January 2023

This is my introduction to MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) cruising aboard the cruise ship Meraviglia.  I have cruised on the major cruise lines and felt it to be the right time to cruise on an MSC vessel.  The Meraviglia was built in 2016.  The vessel particulars are as follows:  Gross Tonnage:  167,600 tons, Length/Height:  31583m/65m, Total number of guests:  5,655, Crew Members:  1,536, Lifts:  32, Voltage:  110/220 volts, Wi-Fi:  Everywhere onboard, Pools:  4, Decks:  19. 

The Meraviglia is presently at Port Canaveral, FL.  One of the things I like about the Port is it’s infrastructure of being easily accessible making both arriving and leaving relatively easy. 

I made my reservation with an MSC agent who was very knowledgeable, professional and helpful.  She was very thorough obtaining from me all the necessary information.  I created an online profile with MSC and provided information regarding my reward status with other cruise lines so as to provide me with a comparable level of reward status.  

My reservation was for a ‘guarantee’ inside stateroom.  I believe that if I read my documents correctly, I have been upgraded to an outside stateroom.  I purchased the 3-meal specialty dining package.  However, you are not able to make date and time reservations until you are onboard.  I have my thoughts on this which I will share later. 

Typically, eDocs are ready within 20 days of sailing.  I did not receive an email notification from MSC that the docs were ready and so I called them to inquire.  I was immediately connected to an agent who sent me the eDocs, WHILE WE WERE STILL ON THE PHONE!  Very well done!  All that was left for me to do was to print out the documents.  The documents were professionally and thoroughly drawn up.  Even my luggage tags had my name and stateroom printed on them.

As a courtesy, MSC would continue to send me updates on my upcoming cruise.  My ‘check-in’ time is 1:30 PM.  I will take a hotel shuttle to the vessel. 

NEXT:  The ‘check-in and boarding’ process!!

The following are of course my own observations.  The experiences of others can be quite different based upon their wants, needs and expectations.

 Day One.  Port Canaveral

Day One.  Check-in and embarkation.  The check-in process dockside was efficient and kept the lines moving.  My check-in time was 1:30 PM.  After receiving my key card, I proceeded to board the vessel.  There was already a queue of over fifty people at the Reception area with passengers having all manner of questions.

I had purchased the 3-meal Specialty Dining package.  Reservations were being made at the Ocean Cay Restaurant.  There was a long queue here as well.  I stayed in line and got my reservations made and confirmed.  I later asked the staff member why the queue was so long and was informed it is for those who have specific dining times in mind.  Otherwise, you can dial 6100 for reservations.  Or, depending on your flexibility, you can visit Ocean Cay during the week for reservation availability.

I went to my stateroom and found that I did indeed have an outside stateroom.  It appears to me that the MSC staterooms are European ‘small’.  I cannot imagine being in an inside stateroom if the size is consistent.

We had the mandatory safety drill.  The drill covered the required information as required by the USCG and SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea).  After watching a safety video from the stateroom, we had to acknowledge this by calling a code on the tv screen by telephone confirming it had been viewed.  We then proceeded to our muster station where crew members scanned our key card for further confirmation of our attendance.

I had dinner in the Panorama main dining room with seven other passengers.  A diverse group some of whom have sailed with MSC previously.  I found the quality of food and service provided both to be very good.

I then went to the Broadway Show at the theater.  The show was Top Hits and the quality of the entertainers was quite good.

I met my stateroom attendant and all went well as we left Port Canaveral as scheduled.

Day Two.  Nassau.

Day Two.  After a long Day One, I opted to have Room Service provide a Continental Breakfast ($) to my stateroom.  The vessel was not due to arrive to Nassau until noon.  There was a solo passenger get together at 11:00 in the Skyline Lounge.  It was nice to meet fellow solo travelers with snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages being served.

We arrived to Nassau as scheduled and there were three other vessels already docked; MSC Seaside, Carnival Mardi Gras and the Celebrity Reflection.  The last time I was in Nassau, the port area was under renovation to accommodate additional vessels which they have completed.  There is ongoing renovations being made of the port area.  I chose to go for a short walk ashore.  However, for me, four very large vessels with a combined passenger capacity approaching 20,000 in the port of Nassau was just overwhelming.

