MSC Meraviglia: What you need to know about this seven night cruise to the Bahamas
An Aussie has revealed the jaw-dropping sight she was met with after stepping on her cruise balcony for the first time.
“How is this real?”
Those four simple words were uttered more times than I’d care to admit during my latest venture on the exquisite MSC Meraviglia, one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
Feeling rather depleted after travelling for the last 24 hours, I breathed a sigh of relief after checking into my cabin.
Making eye contact with the freshly-made cloudlike bed, the devilish idea of taking a quick afternoon snooze consumed me.
But first, I had to take a peek outside.
Drawing the curtain and gently opening the balcony door, I felt my heart skip a beat as I stepped outside.
Right in front of me, in all her glory, stood the Statue of Liberty.
I’d dreamt of this moment all my life. Now, here I was, with my own private view of one of the most iconic sights in the entire world.
It was the most magical start to my holiday, and we hadn’t even set sail yet.
Suddenly, I wasn’t so tired anymore.
Caribbean cruising
When I told people I was setting off on a seven night cruise to the Bahamas, I got the same answer each time.
“Oh, so you’re leaving from Miami then?”
I then had the fun of telling them, actually no – I’m leaving from New York City.
Many – myself included – were simply unaware that cruises even left from the Big Apple.
The MSC Meraviglia departed from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, located in the Red Hook area of Brooklyn in NYC.
It is only a quick 15 minute car ride from lower Manhattan or a 30 minute ride from Newark Airport.
The other two closest airports are La Guardia and John F. Kennedy, which are both around a 40 minute Taxi or Uber ride to the cruise terminal.
As you step out onto the terminal, MSC’s helpful porters are happy to take your luggage right away before you enter immigration.
As we were sailing to the Bahamas, each passenger had to go through U.S. Customs and Border Control as well as the usual security screenings, as you would at the airport.
Australians also must present their ESTA visa if they are travelling in the U.S. temporarily.
The process was smooth and before long, I had boarded my new home for the next week.
Starting off in New York, our itinerary included sailing down the U.S. east coast and back up again, with stops in Port Canaveral, Florida, Nassau, Bahamas, and MSC’s privately owned island, Ocean Cay.
Immediately upon boarding, I was struck by an incredible sight.
At the main entrance were two glittering staircases that connect three floors and are completely encrusted with 61,000 Swarovski crystals.
Each step is worth a whopping €15,000 – and with 96 stunning steps, this meant the entire staircase is worth a whopping €1.4 million (AUD$2.3 million).
As it turns out, everyone was just as enchanted as I was by the feature, as it became one of the most popular photo spots on the boat.
I’d never seen anything like it in my life.
Another eye-catching detail was the magnificent Galleria, which houses much of the cruise’s stunning array of chic boutiques, comfy cafes, elegant bars and 5-star restaurants.
This 96-metre long promenade has an insane 480 sqm LED dome overhead which plays different stunning presentations throughout the day and into the night.
The MSC Meraviglia boasts 12 restaurants, 20 bars and lounges, four swimming pools, a thrilling waterpark, nine relaxing whirlpools, a chocolate cafe, an expansive spa, a state-of-the-art gym, a broadway theatre, kids clubs, a basketball court, a bowling alley and even an F1 and flight simulators.
With all that, I knew one thing for sure. I was definitely not going to be bored at all on this ship over the next 7 days.
Port Canaveral, Florida
Our first stop two days into our journey was to Port Canaveral in sunny Florida, located right next to Cape Canaveral and about an hour’s drive from Orlando.
Guests has an array of excursion activities available for them on this day, from a tour to the nearby Kennedy Space Station, a day kayaking with manatees, surfing lessons at Cocoa Beach or even a transfer to Disney World.
We opted for the Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach Highlights tour, where we headed over to the Air Force Space and Missile History Centre to learn about where the origins of space exploration.
