BOARDING MSC Meraviglia in NYC - Our FIRST MSC Cruise!!!

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

Have you sailed with MSC?? If so, what did you think? If not, will you give them a try?

[@skipfrey4603]

I've sailed twice with MSC and have a third trip planned on The Seascape in November. The difference for me was I was in the Yacht Club for the sailings so my experience was probably a little different than yours. Embarkation took roughly 15 minutes and I was on the ship by 10:30. I did not eat outside of The Yacht Club, the food was outstanding there. I think it is a reasonable price for all of the perks.

[@mikecook6318]

Have sailed with MSC 5 times and have 2 further cruises booked, ❤️ MSC, being from Europe we love the international feel of the ship and prefer them to American owned ships

[@vickilawhorn8284]

Just once, a few weeks ago aboard the MSC World Europa. Such a massive ship! Beautiful decor, fantastic entertainment, lots of food venues. We booked into the Yacht Club so we certainly enjoyed the quieter aspects of that experience. Terrific service everywhere. One thing that was different for us, is that for this Mediterranean itinerary, people embarked/disembarked at each port. Definitely made the first day a much calmer event.

[@paullywalnutz]

We actually just WON a cruise on MSC from Bally's! Thinking of doing the NY to Bermuda cruise. Excited to follow along with your channel to see how this one goes. You guys were my main source of INFO when we sailed on Holland America earlier this year! YOU ROCK!

[@4daloveofcruising]

Never tried msc. Have been on other cruise lines. But, msc will be either this year or next year. But this boat looks like fun. I live in NJ so getting on in NY will be a breeze.

[@amandaregis313]

Hubby and I are thinking January. We enjoyed Holland America's Boston to Montreal last June on board the MS Volendam. It was great fun, but my adventurous old soldier could do with something more, (two weeks ago he and his 32 year old son did a sky dive over the world's longest fresh water beach for his 60th birthday), and this cruise looks like he can have some fun while I become a lady of leisure. I'm interested in the transition from north to south, too.

[@billyangel3683]

I just sailed on the Mereviglia from June 4 -11. I went solo and had the greatest time of my life. They have a few small issues, but in time they will sort it out. The new people I met and the great staff on board made it even better then I had expected. Would I go back again? Definitely!!!! I am going back and hiding more ducks. It was fun watching people react to finding one of my ducks.I call myself Duck Master on the duck tags. So if anyone wants to find a duck I am going in Sept. on the same ship, just one different port of call. Everyone , try it , you will love it. Thanks for your great videos. They helped alot. I'm sorry I just missed you. Hope you are having a great time.

[@cindymcguine5688]

Took MSC from Fl to Bahamas. Short staffed. Buffett line wait for 20 minutes. Food was minimal at the buffett. Lines waiting for drinks. Everyone on board commented about terrible service

[@Mrs.Portia_G]

I’ve heard that about MSC, hence the reason I haven’t sailed on their cruise line.

[@EECCTravels]

Service was good for us. It was just the buffet on that first day. We found the back of the buffet nice after day 1.

[@kimberlyfelder2244]

Don’t do it MSC service sucks

[@Mrs.Portia_G]

@@kimberlyfelder2244 so I’ve heard 🤦🏽‍♀️. Thanks for the info.

[@keeperzero]

MSC was terrible. Won't cruise them again

[@mrmrso228]

Welcome to NYC, where everything is stressful lol!

[@thelegaultlife3096]

ugh ok I'm just gonna say it......its the Asians that just sit there, take up space and won't move!!! Every Single Cruise we have ever been on its like that. I"m sure in their culture its not rude or a big deal but on American soil it is very rude, let everyone have a chance to sit and eat please!

[@Juancarlo4342]

We always go to the back of the ship on meraviglia to eat.

[@KS-kr4ok]

we sailed Meraviglia twice. The best meal we got all week was at Cracker Barrel after we left the ship. The ship is beautiful but the food needs lots of help. No loungers by the adult pool is annoying. Gonna stick with Royal and Celebrity.

