Doug talks with Mark and Rocky of TheCruiseLife this week about their nine-night cruise aboard MSC Meraviglia.
They dive into their bougie MSC Meraviglia Yacht Membership expertise, from unique embarkation to devoted facilities like a butler, non-public lounge, eating room, and solar deck. They focus on the superior eating choices, together with specialty dishes and a singular cheese trolley, and the advantages of their status-matching loyalty program standing.
Certainly one of MSC Cruises’ bigger vessels, Mark and Rocky additionally contact on the onboard leisure, the ship’s ambiance, and ports of name, together with a go to to MSC’s non-public island, Ocean Cay.
Discover Rock and Mark’s protection of MSC Meraviglia:
MSC Meraviglia Evaluate Transcript
Doug (00:01:01) – Mark and Rocky had simply returned from a nine-night cruise aboard MSC Maravilla. It was out of New York Metropolis, within the Bahamas, Florida space, and staying within the yacht membership. They be part of us on the road proper now. Hey, guys, how are you?
Visitor (00:01:16) – Good, Doug.
Doug (00:01:17) – I’m excited to speak about this as a result of we haven’t had an MSC Yacht Membership expertise in a very long time. We’ve had those that have been like three-nighters and have been quick, however I’m excited to listen to what it’s like spending prolonged time past seven nights in that yacht membership. So what we’ll do right here earlier than we get began, we’ll get some pre-cruise ideas. You’re within the Phoenix space. What made you need to take this nine-niner out of New York Metropolis.
Visitor (00:01:40) – Actually, it was simply the concept of getting to take a look at a brand new cruise line. We’ve been MSC for a very long time, and the concept crusing out of New York within the coronary heart of January, when it is vitally chilly outdoors, uh, the pricing was very profitable to get ourselves onto that ship, in addition to to fly throughout the nation to New York.
Visitor (00:02:01) – So all the celebs aligned and simply made it worthwhile for us.
Doug (00:02:04) – Now, there have been some, uh, slightly little bit of climate going by the nation concerning the time if you all boarded. It might need missed you by a day or two. Did that influence your flights going into Manhattan?
Visitor (00:02:14) – It didn’t influence the flights in any respect. It did influence sail away a bit. Um, as you possibly can think about, uh, the storms, uh, it was fairly rocky on the seas. Uh, it was actually cool as a result of it was the primary time ever.
So we’ve been to Alaska a number of instances, nevertheless it was the primary time ever we’ve truly seen snow on a cruise ship. And so to see the crew, it was the primary time many had seen snow on a cruise ship. They usually have been out working out, uh, TikTok ING and taking selfies. It was a extremely particular expertise, uh, with the ability to see that snowstorm.
Doug (00:02:48) – That’s so cool.
Doug (00:02:49) – So did you any pre cruise time within the metropolis earlier than boarding in Brooklyn?
Visitor (00:02:57) – You realize, we at all times counsel that one of the best ways to do it’s to fly a day forward of time. Uh, this time we flew in two days prematurely to take a while and discover Brooklyn, as a result of that’s the place the cruise terminal is for MSC. After which we additionally took the subway into Manhattan and simply sort of hung round Occasions Sq., went to a few bars, a few eating places, and, uh, simply sort of received ourselves located in New York earlier than we set sail. We met up with we met up with one in all, uh, the solo’s that I met on board, uh, Norwegian Cruise Line. So I did a Norwegian cruise line earlier in 2023. Uh, we met a bunch of solos in our solo cabins, and we truly met up with them to hang around, and so they confirmed us New York, which was a ton of enjoyable.
Visitor (00:03:36) – You see.
Doug (00:03:36) – You by no means know what connections you’ll make on a ship, proper? Proper.
Visitor (00:03:39) – Precisely.
Doug (00:03:40) – Yeah. It’s it’s so superior. So that you make your strategy to Brooklyn the next day and also you go to embark MSC Maravilla. How was that embarkation course of? And, did you get any sort of particular remedy embarking because you have been within the Yacht Membership?
Visitor (00:03:54) – Goodness gracious. It was an embark like none that I’ve ever skilled. We’ve all been by embark. We all know the traces, we all know the queues. We all know the entire seating areas. Um, the second that we received there, instantly there was signage for yacht membership. And so the, the, the porter, the baggage porter whisked us over and tagged our baggage with yacht membership tags and pointed us to his colleague standing on the door with a yacht membership signal. They actually escorted us by the terminal to our personal devoted safety line for yacht membership. Um, they didn’t have a they didn’t have us ready within the basic queue.
Visitor (00:04:28) – And so we went by that safety queue, uh, in a short time. And one other, yet one more Yacht Membership consultant whisked us to our non-public lounge, the place they did one on one verify ins with us, um, after which handed us glasses of champagne and canapés and glowing water. Um, and it was a personal space, very quiet, very secluded from the remainder of the terminal. And we loved mimosas and, uh, glowing water, uh, that as we waited to board the ship.
Doug (00:04:57) – How lengthy did it take you from curb to ship, then?
Visitor (00:05:00) – It took us about an hour and a half. So sadly the the crusing earlier than ours was the New Yr’s cruise. And they also had loads of passengers to disembark from that ship. In order that they have been barely delayed on clearing the ship right down to zero counts for us to begin the embark course of. So yeah, about an hour and a half from after we arrived. Thankfully, the lounge was nice. We had butlers in there ready on us, so it was a extremely nice expertise getting to face round and wait till the ship was prepared.
Visitor (00:05:28) – Actually. Butlers, butlers, refilling our champagne glasses, strolling round with bottles of champagne, saying, oh, would you want a refill in your champagne? Effectively, okay. Sure, we might love that.
