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I Went on My First MSC Cruise, Here is My Honest Review

W hen I booked my first MSC cruise, I’ll admit that I had serious doubts. I had read so many negative reviews about MSC cruises, criticizing the subpar service, basic food options, overcrowding, and chaotic embarkation process. However, my experience on the MSC Meraviglia, departing from New York to the Bahamas, was surprisingly positive. In this review, I’ll share all the details of my first MSC cruise. Having been on over 25 cruises, I’ll be comparing my MSC experience with that of many mainstream cruise lines.  

Since I didn’t book a stateroom in their exclusive Yacht Club, this review focuses on the regular non-Yacht Club cruise experience on MSC. It’s important to note that this is an unsponsored review, and all opinions in this article are based on my personal experience.

I was a bit hesitant about going on an MSC cruise because I thought I’d be stuck with basic food like pizza and pasta. I had come across reviews praising the Italian fare but hadn’t heard much else. 

Frankly, I didn’t want to go on a cruise just to eat pizza and pasta. To my surprise, the food exceeded my expectations. Despite being a budget cruise, they served sophisticated dishes such as shrimp cocktail, escargot, osso bucco, steak tartare, braised short ribs, steak, and lamb shank. They even had a gala night with lobster and steak and baked Alaska for dessert! The best part was that the food tasted amazing. 

Kudos to the chef on MSC Meraviglia. The food was some of the best cruise food I’ve had. Every dish was delicious and well-seasoned.

I have to mention that they served the best Caesar salad I’ve ever had on a cruise. In fact, my son, who typically avoids vegetables, is now a huge fan of Caesar salad thanks to our experience on this cruise. I’m forever grateful to MSC Meraviglia for transforming my son into a vegetable eater!

I also want to give credit to the pastry chef for the amazing cakes on board. The carrot cake is incredible, and I had the Grandma’s Chocolate cake almost every night!

The only thing that reminded me of a budget cruise line was the rule allowing only one entrée per person. If you wanted an additional entrée, there was a $5 charge, and certain premium entrees like the NY Strip steak also had a $5 surcharge. However, in my opinion, the $5 charge was negligible considering the quality of the food, so it was definitely worth ordering that second entrée!

The Wait Staff

I was honestly worried that my experience would be disappointing due to poor service. One of the main reasons I go on cruises is to be pampered by the cruise staff. 

I heard that MSC might have a bad staff-to-passenger ratio, resulting in subpar service. However, my experience was fantastic and comparable to major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruise, and Holland America. 

Our waiter, Panarta, was attentive and friendly. The assistant waiter did a great job with our drinks, and the head waiter took good care of my son and niece, who have food allergies.

The Cabin Steward

I was also worried that the quality of service I would get from my cabin steward would be subpar. I thought my cabin steward, Komang, might be overworked and not be able to clean my room properly. 

However, I was pleasantly surprised. Komang did an outstanding job, even better than my experiences on more high-end cruise lines. The bathroom was clean when I arrived, with no lingering odors, which is a widespread issue on many other cruise ships. I usually have to ask for a re-clean on the first day due to bad odor, but not on this MSC cruise! 

Also, Komang was very attentive and promptly fulfilled all my requests. I always had fresh towels and even received evening turndown service. I wasn’t expecting it since other cruise lines, like Norwegian Cruise, have eliminated turndown.

I want to point out that my own experience with the cabin steward isn’t a one-off experience. My mom and sister’s cabin steward, Agus, was also exceptional. He put in a lot of effort to ensure their staterooms were promptly cleaned, with fresh towels, and the best part was that their cabins didn’t have any lingering bad odors. Agus was also always friendly and went the extra mile.

Guest Services

I was pleasantly surprised by the guest services desk. Unlike the long lines I’ve encountered on other cruise ships, the guest services line on my recent MSC cruise was always short. It seemed like there were only 1 or 2 people in line whenever I walked by. 

I’d like to think the short line is due to the happy passengers who don’t have many complaints! But I honestly think it’s because of the efficient guest services staff. The MSC Meraviglia is one of the most efficient cruise ships I’ve been on. They have assigned a dedicated guest services staff to assist passengers while they wait in line, which speeds up the process. 

For example, when I needed to link my credit card to my cabin, a staff member pulled me out of the line and guided me through the kiosk, reducing my wait time. When my nephew lost his key card, a staff member quickly reprinted it, minimizing our wait time again. Their efficiency and organization was truly impressive. 

On one occasion, I had to speak to a guest service staff member at the desk, she was pleasant and helped me solve my issue. 

Free Onboard Texting

One thing that I liked about the MSC cruise is the free onboard texting. You can text other passengers via the MSC cruise app chat feature even if you’re not subscribed to their WiFi plan. 

This made it so convenient to stay in touch with family members and locate them on the cruise ship. It was especially helpful for keeping track of my teenage daughter’s whereabouts!

I was really impressed by the buffet experience. On the first day of the cruise, the only option for lunch was the buffet, and I was worried it would be chaotic and overcrowded. 

To my surprise, the buffet was manageable, and we easily found a table for 8 people. We got on the cruise ship at around 12:30 pm, so it was peak lunchtime!

Even on sea days, the buffet was comfortable. There were always plenty of tables available and the lines were not too long. 

I think it’s because they have a lot of buffet staff whose main job is to clear the tables. In fact, their staff was almost too efficient – if you got up for seconds, you might come back to find your table cleared! 

