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After we sat, it took 15 minutes for someone to bring us water. It was another 10 minutes until our waiter took our food order, and not once did anyone ask us if we'd like something other than water to drink. When my travel companion finally requested a beer, the waiter's response was, "Be patient, sir." My jaw dropped. The storage space for toiletries could also have been more generous.
Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise
All four dining rooms offer set seating, except Panorama, which also accommodates passengers with Aurea bookings who have anytime dining. Gratuities, room service and premium alcohol and Wi-Fi packages are included in all Yacht Club fares. You do not need to purchase add-ons or pay added fees like you would in cabins outside the Yacht Club. When cruises first returned following the 18-month COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, many lines decided to go digital with their muster drills. Passengers watched videos on their mobile apps or on their cabin TVs before reporting, at their leisure (to maintain social distancing), to their muster stations for verification. MSC has chosen to institute a bizarre version where all passengers watch a video and then report to their muster stations at the same time.
MSC Meraviglia or MSC Seaside? Two Excellent Options with Different Styles
Fares start from $7,310 per person for an ocean-view room. More information on Ponant's Asia voyages can be found on the line's website. Multiple times per night is a Cirque Du Soleil acrobatic show, in the ship’s specially-built Carousel Lounge.
What to Know Before You Sail with MSC Cruises
The Doremi Kids Club is full of activities to keep little ones entertained throughout the day. MSC has a partnership with LEGO, and, as every parent knows, LEGOs are to kids what the drink package is to most adults. Read reviews of this or other MSC ships, and you’ll inevitably find people raving about The Yacht Club. The cabins feature a stylish decor that is modern and simplistic at the same time. They’re well-appointed with USB chargers, plugs, and plenty of storage space. Bathrooms are decent size with actual shower enclosures instead of the dreaded shower curtains.
Caribbean and Bahamas on MSC Meraviglia and Carnival Venezia from NYC
Ocean Cay – The signature Seafood restaurant was probably the biggest disappointment among all of the specialty dining restaurants on the Meraviglia. Basic items were cooked improperly and some were downright inedible (Tuna steak for example). Kaito Sushi & Teppanyaki – The Teppanyaki concept is quite good and you get exactly what you’d expect.
MSC Grandiosa Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - CruiseCritic.co.uk
MSC Grandiosa Cruise: Expert Review ( .
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 21:24:19 GMT [source]
There’s a daily buffet that they put up there for, for just yacht club guests, along with a bar. A pleasant surprise was the buffet on the Meraviglia. The buffet food, while sometimes repetitive, was actually pretty good. I’d say it’s better than most cruise ships and in the evenings the food was elevated compared to serving the same lunch items with different names.
I thoroughly enjoyed my cobb salad, but my beef burrito was build-your-own style, and it was largely flavorless. There's at least one bar in every public space, so you won't have to go far to whet your whistle. Overall, I found my Yacht Club experience to be a great way to escape when other areas of the ship felt overwhelming, which they often did. On a separate occasion, when my travel companion and I showed up for scheduled volleyball time, the attendant cut the game off at 45 minutes because he said he had to leave. When we asked if we could keep the ball to continue playing, he refused.
Embarkation was delayed by a coast guard review but was still a giant cluster and no accommodations for people with mobility challenges readily apparent. Same on disembarkation - were told 3 different places to wait for wheel chairs to get off the ship. The MSC app was about as user friendly as a rock I should have been able to clear my entire party from a single app with a CC vs waiting in line or using the machine that didn't work. The private island was beautiful but again disorganized and long lines. I had high hopes for MSC but won't be willing to cruise with them again any time soon.
Hotels
A large group booking of about 1,000 people overtook many of the public areas on a daily basis, which drew complaints from cruisers who weren't in the group. For example, trivia was standing-room-only on several days, and the buffet was so continuously crowded that I ate there only twice on the entire voyage. On my voyage, the ship was only sailing at about half capacity (about 3,000 passengers out of a possible 5,655, or 53%). However, a perfect storm of events converged to create a situation that was less than pleasant for anyone not booked in a Yacht Club cabin.
Find MSC Meraviglia Cruises to Bermuda (with Prices) - Cruise Critic
Find MSC Meraviglia Cruises to Bermuda (with Prices).
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:35:58 GMT [source]
(It's rare for the Australian market to see brand-new vessels.) Voyages include stops in Hobart, Burnie or both Tasmanian ports. On the two-week sailing, ports also include Sydney, as well as Picton, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland in New Zealand. With Australia and New Zealand finally picking up steam again post-shutdown, it's not surprising that some cruise lines are sending ships to the region for the first time in 2023. From June through December, Carnival Venezia will sail one eight-day Bahamas voyage that includes Nassau, Freeport and Half Moon Cay, with prices starting from $484 per person for an inside cabin. During that time, the vessel is also scheduled to run five eight-day Eastern Caribbean cruises calling on Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay, with fares starting at $684 per person for an inside cabin. For additional details, visit the Carnival website.
It feels less like a cruise ship pool and feels more like a hotel/resort pool with fountains and elevated seating/beds. There’s usually live music and bar service as well as drink carts when the ship is busy. MSC offers dining packages, which allow passengers to pre-purchase a set number of meals in alternative restaurants. When those meals are cashed in, cruisers can choose from a preselected list of menu items designated for package holders. Generally, if you're planning to eat at more than two or three specialty restaurants, booking a package will save you money. We knew we were on a cruise ship on the sea days out and on the sea days back.
Another option is if you book the higher level Aurea experience, you can dine on your own schedule. There is no towel service at the pool, it’s handled by the room attendants. If the number of towels in your room don’t match the number from the start of the cruise, the attendant will make note of this and you’ll be charged after disembarking. We found places to call our own that maybe we’re not in the yacht club specifically.