Our group then headed over to the popular Jetty Park and to the world-renowned Ron Jon Surf Shop, which was founded in 1959 and is considered the largest surf store on the planet.
Right across the road is the famous Florida Key Lime Company, which claims to have the best key lime pie in the country.
Having never tried the delicacy before, it was a tangy, creamy delight and a welcome reprieve from the Florida heat.
Pie in hand, I strolled down to the local Cocoa Beach to get some sun and see if I could spot any of the cast members from I Dream Of Jeannie.
Sadly, I later learnt that the entire sitcom was actually filmed in California and was only fictionally set in Cocoa Beach. Mind-blowing.
On the afternoon we were leaving port, our cruise ship was lucky enough to witness one of Elon Musk’s rocket launches from the nearby Space X.
Now there is something you don’t see everyday!
Ocean Cay, Bahamas
While our ship was meant to dock in Nassau, Bahamas, on this occasion we needed to make a detour to Charleston, South Carolina, due to a medical emergency with one passenger.
As a result, we did miss out on that port, however our day on MSC’s private island and marine reserve Ocean Cay more than made up for it.
Our group was lucky enough to be given a private tour of the entire 103 acre tropical island by conservation biologist Dr. Owen O’Shea, who leads the MSC Foundation Marine Conservation Centre.
Originally from the UK, he spent some time in Australia obtaining his undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications at James Cook University and Murdoch University now calls The Bahamas home.
In 2017, he established the Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), which has since provided environmental education and conservation research initiatives to hundreds of Bahamian students from eight to 18 years of age.
His work with MSC primarily focuses on the development, implementation and management of a multi-institutional research initiative to restore coral reefs around Ocean Cay through his ‘super coral’ program.
This move will see the propagation of ‘super corals’ in a laboratory setting before they are out-planted to already established, but degraded, reefs in the vicinity of Ocean Cay.
Travelling around the entire island truly gave us a sense of just what an incredibly special place it was and why it is at the top of so many cruisers’ bucket lists.
I spent my day on Ocean Cay relaxing, exploring and simply marvelling at what a stunning part of the world I happened to find myself in.
Walking up to one end of the island, I stumbled upon a huge family of adorable lime green – and a few bright orange – iguanas who spend their days basking in then sun and posing for tourist’s pictures.
The closest I’d come to seeing an iguana is Selma’s pet Jub-Jub in The Simpsons, but seeing one in real life just hit differently.
After enjoying lunch at the on-island buffet, I found a serene spot on the white soft sand and naturally ordered a margarita or three.
But the highlight of the day, as would be expected when you’re in the Bahamas, was taking my first swim in that crystal clear sky blue water.
I became one with the water, floating like an otter on my back for the rest of the afternoon, only going back for margarita and sunscreen breaks.
I truly never wanted to leave, and as the final boarding horn bellowed out into the night, myself and a few other stragglers dutifully downed our beers and bid farewell to a truly magical day.
The island of Ocean Cay is in the midst of a $100 million facilities upgrade, adding a second food hall, larger bars and expanded swimming areas, readying for visits from the new MSC World America.
Work on the island is expected to be completed in late March or early April 2025.
What can I eat?
Anyone who goes on a cruise knows that a huge part of their holiday will be revolving around one of the best things in life – food (and drink!).
Guests on-board MSC Meraviglia are truly spoiled for choice, with 10 different dining venues and 20 bars and lounges.
There are two dining options included in every passenger's cruise fare: the Marketplace Buffet (Deck 15) and the main dining room, which is actually split into four restaurants called Waves (Deck 5), Panorama (Deck 6), L’Olive Doree and L’Olivo D’Oro (both deck 6).
They all represent different types of dining experiences and have different opening times, but they all serve the same food from the same menu.
MSC Meraviglia has four stellar speciality restaurants that represent an ensemble of different cuisines and curated experiences.
These include HOLA! Tapas Bar (Mexican), Butcher’s Cut (Steakhouse), Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar (Japanese)andOcean Cay (Seafood).
