MSC Meraviglia reviews. Advice before boarding!

Ready for your cruise on MSC Meraviglia? Welcome to our MSC Meraviglia reviews page.

Have you already booked your trip and want to know more about what awaits you on board? Are you considering traveling with the MSC Meraviglia and wondering if it is the right choice?

I’m Sarah or Miss Tatane, passionate about cruises. I would like to clarify that I am an independent cruise line and not affiliated with MSC. My goal is to provide you with an honest and unbiased perspective .😃

MSC Meraviglia reviews

In this page, I offer you an objective and complete opinion on this cruise ship.

MSC Meraviglia equipment

The MSC Meraviglia is a Meraviglia class cruise ship, built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire for the company MSC Croisières. It was commissioned in June 2017 and measures 315 meters long and 43 meters wide. It can accommodate up to 4,500 passengers and approximately 1,536 crew members.

MSC Meraviglia review – Equipment and facilities

How many decks, cabins, swimming pools…?

MSC Meraviglia has a wide range of amenities and facilities to entertain its passengers. It includes in particular:

19 bridges
12 restaurants et 20 bars
2 swimming pools and 4 hot tubs
Capacity of 5,714 passengers
Approximately 1,536 crew members
2,244 cabins, including 55 accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM)
A mess
A theater
A spa
A fitness center
A nightclub
Library
A games room, 4 D cinema, F1..

L’atrium

The animated dome of MSC Meraviglia

I want to tell you about the dome placed in the middle of the liner, in Plaza Meraviglia. This dome really impressed me: it constantly changes scenery, creating a unique atmosphere at every moment. Every evening they organize a themed evening, and it’s always a new surprise. I loved the show with the dinosaurs and the mermaids, it was simply breathtaking. The visual effects and creativity displayed are truly breathtaking.

But I don’t want to tell you more because it’s really something to see for yourself. Believe me, it’s an experience worth the detour and I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise! If you have the opportunity to sail on the MSC Meraviglia, be sure to spend some time under this magical dome.

Bars

MSC Meraviglia review

Discover a myriad of liquid pleasures on board MSC Meraviglia, where each bar is an invitation to escape and discovery. Among the 20 bars at your disposal, here are a few. We remind you that alcohol should be consumed in moderation, especially when you don’t know how to drink, for others, cheers🥂.

Here are a few!

The champagne bar is a chic and elegant place for lovers of champagne and sophisticated cocktails. The Edge Cocktail Bar offers a modern and trendy ambiance with creative cocktails.
The sky lounge , located high up, offers a panoramic view perfect for relaxing with a drink while admiring the sunset. The sports bar is the ideal place for sports fans, with large screens showing live sporting events, beers and snacks.
Near the Horizon swimming pool, the open-air Horizon Pool Bar offers refreshing cocktails in a relaxing atmosphere. The Brass Anchor pub is a traditional British pub with a wide selection of beers and classic cocktails, ideal for a convivial evening.
For a drink before or after a show, the cocktail bar located near the theater is perfect. Sweet lovers will enjoy Chocolat & Café , which offers an incredible selection of chocolates and pastries.
Finally, the aperitivo bar is perfect for enjoying a traditional Italian aperitif accompanied by delicious antipasti.
Each bar at MSC Meraviglia offers a unique experience, whether you are looking for a casual or sophisticated ambiance, there is always a perfect place to relax and enjoy.

MSC Meraviglia restaurants

MSC Meraviglia review

On board the MSC Meraviglia, the gastronomic experience is not so bad..

→Panorama restaurant 🌺

I dined at Panorama Restaurant every night, and the experience was great thanks to two amazing servers: Yoyo and Ace. Their welcome and service was simply impressive. They made every meal memorable with their kindness and constant attention.

The food was good but often greasy, which led me to eat the same dishes, such as shrimp (in one more mode), every evening. I noticed that the MSC Meraviglia is completely adapted to American and Canadian customers, which is normal since the ship is only sailing in North America and the Caribbean this year. The seduction operation is therefore launched by MSC Cruises. Although this is understandable, taste-wise, I hands down prefer the cuisine served during European sailings.