[@jordanbeck2310]

I just started looking at this exact cruise (different dates, of course). Perfect timing! Will be staying tuned for the rest of this series! Thanks for putting in the time and effort to make these.

[@Pirtosi]

We are diamond / black status with MSC and we typically get on the ship early thru priority boarding, first thing we do once on board, go to Muster, second hit the buffet before all the crowds get on the ship. Plenty of seating and the food is hot and fresh. We LOVE MSC, the only thing we hate is their guest services & Customer Service. It is the WORSE. Gods help you if you have to go to Guest Services! LoL But it also looks like leaving out of Miami, is MUCH less Hectic.

[@Bellyup6969]

Cpap users not need apply, no plugs by the bed,,,, well back to Royal for me. Bummer

[@cruisecrazy7066]

Did they put the plugs so close together that you could only use one plug at a time?

[@EECCTravels]

Depending on the box, some of our boxes were too big.

[@robertbradt8249]

The Manhattan terminal sucks lol just saying 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@paulacairns6846]

We were on the Seaside when it first came out. They are beautiful ships...the food is edible (not the best, but no one starved). The announcements everyday take forever because of all the different languages. Lots of passengers speaking different languages. Just a different experience but it is what you make it. We still had fun! You're on a cruise!

[@Mayrose587]

We were just on the Seaside and I would agree with everything you just said. It is a different experience. One thing I did like was that, at least on the Seaside, they had a new show every night. RCL recycles the same one or two shows the entire week. That was a pleasant surprise.

[@EECCTravels]

They have changed to an ‘American’ style of cruising so there are not multiple announcements anymore and the food is what we are used to on other lines.

[@VickiTheCraftAttic]

Add an NCL sailing out of NYC to your cruise port bucket list - the cruise port is further up the Hudson, and takes a little longer to get to the Verrazano Bridge but you get to sail along with all the other boats on the water. It’s the best!

[@EECCTravels]

We are actually on Carnival Venezia today and just made that sailing by downtown and under the bridge. It was so cool!!

[@VickiTheCraftAttic]

@@EECCTravelsWhat a beautiful day for a sail away 🛳️

[@angeloditavi7962]

I am a travel agent and was invited on the Meraviglia to take a cruise out of Brooklyn NY. Both me and my wife decided to celebrate our anniversary and take the cruise from 5/14 to 5/21. Fantastica experience. The Meraviglia is a beautiful ship, which is well maintained. The cabin stewards are very attentive to the guests needs. Pricing is good. And their has been a definite improvement in the food quality and service in the specialty restaurants, since what we experienced in our last cruise with MSC going back to 2009. Since May i have viewed many reviews of this ship and not once have I heard mention of one flaw in the design of this ship. THERE ARE NO ELEVATORS AFT ????? Elevators are located forward and mid ships. If your cabin is located aft you have a fare distance to walk when leaving or going to your cabin. Now if you look at the design of the ship, with cabins set in then out then in then out, to get to the nearest elevator and lets say your cabin is located starboard aft, take a right out of your cabin, walk to nearest bulkhead walk left then quick right down a long hallway to next bulkhead then right and quick left then half way down that hallway to nearest elevators on left. Remember this ship is over a thousand feet long and each one of those insets is almost a football field long. 2nd If you drive to Brooklyn parking the car at the terminal is a definite gouge. $ 45.00 per day OR $ 315.00 for the week. And the buffet leaves much to be desired as well. Quality of food, organization, guest flow, etc. MSC has to take into consideration these things in order to be successful out of NY.

[@hollypotter6989]

😮That shower is awful. Guess its typical for a cruise ship, but even with that foot bar, no way can you bend over and shave a leg. Lord help you if you drop the loofa, you'll have to step out to bend over and pick it up. Love the view. You looked so stressed at the buffet. Since both hubby and i are on scooters that would be a nightmare. Please comment on your vlogs if scooters and wheelchairs can travel comfortably when you cruise or do shore excursions. We found out that tendering isnt possible, and river cruises are not conducive for people with mobility issues.

