Meraviglia May 21 live

[meadowlander]

2 hours ago, Rosieresp said:

I’ll bet that you didn’t know that only one of the five boroughs is on the mainland and the rest of us live on three different islands. 

I was born in NYC. I will admit I have never heard anyone use "mainland" in relation to NYC before.  It's okay you don't have to pay the bet you lost but I do advise you, "us' & "we" stay out of the casino on you next cruise.

[Greygooser]

On 5/26/2023 at 9:45 AM, 1025cruise said:

Thank you for the live report. I'm considering booking the Meraviglia last minute and only YC is available at this point. Just waiting for my status match confirmation to come back. Picking this cruise because I can easily take the train to NYC.

I'm also taking the (acela) train into NYC (from BOS). Once we arrive at Penn Station, I figure the best way to get to the ship is Uber/Lyft.

[1025cruise]

To those asking, I went to school on Long Island and stayed for a couple of years. From my office in Garden City I could see the smoke from the twin towers.

[MsTabbyKats]

10 hours ago, meadowlander said:

I was born in NYC. I will admit I have never heard anyone use "mainland" in relation to NYC before.  It's okay you don't have to pay the bet you lost but I do advise you, "us' & "we" stay out of the casino on you next cruise.

Also born here.  Always lived here and will die here.  In the old days people from the Bronx would boast that they were the only boro on the mainland.

[franncos]

it's an old trivia question. Which of the 5 boroughs is connected to the continental U.S.A.

[Joiseymom]

Day 7

We rocked and rolled all night long and all day. It’s 7:30 pm and it’s still storming. All outside activities cancelled. We are getting to port late tomorrow. First we were told a 3 hour delay. Now we should be in port around 7:30-7:45. YC Express walk off if we are cleared is 8:30. They want us out of our rooms by 9:00AM.

 

DH was still feeling crappy this morning. He decided to go to medical as I went to breakfast. Only the YC MDR was open.

Ordered a mocha latte with almond milk. The drink waiter had no clue what almond milk was. I ordered oatmeal with brown sugar and eggs Benedict. One out of three? Still no almond milk. One waiter said he would get almond milk upstairs for me, I saw his superior arguing with him. FYI, no latte. No brown sugar either. Huh? 🤣. They bake amazing chocolate chip cookies, that’s an ingredient in the cookies. At least it is in the recipes I use. He comes back and points to the brown package of sugar in the raw. Brown yes..sugar yes.. Brown sugar for oatmeal? Umm…no. The menu lists brown sugar as an option. They brought a chef out. Not quite sure the jist, but something about they have European brown sugar and due to US rules, can’t use it. No coffee no cereal. Oh, ordered an omelet for DH, it was wrong as well.

 

I went to YC desk, I had questions. Denise was there and she asked how things were. I’m like don’t ask. I told her about the almond milk story from this morning and last night. She had to make a few phone calls, but she did get almond milk for the YC.  I said I’d be back later once I checked on DH. Met our butler he saw how my DH was and I told him that I was going to try deck 6, and buy one. I told him that Denise was going to try to get almond milk upstairs. He told me not to go to deck 6. A short term me later he brought me back a yummy Mocha latte. The teased me to contact him when I need something. I was like, I didn’t think I needed to go to him for a latte that the restaurant should have been able to prepare for me.

 

I left DH to nap, he also had the room way to cold for me again. At home I have throws everywhere. I went up to the lounge to finish my book. Chatted with another guest who we met during embarkation. Finally finished my book and started the sequel. Relaxed and watched the rain and waves. Never sailed through such constant bad weather. It sucks, no sun or balcony, but still had a quiet place to read.

 

Went back to check on DH. He wanted pizza. I had ordered it with our butler. I went to the YC MDR. Specifically asked for a rare burger. Also tried the canelli soup, and cheese fritters. Both were ok, burger wasn’t a hockey puck and much better then the one I had there the other day. Came with one onion ring this time and fries. I ordered a plate of onion rings and fries for DH. They sent three onion rings with fries😂.

Went back to the lounge and read. Eventually it started to filled up as there was trivia with YC Director Craig, who is leaving the ship. His replacement, Alin Tocu, is here and starts officially tomorrow. Very nice men. Craig leaves I think after the next cruise. I played trivia and did better than I thought I would. I was always taught that I should stick to my first answer during tests. If I’d listen, I’d have had two more points! I named my team rockin and Rollin, 😂.

