CruisingFox27

Non Aurea guests can't dine in the Aurea restaurant, you should be able to speak with the M'aitre D of your friends restaurant to see if you could dine with your friend in the MDR.

Meraviglia is a fairly new ship but not one of the very latest with a separate Aurea restaurant restaurant.

The newer ships have a separate dining room, on most it's a separate section on the MDR. Yes, you just arrive a time of your choice, no reservation needed. Often they'll ask you for your estimated and preferred dining time to assist with their planning. For example we'd say 7.45pm to 8.15pm.

There are open and close times, the stairway is closed off outside of the open times. Unfortunately, I'm not sure of the open time. There is an open seating area on deck 15 at the aft near the mini golf though. And both sides there are accessible all of the time.

There are now some of you with whom I can no longer be friends! Yes, we're definitely more active in a cruise, if the ports are intensive but all that yummy bread and pasta and pizza. And that's before the cocktails.... I'm blocking this thread, it's too depressing 🤣😂🤣

Our sailing date is 4th April, our TA asked for the balance by 30th December.

I checked ours this morning, we're now MEW, which I'm translating to Mediterranean, West.

Never experienced an issue ordering 2 drinks with one card.

A few weeks ago, all bookings seemed to lose the dining preference. I've not checked ours again for a couple of weeks but will look again tomorrow. We're 7 weeks out now.

Absolutely no idea. I've reviewed our photos but there's no name shown anywhere, sorry 😐

We embarked a cruise in Hamburg, we made our own way to the port.

Easy is not valid in the specialty restaurants. No package is valid in the franchises. MDR, buffet and general bars it's fine.

The MSC computer isn't clever enough to know what is included in your booking and eliminate those extras from the extras available for you to book. The items available are generic and show regardless of your experience booking.

We did exactly that on a visit to Grand Cayman. We took a taxi/mini bus from near the port, to a beach club at 7 mile Beach. Which had sun loungers, restaurant and rest rooms. And then the same to return.

We also thought the same and will be completing our Fantastica experiment in April. The anytime dining was the big advantage for us, severe reservations over the fixed dining and table sharing (will ask onboard if a table for 2 is available but we're on an older ship).

It was a while ago now but fairly confident we had no issues. I'd happily book the same cabin again.

Absolutely no idea, I'm afraid.

It's an easy walk from the cruise port and we paid in US dollars. I don't believe we did a round trip ticket but had no issues with the return trip.

My hair straighteners have been on every cruise we've taken with MSC, which is well into double figures and I've never had an issue. And I'd be shouting loudly if there had been (albeit from under the paper bag on my head 😂).

We had a cabin in that exact location. The top sail lounge is generally very quiet. We definitely didn't hear any noise at all. We loved the location for access to said lounge, as there's a door into it just at the end of the corridor. It's also a very short walk to the concierge and stairs up to the restaurant and pool. If we booked Meraviglia again, I'd certainly aim to be in the same location.

It's not compulsory to purchase a drinks package, you can just pay for drinks as you order and you'll be billed at the end of the cruise. The only free drinks are tea, coffee and water in the buffet.

Correct. All passengers sharing a cabin must have the same drink package. (Minors excluded).

We've always purchased the wifi package online and, usually many months prior to sailing. I'm not sure why it's not listed for your booking but it certainly normally would be.

We've not sailed on Fantasia but have been on her sister ships, Splendida, Divina and Preziosa. The spa has a steam room and sauna, there isn't a whirlpool. The Top 18 Aurea sun deck has a mobile bar, as in it is set up daily not a permanent structure and whirlpools.

Lovely ship, we were on her for the 2nd time for 28 nights in Feb 2020. The Fantasia class ships are very elegant.