[@mattmanninen2498]

I was on the MSC Seascape in April and we had the same issues with the buffet. Long lines, and no organization. It did get better as the week went on. Can't wait to see the rest of the videos.

[@JaypeaFoto]

YEAH! Ive been waiting for your experience on MSC. Going to be watching this series with great interest. Have a wonderful time.

[@SarahAsYouWish]

I love cruising out of NYC. I’m not familiar with this cruise line though, so I’m looking forward to the rest of your videos. Happy sailing!

[@Cooking_Through_Time]

I’d rather go hungry instead of sitting in all that noise…..lol

[@susananderson618]

One of the many things I love about you, you don't sugar coat it, you tell it like it is. How frustrating at the buffet. Now if they can only get the buffet to run as smoothly as muster - homerun! I was looking for the link for the door decorations you mentions but I must be blind as I couldn't find the link here. Looking forward to following along this cruise!

[@EECCTravels]

Here you go: www.magicaldaycreations.com/

[@alinah.]

My trip in Dec 2022 was a 1 and done . Everyday, the food got worse. The specialty restaurants were not good - running out of ingredients to make basic things like queso. We were served a clump of mozzarella in place of queso. I wish I could post a picture. Yes, the ship is pretty, but when you have to live on pizza all week, that doesn't make for a good cruise experience. A BIG plus though, was overnighting at their private island. Now that was very nice.

[@debbieserwe2242]

Is it safe to assume MSC does not have a MDR open for lunch on embarktion day?

[@EECCTravels]

Not that I am aware of…

[@bobmartinez7247]

we sailed out of NYC three weeks ago on the Oasis of the Seas. Great views leaving the city.

[@suwinky]

Bayonne (Cape Liberty), New Jersey

[@diannaholland1897]

We had the anchor magnet with our names on it and someone stole it off of our door. So sad.

[@oaktree1626]

I was on that ship two years ago out of Miami. Loved it and had a great time. It's beautiful. At that time the ship was about half capacity so there were no buffet issues. I like the more open layout of RC buffet over the linear layout on this ship..

[@EECCTravels]

Oh I miss those days of half capacity…

[@monkeyb1820]

from what I've seen, a big problem with msc is that they don't have the fast-food type places to help disperse crowds. So everyone has to go to the lido...I don't like this type of setup.

[@EECCTravels]

Yes this is true. Even the pizza is part of the buffet area. There is a burger spot by the pool but it’s not open all of the time.

[@Stanf954]

Next time walk across the Brioklyn Bridge.

[@JNTravels]

We are doing a 14-day cruise on the Meraviglia from NY in October. Hoping that you'll have all sorts of info? 🐸

[@jamesirwin6983]

We were just on the Norweigen Jewel with you and that definitely isn’t the Jewel. Jewel doesn’t have a water slide

[@janedavies7768]

Was on mcs venture in may same experience with the buffet food not good in the dining room not enough plugs still had a good time in Norway have a good time regards from the UK 😊

[@dianepatrias979]

MSC ? What is that? sorry…

[@maryanncapece2623]

MSC - Mediterranean Shipping Company. It is family owned and that is how it started. Then they got into the cruising industry. They kept the MSC for the cruise ships. Thier ships are beautiful and they are trying to get more into the north American market.

[@EECCTravels]

MSC Cruise line

[@jackcampbell4465]

Excited for EECC's perspective on MSC!

[@Pantherjonvideos]

Nice! We were on the Meraviglia in January out of Canaveral. Beautiful ship, we really enjoyed it..Yeah, the buffet was total chaos on our cruise THE WHOLE cruise! If you go on the port side towards the pool area you will find the 'Family Buffet' area - where they have a small buffet station catering to kids. We found that area to be quiet and not as crowded..We too were pretty amazed at the size of our balcony cabin(until we sailed Prima, that one is a bit roomier, plus we didn't have a 5 year old hogging the space! LOL)..Have fun! Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures on this cruise!

