We have heard such mixed reviews about MSC Cruises… some were absolutely terrible and some people love them. So we need to see for ourselves! This is our first ever sailing with MSC and it is on the Meraviglia from NYC! So two firsts for us as we have never been to New York. We board the ship from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal which gives us a fabulous view of downtown Manhattan from our balcony. We can also see the Statue of Liberty… I mean, how cool is that view!!
Boarding itself was a bit hectic… well a lot hectic actually. It was the most stressful boarding experience we have ever had! The line outside and then inside the terminal was extremely long and moved a bit slowly. It took probably close to an hour to get through security and check-in. There was even a back up on the gangway which has never happened… come to find out a crew member was directing people where to go on the ship and explaining the wifi. A great idea in theory but it slowed everything down a lot! First impression when entering the ship’s lobby / atrium is that it is absolutely beautiful! Elegant decor with actual Swavarski crystals embedded into the staircases… wow!!! But then we get to the buffet where the hectic crowds have gathered. Whoa! Seriously by the time we got something to eat and then found a table, our food was cold.
But luckily the rest of the day got much better! Our cabin was spacious and near the elevators, which we like. The sail away party was a lot of fun and very lively! And sailing away from NYC is just majestic! The day ended on a much better note than embarkation started!
Next up, on a sea day, we take a walk around the ship for a quick tour. The ship is well laid out and there is a lot of room to spread out. So other than embarkation, it never really felt too crowded… except in the buffet. The pool deck is great! Two large pools surrounded by comfy lounge beds or lounge chairs. There is even a separate ‘quiet’ pool on the same deck that has a retractable roof so you can enjoy swimming even if it is raining. Overall, we really like this ship!
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