ChattTenn

We have been sailed with MSC twice each with 7 day and with a Diamond status match. As I recall the specialty dinner (complement) did not show up on our booking however once on board the benefits list (a sheet) would be in your cabin. To reserve the dinner on first cruise we went to the actual Butcher Cut restaurant to reserve our time slot (Divina) and on Meraviglia we went the designated place (the info in the daily activity paper) to reserve our time slot and told them it is for a Diamond complement dinner and both times they did not charge us the cost (if order through their set menu). We did give out the tip for the dinner. You will need to do it as soon as possible for the availability.

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.

I got motion sickness very easy too. I got this medicine "TRAVEL SICKNESS (Rugby)" Meclizine HCI 25mg 100 chewable tablets a genetic form of BONINE one pill per day at Walmart OCM no prescription needed but they do not stock in the shell but you must ask the pharmacist for it and costs under $10. I always have this medicine with me on every cruise. Meraviglia is a beautiful ship and study. Hope you would be able to some sickness medicines and enjoy your cruise and this beautiful ship.

Flam railway is very HARD to get when there is a ship in port because the cruise line would take just about every available schedules that fits the ship time. Example Sky Princess will be in Flam on August 22 all 5 early departures SOLD OUT (Norway' Best) some of our cruise mates got 8:25 when it opens for booking in December but it sold out quickly.

This is our experience on 12/4 Mera sailing (Diamond status match) with a Belize port. We went to the place issuing the tender ticket and shown them our Cruise Card. When they called next group number they also stated that included priority too we then walked with that group down to get on the tender (no waiting for us). I believe those with excursions met in somewhere else not in the same place that issued tender ticket to general populations. Hope the info is helpful.

Princess used to have a machine for you to exchange money (do it yourself) as other said it was not a good exchange however it is for the convenient.

Parking at the port is the best option for us too. It is $17 per day for 8 days plus tax (yes THERE IS TAX for that now on our December cruise). Cost a little more for the cruise but so much easy.

We used to get them at Customer Service desk for FREE. We got several from different lines as collection items.

We are second on your comment about Carnival. We sailed on Mardi Gras in late April last year the MDR food was ok to bad most of our 7 days (we had sailed on Carnival a few times) due to our early dinning other eating options were not available until later every night. We gave MSC a try and sailed on Divina while the food was not great (they claimed because of the pandemic for the supply) but the service was wonderful (the price was much lower than Carnival) so we decided to give MSC another try on Meraviglia as it turned out much better (food/entertainment) we already booked another sailing (7 days) on Seaside for later this year with a military discount and status match it is a win win situation.

For Voyage Club (repeat customer) MSC gives 5% and for military discount 10% (balcony and up). You can not combine VC and Military. Most of the time we would use only Military because it is better than VC.

In order to get military discount, you or your TA must fax MSC for DD214 (if you are a veteran or other military document to prove you are a military person}. On every sailing with MSC you/TA must submit the information in order to get the discount because MSC does not retain the military information in their database not as Princess you only submit the info once. Once MSC approves they will send a new invoice with price adjustment.

We had been with other lines and 2 times with MSC. I will try to give some answer but not all. We booked through TA whose told MSC we would like early and a table for 2 which we did get it from our 12/4 Meraviglia sailing. Also we had the Fantastica experience, would it make any different on the choice or not we are not sure. Breakfast and lunch you can go to the dinning room beside the Market Place. I believe while we were in Ocean Cay no lunch was served in the dinning room. MSC had show every night and there are shows with a charge you would need to reverse before or after on board. We had been on other lines too but we like MSC OK for the price and service. Our first time on Divina was OK enough we went again on Mereviglia and it was good so we already booked another one on Seaside for later this year. With a status match plus military discount we can cruise with MSC twice verses Carnival/RCL only one. MSC ships are beautiful and clean. Happy cruising

We were on 12/4 sailing with 2200+ guests and were our second cruise with MSC (not YC) while it was not a perfect cruise such as some juice machine did not work or ran out but there were others in the Market Place had it just had to walk around to find it, ice cream machine broke down outside the buffet but they replaced it with a scoop ice cream etc. the food was very European but not all that bad we did not go home hungry. With few inconvenience to put up but their service and price is good with a status matched/free dinner we believe it is a bargain we already booked another 7 days on Seaside later on this year.

From now until October the check-in will change again. Just wait a month or few weeks before departure for your REAL check-in time therefore do not waste time to ask MSC to change time at this moment. From our past experiences nobody asked for our check-in time and they let EVERYBODY in regardless the time. Happy Cruising.

