MSC Meraviglia - What to Expect on First Day? (New York's Hidden Cruise Port)

[@atkkonrad742]

Thanks again for the nice video. The ship reminds us on the MSC Virtuosa we sailed with two years ago. We are diamond members on MSC so we know a lot of ships but we have never been on the Meraviglia. Lovely Greetings from Austria - Susanne and Andreas

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for watching. It was our 3rd MSC cruise. The others were Armonia, from Miami, Magnifica from Genoa. Our goal is to try all of MSC ships but so far our favorite has been the tiny MSC Armonia. Greetings from Long Island NY ❤

[@atkkonrad742]

@@KhizEesa Well Susan loves the MSC Virtuosa which is very close to the MSC Meraviglia, I (Andreas) love the MSC World Europa. This ship is so huge and absolutely amazing. We were there in February on a 7 day cruise from Dubai.

[@KhizEesa]

@atkkonrad742 cruise frok.Dubai sounds great. Do you think being a diamond member adds to your experience with MSC?

[@atkkonrad742]

@@KhizEesa There are some nice features. F. e. we can walk past the line where you poor guys have to wait for hours because there is a preferred check-in. And the cruises are cheaper at around 5%. And you got a nice black card which Susan is very proud of. But to be honest I prefer NCL. Susan is the MSC lover :)

[@KhizEesa]

@@atkkonrad742 Thank you for that insight. We used be be 100% Carnival but moved to Royal Caribbean with our Christmas Cruise on Anthem of the Seas was my best cruise (we have done about 25 cruises) our next one is on Carnival on one of their newer ships

[@DurhamGooner]

We returned from the Meraviglia today! The embarkation for us was so easy. We were allocated an arrival time of 3,30pm to 4,30pm. We arrived at 3,30pm and walked STRAIGHT IN. Maybe 6 people ahead of us and the ship was full too!! From entering the building to getting on board it took us 15 minutes max, probably less.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience which gives us and I am sure others another reason to try Meraviglia again :) your experience seems better than our awesome experience with Royal Caribbean’s anthem of the seas. Hope you enjoyed your cruise on MSC Meraviglia. We loved the ship and staff

[@DurhamGooner]

@@KhizEesa It could be that MSC has only recently started giving people designated arrival slots, that would explain why ours was so quiet. 4000 people all seemed to arrive at the same time on your cruise!! Glad you enjoyed the Meraviglia, we're looking forward to watching the other videos from your cruise!!

[@lamb9393]

Your embarkation debacle reminds me of the Norwegian cruise out of Manhattan…. 5 hours standing in the cold in December. Zero communication. We left late got to Bermuda late our excursions were canceled. Never again with Norwegian as they did nothing to compensate us. I’m taking my first msc cruise on the same ship on September. I hope I don’t experience what you did! So glad you showed everything starting with the port. This video is full of helpful tips for me as a first-timer with MSC. Thank you!

[@SaltAndCopper]

I wonder if the key is to select a later boarding time. It could be that the majority of passengers just show up early and MSC allows them to board regardless. In reading reviews on Cruise Critic is seems that embarkation has been bad on the Meraviglia for a while. I must say, I am tempted to pick a 10:30 AM boarding time, but I am starting to believe that a late boarding time will be less frustrating.

[@i.b.872]

​@SaltAndCopper, is there an option/ possibility to choose boarding time ? What is the best time to board for the ship departure at 3pm ? Thanks.🙏🙌

[@faleciahenry9646]

I just learned about this port and ound your video very informative! I plan on watching a few more of others videos to see how they feel about the ship, but especially, the port!! Thanks!

[@KhizEesa]

We had someone recently depart from this port and he was onboard in 20 mins from taxi to being on the ship. Glad you found the video helpful. Happy Sailing

[@mariadesrosiers1154]

I'll be on the meraviglia June and this will be my second time on this ship with the very same cabin on the 14th floor it is a beautiful ship

[@KhizEesa]

Happy planning and Bon Voyage 🛳

[@marataskin1]

I will be on June 9🎉

[@corinnmurphy1910]

Excellent video! I really enjoyed the honest "pro's and con's" Thank you

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you, made us very happy that you appreciated our take.

[@SMaqsoodNYC]

One of your best videos so far .😍and I haven't seen all of it yet .😆 I am sure I won't be disappointed . The music is very lively and your downright disapproval of the cruise line because of long wait lines at embarkation turning quickly into full throated appreciation after your welcome aboard gets a 👍 . Also getting so many comments on day one of your video says a lot .❗

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for watching and your comment. We truly appreciate it

[@richardc020]

This was so totally helpful for our family to familiarize with our own such sailing soon! Also happy you all had such fun, minus the lines. Thanks!

[@KhizEesa]

Glad you found the video helpful! Thank you for letting us know

[@ShantePlaskett-Moore]

I saw my husband & myself 2x in this video @ 1:33 & 2:58. THAT CHECK IN & MUSTER WAS ABSOLUTELY INSANE. We said NEVER AGAIN 3hrs to get on. However just like you all the ship's esthetics and food redeemed MSC. Trying them again this October. Hopefully its better. This was the week of 4th of July 2023.

[@KhizEesa]

That is so cool. Hopefully we captured a good glimpse of you all. We miss this cruise except for the boarding process 😂

[@maryanngambino7608]

Was on Maraviglia last year and LOVED IT!!! Especially their private island! Stunning!

[@alfredothanks9370]

We had the same ship last May (2023) and our balcony was good except someone smoke pots next door. I specially enjoyed the fresh made pizza which was from scratch. We did another trip with MSC last November in Europe with the ship Euribia which had 99% same as this ship with some new stuffs (newer ship). We enjoyed it very much.

