reviews about msc cruises

I Went on My First MSC Cruise, Here is My Honest Review

W hen I booked my first MSC cruise, I’ll admit that I had serious doubts. I had read so many negative reviews about MSC cruises, criticizing the subpar service, basic food options, overcrowding, and chaotic embarkation process. However, my experience on the MSC Meraviglia, departing from New York to the Bahamas, was surprisingly positive. In this review, I’ll share all the details of my first MSC cruise. Having been on over 25 cruises, I’ll be comparing my MSC experience with that of many mainstream cruise lines.  

Since I didn’t book a stateroom in their exclusive Yacht Club, this review focuses on the regular non-Yacht Club cruise experience on MSC. It’s important to note that this is an unsponsored review, and all opinions in this article are based on my personal experience.

I was a bit hesitant about going on an MSC cruise because I thought I’d be stuck with basic food like pizza and pasta. I had come across reviews praising the Italian fare but hadn’t heard much else. 

Frankly, I didn’t want to go on a cruise just to eat pizza and pasta. To my surprise, the food exceeded my expectations. Despite being a budget cruise, they served sophisticated dishes such as shrimp cocktail, escargot, osso bucco, steak tartare, braised short ribs, steak, and lamb shank. They even had a gala night with lobster and steak and baked Alaska for dessert! The best part was that the food tasted amazing. 

Kudos to the chef on MSC Meraviglia. The food was some of the best cruise food I’ve had. Every dish was delicious and well-seasoned.

I have to mention that they served the best Caesar salad I’ve ever had on a cruise. In fact, my son, who typically avoids vegetables, is now a huge fan of Caesar salad thanks to our experience on this cruise. I’m forever grateful to MSC Meraviglia for transforming my son into a vegetable eater!

I also want to give credit to the pastry chef for the amazing cakes on board. The carrot cake is incredible, and I had the Grandma’s Chocolate cake almost every night!

The only thing that reminded me of a budget cruise line was the rule allowing only one entrée per person. If you wanted an additional entrée, there was a $5 charge, and certain premium entrees like the NY Strip steak also had a $5 surcharge. However, in my opinion, the $5 charge was negligible considering the quality of the food, so it was definitely worth ordering that second entrée!

The Wait Staff

I was honestly worried that my experience would be disappointing due to poor service. One of the main reasons I go on cruises is to be pampered by the cruise staff. 

I heard that MSC might have a bad staff-to-passenger ratio, resulting in subpar service. However, my experience was fantastic and comparable to major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruise, and Holland America. 

Our waiter, Panarta, was attentive and friendly. The assistant waiter did a great job with our drinks, and the head waiter took good care of my son and niece, who have food allergies.

The Cabin Steward

I was also worried that the quality of service I would get from my cabin steward would be subpar. I thought my cabin steward, Komang, might be overworked and not be able to clean my room properly. 

However, I was pleasantly surprised. Komang did an outstanding job, even better than my experiences on more high-end cruise lines. The bathroom was clean when I arrived, with no lingering odors, which is a widespread issue on many other cruise ships. I usually have to ask for a re-clean on the first day due to bad odor, but not on this MSC cruise! 

Also, Komang was very attentive and promptly fulfilled all my requests. I always had fresh towels and even received evening turndown service. I wasn’t expecting it since other cruise lines, like Norwegian Cruise, have eliminated turndown.

I want to point out that my own experience with the cabin steward isn’t a one-off experience. My mom and sister’s cabin steward, Agus, was also exceptional. He put in a lot of effort to ensure their staterooms were promptly cleaned, with fresh towels, and the best part was that their cabins didn’t have any lingering bad odors. Agus was also always friendly and went the extra mile.

Guest Services

I was pleasantly surprised by the guest services desk. Unlike the long lines I’ve encountered on other cruise ships, the guest services line on my recent MSC cruise was always short. It seemed like there were only 1 or 2 people in line whenever I walked by. 

I’d like to think the short line is due to the happy passengers who don’t have many complaints! But I honestly think it’s because of the efficient guest services staff. The MSC Meraviglia is one of the most efficient cruise ships I’ve been on. They have assigned a dedicated guest services staff to assist passengers while they wait in line, which speeds up the process. 

For example, when I needed to link my credit card to my cabin, a staff member pulled me out of the line and guided me through the kiosk, reducing my wait time. When my nephew lost his key card, a staff member quickly reprinted it, minimizing our wait time again. Their efficiency and organization was truly impressive. 

On one occasion, I had to speak to a guest service staff member at the desk, she was pleasant and helped me solve my issue. 

Free Onboard Texting

One thing that I liked about the MSC cruise is the free onboard texting. You can text other passengers via the MSC cruise app chat feature even if you’re not subscribed to their WiFi plan. 

This made it so convenient to stay in touch with family members and locate them on the cruise ship. It was especially helpful for keeping track of my teenage daughter’s whereabouts!

I was really impressed by the buffet experience. On the first day of the cruise, the only option for lunch was the buffet, and I was worried it would be chaotic and overcrowded. 

To my surprise, the buffet was manageable, and we easily found a table for 8 people. We got on the cruise ship at around 12:30 pm, so it was peak lunchtime!

Even on sea days, the buffet was comfortable. There were always plenty of tables available and the lines were not too long. 

I think it’s because they have a lot of buffet staff whose main job is to clear the tables. In fact, their staff was almost too efficient – if you got up for seconds, you might come back to find your table cleared! 

Public Space

I’ve been on cruises where the public areas of the ship get overcrowded, causing bottlenecks. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the layout of the MSC Meraviglia. The ship is designed in a way that the public spaces are well-distributed, so you never feel like you’re in a bottleneck or caught in a big crowd. The only time it feels busy is when you exit the theater after a show, but that’s normal for any cruise ship.

Pool Lounge Chair

One of the things that I always find on cruise ships is that it is hard to get pool lounge chairs. But not at MSC. I’ve had no trouble finding an empty lounge chair by the pool, even by the indoor pool. I think it’s because they have a policy of clearing lounge chairs if they’re left unattended. I really appreciate how organized the cruise staff is on this ship.

Embarkation

I was pretty worried about the embarkation process. My mom had watched a YouTube video of the embarkation of MSC Meraviglia at the Brooklyn Cruise terminal, and she described it as a complete nightmare with endless lines. 

I was mentally preparing myself for the same experience! However, I was pleasantly surprised. When we arrived at the Brooklyn Cruise terminal, there was a line, but it wasn’t too long, and it kept moving. The staff was well-organized, and getting through security and the check-in process was easy. 

Once we boarded the cruise ship, they informed us that our room wouldn’t be ready until 1 pm. However, we could leave our carry-on bags in the cabin and pick up our cruise keycards, which were hanging on our cabin door. The embarkation process turned out to be smooth and effortless.

The Theater

I liked the theater on the MSC Meraviglia. Unlike other cruise ships, the theater wasn’t too big, so there were no bad seats, even if you sat at the back. They also had a reservation system, and the staff scanned your cruise card to let you in. Even if we were late, finding seats for 8 people wasn’t a problem because they had 3 shows every night, unlike other cruise lines with only 2 shows per night.

The shows were quite enjoyable. While they weren’t exactly Broadway shows, there was a good variety of performances, including singing and dancing to popular songs from different eras, some mild acrobatics, magic shows, and stand-up comedy.

One of my favorite experiences during my Bahamas cruise is the MSC private island, Ocean Cay. It’s probably one of the best cruise line private islands. 

Ocean Cay is stunning- soft, white sand and turquoise water. What’s great is that the cruise ship docks right at the island, so there’s no need for tender boats. 

Families with kids will love the calm, shallow, clean, seaweed-free lagoon—perfect for a relaxing day at the beach. Finding lounge chairs was easy. Overall, we had an amazing beach day, which is a big reason why I will go back on a Bahamas cruise on MSC.

So far, I have been giving you all the reasons why my MSC cruise was such a positive experience. Now, let’s discuss the negatives. To be fair, there aren’t many, but they are significant enough to turn some people off.

The main dining room was the biggest letdown for me. The tables were set up too close together, leaving little room to move around. They also crammed extra chairs at the tables, making it feel overcrowded. 

We were squished into a table meant for six people despite being eight people. Thankfully, we had four kids on our table, which made it less cramped, but I can imagine that it would have been extremely uncomfortable for eight adults. 

Also, because of the table set-up, the main dining room ambiance is that of a noisy restaurant rather than a refined dining experience. It doesn’t feel fancy like what I’m typically accustomed to on other cruise lines. 

Another downside is the size of the staterooms and bathrooms, which are smaller compared to other cruise lines. The cabins felt narrow, and there was hardly any closet space. Even with just myself and my two kids, we couldn’t fit all our clothes in the closet. My son had to keep his clothes in his luggage! 

One more thing that didn’t sit well with me was the electronic daily planner and menu. They don’t leave a printed daily planner in your cabin. As a result, I missed many onboard activities on the first day at sea because I didn’t realize I had to scan a QR code to access the daily planner. 

At the restaurant, there was a lack of printed menus, since they expected passengers to scan a QR code to view the menu. As a result, we were forced to share menus at my table, which was inconvenient and took away from the dining experience. 

Finally, the service in the main dining room always felt rushed towards the end. We barely had time to enjoy our coffee with dessert! I later learned that the restaurant I was assigned to had three seatings, causing the rush. Other restaurants on the cruise ship had two seatings.

Will I Cruise on MSC Again?

The answer is a definite yes. In fact, we’ve even booked another Bahamas cruise through their future cruise program on the MSC Meraviglia for the same week in June but in 2025!

We decided to sail on MSC again mainly because it’s a great value – you get good food, great service, and an amazing private island at an affordable price. I’m willing to overlook the small cabins and crowded main dining room for these benefits! (If they were to raise the price, then I don’t think I would sail on MSC.)

If you have been on the fence like me about sailing on an MSC cruise, don’t be. Don’t let the fact that it’s a budget cruise line scare you off. To be honest, I believe labeling MSC as a budget cruise line is a misconception. Apart from the small cabin size and crowded main dining room, the food and service are comparable to other cruise lines like Princess Cruise and Royal Caribbean, but at a more reasonable price! Check out: 12 Disembarkation Day Mistakes People Make When They Get Off the Cruise Ship

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The post I Went on My First MSC Cruise, Here is My Honest Review appeared first on Suburbs 101 .

MSC Meraviglia review: What it's like to cruise on MSC's 1st New York-based ship

For the first time, MSC Cruises has based a ship in New York. Given that the vessel, MSC Meraviglia, is the fifth-largest in the line's fleet of two dozen ships in terms of tonnage and the sixth-largest by passenger capacity, the ship's presence in the Big Apple is a big deal. As one colleague astutely pointed out, when it's docked there, it's the largest hotel in the city .

I recently sailed on MSC Meraviglia out of its Red Hook homeport in Brooklyn, and I have mixed feelings. Overall, the ship is lively and aesthetically beautiful. Its specialty restaurants and nightly shows are some of the most consistently superb on any vessel, and it offers one heck of a luxury product in its Yacht Club suite enclave .

However, passenger flow is an issue, with many public spaces so crowded they're uncomfortable, and service is painfully slow in some bars and restaurants. You'll likely end up paying a lot more than you originally planned because some of the most enticing things to do come with added fees. And, as my travel companion so succinctly put it, I've never been told "no" so many times on a cruise.

Here, I'll take you through some of the activities I tried, the places I ate and the experience I had so you can better determine if MSC Meraviglia is right for your next voyage.

Overview of MSC Meraviglia

MSC Cruises' Meraviglia was the first in the line's Meraviglia Class of ships. When it debuted in 2017, it became the line's largest vessel, with space for up to 5,655 people at capacity (4,475 at double occupancy). It has since been overtaken, in terms of passenger capacity, by subsequent vessels in the Meraviglia Class, as well as those in the World Class.

The ship exudes the same glitz that's typical of other MSC vessels, despite its mass-market appeal and penchant for attracting budget travelers. Lavish artwork, chrome accents and bold jewel tones convey a sense of opulence throughout public spaces, and no ship in the fleet would be complete without an atrium staircase adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals.

Like MSC's other modern ships, MSC Meraviglia has an extra-fee chocolate shop on board — this one through a partnership with chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury — where you can purchase chocolate, macarons, candy and specialty coffees.

There's also a sizable water park on the top deck, a shopping mall-style promenade area and several decks of cabins that are part of the line's Yacht Club, which affords passengers exclusive access to a dedicated restaurant, lounge, bar and pool deck just for them, as well as butler service.

What I loved about MSC Meraviglia

Largely, my onboard experience was great. Crew members were friendly, my cabin was comfortable, and the daily activity options were plentiful, varied and fun. At night, most shows fell into the "excellent" category, and the food in every extra-fee restaurant and the Yacht Club was phenomenal.

Specialty dining

MSC's food consistently receives less-than-stellar reviews from passengers, particularly regarding the line's complimentary dining experiences. Much of the main dining room fare is indeed so-so — palatable but largely underseasoned and mass-produced, so that it often looks like it's been sitting under a heat lamp when it reaches you. Food in the buffet is varied and tasty, but it can also become repetitive after a week, and the space is frequently crowded and confusing to navigate.

So why am I including food under the "what I loved" category? I think that MSC's alternative, for-fee restaurants — including the ones on MSC Meraviglia — are some of the best. If you're willing to shell out the money, you can have a fantastic meal on this ship.

Of the ship's specialty restaurants, my favorites are Hola! Tacos & Cantina and Kaito Teppanyaki.

Even though Hola! levies extra charges, passengers have the option of paying a la carte for items individually priced as low as $2.95 or paying $17.99 for unlimited menu items. The salsa and guacamole are wonderful, the tortilla soup always hits the spot for me, and the tacos are small, so you'll be able to try several to find your favorite without feeling overstuffed.

If you know me, you know the fact that I'm recommending Kaito Teppanyaki is shocking. I'm notoriously not a fan of this type of cooking, particularly when it comes with a side of cringeworthy performances by the chefs. However, the food there on MSC Meraviglia was so great that I didn't mind the cook's jokes.

The MSC Yacht Club is a private section on select MSC ships that offers cabins across several categories, including suites. Passengers booked in those cabins have special keycard access to a dedicated guest services and concierge desk; an exclusive pool, sun deck, lounge and bar (with free drinks); and complimentary anytime dining at a special restaurant just for Yacht Club cruisers.

