Launched just in 2016, MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia cruise ship is relatively young. The lead ship for MSC’s Meraviglia class, it was the first from the class to debut, followed by MSC Bellissima in 2019.
Both Meraviglia-class cruise ships can hold 4,500 passengers, and when MSC Meraviglia entered service in 2017, it was the sixth-largest cruise ship in the world, with a gross tonnage of 171,598 GT and length of 1,036 feet and 2 inches. There are 15 passenger decks and, beyond the capacity for 4,500 passengers, the ship holds 1,536 crew members.
In the past, the ship has served cruisers around the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. However, with MSC Cruises’ expansion into the North American market, MSC Meraviglia was repositioned to the Caribbean and Mexico in 2019.
MSC Meraviglia has made headlines for its extensive facilities and features, including an LED-lit roof, expansive dining options, ropes course, water park and more. When it was being built, the ship was featured on the Science Channel’s Building Giants show, wherein the ship was called a “monster” cruise ship.
With all of that space and size, the MSC cruise ship attracts a large range of travelers. Just about everyone can find something they like about the ship, from families to luxury travelers to group travelers seeking fun on an all-girls or all-guys trip.
There’s always something to do, see and experience — which is both a pro and a con. Some may find that this endless abundance of entertainment is a little too much for their liking. Still, if it’s fun and lots of options you’re after, MSC Meraviglia is a good choice.
Thinking of booking an MSC Cruises trip in the near future, whether you’ve cruised with the European brand in the past or this will be your first time? If you think you’ll find yourself stepping aboard MSC Meraviglia anytime soon, you’ll want to check out our nine favorite things to do while on the MSC Meraviglia cruise ship.
1. Take advantage of MSC Cruises’ improved dining across the complimentary dining options
While MSC Cruises hasn’t always been known for stellar dining, the cruise line is definitely upping its game with its newer ships. When you’re on board MSC Meraviglia, you’ll find not only that the cruise line expanded the types of restaurants and dining experiences it offers, but also enlisted celebrity chef Carlo Cracco to improve the overall dining quality.
There are four main dining rooms, which is quite different from what you’ll find on many other cruise lines, with many ships often just having one or two main dining rooms, at most.
You get the same menu in each of the dining rooms, but they differ in terms of the dining experience Some will give you classic, fixed-time, sit-down dining. Others will allow you to pick when you eat. The main dining rooms are Waves, L’Olive Doree, L’Olivo D’Oro and Panorama. As you might expect from the name, the last one offers great views from the very back of the ship.
Every cruise ship needs a buffet, and MSC Meraviglia’s Marketplace Buffet is gigantic, offering you tons of different dining options. You can find all kinds of food and global cuisines, and there’s always something on offer, as early as 6:30 a.m. and as late was 10 p.m.
If you’re a Yacht Club guest, then you’ll have access to the VIP Yacht Club Restaurant and Yacht Club Solarium Grill. These restaurants offer standard fare in a more exclusive atmosphere, away from the crowds that you might find across the four main dining rooms.
2. Explore the additional dining experiences
If you’re not a Yacht Club guest, you’ll have noticed that your dining options are limited to the main dining rooms and the buffet. For some cruisers who are accustomed to ships with a handful of complimentary dining options, this can be annoying.
However, the for-a-fee dining options are a good value and worth checking out, even if you might consider it a splurge.
For-a-fee dining options include the Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, which serves coffee and extravagant chocolates off the ship’s main promenade; Jean-Phillipe Crepes & Gelato, for — you guessed it — crepes and gelato; Eataly, which is exactly the same as the well-known restaurants and marketplaces that you’ll find all over the world; Eataly Ristorante Italiano, which is an off-shoot restaurant of Eataly; The Chef’s Table, a chef-accompanied, exclusive dining experience that only allows for eight cruisers per seating; Kaito Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar, a newer restaurant for the cruise line; and Butcher’s Cut, an American-style chop house that’s also new to the MSC Cruises brand.
You can also get room service for a fee. Other than The Chef’s Table dining experience, you can additionally book the Cirque du Soleil dining experience, to enjoy cocktails and dining during a cirque-style show.
3. Catch a show
Going to the theater while on a cruise is practically a must-do for any new cruiser, and the same applies when you’re aboard MSC Meraviglia.
The ship’s broadway-style theater seats nearly a thousand guests, and shows six different shows during each cruise, meaning you nearly have something new to watch every night. There are broadway-style musicals, flamenco shows and sometimes even opera. While there are six different shows, each show runs three different times, so if you miss one show due to a scheduling conflict, you can always catch it later.
The Carousel Lounge is the setting for the brand’s Cirque du Soleil shows. MSC Cruises was the first cruise line to bring Cirque du Soleil to sea, when the circus troupe’s shows debuted aboard MSC Meraviglia (and the Carousel Lounge was actually designed with Cirque du Soleil in mind). There are two different cirque shows to catch each cruise.
4. Enjoy some daytime entertainment
The hard working crew aboard MSC Meraviglia does a great job of pulling together activities and “events” throughout the entire ship, so no matter where you are, you can just about always find something fun to join in on. There are parties and pool games, quizzes, dances, classes, gaming tournaments, parades and more.
