Cruzinforpeace***

We have friends that had Aurea level balcony level and loved it. That level included the thermal spa access, anytime dining and priority embarkation. It’s not that expensive as well. We’re trying it in February. According to a lot of people on these MSC threads they have definitely improved things. For the price, it’s worth a try for us.

Do you happen to know if they show any soccer games onboard (cabins and/or bars)? We’re cruising Mera in February and my husband is a HUGE Premier League fan.

Now you got me excited! We lived in NYC and miss the good pizza.

Thank you for all your feedback and advice. We’ve decided on the MSC Meraviglia Cruise. Reasons include bigger cabin, great price, spa access and better indoor facilities for the cool sea days (indoor pool and indoor sports area). I’m also curious about their claim about them having “the best pizza at sea”. We shall see…. I might do a “live” and compare it to our recent Celebrity Cruise this summer.

🙄

Yes the Meraviglia. I’m now leaning more towards MSC due to the difference in cabin size. 9 nights in an inside cabin (NCL) could be torture with my husband and son. At least on the MSC cruise I can escape to the balcony or sit on a sofa. Plus, I’m really itching to give MSC a try; I’m VERY curious.

No the twice daily thing isn’t the deal breaker; just curious what was the truth. BUT the itinerary! Bahamas/Florida vs 5 (true) Caribbean ports. I worked on an Italian cruise ship (Costa) so I know about the European atmosphere. I don’t mind it but my husband and son might. They don’t like to dress up. I personally think the NCL cruise is the best choice for us as a family. I’m just on the fence with the cost and value for that cost. I’m probably just going to flip a coin in the end (lol).

We are currently booked in Aurea class so we would have anytime dining.

Do the cabin stewards still do “turn down” service on the Getaway? I’ve heard one thing from NCL (yes they do) and another from reviewers online (they don’t). Anyone have a recent report of what’s happening with “turn down” service? Is it still twice daily cabin service? I’m trying to decide between a 9 night 1/27/24 Getaway cruise out of NYC to Bermuda and the Caribbean vs. a 7 day MSC Florida Bahamas cruise a week later out of Brooklyn I already have booked but have until next week to cancel. Never tried MSC but have sailed NCL several times. MSC is a balcony cabin (twice day service) with thermal spa access included. NCL would be an inside cabin with the basic dining and internet package included. We don’t drink so we don’t need the drink package. The NCL cruise is $1,000 more but I’m being lured by that itinerary. We live in the Northeast where winters are brutal. The thought of lounging on the beach in St. Martin, St Thomas and the DR sounds sooooo good. Bahamas and Florida weather can be iffy in January and February. We’ve stayed in all categories from inside to suite so we’re not picky. I would be sailing with my husband and 17 year old son. Anyone have any thoughts on the cruise choice “dilemma”? I’m trying to find ways to justify the extra $1,000 for the NCL cruise.

Looks dead so that’s a good thing. I’m guessing their extermination program is working. Cockroaches can hitchhike onto ships with the food stores and passengers. No ship is without them.

I agree! I have many, many fond memories of my time on board. I was a lead production show vocalist.

We just booked our next cruise with MSC. X is way too expensive for the mediocrity delivered.

But you have the wonderful memories! Looks like you had a great time. Enjoyed your LIVE report; thank you for sharing your vacation with us. Although we’re not going YC (we’re booked in a balcony Aurea room) it gave me a good idea of what to kind of expect for our first MSC cruise coming up in February. I will definitely try to go for the upgrade if we have a chance to Bid up. I’m guessing by your posts you felt it was worth the extra money for YC?

Next time! 😀. Also, don’t be scared off by the hotel being there. The beach is public right next to the hotel section of the beach (same beach slightly to the left of the hotel). There was only one other person there with us when we went in July. And we didn’t have to pay $1,000 per night to enjoy it! Yes, there is sea glass on that beach too but be careful taking it; I believe they may confiscate it from you at security. You can also buy Bermuda sea glass crafts at the Dockyard Craft Market if you want to take some home.

I love St. George’s. So beautiful and the beaches are great. We love St. Catherine’s beach the most (by the St Regis Hotel) but they’re all wonderful in Bermuda. Enjoy!

That pizza looks so yummy and I’ve lived in NYC having access to the best pizza in the world. 😋

Does anyone know if the complimentary restaurants serve breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of a 7 night cruise? I just watched a review and they were talking about the long lines in the buffet. Doesn’t sound too enjoyable. Also, with Aurea level, does anyone have any experience with how the “anytime dining” works and if that perk is for all 3 meals?

ours is US so not for us😢

Hello. We will be taking our first MSC cruise in February and we are not drinkers (alcohol or soda) so the drink package is pretty much a waste of $ for us. We’re currently booked in an Aurea Balcony We’ve cruised X, Royal etc and the complimentary beverage options were usually easy to obtain to avoid dehydration. We drink mostly water, teas and some lemonade from time to time. On Royal we filled up glasses of water from the buffet and pizza place and poured it into our water bottles and it worked out just fine. On X we brought on bottled water but I don’t think MSC allows this practice. I’ve read online that it’s difficult to obtain “free” water even in the dining room; that the buffet was the only place. Anyone have experience and/or advice for a MSC newbie? Can you buy bottled water on board? Is it mineral or spring water? I don’t currently see the option on their app. Thanks for any advice or info.

I certainly do! That was in the 90’s when I worked on the Meridian. THAT was luxury.

They are definitely NOT “luxury” anymore. We’re heading to MSC next. At least the ships look luxurious. Lots of “sparkles”.🤩. We figure why pay almost twice as much for the same type of food and accommodations. Our next booked cruise for February on MSC is less than $3,000 for a balcony cabin Aurea category for 3 people (including vacation protection and gratuities) for a 7 night cruise. We get complimentary access to the thermal spa and solarium plus anytime dining (no wait) and priority embarkation. We’re not drinkers or fussy about the food (unless we’re paying a higher price like on X) so this deal is perfect for us. We’ll see how it goes but MSC may be our new cruise line. They were literally almost half the price when I priced things out compared to Carnival, X and NCL.

We came off the Summit in July and the food in MDR (and most of the buffet) was horrible and barely edible. They also use the same disgusting brown gravy on everything.

Any recent Getaway cruisers out there? We just disembarked the Celebrity Summit and the food was not too great. Looking at booking a January Caribbean cruise (balcony category) on the Getaway but feeling a bit sheepish about the food after our most recent X cruise. We’ve cruised NCL in the past but it’s been a while and the last time was in a suite so it was different food all together and also on smaller ships (Dawn and Gem). I remember the food being fairly plain when we went “steerage” about 15 years ago. I think we have a few speciality dining nights in one of the packages being offered but we tend to stick to the MDR and buffet to keep it simple most nights. I remember enjoying NCL in the past and feeling very relaxed. Decisions, decisions…

Thank you❤️

This was our cruise last week on the Summit in the MDR. Pretty cozy. About 8 inches between tables.😳. We heard lots of neighboring conversations.