Doug (00:05:38) – It’s like being caught in an airport and with the ability to be in an airline lounge as an alternative of within the common frequent space, proper? Simply sort of, uh. Yeah, yeah, dwelling it up in there. So that you make your method on board the ship. You’re mentioning this was your first time on the ship. So what have been your first impressions of MSC Meraviglia?
Visitor (00:05:54) – So it’s sort of humorous you ask that we didn’t truly get to see the entire ship for the primary 4 hours that we have been on board after they when the yacht membership boards, we get precedence boarding service. So they carry us into the primary atrium, and that’s concerning the many of the ship we get to see. From there, we stroll down a hall of rooms to the very ahead of the ship, the place they’ve elevators that they will badge in, providing you with precedence entry to the elevator.
Visitor (00:06:21) – They loaded us into these elevators and took us as much as the sixteenth deck the place the topsail lounges, which is the unique lounge area for the highest or the yacht membership. Uh, and so they put us in there with, once more, extra champagne and extra canapés and stay music that was being carried out for us. So we spent many of the first 4 hours on board in that topsail lounge. Effectively, they took us from the Topsail Lounge. Then they opened up the Topsail Restaurant, the unique restaurant for yacht clubbers. And so we actually went from canapés and champagne as much as the lunch within the Topsail restaurant.
Usually we run round taking photos and exploring the ship. We actually have been simply sort of within the lap of luxurious these first a number of hours onboard. Oh, we met our butler as effectively throughout that point. And so we didn’t truly go away the yacht membership as Rocky talked about, till about 4 hours after boarding.
Doug (00:07:12) – So loads to unpack right here. So I need to truly take a step again.
Doug (00:07:15) – And I need to ask, um, we have been chatting earlier than we began recording right here, and also you talked about you had an improve supply. So how a lot of a premium, um, when you settle for that improve, is it for the yacht membership in opposition to simply staying in a daily balcony cabin?
Visitor (00:07:29) – In order that’s precisely what we had booked. We booked a balcony cabin and acquired a suggestion to bid on an improve. Now, as a result of we had already booked that balcony and paid for a balcony, the improve quantity was not wildly costly. I believe it was. We we might have began the improve course of supply at $300 per individual. Wow. And Rocky was like, okay, ought to we simply begin there? And I used to be like, how typically will we get to remain within the yacht membership? We’re maxing that bit out. And so I believe we every maxed our bid out at about $600. So for an additional $1,200 or so plus tax and all of that stuff, um, we might transfer from the balcony we had into.
Visitor (00:08:09) – We truly dug and bid for an inside yacht membership cabin as a result of we have been like, okay, we’re simply gonna be sure that we get into this factor. Effectively, they have been they will need to have been offered out as a result of our goals have been answered. We received the improve and so they put us right into a deluxe suite.
Doug (00:08:24) – I find it irresistible. Let’s focus on that deluxe suite within the yacht membership and provides us all the small print.
Visitor (00:08:30) – As you stroll in, the very first thing that meets your eye is the dimensions of this cabin. I might say that this cabin is similar depth as your commonplace balcony cabin that you just discover on any cruise ship. Nevertheless, the width might be equal to 1 and a half to anyplace as much as two instances the width of a typical balcony cabin. Large area, um, between the foot of the mattress and the credenza and wall models that that they had the place the entire minibar was situated. There was most likely a very good 4 to 5ft of area between these two areas. Um, inside the toilet, it was upgraded facilities.
Visitor (00:09:05) – You had marble tile all through, a really giant, spacious stroll in bathe with a rainfall head, uh, or the rain bathe head. Um, the balcony was the identical width because the room, so it was a fairly sizable balcony. They solely put two chairs and one facet desk on the market, however you may have simply had one other two. Uh, very giant and spacious room.
Doug (00:09:29) – So the query is, how do you utilize the butler in your cruise? Effectively.
Visitor (00:09:33) – You realize, as a result of we regularly have butlers on our cruises. Uh, I child, um, it was the primary expertise. And so actually the butler launched himself. We have been within the room. He he knocked and got here in and he stated, what questions do you may have for me? And we stated, effectively, we don’t even know what inquiries to ask. And so he’s like, effectively, let’s begin together with your pillow choices. Are your pillows as much as your liking? And Rocky joked, he’s like, effectively, we’ll sleep on him tonight and allow you to know.
Visitor (00:09:59) – Um, however however the. Butler took care of our minibar, so he requested us particularly for our preferences by way of sodas, juices and beers.
He requested for our liquor choice as a result of the yacht membership comes with a bottle, comes with bottle service, a single bottle. And so we, uh, we shared our, uh, bottle choice with him, after which he simply tell us that he could be the person who would escort us to dinners if we wished. He would escort us to the theater for reveals.
He would prepare our bookings if we wished to go to any specialty restaurant. And so it was, , Rocky and I requested as we have been preparing, we’re like, is that this simply going to be an upgraded room steward, like a room steward that wears a go well with? Um, and no, it was it was considerably greater than only a room steward. In truth, we had a junior butler as effectively and, and a 3rd one who helped service the room.
Visitor (00:10:50) – So there have been three folks servicing the room. However that Butler expertise was actually distinctive and new to us. Sure, I find it irresistible.
Doug (00:10:58) – So that you have been on there for 9 nights. Was there sufficient area in your room to place all the things?
