Onboard Meraviglia now 1/24 ..my observations..

[Fogfog]

@momrox1

How's everything going?

 

@KSSS2013 How is YC

 

Boarding in less than 3 days 😉

[G-DawgMN]

3 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

 

 

@KSSS2013 How is YC

 

Boarding in less than 3 days 😉

 

 YC was great for us besides the Ocean Cay deal. The food and service in the restaurant was amazing.

[Fogfog]

5 minutes ago, KSSS2013 said:

 

 YC was great for us besides the Ocean Cay deal. The food and service in the restaurant was amazing.

TY

Do you recall whose the crew

Maitre D

Somm?

YC Director?

 

We are on deck 15 - happy to be going back

[Cruising to Retirement]

On 1/24/2022 at 4:42 PM, ChattTenn said:

MSC tested you again even though you already tested at Walgreens before boarding or they tested you because you are on B to B.

We are doing a 3 night on Meravaglia after getting off a 5 day with Royal on 2/17-  we are sailing from Port Canaveral- is that where you sailed from?  They COVID test you prior to getting on the Ship? 

How is the process and timeframe-  Thanks and Stay Safe... 

[Fogfog]

@KSSS2013

 

Re Luggge and YC

Prior to cvd we took luggage to YC tent (Miami) and it was routed etc there

Is that the same now post cvd and Port Canaveral?

we are being dropped off and so want to make it easier for us/driver that we know what to expect at dropoff

[mscdivina2016]

4 hours ago, Cruising to Retirement said:

We are doing a 3 night on Meravaglia after getting off a 5 day with Royal on 2/17-  we are sailing from Port Canaveral- is that where you sailed from?  They COVID test you prior to getting on the Ship? 

How is the process and timeframe-  Thanks and Stay Safe... 

Once you get off 5 day cruise, you will need to go get tested somewhere, then get tested again in the terminal.

So if you get off 5 day and on 3 day, the same day, then you would be tested twice.

I hope you have a way to get to a testing place. Your other option is to get a test on royal that they probably will charge you $80 a person

[G-DawgMN]

54 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

@KSSS2013

 

Re Luggge and YC

Prior to cvd we took luggage to YC tent (Miami) and it was routed etc there

Is that the same now post cvd and Port Canaveral?

we are being dropped off and so want to make it easier for us/driver that we know what to expect at dropoff

 

 We did carryon, but the luggage drop off is right next to the YC tent so I'd just go to YC first and they'll either take it or probably get a porter to come over.

[Cruising to Retirement]

7 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Once you get off 5 day cruise, you will need to go get tested somewhere, then get tested again in the terminal.

So if you get off 5 day and on 3 day, the same day, then you would be tested twice.

I hope you have a way to get to a testing place. Your other option is to get a test on royal that they probably will charge you $80 a person

We have Abbott Supervised Telehealth tests we are going to do the day before we finish the 5 day cruise-  Thank you

[mscdivina2016]

1 hour ago, Cruising to Retirement said:

We have Abbott Supervised Telehealth tests we are going to do the day before we finish the 5 day cruise-  Thank you

Perfect!

Enjoy your cruise

[Av8tor]

On 1/28/2022 at 1:59 PM, Cruising to Retirement said:

We have Abbott Supervised Telehealth tests we are going to do the day before we finish the 5 day cruise-  Thank you

Hopefully you'll be in a port somewhere the day before you end the 5-day or the ship's internet will have a good connection or the supervised tests won't be of much use...

[FrostyJoe]

3 hours ago, Av8tor said:

Hopefully you'll be in a port somewhere the day before you end the 5-day or the ship's internet will have a good connection or the supervised tests won't be of much use...

True. But then they can always do it on disembarkation day via cellular data…upto 2 days before doesn’t mean they can’t do the monitored test hours or even minutes before embarkation of the next sailing. 
 

if I was the op, I would definitely do non monitored test close to 3 days before and two days before just to have the option of moving the cruise out if I were to test positive though… 

Edited January 31, 2022 by FrostyJoe

[blueslily]

On 1/24/2022 at 3:55 PM, RAC630 said:

The responses from people who have recently cruised Meraviglia don’t give me a lot of optimism for our upcoming cruise this weekend. 

 

What Were the issues reported?

 

How is your sailing going this week? 

[mscdivina2016]

8 hours ago, blueslily said:

 

What Were the issues reported?

 

How is your sailing going this week? 

I was on 2 weeks ago.

 

Empty ship. It was a ghost town

Very limited music only 1 venue really and even then they quit at 11.  Everything shut down.

Both sushi and teppenyaki we're close 5 of 7 nights.

 

No nightly ceiling show. There was not a show every night in the show room.

Half the bars not open.

Do to limited people, food was not turning over fast so it was not good , especially pizza but at peak times I am sure it was good.

 

We were Yacht club so we had our own lounge and food.

 

 

 

 

 

[blueslily]

1 hour ago, mscdivina2016 said:

I was on 2 weeks ago.

