Comparing two 7-day Bermuda Cruises sailed by MSC and NCL

Comparing 2 Bermuda Cruises: MSC Meraviglia and NCL Breakaway

During 2024, my partner and I took 2 separate 7-day cruises to Bermuda on ships that I feel best exemplify both the best and worst of what MSC and NCL cruise lines have to offer. Given that many people have strong feelings about MSC and NCL, I feel that an "Apples to Apples" comparison should be made for 2 ships which make round trip sailings between New York (Brooklyn for MSC and Manhattan for NCL) and Bermuda. 

Normally, comparing two cruise lines sailing almost identical routes will often look like comparing apples to oranges due to the subtle differences between the cruise lines, their ports, and how their fares are structured.  In this case, I have come close as possible to an apples to apples comparison, because the only important differences of note are the originating cruise terminal and the internet package chosen.  

Each line does a lot of things well, and each line has its own glaring flaws. I came into being able to do this review because my cruise partner had an itch to take a cruise before the end of summer, and I found a way for us to afford a second cruise within one month of the first.

Ships Compared:

1. MSC Meraviglia   - year built: 2017.
2. NCL Breakaway  - year built: 2011.

Each of these ships have been broken in for 7+ years.  As a result, the kinks should have been worked out of all service related problems, and the experiences described here should reflect an average cruiser's experience on these ships.   We sailed in a balcony cabin on both cruises, as well as choosing an affordable drink package for these cruises.  However, I could not provide an exact match for the internet packages we had for the cruises, as each line sells different packages at different prices.

******************************************************************

Stateroom/Cabins:

1. MSC Meraviglia - Balcony
   
   
   
   
   The balcony cabin was spacious, with both a king size bed and a sofa that converts to a bed.  However, storage areas in the cabin were lacking.  Unlike cabins on other cruise line's ships, the only shelves available for storing clothes (and other things) were in the closet. Although this was more than enough for two people, it might not be enough if a third person is occupying the cabin.  Additionally, my 28" suitcase did not fit under the bed.  This meant that I had to find unused space in the room to store the suitcase.
   
   
2. NCL Breakaway - Balcony
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The balcony cabin was just as spacious as MSC's balcony cabin.  However, more thought was given to providing storage space for cruisers, as there were several spaces in the room other than the closet where cruisers could store their goods.
   
   - - - -
   
   Note: Neither ship provides USB ports at bedside, something which is coming more common as new ships are built and others being renovated during dry dock.
   
   
   ******************************************************************
   

Itineraries:

1. MSC Meraviglia - Bermuda (September/October 2024)
   
   - Embarkation: New York (Brooklyn)
   - Sea Day #1
   - Sea Day #2
   - Port Day #1: Bermuda (King's Wharf)
   - Sea Day #3, 4 & 5   
   - Debarkation: New York (Brooklyn)
   
   Note: Sea Days #3 & 4 were originally scheduled to be port days.
   
   
   
2. NCL Breakaway - Bermuda (October/November 2024)
   
   - Embarkation: New York (Manhattan)
   - Sea Day #1-
   - Port Day #1, 2, & 3: Bermuda (King's Wharf)
   - Sea Day #2 & 3
   - Debarkation: New York (Manhattan)
   
   
   
   ******************************************************************

Service & Food:

1. MSC Meraviglia. 
   
   
   
   
   Unlike my last MSC cruise, MSC has upped its game with meals in the main dining room and the buffet.  Both my partner and I felt that buffet selections were more than adequate, although not as varied as those found on prior cruises on other cruise lines.  As one might expect on an Italian cruise ship, the pizza was very good, but a little doughier than one might like if one is used to New York Style pizza.
   
   Meals in the main dining room were good, with an adequate amount of selections available each day.  The standard breakfast choices were available (eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, cereals, etc.) each day.  However, breakfast service was slow, as it often took some time before a waiter came to take our orders.  Lunch service was also slow.  However, menu choices varied on a daily basis for this meal.  Unlike the other two meals, dinner service took place at fixed times, 5:45 pm and 7:45 pm, with assigned seating from the first day of the cruise.  Portion sizes were reasonable, and our hungers were sated after each meal.  On gala night, lobster tail & shrimp was on the menu.  I decided to order a second plate and was charged only $5.00.  This is less than the $10.00 I was charged on a recent cruise on Princess cruises for a similar upgrade.
   
   Specialty dining was where MSC shines, albeit far from as brightly as on NCL. MSC sells 3, 4, and 5 day dining packages, where one eats dinner at different specialty restaurants.  We chose the 3 day package, which entitled us to meals at the Butcher's Cut steakhouse, the Ocean Cay seafood restaurant, and Hola! Tacos taqueria.  At Butcher's Cut and Ocean Cay, a limited number of meal choices were available for the standard specialty dining experience.  If one wanted anything else on the menu, it would be available at half price.  However, at the taqueria, one could have an unlimited number of items from the menu - there were no choice or amount limits.  (One item of note: The Flan served here was better than the Flan we had in the main dining room at lunch.)
   
    
2. NCL Breakaway.
   
   
   
   
   I feel that the quality of NCL's complementary food options has gone down a little bit after the post-pandemic cruising restart. Yet, NCL does a better job in seasoning its food than MSC.  This may be rooted in the clientele sailing with these cruise lines.  MSC has a higher number of non-English speaking people from outside the Americas.  Therefore, it may have to adjust its flavor portfolio to a wider range of palates. NCL caters to an Anglo-American clientele, and its flavor portfolio seems geared to people with Anglo-American taste preferences.
   
   Breakfast and Lunch offerings at the buffet are both tasty and adequate.  The pizza (when found) is not as good as that found on the MSC Meraviglia.  However, NCL has a greater variety of food served at the buffet, one selection being the udon noodle soup.  Additionally, NCL had a buffet station where freshly tossed Caesar Salad was being prepared to order - including the anchovies that many demand in a "Real" Caesar Salad.  (Note: The Original Caesar Salad did not include anchovies in its recipe.)
   