I had a Specialty Dining reservation at Butcher’s Cut steak house at 5:30 PM.  It was not busy and I was seated promptly.  The quality of the food and service were very good. 

I then went to the show at the Broadway Theater.  This show was titled ‘COOL’ with singers providing song and dance of songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.  This was perhaps the BEST show I have seen aboard a cruise ship.  The quality of the show presented very talented singers and dancers.  The show lasted forty-five minutes.  It was non-stop energy from beginning to end.  This was only surpassed by their well choreographed routine and acrobatics.  A definite 10 out of 10.

Day Three.  Ocean Cay, Bahamas.

Day Three.  Our departure from Nassau was timely and we are now headed to the MSC Private Reserve named Ocean Cay.  It is overcast and quite breezy upon our arrival.  As a morning person, I was having a coffee as we arrived.  I had breakfast at the Marketplace Buffet which provides a very nice variety and presentation of their food offerings. There are beaches and amenities ashore.  However, what I found interesting is that the vessel is at a dock.  Several other cruise lines having their own islands would tender passengers from the vessel to shore.  This is a very nice feature having a dock to allow passengers to go ashore and return at your convenience.

Wanting to experience as many of the dining experiences while onboard, today I will have both lunch and dinner at the Marketplace Buffet.

Later, I have a reservation to attend CAROUSEL PRODUCTION PRESENTS “ROCK CIRCUS” ($).  The show is a version of a Cirque de Soleil presentation.  It should be very entertaining.  I will share my thoughts afterwards.  The show was very good.  The talent of the performers was very apparent as was the coordination of lighting, sound and singers.  Of particular note was the extraordinary efforts of the two male performers in a show in itself of the amazing combination of balance, grace and strength.  Overall, a very entertaining evening.

My dining experience at the Marketplace Buffet was pleasant.  There are many stations from which to choose from your main course, salads and dessert.

Day Four. 

Day Four. We are at sea!  A pleasant and calming day.  Calm seas, gentle winds and plenty of sunshine.  After an early breakfast at the Marketplace Buffet, I got some early morning sun on one of the upper decks.  From the Daily Planner, there is never a shortage of places onboard to visit and things to do from arts and crafts, Trivia, the Casino where the table games would open at 11:00 AM and of course, shopping along the Promenade.

It is always an adventure being aboard a ship.  So much to see.  Today is Day Four and I just found the GYM.  Haha!  Interestingly, a gym on a ship is busiest on Day One of a cruise.  After that, if you are looking for a ‘quiet place’, you will find plenty of room at the GYM.  I am writing this while in the later part of the afternoon in the Skyline Lounge on Deck 18.  The Skyline is a nice quiet observation lounge with a bar and some background music.  From the lounge, you can see the large movie screen on deck as well as forward panoramic views of the oceans ahead. 

This evening recommendation for attire is:  Elegant.  This is a ‘dress to impress’ evening with men wearing tuxedos, suits, country club casual with and without ties.  The ladies were all dressed to impress and were all very successful.  There were photography venues throughout the Promenade areas to capture the moment.  I was very impressed with this evening’s call to ‘dress to impress’.  Other cruise lines have long since abandoned ‘Formal Night’ with nothing that is equivalent to the MSC Elegant:  Dress to Impress evening. 

My dining plans for this evening include a reservation for the second of my specialty dining options.  I have chosen the Ocean Cay Restaurant as my seafood choice.  I have no doubt, my dining experience will go swimmingly and will of course follow-up with my thoughts on the experience.  Dinner at Ocean Cay was excellent.  Although not part of my dining package, I upgraded ($) my main course for the lobster entrée main course. 

The timing was good as the Captain is giving a Presentation at the Promenade at 8:15 PM attended also by his Senior Officers.

I have been alternating my activities as to have a specialty dining experience on one day and a Show on the alternate day.  So far, it has been working out very efficiently.  Smooth sailing, sun, fun and activities.