Visitor (00:11:01) – Yeah, there was um, I believe one of many challenges that we found after we have been unpacking our room was the closet area was slightly bit smaller than what we’re used to on a number of the different balcony rooms that we’ve had up to now. Um, the way in which it’s arrange, you stroll in and the, the closet area is your entrance to the toilet.
And so it’s sort of a wierd format. We found that there have been some challenges with that. Nevertheless, there was a three-drawer space for storing in the primary room space that was a part of the primary. I don’t know what you name it. Credenza. Yeah. And so that really made up for a few of that misplaced area. And happily, these beds have been designed to carry baggage below or suitcases below them.
Visitor (00:11:41) – It was straightforward to unpack our room and get moved in for these 9 days. Oh, and don’t overlook each of the nightstands subsequent to the mattress. So there have been extra storage tables subsequent to the mattress as effectively. And so there was loads of storage. However to Rocky’s level that the closet gave the impression to be slightly bit smaller than than different rooms.
Doug (00:11:59) – ThYacht Membership is like Norwegian’s Haven, a ship inside a ship idea. So outdoors of your room, what facilities did you may have inside your ship?
Visitor (00:12:07) – I’m telling you, they design it so that you don’t have to depart the yacht membership. They let you know if you’re going by the reserving course of. They are saying it’s unique and it’s non-public. And that’s very true. And so the doorway to the yacht membership on every of the flooring are glass doorways. Actually. They give the impression of being out into the elevator financial institution. I believe MSC has designed it so that individuals can see in and you’ll see out, however you need to badge out and in to get in.
Visitor (00:12:33) – And so the areas are lovely. They’ve received these crystal staircases. What are these crystals? The Swarovski, Swarovski, uh, staircases, the spiral staircases. So we would go away our room and take the staircase as much as the following deck. Uh, the sixteenth deck, which is the place the concierge was on the Topsail lounge. Topsail lounge was home windows all on the entrance of the ship.
The view of of New York, we commented that was most likely one of the best view of New York we’ve ever had in that topsail lounge. Oh yeah, the cover. Like, there’s simply a lot to unpack in that, um, the complete bar.
After which once more, you are taking up one other spiral staircase and you might be there on the unique restaurant, after which yet another spiral staircase up, and you might be at deck 19, which is your devoted, uh, lounging area, pool, and sizzling tub. There’s a every day buffet that they put up there for, for simply yacht membership friends, together with a bar.
Doug (00:13:23) – Let’s discuss a number of the meals on MSC Maravilla.
Doug (00:13:26) – When you get out of your haven complicated and go to the buffet with the frequent folks, how was the buffet and the meals all through the 9 days?
Visitor (00:13:34) – So we didn’t uncover the buffet space till that first evening. It was the second day that we found it. Yeah. Uh, now that I believe again on the expertise, um, we wish to confer with these areas as Jen and Pop. And, uh, as we walked in to the buffet, we have been we sort of felt like we have been in another person’s place. We didn’t really feel like we knew that our method round, as a result of we had spent a lot time on the ship earlier than we discovered the buffet. However as soon as we did discover it, I’ll let you know, Doug, we spent a very good period of time there, particularly for late-night buffets. Uh, this was the primary time that we’d actually seen a cruise line dedicate a late-night buffet to its passengers persistently. Each evening from midnight till 2 a.m..
Visitor (00:14:14) – They served meals. And we’re not simply speaking about simply, , a fast little seize right here and there. They’ve their pizzas accessible. They’ve little small sandwiches that you may seize. They’d burgers and sizzling canine. They generally had nachos. Typically, they might do a breakfast with some scrambled eggs and bacon each evening. I believe I received scrambled eggs and bacon each single evening of the cruise.
They’d the wholesome nook like that they had salads. And so it wasn’t even simply that fried stuff that you just typically discover on the late evening buffet. They’d salads in a wholesome nook. I imply, it was the most important. So we’ve seen late evening buffets proper on Carnival. We’ve seen it on, uh, we’ve seen it on the opposite traces. This was the I imply, it was the dimensions of a daily buffet at from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m.. It introduced me again to outdated days of cruising.
Doug (00:14:57) – Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sounds prefer it. So to your major. You have been mentioning.
Doug (00:15:01) – You had your eating room within the topsail space. So how was the eating within the yacht membership, and was there a lot of a variety like, do they rotate the menus? How does that play out?
Visitor (00:15:12) – Very a lot a devoted menu for the, uh, those who have been within the yacht membership. Um, the choices that they, that they had on the menu, there was some mirroring that occurred to the primary eating rooms on the ship, however they have been elevated to a special degree with the choices and the forms of meals. Uh, there was a choice of classics that have been served each evening.
For instance, you may get your basic filet mignon, or a salmon could be accessible. And I believe in addition they had a lobster on that classics menu. On the classics menu, you had lobster and filet mignon. I imply, that is that is subsequent degree right here. Proper. After which uh, for the common choices on daily basis that they had a rotation of a number of totally different gadgets. Normally there was a every day results of that was accessible.
Visitor (00:15:53) – There was additionally a special every day lamb that was on the menu. Uh, so positively the next caliber of meals choices on the menu. And the way in which that they have been ready and plated have been very lovely. Uh, you had, in fact, your major waiter and then you definately had your, your waiters’ assistants and they might all work in concord collectively to ship your breads, appetizers, entrees, and desserts.
Talking of desserts, don’t overlook that the maitre d would flambé the dessert. So we had cherries jubilee one evening the place he flambé and served that, um, they, they did the cheese trolley the place they might actually, they actually had a cheese trolley the place you may select the cheeses and, and jams and jellies that you just wished as a part of your dessert choice. It was it was positively. The place do you discover a risotto on a cruise on the problem to truly put together that appropriately for the lots. Um, you possibly can’t try this. However you possibly can in a personal small restaurant that’s devoted to a subset of your passengers.