Cabins are outfitted with higher-quality materials and furnishings, and each comes with the services of a butler. Meri was mine, and she was the best. She was able to make dining and spa reservations for me, escort me to priority seating in the theater for nightly shows and have crackers and green apples delivered to my cabin when the second night's rough seas made me feel seasick.

I absolutely loved the special touches MSC provides to Yacht Club passengers, including a special afternoon tea service and a private, intimate final-night performance by Lorraine Crosby — the female vocalist from Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" — who sometimes makes guest appearances on board. (She also put on two larger shows for the entire ship earlier in the sailing.) Additionally, I had access to Yacht Club perks at private island Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , including dedicated trams, a shaded waiting area with cold water and access to a private beach and restaurant.

Although the Yacht Club comes at a premium — at the time of publication, rooms on MSC Meraviglia started at $1,199 per person for a Yacht Club inside cabin on a six-night Bermuda sailing — fares include drinks and tips, along with Venchi pillow chocolates, free room service and minibar selections, plus one round of in-cabin snacks and a choice of one bottle of vodka, gin or whiskey delivered to your room. (I normally drink rum, and they were able to substitute it for me, even though it's not one of the spirits normally offered.)

Above all, the most valuable component of the Yacht Club for me on this sailing was the ability to escape the general chaos that is the rest of the ship. Don't get me wrong: I immersed myself in the buzz outside of the Yacht Club as often as possible, but as an introvert who dislikes crowds and noise more and more the older she gets, I found it essential to have a separate area to which I could retreat.

Galleria Meraviglia

One of the most fun and flashy locations on MSC Meraviglia cruises is the Galleria Meraviglia, a central indoor walkway similar to the Royal Promenade on Royal Caribbean ships. It's a long space flanked by bars, restaurants and shops with a feel similar to a shopping mall. However, the highlight for me is the giant LED screen, which runs the length of the space and hosts what the line calls "dome shows."

During these shows, themed scenes — including deck plans for the muster drill, dinosaurs and volcanos during the "Jurassic" dome show and even famous ceilings — appear overhead. They're the metaphorical heartbeat of the ship, and you can't help but stop to watch.

The nearby chocolateria, Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, is an excellent place to grab a cuppa, and the adjacent Meraviglia Bar & Lounge is home to trivia, live music and more. Mix in a shore excursion desk; shops that sell high-end jewelry and purses; a counter serving for-fee gelato, crepes and smoothies; and Hola! Tacos & Cantina (one of the best Mexican restaurants at sea), and Galleria Meraviglia feels like the place to be.

There's little I enjoy more than a relaxing arcade day , and MSC delivers with its Sportplex gaming complex. It features a small traditional arcade with air hockey, alien shooter games and first-person driving games, as well as prize machines; several immersive virtual-reality pods (most of which were down for maintenance during my sailing); two Formula One racing simulators; a 4D cinema where several players attempt to take out zombies and killer clowns; and a sports court that hosts basketball, pickleball, dodgeball and other activities.

But my ultimate favorite was the bowling alley. My travel companion and I inexplicably wound up in Sportplex after dinner on formal night. We played for half an hour — enough time for two games if it's only two people and you move quickly — and were ultimately joined by the Yacht Club director, Craig (who won easily). It was a ton of fun, but I don't recommend bowling in a ballgown.

The drawback is that, like lots of other cool pastimes on MSC Meraviglia, it all costs extra (except for sports court use). The arcade charges per game with the tap of your keycard. The simulators can be purchased on a per-ride basis, and bowling is charged in chunks of either 30 or 60 minutes.

To save money, passengers can purchase packages where you get a certain dollar amount free. (For example, if you prepurchase $150 worth of gaming credits, your card will be loaded with $220.)

What I didn't love about MSC Meraviglia

As with all things, in travel we take the bad with the good. While most experiences on this sailing fell in the latter category, it wouldn't be a fair review without calling attention to the things that I think the line needs to address.

The departure port

When MSC first announced that MSC Meraviglia would be sailing from New York, the ship's homeport was Manhattan. I groaned when I heard its docking spot had changed to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood.

Brooklyn's terminal is difficult to reach, particularly if you don't have a car. Anyone venturing to the port from Manhattan will need to take the subway, followed by a ferry — not an easy feat if you're toting luggage. Park-and-ride-style buses also seemed to be an option, according to several passengers on my sailing who arrived from outside of the city. If you're like me and decide to drive to the port, know that parking is at a premium, and fees are steep. (At $45 per night, I paid $360 to park there for eight nights.)

Waits on embarkation day are another concern. When I arrived, lines snaked outside the terminal and down the sidewalk in front of the building. I had multiple passengers throughout my voyage tell me that they waited between two and three hours in line to board the vessel.

It's unclear whether the terminal is ill-equipped to deal with passenger flow for such a large ship or if MSC hasn't quite brought its embarkation processes up to speed, but if you don't have priority boarding privileges, either through a high loyalty status tier or a Yacht Club booking, expect the process to take a while.

On the plus side, you'll have great views of the Statue of Liberty as you sail away, assuming the weather isn't rainy or foggy.

At 19 decks, MSC Meraviglia is huge. On my voyage, the ship was only sailing at about half capacity (about 3,000 passengers out of a possible 5,655, or 53%). However, a perfect storm of events converged to create a situation that was less than pleasant for anyone not booked in a Yacht Club cabin.

A large group booking of about 1,000 people overtook many of the public areas on a daily basis, which drew complaints from cruisers who weren't in the group. For example, trivia was standing-room-only on several days, and the buffet was so continuously crowded that I ate there only twice on the entire voyage.

Additionally, it rained during our first two days on board — embarkation day and the following sea day — meaning that the ship's outdoor spaces weren't utilized. Because everyone was stuck inside, the ship felt even more crowded. (I shudder to imagine what it would have been like if the ship had been sailing completely full.)

Although the weather certainly isn't the cruise line's fault, it seems that the ship should be better equipped to deal with situations where passengers are stuck inside. I also thought that, perhaps, the large group booking was a one-off and that it wouldn't be the norm on other sailings. However, I spoke with one of the officers on board who told me that the cruise line is actively recruiting similar large group bookings.

One of the biggest contributing factors was the ship's layout and flow. Some areas lead to dead ends, while others force you to enter busy areas — like the massive Marketplace Buffet — to find stairs to go up or down a deck. In several bars and lounges in the main atrium, tables and chairs are scattered so close to the main staircase that it's difficult for two-way passenger traffic to move through the space.

The feeling of overcrowding was exacerbated by service inconveniences like long waits for drinks, meals and elevators.

Confusing policies and procedures

Some of the things MSC does truly confuse me, and they began almost immediately after boarding.

When cruises first returned following the 18-month COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, many lines decided to go digital with their muster drills. Passengers watched videos on their mobile apps or on their cabin TVs before reporting, at their leisure (to maintain social distancing), to their muster stations for verification. MSC has chosen to institute a bizarre version where all passengers watch a video and then report to their muster stations at the same time.

If everyone is going to the same place at the same time, why not do the muster drill in person? On the flip side, if you're going to make people watch a video instead of doing a live demonstration, why make everyone go to their stations simultaneously? The process creates a chaotic environment where, in my case, people were required to walk into the theater, do a lap around it (for reasons nobody ever actually explained) and immediately exit again.

Speaking of the theater, no drinks are allowed in there, which is odd, given that all other cruise lines allow passengers to order drinks during shows or at least carry them in with them to enjoy while they watch. We saw several surprised cruisers being told they had to dump their beverages or drink them before they'd be allowed inside.

The drink situation gets worse when you try to order cocktails in the ship's restaurants. When I did so in one of the main dining rooms, I was told that only wine was available. When I visited the alternative eateries, I was told I could only order from what was on the menu, some of which wasn't included with the beverage package. What's the point of selling pricey beverage packages (which can cost more than $70 per person, per day, for the most expensive) if there are so many exclusions?

Specialty coffee from the onboard chocolate shop also isn't included with the packages, nor are coffees on private island Ocean Cay, which leads me to my next head-scratcher. I had the single best coffee drink of my life when we called on Ocean Cay. The Coco-Nilla Latte is espresso, vanilla flavoring and coconut milk, and I loved it so much that I tried to have it replicated on board.

I went to three of the ship's regular bars, each of which is equipped to make espresso that's included in the line's beverage packages, as well as the specialty coffee bar at the for-fee chocolate shop. At each location, I was given some sort of excuse:

"We don't have vanilla syrup at this bar."

"We don't have coconut milk here."

"Oh, those are only made at Ocean Cay."

It's likely if this happened on a ship in any other fleet, the response would have been, "We don't have the ingredients, but let me see if we can find them."

The crew culture on MSC Meraviglia seems to be one that either doesn't encourage them or doesn't allow them to go the extra mile. My request wasn't a lavish one; vanilla syrup and coconut milk are standard accouterments at most cafes on land. The ship has a passenger-to-crew ratio of 3:1, which is better than that of other cruise lines with fares at a similar price point, so I don't feel like I'm asking too much from an affordable cruise line.

I must also mention some weird food-related practices I saw on board. Both times I ate at the Marketplace Buffet, I witnessed crew members stopping adults from taking food from a particular section of kid-friendly foods. "No, those are for children only," a crew member behind the counter told a parent who was trying to grab dessert for his son, who was outside by the pool.

"You mean I can't take this out to my kid?" the guy asked in shock. The crew member told him he would have to go to the pool, get his son, bring him inside and have him pick out the dessert, which he grudgingly did. But talk about a disruptive experience.

On the other occasion, I saw a couple of adults eyeing the chicken nuggets that were on offer. They were forbidden by a crew member from taking any. I have never seen something so absurd on a sailing in my life. Children aren't the only ones who enjoy chicken nuggets, nor are they the ones who pay the cruise fares. Adults, whether they have kids on board or not, should be allowed to eat whatever they wish from the buffet that they paid for — even if it comes from the children's menu.

Another head-scratcher is you might still have to pay a supplement to eat in certain restaurants, even if you booked a dining package that includes a set number of specialty restaurants for a set fee. It depends on what you order.

For example, I had a dining package, but when I dined at Kaito Teppanyaki, the waiter informed me that there would be an extra $10 surcharge to order the Geisha and Samurai options and a $30 upcharge for the Emperor option. Again, what's the point of selling dining packages if they don't cover what they're supposed to?

Additionally, on a ship of 3,000 people, MSC Meraviglia had only one of four main dining rooms open for lunch on a rainy sea day when everyone was stuck inside. It was open for one measly hour, from noon to 1 p.m. I saw the hours posted as I was passing by the line that was quickly forming, so I decided to eat there to evaluate the situation. Spoiler alert: It wasn't great.

Finally, MSC Meraviglia's sports equipment is kept under actual lock and key. You have to sign out everything from pickleball paddles to basketballs for use on the indoor sports court and volleyballs for the pits on Ocean Cay. However, when I tried to sign out a basketball during posted rental hours, the person working told me no and offered no explanation. When I checked with guest services, they told me that shouldn't have happened. But it did. Twice.

On a separate occasion, when my travel companion and I showed up for scheduled volleyball time, the attendant cut the game off at 45 minutes because he said he had to leave. When we asked if we could keep the ball to continue playing, he refused. There seems to be no flexibility, and staff members are not empowered to deviate from protocol on the fly, even when it makes sense.

Most cruise lines' ships have unmonitored equipment available for passengers to use when the courts are open. It's often stored in unlocked chests that passengers can access at any time. Sign-out, which seems like an unnecessary step, is not required with most other cruise lines, which brings me to this: To quote one of my TPG colleagues when she referenced an MSC sailing on a different ship, "I have never said, 'No other cruise line does it like this,' as much as I did on [my cruise]. And it wasn't a good thing."

MSC Meraviglia cabins and suites

MSC bookings can be confusing for first-timers because, in addition to selecting a cabin type (inside, outside, balcony or suite), passengers must also choose from one of three experience packages. Dubbed Bella, Fantastica and Aurea, they all come with different perks and inclusions, as noted below.

Bella: This is the most basic, bare-bones package. It includes accommodations, free meals in the main dining rooms and buffet, and free daily activities and nightly entertainment. Passengers with this package will be assigned to set-seating dining times after they board. They also will be charged for any room service orders, as well as changes to their cruise booking reservations.

Fantastica: This package includes everything listed under the Bella package, plus the ability to change sailing date reservations one time for free, complimentary delivery of room service breakfast and the ability to choose a preferred set-seating dining time for dinner prior to embarkation.

Aurea: Aurea comes with everything in the Bella and Fantastica packages, as well as free access to the ship's top-deck Solarium area, a welcome package that includes prosecco and chocolates, anytime dining (go whenever you want with no set seating time), a 10% discount on spa treatments, priority boarding and free 24-hour room service (not just at breakfast).

MSC Meraviglia houses 2,244 rooms in various types with several configurations, some of which sleep more than two passengers. Of those staterooms, 55 are accessible for cruisers with mobility issues. In those cabins, passengers will find additional space for maneuvering things like wheelchairs and scooters, as well as zero-entry door thresholds and shower grab bars. (Theaters and most public areas are also accessible, but unfortunately, I didn't see a single lift at any of the ship's four pools.)

Cabin types are the standard ones found on just about all cruise ships: inside or interior (no windows or balcony), outside or ocean-view (a window or porthole that doesn't open), balcony or verandah (a sliding glass door that opens onto a small balcony, usually with chairs and a small table) and suite (cabins with balconies and more square footage and/or special perks like those afforded in the Yacht Club).

On my Meraviglia sailing, I was booked in an MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite — a balcony cabin in the Yacht Club suite area — on Deck 18. At about 280 square feet, plus an additional 54 square feet of balcony space, the room felt generously sized for two people. (Note: Yacht Club has all types of cabins, from insides all the way up through massive Royal Suites and two-deck duplexes.)

The room was furnished with a king-size bed that converts into two twins on request, a couch and a desk/vanity area. It featured a closet and cabinet space for storage and an en suite bathroom.