[@unhappycustomer361]

So excited to hear your final thoughts. Please give us your review on the food. NCL has been my favorite

[@EECCTravels]

We are going to have a full recap video on our experience 👍

[@danzuelch]

Sailed the Meraviglia Yacht Club in March. A truly amazing experience for a very affordable price compared to other lines.

[@EECCTravels]

We have to do this!

[@HearTbeat_999]

Stick with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. All other cruise lines do not compare. NCL is ok, and Carnival has terrible food. I’m never going on a MSC cruise, and Virgin cruises is not good enough for the prices they charge.

[@juliechadwick9330]

We had the same experience when we went

[@lisawright5674]

I hope you guys took advantage of their status match program. I got some great perks on my first MSC cruise by status matching as a Princess Captain's Circle Elite.

[@EECCTravels]

We sure did 👍

[@brantthompson199]

We took the Meraviglia out of Canaveral last December for our first MSC cruise. Beautiful ship but yes the buffet doesn’t flow well, was packed on our cruise too. The service was good enough for us, it’s not over the top by any stretch but that’s ok. Muster drill and credit card linking stations are antiquated. Can’t beat their prices for what you get. As an added bonus Ocean Cay is super nice!! We have sailed on the Divina as well. Didn’t care for it as much. Sailing the Seascape for Christmas.

[@amandalamothe8631]

We are debating booking the same cruise. However, when I call, she can’t seem to give me any info on prices! How much is parking at the port? How much is Wi-Fi? I find it very strange that they can sell you a cruise and not disclose all of the prices in advance.

[@mariaparisi9310]

Stop complaining 😂😂😂. U should had gone from California that is top of the line cruises with celebrities people since u don't like the crowd from broojkyn . It's being crowded from brooklyn for over 40 years

[@jamespugh]

Ny port so close us here in Pennsylvania dont fly to Florida also got Virginia close also. Look at this video bc read article from laty rights about cruise 🛳 and said she will sail with them bc price over royal get about same cruise 🛳

[@eleanor4482]

Nothing like a NY sail away, especially going past the Statue of Liberty and under the Verrazano Bridge. Enjoy your cruise. Can’t wait to hear about the food.

[@HighSeasHowes]

I went on the meraviglia in December and loved it. Everything was decorated for Christmas and it was gorgeous.

[@elizabethbattaglia-lizzyti8657]

We are thinking of planning one now. Can't wait to see what you think of all of it! And I ordered a magnet! Never thought about it helping find our cabin!

[@jsouthwell79]

Are you wearing an NCL backpack on a MSC cruise? Awesome!

[@EECCTravels]

Yup! It’s an awesome backpack!

[@sabrinalavdisarnold825]

I wasnt impressed with MSC afterwatching Dee and Jay's videos. Crew being rude, which is pretty bad. The Yacht Club experience seems to be better than regular cruise fares.

[@airgump2003]

Heading out on the Meraviglia soon. I’m looking forward to all of your videos from this trip!

[@brentseizer1019]

The thing that irks me the most, is that people dont think of others. The cruise line needs staff to control how many people are in line for the buffet at once. More staff to help direct people to an open table, and signal to stop letting people ini when no tables available. Bussers need to clear the table once people are done. Hopefully this will given people the hint that they need to leave. If not then staff is going to have to explain to people that there are others waiting to use the table. These are the people that are inconsiderate. I know people will say that they cant go anywhere since their room is not ready. 1. They can go find their muster station. 2. They can spend time exploring the ship and understanding where things are and what there is to do. 3. Go sign up for excursions. 4. Make reservations for dinner.

[@davelauraphillips8814]

We found it unexpected that your room was not ready at boarding. Is that a common occurrence?

[@EECCTravels]

This is typical. The cabin crew has every cabin to turn over between cruises and they need extra time.

