to be aware of. The e muster is gone, forced crowding together of passengers again for 40 minutes during a time of relaxed covid protocols. Two stateroom cleanings reduced to once a day. Costly soda/drink packages not covering can soda only fountain $5/can extra even with drink package. 3% charge to gamble in the casino when not using CASH. Cutting back on entertainment.

  Changes, they are happening. So what we once enjoyed a couple months ago......

[styles27]

52 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Yes, your review was very enlightening. We were on for the same two weeks on the Seascape and it wasn't as bad (rude). Perhaps due to a more 'refined' audience that have to pay more to get to Miami from over seas spending more time on longer cruise than 3/4 day cruises combined together to become longer. None the less, we are taking your observations to heart and will concentrate on cruising on more 'sedate' cruise ships during peak vacation times.

  Don Terrace of Don's Family posted his recent NCL trip and listed some caveats to be aware of. The e muster is gone, forced crowding together of passengers again for 40 minutes during a time of relaxed covid protocols. Two stateroom cleanings reduced to once a day. Costly soda/drink packages not covering can soda only fountain $5/can extra even with drink package. 3% charge to gamble in the casino when not using CASH. Cutting back on entertainment.

  Changes, they are happening. So what we once enjoyed a couple months ago......

If you know the “sedate” cruise ships please tell me. I promise we’re great fellow pax lol 

I’ve been spending time on the NCL board here and on FB and the reviews are definitely mixed and dependent on the ship.

Some are getting their rooms serviced twice a day and some aren’t. 
My niece and her husband just returned from the Escape yesterday and loved it. Ship was packed but they said service was good everywhere. They’re in their early 50’s for reference. 
 

We usually tell our attendant to refill our ice each day and give us fresh towels every other day.
We don’t need him/her to come every day. 

I’m a neat freak so I make the bed and straighten up each day. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m odd like that. 😬 

 

[Illbcruzn4life]

5 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

 

 

I just got off of an 11 day cruise on the Meraviglia this past Thursday and just feel the need to respond to some of your comments. I read your review before I left and since I have read so many people rethinking their MSC cruise because of this I decided to check these problems out myself.  I have never written a review but this review made me rethink that.

 

Below in red is my responses to what I found. I only answered the things that I knew about or dealt with during the cruise.

 

Spent our honeymoon on meraviglia for a Christmas cruise 

I've cruised RC and Carnival thought we would try MSC - Big mistake 

ship was pretty - balcony cabin very nice -  that's about it....

buffet was bland Food is subjective and everyone is different. We did not find the buffet food bland at all. Lots of variety. 

Specialty dining - not worth the cost I did have the Butchers Cut, was Diamond Meal but the food was awesome. Had the Lamb Chops that were cooked to perfection and so tender. Paid extra for the Seafood Tier and WOW, so much food and it was great.

EIther a surcharge or limited choices on menu I don't understand the surprise since most people look at the menu before they purchase the package.

service was inadequate - seemed wherever we were on the ship, bars or restaurants "didn't have" many items on their menu We were on the cruise for 11 days and rarely found this issue. 

 

Hola - no guacamole 

gelato and crepes - no crepes 

Irish pub - several beers unavailable We did not try all the beers on tap but found they had everyone we asked for. They did run out of Blue Moon on tap the next to last day but had it in bottles.

buffet- ice machine not working Due to this comment, I decided to count the ice machines in the buffet. There was 8 different machines that I counted, I may have missed some. Maybe one ice machine might not have been working but all of them?? Did you not walk around to the next station?

always out of juice Wow, very surprised because with 8 drink stations I found lots of juice, Cranberry, OJ, Apple, Pineapple, Strawberry Kiwi, Tea, Fruit Punch and Lemonade to name some.  If one was out, the next station had several different types.

guest relations were rude - had a strange $300 charge on our account - they told me to come back tomorrow - and was annoyed w me for even asking 

on and on and on.... I am sorry you had a problem. I also had a problem and went to GS. I was very nice and patient and after a short while my problem was solved. I find with MSC CS, you get more action by being nice when trying to solve a problem.

Heard on last day they were short 500 crew members - unacceptable!

won't cruise MSC again ! 

Thank you for posting this. Takes the edge off of my angst.😊