[@KhizEesa]

Thanks for sharing. It is a beautiful ship and can’t wait to be on MSC again

[@brendalogan6281]

I didn't realize this was you guys until I saw your adorable boys. I saw you a while ago on a video on the train with them. I'm taking this ship in 2 weeks and haven't been on a cruise in probably 30 years.So it's like a brand new for me Thanks so much for such a great video

[@KhizEesa]

We are very happy you got to see two of our videos, Amtrak and MSC Meraviglia. Glad this video was helpful for you. Happy packing and wishing you an awesome cruise. Bon Voyage 🛳️

[@sshhianne]

We did this cruise in February 2024 and we pulled right into the parking lot ($300 for 7 days) and walked right into the terminal. We were on the boat within 20 minutes. There was food on the boat and we were able to go straight to our room before the safety event. I enjoyed this cruise and I’ve been on Carnival and Norwegian. Norwegian is still my favorite but this definitely beats Carnival.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for sharing that. We can't wait to go back.on MSC. For us, Royal Caribbean has been fantastic but we just love all cruises.

[@rafaeluryayev7174]

Did you have a fully booked cruise? Sailing out of New York in February is cold and unpopular. And also oftentimes turbulent at sea.

[@sshhianne]

@@rafaeluryayev7174 it was cold but the indoor pool was available for use and felt like it was outside. We did have a change in itinerary and went to Miami instead of Port Canaveral and skipped the private island due to rough seas. The entertainment on the boat was great, especially the theatre shows. We paid for the special shows and felt that the main theatre was much better. The dining room staff treated us like gold and were concerned when we didn’t go for a night, they asked if they’d done something wrong. I’m gluten free and there were always options for me to eat. Next time, I would like to go I. The late spring/early summer to see what the difference is and to experience their private island. I definitely plan to go on an MSC cruise again.

[@FraserAtSea]

Ah, I'm cruising on here in a few weeks time, so this video was perfectly timed. Also, can I say that from the perspective of a Brit, your house is BEAUTIFUL at the opening of this video - love it!

[@KhizEesa]

Happy packing and Bon Voyage 🛳️ Thank you for the compliment as well. Glad the video came in handy. We will be posting room tour today and the full ship tour next week

[@morganthebabygenuis]

Nice video. LOL at the part about the safety drill and casino!

[@KhizEesa]

Glad you liked it! Thanks 😊

[@Juancarlo4342]

She is wearing a very cute outfit, especially for embarkation day. Plus wedges.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you and yes we did dress up for the embarkation. Why waste a day 😉

[@kellystevens203]

What a great review and it’s helped me to make the decision to cruise on MSC Meraviglia in September 2024. Thank you for your honest, humorous and informative review, one of the best cruise reviews I’ve seen!

[@KhizEesa]

We are so happy this review helped you make the decision. Your comment made our day so we thank you 🙏

[@danbarton2268]

We're also on the ship on the Sep 23 cruise.

[@raeannvalentine9432]

Me too! Which one?

[@tanyacam521]

Great video with lots of useful details for a first time cruiser. Thanks guys

[@KhizEesa]

Glad you found it helpful! Bon Voyage

[@grayblanchard]

I’m here because I’m looking at a seven day cruise on this ship out of Brooklyn. I have heard that the muster drills on MSC are hectic.

[@KhizEesa]

Yes we can confirm that as of last year, the muster drills were a bit hectic. Not sure if they have improved since then

[@1077mikev]

So what I gathered is to arrive to the port as late as possible to skip the line. And to do as little as possible on the embarking day.

[@KhizEesa]

Someone we knew did just that and had a smooth embarkation at 2pm.

[@1077mikev]

@@KhizEesa Thanks for confirming! I'll try to keep it on the low, we don't want the whole ship doing that lol

[@i.b.872]

​@1077mikev How did it work out to come for boarding as late as possible ? Did you enjoy your trip ? 🙏🙌

[@JustTheilogsAdventures]

Just booked Aug 18 to Bermuda. Watching your videos because you relate to my family. As for parking, we’re planning to take a ferry from NJ to Brooklyn so our car should be parked in NJ. Still trying to find more about it.

[@jeannetteserrano9391]

Hi @JustTheilogs we’re in Woodbridge NJ were do you get the ferry from NJ there is a ferry in South Amboy in NY

[@timeme03]

​@@jeannetteserrano9391 following so I can see the answer as well

[@rosemarysmith5967]

As a first timer flying in to Mew York for a cruise on this ship. I greatly appreciate your take on things. Acknowledging the good with the bad, and your experience can someone else’s. I live in the other coast, and as an adult all my cruises have been through the Port of Vancouver. It has also had issues with lines. Sometimes cruise ship related, sometimes port related. Most departures from there one has to go through security and US boarder security, making for two locations for bottlenecks. The security bottleneck I had was security staffing issues combined with people brining things they were not suppose to so took longer to deal with those people slowing everybody down. The other was boarder security related as many on our ship the information isn’t been transferred through to USBS correct so more of us had to see people rather than using auto system which slowed things down. If I can handle those line issues, I can handle anything in NY. (I was suppose to visit Sept 16, 2021, headless to say that trip changed and first chance since).

[@KhizEesa]

Wishing you safe travels and hopefully without lines . We have never cruised out of Vancouver. Bon Voyage 🛳️

[@TexasJen68]

I was on the MSC Meraviglia 11 day repositioning that brought the ship to Brooklyn April 20th.. the first time for that ship to come into Brooklyn so there’s a lot of quirks that have to be ironed out.. sorry you had to wait so long to get checked in and boarded..it’s not MSC’s fault that everybody’s decided to all show up and check in at once.. they give everybody different boarding times but if people don’t follow that that’s out of their control. The Meraviglia is a beautiful ship.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for sharing. Your 11 transatlantic cruise sounds amazing. We agree, the MSC Meraviglia is a beautiful ship and we found the staff and good to be awesome as well. The post situation in Brooklyn seems to have improved since we did the cruise 4th of July week. We can’t wait to sail on Meraviglia again

[@annaschiappa8208]

We were on a cruise this past April it was not bad the parking for the week was only $280 dollar.we were not crazy about the buffet we never went only for breakfast..