We were on Meraviglia 12/4 sailing got 11:30 check in time (Diamond). We arrived a little after 11 and were in a very long line for security (everyone but YC) then a very long line to check in not once anybody asking us for check in time, the agent re-took the pictures even though we did it on line. Once we were through with this procedure they assigned us a group #17 for boarding at that time the waiting was FULL with people. I don't think MSC enforcing the check in time at all (why bothers to give it out). Around noon our group were allowed to board and they had to re-take my picture again on the ship because the gate agent did a bad job (goodness). As our above situation I don't think they would turn you away because the late check in time. Meraviglia is a beautiful and very clean ship you will like her. Happy cruising.

We downloaded their MSC for Me to use on Meraviglia (we did not buy their internet package), it worked about 2 days. We will be on Seaside next year will not bother with that app again and their screens throughout the ship were a joke because they were so slow.

If your boarding card has a table number I believe the M'D would be at the MDR before sailing (check the daily schedule for the location) then asking them to check your table to make sure it is for 4 of you and if not asking them to change. You will like Meraviglia she is very beautiful and clean ship. Happy sailing.

We were on 12/4 sailing they assigned a table nearby ours to a family of 4 with 2 youngsters (very young children) and another table for a family of 3 with one youngster. I don't think they would separate the family because there are small children involved.

If it is important for you to confirm and Wikipedia a good source of information. My credit card came in as Geneva therefore regardless Paris as you said or Geneva I still have to pay it.

We were on the same sailing but not YC. I would like to add our own comments. The itinerary was very boring. Ocean Cay. First day we went back to the ship for lunch and the second day we ate on the island the food was much improved from our last year Divina. The ship ran out artificial sugar on the Market Place on Tuesday. We tried to reserve the Butcher's cut once on board but all early sittings were already taken and had 7.15 on day 4. Once arrived at the restaurant it was only half full with so many empty tables. The food was not good at all. I got lamb chops and my husband had beef tenderloin both were very tuff. As a diamond member per MSC we should get a chocolate gift crafted on board but it never did come. We asked about it per customer service desk it should arrive on the formal night. After inquiry they brought us 5 pieces chocolate on Saturday afternoon. Ice cream machines near the main pool broke down by the 3rd day and stay broken until the end of the cruise. This past cruise was our second time with MSC and will cruise with them again but hope they will come up with more ports others than just Cozumel/Costa Maya/Ocean Cay and sometime Berlize or Nassau.

We just got off Meraviglia this past Sunday (12/11). Our balcony cabin was 10238 (Fantastica experience) and it was very convenience very close to an elevator to deck 15 for the Market Place and pool. The cabin is smaller than RCL or Carnival but it was very clean. There were shows just about every night (dancing and signing) with one night had juggling. We love Meraviglia very much from the ship to the food and entertainments and hope you would enjoy it too. There were 2700 guests on our sailing.

MSC banking is from Geneva. Our last year Divina we got international charges and this year just got off Meraviglia (Dec 11) our credit card already is shown with an international charges.

This is Puerto Lemon and if your stop is on the West Coast of Costa Rica then the information below is not good for you. It had been a few years so my memory might not accurate. We just walked outside the port area across street up the hill about 2 or 3 blocks (not very sure) the park is on the right then turning to the left and walking to the end of the block to a very nice local supermarket, it has Café Britts, local Costa Rican coffee and very good Costa Rican vanilla. You could ask a local to point you the market. On our last trip, the port area had a large section that local vendors selling just about everything you would like to purchase the price there was a little more on the same items we purchased up the market. Back there they said the port was not safe but we did make to that market several times. Things might change now. It has been a few years back.

We had been to this port a few times many years ago and enjoyed this place very much. On our first few trips we toured with a local person with several members from the ship to Del Monte banana plantation, Tourtugera (sp) Canal to see wild lives and around town it was very nice tour for a half day. On the last few trips there we just walked outside the port area across street up the hill about 2 or 3 blocks (not very sure) the park is on the right then turning to the left and walking to the end of the block to a very nice local supermarket, it has Café Britts, very good Costa Rican vanilla. Back there they said it was not safe too but we had walked up to that market on several trips but nobody bothered us. Things might chance now.

We were on Divina October 2021 (our first with MSC) and had only 1,900+ passenger. We knew this cruise company is new to USA market, the food was not great (they claimed because after pandemic and supply) but we did not go home hungry, the entertainment was good, the ship was beautiful/clean and the service was excellent. We are very low maintenance and did not expect too much just glad to get away after the pandemic. It was nice enough we will again sail with MSC on Meraviglia later this year. Their price is good for a week cruise and with a status match it is a win win situation for us. Give it a try with open mind.