You’ll also notice that some drinks, like peach and apricot juices, are no longer available. On the other hand, you will find Coca-Cola, Canada Dry and orange juice, as many drinks have been removed from the menu to adapt to American tastes.

Ace and Yoyo were so caring that if I had to eat only boiled carrots to get through the meal time with them, I would have done so. They are truly sweethearts 🥰.

→L’Olivo D’Oro

Olivo D’Oro, one of MSC Meraviglia’s main restaurants, transports you to Italy with its elegant ambiance and authentic culinary delights.

Attentive service:

The Olivo D’Oro team is attentive, always ready to recommend the best dishes according to your preferences. Their professionalism and kindness create a warm atmosphere that invites you to relax and savor every bite.

A breathtaking view of the sea:

Enjoy spectacular ocean views from Olivo D’Oro, adding a magical touch to your dining experience.

Paid restaurants on board

MSC Meraviglia offers a wide range of chargeable restaurants, offering a variety of cuisines and ambiances to suit all tastes. Here are some of the most popular restaurants:

Specialty restaurants

Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse . Enjoy premium Angus beef steaks in an elegant and refined setting. This restaurant is located on deck 7 with a view of the atrium, count on $99 per person.
Kaito Teppanyaki . Enjoy an interactive culinary experience with chefs cooking your dishes on iron hotplates. This restaurant is located on deck 7 with a view of the atrium.
Hello! Tapas & Cantina . Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Mexican cuisine with tasty tapas and cocktails. This restaurant is located in Plaza Meraviglia, opposite the chocolate factory on deck 6.

Marketplace Buffet

MSC Meraviglia review

At the Marketplace, the MSC Meraviglia’s free buffet open to all, you can taste the delicious pizzas (and I’m not careful, the pepperoni pizza is the best in the world on the MSC Meraviglia!).

The buffet is largely Americanized, which may lack a little diversity for us Europeans, but it is perfectly suited for our American friends. It’s up to us to adapt since we are in their home. However, for my European tastes, I found the food to be a little too oily for me at times. But according to my American cruise friends, it was really perfect for them.🥰

You will find a variety of dishes there, from meats to fish, including snacks!

The buffet is located on deck 15 and offers you something to eat all day, until 2 a.m. (it’s not like on the Costa Smeralda 😱). In the evening, from 11:30 p.m. until 2 a.m., you can also enjoy sweets and cakes.

For the children’s buffet, however, it’s an atomic bomb, the kids love it! There are vegetables, snacks, meat, fish and good desserts.

Broadway Theater

MSC Meraviglia review

The shows blew me away, they put in the effort! The shows, even if they are already magical in Europe, I guarantee you that in the United States, the show is the show and we do not compromise with the performance. Whether it’s magic shows, illusionists, or even singers, I’ve never seen anything like it!!!

The singer Trenis, who won competitions on American television like The Voice or American Idol, was fabulous, worthy of a diva. She was able to create an interactivity with the public rarely seen on an MSC boat. I thought I was at a Whitney Houston concert, she was fabulous and that’s saying something.

The troupe of singers was incredible, vocal harmony of this quality, I had never seen that except during concerts of great Artists. Honestly, it was really, really amazing!

I wish it lasted longer! The shows last between 30 and 40 minutes, but that’s huge since there are so many people on the boat that the artists give three performances a day at 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

We really enjoyed ourselves. Congratulations to all the artists!❤👏

Casino Imperial

The casino was crowded every night, Americans love games! You will find hundreds of state-of-the-art machines, as well as roulette tables, poker tables, etc.

I’ve seen people make $12,000, $6,000, etc. It was an incredible casino, but there were few slots available at the machines. There was a very small smoking area, which is a bit ridiculous because usually on the MSC fleet, half the casino is smoking. There, they counted only 10 machines and made the smoking corner on that corner. This is a bit of an exaggeration because even if you vape or smoke, you end up in the same place.