Public Space

I’ve been on cruises where the public areas of the ship get overcrowded, causing bottlenecks. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the layout of the MSC Meraviglia. The ship is designed in a way that the public spaces are well-distributed, so you never feel like you’re in a bottleneck or caught in a big crowd. The only time it feels busy is when you exit the theater after a show, but that’s normal for any cruise ship.

Pool Lounge Chair

One of the things that I always find on cruise ships is that it is hard to get pool lounge chairs. But not at MSC. I’ve had no trouble finding an empty lounge chair by the pool, even by the indoor pool. I think it’s because they have a policy of clearing lounge chairs if they’re left unattended. I really appreciate how organized the cruise staff is on this ship.

Embarkation

I was pretty worried about the embarkation process. My mom had watched a YouTube video of the embarkation of MSC Meraviglia at the Brooklyn Cruise terminal, and she described it as a complete nightmare with endless lines. 

I was mentally preparing myself for the same experience! However, I was pleasantly surprised. When we arrived at the Brooklyn Cruise terminal, there was a line, but it wasn’t too long, and it kept moving. The staff was well-organized, and getting through security and the check-in process was easy. 

Once we boarded the cruise ship, they informed us that our room wouldn’t be ready until 1 pm. However, we could leave our carry-on bags in the cabin and pick up our cruise keycards, which were hanging on our cabin door. The embarkation process turned out to be smooth and effortless.

The Theater

I liked the theater on the MSC Meraviglia. Unlike other cruise ships, the theater wasn’t too big, so there were no bad seats, even if you sat at the back. They also had a reservation system, and the staff scanned your cruise card to let you in. Even if we were late, finding seats for 8 people wasn’t a problem because they had 3 shows every night, unlike other cruise lines with only 2 shows per night.

The shows were quite enjoyable. While they weren’t exactly Broadway shows, there was a good variety of performances, including singing and dancing to popular songs from different eras, some mild acrobatics, magic shows, and stand-up comedy.

One of my favorite experiences during my Bahamas cruise is the MSC private island, Ocean Cay. It’s probably one of the best cruise line private islands. 

Ocean Cay is stunning- soft, white sand and turquoise water. What’s great is that the cruise ship docks right at the island, so there’s no need for tender boats. 

Families with kids will love the calm, shallow, clean, seaweed-free lagoon—perfect for a relaxing day at the beach. Finding lounge chairs was easy. Overall, we had an amazing beach day, which is a big reason why I will go back on a Bahamas cruise on MSC.

So far, I have been giving you all the reasons why my MSC cruise was such a positive experience. Now, let’s discuss the negatives. To be fair, there aren’t many, but they are significant enough to turn some people off.

The main dining room was the biggest letdown for me. The tables were set up too close together, leaving little room to move around. They also crammed extra chairs at the tables, making it feel overcrowded. 

We were squished into a table meant for six people despite being eight people. Thankfully, we had four kids on our table, which made it less cramped, but I can imagine that it would have been extremely uncomfortable for eight adults. 

Also, because of the table set-up, the main dining room ambiance is that of a noisy restaurant rather than a refined dining experience. It doesn’t feel fancy like what I’m typically accustomed to on other cruise lines. 

Another downside is the size of the staterooms and bathrooms, which are smaller compared to other cruise lines. The cabins felt narrow, and there was hardly any closet space. Even with just myself and my two kids, we couldn’t fit all our clothes in the closet. My son had to keep his clothes in his luggage! 

One more thing that didn’t sit well with me was the electronic daily planner and menu. They don’t leave a printed daily planner in your cabin. As a result, I missed many onboard activities on the first day at sea because I didn’t realize I had to scan a QR code to access the daily planner. 

At the restaurant, there was a lack of printed menus, since they expected passengers to scan a QR code to view the menu. As a result, we were forced to share menus at my table, which was inconvenient and took away from the dining experience. 

Finally, the service in the main dining room always felt rushed towards the end. We barely had time to enjoy our coffee with dessert! I later learned that the restaurant I was assigned to had three seatings, causing the rush. Other restaurants on the cruise ship had two seatings.

Will I Cruise on MSC Again?

The answer is a definite yes. In fact, we’ve even booked another Bahamas cruise through their future cruise program on the MSC Meraviglia for the same week in June but in 2025!

We decided to sail on MSC again mainly because it’s a great value – you get good food, great service, and an amazing private island at an affordable price. I’m willing to overlook the small cabins and crowded main dining room for these benefits! (If they were to raise the price, then I don’t think I would sail on MSC.)

If you have been on the fence like me about sailing on an MSC cruise, don’t be. Don’t let the fact that it’s a budget cruise line scare you off. To be honest, I believe labeling MSC as a budget cruise line is a misconception. Apart from the small cabin size and crowded main dining room, the food and service are comparable to other cruise lines like Princess Cruise and Royal Caribbean, but at a more reasonable price! Check out: 12 Disembarkation Day Mistakes People Make When They Get Off the Cruise Ship

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The post I Went on My First MSC Cruise, Here is My Honest Review appeared first on Suburbs 101 .

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1054 guests have reviewed MSC Meraviglia , giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Great Bermuda Cruise

Sep 21st, 2024

Beautiful clean ship with nice salt water pools and nice hot tubs. Nightly entertainment was very good. Dining room dinner and brunch was very good. Loved seeing NYC at night when we were leaving, it was spectacular. Loved seeing NYC in the morning as the sun came up. Really wish there was a way they could post weather reports while in Bermuda, so you know what to do.