   Unlike MSC, virtually all choices at its main specialty restaurants are available at the one fixed price for the meal. The French restaurant, Le Bistro, serves wonderful food, including classics such as French Onion Soup, Escargots, and Coq au Vin.  It is impossible to get a bad meal at this place.  The Brazilian Churrascaria, Moderna, is as good as any you might find on land.  However, its meat selections might be slightly more limited than some of the Churrascarias I've eaten at in the NYC area.  Lastly, as a New Yorker, I don't think of Italian restaurants as being that special.  Yet, NCL's Italian restaurant, La Cucina, was well worth visiting, as the Osso Buco was as good as I've had in one of my favorite land based restaurants.
   
   
   ******************************************************************

Cruise Line Apps:

1. MSC.
   
   
   
   The MSC application isn't always intuitive in its use.  It often took me a while to find basic functions, such as chat.  The chat function did not trigger pop-ups which would be useful when trying to reach a cabin partner.  Additionally, after the first time we tried to use chat, MSC's app lost the link between our phones and we couldn't use this function for the rest of the trip
   
   We were able to use the app to make reservations at the ship's theater.  However, one had to be careful when making reservations for all in a cabin, as it is easy to make a mistake and only reserve a seat for one person from the cabin.
   
   An item of note: One is prevented from taking a screen snapshot when viewing the billing screen for purposes of fraud prevention.  However, one can download the billing information as a PDF file and then view it on one's phone.
   
   
   
2. NCL.
   
   
   
   
   NCL's app worked better than MSC's app.  However, my partner's cell phone often had problems connecting with the ship's wi-fi, and this interfered with her use of the app.
   
   Unlike MSC where chatting in the app is free, NCL charges $9.00 to activate this feature.  Although it would have been useful to us, we found that we could use a "free" workaround which was possible because we both purchased the unlimited, non-streaming internet package - Google Voice texting.
   
   NCL's app does allow the user to make reservations at the specialty restaurants for dinner.  However, we decided to use the services of the reservations desk, as it was easier for them to look for available dining options for the two of us on their larger screens.
   
   Note: NCL is in the process of updating its App across its ships, so one might be prompted to upgrade the app before sailing.
   
   
    ******************************************************************

Embarkation/Muster/Debarkation Procedures:

1. MSC
   
   Embarkation:
   
   Unlike my first MSC cruise from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, embarkation was a breeze.  Could it be that we had a 2:00 pm arrival time at the terminal, instead of the noon arrival time?  Instead of being on lines that snaked through the terminal area, one could cut under the line demarcation ropes and get through security and check-in in less than 15 minutes.
   
   Muster:
   
   The muster process for this ship is a little more awkward than that used by other ships.  One is supposed to view a muster video in one's cabin, then perform the extra step of calling a special phone number to register that one has viewed the video before reporting to the muster station for a second check-in.  
   
   Debarkation:
   
   All passengers are expected to leave their cabins by 7:30 am.  They can either proceed to a dining area for breakfast, or go to one of the assigned waiting areas to leave the ship. As was done on my last MSC cruise, they assign cabins into debarkation groups. Each group leaves the ship as its number is called. "Self Assist" cruisers can take their bags off the ship as early as 7:30 am, followed by passengers with transfers or tours arranged by MSC.  After these groups leave the ship, other debarkation groups are called until the last group leaves the ship.  Our group was one of the last to be called.  So we killed time in the "wheelchair waiting area" instead of the ship's theater until our group was told to leave the ship.
   
   It didn't take much time to have our cruise cards scanned for the last time, and reach the baggage area in the cruise terminal. Although it seemed like a long walk, we easily found our bags and were past the US Customs checkpoint in less than 10 minutes.
   
   
2. NCL.
   
   Embarkation:
   
   NCL has embarkation down to a science.  With the exception of small number of cruisers staying in Haven Suites, everyone else at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is steered to one of two sets of check-in stations where cruisers' paperwork and passports are presented before cruise cards are given to the cruiser.  Occasionally, one will need to have a new ID photo taken, but this doesn't add much to the time it takes to get on the ship.  Once the cruise card is in hand, one simply walks to the assigned embarkation point and boards the ship.
   
   Unlike prior cruises out of Manhattan, we chose to arrive at the terminal at 1 pm.  We found that the lines were shorter than if we arrived earlier in the day, and we were on board the ship within 20 minutes of arrival.  I wouldn't recommend that people arrive any later than 1 pm, as the ship's manifest must be complete by 2 pm, so that the ship can leave port promptly at 4 pm.
   
   Muster:
   
   NCL encourages people to watch the safety video at home before the cruise (as we did) instead of waiting until we have boarded the ship. Once on the ship, all one has to do is check in at the muster station.  On a prior cruise, we were very lucky, as our muster station was 20 feet from where we got on the ship, and we completed our muster responsibilities before taking the elevator to reach our cabin floor.
   
   Debarkation:
   
   NCL directs mildly mobility challenged people to priority departure queues as they leave the ship.  There were people using canes who appreciated being able to avoid being on their feet longer than absolutely needed during the luggage collection process at the pier.  I was glad that our line moved quick enough to be able to get to our bags before my back started to rebel.
   
   Having had problems with finding my bag in the Manhattan Cruise Terminal after prior cruises, I made sure to have Tile Trackers on each of our bags.  Although we didn't need to use the trackers, we did need a little guidance to find our luggage pick up area. (My eyes didn't see the difference between orange and yellow zones under the pier's light.) 
   
   As done in Brooklyn, US Customs now uses facial recognition technology at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. This made it possible for us to be at the cab station across the street from the cruise terminal within 15 minutes after leaving the ship for the last time.
   
    
   
   ******************************************************************

Entertainment:

1. MSC
   
   Since MSC attracts a more international clientele than NCL, one expects that the entertainment would depend less on language than song and visual elements.  That proved to be the case on this trip.  The first show we saw in the main theater was a magic show, with 4 different styles of magic.  This show was entertaining, but we both felt that the show should have been a little longer with fewer performers. The next show we attended was with the comedian, Ken Boyd.   Finally, we saw the juggler, Lucian Fuller. With the exception of the comedian's show, one did not need to speak English to enjoy the show.
   