[@davelauraphillips8814]

@@EECCTravels Thank you for the reply. Safe travels !

[@beccaj7978]

Been on Divina gorgeous ship lookin to book this one after I do sunrise

[@barbiedoll6158]

When booking with a partner do y'all split the price or do y'all both pay for separate prices??I dnt Kno nuffin bout cruises

[@peterbunter2059]

Hi. What was your cabin number please. We are just booking and want to have the same view. TIA

[@rickinnes]

Is there any where else to eat on embarkation day other than buffet ? Thanks for great video

[@EECCTravels]

Our friends ate at the specialty Mexican restaurant. The price wasn’t bad and I wish we would have done this!

[@rickinnes]

@@EECCTravels thanks 🙏

[@wilcuber6376]

is the port where you board the brooklyn cruise terminal?

[@blackbirds4]

I have sailed the Meraviglia 4 times!!! Love the Food, Love the Ship, Love the Private Island,

[@brentseizer1019]

I think I would prefer a balcony that has a table so I can eat out on the balcony. I do not like that phone booth shower. I want a shower nozzle over a standard tub, so I can do a bath or a shower.

[@Juancarlo4342]

So you guys were on the meraviglia when they had the issues with the broken gangway while getting off.

[@EECCTravels]

It was fine getting off, just very long lines!!

[@Sky1]

Your dealing with New Yorkers. This is who they are

[@juliomiranda2131]

"Theres a tv about 32 in!" Had me rolling lol

[@stephenshank9464]

Great video, very informative. Long time cruisers with Celebrity, but thinking of booking the cruise from NY in March 2024, to avoid flying. 2 questions: 1-) We have the option of booking 'Aurea", with a balcony cabin (not a suite). Is it worth it? It says that "Aurea" have priority boarding, 24 hr room service etc...sound excellent! With the "Aurea" class, do we eat at the main MDR or is there a separate section? 2-) How did you get to Brooklyn Cruise terminal? Is it easier to saty in Broolyn or to stay near the airport and take a transfer or UBER? Thank you and looking forward to other videos.

[@rebeccalyons1327]

Thought for sure you would be going to Bermuda again since you were in NY

[@EECCTravels]

There are a lot of these Bahamas itineraries from NYC on different lines.

[@vickilawhorn8284]

Yikes! That sounds like a calamity getting onboard! Hope it's smoother sailing after the first day. Did some snooping around and saw that the NCL ship was the Joy, and apparently they have a 3:00 pm embarkation time out of NYC. Really unusual for sure!

[@EECCTravels]

It was MUCH better after we got settled in.

[@badmojo45]

We are also cruising from NYC Brooklyn terminal in November, but on a different line. We noticed you stayed in Times Square, what mode of transport did you utilize to get to the ship? Cost? Would you recommend the method you chose?

[@nancyrichardson9927]

We board the same cruise this Sunday. Hope it goes more smoothly than yours. Good to know about the buffet.

[@EECCTravels]

Have fun!

[@christinehampton2700]

Will be curious to hear how your experience in MDR is…was on this ship in January (our first MSC too) & the food in MDR on 1st night in MDR was inedible (and we are not even fussy with food I promise!). So we paid extra money for upgraded dining next night. Although base prices are cheaper you end up paying just as much as other cruises when you add in these extras you have to spend to make it more comparable it terms of quality. Also, they did not have bloody Mary’s or mimosas available on their private island and no beach service. The bars were a chaotic disaster. Overall a disappointment and we wished we would have liked MSC. Hoping they have improved for y’all!

[@EECCTravels]

We didn’t eat in the MDR but did try a couple of specialty restaurants and enjoyed them. We ate buffet and pizza most often.

[@jeankennedy620]

We were on her one month ago, we loved it our first also ❤🎉😂

[@rosevite2000]

What time did you guys arrive at the port to embark?

[@adventuresofanunlikelypair9695]

Love you guys!