Doug (00:16:53) – And the way have been the traces up there?
Visitor (00:16:57) – We don’t know what you imply by traces.
Doug (00:17:00) – Truthful sufficient.
Visitor (00:17:02) – Yeah, as a result of there was such a small capability throughout the yacht membership itself on the ship. Proper. And since you solely have these those that have entry to it, our eating instances for dinner was accessible from 6 p.m. till 830.
That was when you may get seated, and it was open to your time. Everytime you wished to go in, you’ll present up. There was one knife that I can consider, and I consider it was the second gala evening. We needed to wait possibly three minutes, possibly get seated. Yeah. Um, general, the quantity of seating that they’ve each within the lounge and the restaurant are ample for the variety of folks which can be in there, and so they know that they’re going to show over tables all through the night from friends which can be doing early versus later eating.
Doug (00:17:42) – Did you get pleasure from any specialty eating on board this one?
Visitor (00:17:45) – So this crusing particularly, we selected to stay to the yacht membership in order that we might seize every of the menus and truly document some opinions every dinner. We truly are proper now reserving, uh, one other MSC cruise, we dedicated to ourselves that we might do a yacht membership and we might do non-Yacht Membership. And so that’s the place that’s crusing, the place we plan to truly discover a few of these extra, um, upstairs upcharge specialty eating places. However for this crusing we actually caught to the Yacht Membership restaurant. That unique restaurant.
Doug (00:18:16) – I meant to ask you, earlier than you sailed, did you do the standing match with them?
Visitor (00:18:20) – Yeah, each of us truly ended up doing standing match. Um, with Mark having diamond standing with Carnival and I’ve platinum standing, we have been each capable of match into their gold standing or gold degree with the Voyagers membership.
Doug (00:18:33) – So that you stepped proper into gold. So are you aware, like what that will get you in comparison with simply being a first-time MSC cruiser?
Visitor (00:18:39) – Nice query.
Visitor (00:18:40) – As a result of, uh, MSC shouldn’t be identified for his or her loyalty program having the strongest perks, however what it did get us is it it received us a welcome again reception the place that they had cocktails, which if you’re within the yacht membership, it doesn’t actually have a big impact. Uh, as a result of we had champagne up and up in our non-public lounge.
We additionally received slightly reward. It was slightly backpack or drawstring backpack that we received. There’s additionally if you’re a part of the if you’re a part of the loyalty program, you get a reduction on sailings with MSC, and on future sailings with MSC. And so I believe it’s a 5% low cost that you just get as, as a member of that degree. And so there are some perks.
They don’t truly do precedence. Like many traces have precedence boarding and don’t try this till you hit their very high degree, which is diamond. And that’s the one group with precedence boarding and demarcation. In order that’s our purpose. My purpose is to hit Diamond on Carnival and MSC.
Visitor (00:19:36) – We’ll see how lengthy it takes.
Doug (00:19:37) – Double diamond. There you go.
Visitor (00:19:39) – I prefer it I like.
Doug (00:19:40) – That. How about across the ship such as you talked about Carnival. So we’ll stick to that. Uh, they’ve the blokes burger joint, which is complimentary eating. Does MSC have something like that across the ship? Type of a seize and go sort place. Yeah.
Visitor (00:19:52) – So, uh, it was sort of shocked. And that was one of many conversations that we had at Submit Cruise is the truth that there actually aren’t these. Varieties of seize and go fast serve eating places on board. You do have the buffet, which may be very effectively divided. They’ve their ethnic nook and so they have their pastas, and so they have a pizza spot and a few burgers, nevertheless it’s actually solely confined to that space in addition to the primary eating restaurant eating places. Except for that, all the things is upcharge. They’ve a Mexican place that’s an upcharge. They’ve, uh, I can’t bear in mind all of them. There’s a there’s a pair different ones.
Visitor (00:20:27) – One factor that I might name out that was distinctive, that I’ve by no means seen earlier than on any of our sailings, is that they had a child’s buffet, a devoted buffet for the youngsters in order that they didn’t need to be in the primary space of the buffet. After which the one different sort of separate areas that that they had have been out on the lido deck.
They’d that sort of that they had like facet buffets. It was the identical buffet meals on the within of the buffet, nevertheless it was good outdoors on Lido, so that you didn’t need to go in. However there was no , I take into consideration even Movie star Apex had the burger and fries station and Carnival and all of their facet eating places that they’ve which can be included. None of that. It’s targeted on the buffet and their and their major eating room for the included choices.
Doug (00:21:10) – Let’s focus on the leisure on board Maravilla. I do know that MSC gave up the Cirque partnership situated in the back of the ship. What’s happening again there now?
Visitor (00:21:22) – So I’ll say that we have been pleasantly shocked with the present performances that have been placed on in the primary Broadway theater, which is their major theater within the ahead of the ship. We truly attended one of many Meet the forged sort of, uh, shows, if you’ll, and we had a extremely nice interplay with them.
We came upon that the entire reveals in that ahead lounge have been designed particularly for that forged and this ship. So in all, we have been very impressed and loved the entire reveals we noticed in that ahead lounge. Now, going to your query about Cirque du Soleil partnership, you possibly can see that there nonetheless is a few residual, um, design with the reveals that they’ve in that again lounge that does nonetheless exist, they nonetheless do aerial acts, and we very a lot loved these performances. However one factor to pay attention to is MSC nonetheless continues to contemplate that an upcharge and add-on sort of expertise.