 

After trivia he told us we’re were getting in earlier than expected. But still a little later than usual. We needed to be out of our rooms by 9:00. Express walk out is at 8:30. Our luggage should be out there by 8:15. He encouraged everyone to send the luggage down and not do express walk off, as we can leave at that time with their luggage already downstairs. He said that everyone should come to the lounge, as that’s the only way we don’t have to deal with the other 4400 guests.

 

Went back to the room and read more and started the dreaded packing. Got the two big suitcases packed. Then onto the two carry-ons. One will go with the checked bags, and one with us, as it will have our vodka and prosecco. I also have a duffle as well packed for any extras. Yes, I over packed, plus with the rain, I didn’t need extra bathing suits and didn’t bother to change into my evening clothing. Easy to take extra when you just drive.

 

Went to dinner. Convinced DH to allow me to order him some soup and a salad. I left and let him sleep. Went up to the dining room and was told to go down to the lounge to wait. He did have one two top, but it was between the other 2 families of kids. Nope,  even though they are both well behaved, I’ll wait thanks. Waited under 10 minutes. The director of the dining room always wants to place me/us at a window seat. The other maitre de wants to put me at a tiny blocked table.

 

Menu was good tonight, but the original menu when you scan the code had grilled lamb chops. They were now a lamb shank. Bummer. They had a fried seafood appetizer, with calamari, shrimp and coddle fish. I requested shrimp only. I also tried the minestrone soup, osso bucco, and the asparagus risotto. Shrimp was very nicely seasoned with a very light batter. Soup was excellent, veal was very good. Risotto was ok, had two bites. I went back to the room to finish packing and wait for DHs food. I ordered him mozzarella caprese, a triple green salad and the soup. He was feeling better, I’m sorry I didn’t also get him the lasagna. He was now awake and actually wanted to eat.

 

When our butler brought the food he also brought the luggage tags and went over the disembarkation procedure.

 

I finished packing and started moving the bags outside the door. I got scolded for moving my bags, 🤣. It takes time getting used to a butler.

 

I had stopped at the concierge desk to make sure we received a detailed bill for medical and they told me that they will put it under the door. Even without travel  insurance this was not expensive. Total with meds was about $150. DH liked the doctor as well.

 

Ok, I walked around and and took one more pic of the domed ceiling. Back to deck 16, yummy chocolate and unwind. Ships is normal rocking now.

 

The people I’ve been talking to in the lounge showed up and we talked until after midnight. Got back to the room.  Shuffled items in the bags. Took a shower, where I wasn’t worried about getting hurt and, finished this.

 

Debarkation and final thoughts next.

[skipsaur]

I'm sorry the weather was so uncooperative and your husband was under the weather for so much of the cruise. I keep hoping he'd wake up feeling better instead of worse, so he could enjoy some more of the trip with you. 

 

Looking forward to final thoughts!

[Joiseymom]

Debarkation

 

I set my alarm for 7:00 AM. DH still didn’t feel great. I was hoping disembarkation would be quick as possible.

 

We packed everything, showered, made sure closet, safe dresser was empty. Went to the YC MDR for our final breakfast. Another window table with a view of NYC. I learned and didn’t order oatmeal. I did order a mocha latte with almond milk. I actually had two, and they both came rather quickly. I had eggs Benedict again, DH and omelet and pancakes. I asked for a croissant, but it never came, and no one brought pastries. Never got our water refilled either.

 

We went back to the room to get our bags. DH wanted to lie down. I was like it’s 9, we need to be out of our rooms.  Let’s go to the lounge. By the time we get there and our butler arrives we can get off the ship. By then our son should be there.

 

We went to the lounge said our final goodbyes to the new YC director. He told me to email him if I have any friends etc on board over the next few months.

 

Our butler escorted us and another family with their luggage off the ship. The lines were long waiting to get off. We were at the opposite side of the line and our butler went and opened the blocked off section and he got us to where they scan the cards. An older man on the other line didn’t like that we cut the line and yelled at us about the line behind him, don’t think he noticed the butler. Our final fast pass! We were then on our own down the gangway. Went to the escalator, where they limited how close you could be to other people on it.