[@KhizEesa]

Thanks for sharing. Parking is crazy but this ship was beautiful

[@WilliamBaranowski]

Delightful family, great tour!

[@aashly1O1]

When I did embarkation on MSC Meraviglia, which was the 2nd cruise ever, it wasn’t as long of a wait to get on as when we did out our first ever cruise with Norwegian. But I sure hope it’s not the case for all other cruise lines! Haha

[@KhizEesa]

That is interesting and thank you for sharing that. We do plan to take some NCL cruises out of New York in the future so we can capture and share that experience. We found Royal Caribbean boarding experience to the best, literally 30 mins from entering the port to being in the ship. We will be testing out Carnival in a couple of months again so let’s see

[@ruthiemarch6257]

Beautiful Family! Your wife is stunning and sweet.

[@shannonsullivan4858]

We are getting ready to cruise this ship in December. We have a 12 and 13yr coming with my husband and I. I really hope the kids enjoy this as its their first time on a cruise.

[@KhizEesa]

Both of our boys have been cruising since they were 1 so it's there 10th and 11th cruise. Although we may not be ideal to provide advice, one thing we recommend is to keep trying different things staying with the kids and teen club, and then all the activities. Be prepared for sea legs, it takes a day or two for body to get used to the ocean of new to the ocean. Just like camping, going in knowing and prepared helps a lot. Bon Voyage

[@shannonsullivan4858]

@@KhizEesa Thabk you! This is very good advice. You have a beautiful family

[@KhizEesa]

@shannonsullivan4858 most welcome and thank you for your kind words :)

[@honesty2476]

please try Celebrity Summit for atleast 5 days! out of Miami....i promise you, you'll thank me. 5 STARS on all levels from food to entrtainment, rooms & atmosphere!

[@KhizEesa]

@honesty2476 added to our future ships to try. Thank you for the recommendation

[@danmwrn]

Great job with your commentary. I feel bad that the initial experience for everyone at the port was not positive. Hopefully it will improve. You have beautiful family!! Bless you!

[@KhizEesa]

Tank you for your kind words. We had a great time and those long lines only gave us more reasons to enjoy the cruise even more. MSC Meraviglia is a beautiful ship and we plan to sail on it again one day

[@i.b.872]

Lol...just tried to find and see any vídeos of Meraviglia cruise coz it is my first time journey on big ship. I got sooooo surprised that first video appeared was this one ! My booked trip is for 7 days ( from 29.12.24. till 5.01.25. ) on 13 floor named KILIMANJARO, and room with balcony...lol 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 It is the same floor as you had. Did you enjoyed your trip ????? Could you,please give me advise, what is the best time to come for boarding ? Thanks a lot.🙏🙌

[@Christine-n6y]

Want to book for winter. My daughter is mobility impaired, will definitely need the wheelchair for boarding the ship. Makes me nervous. I will time the buffet early am and off times to avoid lines. A lot of walking but she has a cane & chair. And we can rest in the room, we want a balcony.

[@KhizEesa]

Hi Christine, generally cruise ships are very accommodating to wheelchairs but we will recommend calling ahead and giving a heads up. Meaning they will put you in front of most lines. We believe cruise are a great vacation for anyone in a wheelchair. My mom did a transatlantic cruise which she was in a chair and people were generally very nice making way in elevators etc. are you thinking of a particular Cruiseline? MSC, Royal Caribbean, Carnival or NCL

[@Christine-n6y]

@KhizEesa Thank you for your reply! MSC. I watched videos on the Meraviglia, but yours, the quality was so clear and you showed what others spoke of.. the boarding process, the line! I like the price of that cruise line and the EU decor and style of the ship, is my style. It's funny bc the different cruise ships have different themes, decor styles. Along with that, I got the impression the Meraviglia is more mellow. And if it doesn't have as much to do on it, that's OK. My daughter is good for 4 hours of activity a day. We don't drink alcohol and it doesn't seem like a wild party ship. Thank you for sharing, I'm encouraged by your mother's positive wheelchairs experience.

[@turicke6751]

Thank u this was a really good video. I think I will pass on MSC and see what other lines suit my tastes.

[@KhizEesa]

We are glad this video was helpful.

[@lzu2860]

Try NCL from NYC but my favs are HAL & Celebrity. I think I could tolerate the mediocre food of NCL only because I don’t have to fly and I could be on a floating hotel, lol.

[@bobshort1070]

we did this back in April and took about 75 mins,,, so we have decided to do it again but we are doing the Yacht club, well worth the price ,,,, Inside cabin in the yacht club $3600. for the two of us , so think about doing the yacht club because you dont wait on line for a long time

[@KhizEesa]

Great tip. We will price some options for next year. We have heard amazing things about their yatch club

[@bobshort1070]

I should mention this is a 12 day cruise

[@KhizEesa]

That is a great deal

[@Podgey25]

@KhizEesa That kind of price, though, is for an inside cabin in the Yacht club. If taking children, inside cabins in the yacht club only permit up to guests maximum. More guests and it must be a balcony room in Yacht club. This can cost from 5 / 6 thousand for 2 people.