   
   
   
   (Ken Boyd performing in the ship's theater)
   
   There is more than one theater on the Meraviglia.  There is a more intimate theater at the back of the ship, the Carousel Theater.  Two shows are performed here: Houdini and Rock Opera.  Neither show requires an understanding of English to enjoy the performances.  However, both are very loud and use lighting elements which may be a problem for some people with visual impairments.
   
   
   
   
   
   (Rock Opera being performed in the Carousel theater.)
   
   
   
2. NCL.
   
   NCL was been known for the quality of shows in its main theater.  However, the premier stage show on the Breakaway, Burn The Floor, needs to be rotated off of this ship, having seen it last year on another Bermuda cruise on the NCL Getaway.  With that being said, the Broadway Cabaret was very good, and much more entertaining than MSC's Rock Opera, as the singers' performances weren't marred by circus acrobatics going on around them.  However, NCL's comedians did not make me laugh, as the one I watched in the main theater made too many jokes involving defecation, causing me to fall asleep during his performance.
   
   
   
   
   
   (
   
   
   
   
   
   ******************************************************************

Miscellaneous items of note:

1. Cruise Packages - Add-ons.
   
   MSC Best Value + Fantastica.
   
   When I now think of MSC, I think of this cruise line as one where prices are kept low by making things optional.  In my case, I had to couple the Best Value option with the Fantastica package to get values equivalent to the range set by NCL's Free at Sea package.  Yet, there are some interesting differences that I must note.
   
   MSC offers two booking types: Best Price and Best Value.  Best Price is similar to the Guaranteed Cabin option types on NCL.  Best Value allows the cruiser to choose one's cabin within a category range (displayed on a later reservation screen) and includes the "Easy Drinks Plus" package, including all drinks under $10.  The $10 price limit is not as bad as it might seem, as MSC's Easy Drinks Plus package includes canned sodas, sparkling waters, beers, selected wines, and selected mixed drinks (made with bottom shelf spirits).  I never had to pay extra for any of the sodas or "adult drinks" I had ordered.
   
   There are three experience types on MSC ships: Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea. The Bella experience is a basic package without specialty dining and spa options.  The Aurea experience is a high end package, where the cruiser gets a specialty dining package, anytime dining in one of the ship's restaurants, a Balinese massage, and access to the ship's solarium.  It is not offered to all cruisers.  I chose the Fantastica option, which allowed me to select my cabin, and added a dining package which included meals at 3 of the specialty restaurants on the ship.
   
   NCL Free at Sea (Now "More at Sea")
   
   There is one big advantage to NCL's Free at Sea package - one gets to choose one's own cabin.  (This is no longer true in all cases.)  The other advantages are important, but are effectively add-ons, as they can be deselected to avoid paying gratuities on a drink package and a specialty dining package.  Yet, the gratuities are a cheap price to pay for a drink package that includes all drinks (soda, beer, wine, spirits and mixed drinks) under $15.  However, this package does not cover the mandated daily "staff service" gratuity fee, which is approximately $20/day/pp.  Yet, it does provide the cruiser with 150 minutes of free wi-fi which can be enhanced for a reasonable fee (see below).
   
   
   
2. Photography Packages.
   
   MSC.
   
   This cruise line encourages people to have lots of photos taken. Facial recognition is used to identify these photos with cabins. so that they are placed in cabin specific folders and isolated from other cabins' photos.   Their photo prices for 8"x10" photos are reasonable, as we were able to get 4 photos and a frame for $50.  However, these prices drop significantly if even a small photo package is bought.
   
   NCL.
   
   Like MSC, NCL also encourages people to buy photo packages.  However, their price for the 2 photos we bought would have paid for 4 photos on MSC. Given that the photo posing and quality are the same as that on MSC, I would only consider it worthwhile to buy 1 or 2 special photos from NCL's photo gallery and leave the rest unpurchased.
    
   
   
3. Internet Add-ons.
   
   MSC
   
   MSC offers Wi-Fi as an add-on to the basic fare.  Unlike most lines, its internet is limited to one physical device for the cruise, instead of one internet device being logged on at the same time.  This little gotcha often trips up people who think they can log in first with their cell phone, then log off and then on with their laptop or tablet after the first logon.  If bought before the cruise, a 7-day cruise, unlimited, non-streaming Wi-Fi was offered at $112, which was good enough for my purposes.   MSC also offers streaming Wi-Fi for a few dollars more per day, and I plan to select that option on my next cruise with MSC.
   
   NCL
   
   NCL also offers Wi-Fi as an add-on to the basic fare.  Unlike MSC, NCL gives the "Free at Sea" promotional rate cruiser (now "More at Sea") 150 free minutes.  An unlimited non-streaming Wi-Fi upgrade is available for $110 (one device in use at a time). and an unlimited streaming Wi-Fi upgrade is available for $170.  Otherwise, the non-streaming Wi-Fi is $30/day and the streaming Wi-Fi is $40/day.
   
   
   
4. Other items of note.
   
   MSC Pre-Embarkation Process.
   
   Most cruise lines lets one register a credit card to one's onboard account before boarding the ship.  This is not the case with MSC, where they force the cruiser to perform this part of the check-in process while onboard the ship.  This adds to the confusion most first time cruisers with the line experience, as most will not think to take care of this task on the first day of cruising.
   
   MSC Public Areas.
   
   Although most cruise line ships are meant to impress, MSC tends to be over the top in glitz.  Nor only are the grand staircases embedded with Swarovski crystals, but the whole ship can seem "over the top" in its own way,  The pathway between two of the main dining rooms is bordered with highly reflective walls inset with wine bottles.  There is so much light being reflected, that people with certain visual impairments might have trouble navigating this section of the ship.
   
   A common trend in many cruise ships is to reduce the size of reading libraries.  Fewer people are seeking this kind of quiet place on cruise ships, and MSC has taken this to an extreme by making the ships' library a 2-3 meter long path of empty magazine racks off of the grand atrium.  
   