Visitor (00:22:20) – So when you purchase it on the ship, it’s $18 an individual to get into a type of reveals. The good factor is that they sweeten the deal as a result of they throw a drink at you which you can get pleasure from in the course of the present, nevertheless it’s positively a bit totally different of an expertise than what we’ve seen on many of the different cruise traces.
Doug (00:22:37) – Gotcha. And did you guys, uh, like, what sort of present was you talked about? It was like an acrobatics factor, nevertheless it was simply an MSC-branded present.
Visitor (00:22:47) – Yeah. In order that they placed on a magic present. Houdini is the title of the present. And so there’s loads of singing, dancing, acrobats flying by the air, and slightly juggling and leaping out into the viewers. And so positively had, I might say Cirque vibes, however simply not with the branding. However to Rocky’s level, they’re nonetheless charging that upcharge for the Cirque like present.
Doug (00:23:10) – Gotcha. Okay. Traditionally, MSC Cruise Leisure is extra visible and fewer like comedians due to the worldwide viewers. Is it like this on MSC Meraviglia?
Visitor (00:23:22) – Really, no. I really feel like there was loads, loads of the shows that we noticed have been carried out primarily in English, surprisingly. Okay. Uh, the one factor that caught us off guard was the overhead bulletins.
Anytime the captain would make his bulletins, it might at all times be carried out by the captain. Once more in Italian. Uh, in the course of the security briefings after we have been on the embark day, they have been doing bulletins in each English and Mandarin. For security causes, there have been so many Mandarin-speaking passengers on board. However general, many of the reveals have been carried out and carried out in English main as much as the present’s begin.
They’d do a few bulletins in Mandarin and Italian and English and German. In order that they did do a number of pre-calls for these reveals. However general the precise reveals themselves have been primarily in English, if there was any talking in any respect. Yeah, it seems it seems these songs are common. You realize, the journey is common throughout all languages.
Doug (00:24:19) – Let’s speak concerning the sea days. So far as crowds and congestion, I do know that you just have been up there within the yacht membership for most likely most of it, however as you made your method additional south, you talked about the snow on the sail out, however that it will definitely heat up as soon as you bought across the Carolinas or Florida.
Visitor (00:24:36) – Warmed up is relative. Uh, it was hotter than than the snow, however we there weren’t loads of people spending trip on deck or making use of of the water slides. Um, it was nonetheless fairly chilly till, actually, the nicest day we had was in Nassau. And so it took us, uh, 5 days into the cruise earlier than the climate was, was to some extent the place you’ll need to truly be out on deck or format, , you may be out. I imply, we have been like, jackets and denims, uh, all through the crusing. Uh, however nevertheless it wasn’t it didn’t get actually heat till we received down into the Bahamas.
Doug (00:25:07) – So far as the crowds and congestion across the ship, was there any of that since everybody was inside?
Visitor (00:25:16) – Actually? Actually, the one crowds we skilled have been within the Meraviglia Galleria Meraviglia, which is a domed space. In the event you deck six and deck seven, it’s a two-story space. They’ve received a gorgeous dome, just like the Fremont Expertise in Las Vegas, the place they’ve received that led that runs nearly everything of the ship. That’s the place they might do lots of their dance events and occasions, as a result of it was too chilly up on deck to do it.
We didn’t really feel that area was designed to host these events. And so it’s a throughput for visitors on the ship. And so that you’ve received folks making an attempt to make their method all through the ship and folks dancing and singing. And that was actually the one time we felt like we have been crowded, or that we have been sort of aggravated slightly bit by the visitors move of the ship. In any other case I might I might let you know, we didn’t really feel crowds, even the buffet, the buffets, have been typically slightly bit busy, however however to not the purpose the place we’ve seen it put on on different traces.
Visitor (00:26:12) – What did you consider that promenade space with the ceiling that lights up?
Visitor (00:26:15) – Stunning. Uh, we have been surprised by the design and the way attractive that area was, and so they actually maximize the utilization of these LED screens all through the crusing, together with on Embark day, after they’re displaying you the place the entire totally different muster stations are situated. However general, that area was lovely.
It was positively huge sufficient to stroll by it when there wasn’t an occasion occurring, you may simply take your self up onto the following deck up and look down from the mezzanine and actually benefit from the sights and the and sounds and even the smells coming from the chocolate manufacturing unit. As you have been crusing alongside, so it was very pleasant.
Talking of talking of these multi-use screens, bear in mind, even on the welcome again celebration, they performed the Welcome Again video that that that MSC sizzle reel. They performed the video factor. Welcome again. I respect your loyalty. They performed that up on these screens. And so actually everybody on the Welcome Again celebration headed to the sky watching them discuss what a terrific expertise MSC is.
Doug (00:27:11) – The on line casino. How was that so far as the smoking scenario in and round it?
Visitor (00:27:17) – They’d a smoke-free on line casino. It seems that it was an afterthought primarily based on our conversations with the opposite passengers on board. The smoke-free on line casino was good. Nevertheless, they didn’t have any gaming tables for the smoke-free gamblers.
Now, the thrilling factor was the location of the Cirque theater. You need to stroll by the smoking on line casino to get to the theater, which was sort of a wierd setup, however the way in which the on line casino was arrange. They put the primary bar within the heart of it. So that you’re not diving into the primary on line casino itself. Total, the on line casino appeared like a fairly ample dimension, similar to what we’re acquainted with on a few of Carnival’s Vista ships.