[@KhizEesa]

Got it. We have looked at Yacht Club before and we always get priced out quick. Maybe one day we try it and capture the experience for our channel

[@naren2k6]

That is good reason to come 2 hours before departure so all the crowds are gone. I guess this is the reason why MSC has the lowest fares? For a cheap fare I would come from the West Coast to sail MSC thanks for the video, now I know not to arrive early. LOL

[@KhizEesa]

Fun fact, my brother watched did video and went on the same cruise two months later and arrived last minute and sailed through the checkin. So yes, that worked lol

[@catlover845]

I’d guess this has all improved since your visit. We will be YC so I do not expect to wait this long

[@KhizEesa]

Based on the feedback we received it is a hit or miss. My brother boarded last week and it was 20 mins. Mostly, people who reached out said that it is not MSC’s fault but the port’s fault. But overall hope the video helps people plan ahead

[@dennywordkiller4253]

Cunard and Princess also sail out of Brooklyn. During the summer months it's a busier port than Bayonne for cruising.

[@KhizEesa]

Thanks for sharing. We have been sailing out of NY and NJ for years but never knew about this Port. Makes sense since we haven’t tried Cunard and Princess

[@JS-wi5lf]

@@KhizEesait opened back in 2005ish? Sailed out of it a few times but I prefer Manhattan or Bayonne terminals. I live in the NYC area too. Great videos btw!

[@src143]

Hello, did MSC have halal food like RC does ?

[@KhizEesa]

No, MSC didn’t have any halal food on the sailing and ship we went on

[@src143]

How would you rate MSC compared to RC ?

[@KhizEesa]

Excellent question. Love the ship and staff of MSC but Royal Caribbean is definitely better in all categories especially our sailing on Anthem of the Seas. MSC was definitely cheaper but with that comes some flaws

[@Wendy-lq8uw]

Good to know I am thinking of booking a cruise with this line but I love RC

[@Podgey25]

Did you manage to get the kids booked in for the Kids Club? It's best to do it ASAP, soon as you're onboard. Because if its busy seasons, they soon fill up !

[@KhizEesa]

Yes, we registered the kids right away onboard but didn’t use it as much as we thought we would.

[@susanhicks3318]

We sailed on MSC Meraviligia last month (first time on MSC). Loved it! Would definitely sail with them again! Our embarkation wasn’t long (our designated time was 10:30 a.m.). Overall a great cruise! Beautiful ship and cruise director Matias and entertainment director Graham were fabulous!

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for sharing you experience. We loved the ship, food, and crew was wonderful. And very happy to see that your embarkation was smooth. We are looking to go on it again next year.

[@easmaa6380]

Thanks for this video, it was super helpful for our upcoming trip! Do they serve halal food in the main dining room and at the buffet area? and if in the buffet area, is it in a separate station that's designated as halal only?

[@KhizEesa]

On our sailing. We did ask around a lot but there no halal meat option on MSC Meraviglia. A number of staff straight up said no and some mention that chicken is Halal but we ask for Zabihah Halal. No we didn’t see heard about any halal option when we sailed in August! On Royal Caribbean Anthem of the seas, we met both Exec Chef and sous Chef and they pointed us to special dishes that were halal. But do note that even when three chicken entrees were next to each other, not all were halal. Very important to ask kzbin.info/www/bejne/nV7JdGmIeJaegcksi=an99bmxe8z3VgDmD Glad you found the video helpful! Bon Voyage

[@tiffanyj.202]

Thank you so much for this vlog! Going this weekend and dreading the lines for embarking 😂

[@KhizEesa]

Bon Voyage and hopefully the delays are not as bad as what we experienced.

[@Podgey25]

Brooklyn terminal has been used also by Cunardss Queen Mary, since 2005.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for that insight and correction. We have only heard of and used in Manhattan and Bayonne.

[@lecruset]

Ugh, we're doing a family Christmas cruise on MSC this December. The boarding process looks terrible.

[@KhizEesa]

Since our video, a number of cruisers reached out saying the onbaording is quick and they didn't go through the same delays. Bon Voyage!

[@jeansiegel4128]

I am taking this ship in a few weeks. Is there a line if bringing on small luggage after being dropped off?

[@KhizEesa]

Yes there is a line even of bringing in small luggage. Bon Voyage

[@mattsenft4810]

22:44 LMAO!!!! That would be my child taking the the whole tray of carrot cakes. OMG!!!

[@KhizEesa]

You know how it is on day one of any cruise and esp. if you are a kid hahahaha

[@hadilismail4614]

I would like to ask u guys about the. Wi fi on the cruise I’ve heard the free wi fi is not working at all do u have an idea if the wi fi packages is worth the money snap chat gonna work on this package

[@KhizEesa]

We didn't try their WIFI packages since we notice that texts, Ring Alarm notifications and some apps were getting updated for free on the ship. Asking other viewers if they can speak to WiFi onboard MSC Meraviglia

[@thetruthalwayshurt8515]

Omg, and we are doing a December cruise. It will be impossible to do lines outside if it’s as cold as it was in 2022 during dec.

[@KhizEesa]

I think you should be ok. My brother is also doing a December cruise on MSC Meraviglia and since we posted this video, a lot of people wrote to us letting us know that their embarkation was quick and without the wait. Bon Voyage!

[@thetruthalwayshurt8515]

I appreciate the video and the response. Love the video. Now about to check out your channel.

[@lamwaif8]

They need to make checking in faster for December 30 sailing

[@KhizEesa]

Good news. Couple of people recently took the same cruise and said they had no wait time when they boarded so you maybe in luck. Bon Voyage.

[@joannefrias3784]

We are going on this ship in a couple weeks. Is there a parking close by?