Traveler Type

4-6 cruises

Convenient Bermuda cruise

Sep 20th, 2024

Service was great, food selection (deck 15 Tour de Eifel) was OK comparing with other cruises, dinner experience was great especially our waiter Jay who was friendly, personal, and many times went out of his way to make things right. Thank you Jay!!

Large Group

Wonderful!!!

Sep 19th, 2024

Our family had a wonderful time! Love the MSC Maraviglia!

Family (older children)

2-3 cruises

Sail to lovely pink sand Bermuda

Overall we had a positive experience. They did misplace our luggage for several hours when we first boarded that was unnerving. We enjoyed most of the trip!

Wonderful Bermuda Cruise

Sep 18th, 2024

It was our first experience with MSC and we were not disappointed. The staff did a great job and the entertainment team were wonderful. We cruised many other major cruise lines before. We already booked our next cruise with MSC.

You get what you pay for - nice experience if you're ok with horrible service

Sep 5th, 2024

As long as you're ok with very poor service, the cruise and boat are nice and you get what you pay for. This is my 2nd time on the MSC Meraviglia, so I wasn't surprised by the penny pinching quality but the service took a huge nosedive since my 2023 cruise. They did improve the embarkation and disembarkation SIGNIFICANTLY though. We were on and off the ship in minutes vs. hours in 2023 when they first started sailing from Brooklyn. Not sure I would do it again to be honest. If you find it comparatively much cheaper than other cruises you're comparing, go for it. If on par or within 25%-30% of price, then go for something else to be honest.

MSC Meraviglia is a beautiful ship, sadly plagued with many service difficulties (due to staffing shortages and overbooking of small children).

Sep 4th, 2024

4 Finally's: Finally! A ship with enough elevators (and they are fast!). Finally! A ship that uses actual plastic straws (instead of those paper abominations!). Finally! A ship that provides fun, mid-day Sea Day entertainment (noonish parades or samples of shows on the main promenade!). Finally! A ship with a highly organized E-Day and D-Day experience. That said: One star on their Assembly Station Drill! The way they do the maritime-mandatory safety check-in is by far THE WORST way to do it that we have ever seen on any cruise. The stuff of nightmares: Ear-splitting sirens, shutting down the elevators and making old people walk 10 flights of stairs, and my Lord, the screaming children! ----------------------------- 2 "Yet Anothers" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yet another overbooked and understaffed cruise! The understaffing is most obvious in hotel staff such as overloaded cabin stewards, but also in long lines at casino cashier window and non-existent beverage service. Overbooking is obvious (and don't give me that "it is impossible to overbook, there is a capacity number" blah blah blah, bc it IS possible to overbook when you add rug rats into every other cabin, 16 cruises ago I was on NCL Breakaway capacity 3,962 but 4,500 on board due to additional kids). To make more money, they add 1-3 children to cabins designed for 2 adults only. On MSC Mera, there are over 1,000 children on this cruise, as it is the last week before many schools start in New York and New Jersey and Philly. These brats are loud, rude, obnoxious little walking stereotypes of absently-parented city kids. Yet another "ninja" cabin steward [one that you never see, never meet, does not respond to phone messages you leave, and cannot read your written notes regarding any requests, even after leaving cash underneath your note: untouched] (although it is kinda neat when you leave for as little as ten minutes and come back to a magically perfectly-clean, well-ordered cabin). I dare you to call twice daily, morning and afternoon, to ask for 1 extra pillow. Go on, I dare you.

1st Time on MSC and in the Yacht Club!

The overall rating of 4.3 stars that the review tool calculated was much too low. I would give the cruise a rating of 4.7 stars. I would have rated higher, but we did not have the option of sailing on a larger ship from Brooklyn, NY

Average cruise, nice ship

Overall we felt this cruise was average. We’ve been on more than 5 cruises and we feel it would’ve been better had we more time on the island and less time on the boat but the ship needs to make money that way. The clientele onboard was the downside to the cruise. Although it was a family cruise, the passengers were dressed like slobs, very gluttonous and wasting food like crazy and many people didn’t even have manners, letting their kids run past people with hot drinks or food. It was so annoying, even the cruise ship entertainment director made a few jokes about people’s kids being a bit too much on the ship without their parents enforcing any rules or containing them in any way.

Not at all what we expected

Sep 3rd, 2024

Overall disappointment. Spa not quiet, no windows, no staff circulating, poor food choices even with specialty restaurants.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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6 Reasons to Take a Cruise from New York City on MSC Meraviglia

I was an invited guest of MSC Cruises last week and had a chance to explore MSC Meraviglia shortly after she arrived at her new home in Brooklyn, New York .   From this iconic region the ship will offer something very rare out of New York: year-round sailings to several popular destinations.

Meraviglia is the first of the Meraviglia-class ships built by the family-owned cruise line, and she is known for her sparkling Swarovski crystal stairways and a curved 262-foot-long LED screen built into the ceiling of the Mediterranean-style Galleria.

But this was not my first time on this beautiful ship.  During the summer of last year, I booked a short 4-day cruise on Meraviglia when she homeported in Port Canaveral.  So, I was already very familiar with the layout of the ship and felt right at home, instantly.

And yes, getting a crepe from the crepe station on deck 6 was high on my priority list.

MSC Cruises has made a bold move in moving the 171,598 GRT ship to a homeport in NYC , and strategically speaking it’s a smart move.   Meraviglia will sail to three key destinations: the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canada/New England.