Doug (00:27:59) – Okay. Very cool. So, let’s speak concerning the ports of name you hit on this nine-night cruise. And what we’ll do right here is hit the primary one, give us a spotlight, then we’ll go to the following one and so forth.
Visitor (00:28:10) – The primary cruise port we visited was the unique location, Port Canaveral in Florida. We had one thing else organized. We have now some actually good associates that we’ve additionally met by happening cruises who stay within the Orlando space, they ended up choosing us up, and we had a enjoyable day at SeaWorld for the day. So, it’s positively slightly bit totally different. We didn’t e-book something by MSC as a result of we’ve been to Port Canaveral earlier than, so we wished to test it out by the locals.
Doug (00:29:01) – So what was after Port Canaveral?
Visitor (00:29:04) – Subsequent was Miami and the day was sudden. Icon of the Seas was scheduled to reach in Miami the day earlier than.
Nevertheless, as a result of climate, they saved her out for an additional day. And so we actually received to see icon of the seas sail. And we did a stay, uh, we did a YouTube stay the place we streamed her crusing into Port Miami for the primary time. We watched her flip round within the basin, return, and dock on the Royal Caribbean Terminal. There.
We received off the ship, and we hiked our tour that day. We hiked a couple of mile as much as the Royal Caribbean Terminal, climbed as much as the very high of the parking storage, Royal Caribbean parking storage, and we simply took photos and filmed a bunch of stuff up there as a result of it was like such a wow second for for a few cruise nerds.
Doug (00:29:53) – Yeah. No, positively. So after Nassau, you headed over to the Bahamas. Uh, what was the primary Bahamas port?
Visitor (00:29:59) – We first stopped at MSC’s Non-public Island, MSC’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. It’s a gorgeous non-public island vacation spot.
You may inform that MSC put loads of thought and consideration after they have been designing this port. It’s large. It’s huge, large. And it’s good as a result of the ship can dock immediately onto the port there, as an alternative of you having to do a water shuttle taxi service to get in.
It’s a very giant and sprawling island, with tons of locations for folks to exit and lounge and format, seize meals, and have a pleasant enjoyable day. Now. Now they don’t have, , large water parks and so they don’t have sizzling air balloons that go up within the air like some, , non-public islands do. However however I imply, it had all the things that you may need.
Visitor (00:30:48) – It had many various seashores. Uh, to Rocky Level meals vehicles, uh, included meals vehicles all through the island, in addition to some upcharge meals vehicles the place you may get, , seafood, you may get your lobster rolls and a few of that recent seafood.
Doug (00:31:00) – You have been within the yacht membership, proper? So I do know they’ve that yacht membership space on the opposite facet of the island, like on the opposite facet from the place the ship docks. How was that area, or I assume, did you make the most of that area? And would you consider it when you did?
Visitor (00:31:12) – Yeah, we truly, uh, as quickly as we received off of the ship by way of escort from our butler. It’s simply enjoyable to say that. I’m sorry. Uh, we have been escorted over to the yacht membership’s assembly level, the place they picked us up by golf cart and drove us to that unique space. It simply made it slightly bit simpler to get there so we are able to maximize our time. Uh, the world is known as the Ocean Home.
And in order that’s truly the place they serve lunch. And it’s a stunning, giant colonial-style constructing. Uh, the lunch there included superb bites from a lobster roll to crab ceviche. The ceviche was so good. The seashore was scrumptious. Uh, in addition they had your commonplace fare of burgers on the menu, after which a few salads and different choices.
Total, it was a terrific space. As you approached it, there was signage, so that you knew it was reserved for the yacht membership friends. Uh, there was a personal seashore. And that’s the one draw back that I might say concerning the unique space is the Yacht Membership’s Ocean Home. The seashore might be the least good of the seashores which can be discovered on the island.
It’s slightly bit tough. Uh, there’s some bigger sand bits, if you wish to name them that. Uh, so getting within the water makes it a bit powerful. And as a result of climate that we encountered, we actually didn’t even contact the water as a result of we touched the water.
We simply didn’t get into the water. It’s it’s rocky, says sand. However I might say sharp rock. So the oldsters that had been there earlier than had water sneakers and have been within the water. That was a that’s a terrific tip. In the event you’re going to Ocean Cay and within the yacht membership, be sure that to carry water sneakers as a result of. It’s going to make your day higher.
Doug: .That’s a very good tip. There are loads of seashores across the island so that you get to discover most of them?
We did. We met folks on the cruise, as we at all times do on cruises. And so we went out and we received to discover slightly bit with them. In hindsight, I want we had carried out the exploration first as a result of it began to pour. Uh, it began to downpour and it was a chilly downpour within the Bahamas. And so we we didn’t get to discover as a lot as we’d like, however we received to see a number of of the lagoons.
Visitor (00:33:15) – We received to see the lighthouse. We received to get pleasure from one of many meals vehicles. We did eat at one of many meals vehicles simply so lets say we, , ate with our associates. Um, Rocky. Rocky at all times says we ate with the frequent folks. Um, and so we loved the meals on the mainland. After which there’s outlets, there’s outlets, there’s you should buy ice cream cones and numerous issues on land as effectively. Earlier than we headed again to the ship. And, and sadly, that was the one we have been this level spoiled us, Doug. Um, we have been searching for our butler escort again onto the ship, however however there was not one on to the ship. And so we needed to wait within the rain with the remainder of the ship that had all run again to get onto the ship as effectively.
Doug (00:33:55) – Oh, no. Horrible. Did you get to remain at evening to see the lighthouse lit up? Yeah.