[@KhizEesa]

Bon Voyage. Here is the information for parking Brooklyn Cruise Terminal Parking Lot [phone] cruise.nyc/BCT-directions-parking

[@johnmayerislovee]

Thanks for your informative stream. Question please. In order to minimize wait times to board from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, what time do you suggest to arrive at the terminal?

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for your comment and question. We recommend between 10:15 and 11. The real rush started after 11. This is based on our experience so we can't guarantee if this would work but we hope getting there earlier can get you ahead in the line and less wait

[@baraka3800]

thk you for this video much appreciated

[@KhizEesa]

Glad you find it helpful. 🙏😃

[@Haris327gb]

Just curious did they have halal options. I did symphony of the seas and there were so many halal options.

[@KhizEesa]

Sadly we checked with the head chef and no halal options when we traveled

[@jaclynlamphier1098]

Wow!!! great video but I've NEVER waited in line with MSC. I've never sailed out of Brooklyn before but I've sailed out of Miami and Port Canaveral and have never had a line. Just went straight through.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you! We have gotten alotnof feedback and it's mixed but most people pointed to the logistics of the port than MSC. We thought it would be interesting to share the experience so others can be mentally prepared.

[@jaclynlamphier1098]

@@KhizEesa Absolutely. I was thinking of doing an MSC cruise to New England and Canada porting out of New York but watching this video it's giving me some serious misgivings about the line experience! lol. That was just crazy. lol.

[@KhizEesa]

Something to keep in mind, a while ago a family member went on the same cruise as us and got to the pier at 1:30 was was able to board the ship with any lines. So our experience could be a combination of too many people arriving at the same time hence the long lines

[@Solo.Female.Traveling]

Yeah that’s true. Maybe certain arrival times are better than others. Hmmm 🤔 I’ll definitely look into that. Thanks!

[@Wendy-lq8uw]

This would drive me nuts I am spoiled by RC it takes about 30mins on average to board

[@stacypinkdetectingaustrali5339]

Hi is the buffet free please? Which restaurants are free? Thanks 🥰 I’m sailing on it next week.

[@KhizEesa]

Hi, thank you for asking the question. The Buffet is free. You can check out kzbin.infoaKIfsB2KaGk?si=_dlcvvYCTfFbQ9ZB or kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHfWaq1-oJeFoq8si=iSZcWkvceUiNcCrJ

[@stacypinkdetectingaustrali5339]

@@KhizEesa thank you🥰

[@LuisRodriguez-hp5dd]

Was an easy boarding

[@Zeel_2003]

Hi, is their Indian veg food options available in marketplace buffet and main dining room?

[@KhizEesa]

Good question. The Indian vegetable option is very limited on MSC Meraviglia. There was no dedicated station. In the back of Marketplace, there is a Vegan section that sometimes had black lentil, or Channa But rare. This was quite opposite than our Anthem of the seas experience kzbin.info/www/bejne/nV7JdGmIeJaegcksi=CF_ZI9c3M0J9TZxi

[@Zeel_2003]

@KhizEesa Thanks for sharing this details, and yes I agreed with you that this is opposite experience, I been to Oasis of the seas in 2022, and we had many Indian veg/non-veg options available. Anyways I already booked my cruise on MSC Meraviglia, hopefully we can get some Indian options along with others.

[@KhizEesa]

@Zeel_2003 you may want to try formal dining rooms and see if they can arrange it. We just wrapped up our cruise on Carnival Celebration and they had only one item in Lido buffet on one seas day (veg biryani) else all Indian options were only available in formal dining. Enjoy and Bon Voyage

[@Zeel_2003]

@KhizEesa I see. Looking forward to a carnival cruise video if uploading :)

[@Zeel_2003]

(Updating, just incase anyone has the same concern) Just disembarked from Meraviglia, and I must say everything was perfect from room to food to service. As I asked previously regarding Indian Food, I must say we got nice Indian food in marketplace buffet, we even had full course Indian food in buffet including butter chicken, naan bread, daal, rice (steam & biryani) and papadam one night. They are redesigning the buffet experience, so every table in buffet has QR code which can be scan and share feedback.

[@LaszloBagi]

That check in was crazy

[@KhizEesa]

Yes it sure was. And then we experienced what a 8 hour delay looks like on Carnival Celebration due to a very bad storm off the coast of Miami kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGeXeaVrq8uGpMksi=eehU_cIMNPDXpGYi

[@brighteyes6729]

Thanks for sharing what mta train is near the port Brooklyn

[@KhizEesa]

The F or G Carroll St subway stop is 28 min walk or a cheap Uber/Lyft to the cruise port. Another option is A or C lone and then take B61 bus. Hope this helps

[@brighteyes6729]

Great, thanks for sharing. This is very helpful.

[@NicoleMBoily]

May I ask from what state you are. We are from Québec Canada but will arrive from Connecticut (East Hartford).

[@KhizEesa]

Sure, we are in Long Island NY. And Connecticut is just across the Long Island Sound from us 😃

[@PopsMafia]

What time do you recomend showing up to try to get on board quicker?

[@KhizEesa]

That s a great question. We were there at 10:30-11am. A month later some.one we know took the same cruise and showed up at 1:30 and was able to go from Uber to Ship in less than 30 minutes. Now knowing us and the unpredictability of NY traffic, we will show up at 10:30-11 again just to be safe.

[@bobshort1070]

Went out of there in April and the place is too damn small . We decided to pay the few extra bucks and do the yacht club next month and skip all that, we are doing an inside cabin in the yacht club and the total price is $3600. so well worth it

[@KhizEesa]

Thank for sharing Bob! Happy planning your upcoming cruise and Bon Voyage 🛳️ Do come back and let us know how you like the Yacht Club

[@FanWildlife]

was considering MSC out of Brooklyn, but not after seeing those lines! lol

[@KhizEesa]

Two of our family members tried the same cruise and had nothing but a pleasant experience. The port was empty and they got onto the ship right away.