These itineraries will vary with the season, but all year round the ship will offer sailings out of this region, giving cruisers who are new to the brand a taste of what the fastest-growing cruise line in the world has to offer.

MSC Meraviglia ship tour:

So why should you consider booking a cruise on this ship?

It’s New York City

Sure, it’s obvious from the title, but after taking a few cruises out of the Big Apple now, I can see why it’s the perfect place to start a cruise vacation.  Not only does MSC Meraviglia in the Brooklyn cruise terminal offer epic views of lower Manhattan and the surrounding city, but sailing out of NYC also allows you to have a few land-based vacation days before or after the sailing.

I always recommend booking a pre-cruise hotel before a cruise if flying into the area .  It takes the stress out of any flight delays or cancellations and allows you to unwind before you ever step foot on the ship.  But if sailing out of NYC you might want to spend two or three days in a hotel so you can enjoy more time in this American icon of a city.

By the time your ship sails by the Statue of Liberty you will be singing “New York, New York” without even realizing it.

Plenty of dates to pick from

As I mentioned earlier, MSC is keeping Meraviglia in New York all year round.  Most cruise ships will reposition to a different homeport during differing seasons of the year.

But with Meraviglia staying in Brooklyn it offers New York cruisers the opportunity to find a date on the calendar that works for them, no matter what time of year a vacation is most needed.

There are currently about 88 sailings being offered on the MSC ship that extend all the way to September of 2024.  In the year 2024 alone there are 42 cruises offered on the Brooklyn-based cruise ship, with some itineraries as long as 20-nights.

Additionally, MSC offers flexibility with some sailings.  For instance, there is a 10-night Bermuda and New England cruise on October 15 th of 2023 on Meraviglia.  But on that same date you can take a 21-night cruise on the ship which extends the cruise to the Caribbean after visiting Bermuda and New England.

There are several cruises like this on the schedule where cruisers can choose a week-long or multi-week cruise that leaves on the same date, making it a customizable experience for whatever your schedule allows.

The ship is built for all seasons

One of the reasons MSC decided to send Meraviglia to New York is based on the design of the ship.  While it’s a great vessel to be enjoyed in the warmer months of summer, a sailing out of New York City in November could be challenging.

And here is where one of my favorite areas of the ship comes into play.  The “Bamboo pool” and solarium on Meraviglia offers a glass, retractable roof, keeping out any cold weather.

Besides the heated pool there are 4 hot tubs in this area as well, with two that are cantilevered over the side of the ship.  From my experience it’s always warm and humid in this area, and a great respite from even the windiest of days.

I was also told that all of the pools on the ship are heated, including the larger Atmosphere pool and aft pool at the back of the ship.

On top of this there are other interior portions of the ship for experiencing a little fun, including a large sports court used for basketball, soccer, pickleball, and other activities.  So, whether you’re young or young at heart you can enjoy some physical activity on the ship without having to weather the elements on a cold day in January.

By the way, for those warmer months of cruising there’s a great waterpark on the top deck as well, complete with body water slides and tube water slides.  And for those not afraid of heights a ropes course wraps around the waterpark area, offering great views at almost 200 feet above the surface of the ocean.

I actually tried the waterslides on a cold day last year and at least one of them had water heated to the perfect temperature, so it’s not a bad option for even a slightly chilly day at sea.

MSC Meraviglia has 12 unique dining venues to choose from. Getting a tasting of each one as we explore the ship. #MSCMeraviglia pic.twitter.com/Qf2D0uDAIj — Cruise Fever (@CruiseFever) April 21, 2023

A fantastic thermal suite

Speaking of places to stay warm and cozy on the ship, I have to mention the thermal suite.  Not all cruise ships make the spa and thermal suite a priority.  But on MSC Meraviglia and any other Meraviglia-class ships you can enjoy a space with ultra-relaxing heated loungers, hot tubs, saunas, and more.

The Aurea spa thermal area has a quiet room, rain showers with various scents and temperatures, two thalassotherapy pools, dry and wet saunas, and even a cold room so you can cool off a bit.

It’s a well-designed space in my opinion and the stonework, sounds, and temperature make it the perfect way to warm up and relax after a day of being outdoors on excursions.

Fun activities for families

MSC Cruises is a family-owned cruise line that loves to cater to families on board.  Just across from the Sportsplex is an entertainment area that’s great for families wanting a little something extra.  Besides a full size two-lane bowling alley, there are two formula one racing cars, and a flight simulator.

Our group tried the 4D interactive cinema and had a blast shooting zombies from our moving seats as we attempted to save the world.  There is also an arcade right next to this area with some of the latest equipment installed.

A unique show with no bad seats

While I was on MSC Meraviglia last week I had the opportunity to enjoy a show that is exclusive to the ship.  The Carousel Productions show called “House of Houdini” involved high-flying circus acts and performances that dazzled with special effects and music.

The show took place in the very back of the ship on deck 7 in Carousel Lounge.  The 400-seat lounge puts the audience right in the action, and there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.  The LED screen adds to the illusions and spans the entire width of the space, allowing an even more immersive experience as cast members perform right over the heads of some audience members.

There is an extra cost to enjoy this show, but there is also a main auditorium where passengers can enjoy free nightly shows as well.  In fact, the ship offers at least 6 different shows in Broadway Theater, which has a very modern and sleek design.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never sailed on an MSC Cruises ship before, you owe it to yourself to give the line a try.  While not as established in the United States as some of the other mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival,  MSC offers some incredible fares that most families will find affordable.  And what you get for that cruise fare is a great value.