 

At the bottom DH literally ran and left me as he was looking for our luggage. I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t grab a porter. I asked where the YC luggage area was and told DH. I have no issues asking for directions. For some reason he thought we were going to deal with our bags on our own. I thought he lost his mind. 😂

 

I got a porter to help us with our luggage. DO THIS! He took all our bags, escorted us away from the long line of people at customs to an empty line where they glanced at our passports and we were told to go. Our porter even said that’s the fastest he's seen! He directed us outside and we had him take us to area 1 to wait for our son. I tipped him and we waited about 5 minutes till our son reached us.

 

 Traffic was again being directed by NYPD. As we were driving around to get to the BQE, we saw passengers waiting with luggage for their cars. It looks like many walk out with luggage to be picked up outside the terminal. Next stop NJ. It wasn’t too bad with shore traffic and the Benny’s.

 

Final Thoughts

 

If we’d ever do MSC again, it would only be in the YC. We are picky on how we spend our hard earned vacation $$$.

 

Ok, everyone has an opinion they are all different. Some people like Coke others Pepsi. Neither opinion is right or wrong. Some love Olive Garden or Dominos and thinks it’s Italian food and pizza. And that’s fine, for them. Different strokes.

 

I was not a fan of MSC pre cruise, based on reviews and their customer service on the phone. We came in with an open mind. Maybe if I’d never been on another cruiseline and had nothing to compare it to, it would be different.

 

We were told YC doesn’t say no, but that wasn’t our experience. Again, little things: never asked about pillow menus, our one bottle of spirits, daily newspaper. We had to ask. We also didn’t get the paper until day 3, when I asked when we would get them. It should have been daily. The difference in the room service menu vs the ships room service.

Little service issues: no sugar free syrup for coffee, at least in YC. Issues getting almond milk. At times not getting water refills during dining. Other little dining requests not happening and nothing being said about it, sorry, can’t get this.

 

Food in general gets a grade of C. The main buffet for lunch was almost inedible. I’ve read where people loved it, and I’m scratching my head as to where they eat at home. But again, each to their own. I don’t think I saw a chicken finger at all, lol. At a kids section I saw mac and cheese, Burgers hot dogs,  fries and I think fish sticks. I had some meals in the YC MDR that were very good. But generally speaking not great. I wish we’d done more specialty dining, Hola tacos was very good. Even if you are in YC, make dining reservations as soon as you can.

 

We tried using other key type cards for the lights, they only worked with the MSC cards.

If you are not in the YC: do express walk off if you want to get off quickly. Avoid the forward elevator banks that will flash priority service. People were not pleased when an elevator went express and didn’t stop at there decks.

 

Ship is gorgeous. YC stateroom was wonderful. Everything is very clean. But they are not asking/telling you to wash hands before you enter a restaurant. I saw very few people washing.

 

Casino, reeked of smoke, all over. You have to walk through it to get to the Carousel theater.

Pay shows were worth it. If you can only do one do Rock Circus.

 

Other shows with the international staff, well, I’d pass, but you do you. (Remember you can never get that time back). I’ve had people tell me they were great and others who agreed with us.  If the comedian is ATrain, go, he was very funny!

 

There are many other cruiselines I want to try. MSC was on the list, now on to the next one for us!

 

Happy Cruising!!

Will be posting pics and menus soon.

 

 

[Joiseymom]

Menus

QR_W_YC_LUNCH_DAY1_EN_1684710517.pdf QR_W_YC_DINNER_DAY1_EN_1684708922.pdf QR_W_YC_LUNCH_DAY2_EN_1684799275.pdf QR_W_YC_DINNER_DAY2_EN_1684795121.pdf QR_W_YC_LUNCH_DAY3_EN_1684861797.pdf QR_W_YC_DINNER_DAY3_EN_1684861816.pdf QR_W_YC_LUNCH_DAY4_EN_1684941850.pdf QR_W_YC_DINNER_DAY4_EN_1684941882.pdf QR_W_YC_LUNCH_DAY6_EN_1685117092.pdf QR_W_YC_DINNER_DAY6_EN_1685117147.pdf QR_W_YC_LUNCH_DAY7_EN_1685195716.pdf QR_W_YC_DINNER_DAY7_EN_1685195728.pdf QR_OCP_OCEAN-HOUSE_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1685028235.pdf QR_V_YC-BAR-LIST_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1685212909.pdf MSC+Room+Service+Menu.pdf QR_W_YC_BREAKFAST_DAYX_EN_1684861792.pdf QR_WW_HOLA-TACOS-CANTINA_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1684718923.pdf QR_C_BUTCHERS-CUT_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1684718939.pdf QR_E_KAITO-SUSHI_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1684767275.pdf QR_F_TEPPANYAKI_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1684718896.pdf

[LImom]

@Joiseymom thank you for posting all the menus. I was curious if the charges posted on the room service menu applied to the YC as well? 

