But what makes this particular itinerary special is that it will be the line's longest ever. The 23-day cruises, which include travel on both the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, will be offered on the line's newest ship, the 245-passenger American Countess. Because the brand is all-inclusive, the ship's five restaurants, access to parts of the spa, WiFi, alcohol, sodas, and coffee are included in the cost to travel. But don’t call Explora “cheap” — 2024 sailings on this Explora I start at $3,000 per person for a six-night January cruise from Miami to Cartagena, Colombia. Although there are 19 decks, the majority of MSC Meragivlia’s cabins are spread over seven of them; the rest take up small sections on decks shared with public areas.
Included with your cruise fare:
And this feeling of spaciousness was reflected throughout the 813-foot-long Explora I. Instead of Veuve Clicquot, guests in the higher-end suites receive a bottle of Dom Perignon Vintage 2013. The new vessel has 461 suites from 377 square-feet to 3,014 square-feet. But I do agree with Ungerer when he says there are elements of luxury hotels speckled throughout this ship. In the simplest of terms, I just think it’s a really nice ship. A cool $500 per day does not compare to MSC's $37 per day pricing.
The Marketplace Buffet
From free live music, theater shows and promenade dance parties to extra-fee Cirque du Soleil-style performances, the options are varied and feature talented singers, dancers, magicians, acrobats and more. At the cafe just across the way, you can buy chocolate replicas of the ship, chocolate bars with fun toppings like nuts and berries, macarons and candy by the pound, as well as gift boxes of sweets. It also sells coffee drinks that include espresso, cappuccino, Americano, lattes and spiked coffees. The largest — L'Olive Dorée and L'Olivo D'Oro, which are mirrors of one another — are found on Deck 6, across from one another and flanking the hallway that eventually leads to Panorama.
MSC Meraviglia review: What it's like to cruise on MSC's 1st New York-based ship
However we found the experience of sailing on the Meraviglia chaotic to say the least. It’s worth mentioning that the safety drill/muster drill was one of the worst we’ve ever experienced. You are required to go to your stateroom, watch the drill on TV, and dial a number to prove you’re there. Then each level is called to check into their muster station location. This in itself seemed like a safety hazard as everyone piled into the narrow halls fighting to get to the stations.
Restaurants, dining, and food options on the Meraviglia
This is probably the closest you’re ever going to come to visiting Willy Wonka’s infamous chocolate factory. Trained chocolate makers can often be found designing and making unique creations. You can even order a model ship made out of milk, dark or white chocolate. The Polar Aquapark features three slides and a kid’s splash area.
MSC Meraviglia cabins and suites
In fact, we had a junior butler as well and, and a third person who helped service the room. One of MSC Cruises’ larger vessels, Mark and Rocky also touch on the onboard entertainment, the ship’s atmosphere, and ports of call, including a visit to MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay. That’s why it’s a bad idea, especially for a first-time cruiser, to simply book a sailing without doing some research or talking to a travel professional first. The other perks of booking the Yacht Club include priority seating for shows and a private elevator bank of priority embarkation and debarkation. You can purchase a dining package for the sailing if you want to save a few dollars. Otherwise, the specialty venues are a la carte, except Teppanyaki.
MSC Meraviglia restaurants and bars
There were plenty of beer selections not found anywhere else on the ship as well as a for-pay menu with chicken wings and other pub food. Why the food in this location is an additional cost is puzzling, as you’d never pay for these types of items on any other cruise line. Right as you walk in, head straight to the rear of the buffet where there are more food items and far fewer people. Many passengers don’t realize there are more food stations away from the long lines and crowds. The Yacht Club saltwater pool and hot tub area is for exclusive use for Yacht Club guests and has a private bar area as well.
Caribbean and Bahamas on MSC Meraviglia and Carnival Venezia from NYC
That’s not to say that there aren’t some decent things on the menus, but largely our group felt like the main dining rooms on the MSC Meraviglia failed at many basic items. If you’re in the Yacht Club, you will have access to a more exclusive dining area with a different and allegedly elevated experience. The Promenade is the main walkway through the center of the ship with many shops, restaurants, the domed screen above, and amazing people-watching. In the evening some passengers do dress up, but more smart casual than formal, except for the “elegant” (not formal) nights. But even on those specified nights, there was a mix of looks throughout the ship, and no one seemed to take notice if fellow passengers weren’t dressed as well. Seeing men in a jacket the ladies in gowns would not be unusual, but it’s not at all required.
Bars
If you’ve never tried or even considered MSC, this might be the ship to look into. With 12 dining venues onboard, there is no shortage of food options. Four main dining rooms are spread across deck five and six, with the other venues spread throughout the ship. The 11-night itinerary also visits Newport, Rhode Island. Pull up a lounge chair by the main Atmosphere Pool. If you're looking for a more sauna-like experience, head to the Solarium's covered Bamboo Pool; check out the aft Horizon Pool for better views and more peace and quiet.
When I arrived, lines snaked outside the terminal and down the sidewalk in front of the building. I had multiple passengers throughout my voyage tell me that they waited between two and three hours in line to board the vessel. The drawback is that, like lots of other cool pastimes on MSC Meraviglia, it all costs extra (except for sports court use). The arcade charges per game with the tap of your keycard.
MSC Meraviglia Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
MSC Meraviglia Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:03:14 GMT [source]
To have that daily rotating risotto to me was a surprise and delight that menu in Topsail restaurant. You just don’t see food like that on a cruise ship. And so it wasn’t even just that fried stuff that you sometimes find on the late night buffet. So we’ve seen late night buffets right on Carnival.
As a rule of thumb, the basic Easy package is only accepted at bars around the ship and not in dining venues. Again, it’s worth researching the various packages and what they do and don’t cover. We booked this ship for Jan of 2024, it will be our first time on MSC. We have been on 8 NCL cruises but wanted to see what other ships were like.
Normally we run around taking pictures and exploring the ship. We literally were just kind of in the lap of luxury those first several hours onboard. And so we didn’t actually leave the yacht club as Rocky mentioned, until about four hours after boarding. Elsewhere, there are no shortages of places to relax on MSC Meraviglia. Among the standouts is the Brash Anchor Pub, which feels like an authentic British pub and features a limited bar menu, including fish and chips. Every day, in the daily, there will be "suggested" attire, but it is never required.
However, passengers can send their clothing out to be washed, folded, pressed or dry-cleaned for a fee. One deck above it is the Champagne Bar, which sometimes also serves seafood. One deck below is the Infinity Bar, so named because it's found at the base of the Infinity Atrium. My go-to was the Brass Anchor Pub, reminiscent of an English local where you can snag a bottle or a pint and some extra-fee pub grub.
We made an effort to see all the shows at the theatre and they were all very good. However, the true stars of the show are Rock Circus and House of Houdini. These are Carousel Production shows and are $12 per person if booked in advance or $18 if booked on board and they include a drink (alcoholic or virgin). If you choose to see just one, I recommend Rock Circus. "Really had a fabulous time. The ship, transfers, excursions, staff, food, drinks and entertainment were amazing."