[@wilcuber6376]

wait are there parking lots at the port for your car

[@KhizEesa]

Yes, you can find out more here nycruise.com/brooklyn-terminal/parking/ And here is the address Brooklyn Cruise Terminal Parking Lot 210 Clinton Wharf, Brooklyn, NY 11231 [phone]

[@AmazingChinaToday]

The Brooklyn port looks like a nightmare. They should have ports where this is less congestion, such as in New Jersey or Long Island.

[@KhizEesa]

Since our video, we have had a few family members go on this same cruise from the Brooklyn port without any issues. Your Long Island port idea sounds amazing 🤩

[@bobshort1070]

Did this in April ,took almost 90 mins,,,,,in 12 days we will leave Brooklyn once again only this time we are doing the YACHT Club. This port is too small

[@KhizEesa]

Bon Voyage Bob and thank you for sharing your experience. Come back and let us know how you like the Yacht Club

[@Bklyn112]

It is not a new cruise port. Several ships have been sailing from here for years including Princess. I prefer this port over the one in Manhattan. I don't know why the line was that long and the process so convoluted. I've never experienced this at the port. I think it was the cruise line process. Boarding for our Princess cruises have been seamless. Update: I asked a friend and they said that is is definitely MSC's boarding process. It isn't staggered.

[@cecilcountycichlids4368]

Yup, it's because it's MSC, and it's bad getting on the ship there.

[@KhizEesa]

We are hoping they sort this out cause the ship is beautiful and it is great to have a mega ship sailing from NY for a reasonable rate

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for clarifying. Seems like Cunard also uses it for their transatlantic cruises as well. And folks reached out with similar note as yours. Which Princess Ship did you sail on from NY?

[@Bklyn112]

We did a New England itinerary twice on the Caribbean Princess form Brooklyn. One went up the Nova Scotia and returned to Brooklyn. The other left Brooklyn and ended in Quebec. Both seamless embarkation and disembarking. We returned from a Trans-Atlantic on the Regal Princess, no problems there either. We usually walk off the ship with our luggage as we pack light but we each had two suitcases with all of our purchases after being in Europe for almost two weeks. Our luggage was in the area that it was supposed to be and the porters were there to get us out to our driver, also know as our son who was in his last year of college at the time. We are Captain's Circle Elite but we never had the need to use that courtesy line because the process was so efficient. Princess also now has the medallion which allows you to basically walk right onto to the ship, if you've completed the online process.

[@jenniferpoole7732]

Way to take your children to the adult only areas... Some of us book ships with adult only areas for a reason. Please keep your children in areas that they're supposed to be!

[@stephaniearmstrong1271]

I have only cruise on Royal Caribbean would you recommend MSC or Royal Caribbean

[@KhizEesa]

We Love Royal Caribbean (Anthem of the seas was our favorite ship/crew/food/cruise out of 25 cruises we have been on. Majority of those cruises were on Carnival. But for the price, MSC is a great option. We did a 9 day cruise for 4 people for $950 total (including taxes). This year, the cruise on MSC Meraviglia was $1,850 for 4 cruisers in a balcony during July 4th holiday week. So if you can score a good deal, we would recommend MSC. But all in all, Royal Caribbean is hard to beat.

[@bubbleslove8317]

@@KhizEesaWe cruised twice with Royal and loved it. Now I’m not sure if MSC is a great idea.

[@itslouiemoo8018]

What was the actual security check in like. Did they have you yake your shoes off or get undressed or anything like that??

[@KhizEesa]

The cruise ship security is not the same as airport. So you keep your shoes on and light jacket or sweaters. Even liquids pass through just fine. Saw people bringing water bottles and case of soda

[@rosemarysmith5967]

Because one is not in the air, where there is little support if things go wrong, cruise ship security is more like what one may find going to a big concert, depending on where one is. They are looking for items prohibited on the ship, rather than things that simply may cause unexpected damage. Wording is not quite correct, but I work both air and cruise security.

[@yolandamuhammad8566]

Kilimanjaro is in Kenya.

[@KhizEesa]

The moment we posted the video, a fellow subscriber pointed out that Mount Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania. We added that correction in the video description. Thank you for pointed out. Funny Fact: when I said Nepal, I think I was thinking of the city of Kathmandu. I was way off and sorry about that. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kilimanjaro

[@christelvanthournout8358]

Kilimajaro not in Nepal but in Tanzania

[@KhizEesa]

Yes that was a mistake that we regret. Sorry and thanks for the comment

[@melissacolon5842]

book with an experience travel agent or look cabin on deck maps to avoid the cabin you booked

[@KhizEesa]

Good advice. When we booked only one room was available at the rate we booked which was $1,800 for 4 guests in a balcony stateroom (that’s total including tax). So we were limited in the selection but at a great price.

[@melissacolon5842]

well that was a quiet a bargain for balcony, too!@@KhizEesa

[@djRobbie-16]

Love the video. Keep it up! By the way. I will be on the same cruise next week and wanted to know if you can buy wifi for the day instead of the whole trip? Thanks!

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for liking the video. Check out our quick short on WIFI packages but in short the answer is yes kzbin.infoPqKR89Unoy4?si=IVZ6-1lzbZCVQ51n Bon Voyage.

[@djRobbie-16]

Thanks for the quick response! Can’t wait for the next video!