[@rosariakrueger9108]

We were on…MSC IS AWFUL!

[@EECCTravels]

We had a great cruise… just the beginning was rough.

[@RhYn0n]

I share your frustration with buffet camping. I’ve experienced it a few times. The fact I’ve never seen y’all point it out makes me think it’s worse on this ship/line.

[@EECCTravels]

It was bad!

[@Mayrose587]

Great video. We sailed on MSC for the very first time back in May. MSC Seaside. Were you aware that MSC has a program called "status matching"? Meaning, when you join their loyalty program, they will match your loyalty status from any cruise line. We've sailed the most on RCL so we status matched and were awarded Silver Status on MSC prior to embarkation. All I did was log into both my wife and I's RCL acounts and sent MSC a screenshot of the top banner on the page showing our C&A Society#, current status, and #of points. As much as you guys cruise, you could probably get at least Gold status on MSC.

[@EECCTravels]

Yes we did this and they fixed our keycards and account onboard. Not sure why it didn’t show up.

[@Mayrose587]

@@EECCTravels Well that's good. When you showed your cards in the video, they were the basic blue ones so i thought I'd share.

[@Loveeveryone-uu1hk]

DO NOT CRUISE WITH MSC it is awfulllllllllllll

[@waynesweeney440]

Hello, we will be on this cruise in March, so one thing I can't find no where, is there an Iron in the room to iron our clothes? If not can we figure how to get one? I'm picky about my clothes, lol. Thank you!

[@EECCTravels]

No cruise ships have irons in the cabin. You can usually check with your cabin steward about getting one temporarily in your cabin.

[@colingeorge9620]

How does MSC compare to Holland America?

[@jordanbeck2310]

vastly different. too many differences to explain in a youtube comment unfortunately, but there are a lot of good resources to get information on both here on KZbin or on reddit!

[@EECCTravels]

They are very different… I would compare MSC more to Carnival in terms of the ships, entertainment and liveliness.

[@johntheripper8221]

How long did it take you to check in?

[@sandymackendrick6135]

How much time did it take you to get on board from the time you got there?

[@EECCTravels]

About an hour

[@oliverhopkins7314]

USB by the bed under the lights

[@davyhamadani2806]

I just sailed on the Meraviglia from 8-27-9-4. The Ship is beautiful, Crew was great and Friendly. the problem was the Organization especially in the buffe of the ship was bad and food was bland.. I usually cruise with NCL and the food compared with NCL and MSC, NCL is much better by far.

[@Dirtdobber84]

We sailed MSC Seaside December 2019. Breakfast pizza was the bomb!

[@nygrasshole]

Had my bachelor party on that ship in Aug 2021 when ships JUST started to sail again. We had 600 passengers on that big ship so we essentially had it to ourselves. Buffet selection extremely limited and theater entertainment was subpar. Other than that it’s a nice time and I would try again. However, I’m NCL all day every day!

[@caryrae73]

I just don’t understand why ships don’t have plugs and usb ports by the bed? So many people use cpaps and phones for clock/alarm. Some will have plugs on just one side too, why not both.

[@garkencruises]

We sailed with MSC seaview and it put us off MSC. Although the ship was absolutely stunning, the service and food just weren’t up to our expectations.

[@shawnasmith3046]

I love your white tee! Where is it frim

[@EECCTravels]

Walmart 😃

[@JohnLabrosse-y1p]