MSC Meraviglia is a gorgeous ship that offers plenty to do while still offering luxury and comfort.  It’s a class of ship I really enjoy.  In fact, a couple years ago I flew all the way to Barcelona just to see sail on her sister ship for 3 nights on MSC Bellissima , a trip I would gladly pay for again.

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MSC Meraviglia boarding at Red Hook Brooklyn

By SusanMK , February 15, 2023 in MSC Cruises

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We are leaving out of Brooklyn NY Red Hook cruise terminal and can’t find much info on park sleep and fly which most cruise ports have. I imagine because it is NY that there isn’t any. My travel agent can only find transfers from JFK and it is $44 each way=$264, which seems pricey. We are debating just driving to the port and parking at the pier. Parking at the pier is $240. We are coming from Massachusetts so not interested in flying. This is our first cruise with MSC, and we are bringing our 10 year old grandson. We are both seniors so don’t feel comfortable with public transportation. Thanks for any info that you can give me.

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You might research on the East Coast Departures board, under North American Homeports.  You also might post a question on the Princess and Cunard boards, since they are the on,y other lines using Red Hook, and have been for years.  EM

Brighton Line

You are correct as to the lack of  park sleep and fly. Hotels do not offer transfers beyond the ones close to the airport which you wouldn't want to stay out anyway.

Post your budget and preferences on the East Coast Depatures and you will get a

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/317-east-coast-departures/

I just read on fb that the cruise terminal parking is going up to $45/day.  That means my October 12 day cruise will cost $540.  Cheaper to Uber from NJ.

Kruizin'Kath

On 2/15/2023 at 5:57 PM, SusanMK said: We are leaving out of Brooklyn NY Red Hook cruise terminal and can’t find much info on park sleep and fly which most cruise ports have. I imagine because it is NY that there isn’t any. My travel agent can only find transfers from JFK and it is $44 each way=$264, which seems pricey. We are debating just driving to the port and parking at the pier. Parking at the pier is $240. We are coming from Massachusetts so not interested in flying. This is our first cruise with MSC, and we are bringing our 10 year old grandson. We are both seniors so don’t feel comfortable with public transportation. Thanks for any info that you can give me.

We will be taking Amtrak to Penn Station (NJ not NY) in june. Only $108.00 round trip from Boston and then uber or taxi to Red Hook

23 hours ago, EllieinNJ said: I just read on fb that the cruise terminal parking is going up to $45/day.  That means my October 12 day cruise will cost $540.  Cheaper to Uber from NJ.

There might be a cap on the charge.  At the pier in Manhattan there’s a max charge of 400.

On 2/16/2023 at 8:45 PM, EllieinNJ said: I just read on fb that the cruise terminal parking is going up to $45/day.  That means my October 12 day cruise will cost $540.  Cheaper to Uber from NJ.

Good to know--thank you! We, too, are going on a cruise in October from Brooklyn (10/04). We're in CT and were planning to drive, so I'll have to see what the cost of Uber is vs. parking. 

• 2 weeks later...

How did you find out which port you're cruising out of? I'm on the MERAVIGLIA 4/29. I'm flying in from Phx. I did a quick search today and thought I found that I'm cruising out of Cape Liberty. I want to fly into the closest airport. Thanks!

There were some articles posted last year. This is one of them:  https://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/msc-cruises-to-homeport-in-nyc-starting-next-year

11 hours ago, KarenGretz said: How did you find out which port you're cruising out of? I'm on the MERAVIGLIA 4/29. I'm flying in from Phx. I did a quick search today and thought I found that I'm cruising out of Cape Liberty. I want to fly into the closest airport. Thanks!

Are you sure?  I thought all Meraviglia cruises sail out of Red Hook Brooklyn.

Yeah, I think it was an old listing in their website for Cape Liberty. All the articles I read after asking this question is pointing me to Brooklyn. So I changed my flight back to JFK. The times and the fact that it's non-stop work best for me. Thanks for your help everyone!

We're on the Meraviglia 5/21 and I just automatically assumed we'd be departing out of the Manhattan cruise terminal but later learned we'll be departing out of the Brooklyn terminal. I didn't even know there was a Brooklyn terminal. This'll be our first cruise out of New York. We'll be flying in/out of LGA and spending two nights pre-cruise in NYC so don't need parking anywhere but if we'd planned to park at the port, WHOA, $45/day is outrageous!

The ferry frrom Pier 11 / Wall Street goes straight to the Red Hook cruise terminal. $2.75. Catch the subway to southern Manhattan (2 or 3 train to Wall St) for another $2.75. It's a quarter of a mile from subway to ferry.

3 hours ago, F3rpect said: The ferry frrom Pier 11 / Wall Street goes straight to the Red Hook cruise terminal. $2.75. Catch the subway to southern Manhattan (2 or 3 train to Wall St) for another $2.75. It's a quarter of a mile from subway to ferry.

That is incorrect, the current NYC Ferry Adult one-way fare is $4.00

10 Trip is $27.50

$1.35 for Senior Citizens, aged 65 and older; Persons with disabilities; Current participants in the Fair Fares NYC program

Purchase via App, Pier Ticket Machine, or Website

https://www.ferry.nyc/ticketing-info/

On 2/28/2023 at 7:49 PM, NCMtnBoys said:  don't need parking anywhere but if we'd planned to park at the port, WHOA, $45/day is outrageous!      

LOL Typical NY prices....to park at the airport is $75 a day so $45 is bargain.  