[@kellyannbishop-siland4114]

Excellent video .The line are terrible getting off the ship and off the ship.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you and we agree. If only they can solve the line management issue… MSC can really be the future of cruising

[@SMaqsoodNYC]

@@KhizEesa OH WOW ❗MSC future of cruising . MSC management would be delighted to hear that .👍

[@KhizEesa]

@SMaqsoodNYC 😉

[@alkasethi3994]

Hi thankyou for the video, very helpful. we are planning to book for august… do u have a detail video on pros and cons ? Another question, if u can answer pls… my mom is visiting us from india and we will take her along she is a vegetarian and eats only Indian food, do u think there are good options to survive as its a long 7 day cruise.. would appreciate ur reply.

[@KhizEesa]

Hi, glad you found the video helpful. Full ship tour: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHfWaq1-oJeFoq8si=sSF9TP8qwZa0AaaH Room tour: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpuxl3x3n9uejqcsi=Mohz9eqoopp7ih_v As for Indian food, it is limited and the best bet is to go to formal dining and request special indian meal. They do have 2-3 dishes in the buffet but at times we found it limited or repetitive The best ship for Indian cuisine was Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas out of NJ kzbin.info/www/bejne/nV7JdGmIeJaegcksi=FTENcf-y-X3zeIp9 Hope this helps

[@LetsDoElieeee.]

Nice video

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for that feedback

[@TheKingofkingznyc]

Would you know if they have halal food?

[@KhizEesa]

Great question. We had Halal Food on a Royal Caribbean sailing (Anthem of the seas) and made a video on it. On MSC, we asked and were told that the meat is not halal. Now we are not sure if that is 100% true since we only asked once but based on our experience we didn’t see any halal food on MSC Meraviglia. Hope this helps

[@JohnDoe-pe6iu]

Very informative video. Is there a separate line at embarkation for Diamond members?

[@KhizEesa]

Glad you found the video helpful. We just remember seeing a Yatch Club and regular line. Although I am sure Diamond Members can use the Yatch Club line or a special line to enter. I can’t imagine MSC asking Diamond Club Members to stand in line with all others. Bon Voyage!

[@Juancarlo4342]

11 15 to show up for Brooklyn is way to late

[@KhizEesa]

We like boarding early so we can capture the ship before everyone gets on but it didn’t work this time

[@richardc020]

I was going to ask at which time you arrived as the Brooklyn Marine Terminal is really problematic for every operator. Its operator Ports America is famed for terrible passenger operations. The cruise lines probably have not enough power to dislodge the bad operator, unfortunately, so hopefully MSC can do some leasing from RCCL's port to make a much better passenger experience.

[@KhizEesa]

@richardc020 we arrived at 11am and onboarded around 2. And yes we have heard similar feedback about the cruise terminal but also some good stories as well

[@pleanne8376]

not gonna show us ocean cay?

[@KhizEesa]

Check out our full walking tour here kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2eZdah9ZsimbZIsi=wDE_aDildBZ3I5Lq

[@tewkewl]

What date was this cruise?

[@KhizEesa]

This was the July 4th 2023 week

[@Juancarlo4342]

There is also an app for the phone

[@KhizEesa]

Yes, and the app definitely comes in handy

[@kizi86]

Kilimanjaro is Africa's most tallest mountain... not a mountainrange in nepal... thats the himalayas. but great video

[@KhizEesa]

Yes that was a mistake and a lesson leaned. And thank you for liking our video and your comment

[@mayanavigatinglife4596]

Wow you caught me and my son on camera!!! 😂

[@KhizEesa]

Really! That is really cool. We hope you didn’t mind and If you don’t mind, what is the time stamp?

[@mayanavigatinglife4596]

@@KhizEesa 1:45-1:45 my son has on the grey shirt and I have on the denim baseball gap. I need to start recording my vacations lol

[@NicoleMBoily]

Holy cow thanks but no thanks 😂. I just paid for the cruise today I think I will cancel lollllll. I have mobility issues limited to walk 150 feets.... with a walker... and can't stand still on the sun like that. Whay was I thinking 😭😭😭😭😭. But ehhh you did a great job and thanks for the tips. I live by myself in a 2000sq.f. house and will be in a 62sq.f. with my mom who is snoring like hell. I'm already exhausted or may be dying 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@KhizEesa]

Hopefully it was helpful for the right reason. And we appreciate your feedback. Please make sure to watch some other videos as well for a different perspective and check the refund policy too. Whatever you decide, safe and happy travels and thanks again 😃🙏

[@genericwatcher2439]

Just got done with this cruise and it cost me $495 to park at the pier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER AGAIN.

[@KhizEesa]

How long was your cruise? We paid $240 which was $30 a day. It was still very expensive but we needed to logistically had our car there and it was cheaper then an UBER from Long Island.

[@genericwatcher2439]

@@KhizEesa 11 day cruise. I heard that you get what you pay for and in that light MSC is "good", but when you add in the parking, gratuities, port fees/taxes, etc... my $299 cruise cost me $1,153.96, I'll go on a better cruise line, now that I understand the full TRUE cost of cruising MSC. One of my biggest issues was the evening parties, they were mostly in the area under the beautiful changing ceiling, this area was WAY TOO SMALL, we were packed in line sardines, not a fun party atmosphere. We also missed 2 ports because of bad weather, we turned around within site of the private island; the weather was fine and we just puttered along at 5 knots in the other direction, there was no need to turn around because of a storm if we were not hauling ass to escape a storm. Add on the food was just okay, the portions were TINY (when I ordered asparagus appetizer it was THREE pieces of asparagus), the lines at the buffet were chaotic with people claiming they didn't speak English just cutting in line all the time to get what they wanted, the # of restaurants on board is minimal, the quality of the specialty restaurants is only minimal above the free restaurants (steak house was GREAT), the included drink with the Houdini show ($18 upcharge for a show) tasted like pure chemicals and when I looked around most people could not finish the alcoholic drink, most of the entertainment was sub standard (2 shows were AMAZING), shopping sales were the same crappy watches and jewelry over and over, several of the crew members doing the gameshows didn't understand the game, they just read a cue card and shrugged there shoulders. When we stopped at Miami to replace one of the ports, because we were out of the country, it took FOUR HOURS to clear customs, luckily I did an excursion, but people who did not were stuck in the Miami heat for 4 HOURS d waiting around the port terminal with nothing to do except suffer. The closet in my roof was very small with only 2 drawers, thus I had to partially live out of my suitcase for the first several days. On the positive, my room was very clean, the wait staff was very positive and I was seated with some great people who made for the best company.