Visitor (00:34:01) – Again on board wasn’t scheduled till 8:00 that night. Uh, many of the passengers had launched into the ship by about 330 or 4 as a result of climate, however we stayed docked there, and we have been questioning about that lighthouse present as a result of we’d heard about it. And so we went to the concierge, who gave us a terrific advice on the place to go to view it, so we might additionally hear the music enjoying by the present.
Uh, and so we had the chance to observe it and it was spectacular. We loved it. And hopefully, we’ll have the ability to return to Ocean Cay once more sooner or later, the place we received’t encounter poor climate. We might be on the seashore and see the sunshine present from the bottom.
And due to the concierge tip, we all know the crew smoking space on MSC Meraviglia. And so it was a terrific tip and we received to hang around with crew as they watched the sunshine present.
Doug (00:34:54) – He most likely know this, however when you’re ever feeling energetic otherwise you need to work out, you possibly can climb that lighthouse. It’s like $15 or 20 possibly, however you bought some nice views up there and there’s fairly just a few steps, so, uh, yeah, pack your vitality. Yeah.
Visitor (00:35:06) – No. And that’s another excuse why we need to return. You realize, I don’t suppose, uh, the climate was actually in our favor to have the ability to try this sort of an tour, however positively within the books for us to do it once more.
Doug (00:35:16) – So your ultimate port of name was Nassau. How was your day there?
Visitor (00:35:19) – Nassau was nice. Uh, as Mark had talked about, it was one of the best climate that we noticed on the complete cruise, and we have been slightly bummed that it was our ultimate port day, however we made probably the most of it. We have been docked in Nassau with 4 different ships. So a typical busy Nassau day. Uh, nothing uncommon there.
Visitor (00:35:36) – Uh, we have now a practice at any time when we’re in Nassau, the place we go go to a rum distillery in slightly bit deeper into city. And so we determined to do this at the moment. We took the trek and walked round and checked out the updates that they made to the port of Nassau, as a result of that was our first time there since they did all the development since they completed the development.
Yeah, we’ve been a number of instances throughout. Yeah. After which from there we walked as much as the distillery and loved slightly tasting up there earlier than returning to the port and getting on the ship. It was a fairly quiet day, however we’re trying ahead to the chance to get to put out on deck on the cruise ship earlier than sail away came about.
Doug (00:36:12) – Yeah, excellent day for it. So you permit Nassau for a few days and also you head again to Brooklyn. How have been your sea days going up?
Visitor (00:36:19) – The climate, I’ll say, was extra cooperative on the way in which again, however. So it wasn’t as bumpy and rocky, however there have been instances if you would sleep at evening and roll on otherwise you would.
Visitor (00:36:31) – You knew you have been on a ship. You realize, when Rocky and I first boarded, one of many issues we commented as we have been sitting in, I believe it was the topsail restaurant. After spending time within the lounge, we stated, we don’t really feel like we’re on a cruise ship, however you simply felt such as you have been nearly at an all-inclusive resort.
We knew we have been on a cruise ship on the ocean days out and on the ocean days again. The climate was left, the ocean a bit rocky. We had some. You noticed some gale-force winds. There have been some swells, however that they had the magnetic, uh, baggage out, the thick baggage out within the elevator banks. They’d these out for, for the entire passengers. We did speak to a number of people who stated they may not sail once more in January, however however we appreciated it. However I do know the signal us up.
Doug (00:37:18) – So it’s time to get off the ship in Brooklyn.
Doug (00:37:20) – Was the method as easy and bougie as that embark?
Visitor (00:37:25) – I like that you just say the bougie as a result of it continued by. Uh, we at all times go for a really relaxed, darkish morning. We attempt to keep on the ship so long as attainable.
We e-book later flights realizing that there’s at all times the likelihood {that a} ship could possibly be delayed returning to port. Uh, and happily for us, the ship did arrive on time, nevertheless. We didn’t find yourself disembarking from the ship till a lot later.
We we determined to go down and have breakfast down in the primary restaurant, the topsail restaurant, within the yacht membership space. And as soon as we have been carried out consuming there, we went right down to the lounge and loved a fast beverage and a few little canapés. You realize, simply making an attempt to get our final bits in and chatted with the bartenders.
The bartenders have been tremendously pleasant the complete crusing, and we simply frolicked with them and loved some espresso and drinks. Yep. After which as soon as we have been able to get off of the ship, we went to the concierge and truly, we ended up seeing our butler on the concierge desk, and he supplied to assist us get off the ship.
Visitor (00:38:26) – And so he took Marc’s two suitcases that he was carrying from his fingers and wheeled them to the elevator, took us right down to the decrease deck, and wheeled us over to the place they take you off the ship. Or they scan your card to say you might be formally disembarked from the ship. So we continued that have so long as we might.
And the cool factor concerning the baggage program, when you resolve to place your baggage out the evening earlier than the cruise ends, the entire yacht membership baggage will get delivered to 1 particular spot, so that you’re not speeding to get off.
You’re not speeding to go discover the place your baggage was positioned. When it’s in that terminal constructing, it’s very straightforward to find and get to select up your suitcases and also you’re in your method. As soon as once more, these yacht membership indicators. Proper this manner. Um, a devoted space, even to your baggage.
Doug (00:39:16) – Superior. Very cool. Does Brooklyn have facial recognition for the darkish?
Visitor (00:39:21) – Sure they did. We have been very excited after we noticed that we’re getting off the ship.
Doug (00:39:25) – Yeah. It certain makes a distinction. Trying again right here as first-time MSC cruisers and within the yacht Membership, do you may have any first-time tricks to supply anybody crusing MSC or crusing out of Manhattan?