 

[NYcruzzer]

Nice fair and balanced review of your YC experience. We were on your sailing as well. Unfortunately we were in "Gen-Pop" and ate all our meals in MDR and Buffet. In the MDR some meals were good. Others not so much. The buffet was decent. Except most of the menu was same every day. Food is subjective. IMHO I enjoyed the food much more on NCL . If I ever sail MSC again it would only be in  YC.  

[Joiseymom]

1 hour ago, LImom said:

@Joiseymom thank you for posting all the menus. I was curious if the charges posted on the room service menu applied to the YC as well? 

 

They YC has their own room service menu. We can't order from the regular room service menu

[Joiseymom]

13 minutes ago, NYcruzzer said:

Nice fair and balanced review of your YC experience. We were on your sailing as well. Unfortunately we were in "Gen-Pop" and ate all our meals in MDR and Buffet. In the MDR some meals were good. Others not so much. The buffet was decent. Except most of the menu was same every day. Food is subjective. IMHO I enjoyed the food much more on NCL . If I ever sail MSC again it would only be in  YC.  

Thank you, I appreciate that. I never got to the MDR in the gen pop. I really wanted to try the french onion soup. We only went to the buffet during lunch or late night. I would have liked to have checked out the "dessert buffet" you guys had to at least take pics. Food is very subjective, and all I did was get attacked on our fb group.  LOL

[Illbcruzn4life]

1 hour ago, LImom said:

@Joiseymom thank you for posting all the menus. I was curious if the charges posted on the room service menu applied to the YC as well? 

 

I wonder how much different the MDR menus are when you are not in YC.?

[Illbcruzn4life]

5 minutes ago, Joiseymom said:

Thank you, I appreciate that. I never got to the MDR in the gen pop. I really wanted to try the french onion soup. We only went to the buffet during lunch or late night. I would have liked to have checked out the "dessert buffet" you guys had to at least take pics. Food is very subjective, and all I did was get attacked on our fb group.  LOL

Thank you for the review. Much appreciated. 

[Joiseymom]

5 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

I wonder how much different the MDR menus are when you are not in YC.?

Very different. There are other menus posted on the board. Their app didn't let me take print screens.

[Illbcruzn4life]

3 minutes ago, Joiseymom said:

Very different. There are other menus posted on the board. Their app didn't let me take print screens.

I've been looking for the regular MDR menus but no luck yet

[Illbcruzn4life]

how many gala night(s) were there?

[1025cruise]

Thank you for posting the menus. In all honesty, has me reconsidering booking. The YC menus really don't appeal to me. And for the cruise I'm looking at, YC is all that is available.

[sbcs5390]

On 5/30/2023 at 9:28 PM, Joiseymom said:

really wanted to try the french onion soup

For next time - just ask in the YC restaurant. Folks did that a couple weeks ago on my sailing. 

[sbcs5390]

On 5/30/2023 at 8:14 PM, LImom said:

@Joiseymom thank you for posting all the menus. I was curious if the charges posted on the room service menu applied to the YC as well? 

 

Here is the Meraviglia YC room service, pizza, and other items menu. 

QR_DD_YC-ROOM-SERVICE_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1682366625.pdf

[Joiseymom]

1 hour ago, sbcs5390 said:

For next time - just ask in the YC restaurant. Folks did that a couple weeks ago on my sailing. 

They said I could. We just didn't. I was honestly afraid if being told no again. 😂

[ksuljem]

can we order room service at the pool? we have an inside room so probably spending most time in the lounge or at the pool. Can we get pizza delivered to there?

 

[awatt]

8 hours ago, ksuljem said:

can we order room service at the pool? we have an inside room so probably spending most time in the lounge or at the pool. Can we get pizza delivered to there?

yes he had pizza delivered to our lounge chair and it was deliciuos!

 

[cruisebeachgirl703]

Can you post the name of the YC Director you mentioned. Any waiters in YC worth asking for by name? How was your butler?