   MSC Cruise Demographics.
   
   My cruise may have been an outlier.  Many people have commented (and complained) that there was a very large number of people from one ethnic / language group on this ship not associated with South America.  Several bloggers on my cruise were offended by the cultural norms of this group and noted this in their blogs. As for me, I found it awkward, as it inhibited my ability to have the quick chats one might have with people at neighboring tables in the main dining room.
   
   NCL Cruise Demographics.
   
   The demographics of NCL cruisers are similar to that found on Princess cruises, save that more children tend to be found on NCL cruises.  Given that our NCL Bermuda cruise took place in Late October/Early November, we didn't see that many children on this cruise.
   
   

Conclusion:

You get what you pay for on each of these lines.

If one wants good entertainment, one should cruise on NCL If one wants low cost, I'd choose MSC.  Both cruise lines have their merits, and I would sail on either line again, given the right conditions.

MSC Meraviglia - Bermuda Cruise Review (09/29/24 - 10/06/24)

 MSC Meraviglia - Bermuda Cruise (09/29/24 - 10/06/24)

My cruise partner had the itch to take a cheap cruise a month before our planned NCL cruise to Bermuda.  Although we were shopping for an Eastern Canada / New England cruise, we ended up selecting a 7-day cruise to Bermuda on MSC as it was in our price range.  I was a little ambivalent on taking my partner on the MSC Meraviglia, given how I felt on my previous cruise on this ship.  Fortunately, both my partner and I were pleasantly surprised about how we felt about this ship after our cruise.

But first things first....

We snagged a good price for this trip: 

$784 fare (Balcony Cabin)  
$170 tax/port fees 
$112 gratuities (charged while on ship)
$110 (Specialty Dinner & Beverage Package upgrade)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1344 pp Total.

This is not a bad price for travelers taking a 7-day cruise out of New York at this time of year.  

• This ship sails out of Brooklyn, not Manhattan.  We'd need an Uber to get there on time.
• Our booking was for a Balcony Cabin - would we feel comfortable in it?.
• My prior experience on this made me apprehensive about taking my partner on this cruise, but her need to get away for a week justified the risk.

Would the cruise be worth it?  Would I regret taking 7 days out of our lives for a cruise line I was ambivalent about?   But as I found out, most of my questions would be answered, and both my partner and I would no longer be ambivalent about cruising with MSC again.

Itinerary:

As most people who cruise often know, itineraries are plans that can change in a moment's notice.  And that was the case on this cruise. We were originally scheduled to spend 3 days in Bermuda.  However, due to the possibility of high winds preventing the ship from leaving port on time, our ship left Bermuda 2 days early.  On a cruise which was scheduled to have 3 port days and 4 days at sea, we had 1 port day and 6 days at sea.  We were disappointed to say the least, and we felt that a refund of $50 for port fees and $50 for losing 2 port days was not enough. 

Transit to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal:

This is not an easy place to reach via mass transit, unless one can use the NYC Ferry system to reach Red Hook.  Given that my partner lives in the outer boroughs, we used an Uber to reach the terminal.  As expected, we encountered a traffic slowdown on the BQE from the Williamsburg Bridge area to where we exited at Atlantic Avenue. And then, we encountered slow traffic trying to make it on narrow streets to reach the cruise terminal.  This caused us to file away a plan to use the NYC Ferry system to travel from Red Hook (where the cruise terminal is based) to Atlantic Avenue before summoning an Uber for our return trip to my partner's house.

Embarkation:

Since the MSC Meraviglia is a large ship, the lines to both get into the cruise terminal, and inside the cruise terminal can be quite long. Unlike my prior cruise on MSC, I decided that we should arrive around 1:30 pm and avoid the crowds - and this was a wise choice.  Instead of dealing long lines which slowly snaked through the terminal, we made it through security, to the check-in desk, and to our cabin in less than 15 minutes after we entered the cruise terminal.  We'll consider arriving at this time for any future cruises we take out of Brooklyn.  



Stateroom:

We chose a Balcony stateroom in the near aft of the ship.  Our cabin, 12256, was easy to reach and was comfortable for 2 people.  However, both of us felt that storage space was barely enough for two people, as most of the storage space available to us was in the cabin's closet.  Unlike the studio cabin closet on my previous cruise, this closet had sliding doors - a feature which should be retrofitted to closets in studio cabins. 

In regard to the bathroom, the best and worst thing I can say about it was that it was adequate for our needs, with a shower area that my partner found small.  Although counter space might have been lacking, there was enough storage space in the bathroom for two people to store their toiletries. 



Entertainment:

We attended 3 shows in the main theater, as well as 1 show in the Carousel theater.  Of these performances in the main theater, the first was a magic show, the second was a comedian, and the third was a juggler.  Of these acts, the comedian was the best, as he was both clean and funny.  Although an act that depends on the understanding of the English language seems to be an anomaly on MSC, it might indicate changes in entertainment that MSC may be using to attract more North American cruisers.  As for the one show we attended in the Carousel theater, one need not understand a word of English to enjoy the show, as it was music without a plot.  The performers were both acrobatic and good singers.  

Lounge entertainment was entertaining, and often unobtrusive enough that one could have a conversation with people sitting across from you.  There is not much to say about these performers, save that they were competent in their crafts.   

Food/Dining Venues:

1. Buffet.
   
   The design of the buffet area leaves a lot to be desired.  Cruisers getting food from the buffet tables are being bumped into by people transiting the aisles through the buffet area.   Crew members are also rolling their carts along the same aisles, causing traffic jams in the pathways going through the buffet area.
   
   The quality and variety of the food found in the buffet was better than my last cruise on this ship, with the exception of the desserts - they were best forgotten.  However, it is not as good as the buffets I've eaten at on several other lines, with the exception of the pizza. The pizza was very good, and better than that we have had in other cruise lines' buffets. 
    
2. L'Olive Doree Main Dining Room (Breakfast and Lunch):
   
   We often arrived shortly before the morning breakfast window ended.  The greeter saw that we were quickly directed to our table.  And that's when things slowed down.  It often took a while for us to be handed our menus, to be supplied with juice, coffee and/or water for our breakfast beverage, and then for our orders to be taken.  Although the service was often slow, the plentiful food made up for it.
   