Standard amenities included a hair dryer and a TV (with a random smattering of TV channels, for-fee movies and ship-created programs like jewelry and port seminars and navigational information). My cabin had several electrical outlets, including three 110-volt North American outlets, three 220-volt European outlets and one USB port at the desk/vanity area. One USB port is not enough, and there were no outlets near the bed, which was frustrating.

Special for Yacht Club guests, the suite was equipped with a Nespresso machine, free minibar drinks restocked daily (including bottled water, San Pellegrino, juices, flavored iced teas, soda and beer), one complimentary round of snacks (Toblerone chocolate, Pringles and mixed nuts) and a choice of one complimentary bottle of spirits (whiskey, gin or vodka).

My cabin came with a pillow menu, which I only discovered after two nights of neck pain, thanks to mismatched pillows. The bed was topped with a memory foam mattress, which was like sleeping on a cloud.

Closets in my cabin were just the right size for two people. There were two, one with a bar to hang clothes and another with cubbies for shoes, intimates and the cabin safe. I did find the closets' location in a small enclave that led to the bathroom a bit awkward.

Underbed storage was perfect for hiding empty suitcases. Bathrobes and slippers were provided, and I made good use of both when I went for a massage at the spa.

Cabin bathrooms in the Yacht Club are stocked with MSC's own brand of toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, bar soap, a shower cap and sewing kit. Fluffy white towels and elevated fixtures like marble countertops and floors and showers with both standard and rainfall showerheads add to the air of elegance.

However, some of that was offset by the fact that the shower in my bathroom had no lip, so water leaked all over the first time I used it. Each time after, I put towels outside the door to sop up the mess. The toilet also often smelled like sewage, even when not in use.

The storage space for toiletries could also have been more generous. There were only two small metal shelves, which weren't enough for two people's things. The rest had to be stored inside cabinets where the garbage can was located.

Gratuities, room service and premium alcohol and Wi-Fi packages are included in all Yacht Club fares. You do not need to purchase add-ons or pay added fees like you would in cabins outside the Yacht Club.

A Yacht Club booking also entitles you to priority embarkation, disembarkation and tender access; 24-hour butler and concierge services; complimentary spa thermal suite access; luggage unpacking and repacking services; daily newspaper delivery and one free pre-cruise booking change.

I made good use of the free Wi-Fi inclusion (for two devices per person). The free room service was handy when I just had to order late-night pizza. Plus, the priority boarding perk meant we went from shore to ship in less than 10 minutes while other passengers waited two to three hours in rainy conditions to embark.

My butler, Meri, went above and beyond to help me make spa and specialty restaurant reservations, and she met us each evening to escort us to dinner and to the theater, where reserved Yacht Club seating was waiting. She did her job superbly, but I generally like to do things for myself. Having someone else handling the minutia felt frivolous and unnecessary; it took a few days for me to acclimate.

Concierge service was generally good. However, on the first day, when I had questions about dining, the person who assisted me waived me off in the face of a long line at the desk and told me to ask my butler. My interactions there improved markedly after the stress of the first day calmed down, and all of my subsequent questions were answered promptly and cheerfully.

The exclusive Top Sail Lounge was a great place to relax with a drink and view, read or get some work done. The Yacht Club sun deck was a lovely space, but it was often too hot for me, so I didn't spend much time up there. The area was home to a pool, a hot tub, tons of seating, solarium access and a daily outdoor buffet at the Yacht Club Grill. Although the food looked tasty, it was, unfortunately, often surrounded by flies.

The indoor Yacht Club Restaurant, however, was a dream. Everything I ordered was fantastic — flavorful, well prepared and cooked to order instead of looking like it had been sitting out for a while. I particularly enjoyed the breakfasts there and highly suggest the omelets and pancakes.

Overall, I found my Yacht Club experience to be a great way to escape when other areas of the ship felt overwhelming, which they often did.

MSC Meraviglia restaurants and bars

Included in the price of each sailing is free dining at the massive Marketplace Buffet, in one of four main dining rooms or in the Yacht Club Restaurant (depending on your booking). The four main dining rooms often felt crowded, and service was inconsistent. The buffet was even worse.

The quality of the complimentary food was unremarkable — not great but not terrible, either. Waiters in the dining rooms often seemed rushed and unwilling to fill drink orders. (I found out later it's because the galleys don't have bars, so waiters have to run all over the ship to fill drink orders, which often take an inordinate amount of time to arrive.)

Due to its size, MSC Meraviglia can offer lots of different cuisines. While the Marketplace Buffet has an "ethnic" section typically serving Asian and Indian fare, the largest variety and the highest quality come from the specialty restaurants. They include seafood, steak, Mexican, sushi and teppanyaki, and all cost extra.

MSC offers dining packages, which allow passengers to pre-purchase a set number of meals in alternative restaurants. When those meals are cashed in, cruisers can choose from a preselected list of menu items designated for package holders. Generally, if you're planning to eat at more than two or three specialty restaurants, booking a package will save you money.

There's at least one bar in every public space, so you won't have to go far to whet your whistle.

Restaurants

Free restaurants

Waves, Panorama, L'Olive Dorée and L'Olivo D'Oro are MSC Meraviglia's four main dining rooms, where passengers can eat dinner for free. (Specific restaurants will also be open on certain days for breakfast and lunch, depending on the day's schedule.) Menus, which change daily, are the same across all four.

Waves, on Deck 5, is the smallest. The largest — L'Olive Dorée and L'Olivo D'Oro, which are mirrors of one another — are found on Deck 6, across from one another and flanking the hallway that eventually leads to Panorama. All four dining rooms offer set seating, except Panorama, which also accommodates passengers with Aurea bookings who have anytime dining.

As mentioned above, I was booked in the Yacht Club and dined in either the Yacht Club Restaurant or one of the specialty restaurants for dinner each night.

However, I did try lunch in Waves twice, as it was the only main dining room open to the ship's 3,000 passengers for lunch. The first time, we were seated at a table for two that might as well have been a table for six; it was so close to the tables for two on either side of it that there were only about 2 or 3 inches separating them.

After we sat, it took 15 minutes for someone to bring us water. We never received bread. It was another 10 minutes until our waiter took our food order, and not once did anyone ask us if we'd like something other than water to drink. When my travel companion finally requested a beer, the waiter's response was, "Be patient, sir." My jaw dropped.

The pacing between courses was silly. Our appetizers arrived shortly after we ordered, which was great, but mine — spinach and artichoke dip — arrived looking dried out and crusty with five broken chips on the side. (The waiter obliged when I requested a few more.) After the starters were cleared, it was another 10 minutes until our mains were delivered. I thoroughly enjoyed my cobb salad, but my beef burrito was build-your-own style, and it was largely flavorless.

My companion never did see the beer he ordered. Eventually, we gave up and left, as did the man at the table next to us, who said he had been waiting half an hour for a dessert that didn't materialize.

The second experience was significantly better, with our waiter seating us at a table for two near a window and asking if we wanted drinks (which arrived quickly). The food was still just OK, and both experiences were crowded and exceptionally loud.

MSC Meraviglia's buffet, Marketplace, spans the entire aft of Deck 15. It has a decent variety of stations, but the food is often the same from day to day. The layout is confusing to navigate, too, with lots of nooks and crannies that can make it difficult to find what you're looking for. It was crowded beyond reason during mealtimes, so I avoided it whenever possible, only eating there twice during the voyage for research purposes.

Stations include bread; salad; soup and pasta; a rotisserie section with a carving station and sides like mashed potatoes, rice and baked beans; cold cuts and cheeses; an "ethnic" counter, which tended to serve Asian and Indian cuisine; and outposts for desserts and both hot and cold drinks.

The pizza was both a highlight and a pleasant surprise. It comes out hot and fresh, and it's available by the slice in several types from two separate counters in the buffet.

There are some other small complimentary food locations throughout the ship, too, including a poolside grill with burgers, fries and hot dogs and an ice cream counter with free soft-serve in cones or cups and optional toppings.

Restaurants that cost extra

Hola! Tacos & Cantina is the Mexican restaurant on MSC's newest vessels. It offers tapas-style small plates; I highly encourage you to order a few, as there's a lot on the menu that's delicious. My favorites are the guacamole, tortilla soup and cheese quesadillas. For tacos, I highly recommend the Chipotle Carnitas (pulled pork with chipotle, black bean salsa and cilantro), Barbacoa (ancho-chili beef, chipotle and red cabbage) and Ancho Tingo (shredded chicken, poblano peppers and pico de gallo).

You can pay a la carte if you're in the mood for something light or go with the all-you-can-eat option if you've worked up a serious appetite.

Margaritas are also a must if you're craving an adult beverage. Basic margs are included in the line's alcohol packages, but specialty ones — featuring frozen flavors like mango and strawberry and on-the-rocks selections with smoky salt or sweet berry sugar rims — cost extra, ranging from $11.99 for a single drink to $30 for a 1-liter pitcher. There's also a selection of Spanish beer, fresh fruit juices, spiked milkshakes and other fun concoctions. The service was so great there that I returned on a different night just to order drinks.

If you've done one teppanyaki restaurant, you've done them all. Or at least that's what I thought when I grudgingly made a reservation at Kaito Teppanyaki, another of MSC's extra-charge dining choices.

Yes, the cheesy jokes, singalongs, "catch this food in your mouth when I throw it" challenges and other performative cooking are standard, but the actual dishes are so much tastier than any of a similar variety I've had on land. Top-notch quality and expert seasoning make the dishes stand out. (For context, I usually skip meat when I order teppanyaki, but the sirloin steak looked so good that I ordered it. I'm glad I did.)

Every person who orders receives miso soup and a small salad as starters, along with sushi and sashimi with tempura vegetables. Then they choose from one of several prix fixe menu options: Geisha (sea bass fillet and chicken breast), Samurai (Scottish salmon, tiger prawns and sirloin), Emperor (yellowfin tuna tataki, scallops and half of a Maine lobster), vegetarian (egg wash roll and sesame tofu steak) and a kids menu (spring chicken teriyaki with vegetables).

I ordered the Samurai, and the salmon and sirloin were absolutely delicious. All options include egg fried rice and a dessert of caramelized pineapple, ginger ice cream and mint. The latter was underwhelming. Drinks are limited to what's on the Kaito-specific menu (Japanese beer, whisky and sake, plus a small selection of wine by the glass and Champagne by the bottle).

Kaito also has a separate sushi bar with an a la carte selection of sushi, sashimi, nigiri, tataki, yakitori and other items, including combo platters and desserts.

Butcher's Cut, MSC Meraviglia's a la carte steakhouse, is heaven for meat lovers, but vegetarians beware: As expected, there's not a lot on the menu for you to eat, with the exception of some of the starters.

When you arrive, your waiter will bring a breadbasket for the table. Ours included baguettes, raisin walnut bread and bacon cheese rolls, but what stood out to me were the smoked maple and paprika butters served alongside them. They were so good.

Appetizers include burrata and beet salad, Caesar and house salads, hearts of palm, a goat cheese tart, shrimp, crabcakes and oysters Rockefeller. Or, if you're feeling extra-spendy, try one of the featured starters, such as caviar, a shellfish platter, bone marrow, Kobe sliders and foie deviled eggs. For soups, choose between smoked tomato and lobster chowder.

Non-steak mains consist of roasted chicken, scallops Benedict, halibut and sockeye salmon. However, if steak is what you're after, you can choose from a 36-ounce dry-aged tomahawk for two, 24-ounce dry-aged T-bone, 12-ounce flat iron, 8-ounce filet mignon, 20-ounce rib-eye, 14-ounce New York sirloin, 16-ounce American bison and 13-ounce double lamb chops.

I ate there on one night of my sailing and decided to go big by adding jumbo lump crab to my filet mignon. However, I misread the menu and didn't realize it was actually jumbo lump crab Oscar, which meant it arrived mixed with hollandaise sauce. It looked like scrambled eggs, and I'm not a hollandaise fan, so I didn't eat it.

The steak, however, was phenomenal, particularly with the accompanying sauces (mushroom, peppercorn, chimichurri and bearnaise). Each steak comes with one side; additional sides cost extra. Choose from Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, French fries, asparagus, onion rings, macaroni and cheese, and more.

Among the dessert options, the best are the chocolate lava cake, the New York cheesecake and the peanut butter and milk chocolate cookie.

I'm not a huge seafood fan, so I avoided Ocean Cay, but I heard rave reviews from other passengers. This intimate restaurant, found on Seaside-class ships and MSC Meraviglia, offers a menu of fresh fish and seafood dishes, as well as a selection of wines for appropriate pairing.

For a between-meal treat or a caffeinated pick-me-up, snacks and coffee tied to chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury are solid options. The cookies-and-cream gelato at the Jean-Philippe Crepes & Ice Cream counter is to die for, as is the Green Goddess smoothie, made with coconut juice, spinach, fresh mint, banana, passion fruit and lemon sorbet. They didn't have the lemon sorbet when I ordered, but I asked to substitute mango instead. It was exceptionally good.

At the cafe just across the way, you can buy chocolate replicas of the ship, chocolate bars with fun toppings like nuts and berries, macarons and candy by the pound, as well as gift boxes of sweets. It also sells coffee drinks that include espresso, cappuccino, Americano, lattes and spiked coffees.

If you're a coffee lover who's heading ashore at MSC's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , you won't want to miss the extra-fee Coco-Nilla Latte, found at The Smiling Fish. A combination of espresso, vanilla syrup and coconut milk, either hot or iced, it's far and away my favorite coffee drink anywhere, ever.

A more affordable option than most alternative restaurants is room service. My pick is the pizza, which will be delivered to your room hot and fresh, with a variety of options available, including Margherita, vegetable, pepperoni, four cheese, marinara, MSC style (tomato sauce, ham, arugula, mozzarella, Grana Padano cheese and olive oil) and supreme. It's free if you're staying in the Yacht Club. A la carte pricing and delivery fees will apply to other cabin types, depending on the experience package you book.

As with most cruise ships, you don't have to go far to find a stiff drink on MSC Meraviglia.

My go-to was the Brass Anchor Pub, reminiscent of an English local where you can snag a bottle or a pint and some extra-fee pub grub. TVs throughout the space broadcast a variety of sporting events (subject to satellite availability), and trivia and live music take place there throughout the sailing.

I also spent some time at the Casino Imperiale bar, which was open on my sailing longer than any of the other onboard watering holes. It serves a selection of beer and cocktails.