Visitor (00:39:39) – Uh, goodness gracious. In the event you get that improve supply and it’s inside your means, you bid that improve supply up. Suppose you will get into the yacht membership from a balcony. That might be my greatest tip as a result of not solely does it embrace all of these facilities that we’ve talked about. They grant you into the premium drinks package deal as effectively.
So the premium drinks package deal on this crusing would have been 790 an individual, an individual. We paid much less for the complete yacht membership expertise, together with these premium drinks. It included Wi-Fi on every of our gadgets, and it included all of these unique facilities that we’ve talked about.
And so that will be my primary tip is when you get that provide to improve to the yacht membership, actually have a look at what it might price you to have that have and simply individually and take that for severe take.
Visitor (00:40:29) – Be severe about that. And if you will get that improve and it’s in your means, do it. Yeah, completely. After which I might additionally say the opposite factor is that this cruise ship departs out of the Brooklyn terminal.
So as an alternative of paying the 60 plus {dollars} that it might price to get an Uber or a carry, you may take the subway, and the prepare system, all of which will probably be tremendous straightforward to recover from there. And there’s a water taxi or ferry. Ferry, I assume it’s, uh, that takes you from Wall Avenue.
In the event you have been to enter Manhattan and keep the evening on the market, you possibly can rapidly get onto the ferry from Wall Avenue over to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Straightforward. And it’s fairly cost-effective.
Doug (00:41:09) – Yeah, that’s one factor I’ve heard over time is that lots of people who’re doing cruises out of both Brooklyn or Manhattan, they sort of get taken unexpectedly how a lot it truly price to get from the airport to the cruise port.
Doug (00:41:20) – However slightly further analysis can prevent fairly a couple of dollars, and it’s not that unhealthy. I believe it’s.
Visitor (00:41:25) – Scarier being in New York visitors. Fairly actually. Once we the Uber, we took an Uber from the resort to the cruise terminal. I believe that was scarier than the subway was, , the evening earlier than after we had flown in. And so, sure, I believe it’s nice.
Doug (00:41:41) – Effectively, trying again, what was your greatest spotlight of this cruise?
Visitor (00:41:56) – I might say the largest spotlight was most likely being within the yacht membership. What a deal with it was for us to have the ability to expertise that. Um, it was so thrilling strolling into the Topsail Lounge in that unique yacht Membership space, regardless of what number of instances a day we walked in there, we at all times found new canopies that have been ready for us to attempt.
Visitor (00:42:17) – The bartenders and servers within the topsail lounge have been all very pleasant. They began to get to know us, what drinks we loved probably the most, and they might begin making suggestions primarily based on the spirits we have been consuming to make our journey that rather more pleasant. I believe for me, um, among the best bites of meals I’ve had on a cruise ship was, uh, within the Eden restaurant onboard Movie star Apex.
And I might say quick ahead. That was a few years again now for Thanksgiving. However quick ahead to this. To have that every day rotating risotto to me was a shock and delight that menu in Topsail restaurant. You simply don’t see meals like that on a cruise ship. And it was improbable.
And it was included in that have. It wasn’t we weren’t, , dropping 150 for the meal. It was included in that yacht membership expertise. That, to me was a shock and delight.
Visitor (00:43:10) – I didn’t count on how good and high-quality that meals could be.
Doug (00:43:22) – Effectively, uh, in closing right here, your ultimate ideas of MSC Maravilla.
Visitor (00:43:27) – the MSC Meraviglia is a beautiful ship. MSC did a terrific job in designing and creating this class of ship. The scale of it was nice. We did have a decrease capability on the ship throughout our crusing, however we nonetheless managed to have a good time. We met loads of nice associates.
We discovered locations to name our personal that possibly we’re not within the yacht membership particularly. Nonetheless, we found the Sky lounge as a terrific place to fulfill folks and to have the ability to benefit from the firm of others that weren’t part of the yacht membership, and actually simply sort of put ourselves with the remainder of the inhabitants that was crusing. Superb. The Champagne Bar was one other one in all my favorites. That the Edge bar.
Visitor (00:44:09) – The champagne bar, , that seemed out over the water because the ship was crusing. That was nice. These champagne cocktails have been glorious. And that’s the sweetness, proper? When you may have. We might flash our yacht membership bracelets and I’ll let you know, I joke. I’ve made this joke now traces would disappear and folks would simply randomly seem.
Servers would seem, you flash that yacht membership bracelet and it didn’t matter what bar we have been at, if we have been on the horizon bar, after the champagne bar, or on the Sky lounge, they simply confirmed up and took such nice care of us. You may inform that even the remainder of the ship is skilled to concentrate to yacht membership friends, as a result of it was simply such a improbable expertise.
I’m excited to return on MSC Meraviglia in within the in the usual facilities within the non-yacht membership facilities to have the ability to expertise it really and evaluate and distinction to have the ability to discuss what does that worth appear like and the way it feels to take a seat down in the primary eating room every evening for dinner versus in your devoted restaurant? And so I’m excited to get again on the ship.
Visitor (00:45:10) – We’ve seemed we’ve booked on the inaugural on MSC World America, World America. And so it was it was a terrific expertise and nice crusing. And so MSC will get loads of unhealthy rap on the market. There’s loads of negativity about individuals who love or hate it. And I’ll let you know from our expertise the place we’re reserving two extra already. So it was it was in it was in a extremely good class for us.
Doug (00:46:34) – Superior. We’ll hyperlink to it additionally within the present notes at Cruise Radio dot internet. Mark Rocky, thanks all a lot.
Visitor (00:46:40) – Thanks a lot, Doug.