There is no “cigar room” at the Meraviglia, so to smoke inside, it’s in this small corner of around 15 square meters. But the atmosphere at the casino was really something. It was a very nice casino with a great atmosphere.🎰

Swimming pools

MSC Meraviglia review

The MSC Meraviglia swimming pools offer an exceptional aquatic experience on board. With a total of 4 swimming pools, including a large indoor pool on Deck 15, as well as 8 Jacuzzis, you will find plenty of options to cool off and relax.

The indoor swimming pool on deck 15 is really great for a pleasant swim sheltered from bad weather, while the two outdoor swimming pools are also very popular, large enough and pleasant. You will have an inexhaustible choice of hard deckchairs as well as mattress deckchairs, which were always available. Unlike certain practices in Europe where cruise lines book early in the morning, here you can go at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. or 5 p.m., mattress deckchairs are always available. I took advantage of it!😄

One of the advantages is swimming time, it’s really cool. You can swim and enjoy the jacuzzis until 11:30 p.m. which is very rare.

Sports equipment

MSC Meraviglia offers a variety of facilities for the enjoyment of its passengers.

Sports fields

MSC Meraviglia has several sports fields to allow you to practice your favorite outdoor activities.🤭
Basketball court . Compete against your friends or family in a wild basketball match on deck 16.
Football field . Football crazy? Take advantage of the football field for a wild match with friends or to perfect your techniques.
Jogging track . Run, walk or cycle on the outdoor jogging track to enjoy the sea air and stunning ocean views.
😉
Tables de ping pong
For clubs, balls, rackets, you will find next to the bar the accessories at your disposal on deck 15 (it’s free).
Treetop adventure course
The ropes course was lively and the place is great! It’s happening on deck 16 at the back of the boat. You shouldn’t get dizzy, but it’s still incredible. Not a tree branch on the horizon, only water as far as the eye can see. I really enjoyed the experience!
Slides
Find slides on deck 16 with buoys for fooling around. There’s something for everyone, it’s really something! As much for adults as for children, you can’t be bored for a single second.

Gym

The MSC Meraviglia gym is a true paradise for fitness enthusiasts. Located on Deck 7, it offers stunning views of the ocean, making every workout even more motivating.

There you will find a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment, from cardio machines to weight machines and free weights. Whether you prefer to do cardio, strength training, or flexibility exercises, you’ll find everything you need for a complete workout.

Additionally, the gym is equipped with locker rooms and showers, allowing you to freshen up after your workout. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or simply looking for a way to stay fit while on vacation, the MSC Meraviglia gym will meet your needs.

SPA

At the spa, you will find a full range of wellness services, including relaxing massages, hair styling sessions, and pedicure treatments to meet all your needs. However, it is important to note that these services can be a little expensive, so be sure to budget to take full advantage of these enjoyable treatments.

When you are received at the SPA, the team will treat you like a queen (king). The team is exceptional, smiling, professional, attentive.

MSC Meraviglia cabins

On board MSC Meraviglia, you will discover a wide choice of cabins that will amaze you. I had the pleasure of testing both the interior and balcony cabins, and each option offers an exceptional and unique experience. Although one is more affordable than the other, both are definitely worth it.

The interior cabins are comfortable, however this is the first time that I found the bedding really hard. I didn’t sleep very well and that was a first.

On the other hand, cabins with balconies allow you to enjoy spectacular sea views and provide an extra feeling of space. Whatever your choice, you will be delighted by the quality and comfort of these cabins. Please note that this is not my room, but many of these cabins were decorated. Next time I’ll do the same,-).

MSC Meraviglia nightclub

The MSC Meraviglia nightclub is an experience in its own right. Located outside, on deck 16 at the rear of the boat, it offers an electrifying atmosphere under the stars.

With so much going on inside the boat, everything goes on inside until 1am. But for those who want to extend the party, the outdoor disco is the ideal place. There you will find a DJ livening up the atmosphere until the early hours of the morning, with a bar open until 4 or 5 a.m.