The centrally located Meraviglia Bar & Lounge, found along Galleria Meraviglia (the ship's promenade) next to Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, is also home to trivia competitions, live music and dancing throughout the day. It's the bar often frequented by passengers before and after shows in the nearby Broadway Theatre.

Sky Lounge is the place to be for sweeping views through floor-to-ceiling windows. It provides a comfy and often quiet space to read, work or gather with friends.

If you're seeking the oft-missed cigar lounge, look for the entrance on the starboard (right, when facing forward) side of the Sky Lounge entrance, or enter the lounge and follow it around to the starboard side.

Edge Cocktail Bar is another centrally located place to grab beer, wine and specialty cocktails — including the delicious Purple Rain, a combo of vodka, white rum, blue curacao, gin, peach schnapps, sweet and sour, and grenadine that turns a shade of purple when you mix it. One deck above it is the Champagne Bar, which sometimes also serves seafood. One deck below is the Infinity Bar, so named because it's found at the base of the Infinity Atrium.

The ship's TV Studio & Bar is where you can find the cruise director filming the ship's daily morning show the night before. It's also the site of trivia competitions, several of which were standing-room-only.

There's a Sports Bar in the ship's Sportplex, but I never saw it open, even when the area was crowded. Three bars (Atmosphere Bar North, Atmosphere Bar South and Bamboo Bar) by the main Atmosphere Pool serve up classic umbrella drinks, as well as beer and other libations. You'll also find bars in the Marketplace Buffet, on the Yacht Club sun deck and in the Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge.

MSC Meraviglia activities

MSC Meraviglia hosts a variety of activities to keep you busy when you're not ashore. You might start your day with a free guided morning stretch or aerobics, or pop into the gym for a self-led session or a for-fee class like yoga or spin.

The daytime schedule features plenty of options for those with a competitive spirit. They range from golf putting, foosball, Ping-Pong soccer and pickleball tournaments to giant darts and trivia (visual trivia like airline logos and "name that place," as well as "name that tune" and general knowledge trivia).

If you'd rather get your groove on, keep an eye out for dance lessons and themed parties hosted by the entertainment team. My favorite was the Snow Party, when the crew blasted fake snow (which appeared to be suds of some sort) as we danced on the blazing hot pool deck.

Napkin folding, bingo, movie screenings, arts and crafts, and passenger talent shows (yes, you have to audition) round out the list of pastimes.

As you pass back and forth between events, don't miss the regularly scheduled dome shows along the Galleria Meraviglia promenade. You'll see the LED projections on the ceiling, covering topics like famous ceilings, dinosaurs, space and the changing of the seasons.

Beware of seminars on jewelry, health and wellness, and other topics that are thinly veiled sales pitches.

Feeling like a day of swimming or sunbathing? Pull up a lounge chair by the main Atmosphere Pool. If you're looking for a more sauna-like experience, head to the Solarium's covered Bamboo Pool; check out the aft Horizon Pool for better views and more peace and quiet. There's also a small pool on the private Yacht Club sun deck.

Looking to relax in a hot tub instead? You can find two of them one deck up from the Atmosphere Pool, as well as two at the Bamboo Pool and one on Deck 18's aft sun deck (behind Sportplex). There's also one at the Yacht Club Pool.

The Polar Aquapark on Deck 19 aft offers plenty of wet fun for kids and adults. Attractions include three slides — a bowl slide, where riders awkwardly end in the bowl and then exit via a flight of steps, and two twisty slides that require rafts — and a splash area with sprayers and dump buckets. There's no fee to use the space, but you'll need to sign a waiver and obtain a wristband before riding the waterslides.

Speaking of children, the ship has a dedicated kids club, called Doremiland (named after the cruise line's mascot, Doremi, as in the first three notes of a musical scale). The club is divided into Baby Club (infants and toddlers up to 3 years), Mini Club (ages 3 to 6 years), Junior Club (7 to 11 years), Young Club (12 to 14 years) and Teen Club (15 to 17 years).

Each group has age-appropriate activities scheduled, and all — except the tweens and teens, who can come and go as they please — are heavily supervised by qualified staff. Sample activities might include storytime, arts and crafts, and Lego playtime for younger children, while tweens and teens enjoy less structured pastimes like video games and dance parties.

MSC Meraviglia shows

As with most MSC ships, MSC Meraviglia's entertainment is stellar. From free live music, theater shows and promenade dance parties to extra-fee Cirque du Soleil-style performances, the options are varied and feature talented singers, dancers, magicians, acrobats and more.

Each production show is offered once per sailing, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Broadway Theatre. Some are staples, while others rotate.

"Born to Rock," "One Day More," "Cool" and "Journey" are the ship's recurring shows, which each appear once per weeklong cruise. They focus on popular songs in the rock 'n' roll and pop genres, Broadway hits, music from the '70s and '80s, and cultural favorites from Spain, Italy, France and more.

As part of a rotating selection of limited-time performers, English duo The Conjurors performed two shows during my sailing, featuring numbers games, mindreading and pre-show predictions that impressively came true by the end. The duo is scheduled for more than a dozen sailings. Other limited-engagement performers include comedians and pianists.

Speaking of limited-time performances, on the second-to-last night of the voyage, I sat in the theater unsure of what to expect from the headliner, Lorraine Crosby. "You might be thinking, 'She sounds like the lady who sings that Meat Loaf song.' Well, that's because I am the lady who sings that Meat Loaf song," Crosby joked. Her biggest claim to fame is that she rocked the female vocals in Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love, But I Won't Do That."

What followed was a vocal performance that gave me chills. Crosby's range and ability to adapt to different genres are astounding. She belted out favorites by Queen, Tina Turner and Celine Dion and arguably did a better job of it than they did.

On the final night on board, she held an intimate performance for Yacht Club passengers in the suite area's private lounge. Again, I shivered as she took on the likes of Adele, AC/DC and others.

Another free entertainment option worth mentioning is daytime street theater that includes contortionists, roving musicians, magic workshops and flash mob-style performances by the onboard singers and dancers. If you happen to be passing through the promenade area when a flash mob happens, you're likely to see a punk rock-themed song-and-dance routine or, perhaps, one where the cast is dressed up like flowers, insects and birds.

Shows for a fee

Carousel Productions, MSC's own brand of Cirque du Soleil-style shows, are offered six days a week on MSC Meraviglia, with each of two shows — "House of Houdini" and "Rock Circus" — running three nights, on alternating days, with two performances each night (8 p.m. and 10 p.m.). Originally designed to house dinner theater, the Carousel Lounge is set up as a theater in the round and no longer serves food. (That ended when the cruise line shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the line has no current plans to bring it back.)

The for-fee performances levy a nominal charge for attendance and include a welcome drink for each showgoer.

"Rock Circus" is a mix of acrobatics, aerial performances, and song and dance to some of rock's greatest hits, including songs by Guns N' Roses and AC/DC.

"House of Houdini," which follows a clearer storyline than "Rock Circus," loosely tells the tale of Houdini's great underwater escape from a straitjacket and chains. A group of singers, dancers, acrobats and aerialists dressed as circus performers show Houdini the ropes as he prepares for his greatest feat.

MSC Meraviglia itineraries and pricing

Through at least September 2024, MSC Meraviglia is sailing seven- and eight-night voyages to Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas from Brooklyn.

It also features six-night Bermuda cruises that spend three days docked at King's Wharf, as well as 10- and 11-night Canada and New England sailings that feature calls on Boston; Portland, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. The 11-night itinerary also visits Newport, Rhode Island.

A couple of 11-night Western Caribbean voyages visit Port Canaveral (the port for Orlando) and Miami in Florida, Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Ocean Cay.

MSC Meraviglia offers some of the lowest prices in the industry. At the time of publication, inside cabin prices were starting from $299 per person ($43 per person per night) for a seven-night Bahamas cruise, $379 per person ($63 per person per night) for a six-night Bermuda sailing, $449 per person ($41 per person per night) for an 11-night Western Caribbean voyage and $619 per person ($56 per person per night) for an 11-night trip to Canada and New England.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

As with a sailing on any ship, there's certain paperwork you'll need to cruise on MSC Meraviglia. If you're a U.S. citizen sailing from and returning to a U.S. port, you can sail with either an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license (both are required) or a passport. I recommend the latter, and it must be valid for at least six months.

MSC Cruises adds an automatic service charge of $14.50 per person, per day, to final bills on all sailings. For children 2 and older, the daily charge is half, or $7.25.

Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bills at bars for cruisers who do not have a drinks package. If you have a drinks package, you'll pay a 15% service charge when you purchase the package, but not on individual drinks. A 15% service charge is also added to items in minibars, salons and spas.

MSC Cruises' Wi-Fi, available through the MSC for Me app, is fast enough to be competitive with all of the other major cruise lines. But pricing varies, based on the number of devices you use and whether you're OK with simply browsing the web and checking e-mail or would prefer to use Netflix or other streaming services.

Expect to pay about $72 for one device with unlimited data on a basic package. A two-device plan for the same runs about $109. There's also a four-device plan for about $223. If streaming video is what you're hoping to do, you'll need one of the more expensive plans, which range from about $100 to more than $300.

Be warned that plans are tied to specific devices, and you cannot switch between them. For example, if you buy a one-device package, you cannot use it for your cellphone, log out and then log back in with your tablet. In that case, you would need to purchase a two-device package.

MSC's MSC for Me app allows passengers on the same ship to chat with one another for free without purchasing a Wi-Fi package. The app also lets you make dining reservations, check the daily schedule and view your onboard bill.

Carry-on drinks policy

MSC does not allow passengers to bring any of their own alcohol on board.

Smoking policy

Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is permitted in a few designated areas, including the port side of the main pool deck. It's also allowed on one side of the casino. Nonsmokers, beware: The separate sides do nothing to keep the smell from wafting. It was enough to keep me away from the area for the duration of my sailing. Smoking isn't allowed in cabins or on cabin balconies; violators will receive a $250 fine.

MSC Cruises does not offer self-service laundry facilities on any of its ships. However, passengers can send their clothing out to be washed, folded, pressed or dry-cleaned for a fee.

Electrical outlets

MSC Meraviglia's cabins all have a mix of 110-volt North American outlets, 220-volt European outlets and USB ports. In my Yacht Club balcony stateroom, I had three North American outlets, three European outlets and one USB port, all at the desk/vanity area — none near the bed.

The onboard currency for MSC Meraviglia when it sails from New York is the U.S. dollar.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on MSC Meraviglia's sailings from the U.S.

Passengers on MSC Meraviglia's warm-weather itineraries from Brooklyn can be found in T-shirts, shorts, bathing suits and cover-ups during the day, when there's no set dress code.

The line's American clientele tends to dress more casually at night, as well, but the line suggests "smart casual" attire for dinner. That might include khakis with button-down or polo-style collared shirts for men and sundresses or nice pants with a flowy top for women. Dark, unripped jeans are also acceptable for both men and women.

On "gala" evenings (usually one per weeklong sailing), the dress code is more refined. Passengers might choose to wear tuxedos, suits, khakis with button-downs and blazers, cocktail dresses or sparkly ball gowns.

On my sailing, the ship also had "tropical" and "white" listed on the daily schedule as suggested attire. Pack accordingly.

Bottom line

MSC Meraviglia is a beautiful ship with great food, shows and public spaces, but it has a few pain points.

In addition to feeling crowded, the vessel charges extra for many things that will make your overall cruise better. If you're on a strict budget, either resign yourself to doing only the free activities and eating in the main dining room and buffet, or plan to sail with a different cruise line.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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MSC Cruises Review — Ships, Destinations, Dining, and More

Katie Seemann

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Table of Contents

Basic information, departure ports, private ports/islands, onboard activities, dining and beverages, accommodations, msc voyagers club, martha stewart partnership, msc for me app, final thoughts.

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Mediterranean Shipping Company has been in business since 1970. It started as a cargo shipping company and branched off into the world of passenger cruises in 1988 with its MSC Cruises division.

Today, MSC is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line — the fourth-largest overall — and is a leader in Europe, South America, and southern Africa cruises.

Even though it might not be the most well-known among cruise ship industry leaders like Royal Caribbean or Carnival , it has big plans for expansion — expect up to a dozen new ships over the next decade.

Name: MSC Cruises

Parent Company: Mediterranean Shipping Company

Number of Ships: 17 (2 more coming by 2021)

Destinations: 150+

Loyalty Program: MSC Voyagers Club

Credit Card: None

MSC operates 17 ships with 2 more on the way. MSC Virtuosa will debut in November 2020 and MSC Seashore will debut in 2021.

• MSC Armonia
• MSC Bellissima
• MSC Fantasia
• MSC Grandiosa
• MSC Magnifica
• MSC Meraviglia
• MSC Orchestra
• MSC Preziosa
• MSC Seaside
• MSC Seaview
• MSC Sinfonia
• MSC Splendida

MSC Cruises sails to 69 countries across 6 continents from 52 departure ports.

MSC’s private island, located in the Bahama s, is called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This private oasis has 8 beaches, a Bahamian shopping village, local cuisine, massage huts on the beach, and so much more.

Your day at Ocean Cay can include any of the following activities, some of which come with an additional fee:

• Beach picnics
• Beach soccer and volleyball
• Ceclo luxury electric pedalo
• Deep-sea fishing
• Evening lighthouse show
• Latin dance classes
• Luna Libre Party
• Ocean Cay Olympic Games
• Scuba diving
• Stand up paddleboarding
• Stingray adventure
• Sunset Champagne cruise
• Waverunners

There’s plenty to eat and drink at Ocean Cay, too. You can grab lunch at Seakers Foodcourt or one of the many food trucks located around the island.

These locations serve up traditional buffet food as well as Bahamian specialties. If you need a drink or a snack like ice cream, stop by Lighthouse Bar, Springer’s Bar, The Smiling Fish Bar, or one of the many beach bars.

Hot Tip: Curious about award travel on cruises? Check out our guide to booking cruises with points and miles.

There’s a lot to do onboard an MSC ship. In addition to cruise ship staples like pools, a casino, and Broadway-style shows, MSC offers plenty of other unique activities.