 

Empty ship. It was a ghost town

Very limited music only 1 venue really and even then they quit at 11.  Everything shut down.

Both sushi and teppenyaki we're close 5 of 7 nights.

 

No nightly ceiling show. There was not a show every night in the show room.

Half the bars not open.

Do to limited people, food was not turning over fast so it was not good , especially pizza but at peak times I am sure it was good.

 

We were Yacht club so we had our own lounge and food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sounds like some services were not available due to low passenger count. So, I'm wondering why is the passenger count so low in the first place, other than COVID in general. I  understand not opening everything on that huge ship when only 500 passengers are on it. When other large MSC ships are having 1000, but Meraviglia only has 400-500. So, just a question about what's making Meraviglia specifically  have half the number of passengers as some other MSC ships.  It's a great ship. I mean if people are cancelling because of reports of stuff being closed then well, stuff will stay closed until passenger numbers get higher. It seems like a feedback loop that is not good for both parties involved. 

[FrostyJoe]

10 minutes ago, blueslily said:

 

Sounds like some services were not available due to low passenger count. So, I'm wondering why is the passenger count so low in the first place, other than COVID in general. I  understand not opening everything on that huge ship when only 500 passengers are on it. When other large MSC ships are having 1000, but Meraviglia only has 400-500. So, just a question about what's making Meraviglia specifically  have half the number of passengers as some other MSC ships.  It's a great ship. I mean if people are cancelling because of reports of stuff being closed then well, stuff will stay closed until passenger numbers get higher. It seems like a feedback loop that is not good for both parties involved. 

Shhhhhhhhhh  let's keep the secret confined to these boards!!!

 

My unresearched/uneducated guess is that PC based cruises attracts more families or folks within driving distance vs. Miami based cruises....and a generally more conservative approach when it comes to travel during covid??   If one is okay with flying (which I would imagine higher percentage of Miami based cruisers are flying to Miami vs. PC), it's a different crowd vs. I-shalt-not-fly-during-covid crowd to begin with....

 

Pure speculation

Edited January 31, 2022 by FrostyJoe

[JT1962]

12 hours ago, blueslily said:

 

What Were the issues reported?

 

How is your sailing going this week? 

I was on Meraviglia last week and most venues were open, although never crowded with less than 600 onboard. I did not go to each venue, but the only bars listed as closed were Attic Club and Polar Bar. You could not sit at any of the actual bars, but could sit in the chairs in the bar area.
 

Three of the four main dining rooms were open for dinner (Panorama was closed) with open seating from 6:00-8:30 pm due to the small passenger count. Waves was also open for breakfast. All of the specialty restaurants were open, although I never saw anyone at Teppanyaki. You could sit at the tables at the Sushi Bar, but not at the bar. 
 

There was a piano player and trio nightly in the reception area on Deck 5. Guitar with vocalists in the Anchor Pub. Latin Angels Duo in the Sky Lounge. Fusion Groove band in the Meraviglia Lounge nightly. Karaoke in the TV Studio Bar.  A tribute band in the Carousel Lounge 5-6 nights.  A headliner show 6 nights in the main theater and Love & Marriage Game Show on the non-headliner night.

[mscdivina2016]

4 hours ago, FrostyJoe said:

Shhhhhhhhhh  let's keep the secret confined to these boards!!!

 

My unresearched/uneducated guess is that PC based cruises attracts more families or folks within driving distance vs. Miami based cruises....and a generally more conservative approach when it comes to travel during covid??   If one is okay with flying (which I would imagine higher percentage of Miami based cruisers are flying to Miami vs. PC), it's a different crowd vs. I-shalt-not-fly-during-covid crowd to begin with....

 

Pure speculation

They don't want to lower prices as far as YC is concerned.

 I would have stayed on another few cruises if you give me a deal.

 We were on with our casino discount and they would not even offer the same daily rate. The next 3 cruises were a 3,4&7.

 

I actually paid less on my b2b seashore sailings due to bidding.

 

Don't understand. I don't like them right now still but I would go. I am a local, I can go with a few hours notice.

 They are sailing YC at 25% capacity. No deals it seems.

 

 

 

[Fogfog]

49 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

They don't want to lower prices as far as YC is concerned.

 I would have stayed on another few cruises if you give me a deal.

 We were on with our casino discount and they would not even offer the same daily rate. The next 3 cruises were a 3,4&7.

 

I actually paid less on my b2b seashore sailings due to bidding.

 

Don't understand. I don't like them right now still but I would go. I am a local, I can go with a few hours notice.

 They are sailing YC at 25% capacity. No deals it seems.

 

 

 

Currently onboard

A couple asked about getting a deal and were given rack rate offer.

With 452 onboard and 61 in YC…they don’t need to cut deals for YC

 

Embarkation was great and everything has been outstanding 

OC at the moment. Going smoothly 

[PDXer2]

Hope you are going to keep reporting on your trip. Be onboard in five weeks and curious about YC and things in general with such a light passenger load.

[FrostyJoe]

4 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

They don't want to lower prices as far as YC is concerned.

