LIVE MSC Meraviglia May 19-26… and (hopefully) reopening of Ocean Cay

[Notch8]

Last day on the ship!  And another beautiful day at sea.  The Atlantic Ocean is again very smooth, and the temperature is cooler than yesterday.

 

Last night we enjoyed the show “Wonderville the future of magic” which was similar to the earlier Magic show with different tricks.  Same four magicians.

 

Tonight is the same singer we had three nights ago.  She was talented, but the music she sang isn’t really my type.

 

One disappointment on this trip vs. July is that in July there were cream puffs available in the buffet for dessert; I haven’t seen them all week.  I’ve made up for it by eating more of the (excellent) ice cream.

 

Very enjoyable trip!  As MSC keeps tweaking their product, I see them being a very formidable competitor to the “big 3” (CCL, RCCL, NCL.)  They have a few nice luxuries that the others don’t, and they seem to be recognizing where they need to improve.

 

Jim

[Yorkvillain]

Great stuff all week Jim. Thanks for doing this. 

[kad56]

Which production shows were the best? I don't always go, and I like know what the highlights are so I can pick and choose.

[Notch8]

28 minutes ago, kad56 said:

Which production shows were the best? I don't always go, and I like know what the highlights are so I can pick and choose.

Well, everyone has different tastes.

 

I personally liked “The Journey” and “Encore” - the former was more classical type music (vs. dance pop - not “classical” like Beethoven.  For example, it opens with the song “Danny Boy”) and the latter was show tunes.  I did enjoy the two magic shows too.  Comedian was also good.

 

I guess the only one I could have skipped was Dejah (singer.)  She is talented, but it’s not my favorite kind of music.  We aren’t attending her second show tonight for that reason.

 

All of the acts were well done; their entertainers have a lot of talent.

 

Hopefully this gives you enough information to make a decision about what shows to attend.

 

Jim

[Notch8]

LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN THE BACK OF THE DESK DRAWER!!

 

I guess we need to stop ragging on MSC for not providing facial tissues!!

 

But they lose points for not putting them in an obvious place!!  🤣

[BazingAu]

On 5/19/2024 at 8:54 AM, Notch8 said:

Through check in and waiting to board.  Much more organized than it was in July.

Keys are no longer handed out in the terminal.  We get them on board at the room.  The check in agent described how they will look.

 

Here’s the “Welcome Aboard” document.

 

Jim

Thanks Jim. Did you see or use a separate check in during embarkation for Diamond/Aurea? I heard the security lines can be loooong if you aren’t in Yacht Club, but there is also a separate line somewhere for Diamond/Aurea. I have never seen any photos or videos of this, so not sure if that’s just an urban legend. 😆

[JamieLogical]

8 hours ago, BazingAu said:

Thanks Jim. Did you see or use a separate check in during embarkation for Diamond/Aurea? I heard the security lines can be loooong if you aren’t in Yacht Club, but there is also a separate line somewhere for Diamond/Aurea. I have never seen any photos or videos of this, so not sure if that’s just an urban legend. 😆

 

The separate check-in line for Diamond/Aurea is after security. When I used it on my last sailing out of Brooklyn, I was literally the only person in it. The regular check-in line wasn't bad at that time either, though.

[Notch8]

10 hours ago, BazingAu said:

Thanks Jim. Did you see or use a separate check in during embarkation for Diamond/Aurea? I heard the security lines can be loooong if you aren’t in Yacht Club, but there is also a separate line somewhere for Diamond/Aurea. I have never seen any photos or videos of this, so not sure if that’s just an urban legend. 😆

What @JamieLogical said is what I saw.  And they boarded first.

[kad56]

When was the buffet open at ocean cay?

[luckyinpa]

19 hours ago, Notch8 said:

LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN THE BACK OF THE DESK DRAWER!!

 

I guess we need to stop ragging on MSC for not providing facial tissues!!

 

But they lose points for not putting them in an obvious place!!  🤣

 

we were in YC and found tissues in our cabin and felt like king of the world because of the posts we read on here that they werent available.   didnt get so lucky in the casino though

[Notch8]

58 minutes ago, kad56 said:

When was the buffet open at ocean cay?

11:30 - 2:00 at the Seakers buffet.

 

Food trucks had longer hours.

 

I have a separate thread with the daily planners; the information in them might be helpful (although you might have to dig.)

 

Jim

[kad56]

Thank you! I found them via your profile. I noticed you've answered a bunch of my questions. Thank you!!!

[BazingAu]

3 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

The separate check-in line for Diamond/Aurea is after security. When I used it on my last sailing out of Brooklyn, I was literally the only person in it. The regular check-in line wasn't bad at that time either, though.

Thanks. That’s a bummer. All the lines I see on YouTube was from security. I will have my parents with me who can’t stand for that long so was hoping. That Diamond can get in quicker (where there’s at least chairs that I can see).

[jcpc]

@Notch8 Thanks so much for posting your thoughts during the cruise.  I enjoyed reading them and look forward to my next Meraviglia sailing.

 

@DisneyJen I'm very interested in your views of YC vs Retreat.  Hopefully you'll post your thoughts.

[kwokpot]

5 hours ago, Notch8 said:

11:30 - 2:00 at the Seakers buffet.

 

Food trucks had longer hours.

 

I have a separate thread with the daily planners; the information in them might be helpful (although you might have to dig.)

 

Jim

What types of food are served at the complementary food trucks?

[JamieLogical]

23 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

What types of food are served at the complementary food trucks?

 

Burgers, hotdogs, fries...