[@aprilf1017]

Take Amtrak train to nyc or a bus like Peter Pan to the port authority and then take a taxi to the pier. Parking in nyc is high every where.

[@Gibson-md9yi]

I'm commuting there mines 9 days might as well commute to Brooklyn and cab it there

[@imalltheway]

Just seeing the line I won’t book it and knowing the parking fee! No MSC thanks.

[@lisaparquettesilva6118]

The Brooklyn cruise terminal is the worst - we have cruised QM2 twice from this terminal and it takes hours - don’t blame MSC we waited hours both times

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for sharing that. Many people have reached out with similar feedback. It is good to know for our next cruise leaving Brooklyn

[@Gibson-md9yi]

Where you guys live at looks beautiful upstate probably

[@KhizEesa]

We live in beautiful Long Island NY :)

[@NicoleMBoily]

Their email says we ge a get in hour? What was yours???

[@KhizEesa]

We don’t understand the question. Are you talking about the booking confirmation

[@angelinatana]

What chaos for checking in and traffic in the port -

[@KhizEesa]

Apparently the port had similar issues with other sailings (according to all the comments we have received)

[@japatel23]

What do think should travel with kids next year 2025

[@KhizEesa]

Sorry but we didn’t understand your question 🤔

[@debrabrady6596]

I took a cruise on this same ship a month ago. The line was rediculously long. The food is not that great. Bathrooms are not easily seen or marked. The pools are nice and big, hot tubs too. The rooms are decent. Won’t be taking this ship again.

[@vdadhania]

Pretty cool video. The ship seems quite impressive, even though the boarding process was definitely not fun. I'm not a cruise person, but can see the appeal. PS - I think you mentioned your mic betraying you in the previous video. Might be a case of the elements + distance (Aliya's voice is fine, if muted). Your voice was fine when in the room. I'm guessing voiceovers may have to be an option at some point.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for watching and most importantly your tips. Sadly we recorded the cruise and a couple more videos in the summer but any videos after our trip.to Alabama should have better sound. We really appreciate your feedback ♥️

[@TyraTyra-xh5wd]

Kilimanjaro is not in nepal its in africa in tanzania. Anyway great revuew and very interesting.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you. Glad you liked the review except for messing up about Kilimanjaro 🤦 😃

[@TyraTyra-xh5wd]

@@KhizEesa your welcome more reviews to come.

[@honesty2476]

ship looks congested, and no one wants to stand in long lines and walk a ways to the port in new york's cold weather. i live in new york but im just not sold on this ship's vibes! Celebrity Cruise is 5 stars!

[@KhizEesa]

We just got back from a Carnival Celebration cruise which is a 2022 ship. In comparison MSC Meraviglia was really great and not as congested as the Celebration. We have not done Celebrity yet but have heard great things about it. Can't wait! Thanks for your comment

[@WorldTravel-72]

Just remember you kids travel for free so take it easy MSC is not bad

[@KhizEesa]

Yes we agree. And technically it’s not the cruise company fault. We enjoyed the cruise quite a bit except for the couple of things during embarkation. Overall we can’t wait to go on the ship again.

[@pats6533]

who moved kilimanjaro to Nepal

[@KhizEesa]

Yes that was a huge mistake 😓

[@pats6533]

just couldn't help it@@KhizEesa 🤣🤣

[@KhizEesa]

😂

[@JOHN1010KNOWNBYHIM]

Thank you for making this video! John 3:16

[@KhizEesa]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@princessesoftheking7411]

Great video but mic sucks

[@KhizEesa]

We agree and since then upgraded the mics. Although we still do struggle since we shoot all of our videos using an iPhone and sometimes DJI or Rode mics just don’t cooperate with the setup. But we are getting better and aiming for that with each video

[@fredfolson5355]

I've sailed MSC exclusively since 2015 from Miami, Port Canaveral and Barcelona; and during the busy summer season with full passenger manifests. I have never seen a line for embarkation this long before! New York needs to step their game up seriously! And Miami is the cruise capital of the world with up to 6 ships lined up at the port disembarking and embarking passengers on a busy Saturday morning and the traffic is NEVER backed up like that. You can't blame this on MSC; maybe you can blame them for deciding to base a ship from NYC but that's it.

[@KhizEesa]

Thank you for your comment and feedback. Since we posted the video, a lot of frequent MSC cruisers told us that since our cruise in July things have improved significantly. We are excited to try another cruise and maybe both one from Miami and one from Brooklyn NYC. We appreciate MSC and the port crew, not easy to logistically get thousands of people boarded. Bon Voyage 🛳️

[@fredfolson5355]

@@KhizEesa my pleasure. We're boarding the Meraviglia the week after Thanksgiving, so I hope things have improved somewhat. Although we are Yacht Club this time.

[@KhizEesa]

That is fantastic! Do come back and let us know if you found Yacht Club worth while.

[@fredfolson5355]

@@KhizEesa I can already attest to that! We pretty much cruise Yacht Club all the time now. It is well worth it - trust me!

[@KhizEesa]

@fredfolson5355 thanks for sharing. Added to our list

[@HasanRifino]

⚘⚘