Most Satisfying Cruise

We had the absolute best time on the MSC Meraviglia! This was our family’s second time on this beautiful ship, and it was even better than the first. The rooms were spacious, clean, and well-designed. We enjoyed a premium aft balcony cabin—truly the best views at sea! The ship was spotless, and we loved our visit to the Thermal Spa, which was relaxing and never overcrowded. The entertainment staff made our trip unforgettable, especially Santi and Nicholas, who were true hidden gems. We didn’t use the main dining room but thoroughly enjoyed the specialty restaurants and buffet options. Hola Tacos was a highlight—Abel was an exceptional server and made our experience wonderful. We’re sad to see MSC leave Brooklyn and hope it’s only temporary, but we’ve already booked our next adventure on MSC World America. I can honestly say that I had no negatives to this voyage. Was the buffet busy? Yes. Were other guests rude and pushy? Yes... but you will have that on any cruise line AND it's not MSCs job to teach other adults manners. If you are traveling on a floating hotel with 6,000 other people, you have to expect not everyone will be your cup of tea, but I don't let those ruin the time I'm having! Hot Tip: spend the money on an Ocean Cay Cabana - they're amazing and so relaxing!

Family Cruise on MSC Meraviglia – August 2025

We were a family group of 17 people sailing together, and overall, we had a fantastic experience. Dining & Food The food was excellent throughout the cruise, with only a dish or two that didn’t quite meet expectations. We chose the 7:00 PM fixed dining in the Waves Restaurant, and our group was seated by the window—a beautiful spot every evening. Service was impeccable. Two members of our group had food allergies, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure their meals were safe, even offering replacements promptly when necessary. We only tried one specialty restaurant, Butcher’s Cut, which was very good, but honestly, the main dining room was so satisfying that we didn’t feel the need to book others. For breakfast and lunch, we alternated between the main dining room and the buffet (where the midnight pizza was a hit). Bars & Drinks The Brass and Anchor Pub became our favorite spot—great drinks and classic rock tributes every night made for a fun atmosphere. On the other hand, the EDGE Bar on Deck 6 was disappointing. While the ambiance was nice, the drinks were noticeably watered down. The drinks package was worth it for our group; with most cocktails priced around $16, anyone averaging more than 6 drinks per day gets great value. Entertainment & Activities The White Party was the highlight of the entertainment onboard—fun, lively, and well organized. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to attend the Carousel shows, partly because they carried an extra $18 cost. Compared to my past sailing on Anthem of the Seas, I felt Meraviglia had slightly fewer activities, but it was still enjoyable. Pools and Jacuzzis seemed crowded most of the time, so we skipped those. My wife booked two massages; the first was excellent, but the second didn’t meet expectations. Cabin & Experience We stayed in cabin (Deck 14), which was quiet, clean, and comfortable. With two teenagers in tow, the space worked out fine. The ship overall felt spacious, despite its size and number of passengers. Embarkation & Disembarkation Embarkation in New York was seamless. We arrived at 9:30 AM, checked in within 10 minutes, and were onboard by 10:00 AM with no traffic and no stress. The muster drill was straightforward, though some in our group struggled at first to figure out how to log into the ship’s hotspot, download the app, and access the required safety videos. That app, by the way, was also necessary for checking the daily program and group chat. Disembarkation, by contrast, was more cumbersome and confusing, and it took noticeably longer than embarkation. Ports of Call Port Canaveral (Fort Lauderdale area) There is absolutely nothing to do right at the port itself. If you want to explore, you either need to Uber or pay about $30 per person for a shuttle to Cocoa Beach. We opted for something different and booked a private kayak tour with Calypso Kayaking. The Uber XL there cost $70, but surprisingly the ride back was only $30. It was a great choice for our group. Ocean Cay (MSC’s Private Island) This was hands down the best stop of the cruise. The island is beautiful and well maintained. That said, all of the chairs, tents, and umbrellas were sold out when we went to South Beach and North Beach. Next time, I’ll definitely head to Bimini Beach or the beach by the lighthouse, which looked less crowded and had more space. Nassau, Bahamas Before the trip, I had heard mixed reviews about Nassau, and unfortunately, some of them were true. As soon as we got off the ship, there were people trying to sell things and hassle tourists. We walked to the Queen’s Staircase, which was an intense walk under the hot sun. Afterward, we decided to cool off at Junkanoo Beach and browse a few shops. Junkanoo was a nice spot, but expensive for what it was. One major downside is that by 5:00 PM, all shops and restaurants closed, making Nassau feel like a ghost town—this even included Señor Frogs and Margaritaville. Since our ship didn’t leave until 7:30 PM, it felt odd to have nothing open while four other cruise ships had already departed. Final Thoughts MSC continues to impress me. I’ve sailed with them before and knew what to expect. The service, dining, and atmosphere on Meraviglia made for a wonderful family vacation. I thoroughly enjoyed this cruise and would happily book MSC again.

Big beautiful ship perfect for family

I normally do not write a ton of reviews but after experiencing this ship for myself after seeing how many people write bad reviews about MSC and specifically the Meraviglia I felt like I needed to write something so people got the real story. Granted reviews are people’s own personal experiences and they should not be discredited but I feel like a lot of these bad reviews seem unwarranted. This was my first cruise in over 20 years and MSC was a great choice! We went with the Aurea experience. I am wondering if alot of the complaints are from Aurea or Yacht club experience levels , I would venture to guess no. We loved the anytime dining and the top 19 lounge . We also loved the thermal spa . I used it every morning and it was perfect! I never had a hard time getting a drink at any of the bars no more than a few minute wait and I believe the cruise was at max capacity. The food was all in all pretty good , main dining room was very good and we ate there most nights. We did have two specialty restaurants (tepanyaki and Butchers Cut) both were 8 or 9 out of 10 . Ocean Cay was amazing . We booked another cruise with MSC already and cannot wait to see that island again. Overall I would say if you do go on Meraviglia book as Aurea or higher and relax! Have a great time like we did . We loved MSC and Meraviglia.