Meraviglia questions

[kayjay76]

Hi all! Considering going on our 1st msc cruise on the Meraviglia out of ny to Bermuda in a few weeks. We've sailed NCL several times and have a few questions if anyone can help:

1. We usually like the aft of the ship, balcony rooms. Are there elevators at the back of the ship or are the closest in the mid? I can't tell from the deck plans as some say lift and other just the picture. Some people said back elevators are for only crew. My husband yaps when we're not close to elevators lol

2. When booking we can choose the easy plus drink package or skip it. But it seems if we choose to skip drinks that some basic cocktails are still included?  any info on their drink packages would be great.

3. Is the buffet and the main dining room the only "free" food? 

4. Is there a flat fee for room service or is it individual pricing?

5. For Bermuda, which we've never been, which side of the ship would you choose for sunsets/rises

6. where are the smoking areas on the ship and can you smoke in the casino?

7. While at port for 3 days, is the casino closed or open?

8. Is the upgrade to aurea ( sorry if i spelt it wrong) worth the fee for the solarium?

9. What is a partial view balcony, premium balcony? We always choose balcony rooms but i don't understand the category differences here

 

Thank you so much for any help you can give!! We've only sailed NCL and I'm trying to wrap my brain around a new cruise line :)

[Essiesmom]

3.  Yes, buffet and MDR are the only free dining areas.  The burger, pizza, etc areas that are scattered about on other ships are all within the buffet.

4.  Continental breakfast room service is free but if you choose Bella experience, there is a delivery fee.  All other room service items have a cost.

5.  In Bermuda you will get sunrise on one side of the ship, sunset on the other.  But which is which depends on which direction the ship docks.

8.  The major draw for Aurea experience is anytime dining.  Bella and Fantastica have fixed, assigned dining.  Some prefer it for the spa access and private sun deck.

9.  A partial view balcony may have a partial or full metal balustrade which limits your view sitting down.  You can identify these by the shading on the balconies on the deck plans.  You will notice some larger, odd shaped balconies in the ends of indented areas.  The cabins on one side with project farther and give limited of no view either foreward or aft.  
Sorry I can’t answer your other questions as I haven’t sailed Meraviglia, or been to Bermuda on MSC.  EM

[Até]

1. There are no elevators in the aft area of Meraviglia, those midship ones are the closest for passengers and quite a walk from the aft cabins. 

 

2. No cocktails are included without a drinks package.

 

8. The Aurea sun deck is nothing special on Meraviglia, just less crowded and has a hot tub overlooking the main pool area. There is no dedicated bar and bar service is often limited. 

[gizfish]

Aurea also includes access to the spa thermal area. If that is of value to you, than the extra cost for Aurea may be worth it to you.  

[MonsterJoe]

On 9/1/2024 at 1:24 AM, kayjay76 said:

 

2. When booking we can choose the easy plus drink package or skip it. But it seems if we choose to skip drinks that some basic cocktails are still included?  any info on their drink packages would be great.

3. Is the buffet and the main dining room the only "free" food? 

4. Is there a flat fee for room service or is it individual pricing?

5. For Bermuda, which we've never been, which side of the ship would you choose for sunsets/rises

6. where are the smoking areas on the ship and can you smoke in the casino?

7. While at port for 3 days, is the casino closed or open?

8. Is the upgrade to aurea ( sorry if i spelt it wrong) worth the fee for the solarium?

9. What is a partial view balcony, premium balcony? We always choose balcony rooms but i don't understand the category differences here

 

Thank you so much for any help you can give!! We've only sailed NCL and I'm trying to wrap my brain around a new cruise line 🙂

2. When booking we can choose the easy plus drink package or skip it. But it seems if we choose to skip drinks that some basic cocktails are still included?  any info on their drink packages would be great.

As someone already mentioned, there are no complimentary alcoholic beverages. Easy plus will get you all drinks $10 and under. That covers quite a bit honestly, and there is no generic 'well' liquor on the ship. It is all name brand. You'll miss out on the better ones, if that's important to you.  You'll get Tito's instead of Grey Goose (I might be wrong, but just as an example) and you'll get Prosecco instead of Champagne. Honestly - I like to drink and it's good enough for me when I sail in gen pop.