Once we even danced in the rain, which was really fun! However, I still find it a shame that with such a large boat, there is not an enclosed place where you can dance sheltered in case of bad weather. I think we should use the karaoke room on deck 7 and turn it into a discotheque at night since it is soundproof. This is the bad part of the boat, because in winter it must be gloomy!

Stores

The MSC Meraviglia shops are located on decks 6 and 7. There you will find basic necessities but also, and above all, clothes, bags, accessories, perfumes, etc. The shops are numerous and well dispersed. The welcome is optimal, all the staff are attentive to your needs and take care of great deals (no, I don’t work at MSC). Since the ship is in the USA, for smokers you will find incredible prices. Count 28/32$ for a carton of cigarette and if you buy 3 you get 1 free. We took the opportunity to bring some back of course!

Quite a surprise

Sailing under the Brooklyn Bridge is a truly unforgettable experience. It’s a beautiful and impressive bridge, and it’s even more impressive to see it up close from a cruise ship.

As you approach the bridge, you can see its imposing granite towers and hanging steel cables. As the boat gets closer, you will feel like the bridge is going to fall on you. But don’t worry, cruise ship captains are experts at navigating under this bridge, and they safely pass ships under the bridge hundreds of times a year.

As you pass under the bridge, you will be able to look up and see the underside of the roadway. This is a truly unique perspective and is a great way to get a sense of the scale of this bridge.

Passing under the Brooklyn Bridge is an experience that will stay with you forever. It’s a reminder of the power of human engineering and the beauty of New York City.

The Animation of the MSC Meraviglia

As for the entertainment at MSC Meraviglia, it was truly incredible, the configuration is conducive to this supercharged and good-natured atmosphere. There was an extraordinary communion across the Atlantic. We had some crazy times, the Americans, Canadians, etc., are a great audience, loving the party, the games, and the Artists created a crazy atmosphere. The facilitators were really nice, adorable, but one facilitator caught our attention: she was tireless, smiling, caring, pleasant, a real sweetheart. Her name is Lungisa.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our cruise friends and employees, Eddie, Margharet, Deborah, Aridin, Zakarhia, Soh, Ace, Yoyo, Lungisa, Melissa, Luc and the whole group of extraordinary Quebecers, Bellen, Argentina, etc. You are at the TOP. That’s the magic of cruises: you meet people you probably would never have met in everyday life, you make friends and you have unforgettable moments. This cruise was incredibly crazy, magical, and it was like a breath of goodness. Thank you to all of you. ❤ I felt the same atmosphere as at the Sinfonia, it was truly magical.

Everything was perfect, there was no false note except 2/3 French people who spent their time pulling the wool over their eyes (stay at home if you want to be wild). The atmosphere was very different across the Atlantic, there, people don’t look at you, everyone goes about their life in an ultra relaxed atmosphere, no one judges anyone, and when we talk to each other, it’s really to compliment and pass good time, it was truly magical.

Lungisa, the South African queen of MSC Meraviglia

An extraordinary employee!

It’s difficult to talk about all the employees of a cruise , as their working conditions are difficult and their kindness, professionalism and dedication make them unique. But today, I want to highlight a woman who left her mark on our journey.

On the waters of the MSC Meraviglia sails an extraordinary employee, Lungisa, a true queen who reigns over the ship with her smile and her kindness.

Her exemplary dedication and professionalism make her an indispensable member of the crew, a true ambassador of the MSC Cruises company.

A contagious smile and attention to every detail

Whether you are a vacationer looking for relaxation or a busy business traveler, Lungisa is always there to welcome you with a warm smile and genuine attention. His kindness and friendliness are contagious, illuminating every interaction and creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Unparalleled expertise and a desire to serve

Behind her radiant smile hides a very competent employee. Lungisa masters his field perfectly and does everything possible to meet your needs with efficiency and precision. His in-depth knowledge of the ship and its services allows him to guide and advise you as best as possible, making each interaction a positive and enriching experience.