[kwokpot]

23 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Burgers, hotdogs, fries...

Thanks. So it sounds like nothing different from the buffet, just different location and type of venue.

Edited May 26 by kwokpot

[DisneyJen]

4 hours ago, jcpc said:

@Notch8 Thanks so much for posting your thoughts during the cruise.  I enjoyed reading them and look forward to my next Meraviglia sailing.

 

@DisneyJen I'm very interested in your views of YC vs Retreat.  Hopefully you'll post your thoughts.

I plan on sharing my thoughts in  a day or two.

 

DH tested for COVID when we got home this morning.

[jcpc]

21 minutes ago, DisneyJen said:

I plan on sharing my thoughts in  a day or two.

 

DH tested for COVID when we got home this morning.

@DisneyJen I hope your husband gets better quickly.  This darn COVID will be with us forever.  

[Dunchues]

8 hours ago, BazingAu said:

Thanks. That’s a bummer. All the lines I see on YouTube was from security. I will have my parents with me who can’t stand for that long so was hoping. That Diamond can get in quicker (where there’s at least chairs that I can see).

I've not sailed out of NY yet, but Miami can be a nightmare for those of us who can't stand for long and security everywhere are a law unto themselves. I carried a seat stick, dirt cheap from Amazon as insurance and I wish I'd had a box of them, I'd have made enough to pay for the trip. There's other waits too; getting off in ports can drag out and piers can be long! I wouldn't go on a cruise without one tbh, that sort of discomfort takes all the fun out of it.

[BazingAu]

21 minutes ago, Dunchues said:

I've not sailed out of NY yet, but Miami can be a nightmare for those of us who can't stand for long and security everywhere are a law unto themselves. I carried a seat stick, dirt cheap from Amazon as insurance and I wish I'd had a box of them, I'd have made enough to pay for the trip. There's other waits too; getting off in ports can drag out and piers can be long! I wouldn't go on a cruise without one tbh, that sort of discomfort takes all the fun out of it.

Thank you for the tip. Do you have a brand that you recommend?

[Dunchues]

2 minutes ago, BazingAu said:

Thank you for the tip. Do you have a brand that you recommend?

Depends a little bit on size, I am a heavyweight full size unit so the wider the better! I took a goplus brand unit on my first cruise and it was a life saver, really. A more normal size and weight person may do very well with the drive medical one Amazon sell very cheaply, but get a tripod type and you sit on them back to front so to speak. They are surprisingly comfortable and very stable indeed. I was so impressed by them that, although I don't really need a stick for stability, I bought a ta da chair. More expensive and doesn't really do anything any better except look more expensive,  which it is. Maybe there'll be no queues anywhere and you'll have wasted your money, but they take up so little room, trust me, the first time your parents use them in anger you'll be glad you had them. And more importantly, so will they.

[NJsharon]

@Notch8 thanks so very much for the review & tips!!  And a few others for chipping in!

I noted that people said about a seat stick for the security line at NY, thank you for that tip.  I cannot stand for long or I get light headed.  I do have this 'bucket stool' I may take then.

Okay, silly questions - do you get prizes for trivia? Did they have talent night for guests, if so could you do karaoke & read lyrics or have to sing with no lyrics (I can sing, but memory of lyrics is bad!), I think it would be fun!  Did you go to bingo? Wondering how the prices were for sheets & prizes?
Were you easily able to get a chair by the pool?  Is there just the one main pool (we are fantastica) or do they have an adult pool?

Did you see your room steward often? Did you ever order food to the room (we are fantastica, so think we can get continental breakfast for free, or it has to be paid)?

Did you get the wristband for charging things to the room?  If so, where did you go & were there enough (I heard it is first come, first served & they run out)?

 

Thank you again, so excited!!!

[Notch8]

1 hour ago, NJsharon said:

@Notch8 thanks so very much for the review & tips!!  And a few others for chipping in!

I noted that people said about a seat stick for the security line at NY, thank you for that tip.  I cannot stand for long or I get light headed.  I do have this 'bucket stool' I may take then.  We sailed through security so fast this would have been unnecessary.  But no guarantees for other sailings.

Okay, silly questions - do you get prizes for trivia? Not sure.  They did give out prizes for games.

Did they have talent night for guests, if so could you do karaoke & read lyrics or have to sing with no lyrics (I can sing, but memory of lyrics is bad!), I think it would be fun!  I didn’t recall seeing this in the daily planners.  I may have just missed it.  Note that I posted daily planners in a separate thread.

Did you go to bingo? No.  Wondering how the prices were for sheets & prizes?  Can’t help you with this.
Were you easily able to get a chair by the pool?  Is there just the one main pool (we are fantastica) or do they have an adult pool?  Never a problem to get a lounger by the adult pool at the stern.  (Yes, there is an adult pool, plus two other pools that are accessible by all passengers.)

Did you see your room steward often?  We bumped into him about once per day.

Did you ever order food to the room (we are fantastica, so think we can get continental breakfast for free, or it has to be paid)? Continental breakfast is still free for fantastica, but we didn’t use it.  They use the door hangars to order.

Did you get the wristband for charging things to the room?  If so, where did you go & were there enough (I heard it is first come, first served & they run out)?  We didn’t get one - we did see others with them and they made an announcement about them, so definitely were available.  I think they were $5.  One of the shops should have them.

 

Thank you again, so excited!!!

See answers above in bold.

[michelle028]

Thank you for all your tips - first time going on Meraviglia in the summer and its putting my mind at ease!

 

P.S

How did you enjoy the food in the MDR for dinner?