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