 I would have stayed on another few cruises if you give me a deal.

 We were on with our casino discount and they would not even offer the same daily rate. The next 3 cruises were a 3,4&7.

 

I actually paid less on my b2b seashore sailings due to bidding.

 

Don't understand. I don't like them right now still but I would go. I am a local, I can go with a few hours notice.

 They are sailing YC at 25% capacity. No deals it seems.

 

 

 

I'm not sure either......but didn't you mention before everyone was getting upgraded?  I wonder if they're doing it on purpose and making the $ upgrading everyone from YC down to inside with minimum bid....

[wayne_trisha]

On 1/31/2022 at 10:50 AM, FrostyJoe said:

Shhhhhhhhhh  let's keep the secret confined to these boards!!!

 

My unresearched/uneducated guess is that PC based cruises attracts more families or folks within driving distance vs. Miami based cruises....and a generally more conservative approach when it comes to travel during covid??   If one is okay with flying (which I would imagine higher percentage of Miami based cruisers are flying to Miami vs. PC), it's a different crowd vs. I-shalt-not-fly-during-covid crowd to begin with....

 

Pure speculation

I live close to PC and drive around it to work on Cape Canaveral SFS. PC is becoming the premiere port in Florida. Carnival, RCCl ,NCL, Disney are porting their brand-new ships here. I think because it is a fabulous port to go out, easy enough to get here from Orlando (so days spent in Orlando), the surrounding area is a nice small-town community. I'm excited about having all the new ships here. Less driving and anxiety of getting to the port on time. 

[FrostyJoe]

38 minutes ago, wayne_trisha said:

I live close to PC and drive around it to work on Cape Canaveral SFS. PC is becoming the premiere port in Florida. Carnival, RCCl ,NCL, Disney are porting their brand-new ships here. I think because it is a fabulous port to go out, easy enough to get here from Orlando (so days spent in Orlando), the surrounding area is a nice small-town community. I'm excited about having all the new ships here. Less driving and anxiety of getting to the port on time. 

I am so jealous 🥺!!!  I do like PC for the convenience and ease and less crowded feel….but something about that POM sailing out just screams “I’m cruising now!!!”  I think it’s the views out of POM

 

If I was near PC/POM, I’d be like that “weekend cruiser” YouTuber having a bag always ready to go at a moments notice!  Sooo jealous 

[wayne_trisha]

18 minutes ago, FrostyJoe said:

I am so jealous 🥺!!!  I do like PC for the convenience and ease and less crowded feel….but something about that POM sailing out just screams “I’m cruising now!!!”  I think it’s the views out of POM

 

If I was near PC/POM, I’d be like that “weekend cruiser” YouTuber having a bag always ready to go at a moments notice!  Sooo jealous 

Many weekend cruises booked days in advance. Was great to have that option. I have no inside information (unless you want to know why Harmony of the Seas caused a launch to get scrubbed) but I think a lot of people want to do the theme parks before/after a cruise. I'm still curious what people do when PC is a port stop on their cruise. Go to KSC and..... I don't know. 

[FrostyJoe]

1 minute ago, wayne_trisha said:

Many weekend cruises booked days in advance. Was great to have that option. I have no inside information (unless you want to know why Harmony of the Seas caused a launch to get scrubbed) but I think a lot of people want to do the theme parks before/after a cruise. I'm still curious what people do when PC is a port stop on their cruise. Go to KSC and..... I don't know. 

I didn't know it was the Harmony.  I was wondering if it was the Meraviglia. What caused Harmony to to be in the hot zone?

 

I thought KSC and especially the bus tour was fascinating!  But once maybe twice will be enough--unless I'm rocket guy or a Musk fan.  Yea, I've wondered the same what else as PC as a port of call. 

[brilliantseas]

17 minutes ago, FrostyJoe said:

I didn't know it was the Harmony.  I was wondering if it was the Meraviglia. What caused Harmony to to be in the hot zone?

 

I thought KSC and especially the bus tour was fascinating!  But once maybe twice will be enough--unless I'm rocket guy or a Musk fan.  Yea, I've wondered the same what else as PC as a port of call. 

 

My guess is that it allows NCL and Royal to restock the ship at much lower cost than NYC. I'm sure the longshoreman and teamsters in NYC and Bayonne really increase the cost of provisioning in the Metro area, so they do the bulk of their provisioning at PC mid-week instead, at least for the Bahamas cruises. Carnival did the same when I sailed from Baltimore and had a stop in PC. They've since replaced that stop with either HMC or Princess Cay and seem to be getting better yields. 

On my only call in PC, Carnival offered excursions to Universal, Disney, and SeaWorld as well, although they were relatively short excursions. I seem to recall docking around 8:00 AM, with tours departing for Orlando around 8:30-9:00 and returning around 4:00. That only leaves around 5-5.5 hours to see the parks, but I guess if you've never been, or are a mega-fan in need of a fix, 5 hours is better than nothing! I'd rather head over to Fishlips and grab a few drinks upstairs overlooking Port Canaveral.