$45 including 18.375% tax for 24 hours is a steal. You could pay $62 for four hours parking for a show on Broadway and be a longer distance to your car.

Illbcruzn4life

I have an 11 day cruise booked on another line leaving from Brooklyn. Getting ready to cancel it and just fly to florida and catch a different cruise. Almost $500 for parking. 😲  I'd rather used that money to go towards airfare.

CruisinMaterial

Another major kicker for the Brooklyn Terminal is the ship's earlier departure. It sails at 3PM? That means all aboard is at 2PM at the latest. If you're coming in from anywhere outside of the NYC metro area, you've got a very early rise to get there and forget going into NYC on a train or bus the same day coming down from Boston. You'd be biting your nails if you tried the public transit options to get to Brooklyn and the Uber/Lyft charges are up there. Perhaps with their arrival into NYC, they'll eventually move to the Manhattan terminal on the off days from when the Joy is in town (Saturdays would be free in Manhattan).

Best Cat Mom

I'm a native NYer, spent my entire school-age life in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. I'd never pay for NYC parking rates. Much better to use public transportation (fly, train, etc) or Uber if you're local. I would totally avoid having a vehicle near the cruise port unless you're really close by.

LoungerOnBalcony55

The only public transport into Red Hook is a bus. The nearest subway stop is not walkable from the terminal with luggage. 

Dumb question (perhaps), but we have never sailed out of NY before and are scheduled to for our upcoming cruise on the Mera this November. We plan to stay in lower Manhattan and take the ferry across the river, as described above. Can ferry tickets be purchased in advance, and is there a clear schedule oft their departure times?

You should all be aware...the port for the Meraviglia is BROOKLYN not Manhattan.  It is Red Hook Parking as of 4/1 is $45 per day.  As a native New Yorker...I will tell you that no matter what transportation you use it will be pricey...this is NY....and be sure to leave plenty of time to get to 

the port.  Anything can happen in this city to delay you......

2 hours ago, jcathers1 said: Dumb question (perhaps), but we have never sailed out of NY before and are scheduled to for our upcoming cruise on the Mera this November. We plan to stay in lower Manhattan and take the ferry across the river, as described above. Can ferry tickets be purchased in advance, and is there a clear schedule oft their departure times?

yes but probably easier just to buy at the kiosks at the terminals

schedules are easily google-able 

On 3/26/2023 at 5:51 AM, jcathers1 said: Dumb question (perhaps), but we have never sailed out of NY before and are scheduled to for our upcoming cruise on the Mera this November. We plan to stay in lower Manhattan and take the ferry across the river, as described above. Can ferry tickets be purchased in advance, and is there a clear schedule oft their departure times?

You are talking about NYC Ferry by Hornbolower based out of Wall Street pier runs on the East River to the five boroughs. Yes, you can purchase in advance on the cell phone app. 

Button for the app currently on the main page: Main Page:  https://www.ferry.nyc/

or the bottom of this page for Apple or Google Store:  https://www.ferry.nyc/appguide/

Adult one-way is currently $4.00, Senior 65+ is $1.35

JamieLogical

On 2/27/2023 at 11:27 PM, KarenGretz said: How did you find out which port you're cruising out of? I'm on the MERAVIGLIA 4/29. I'm flying in from Phx. I did a quick search today and thought I found that I'm cruising out of Cape Liberty. I want to fly into the closest airport. Thanks!

There is a publicly posted schedule for the NY Cruise Terminals:

https://nycruise.com/schedule/

MCT = Manhattan Cruise Terminal

BCT = Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

The Meraviglia is home porting out of the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal beginning in April.

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Is MSC a Good Cruise Line? What to Know From Someone That’s Sailed

If you’ve looked for an affordable cruise, then there is no doubt that you’ve run across MSC Cruises.

The cruise line is a global powerhouse with a fleet of more than 20 ships. That puts it in the ballpark of major household names like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. In the United States, however, it’s not nearly as well-known.

That’s because until recently, MSC wasn’t a major player in North American cruising. However, that’s changing. The cruise line continues to add more departure ports, including sailing from Miami, New York and Galveston.

And one thing attracting passengers are some amazing cruise deals. We’ve found trips starting at just $199 per person (taxes and fees included) for four nights. Week-long cruises can be found for as little as $359 per person. That’s some of the lowest fares you’ll find.

Of course, the old adage is “you get what you pay for,” so with fares so cheap, is MSC actually a good cruise line? We’ve sailed it multiple times, and here’s what we can tell you…

An Overview of MSC 

First, it helps to have an overview of exactly what MSC Cruises is and how it’s a bit different from other lines.

As mentioned earlier, MSC is a truly global cruise line. Whether you want to sail Europe, Asia, South America or the Caribbean, the cruise line offers trips there. They even offer world cruises of up to 118 nights that take you literally around the globe. If there is one hole in the routes it sails, however, that would be trips to Alaska. At least right now, MSC doesn’t sail there.

For those sailing from the United States, the cruise line offers four departure ports — New York, Miami, Port Canaveral, and Galveston (service expected to start in 2025). These ports offer service to ports in the Caribbean and The Bahamas, matching similar routes done by other major cruise lines. In effect, if you want to sail the Caribbean, then you can with MSC and likely for cheaper than with other lines.

MSC has been on a run of growth in its fleet. As of now the cruise line measures 22 ships with another ship coming each year in 2025, 2026, and 2027. And with that growth, the fleet is relatively new. Of the 22 ships, 10 have been built in the past decade.