Here is some of what you’ll find to do on an MSC cruise (not all activities are available on every ship; extra charges may apply):

• Arts and crafts
• Carnival party
• Dance classes
• Dancing shoes dance contest
• F1 simulator
• Fitness classes
• Flower Glory Party
• Himalayan Bridge sky walk
• Hollywood Stars
• Kelly and Kloe Onboard
• Kid’s Clubs for all ages (babies to teens)
• King and Queen of the Sea
• LEGO Experience On Board
• MSC Factor talent contest
• MSC’s Little Italy
• Officers and Gentlemen dance
• Oktoberfest
• Rock Star Tribute
• Sports tournaments (tennis, soccer, etc.)
• Stardust dance contest
• Virtual World
• Waterslides

Casual wear is acceptable onboard an MSC cruise during the day. On Gala Nights, formal wear is required in restaurants — this means suits and ties for men and cocktail dresses for women.

You’ll want to leave some room in your suitcase to bring outfits for your ship’s theme parties. Bring your 60s and 70s floral gear for the Flower Glory Party, white clothing for the White Party, and red, white, and green to celebrate MSC’s Little Italy.

Hot Tip: If you need some help deciding what to pack, use our handy printable cruise packing list.

Like most other cruise lines, MSC offers both complimentary dining as well as specialty restaurants that come with additional charges.

Complimentary Dining

Complimentary dining onboard an MSC ship consists of main restaurants and an extensive buffet.

Specialty Dining

You’ll also find restaurants on MSC that come with an additional charge. However, you can save up to 40% if you book before your cruise.

• Asian Fusion Restaurant
• Butcher’s Cut
• Chef Yamaguchi’s Asian Market
• Cirque du Soliel at Sea
• Galaxy Kaito
• Hola Tapas Bar
• In-room pizza delivery
• La Piazzetta
• L’Atelier Bistrot
• Kaito Sushi Bar
• Kaito Teppanyaki
• Ocean Cay Seafood Restaurant
• Oriental Plaza
• Room service
• Sea Pavillion Hot Pot
• Surf & Turf
• Venchi Gelateria

Bars and Beverages

Look for these bars and lounges on your next MSC cruise (not all locations available on every ship):

• Alchemist Bar
• Martini Bar
• Wine & Beer Bar

If you’d prefer to purchase your beverages ahead of time, you can opt for one of MSC’s beverage packages.

These packages are available at all onboard bars, the self-service buffet, and included restaurants.

Premium Plus Package: $79 per person per day

This package is for adults 21 and older and includes all drinks by the glass. It’s valid onboard including the specialty restaurants and at Ocean Cay.

This package includes drinks from the minibar and room service as well. You’ll also get a 30% discount on bottles of wine and Champagne.

• Cocktails, spirits, liquors, wine, and beer
• Soda, juice, bottled water, energy drinks
• Classic and premium hot beverages

Premium Package: $62 per person per day

This package is for adults 21 and older and includes drinks up to $12 each. It’s valid onboard including the specialty restaurants and at Ocean Cay.

• Cocktails, spirits, liquors
• Wines by the glass
• Draft and bottled beer
• Classic and premium hot drinks

Easy Package: $35 per person per day 

This package is for adults 21 and older and includes drinks up to $6 each. It’s valid onboard and at Ocean Cay.

• One brand of draft beer and/or bottled beer
• Selected spirits and cocktails, including non-alcoholic cocktails
• Classic hot drinks (espresso, cappuccino, latte, hot tea, hot chocolate)

Non-Alcoholic Package for Adults: $29 per person per day

This package is for adults and children ages 12 and up.

• Non-alcoholic cocktails
• Soda, energy drinks, juices
• Bottled and flavored water
• Premium coffee drinks, hot chocolate, tea
• Soft-serve ice cream

Non-Alcoholic Package for Children: $17 per person per day

This package is for children ages 3-11 and includes everything available in the Non-Alcoholic Package for Adults.

Drink packages must be purchased for the duration of your cruise. If 1 person buys a drink package, everyone else in that stateroom also needs to purchase a package .

If you purchase your package onboard, you’ll be charged a 15% service fee on top of the package price. To avoid this fee, purchase your beverage package ahead of time .

Bottom Line: The Premium Plus, Premium, and Easy beverage packages will transfer to Ocean Cay. Guests who purchase these packages will be able to use them on the island.

No matter what type of stateroom you choose on your MSC cruise, you’ll enjoy some standard amenities to make your voyage as comfortable as possible including a Dorelan mattress and pillows, widescreen TV, air conditioning, and a safe.

Here are some of the MSC stateroom highlights (not all stateroom types are available on every ship):

An Interior Studio is perfect for the solo traveler. Each small room has a single bed that can be converted into a sofa during the day.

If you’re traveling with a large group, check out the Family Stateroom options. This category of room consists of 2 or more adjoining staterooms and can sleep up to 10 people.

Hot Tip: Bring the kids because MSC is considered one of the best cruise lines for families .

If you want a stateroom that doesn’t feel like a stateroom, try the Duplex Suite. This 2-level suite features a master bedroom on the second level along with an additional double bed on the first level.

There are 2 bathrooms, 2 walk-in closets, and a large balcony with a private whirlpool tub.

A Two-Bedroom Grand Suite can accommodate up to 5 people. These rooms have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms plus a large balcony.

For a luxurious experience, try a Suite with Private Whirlpool. These suites come with a queen-size bed and a large balcony with a private whirlpool bath.

For the ultimate in luxury, choose an MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite . These luxurious rooms have a bedroom with a king-size bed, separate living room, bathroom with tub and shower, refrigerator, coffee machine, fully stocked mini-bar, and a large balcony with a whirlpool tub.

Plus this room comes with all MSC Yacht Club benefits.

MSC Inclusive Experience

By choosing your stateroom on an MSC cruise, you’re also choosing your personalized MSC experience. Each experience comes with a set of perks and bonuses.

Bella Experience: Comes with Balcony, Ocean View, Outside with Partial View, Interior, and Interior Studio rooms

• Your dining time will be assigned according to availability
• Access to the buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Use of ZOE on select ships (voice-enabled virtual cruise assistant)
• MSC for Me app

Fantastica Experience: Comes with Suite, Balcony, Ocean View, Interior, and Staterooms for Families

• All Bella Experience benefits
• Ideally located staterooms with better views
• Assigned dining times, but with priority over Bella Experience guests
• Free 24-hour room service

Aurea Experience: Comes with Suite, Duplex Suite, Grand Suite, and Suite with Whirlpool and Balcony

• All Fantastica Experience benefits
• Complimentary Easy Drink Package
• My Choice Dining so you can select your dinner times
• Spa package that includes 2 50-minute massages per stateroom
• Access to private sun deck (adults only)
• Priority embarkation
• MSC for Me Wristband: a waterproof wristband you can use to make purchases, book services, and unlock your stateroom

MSC Yacht Club Experience: Comes with MSC Yacht Club rooms

• Luxury suites located on the top decks
• Access to Top Sail Lounge
• Private sun deck with pool, whirlpool, solarium, and bar
• Private restaurant with a choice of dining times
• Priority check-in and check-out
• Dedicated concierge and 24-hour a day butler service
• Unlimited drinks in MSC Yacht Club areas
• Selected complimentary beverages in all onboard restaurants and bars
• Access to Thermal Suite
• Premium internet package

Hot Tip: Kids ages 11 and under travel free on most MSC cruises .

MSC Voyagers Club is a loyalty club that you can join if you’ve sailed with MSC in the past or if you have an MSC cruise booked.

There are 5 levels of membership that offer perks based on points earned. You’ll earn points each time you cruise, book an onboard service, and make onboard purchases.

Here are just some of the benefits and perks you can earn as an MSC Voyagers Club member (benefits are cumulative):

MSC Voyagers Club membership is valid for 3 years. If it has been more than 3 years since your enrollment date or the day of disembarkation on your last cruise, your membership will expire and you’ll lose all Voyagers Club privileges.

Hot Tip: MSC offers a discount of up to 10% on select sailings to all current and retired U.S. or Canadian military personnel and their families as well as all current and retired government employees including teachers, police officers, and firefighters plus their families.

MSC Cruises has partnered with Martha Stewart to bring passengers special excursions and experiences. Whether you want to send a gift or try a new shore excursion, you can do with Martha Stewart style.

Plus, if you’re sailing on MSC during a holiday, you’ll get to experience a special Martha Stewart 3-course holiday meal. These are available during Easter, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve .

Martha Stewart Celebration Gifts

Send a special gift to someone on your MSC cruise that represents Martha Stewart’s values — good food, good company, and commemorating achievements and adventures. These are available on Caribbean sailings leaving from Miami and Tampa.

• Includes a personalized letter from Martha Stewart plus a special dessert and recipe card
• Includes a personalized letter from Martha Stewart, a special dessert, recipe card, and a bottle of wine
• Includes a personalized letter from Martha Stewart, a special dessert, recipe card, a bottle of wine, a free photograph taken by an MSC photographer, a 5×7 picture frame, and a canvas beach bag

Martha Stewart Excursions

On select cruises, you can experience a specialty excursion inspired by Martha Stewart. These activities celebrate each destination’s local flavors and traditions.

• Tastes of Belize — Street Food, Artisanal Cheese & Jungle Delights
• St. John Hike to Watermelon Cay & Snorkel Trip
• Bacalar Lagoon Kayaking & Pineapple Farm
• The Perfect Margarita Mixology Session
• Swimming Horses of Cayman Experience
• Historic Homes Walking Tour & Key Lime Pie
• Jamaican Flavors Tasting Tour & Craft Market
• Bush Medicine Gardens & Tea Tour
• Bahamian Cooking & Cocktail Class
• Konoko Falls & Murphy Hill Farm Tour
• Flavors of St. Maarten Culinary Course
• Exploring Roatan’s Fishing Villages
• Savor San Juan’s Culinary Delights

Hot Tip: Not sure where to get the best deal on your cruise? Dive into our guide on the best websites to book cruises at the cheapest prices.

The MSC for Me mobile app is available on select MSC smart ships including MSC Bellisima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, and MSC Splendida.

This mobile app is designed to help your onboard experience be fantastic. With the app, you’ll be able to save time, keep track of your onboard activities, and stay connected with options including:

• Mobile check-in
• Interactive map of the ship
• Displays of onboard events and activities
• MSC for Me Wristband
• MSC for Me Chat
• Family and Friends Locator (available for an extra charge)
• ZOE (virtual cruise assistant)

Hot Tip: Are you using the right credit card? Consult our guide to the best credit cards to book cruises to make sure you aren’t leaving any benefits on the table.

MSC Cruises might not be the most well-known brand in the industry, but it is still one of the biggest cruise lines, with plans to expand even more. Keep an eye out for plenty of new MSC ships over the next decade.

MSC will appeal to many different types of cruisers since it has lots of different types of activities onboard. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll appreciate the pool, waterslides, and waterpark.

If you’re a foodie, you’ll enjoy the specialty restaurant options, and if you’re looking for luxury, you’ll adore the MSC Yacht Club Experience!

If you’re a frequent cruiser, you’ll love the MSC Voyager Club perks like cruise discounts and priority boarding.

Whether you’re looking for a laid back getaway to the Caribbean or an exotic voyage to South Africa, you’ll find it on MSC Cruises.

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Reviews 1.7.

2,625 total

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MSC World Europa the World's Worst Ever

MSC World Europa. Zero communication. Overcrowded with very loud people, no manners or decorum. Flights and transfers "organised" by MSC. 1.5 hours in queue to check in for flight. Stood waiting for transfer 1 hour plus. No assistance loading or unloading luggage on and off coach. Problem with toilet door never solved. Little entertainment. I could go on, never again. Please avoid like the plague.

Date of experience : September 13, 2024

A fantastic first cruise on a 3 night…

A fantastic first cruise on a 3 night break to france and Belgium. Have cruised on other lines but this was equally as good as others. The people that moan have ridiculously high expectations but are paying travel lodge prices. The amount that is included is amazing. We didn’t buy drinks package and was plenty of juice water tea coffee available all day in the buffet. Will definitely book again. We stayed in room 14286 right at the aft and was lovely was bit of a walk to the lifts but got used to it.

Date of experience : September 21, 2024

Where do we start.

Where do we start. Entertainment. Truly awful, there are buskers on the street with far more talent. There was a Michael Jackson tribute that looked and sounded absolutely nothing like him. Entertainment was 4 rate throughout the ship. Food. The buffet was a bun fight with people wandering around looking for seats, when they couldn’t find seats, they took the food to other parts of the ship. Other nationalities have no concept of queuing. Two of our family had Monkfish that was uncooked. Cabins. Ok but there is only 2 news channels that are in english, every other channel is Italian or German. Service. Is indifferent, some of the staff working in the bars are friendly and efficient. Quite a few staff in the restaurants are untrained and if the couldn’t understand English well, you simply didn’t get what you ordered. There is virtually nowhere on the ship to go to escape the noise or entertainment. Young couples having parties in their cabins with screaming and shouting until 0230 hrs We’ve done a few cruises, this cruise line is the worst yet. I would advise that you pay a little more and avoid this mayhem.

Date of experience : September 07, 2024

Possibly the worse cruise line

Possibly the worse cruise line . Msc makes carnival look upper class. Rude staff, filthy cabins and if food poisoning is your thing MSC is for you. Just don't do it. 0/10

Date of experience : August 09, 2024

First and last time Me and a friend…

First and last time Me and a friend booked a room which they call handicap room . The singles beds where fold up metal frame which prevented me to transfer onto . Rude room service . Over crowded it was horrible and stressful the lifts where always jammed packed and Im now currently in bed with Covid so is my friend we went straight home from the cruise we live in Southampton and both been bed bound with positive Covid tests .

Date of experience : August 24, 2024

1* cruise line so be prepared! MSC Lirica.

This review is on behalf of our friends who booked n oceanview room but what they got was absolutely horrendous! Tey can't even see the ocean, that's how obstructed it is! Plus they have a bright light shining into the room all night so they're unable to sleep. The Manager did not want to know, he simple said 'it's what you booked"! Absolutely shocking service.

Date of experience : September 08, 2024

MSC blocked 1200 Euro on credit card for nothing !!!

