Just booked MSC Meraviglia

[skeeter195]

Due to a lucky circumstance we just booked this morning the YC on the Meraviglia leaving this Saturday 1/6 on a whim.  We are long time NCL cruisers staying in the Haven on our last 4 trips.  I am trying to gather as much info as possible before we leave in 3 days.  Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.  We were granted the status match to diamond with MSC from our NCL status.  Here are some questions.

 

What perks does diamond give you outside of the YC?

 

Can we pay to dine in the specialty restaurants without a meal plan and pay as we go?

 

Is the YC food good enough to not even bother with specialties?

 

How is the entertainment?  NCL had the best, not so much now though.

 

Can you prepay the daily service charge or Hotel charge before we get on the ship?

 

Thanks in advance. 

[Mike C]

One of the Diamond perks is a free specialty dinner.  You can book it with the Concierge once on board.

I would plan on having the rest of the dinners in the YC restaurant.

once you hit warmer weather, lunch will be served at the grill on the pool deck which is very good.

[Two Wheels Only]

Some people purchase OBC ahead of time and the OBC is used towards the Hotel Service Charge. Even OBC given by MSC for booking early or by promo can be used for the service charge.

[Two Wheels Only]

17 minutes ago, skeeter195 said:

Can we pay to dine in the specialty restaurants without a meal plan and pay as we go?

 

Yes. Going a la carte is actually less complicated. The plan has restrictions unless you want to pay extra for certain items (at a discount).

[Two Wheels Only]

26 minutes ago, skeeter195 said:

How is the entertainment?  NCL had the best, not so much now though.

 

Much of the entertainment is meant for an international/multi-ethnic audience. It's usually more physical than verbal. The "theme" of the shows can differ but a lot of what you see is to be appreciated acrobatically instead of for a comprehensive storyline. Some stuff is just weird but the shows aren't long.

[skeeter195]

Thank you so much for the help.  Going a la carte is expensive without a dining plan on NCL.  One could easily spend $100 plus per person.  I could find prices for the MSC restaurants.  What would ballpark pricing be?  I am interested in sushi.  It looks like the YC has a filet on the everyday menu.  Do they have any other steaks?

 

Thanks again guys

[skeeter195]

How are the comedians on MSC.  

 

The acrobatic talent sounds fun.

[shipgeeks]

2 hours ago, skeeter195 said:

How are the comedians on MSC.  

 

The acrobatic talent sounds fun.

To the best of my knowledge, no comedy shows, due to the many pax languages onboard at any time. English could even be in the minority on many cruises.....but a comedian speaking Portugese probably wouldn't suit everyone, either.

[Essiesmom]

Read some of the Live From threads.  Most are by people in the YC.  Most include menus.  EM

[orangemini]

3 hours ago, Mike C said:

One of the Diamond perks is a free specialty dinner.  You can book it with the Concierge once on board.

I would plan on having the rest of the dinners in the YC restaurant.

I agree with Mike C. Although, I do like to grab lunch once or twice at Hola Tacos because the food is fun and the price for all you care to eat is, I think, less than $20 per person. Most of the margaritas are included with the YC drink package. I wouldn't use my Diamond meal credit there though because it's so inexpensive already.

[skeeter195]

We tip well and this is not about how much to tip but more of an informational question.  On NCL everyone is included in the daily service/hotel fee except the butler and concierge.  Who is not included in the daily fees on MSC if anyone?  Also will we have the same butler for our room throughout the cruise or will they be different?  

 

Thanks again

[dexddd]

We've sailed Mera YC four times since restart in YC.  First three quite good, last not so much mainly due to YC food variety and quality.  Best Diamond benefit is meal at BC.

 

They have an always available menu which includes a filet which was great in the past and my go to but last trip only three out of seven any good.  Rest were rubber.  If you like a high in seafood and lamb chops, you are good.

 

BC and Hola's open some days for lunch.  Hola's is $17 and quite good.  Most drinks included with your package.  Book reservations ahead of time as despite the restaurants maybe being empty, they don't seem to take last minute.

 

The pool has food, some quite good during the day depending on the weather.  Even filets up there but same poor quality.  Dinner seating is interesting.  Seems overly busy and like they are doing you a favor getting you a seat.  If you like wines, tons there.  Any other drink, bring your own.

 

You have spa access.  Make reservation.  Staff generally much better than NCL.

[dexddd]

It is different on MSC.  First, the dsc isn't hyper inflated.  MSC butlers and asst do room stuff plus escorts, sounds funny, works great to places.  Plus many butlers work lounge, there are pool assts who can be from doing nothing to bringing drinks.  Bar staff by pool and in lounge, restaurant staff although you may get bounced around where you sit.  You interact with many more people than NCL.

 

We tip extra and just play it by ear who went above.

 

Forgot to mention that pizza is very good and order for room service.  If you like football they have it on TV on the channels at the end of the list.  Looked like every game that day.  Rest of TV cut way back.  Like food channel and the one with home demo plus a couple news.

[Heartgrove]

18 hours ago, skeeter195 said:

 I am interested in sushi. 

 

Thanks again guys

 

For the Kaito Sushi restaurant, the tables are in the aisle against the railing on Deck 7. There have been YouTube videos with complaints showing passengers dining there but having to deal with other passengers walking through.

[Brighton Line]

20 hours ago, skeeter195 said:

Due to a lucky circumstance we just booked this morning the YC on the Meraviglia leaving this Saturday 1/6 on a whim.  We are long time NCL cruisers staying in the Haven on our last 4 trips.  I am trying to gather as much info as possible before we leave in 3 days.  Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.  We were granted the status match to diamond with MSC from our NCL status.  Here are some questions.

 

What perks does diamond give you outside of the YC?

Priority Boarding (a seperate line after security) but YC gets on before Diamond anyway

Free Speciality Resturant (see other posts)

Macarons in Cabin (1 per Cabin)

Priority Disembarkation but YC trumps that with escort

Towel/Bathrobe but that is YC anyway

Complimentary Dancing Class

Diamond Party

Chocolate Gift (pleanty of Choclate in the Top Sail Lounge)

Late Cabin Checkout (Trumped by YC talk to your butler)

40% off onboard pictures

 

Can we pay to dine in the specialty restaurants without a meal plan and pay as we go?

Yes you can, meal plan is all pay resturants is from a limited tasteing menu. If you have a meal plan and go off the tasteing menu you get a 50% discount off menu price.

 

Is the YC food good enough to not even bother with specialties?

Again  this is food so up to the individual. I'm not big on seafood so BC for me then only YC.

 

How is the entertainment?  NCL had the best, not so much now though.

This is NOT NCL!! No Broadway converted shows. Pay for the Carousel Production shows, seperate theater in the round kind of like Cirque dinner show was on NCL. Main shows were entertaining enough for the 45 minutes. Yes past two times out of Brooklyn we had comedy acts, not seperate venue scheudled daily show. Show times are set you can see a Carousel show and a main show same night. Main show has reseved seating for YC, Carousel Butler will escort you to the theater to front of the line. Some Butlers will escort you to your seat, some not. Ask any they will.

Can you prepay the daily service charge or Hotel charge before we get on the ship?

Yes you can, but no online. Through your travel agent or calling MSC customer service if booked with them.

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

[dexddd]

And BC has tables in atrium upstairs.  Yes, people can walk through.  Generally not a big deal.