   When we decided to have lunch here, there was a decent number of choices available on the menu. One of these choices was the pasta with clam sauce, a dish whose quality was equal (or better) than that served in MSC's specialty restaurant on my previous cruise.
   
   
3. L'Olivo D'Oro Main Dining room (Dinner):
   
   The MSC Meraviglia uses fixed dining times and assigned tables for its main dining rooms for non yacht club passengers. Unlike my last cruise on this ship, I had a cruise partner with me.   Unlike my prior cruise, there was little delay on the first night of the cruise.  Once the doors to the dining room were opened, we were quickly directed to the table we'd use for our 4 main dining room dinners.  Although this was a minor issue for us, we didn't mind fixed time dining that much. Others who would prefer "anytime dining" might feel a little constricted by MSC's dining time assignments, unless they have chosen the "Aurea" fare package which allows them access to anytime dining in one restaurant.
   
   On a former trip as a solo traveler, I found that assigned tables reduced the pleasure I took when dining in the main dining room.  Normally, when dining solo, I ask to be seated at a shared table, so that I (like other solo travelers) have others to talk with over our meals.  If one plans to travel solo on MSC, one should keep this in mind when booking one's cruise. 
    
   I feel that MSC may have improved both the quality and quantity of the food served in the main dining room.  Both my partner and I felt satisfied by these meals - even on Gala Night, where we paid an extra $5 to have an extra serving of lobster tails with shrimp.
   
   The waiters and staff manning this dining room did their best to accommodate our wishes, and I applaud them for their efforts.  Our waiter, Jordan, went beyond what was expected to make us happy, and I appreciated that very much.
   
   One thing of note (and I'm not sure if it was because we had the Easy Plus drink package) was that we had unlimited bottled water (Panna, San Pelegrino, etc.) at our table for all meals in the main dining room.  This was a pleasant part of dining with MSC which I enjoyed at every meal.
   
   
4. Hola Tacos! Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   This restaurant was a pleasant surprise for my cruise partner. This was one of the 3 specialty restaurants available to us in our dining package, and it was the only one without any restrictions on what food could be ordered without incurring extra charges.  Both service and food were of high quality, equivalent to some of the best Mexican restaurants I have visited on my travels.
   
   Like all specialty restaurants on the Meraviglia, Hola Tacos! is just off the main walkway on deck 6, the Galleria Meraviglia.  The best way to describe the Galleria is "Freemont Street, Las Vegas meets an Indoor Strip Mall"  This restaurant, like the other specialty restaurants, looks like it could be at home in a mall's food court. Yet, once inside, we were not aware of what was going on outside the restaurant.
   
   
5. Ocean Cay Seafood Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   This was the first of the specialty restaurants we dined at on this cruise.  Each diner is able to select a starter, a main course, and a dessert from the selections offered to dining package customers.  If one wanted other selections listed on the menu, they were offered at 50% of the price listed on the menu.
   
   My partner selected the Dover Sole for a main course, while I chose the chicken dish as I had selected a seafood dish for lunch.  Both dishes were well done (as in quality) and I would be happy eating either of these dishes again on a future cruise.
   
   
6. Butcher's Cut Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   Both of us had drink packages for this cruise, and we asked for a red wine to go with our meals here.  We were pleasantly surprised to find a Mondavi Cabernet was available on the drink package, as it paired perfectly with our meals.  In my case, I had ordered the lamb chops, and I couldn't finish them all off.  They were both good and plentiful.  What more could you ask of a restaurant at sea.  
   
   Unlike the two restaurants found on deck 6 (Hola Tacos! and Ocean Cay), this restaurant on deck 7 had both inside and outside seating.  Inside seating was isolated from what was going on in the Galleria, outside seating was not.  Luckily for us, there were enough inside tables available for us to feel comfortable when dining here.
   
   

Debarkation:

1. I'm glad that we didn't have to catch a flight to get home.  Although MSC makes it possible for passengers with flight plans to debark early, those with self-arranged flight plans might want to consider choosing 1:00 pm (or later) flights from the 3 NYC regional airports.
   
   We were assigned to the second from the last debarkation group.  People are expected to leave their cabins by 7:30 am, so that room attendants could prepare the cabins for the next cruise.  This meant that we would vacate the cabin by 7:15 am, and proceed to the main dining room for breakfast.  Once done with breakfast, we decided not to go to the ship's theater to wait for our debarkation group to be called.  Instead, we hung out in the area reserved for mobility impaired cruisers (my partner sometimes depends on her cane for support), and were able to depart the ship a little quicker than had we waited in the theater.
   
   
2. Unlike some of our cruises, it was easy to find our luggage in the Brooklyn cruise terminal. Having smaller debarkation groups is very helpful, as it is easier to batch a group's luggage in a smaller area making it easier to find.
   
   
3. Because catching a cab or summoning an Uber to transport us home from the cruise terminal would have added to the confusion we faced when leaving the terminal, we chose to take the ferry to the Atlantic Avenue stop and summon an Uber from there.  My partner was surprised to find that the Uber fare to reach her house from Atlantic Avenue was $30 less than the fare for the ride that took us from her home directly to the terminal  Additionally, it gave us the opportunity to see NYC at water level - a short diversion which made the trip home less jarring.
   
   

Miscellaneous:

1. The use of highly reflective, silvery surfaces next to each other (such as the wine walls between the L'Olivo D'Oro and the L'Olive Doree dining rooms) is stressful for people (like my partner) who have visual problems, as it can magnify any visual problems they may have.  Future ship design should consider people with sensory disabilities in their design.
   
   
2. Since we had the Easy Plus drink package, we were able to go to any bar and get bottled waters and canned sodas whenever we wanted.  This made it possible for us to store a few beverages in our room's refrigerator (we had asked for the mini bar to be emptied) for consumption while in the cabin.
   