These ships rival anything else you might find from a more familiar cruise line, and include large atriums, pool decks, restaurants, bars, theaters, and the casino. And as the cruise line grows, so too do its ships. Its newest vessels are just slightly smaller than Royal Caribbean’s largest ships, meaning it can pack on passengers and things to do.

One big difference many people notice is with the passenger base. Because MSC is more well-known outside of the United States, we’ve noticed a more international feel to the passengers. Europeans and South Americans are more common than on other cruises where the passengers are almost always American.

What MSC Does Well Based on Our Cruises

With multiple cruises on MSC, we’ve found some things that the cruise line does really well. If you want to know if it’s a good cruise line, then here’s where it excels:

Cost Without a doubt what MSC does best is offer an affordable cruise. Across the board, you’ll find prices that are among the lowest in the industry, whether you’re sailing a quick weekend getaway or a longer sailing. Trips can be had for literally just a couple of hundred dollars per person, even with the taxes and fees included.

And don’t think there is some catch with the low prices and then wild upcharges or hidden fees. Just like other cruise lines, you get your cabin, entertainment, and restaurants included. There are extra charges for specialty restaurants, drinks, and gratuities, but this is the case on all the major cruise lines.

Ocean Cay Just about every cruise line has its own private island or destination (a carve out of a larger island). This is one place where MSC stands out. It boasts a spot called Ocean Cay in The Bahamas.

The cruise lines spent major money in creating and building out this island. Today, it’s massive with its own lagoon, an endless supply of white sand beaches, bars, shops, and a massive “lighthouse” that serves as a light tower for evening shows on the island.

While some lines have turned their islands into amusement parks, Ocean Cay is much more laid back. It’s all about having a great day at the beach with plenty of room for everyone to have lots of space. Among the islands we’ve visited, it’s one of our favorites.

We also like that many cruises port overnight here. Being about to go out and explore at night is something completely different from most other trips.

Newer Ships Another place where MSC stands out is with the ships themselves. We mentioned before how many ships in the fleet are relatively new. That means in general you’ll be sailing a ship that’s updated and with the latest amenities.

Given the price point, that’s a surprise. Often cruise lines offer cheap fares on their oldest ships. Since these ships have seen more mileage, they are typically smaller in size, have fewer amenities, and generally see more wear. Cruise lines cut prices to induce demand on these older vessels.

On MSC, you can still sail for less but also sail on newer ships. So you don’t have to sacrifice in order to find a deal.

Pizza (Really?!) It may sound silly to mention, but if we’re talking about what MSC does well, you can’t forget the pizza. As a cruise line with roots based in Europe, the pizza onboard is serious business. Many lines have pies that can taste a bit like cardboard. After all, when you’re feeding literally thousands of passengers the quality can suffer.

On MSC, the pizza is high-quality with large slices (instead of those tiny things other lines try to serve) that you can actually fold. We’ve eaten pizza on all the major cruise lines and Princess is the only one that we consider on the same level.

What MSC Could Improve in Our Opinion

Every cruise line will have things they can improve. With MSC, there are some things that we’ve noticed that we’d change if we were in charge:

Generic Feel The ships are bright and shiny and they have all the amenities you’d expect on a modern cruise. But while it’s hard to explain, we’ve always felt that MSC ships and venues have a “generic” or “off-brand” feel to them.

For instance, most cruise lines have venues that are essentially brands of that cruise line. Places like Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival or Lime and Coconut Bar on Royal Caribbean have their own distinct styling and and atmosphere.

We recently sailed on an MSC ship that included a sports bar… named “Sports Bar.” And the other venues around the ship can have a similar feel. Again, it’s hard to quite put our finger on it, but small details make the atmosphere feel more generic.

Too Many Specialty Restaurants Now we haven’t been on every MSC ship, and the restaurants will vary from ship to ship. On the ones we have sailed, however, we’ve been disappointed in the food options. In general, it seems that MSC opts more toward including just a handful of spots (typically the buffet and dining room) and then everything else is a specialty restaurant that costs extra.

Will you go hungry? No, but if you’re on a longer cruise then you should expect to spend some money dining in specialty restaurants if you want to avoid eating the same few spots over and over.

Cleanliness Over the years we’ve been impressed at just how clean cruise ships are on average. You always see people cleaning around the ship and frankly, they are often spotless.

We’ve noticed that MSC — at least on our cruises — could improve its cleanliness. We’ve stayed in rooms that, while they felt clean at first glance, show some need for a more thorough cleaning as you spend more time in the cabin. Public areas around the ship can use some attention too. For example, when passengers leave empty glasses or dishes around the ship, they can seem to linger longer than on other lines.

That’s not to say that MSC is “dirty,” but we’ve definitely felt a difference from other lines, which often seem immaculately kept.

Is MSC a Good Cruise Line? Is it Worth Sailing?

So what’s the bottom line on MSC? We will say that it has a different feel than other cruise lines. To us it feels a bit more generic and not quite the same as say Carnival or Royal Caribbean.

But there is also a lot to like. Trips sailing from the United States will almost always include a trip to Ocean Cay, which we think is a jewel. Ships are relatively new, there’s plenty to do onboard, and frankly the price can’t be beat.

That said, we’ve all bought inexpensive things and even at the low price they weren’t worth it. That’s not the case with MSC. To us, not only is it inexpensive but it’s also an amazing value.