My favourite night out had to be at Kaito Teppanyaki, when the talented chefs cooked our food right in front of us. It was not only dinner, but a show in itself.
For the sweet tooths on board, the ship also boasts a delectable chocolate cafe, crepe station and ice cream parlour, all head by world-renowned master chocolatier Jean Philippe Maury.
There is also plenty of children’s options and the free-for-all ice cream parlour located right near the pool is every kid’s dream.
The adults on the other hand will never be short of having somewhere to have a tipple, with some of my favourites including the Brass & Anchor, a charming little English style pub, the Champagne Bar, which has every type of bubbly you could think of, and the Sky Lounge, which boasts stunning views of the ship and surrounding ocean.
What can I do?
What I love about cruising is that there is just so much to do – or, if you’re like me, not do.
I have to admit, just laying on my sunbed with a compelling book, a delicious drink in hand and the vastness of the North Atlantic Ocean in front of me, I was pretty well set.
I adore the art of doing nothing while on holiday, and MSC Meraviglia allows you to do exactly that – but in style.
However, for my more adventurous friends and for the times I felt I needed to burn off the one too many pizza slices I downed at lunch, there is an abundance of fun to be had.
With four swimming pools and nine whirlpool spas dotted around the ship, I took every chance I could to submerge myself in water before ordering another drink at the bar.
I won’t lie to you and say I ever stepped foot in the MSC ‘Technogym’, but if I did, I know I’d be Mark Wahlberg-ing the hell out of it with all their modern equipment and fitness classes.
The top deck also features a well laid out running track and I witnessed many fit people whiz past me a few times during my leisurely afternoon strolls.
We caught a fabulous show in the Broadway theatre, which can seat a whopping 985 people, and there is also a popular carousel lounge for Cirque Du Soleil style shows.
For those seeking more Zen or to simply look their absolute best upon arrival, there is the Aurera Spa and Beauty Salon, which has all the usual fare like massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and even a hair salon and barber.
The coveted thermal area includes jacuzzis, saunas and steam rooms, which will truly have you feeling like you’re floating.
There are an abundance of other fun activities for young and old, like bowling, arcade games, a Formula 1 and flight simulator, water slides, an aquapark, a 4D cinema, pool tables, and a spotsplex.
There are five different kids clubs on board for children aged 0 - 17, as well as babysitting services.
For parents looking for some fun, there is an expansive eye-catching casino on board that looks like it is straight out of 1980s Vegas, in the best way possible.
The atmosphere is fun and exciting, but sadly I did not win the millions I had hoped for.
How much will it cost me?
If you’re flying from Australia, you’ll want to book a ticket to New York City, which could easily be another extension of your cruise holiday if you have the time and money.
Return flights from Australia to NYC will set you back anywhere between $1,500 - $3,500 depending on the time of year and the airline you travel with.
While cruises on-board the MSC Meraviglia differ depending on the time of year, for the basic interior cabin, standard food and drinks included in the buffet and main dining rooms, you’re looking at around $US830 ($A1,300) per person for seven nights.
To get unlimited alcoholic beverages (including frozen and classic cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, beers, protein shakes, bottle water and hot drinks, plus 10 per cent off wine) it will set you back another $US300 or so ($A480) per person.
Rooms with an ocean view or balcony will cost more, around an extra $US170 ($A273 and $US420 ($A674) respectively for the seven nights per person.
For guests with the cash to splurge on a more luxurious experience, they can opt to stay in the MSC ‘Yacht Club’, which includes 24/7 butler service, private and dedicated areas on the ship (including exclusive sundeck, pool, lounge and restaurant), premium beverages, better wifi and unlimited thermal spa access for the duration of your stay.
There is also a premium choice of accommodations, some which even boast two levels on their own private jacuzzis on the balcony.
This journalist travelled to the USA and The Bahamas as a guest of MSC Cruises
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