   
3. There were not enough electrical outlets in the cabin, as the only ones were found by the desk area: North American and European.  We would have liked USB ports near the bedside (as I've had on other ships) so that our devices could be charged nearby.
   
   
4. Given that this cruise had to leave Bermuda two days earlier than planned, we both thought that receiving $100 compensation from the cruise line ($50 in port fees and $50 from MSC) was thought by many to be too little for the loss of 2 port days, especially when another ship of this size (the NCL Joy?) was able to make port in Bermuda after we left.  Given that Hurricane Milton was coming, and that other cruise ships may have needed to make a foreign port before returning home, I wonder about the full list of factors which forced this ship to leave port when it did.
   
   
5. There were a lot of people from one non-Western ethnic group whose behaviors (in places such as the buffet) are considered rude by most American cruise bloggers I watch.  Although the behaviors of this group didn't bother me, having a disproportionate share of people from this group may be upsetting to many from the American market.    

Conclusion:

On the whole, I consider MSC a good value for the price charged.  My partner and I will consider it for future cruises, but not for "Bucket List" cruises which we will take on more "premium" lines such as Princess Cruises. Given how ambivalent about MSC I was after a prior cruise on this line, I would no longer hesitate to recommend MSC to people who want to take a nice cruise on a tight budget.  However, I would not recommend it for people who like to spend their time in quiet, relaxing places on the ship, as we didn't find enough of these on our cruise.  This line/ship is best for people who prefer a lively atmosphere while at sea.

MSC Meraviglia - Florida and Bahamas Cruise Review (12/09/23 - 12/16/23)

I decided to take this cruise, not knowing whether I would like, dislike, love or hate being on this ship.  Seven days later, I still have ambivalent feelings about this cruise ship, cruise line, and destinations due to the circumstances of this trip.

But first things first....

This was a solo trip for me, as my travel partner was visiting family this week.  Luckily, I was able to snag a good price for this trip:

$400 fare (includes $100 solo supplement)
$149 tax/port fees
$101.50 gratuities
$290 (Specialty Dinner & Beverage Package upgrade)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
$940.50 Total.

This is not a bad price for a solo traveler taking a 7-day cruise out of New York at this time of year. But I made some compromises to take this trip:

• This ship sails out of Brooklyn, and I had no experience getting there via mass transit.
• My booking was for smallest of cabins, and this would prove to be a minor issue when on the ship.
• Mixed reviews of this cruise line available on YouTube made me apprehensive about taking this cruise long before I got on the ship.

Would the cruise be worth it?  Would I regret taking 7 days out of my life to  take this cruise?  Would I feel trapped in my stateroom?  There were so many questions I had before boarding the ship, that I was concerned that I made a big mistake taking this cruise.  But as I found out, most of my questions would be answered, and I was left feeling just as ambivalent after the cruise as I felt before the cruise.

Transit to the Cruise Terminal:

I live in Northern Westchester County, NY.  Since I can't park at the local MNRR train station, I called for a cab to reach the station in time for a 9:37 am train to Grand Central Terminal (GCT).  Although the cab was reasonably prompt, I barely made it to the station in time to buy my ticket and board the train.  To avoid this problem, I advise travelers is to try to take a train 30-60 minutes earlier than you will need to reach your destination on time.

My original plans were to take the NYC Subway from GCT to Lower Manhattan and walk to the Ferry at Pier 11.  Unfortunately, the ferry schedule didn't mesh with my Embarkation schedule, and MSC noted that people should be at the terminal within a 30 minute window of one's embarkation schedule. To avoid the risk of not making the ferry on time, I took a cab to Pier 11, and just missed an earlier ferry.  I could have made the 11:28 am ferry after all!  

I take advantage of the Senior Citizen rates for all mass transit options when possible, and used it for my ferry fare.  Boarding the ferry with my luggage was easy, and I was at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal by 12:00 noon. However, the luggage drop-off area was not immediately adjacent to the terminal, but where cars were dropping off their passengers.  So I ended up crossing traffic to drop off my large suitcase, then walked across it again to get on line to enter the cruise terminal.

Others will have different transportation requirements.  Parking at the cruise terminal costs $45/day.  Unfortunately, the cruise terminal is in a section of the city (Red Hook in Brooklyn) that can be awkward to reach by car, as traffic on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is often very slow. Additionally, mass transit of all forms(buses, subway, ferries) near the cruise terminal leaves much to be desired in this isolated section of the city..

Embarkation:

Since the MSC Meraviglia is a large ship, the lines to both get into the cruise terminal, and inside the cruise terminal were long.  Although one might have needed to dress warmly outside the terminal, one could dress for the tropics inside the terminal.  This meant that I had to strip off my coat and wish I wore a T-Shirt and Khakis while making my way to board the ship.  Unlike the first time I was at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, I didn't have to spend time in the waiting area before being called to board the ship.  The lines moved relatively quickly through security and cruise card collection, and I was on the ship before 1:00 pm. 

Stateroom:

I chose an interior stateroom at the far aft of the ship.  Any further back, and I'd be in the water.  This wasn't a bad option for me, as I could use a good walk before visiting any dining or entertainment venue on the ship.  On average I walked approximately 0.25 miles between my stateroom and any dining area (and back) for each meal.  What might bother some people would be the zig-zag path one would need to use to reach the stateroom from the aft elevator bank, as the ship's design was laid out to maximize the number of inside cabins available on the ship.

My cabin, 10308, was the tiniest of cabins I ever have been in.  Coming in at 129 sq. ft., one would think that this cabin would have been designed to be a solo cabin.  It was not.  It was designed to be an annex to either of the two balcony cabins to which it could be connected.  As a result, when the sofa was turned into a bed, it blocked the closet doors, making it impossible to open these doors wide enough for practical use.  However, I was able to lift the bed enough to get one side of the closet opened.  That was just enough for me to store the clothes I needed for the week.  But it wasn't enough for me to use the cabin safe. Another problem with my stateroom was a lack of space under the bed to store my luggage.  Luckily, I was able to use floorspace in front of the door connecting my cabin to the cabin next door as a storage area.