A pillar of the crew and an ambassador of the company

Lungisa is not only an exemplary employee, she is also an essential pillar of the MSC Meraviglia crew. His team spirit and impeccable collaboration contribute to the smooth running of the ship and the satisfaction of passengers.

Her passion for her profession and her dedication to the MSC Cruises company make her a true ambassador. She embodies the company’s values, offering passengers an unforgettable experience marked by human warmth and professionalism.

I really hope you meet her, because this woman is a bomb! Always smiling, she dances like a lioness and she is everywhere: on the bridge, in the club, in the dome, at karaoke. No matter how many times we meet her, she is always super smiling and super friendly.

Yoyo and Ace

2 amazing servers

In addition to Lungisa, I would like to introduce Yoyo and Ace, who obviously often work together. They are truly apart. However, all the servers are always adorable, but they really had something extra: kindness, an incredible sense of dedication, a smile, and an exceptional joie de vivre despite their hard work. I don’t even know how you can smile so much while working so hard, and I had to mention them. If I can wish you only one thing, it is to be served by them, because you will really understand what I am talking about! THANK YOU Yoyo and THANK YOU Ace for your welcome and impeccable service!❤

A big thank you to all!❤

Practical advice for your cruise

Before you go on a cruise, consider these essential tips:

Make sure you have your documents. Your passport number or national identity card must be valid, otherwise boarding will be denied.
Plan your formalities in advance. Check that your documents remain valid for the duration of the cruise, taking into account airline and destination-specific requirements.
Manage your budget. Products on board are generally zero-rated. If you smoke, buy your cigarettes before leaving these areas.
Find out about excursions and activities. Explore the excursions offered before your cruise. Consult the details, prices and book the ones that interest you. For all activities during stopovers, see the “Cruise Stopovers” section.
Pack your bags. Follow the company’s instructions regarding baggage and items allowed on board. Don’t forget the essentials: suitable clothing, swimsuits, skincare products and medication if necessary.
By following these recommendations, you will embark with peace of mind on a memorable cruise.

Make the most of your trip by keeping this information in mind and preparing properly. Happy cruising!

Smoking on the MSC Meraviglia

MSC Meraviglia review

Finally, if you are a smoker, please note that smoking is allowed on the port side (on the right side of the ship). A sign will clearly indicate areas where smoking is permitted.

Smoking rules can vary between cruise lines, so it’s best to be informed. In general, you cannot smoke inside the ship, except in specific areas such as the casino (deck 7).

Oh, and during port stops and refueling, forget the cigarette, because it could set the kerosene tanks on fire.

So, stay vigilant and follow the safety instructions to enjoy a worry-free and peaceful cruise.

MTT Review

Conclusion. An unforgettable cruise aboard MSC Meraviglia, between relaxation, discoveries and breathtaking transatlantic stopovers.

My adventure aboard MSC Meraviglia has come to an end, leaving behind an unforgettable memory of moments of relaxation, discoveries, and breathtaking transatlantic stopovers. This ship met all our expectations.

The MSC Meraviglia has proven to be a haven of peace, ideal for relaxation, fun and rejuvenation. The spacious and elegantly decorated common areas invite you to stroll and contemplate. Sun loungers by the outdoor pools provide an idyllic setting for soaking up the sun and sea breeze. I didn’t see people throwing things on the floor; at the buffet, people lined up to help themselves. I’ve never seen that in Europe, it’s really two rooms, two atmospheres!

Beyond its idyllic setting, the MSC Meraviglia stood out for the quality of its service and the kindness of its staff. Each member of the crew, from the cabin crew to the entertainers, contributed to making our stay pleasant and unforgettable. Their professionalism, availability and attention to detail made all the difference.

And the highlight of the show that made our cruise truly exceptional were the transatlantic stopovers offered by the MSC Meraviglia. We had the chance to discover (or rediscover) magnificent cities and landscapes, from Boston to New York, via Portland, Halifax and Saint John. Each stopover was a new adventure, an opportunity to immerse yourself in a different culture and discover hidden treasures.

Thank you to all the staff of MSC Meraviglia and BRAVO!