I must say i was very disappointed with this cruise. Lets start at the beginning. We were scheduled to board @ noon but due to a problem with the gangway boarding was delayed. 5300 people in a parking lot with no water, food or restrooms for hours. We were able to board after 3+ hours and as expected there was a mad rush for the buffet as everyone was hungry from waiting outside for hours. Upon arrival at the buffet we were disappointed as it was just about cleaned out. I managed to grab a roll and a few pieces of cold cuts to make a sandwich. Before going further i want to state that we had horrible weather for 5 of the 7 days and in no way do I blame MSC for the bad weather . They did the best they could and at one point you could not even go on deck for two days. That said i felt the service was spotty. The bar service was without the worst I have ever experienced. Considering we had the drink package which wasn't cheap I was disappointed that on multiple times people who got to the bar way after me were served before me and others who were waiting. Several times I said something and was basically told, oh we are busy. Busy is good but proper bar tending requires that you pay attention to which customers have been waiting. I can honestly say many times just getting drinks was a hassle. The buffet to me was average at best. Many times you had to hunt for plates and silverware and if you wanted a slat shaker it became an all out hunt through the dining room to find one. Waiters were as scarce as the salt shakers and there seemed to be a bit of a language barrier with much of the staff. dinner overall ws pretty good, though some of the portions were quite small. For example, i ordered the lamb curry one night and when served it was four small lamb cubes over rice. the flavor was good but it felt more like an appetizer than a main course. the waiters were good and I was happy with the service. The shows were very good, the aft pool was great for the day we could use it. there was a lot of pot smoking on the pool deck on the smokers side so if this offends you, be prepared. Getting off the ship was not too bad. Overall the ship itself was very nice but they have a ways to go on the service end if they are going to stay competitive with the other cruise lines. My lesson learned is not to cruise out of Brooklyn, Bayonne or Manhattan. In the past we had always flown to San Juan and cruised from there and avoided the rough seas we encountered for most of the cruise.

[@lindakeppler8050]

What time did you get to port

[@edvaira6891]

3:40..Wow! NOT used to seeing ANGRY Alisa! Oof! What a mess with the buffet!

[@ronniesquires]

Awesome I❤NY and MSC, thanks to you. 😂. Hope to sail one, one day. Thanks Guys... can't wait to see more.

[@GM-rm7ri]

When you checked in, were they checking times or was it a free for all? We will be embarking on the 16th and we have a 1030 check in. Thanks

[@theonboardtraveler5313]

Exactly the reasons why I completely avoid the buffet.

[@kennywalker4091]

I did the Meraviglia in January 2021. There were only 472 passengers. Best cruise ever!

[@edclearwater9891]

We are looking to try MSC and really appreciated seeing this video. Thanks Again. We have sailed out of the Manhattan Pier twice on the NCL Breakaway and from Bayonne NJ on the RCL Explorer of the Seas. The trip down the Hudson River at dusk is spectacular. The Manhattan cruise port getting on and off is horrible, awful and miserable. Pure chaos. I won't go on a cruise out of there again. There were fights, yelling, pushing and shoving. It almost ruined our cruise. We moved to Florida and love Port Canaveral plus the shuttle service we use for parking nearby. I would love to sail down the Hudson River at dusk sometime but due to our last 2 experiences I don't think we ever will again. I would go on RCL again out of Bayonne though.

[@kennethhansen6867]

6:27 The usb plugs are on the underside of the bedlamps :-) You must have a look on the next cruise you take.

[@mary6734]

I am excited to go on the MSC Meraviglia in October. I will be doing the New England Eastern Canada cruise. Was your stateroom port side or starboard? I will be in a starboard cabin.

[@EECCTravels]

I think we were port side…

[@mary6734]

@@EECCTravels okay, we are going to be starboard side. I wanted to thank you for the follow up video with your thoughts on the cruise. Really helpful. Happy cruising

[@johnfarmer1691]

sending some razors

[@brigittebeaulieu8610]

@EECCTravels. You should have a usb plug under the sconces by your bed! 😊

[@Mstes2241]

It was our first cruise back in Oct 2022 and we love it. The ship is beautiful, lido deck is my favorite part of the ship. We never went to MDR, we ate mostly at the buffet and Hola (extra) restaurant. Our next cruise ship, NCL Escape to Bermuda

[@projectvr3]

With the passport check, is it similar to immigration where they take a long time on the computer while you wait? or is it more of they check if they match with the tickets? Im wondering if this would be the main reason these boarding delays are so frequent.