Since the sofabed was always in bed mode, there wasn't much space for me to sit at the desk and use my computer.  I always ended up sitting on the edge of the bed instead of the stool provided for that purpose, as it was heavy, awkward to move, and not designed for use at the side of the desk area.  Unfortunately, the TV was directly in front of the desk area, meaning that the closet could block the view of the TV when lying down.

In regard to the bathroom, the best and worst thing I can say about it was that it was small, but adequate for my needs.  I figure that there was not enough counter space for most people, and suspect that a solo woman traveler would find thie counter space a little too small for her toiletries and makeup.

Entertainment:

I attended 5 theater performances, all of which were only 45 minutes long.  Of these performances, 2 were in the more intimate Carousel theater, and 4 were in the larger Broadway theater.  On my first visit to the Broadway theater, I saw a show with 4 different magicians, each with their own specialties. The next visit had a good singer performing various Broadway show tunes.  The third visit had a comedian, Dave Konig, performing a routine which took 20 minutes to get me to laugh.  (It takes a lot to get me laughing.) And the final visit was for a crew talent show.  In the Carousel theater I saw MSC's (forgettable) "Houdini" production.  (I must acknowledge that they couldn't perform the show as originally envisioned due to rough seas.)   And the next time I was in the Carousel theater, I saw Dave Konig again, doing a different comedy routine.  For the most part, the entertainment in the theaters was good, but the performances were way too short. If one expects a stage show on this ship, the closest thing that comes to one will be found in the Carousel theater, where 2 different shows are performed.  Strangely enough, the Broadway theater had acts which focused on individual performances, including the magic show.

Lounge entertainment was entertaining, and inobtrusive enough that one could have a conversation with people sitting across from you.  There is not much to say about these performers, save that they were competent in their crafts.  And this is enough when one wants to enjoy a quiet drink in the lounge.

Itinerary:

As most people who cruise often know, itineraries are plans that can change in a moment's notice.  And that was the case on this cruise.  We were originally scheduled to set sail for Port Canaveral, then head for Nassau.  From there, we'd sail to the cruise line's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, before returning to New York.  But this would not be the case, and it would result in a "fustercluck" when we returned to the USA.

Our trip started out well, having tolerably good weather until we reached Port Canaveral.  And then things started to change.  By the time we reached Nassau, it was raining and the weather started getting worse from there.  Around 5 pm, we received our notice that we were not going to Ocean Cay as planned.  Instead, we'd be heading for Miami.

Normally, I'd be looking forward to seeing a city that I had never been in before.  But this day was very different.  I'd have rather spent the day at sea than to deal with US Customs and Border Protection.  We were told that shortly after arrival, everyone would have to disembark the ship and go through a US Customs checkpoint before reboarding the ship.  This process would take 3+ hours, and no one would be let back on the ship until there were no passengers onboard.  Since it was raining outside, I took a book with me and proceeded to the terminal where I expected to find a seat where I could quietly read a book.  This would not be as easy as first thought.  Going through the Customs checkpoint was easy.  But there were no directions on how one could reenter the terminal to wait until we were allowed back onboard the ship.  Luckily, I found a way back in and waited for the signal to get on line to reboard the ship.  There weren't enough seats for the people waiting to get back onboard, nor was there any organization for getting the passengers back onto the ship.  When the line moved, it made sense to get on it from wherever one was and hope that they'd let you on board before you lost bladder control.  (Oh, did I mention that one woman told me that the women's room attendant was telling restroom users not to pee on the seats or on the floor?  That's enough to make one want to struggle to get back on board the ship as quickly as possible.)  For those who chose to leave the ship and take an excursion, they had 3 excursions available.  None of these seemed interesting on a rainy day, considering one was a hop on/off bus, another was a 5-hour bus tour of Miami, and the last was a trip to the Everglades.  It was easy to understand why the waiting room got overcrowded quickly.

Food/Dining Venues:

1. Buffet.
   
   - The design of the buffet area leaves a lot to be desired.  Cruisers getting food from the buffet tables are being bumped into by people transiting the aisles through the buffet area.   Crew members are also rolling their carts along the same aisles, causing traffic jams in the pathways going through the buffet area.
   
   - The quality and variety of the food found in the buffet is not as good as I've found when sailing on several other lines., with the exception of the pizza.   Excepting the pizza, most buffet dishes were lacking in flavor.  It was hard to find food such as hamburgers at the buffet during lunch time, and I ended up choosing pizza way too often as my default choice.
   
   - Several times during the cruise, serving plates, utensils, glasses and coffee cups were hard to find in the buffet area. 
   
   - There was often a lack of orange juice in some of the beverage stations.
   
   
2. L'Olivo D'Oro  Dining room (Dinner):
   
   - The MSC Meraviglia uses fixed dining times and tables for its main dining rooms for non yacht club passengers. For couples and members of small groups, this is not much of an issue.  But for solo travelers, it is impossible to request being seated at a shared table.  For travelers like me when traveling alone, this is a big drawback, as I like the company of random strangers for dinner when cruising.
   
   - On the first night, second service was delayed for almost an hour while people were being shown to their assigned tables.  This delay, caused by delays from the first seating, is inexcusable.  It would be better to switch to anytime dining with new table assignments each night, as this would prevent the first night delay, and provide for better table service - does MSC want the dining rooms to be that of catering halls instead of large restaurants?
   
   - Except for gala night, the food quality was below that of the other lines I've sailed on.  MSC's  portion sizes may be that of a European clientele.  When I asked for a Greek Salad on Gala night, I was charged $5 for a portion smaller than a side salad served at Greek restaurants in Astoria, Queens.  The quality of this salad would be an insult to the Greek community living in the NYC area.
   
   - The waiters and staff manning this dining room did their best to accommodate my wishes, and I applaud them for their efforts.  They went beyond what was expected to make me happy, and I appreciate that very much.
   
   
3. Waves Dining Room (Breakfast - At Sea):
   
   - I arrived 15 minutes before the morning breakfast window ended.  Although I reached a table quickly and was handed a breakfast menu, it took about a half hour before anyone brought me any water, juice or coffee.  There were no utensils on the table, nor was there a place setting.  I had to ask for this while waiting for service.
   