MSC Euribia ship and staff were great. They were very helpful, the ship was new, and we had a good time until the last day of our cruise. However, MSC charged my credit card over €1,000 without any notice, including €120 for pool towels (which were in the cabin). I clarified this on the ship with a woman at reception, and she assured me they would take care of it, but they didn’t. I wrote and called MSC support, and they also promised to resolve it, but in the end, their response was: "Sorry for the inconvenience, but we can't refund these charges. We hope you understand." This is a joke! Horrible customer service. Now I have to fight to get my money back.

An unforgettable experience

An unforgettable experience I have done a cruise onboard Msc Grandiosa in the North Europe. I have been in Yacht Club with my two daughters and we enjoyed a lot the food and the live music. In particular an artist playing piano during the navigation along the fjords. It has been magic, also during the raining afternoon the ship was silently floating...I would say flying among sky, white mountain peaks and a deep blu sea. The crew has been incredible kind and helpful. I am looking forward to go back.

Date of experience : August 25, 2024

I was charged $279.63 three times when…

I was charged $279.63 three times when I first stepped onto the cruise completely separate from my onboard purchases. When I inquired, Frank with post cruise support could not validate, provide invoice for or explain what these charges were from. Oh and it's all done via email. The customer service is an absolute JOKE.

Date of experience : August 18, 2024

It was the most happiness of my holiday…

It was the most happiness of my holiday I ever had ny cabin boy was the most friendly and loveable man I ever met ,, the food and entertainment was fantastic,, the places I visited was in credible,, it's the way to go if you want a holiday to remember ❤️

Date of experience : September 14, 2024

NEVER GO ON MSC AGAIN!!!!

Having done several cruises with other cruise lines I can honestly say I will never go on msc ever again. Couldn't find 4 seats together in the lounge areas for my family to sit together during the whole 2 week cruise!!! Awful dining experience, dirty left over food, no cutlery, rude staff who don't understand English. Overcrowded cattle market, benadorm at sea.

Date of experience : July 27, 2024

your gym employee lied to me that there…

your gym employee lied to me that there is a sneakers world in the Bahamas. I searched for hours and after 50 locals told me that place don't exist, I realized that he was lying to me.

Date of experience : August 22, 2024

We've just returned from a two week…

We've just returned from a two week cruise around the Mediterranean aboard MSC Virtuosa . NEVER AGAIN, this is two weeks of my life I'll never get back. We couldn't wait to get back home to Southampton. Thankfully It wasn't our first cruise if it had been We would never step on a ship again. It was so overcrowded we didnt get chance to sunbathe. There was no dress code in the main restaurant. toilets not flushed The list could go on and on. The buffet was nothing but recycled food from the previous sitting. First and last time with MSC

AVOID this cruise line at all cost

AVOID this cruise line at all cost. Their customer service is nonexistent. There are many better options. On another note, any one interested in a class action suit on how much money MSC is accumulating while holding people’s refunds I’m in.

Date of experience : May 14, 2024

We went on a cruise MSC Musica in…

We went on a cruise MSC Musica in August 2024. It’s worse than Costa on many occasions. The service in buffet is beyond horrible. There is lack of management and it’s constantly overcrowded. The possibility of having a good meal very low. You should be ready to eat lunch outside or at the restaurant for extra charge. The same applies to breakfasts. We spent 30 minutes the least to find a table and 20 mins to wait for a cup of cappuccino. It’s not the start of the whorling that you wish for on vacations. The excursions are complete scam. The timing is questionable and very badly organized. For example, they have traders to the beaches, but you arrive at the time when all the sun beds are fully booked. It’s an idiotic way of organizing beach excursions. You will enjoy more going by yourself, because in most of destinations the are public transfers and you don’t need to be limited by time. I would advise against taking any excursions, it’s just waste of valuable time of a proper seesighting.

Date of experience : August 19, 2024

Just returned from a cruise on msc…

Just returned from a cruise on msc virtuosa, first and last msc cruise. Don’t be fooled by the initial price as you will get to pay extortionate prices onboard for things that are in the price on other cruise liner’s. It was impossible to get a seat in the bars unless you arrived about five in the afternoon! If you want a shuttle bus we needed four during our trip it will set you back £90 in total hence we walked. Ice cream, coffee, beverages aboard extortionate. Couldn’t wait to get off at the ports to enjoy properly priced beverages. Teenagers running about throwing food and plastic bottles etc onboard and into the sea with no comebacks which would be investigated on other cruise liners, never again for us !

Date of experience : July 13, 2024

We recently returned from a cruise with…

We recently returned from a cruise with MSC virtuosa. We had a lovely cruise and didn't have any complaints until disembarkment day. We tried to purchase our photos from the previous night which we couldn't do the night before as they weren't ready. We received useless customer service. After making an official complaint on the 6th July we haven't received any correspondence from MSC. A truly awful company who have completely let themselves down.

Date of experience : July 04, 2024

MSC has stolen 198 pounds from me

I activated my card on my cruise incase i wanted to do any activities on board. I didnt end up doing any or using my card for extra charges. A deposit was taken but will be returned once cruise had ended. They ended up taking more than they said so i have asked many times why have they charged me 310 pounds which they have not been able to answer! a month after the cruise 112 pounds was refunded. They still have 198 pounds of mine and i have sent 10-12 emails asking them to explain why this is and they either dont respond or say they will look into it for me. They have now stopped replying and i havnt heard from them in 7 weeks!!!! They have stolen 198 pounds from me!

Date of experience : May 05, 2024

Recently cancelled our cruise with them…

Recently cancelled our cruise with them due to personal reasons and not the problem, the problem is when we were told that it would take 28 days for them to even issue a refund to us. Why are we made to wait 28 days to have money back that were entitled too. Your quick enough to demand payment but then keep our money to claim some interest for yourselves. Refund me back my money I am owed and stop delaying

This was my 2nd time on msc and this…

This was my 2nd time on msc and this will be my last as the staff are over work not enough seating in entertainment areas Que’s to get off at ports and back on are insane 3 hours one day with two teenagers FOOD OK I had two friends with there child on there first cruise and I felt so sorry for them with the money they spent on this hoilday i think royal Caribbean & princess cruise are the way to go

Date of experience : July 06, 2024

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Reviews 2.3.

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It's all true, avoid.

Can't really add more to what has been said in the negative reviews, it is all true. The best experience was getting off.

Date of experience : 24 September 2024

The absolute worst cruise line in the…

The absolute worst cruise line in the planet. 6 of us still on the Mac Meravglia ( still on it). Unbelievably disappointing. Nothing is done properly, nothing works properly, nobody in management cares. They have managed to ruin the vacation of 6 guests. I asked 8 times to speak to someone to help, never got a response. Stay as far away as you possibly can from Msc Daniel O'Brien 973-214-7870. Anyone that wants more details, feel free to call me

Date of experience : 08 September 2024

Never again.

Never again. My 3 year old son was on an IV drip with steroids in the medical bay for 6 hours because MSC failed to take allergies into account. Food is poor for people with allergies and intolerances. A small 'vegan' section at the buffet exists, mostly of fruit. No pastries in the morning are vegan, despite asking, no desserts, poor signage, catering staff have absolutely no idea what they are serving and have to ask in the back which is about a 10 minute wait every time - just so poor of an experience. Tours. Insanely overpriced, again, despite filling in all the necessary forms 72 hours in advance, not catered for. On a 4.5 hour trip, we stopped off at 2 places for 15 minutes each. That's it. 30 mins cost me £170. Asked for a refund due to no food on a particular tour, got nothing (the others on this tour got freshly baked waffles by the way). Some of the dining staff are excellent - we loved our staff member - Megan - others can do with an improvement.

Date of experience : 31 August 2024

Revolting experience. Just awful

Revolting experience. Empty bottles broken glasses and plates of half eaten food EVERYWHERE. Huge gangs of hammered football lads and hens dominate 40-50 minutes wait in buffet queues. Just awfully depressing Babies in the pool, bare chested vaping / smoking / drinking blokes all sat on edge dangling feet in water. Screaming at the big screen footie match. Language n behaviour horrific

Date of experience : 04 May 2024

We left the MSC Virtuosa this morning…

We left the MSC Virtuosa this morning after a week visiting Lerwick, Shetland Isles and three places in the Fjords of Norway. It was very enjoyable. There were a few matters less than perfect (eg having to use tenders to visit Lerwick) but the ship sailed from Southampton so most passengers were English speaking and good manners. The service in dining rooms and cabin staff were very very good. Food was good, sometimes better than good. A beautiful ship, quite stunning, extremely smart and clean. Good entertainment in the theatre and live music elsewhere (sometimes too loud for us). Very good value and the fjords, with the great weather we had, just fabulous. We will book MSC again and again!

Date of experience : 25 May 2024

Caught COVID on the Virtuosa

Update. Have been in communication with company and had we paid £100 to see a doctor, and had COVID been diagnosed, there is an isolation package and room service and free TV service. The negative COVID test threw us. It was definitely COVID so perhaps a doctor would have realised the test was faulty. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Caught COVID on the Virtuosa. Company couldn't have cared less. Staff were all lovely, but ship was too big, too many people. Very poor company policy towards sickness. Patronising response to emailed complaint. We were left to cope on our own, probably spreading the virus when we had to go to buffet. Ibuprofen cost £15 on board. Entertainment was excellent but very much a party ship. Music far too loud. Not for us. We won't travel MSC ever again.

Date of experience : 23 April 2024

Just spent 7 nights on MSC Euriba to…

Just spent 7 nights on MSC Euriba to Northern Europe which was good value. However, criticisms included… Food quality in main restaurant was poor at best. We were in a party of 8 and did not enjoy any meals served up. The ship was very noisy, difficult to find a quiet area to relax. Not sufficient seating in the bars & venues for the number of guests on board. Photographers bothering you every few steps. The best entertainment in the evenings was in the Carousel bar but it repeated every 3 days. New arrivals boarded at every stop (r stops on our 7 night cruise) and staff from all areas of the ship attend the safety program to guide passengers to their safety exits. During this time most bars were unable to serve customers. Normally cruise with Cunard, more expensive but a vast difference in quality.

Date of experience : 26 January 2024

Msc virtuosa

Two words to describe this cruise, cattle market. There were too many passengers and not enough crew. If you like queing and aimlessly wandering around looking for somewhere to sit and then waiting 20 minutes for a drink,this is for you.

VIRTUOSA TO CANARIES

I and 2 friends (all in 70's) took MSC Virtuosa to Lisbon. Maderia.Las Palmas. Tenerife.Lanzarote 13 - 25 August 2022. Aurea Class at a reduced fare to include a drinks & tips package.Single cabins + balcony. SUPER service by friendly, helpful, professional staff. EXCELLENT fine dining lots of choice food. Only complaint, no events, talks classes etc for "mature" customers. Although in fairness it was advertised as a "Family/Fun" ship. Although pre-voyage Covid tests extensive, I came off the ship with COVID. May be from one of the free 1,600 kids (not tested) on board. SHIP facilities & cleanliness marvelous. I would recommend this ship/trip to a family or under 60's.

Date of experience : 29 August 2022

Refusing lawful refunds

I am still waiting a year later for my refund of €4500 when my cruise changed as a result of Russian invasion. They have no managers or supervisors available to speak on phone. And customer service have been ignoring my emails. Operations team respond but have no answers nor do they want to get any. I have to bring them to court now for my basic consumer rights. It’s completely unnecessary the amount of difficulty they are putting up. I’ve had better luck getting refunds from Ryanair. Try Costa Cruises instead.

Date of experience : 31 March 2023

I have allocated by MSc Armonia an Obstructed ocean view cabin to Mediterranean countries from 24/11/23 to 02/12/23. There was a huge boat (not a life boat, more like a boat which MSc uses to transfer guests from port to the cruise) next to the window blocking the window. Therefore there wasn’t a any view of the ocean from the cabin. I have raised the issue with Lawrence Ford( customer service supervisor ) . I have sent several emails to customer service but Laurence Ford claimed “ It is a obstructed ocean view cabin” though view was totally blocked.” Laurence Ford asked me to send photo but my point is that cabin should be investigated so no other guest’ s holiday will not be ruined as mine did. MSc also took seven hours to separate double bed to tween bed. If there was “0 “ rate that’s what I will give MSc .

Date of experience : 24 November 2023

Terrible cruise company

Terrible cruise company. We did a two week cruise around the med,Balcony cabin which is quite small had to put our cases under the bed when i looked under cleaner obviosly doesnt clean under it,sat in cabin one afternoon & another passenger walked in we had two keycards & obviosly they had allocated our cabin to him. Breakfast buffett was like a war zone food on floor dirty plated on tables total disgrace, if you want to eat & drink from plastic plates cruise on Virtuosa.My agent sent email on 3rd August & we got a reply 4th October customer service is about as bad as it can be. Never again will i waste 5k on another cruise with MSC.

Date of experience : 31 July 2022

Just got back from a 5 night cruise

Just got back from a 5 night cruise. The ship was packed to the gunnels with an extra 2000 children of the 4300 capacity. They se e Ed to enjoy themselves and naturally confined themselves voluntarily to the children’s zone. All the parents I met said their kids loved it in there. Yes stuff was busy but the crew were always friendly and there was always somewhere else to be if a place was too busy. Passengers I encountered were all friendly and happy. I enjoyed the food (& the drinks) and being looked after for s few days. Overall unbeatable value and really enjoyable. (I’m sure the weather contributed too)

Date of experience : 29 May 2023

Dreadful check in process

Dreadful check in process. I am that annoyed with the check in process I wish I could cancel the whole trip now. The app does not work, does not recognise names and produces error messages when you try and get e tickets. There is no customer service, zero. will not be doing this ever again. Will be going back to holidays I organise myself minus travel agents and restrictions when I get there.

Date of experience : 23 September 2022

What an experience it was

Whenever I take a ride to my memory lane and go back the the experience I had with MSC Euribia and the tour around the northern seas, immediately I feel better and makes me want to repeat that kind of vacation. Maybe next time I will go for a longer cruise. I checked their website they have some nice deals such as the Caribbean one. Anyway, I recommend the Northern Europe cruise. The scenery over there is amazing and I think the best way to explore that part of the world is by ship. As for the ship, Euribia was fantastic. Modern and huge 😀 The staff was pleasant and friendly 👍

Date of experience : 24 January 2024

We booked a cruise in July so high…

We booked a cruise in July so high season, overall good experience, very busy but well that was expected. The offer for little kids was not as good as pools were mainly for adults and older kids and the kids club was not engaging the littles ones, hence the 4 stars. The rest of team on board was great though.