We’re not saying it’s our favorite cruise line or that it’s the best out there. Frankly, there are others that we like more. But for the cost, it’s hard for us to find a better value. Yes, there are differences with other lines, but we’d estimate about 90% of your experience will be right in line with what you expect, just at a lower price.

If you’re considering a cruise and want to sail on a budget, then MSC is a great cruise line to consider. Just be sure to save a slice of pizza for us.

More About MSC:

Carnival vs. MSC: 11 Major Differences Between the Two Cruise Lines

• Ocean Cay (MSC’s Private Island): Complete Guide, Tips, & Things to Know

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

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Wowza! This new New York-based cruise ship is bigger than the city's biggest hotel

What's the biggest hotel in New York City?

If you guessed the famously massive New York Marriott Marquis near Times Square, with its 1,971 rooms, you would have been right ... on Wednesday.

But as of Thursday, there's a new giant in town, albeit one that you won't be able to access every day. It'll be coming and going.

It's the MSC Meraviglia, the first cruise ship from fast-growing MSC Cruises to be based in in the Big Apple. One of the biggest cruise ships in the world, it has a whopping 2,224 rooms — edging out the New York Marriott Marquis' room count by a comfortable margin.

We know MSC Meraviglia is not a "hotel" in the strictest definition. But cruise ships essentially are just hotels that float. When MSC Meraviglia is docked at its new home base in New York City, something that will happen every few days year-round, it'll be hard to argue it's not the biggest lodging establishment in the Five Boroughs.

Eighteen decks high and more than 1,000 feet long, MSC Meraviglia can hold about 5,700 passengers with every berth filled, and it sails with 1,500-plus crew members.That means that, on any given day, it could have more than 7,000 people on board.

The arrival of MSC Meraviglia in New York City marks a significant milestone for MSC Cruises, a Europe-based brand that, until now, has only offered sailings in North America out of the Port of Miami and Port Canaveral . MSC Meraviglia has been based out of Port Canaveral until now.

The arrival comes as the battle for cruisers in the New York area heats up, with rival lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line deploying some of the newest and biggest ships to the market.

Related: New Norwegian Prima to sail from New York, Texas and Florida

MSC Meraviglia will depart Saturday on its first sailing from New York — a seven-night voyage to Florida and the Bahamas. It'll then run a year-round schedule of six- to 11-night voyages to the Caribbean, Bermuda, New England and Canada.

When it's in New York, the ship will dock at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, which is in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn.

The new MSC Cruises sailings out of New York will include:

• Seven- and eight-night voyages to the Bahamian port of Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line's private island in the Bahamas.
• Six-night trips to Bermuda that feature three days docked at King's Wharf.
• Ten and 11-night sailings to New England and Canada that bring calls at Boston; Portland, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. The 11-night itinerary also includes a stop at Newport, Rhode Island.

MSC Cruises is joining Royal Caribbean and Norwegian in basing ships in the New York area year-round for sailings to the above regions. Other lines that sail regularly out of New York-area ports on a seasonal basis include Carnival Cruise Line , Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises . Cunard Line also has a major presence in New York City with regular transatlantic sailings from New York to the United Kingdom.

MSC Cruises has been rapidly building its footprint in North America in an effort to woo more Americans. In 2017, MSC Cruises only had a single vessel based in North America. It now has two vessels based in Miami, one based in Port Canaveral and one based in New York.

All of the North America-based ships are marketed heavily to Americans.

Founded in 1989 in Naples, Italy, and now based in Switzerland, MSC Cruises in recent years has been building big, resort-like vessels that compete with the biggest ships from the likes of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. It currently operates seven of the 20 biggest cruise ships in the world.

The line is also in the midst of building the largest cruise terminal in North America, at PortMiami. It'll be able to accommodate three of the line's largest ships at once.

Note that MSC Meraviglia isn't the first cruise ship with more rooms than the New York Marriott Marquis to dock in New York City. On days when Norwegian's Norwegian Epic is in town, for instance — something that will happen just once this year — it surpasses the New York Marriott Marquis in size. Norwegian Epic has about 2,100 rooms.

In addition, MSC Meraviglia will be eclipsed in size among cruise ships sailing out of the New York area on May 7 when Royal Caribbean's giant Oasis of the Seas returns to the city for a short-term series of sailings through October. The giant ship, which has more than 2,700 rooms, began sailing seasonally out of New York in 2021 .

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ABOUT MSC MERAVIGLIA

Msc meraviglia.

Tempt your taste buds in a variety of restaurants and peruse the 315-foot central shopping and dining promenade. During the day, treat yourself to a relaxing spa treatment  or get your heart pumping as you race down a waterslide. At night, enjoy world-class entertainment, test your luck in the casino , or dance under the stars at the Horizon Pool, which is transformed for evening activities. No matter how you spend your time on board, enjoy the everchanging views as you discover new destinations.

MSC Yacht Club

If you prefer exclusivity, enter a world of luxury in the MSC Yacht Club, our private ship-within-a-ship, where you can retreat to pampering and relaxation amid sweeping ocean views. Indulge in lavish accommodations, 24-hour butler service, special benefits, and exclusive venues including a restaurant, lounge, and pool deck. Private access lets you savor the utmost in serene seclusion, all within a world of countless amenities and entertainment options just steps outside your door.

Explore Meraviglia

MSC Meraviglia is designed with extraordinary features for the perfect experience at sea. Enjoy gourmet dining and out-of-this-world entertainment with new panoramic areas, an innovative ocean-view lounge, a two-deck "inside promenade" with an LED dome and a spectacular amusement area connected to an outdoor water park.

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