As we enter into the latter part of the day, clouds are building and there is the potential for some rain.

Our next port of call is Belize City.  The distance between Ocean Cay and Belize City is 721 nautical miles.  We will have a time change this evening where we will turn the clocks BACK 1 HOUR.

Arrival time to Belize City is approximately 8:00 AM.

Day Five.  Belize City.

Day Five.  We arrived to Belize City are approximately 8:00 AM.  Although some clouds on our arrival, they have since disappeared and are now just visible on the horizon.  I was unaware that at Belize City, we would be tendering from the ship at anchor to shore.  The tenders were efficiently organized to allow passengers with excursions to be of those first to land.  The transfer time from ship to shore by tender is approximately 25-30 minutes.  The last tender to shore is at 1:30 PM and the last tender from shore to the ship is at 3:30 PM.  We have an All aboard time of 4:30 PM with a 5:00 PM Departure.

Although there are several excursions available, given the transfer times, I have chosen to remain onboard and with many other passengers enjoy some quiet time with those others having travelled ashore.

This Evening Attire:  White.  This should be very interesting and I look forward to this evening.  The theme being to wear white with the thought being of the color white as pure chic.

I will join my dining companions at the Panorama main dining room this evening.  I have no doubt that we will have some interesting stories to share of our cruise.

After dinner, I will explore the venues aboard ship and enjoy some of the music and relaxation.

I have to remind myself that this evening we will turn the clocks AHEAD 1 HOUR.

Day Six.  Cozumel.

Day Six.  We arrived to Cozumel and docked by 8:00 AM.  The weather was overcast with clouds and rain possible.  I did not sign up for one of the many excursions.  I did choose to go ashore and debated on whether or not to bring my umbrella.  I chose to bring it and glad that I did.  Soon after I got off the vessel, it began to rain.  I chose to walk about the local shop areas which were very welcoming.  There are many places to visit walking in the area from a Marketplace, a Hard Rock Café, with a Margaritaville  and Senor Frog’s dockside.  It rained, and at times quite hard, during our entire stay.  Some of my fellow passengers had their excursions cancelled due to the weather.  The ship offered to change their excursion time, however, the weather did not appear to be clearing and opted to receive a credit back to their account.

I met with my fellow solo travelers at our usual time of 5:00 PM to share our experiences of the day.  The solo travelers program is a definite plus for MSC as they recognize that there of those of us that wish to travel but do not have a traveling partner.  Rather than making it cost prohibitive for a solo traveler (other cruise lines force solo travelers to pay a supplement equal to 100% of the fare), MSC is proven to be what I would say is ‘solo traveler friendly’.

I dined at my third Specialty Dining option at 6:00 PM.  I chose HOLA!  TACOS AND CANTINA.

As an early diner, I was greeted and seated at my reserved time.  The food choices and level of service are both to be given high marks.  By the time I left the restaurant, it had become quite busy. 

For the rest of the evening, I was entertained by the musicians performing throughout the ship.

Although scheduled to depart Cozumel at 5:00 PM, I assume that with everyone onboard accounted for, the Captain decided to leave the dock at 4:30 PM.

Day Seven-At Sea.

Day Seven.  We are at sea!!  As a morning person, I have already had my coffee and early breakfast at the Marketplace Buffet.  At present as I write from the Skyline Lounge, the skies are heavily overcast but with a brightening on the horizon to the East.

Again, as with the previous several days, our Daily Planner, has a day full of events and activities for participation.

I have no doubt that at some time during the day, we will receive out disembarkation instructions.  Usually, a sad note of saying ‘time to pack up’.  Well, not for all of us.  At my main dining table, this is one gentleman’s fifth back to tack cruise on the Meraviglia!

I look forward to our last solo travelers gathering later this afternoon as well as my farewell dinner together with my dining group at the Panorama dining room.

Day Eight. 
Arrival to Port Canaveral and Disembarkation.  We arrived on time and the disembarkation process was handled in a very organized manner