Date of experience : 15 July 2023

My second time trying to book with MSC.

My second time trying to book with MSC. Both times the cruise has been rescheduled to different dates with the original cancelled. They didn't want to refund but offer an alternative instead - which I couldn't do. It took them a month to refund the deposit

Date of experience : 17 August 2023

Booked a cruise on Grandiosa may 23…

Booked a cruise on Grandiosa may 23 £1800 internal room. then they change ship on us to Virtuosa, we then find the new listings is lot cheaper £1500 and we asked them to match the new price as it different ship or upgrade us to balcony as listing for that only £1850 with £100 on board credit. we got told head office must do allow 72 hours. 7 weeks later and still nothing. we have called loads times and now we told tough, if don't like it cancel and we not get our deposit back. we sailed loads with RC, P&O princess and NCL and never had problems like this. rude and don't care for customers. so we basically loose £300 deposit unless my credit card disputes it now as a not what purchased.

Date of experience : 17 October 2022

Honesty is not their top competence

When all is well, I'm sure MSC offers some good cruises, but honesty and transparency is not speicelly high with the company. On their website - and in the information you get by - you are allowed to go ashore if you follow the country's rules. At the very bottom of a FAQ, however, it was stated that children are not allowed to go ashore - completely regardless of the fact that all countries on the route precisely and explicitly accept children. Willingness to answer questions the problem was not present at all. Emails were ignored and it was not possible to talk to someone other than a poor employee in customer service who of course could say neither one nor the other. Refund was of course not possible. Now we must look forward to seven days on a ship we are not allowed to leave. Wow. By the way, segregating by age is discrimination, no doubt.

Date of experience : 01 March 2022

Absolutely beautiful ship and the crew…

Absolutely beautiful ship and the crew were fantastic and friendly especially I Komang Suardita, Putu Ardiawan and also Intan. A credit to MSC Virtuoso and I look forward to returning. Kelly C

MSC Seashore

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 518 guests have reviewed MSC Seashore , giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Great cruise

Sep 26th, 2024

Our first time on MSC and I will definitely book another cruise !

Traveler Type

Sep 25th, 2024

It's just a normal Carribean cruise with a the normal stops

Singles/Friends

Best Cruise Ever

We were able to do everything that we wanted to do on this cruise. We will take this cruise in the future

Wonderful cruise experience

We had a great experience and thankful for free upgrading of room to Deluxe Balcony.

2-3 cruises

We didn't like the food at all. The room 14283 the bed was way to hard.

We will never sail on MSC again. Total Waste of time.

Family (older children)

great Bahamas cruise experience

Sep 18th, 2024

This is our 2nd time cruising with MSC, great experience, staff was very nice

4-6 cruises

Generally good, but a few hiccups

Sep 16th, 2024

Overall, a nice experience. Their website is a disaster. The app only works on board, so not really an alternative. The guests often can't figure out the elevators. And Yacht Club basically obliterates the traditional one-class model of cruising. But the ship is nice, it was a great deal, and a few inconveniences didn't ruin it. I'd definitely sail MSC again, if the opportunity arises.

Fantastic fun on shiny ship

MSC Seashore Review: MSC was a blast! While we had a few things to learn since there are some things that differ from the other cruise lines we’ve sailed on, after getting beyond the learning curve it was one of the most fun cruises we have taken. MSC is an Italian owned cruise line and as such you can see and feel the differences. Certain things took time to get used to, but other elements were surprisingly refreshing and unique. I will go ahead and break this experience down into categories: The Ship: The ship is gorgeous and shiny everywhere you turn. The Seashore is New York City themed. The main foyer consists of a time square background (showed in photo). There is a Swarovski staircase and lots of mirrors throughout the ship (I found this could sometimes get you turned around) but it looked pretty! The pool areas have a nice atmosphere (more to come on pools). The elevators were the thing we liked the least about the trip. They are awful. Take super long and aren’t big elevators. People pack in like sardines. We walked the stairs most of the time. Bonus: I lost a couple of pounds on this trip even with eating my brains out! The Stateroom: The room was nice. We had a balcony room. The bathrooms were tiny, but there was a tub! The bed was the least comfortable of the 4 cruiselines we’ve sailed, but it was manageable. I liked the giant mirror that is in the room. Note, you must put a keycard into a slot by the door to get electric… I liked the wrist bands that we bought for only $15 to get into the room and use to pay for things.. The Pools: There are 3 main pools. Supposedly there are other pools but I did not see them. The jungle pool is a fun environment enclosed which is nice if there is bad weather. There are 2 jacuzzis in that area as well. All the pools were saltwater pools as we were floating very easily and can see the salt molecules on us when we dried off. Did not dislike or like. Just different! The adults only infinity pool is at the back of the ship and is very nice. I wish all the pools were a bit colder. This one seemed to be the nicest temperature out of the three. The other pool is on one of the top decks. They also have the full moon party here and that was so much fun with deejay and dancers. This pool was warm! But I loved the environment. Also had 2 jacuzzis in this space.. although little kids were often going into them unsupervised. I didn’t’ care for that aspect as I do not believe there is a reason for little kids to be in jacuzzis at all, let alone unsupervised. A lot of them had goggles and some floaties and kicked around. That behavior is for pools not jacuzzis. The Food: The food was fantastic minus a couple of items. I really enjoyed the brunch on sea days in the main dining rooms. Loved the parfaits and the eggs benedict and everything else. The pizza in the buffet is the best pizza on any other cruise line so far by far! The dough is amazing! Lots of other foods at buffet were great. I liked the salads and desserts and breakfast sandwiches. The main dining had a couple of dishes that were good and a couple that lacked a bit in flavor. I also didn’t care for the bread at main dining as it was always hard and cold. But, I loved the breadsticks! Specialty Restaurants: The Tepanyaki was fantastic. Not much of a show compared to what I’m used to at some other places, but the food was delicious. The lobster was at the top of my list. The tacos and quesadillas at the Mexican place were so tasty. Had this on the last day and wished I would have tried it earlier on the trip, I would have gotten it again. Ocean Cay was good, but I didn’t like the venue. It’s a tiny room with little atmosphere. The crabcake appetizer was delicious and the entrée was good. They brought us chocolate lava cake from the steakhouse because I originally wanted to go there for that! Nice touch. It was delicious. The chocolate bar drinks were so yummy. Hot chocolate with hazelnut and chocolate martini were the drinks we tasted and were crave worthy. The Casino: I loved the layout and the spaciousness. Other casinos on cruises are a lot more cramped and less room. The chairs were comfy. The staff and casino hosts were fantastic. They made it a fun experience with different raffles, events and overall friendly crew. We also did the best at this casino so far. Could have been pure luck, but we played every day on both tables and slots and left a little up! This was one of the highlights of the trip. Only thing I did not like was little kids and teenagers alike walked through the casino and sometimes would hang out for a while with their families and one little girl nearly pushed my button on slot machine. On a couple of instances, I saw parents sit down with their little kids in the chair. The Ports: I really enjoyed Costa Maya and next time want to spend more time on the port. I like that there are some things to do there without booking an excursion. There is a resort style pool on the port to enjoy! Their private island: Ocean Cay is beautiful! While they are still doing construction on parts of it I can see where they are going to take this.. We watched the lighthouse show from our balcony and it was only a few minutes, but it was beautiful. They had a small bonfire on one of the beaches as well. There are walking trails on the island and lots of places that will be restaurants and bars (some already present). Saw no one in the water though. Maybe sharks? Cozumel. I wanted to do an excursion but did not want to ride the ferry to Playa Del Carmen in choppy water. I heard some people got sick from that ride. It is known to be a bit of a choppy ride to begin with.. We stayed on the ship and were happy to enjoy it with slightly less crowds. The internet was not good. Went in and out a lot and took forever to send or download videos or media content even with upgraded package. It is also expensive, and you cannot switch between devices (so you need to buy internet for more devices if you need it). Final note: Super fun and beautiful ship to be on. Learn about the differences in this cruise line first to see if it’s for you. But note all of the positive things to enjoy before ruling it out if you are nervous about going on a European line. Will be going back on the World America in May and cannot wait!

Price was right but didn't expect additional booking fee. Also, would be nice to be able to use points for cruise.

Very enjoyable

Sep 15th, 2024

Had a great time. Was first time on this cruise. I definitely would cruise again

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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MSC oder TUI „Mein Schiff“? Experte verrät den größten Unterschied

Hamburg. Welches Kreuzfahrt-Angebot ist besser – das von MSC oder TUI Cruises? Experten verraten Stärken, Schwächen. Und einen Unterschied.

Die deutsche Kreuzfahrt -Branche kann sich auch international behaupten: Unter den zehn größten Reedereien der Welt landet TUI Cruises auf Platz zehn. Doch der Abstand nach oben ist groß: Die Reederei des größten deutschen Reiseanbieters TUI liegt beim Marktanteil deutlich hinter anderen Kreuzfahrt-Anbietern: Angeführt wird die Liste von den britisch-amerikanischen Reedereien Royal Caribbean und Carnival Cruise Line, die beide zusammen etwa 40 Prozent der Kreuzfahrten weltweit unter sich ausmachen. Dahinter folgt die 1960 in Italien gegründete Reederei MSC Cruises mit einem Marktanteil von etwa 10 Prozent. TUI Cruises macht dagegen nur etwa 2,4 Prozent aller Kreuzfahrten aus.

Aber was heißt das für Urlauber? Was macht MSC anders als TUI? Wo liegen Stärken und Schwächen beider Reedereien? Wer ist günstiger? Kreuzfahrt-Experte Dario Cremona erklärt, wo die beiden Reedereien mit ihrem Angebot punkten.

Kreuzfahrt-Experte Dario Cremona

Dario Cremona ist 24 Jahre alt und betreibt seit 2015 die Kreuzfahrt-Seite „Cruise Experience“. Seine erste Kreuzfahrt unternahm er 2010. Mittlerweile fußt seine Erfahrung mitunter auf insgesamt 56 Kreuzfahrten: die erste und die aktuellste, beide mit MSC Cruises. Auf Instagram zählt er mittlerweile fast 39.000 Follower. Neben seiner Tätigkeit als Content Creator ist er außerdem für ein Schweizer Reiseunternehmen tätig.

„Mein Schiff“ von TUI oder MSC? Vergleich der Flotte, Ziele und mehr

Mit 22 Schiffen bedient die MSC Cruises internationale Reiseziele auf der ganzen Welt. Bis 2025 soll noch ein weiteres Kreuzfahrtschiff dazukommen. Das Gestaltungskonzept zieht sich durch die gesamte Flotte und das Kabinenkonzept .  

Alle MSC-Kreuzfahrtschiffe im Überblick:

• MSC Bellissima 
• MSC Divina 
• MSC Euribia 
• MSC Fantasia 
• MSC Grandiosa 
• MSC Lirica 
• MSC Magnifica 
• MSC Meraviglia 
• MSC Musica 
• MSC Orchestra 
• MSC Poesia 
• MSC Preziosa 
• MSC Seascape 
• MSC Seashore 
• MSC Seaside 
• MSC Seaview 
• MSC Sinfonia 
• MSC Splendida 
• MSC Virtuosa 
• MSC World Europa 

Reiseziele bei MSC

Die MSC-Flotte ist am häufigsten im Mittelmeer und Nordeuropa unterwegs. Das Schifffahrtsgeschäft für Nordamerika werde derzeit ausgebaut, erklärte die Reederei auf Anfrage unserer Redaktion. Welche Reiseziele bietet MSC darüber hinaus an? Ein Überblick über die wichtigsten Destinationen:

• Mittelmeer: MSC Cruises ist mit Routen durch Italien, Spanien, Frankreich, Griechenland und Kroatien am stärksten vertreten.  
• Nordeuropa: Auch MSC-Kreuzfahrten zu den norwegischen Fjorden, Britischen Inseln, baltischen Staaten, zur Ostsee sowie nach Island und Irland sind beim Publikum beliebt.  
• Karibik: Im Portfolio gibt es auch Karibikreisen ab den Großen und Kleinen Antillen. 
• Südamerika: Kreuzfahrer können mit der MSC-Flotte auch Reisen nach Brasilien, Argentinien und Uruguay unternehmen. 
• Asien: Zudem ist die MSC-Flotte auch in Asien unterwegs. Die Schiffe legen häufig in Naha oder Hongkong ab und bedienen Strecken in Japan, China, Taiwan oder Südkorea. 
• Naher Osten: Wer im Winter das Warme sucht, kann mit MSC durch den Arabischen Golf reisen und zum Beispiel in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Katar oder Bahrain stoppen. 
• Südafrika: Auch in Kapstadt oder Durban legen Schiffe der MSC-Flotte ab, die anschließend durch Südafrika, Namibia oder Mosambik führen.  
• Weltreisen: Im Angebot von MSC Cruises sind auch Weltreisen gelistet. 
• Nordamerika: Das Angebot in Nordamerika baut MSC derzeit aus. Hier finden sich Ziele ab New York, Miami, Port Canaveral und Galveston. 

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Zielgruppe von msc cruises.

MSC ist auf ein internationales Publikum und auf Familien, Paare und Alleinreisende gleichermaßen ausgerichtet. Das durchschnittliche Alter der Bordgäste liegt den Angaben der Reederei zufolge bei 41 Jahre.

Inklusivleistungen an Bord der MSC-Flotte

An Bord einer MSC-Kreuzfahrt können die Gäste zwischen drei täglichen Mahlzeiten wählen. Dabei stehen À-la-carte-Restaurants oder Buffets zur Auswahl. Das Essen in diesen Bereichen ist im Reisepreis enthalten, nicht allerdings die Getränke. Spezialitätenrestaurants sind zum Beispiel die „Kaito Sushi Bar“, das „Kaito Teppanyaki Restaurant“ und das „Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse“. Auch hier muss extra bezahlt werden. Um überall kostenfreie Getränke zu genießen, gibt es bei MSC Cruises ein All-Inklusive-Getränkepaket, das man dazu buchen muss.