   - When service was provided, it still took a long while before my breakfast was delivered to the table - and the waiter got the order wrong.  It doesn't take much to get things right, but the lack of quality service made me prefer the disaster of the buffet to dealing with this restaurant for breakfast.
   
   
4. Panorama Dining Room (Breakfast - Debarkation Day):
   
   - Sadly, this was the breakfast venue that I visited on my last day on the ship.  Although they got my order slightly wrong (in a forgivable way) it was a pleasure having breakfast here while I waited for my debarkation group number to be called.  Not only was I able to get the breakfast beverages I ordered, but they didn't make me feel like I had to be in a rush to leave the table - debarkation took care of that.
   
   
5. Hola Tacos! Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   - This restaurant was a very pleasant surprise.  I chose this place, as I had the dining package, and I was glad I did so.  Both service and food were of high quality, equivalent to some of the best Mexican restaurants I have visited on my travels.
   
   - Restaurant staff were very eager to serve, and they made suggestions that I wouldn't have thought of when trying out this place.  Assuming I sail with MSC again, I'll be sure to have a meal here.
   
   
6. Butcher's Cut Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   - I ordered a Merlot wine that was available on my drink package. Unfortunately, the waiter assumed that I ordered a Malbec.  I was not in a mood to correct him in regard to my Merlot order, as I was tired and hungry.  Since the Malbec was not on my plan, he suggested a Zinfandel that went well with my steak. 
   
   - Although I enjoyed the strip steak I ordered, it was a little below the quality I've had at other cruise lines' specialty steakhouses.  No, I am not looking for a Peter Luger quality steak.  But I am looking for a steak that is equal to the quality I've eaten on other lines.
   
   
7. Ocean Cay Seafood Specialty Restaurant (Dinner):
   
   - This was a disappointment.  There weren't enough main course choices available to someone on the dining plan without an effective upcharge.
   
   - For my main course, I chose the pasta in clam sauce, and it was better than many versions of this dish that I've had on land. 
   
   - For dessert, I chose the Creme Brulee.  It was done as well (or better) than many versions of this dish I have had elsewhere.

Debarkation:

1. I'm glad that I didn't have to catch a flight.  Arbitrarily assigning me a late debarkation group may have made it impossible for me to make a noon flight, as I would have needed to be off the ship by 9:00 am to be at JFK or LGA by 10:00 am.  (EWR would have required an even earlier debarkation,)  On other  lines, I can choose my debarkation times (within limits) as many people prefer either early or late debarkation based on their needs.
   
   
2. Unlike some of my cruises, it was easy to find my luggage in the Brooklyn cruise terminal. Having smaller debarkation groups is very helpful, as it is easier to batch a group's luggage in a smaller area making it easier to find.

Miscellaneous:

1. Given that this cruise was diverted from Ocean Cay (MSC's private island) to Miami due to the weather, I am upset that CBP (customs and border protection), the Miami Cruise terminal, and MSC couldn't work out a better process for first landed USA port processing.  On other cruise lines, CBP did not make us get off the ship when we reached our first US port after touching foreign soil.  Instead, they had a process in place (such as I experienced in Portland, Maine) where everyone flows through one of the dining areas to have their papers inspected by CBP, then are free to go on their ways.  When the weather is bad or uncomfortable, this would be very disruptive, as it took several hours before we could return to the ship.  Additionally, no instructions were given to us on where we could reenter the terminal to reach the waiting rooms, nor were there enough seats for us to wait there.  Even though we were given boarding group tickets, they meant nothing when people were being allowed to return to the ship - it was simply unorganized chaos and poor crowd control. 
   
   
2. Contrary to what I've been told, public areas on the ship were kept very clean, including the rest rooms.
   
   
3. The use of highly reflective, silvery surfaces next to each other (such as the wine walls between the L'Olivo D'Oro dining room and the Panorama dining room) is stressful for people who have visual problems, as it can magnify any visual problems they may have.  Future ship design should consider people with sensory disabilities in their design.
   
   
4. There were a lot of people from one non-Western ethnic group whose behaviors (in places such as the buffet) are considered rude by most American cruise bloggers I watch.  Although the behaviors of this group didn't bother me, having a disproportionate share of people from this group may be upsetting to many from the American market.    

Conclusion:

On the whole, I consider MSC a good value for the price charged.  I will consider it for future solo cruises, but not for ones with my partner. In a head to head "apples to apples" comparison on 7-day cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas with lines such as NCL, I feel that NCL delivers a better product for just a little bit more money.  (In the "apples to apples" comparison, NCL cost $300 more than MSC for an interior cabin with the "Free at Sea" package.)  If MSC wants to gain market share in the US market, it might be wise NOT to consider being a low cost leader in cruising.  Instead, it might be wiser to deliver a better, less glitzy experience that attracts the seasoned cruiser like me.

PS: I sent both an email and a snail mail to customer service at MSC shortly after my cruise, and did not received a reply after 3 weeks.  If this is the kind of absent response someone can expect from this cruise line, I doubt that I will ever cruise with them again, as they have no interest in even acknowledging the concerns I put into my letter.

PPS: I received the email below from MSC, 4 weeks after my cruise.  It's a perfect example of slow responses to customer complaints or criticisms.  

From: Postcruisesupport@msccruisesusa.com



Good afternoon,

Thank you for contacting the MSC Post Cruise Support Department and for sharing your candid comments about your experience onboard the MSC Meraviglia.

As a guest, you are part of the MSC Cruises family, and we can assure you that your valuable feedback is not only taken seriously but is also shared with the relevant departments for their internal follow-up.

We also understand that the problems you pointed out with several departments could detract from that enjoyment and sincerely regret if your cruise did not meet your overall expectations.

We truly appreciate your patronage and hope to have the opportunity to regain your confidence when we have the pleasure of welcoming you back aboard MSC Cruises.

Sincerely,

GGallina
Post Cruise Support Specialist
MSC Cruises USA