The Premium package gets you basically everything except the crazy expensive scotches and stuff like that. I've only had it complimentary in the YC, but I would consider upgrading to it, as I like champagne, single malts, and cognacs, etc...

3. Is the buffet and the main dining room the only "free" food? 

Yes but it is huge and contains stations that other lines spread around the ship.

6. where are the smoking areas on the ship and can you smoke in the casino?

I haven't been on mera in 3 years, but I recall there is a smoking section off of the Sky Lounge, as well as on one whole side of the pool deck. There wasn't smoking in the casino when I was on, but that was right when cruising started again 2020, so maybe that changed.

Here's a video from the Sky Lounge - good times!
 

 

7. While at port for 3 days, is the casino closed or open?

The casino is always open!

Edited September 2 by MonsterJoe

[MsTabbyKats]

We were in the YC last April, but spent a lot of time in steerage buffet (it's a pizza thing with me).  The lines really weren't bad, however, we weren't there at peak times.  Something is always available.  As far as quality....mixed.

[Laurab23]

22 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

We were in the YC last April, but spent a lot of time in steerage buffet (it's a pizza thing with me).  The lines really weren't bad, however, we weren't there at peak times.  Something is always available.  As far as quality....mixed.

We were happy to discover we could order a whole pizza and our butler would deliver it. We didn't know it the first night and went to the steerage buffet and got a couple pieces but from then on ordered it  3 times to eat in our room.

 

Laura

[MsTabbyKats]

2 minutes ago, Laurab23 said:

We were happy to discover we could order a whole pizza and our butler would deliver it. We didn't know it the first night and went to the steerage buffet and got a couple pieces but from then on ordered it  3 times to eat in our room.

 

Laura

The first time we were in YC we had pizza delivered to the pool deck.  It was wonderful!

The next year in YC, no more delivery to the pool deck.....something I had been looking forward to.  I didn't really want to eat it in the cabin....but next time, if delivery isn't allowed to pool deck...I'll receive it in the cabin and bring it up myself!

 

There were plenty of seats in the buffet, and the weather wasn't so good anyway.

[runner15km]

On 9/2/2024 at 10:42 AM, MsTabbyKats said:

We were in the YC last April, but spent a lot of time in steerage buffet (it's a pizza thing with me).  The lines really weren't bad, however, we weren't there at peak times.  Something is always available.  As far as quality....mixed.

What is a steerage buffet? 

[Essiesmom]

22 minutes ago, runner15km said:

What is a steerage buffet? 

Steerage is a term applied to those of us not in Yacht Club.  I prefer to define myself as sailing Below the Salt.  Google the term.  EM

[Laurab23]

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

Steerage is a term applied to those of us not in Yacht Club.  I prefer to define myself as sailing Below the Salt.  Google the term.  EM

Some call it Gen Pop( General Population)

 

Laura

[MsTabbyKats]

4 hours ago, runner15km said:

What is a steerage buffet? 

Lol...it's the buffet for the general population.  YC has a small buffet it the weather is good.  We say "steerage" jokingly...to differentiate from the Yacht Club.

[electro]

4 hours ago, Laurab23 said:

Some call it Gen Pop( General Population)

 

Laura

Makes it sound like a prison!

[runner15km]

3 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Lol...it's the buffet for the general population.  YC has a small buffet it the weather is good.  We say "steerage" jokingly...to differentiate from the Yacht Club.

It's not a joke you degrade non YC! 

[runner15km]

8 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Steerage is a term applied to those of us not in Yacht Club.  I prefer to define myself as sailing Below the Salt.  Google the term.  EM

Please do not label a cruiser as steerage, don't you understand what you are doing? 

 

[Essiesmom]

30 minutes ago, runner15km said:

Please do not label a cruiser as steerage, don't you understand what you are doing? 

 

You mistake me.  I do not label anyone as steerage.  I travel in non-suite cabins, often insides.  As I say, tongue in cheek, I travel Below the Salt, a medieval term of social hierarchy.  EM

[kayjay76]

Thank you all for your answers!

[buffet24]

This is the Steerage Buffet that we dined at for over 20 times while on Mera...  And Essie is correct... They didn't provide any Salt on the buffet!!!  🤣🤣🤣