An Bord gibt es täglich eine Broadway-Show im großen Theater, deren Teilnahme mit dem Reisepreis abgedeckt ist. Auch an Kursen, Live-Auftritten, Lesungen und Partys können Gäste ohne zusätzliche Kosten teilnehmen. Ebenso inbegriffen: Fitnessstudio, Poollandschaft, Allergieberatung und Kinderbetreuung. 

Gastronomie bei MSC

Der Schwerpunkt liegt bei MSC auf Bedienrestaurants. An Bord der MSC-Schiffe gibt es ein kulinarisches Angebot aus internationalen Spezialitäten, mediterranen Klassikern und landestypischen Gerichten. Zum Abendessen sind in den À-la-carte-Restaurants täglich wechselnde Menüs und feste Tischzeiten und Plätze vorgesehen. Auch die Tischnachbarn und Kellner sind daher für die gesamte Reise gleich. Am Buffet oder in den Spezialitäten-Restaurants sind die Essenszeiten dagegen flexibel. 

• Welche Kreuzfahrt-Reedereien gibt es?
• Diese Kreuzfahrt-Reedereien stechen von Hamburg in See
• Das sind die zehn größten Kreuzfahrtschiffe der Welt
• AIDA oder „Mein Schiff“ von TUI? Vergleich zeigt Stärken und Schwächen

Weitere Highlights aus dem Spezialitäten-Angebot: Die MSC World Europa hat die sogenannte „Chefs Garden Kitchen“. Das Restaurant bietet nordische Gerichte und hat einen Hydrokultur-Garten. Entwickelt wurde es vom schwedischen Sternekoch Niklas Ekstedt. Im “Hola! Tacos & Cantina” wird zudem lateinamerikanische und mexikanische Küche angeboten. 

Getränke bei MSC

Die Getränke sind an Bord der MSC-Flotte nicht inklusive. Außerdem kommt bei jeder Getränkebestellung eine Servicegebühr von 15 Prozent obendrauf. Wer im Urlaub nicht mit jedem Drink an die Kosten denken und stattdessen nur genießen möchte, ist mit einer Getränkepauschale gut beraten. Aber Vorsicht: Wer diesen Service nicht vor Abreise, sondern erst an Bord bucht, zahlt auch hier 15 Prozent drauf. Das All-Inklusive-Getränkepaket Easy kostet 39 Euro pro Person und pro Tag. Das für Kinder kostet 17 Euro.  

MSC Cruises: Das ist an Unterhaltung, Fitness und Wellness geboten

Ob lebhafte Partys oder gemütliche Rückzugsorte: An Bord der MSC-Flotte gibt es beide Optionen. Das Unterhaltungsprogramm findet bei MSC im Theater des Schiffes statt. Zum Entspannen und Erholen gibt es außerdem große Poollandschaften und Saunas (Nutzung gegen Aufpreis). Für den Spielspaß sollen Aquaparks mit Wasserrutschen sorgen.

Bordsprache bei MSC

Die Klientel an Bord von MSC Cruises ist international. Deswegen werden auf den Schiffen mehrere Sprachen gesprochen. Am häufigsten: Englisch, Deutsch, Italienisch, Französisch und Spanisch. 

Dresscode an Bord der MSC-Flotte

Auf den MSC-Schiffen gibt es keinen Dresscode. Am Buffet und im Restaurant sollte man auf Badekleidung aber besser verzichten. Außerdem werden Männer darum gebeten, am Abend lange Hosen zu tragen . Auf siebentägigen oder längeren MSC-Reisen finden Themenpartys und Galaabende statt. Auch hier gibt es keinen Dresscode.

MSC Cruises: Infos zum Thema Trinkgeld 

Bei MSC Cruises gibt es eine verpflichtende Hotel-Servicegebühr. Passagiere müssen pro Nacht zehn Euro bezahlen, die bei der Buchung direkt im Preis enthalten sind. Unabhängig davon können Reisende natürlich auch Trinkgeld geben, wenn sie mit dem Service an Bord zufrieden sind. 

„Mein Schiff“ von TUI Cruises: Fakten und Wissenswertes 

„Mein Schiff“ heißt die Flotte der deutschen Kreuzfahrtmarke TUI Cruises, einem Joint Venture der TUI AG und Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. Die Marke gibt es seit 2009. Sie hat sich inzwischen zu einer der größten Kreuzfahrtreedereien weltweit etabliert.

„Mein Schiff“-Flottenübersicht 

Das Erste von mittlerweile acht Schiffen wurde im Gründungsjahr in Dienst gestellt. Das jüngste, die „ Mein Schiff Relax “, soll diesen Winter auf Reisen gehen.  

• Mein Schiff 1 
• Mein Schiff 2 (jetzt mein Schiff Herz) 
• Mein Schiff 3 
• Mein Schiff 4 
• Mein Schiff 5 
• Mein Schiff 6 
• Mein Schiff 7 
• Mein Schiff Relax, Indienststellung Winter 2024/2025 

Reiseziele bei TUI Cruises

Im Sommer ist die „Mein Schiff“-Flotte in der Ostsee, in Norwegen, Großbritannien, Westeuropa sowie im Mittelmeer unterwegs. Im Winter fährt sie entlang der Kanaren, der Karibik, im Orient, in Asien sowie in Mittel- und Nordamerika Ziele an. Im Herbst werden Reisen rund um Afrika angeboten. Die Langzeitreisen der „Mein Schiff 3“ sind im Winter beliebter, wie das Unternehmen auf Anfrage unserer Redaktion erklärt. Sie legen in Bremerhaven ab und fahren in die Karibik, zu den Kanaren oder zu den kapverdischen Inseln. 

Alle Reiseziele der „Mein Schiff“-Flotte im Überblick:

• Großbritannien 
• Westeuropa 
• Mittelmeer 
• Mittel- und Nordamerika 
• Kapverdische Inseln 

„Mein Schiff“: Zielgruppe 

Die Zielgruppe von TUI Cruises ist mit Angeboten für Paare, Familien und Alleinreisende breit ausgelegt. Die „Mein Schiff 7“ ist außerdem das erste Schiff mit Einzelkabinen. Sie ist mit zwölf Innen-Einzelkabinen und 14 Außen-Einzelkabinen ausgestattet.  Im Sommer und im Herbst gibt es außerdem spezielle Familienreisen .  

Inklusivleistungen bei TUI Cruises

Mit dem Reisepreis ist bei TUI Cruises ein Großteil an Speisen, Getränken sowie die Nutzung des Spa- und Sportbereichs abgedeckt. Rund 140 Getränke sind bei „Mein Schiff“ inklusive. Obendrauf gibt es einen doppelten Kabinenservice pro Tag und einen Gepäckservice. Für die Kinderbetreuung fällt auch kein Aufpreis an. Die Verpflegung in Exklusivrestaurants, die Nutzung von Spa-Behandlungen und Landausflüge müssen extra bezahlt werden.

Speisen und Getränke an Bord einer „Mein Schiff“

An Bord der „Mein Schiff“-Flotte gibt es die Speisen entweder vom Buffet oder À la carte. Dennoch liegt der Fokus im Vergleich auch hier auf den Bedienrestaurants. Hier kann zwischen zwölf verschiedenen Restaurants und Bistros gewählt werden. Im Hauptrestaurant, dem Atlantik, ist keine Vorab-Reservierung notwendig. In den Bars und Lounges gibt es eine Getränkeauswahl von Cocktail bis Kaffee und Tee.  

Beliebte Speiseorte sind laut Angaben der Reederei das „Atlantik - Klassik und Atlantik - Mediterran“ sowie das „Surf & Turf Steakhouse“. Auch das Buffet-Restaurant „Anckelmannsplatz“ gehört zu den Klassikern. Als seinen persönlichen Favoriten nennt der Kreuzfahrt-Experte Cremona außerdem den sogenannten „Diamanten“. Dieser befände sich immer am Heck und biete neben üppiger Restaurantauswahl auch eine tolle Aussicht auf Heckwelle und die See.  

Unterhaltung bei TUI Cruises

Ganz grundsätzlich gibt es auch auf den TUI-Schiffen ein Theater mit 1.000 Plätzen. Hier werden Ensemble-, Crew- und Gastkünstlershows veranstaltet. Zum Beispiel: Rockshows, Musicals, Konzerte, Artistik, Comedy und Zauberkunst. Außerdem finden hier Vorträge und Präsentationen statt.  

Als Ergänzung zum klassischen Entertainment bietet „Mein Schiff“ aber auch Themenfahrten an, zum Beispiel Lesereisen , Edutainment-Touren oder Konzertfahrten, wie Rock ‘n’ Sail mit Peter Maffay, Schlagerliner oder Full Metal Cruise. 

An Bord der „ Mein Schiff “-Flotte schätze Cremona das „ruhige Bordambiente“, das er, um es perfekt zu machen, am liebsten durch „ein wenig mehr Entertainment und Musik“ ergänzt sähe, um „das Bordleben zu lockern“.  

„Mein Schiff“: Fitness und Wellness an Deck

Der Spa-Bereich umfasst mehrere Saunen, Dampfbäder und Entspannungsräume. Außerdem sind Massage- und Beauty Treatments im Angebot zu finden. Ein Highlight ist ebenso das große Außenpool-Deck. An Bord gibt es auch einen Jogging-Parcours und ein Sportaußendeck mit ausreichend Platz für Basketball und Volleyball. 

Wem das noch nicht reicht, der findet im Fitnessstudio mit modernen Geräten und Kursen wie Yoga, Pilates, Spinning und Krafttraining Abwechslung. Gäste können außerdem eine Privatstunde mit einem Personal-Trainer buchen und sich eine darüber hinaus noch eine individuelle Ernährungsberatung einholen. 

Bordsprache bei TUI Cruises

An Bord der „Mein Schiff“-Flotte wird Deutsch gesprochen. Die Crewsprache ist Englisch. An allen Servicestationen seien aber, laut Angaben des Unternehmens, deutschsprachige Mitarbeiter zu finden. 

Dresscode auf der „Mein Schiff“-Flotte

Auch bei TUI Cruises ist kein Dresscode vorgegeben. Klassisch-legere Kleidung sei für die Reise die richtige Wahl. Wer möchte, kann zum Dinner oder zu den Partys auf festlichere Kleidung setzen. 

TUI Cruises: Wissenswertes zum Thema Trinkgeld 

Das Trinkgeld für die Crew ist bei „Mein Schiff“ mit dem Reisepreis abgedeckt. Bei gutem Service und Zufriedenheit der Gäste freut sich die Crew natürlich dennoch über zusätzliches Trinkgeld. 

Erfahrungen: MSC oder Mein Schiff? 

Kreuzfahrt-experte matthias morr.

Matthias Morr ist bereits seit über 20 Jahren mit Kreuzfahrtschiffen unterwegs. Der Experte berichtet seit 2003 über seine Erfahrungen mit über 100 Kreuzfahrtschiffen, die er in seinen Videos mit seiner Followerschaft teilt. Gestreamt wurden diese mittlerweile mehr als 50 Millionen Mal. In einem seiner Videos vergleicht er die Reedereien MSC und Mein Schiff miteinander.  

In puncto Atmosphäre vergleicht der Kreuzfahrt-Experte Matthias Morr in einem YouTube-Video die „Mein Schiff“-Flotte „mit Hamburg als Stadt“. MSC beschreibt er stattdessen „als einen Ferienort in Italien“. Bei TUI sei die Atmosphäre „gediegen“, wobei sie seiner Erfahrung nach bei MSC dagegen als „sehr ausgelassen“ empfunden wurde.

Am Buffet fühlte sich Morr bei TUI „besser bedient“ als bei MSC, wo das Essen „sehr, sehr einfach, gerade am Abend“ gewesen sei. Hier empfehle er die Nutzung von Bedienrestaurants, auf die das Unternehmen auch ausgelegt ist. Außerdem sei das Essen bei „Mein Schiff“ „auf den deutschen Gast optimiert“, was bei MSC „für Abfahrten ab Deutschland“ auch versucht würde. Im Vergleich seien bei MSC auch „erheblich weniger“ Getränke im Preis enthalten, „am Buffet nur Kaffee, Tee und Saft zum Frühstück“. In den Bedienrestaurants gar keine. 

Bei beiden Reedereien seien „Familien gerne gesehen“, so Morr. Allerdings sei das Angebot „mit Wasserrutschen, mit Wasserparks, Klettergärten“ bei MSC deutlich umfangreicher und bei „‚Mein Schiff‘ dagegen eher bescheiden“. Das gesamte Video des Kreuzfahrt-Experten sehen Sie hier:

Unterschied MSC und Mein Schiff: Wer ist günstiger? 

Eine siebentägige Kanaren-Kreuzfahrt inklusive Marokko kostet bei TUI Cruises ohne Flug 949 Euro pro Person (Innenkabine). Bei MSC kostet die gleiche Reise (auch Innenkabine) 709 Euro pro Person. Hier fallen jedoch zusätzliche Getränkekosten an. Das All-Inklusive-Getränkepaket „Easy“ kostet 39 Euro pro Person und pro Tag. Kinder zahlen 17 Euro. Für einen Erwachsenen kämen auf den regulären Preis also noch 273 Euro dazu. Deswegen lässt sich nicht pauschal sagen, ob eine Reederei günstiger ist. MSC und TUI Cruises belaufen sich zumindest aber auf einem ähnlichen Preisniveau.

MSC oder „Mein Schiff“: Wer ist besser?  

Wer es gern ruhiger hat, reist besser mit der „Mein Schiff“-Flotte. Wer dagegen ausgelassener das Tanzbein schwingt und gewillt ist etwas mehr auszugeben, fährt besser mit MSC. Für Kinder gibt es außerdem auf den Schiffen der MSC-Flotte noch mehr Auswahl als bei „Mein Schiff“. Außerdem besitzt MSC deutlich mehr Schiffe als „Mein Schiff“ und bietet somit auch ein größeres Repertoire an Routen an.  

Lesen Sie auch

Die wichtigsten Kreuzfahrt-Tipps haben wir auf dieser Seite für Sie zusammengefasst. Und hier finden Sie aktuelle Kreuzfahrt-News . Die besten Kreuzfahrt-Angebote oder Hintergrundinfos zu beliebten Kreuzfahrt-Reedereien können Sie hier nachlesen. Weitere Artikel zum Thema Urlaub und Reise finden Sie hier.

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