One of the forms of entertainment that’s bound to catch your eye? The light shows that take place in the Galleria at regular intervals each day, thanks to the humongous LED ceiling topping this promenade.
5. Party on, after dark
The Galleria light shows continue in the evening, when the ship’s on-board entertainment becomes more like what you might expect from a high-end, lifestyle resort.
Live music is everywhere. Classy parties take over the pool area, while themed parties go down in the Galleria. You can also escape to the casino, which is on the larger side for a cruise ship.
6. Grab a drink
There are plenty of watering holes to choose from when cruising on MSC Meraviglia.
The Infinity Bar is popular for both coffee and cocktails. The Champagne Bar serves up all your favorite Champagne labels. Edge Bar attempts to develop a sort of “edge”, with its motorcycle centerpiece.
The Meraviglia Bar & Lounge is a classic, promenade bar that’s popular with cruisers coming and going between dinner and the theater; it also has a lively dance floor. TV Studio & Bar is an entertainment-centric lounge, with lots of dancing, music, karaoke, games, quizzes and contests.
Brass Anchor Pub is a British-style pub with lots of beers from around the world. Atmosphere Bar North and Atmosphere Bar South both serve up cocktails and light snacks around the pool. Bamboo Bar flanks the pool inside the solarium.
The Sports Bar serves American-style drinks and snacks (but also protein drinks, oddly). Sky Lounge overlooks the main pool deck, with luxury cocktails and a cigar room. Attic Club overlooks the Seaplex and has a club-like feel.
There are also bars at the casino, within the Carousel Lounge, in the Yacht Club, at the Horizon Amphitheater and under the waterslides.
In other words, if you haven’t guessed it yet, you are going to always be able to find a drink when you’re aboard MSC Meraviglia.
7. Soak in the sun at, in or by the pool
MSC Meraviglia’s main pool area sits on Deck 15 and consists of two connected pools, one of which is smoking-allowed. This main pool area can get pretty loud and pretty crowded, even though small children are not allowed in the main pool (they have to go to the kid-friendly water park, with its various water features). Loungers surround the pool.
Adjacent to the main pool area, Bamboo Pool features a pool with a retractable roof and bar, as well as two whirlpool tubs. The Solarium is adjacent to Bamboo Pool, with its own pool area, two large whirlpools, lots of seating and even some table games.
The Horizon Pool is yet another pool at the back of the ship, surrounded by an amphitheater. The Yacht Club also offers a pool for Yacht Club guests only. This is a saltwater pool and is accompanied by a hot tub.
Beyond the pools, there’s a huge sun deck on Deck 16 overlooking several of the pools, and then an exclusive sun deck on Deck 19 that’s only open to Aurea and Wellness guests.
8. Get active with or without the family
MSC Meraviglia offers plenty of ways to get active and work up a sweat, no matter who you’re traveling with. Families will love the family-friendly activities, which are abundant, but even older travelers and couples can get in on the fun.
There’s a ropes course and aqua park at the back of the ship, the latter being just for the kids. There are three water slides that are open to everyone, though.
The Sportplex hosts all kinds of team and individual sports, from basketball to volleyball to tennis. The Sportplex becomes a live music and dancing venue in the evening hours.
The Amusement Park features even more family-friendly fun, with a 4D cinema, bowling alley, F1 simulators and arcade.
9. Try a little retail therapy
What’s a vacation (or a cruise) without a little retail therapy? MSC Meraviglia features a handful of shops on Deck 6 and around the Galleria and promenade, including stores selling designer, high-end purses, jewelry and more. Duty-free shops will outfit you with all your luxury goods, no tax required.
Also Read: 9 Things to Do on the MSC Divina Cruise Ship
MSC Meraviglia FAQ:
MSC Meraviglia was ordered in March 2014, laid down in October 2015, launched in September 2016, completed in May 2017 and then in service by June 2017. It is the first Meraviglia-class ship launched by MSC Cruises, and was followed by MSC Bellissima in 2019.
Both Meraviglia-class cruise ships can hold 4,500 passengers, and when MSC Meraviglia entered service in 2017, it was the sixth-largest cruise ship in the world, with a gross tonnage of 171,598 GT and length of 1,036 feet and 2 inches. There are 15 passenger decks and, beyond the capacity for 4,500 passengers, the ship holds 1,536 crew members.
There are technically six pools aboard MSC Meraviglia, along with four whirlpool tubs and a hot tub. MSC Meraviglia’s main pool area sits on Deck 15 and consists of two connected pools, one of which is smoking-allowed.
Adjacent to the main pool area, Bamboo Pool features a pool with a retractable roof and bar, as well as two whirlpool tubs.
The Solarium is adjacent to Bamboo Pool, with its own pool, two large whirlpools, lots of seating and even some table games. The Horizon Pool is yet another pool at the back of the ship, surrounded by an amphitheater. The Yacht Club also offers a pool for Yacht Club guests only. This is a saltwater pool and is accompanied by a hot tub.
Main Photo Credit: penofoto / Shutterstock.com
