MSC Meraviglia arrived October 7 to New York City as the biggest cruise ship to ever stop at the Big Apple. And the ship from MSC Cruises will make the United States its home in the Port of Miami for week long Caribbean cruises, with the fast-growing cruise line expanding its options for passengers sailing out of Florida.
MSC Meraviglia joins MSC Divina and MSC Seaside in sailing from Miami. And MSC Armonia will offer cruises from its new homeport in Tampa starting in late 2020.
MSC Meraviglia carries up to 4,488 passengers and features beautiful designs throughout, with a stunning two-deck-high promenade, Plaza Meraviglia, as well as a deep entertainment program highlighted by two Cirque du Soleil productions.
What might stand out for cruisers who enjoy a good meal – and that counts all of us, right? — is the fact that MSC Meraviglia offers 12 distinct venues for dining. The cruise line is proud of its European heritage, and this is reflected in the array of restaurants and flavors passengers can enjoy onboard.
Hola!
It’s a tapas bar in the true Spanish tradition. The eatery was created as part of the MSC Cruises’ partnership with two-star Michelin chef Ramon Freixa. Hola! features communal or individual seating throughout the day to order starters, main dishes and tapas to share among friends.
The menu offers classic Mediterranean and innovative dishes like a cured Iberico ham platter, Spanish tortillas or lobster burgers. Wash it all down with a variety of beers, wines or sangria.
Butcher’s Cut
This is the ship’s American-style steak house with specialty cuts of delicious meats. The menu offers dry-aged tomahawk, porterhouse, ribeye, flank, N.Y. strip and t-bone steaks, as well as seafood specialties. The venue features glass cases where you can view the available meats, and the seating and décor is rustic and simple. Part of the experience is hearing the steaks sizzle and watching the cooks do the prep in the open kitchen.
Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar (2)
Pull up a seat and be dazzled. The action heats up on four teppanyaki grills as chefs prep and serve up your Japanese cuisine fresh. Try the Samurai Menu, with yellowfin tuna tataki, scallops, half Maine lobster and Wagyu beef, all served with seasonal veggies and forest mushrooms. Nearby, the sushi bar offers a spectacular mix of sushi rolls, sashimi and tempura.
Ocean Cay
This signature seafood restaurant features American-style dishes served with a Mediterranean twist. The menu has mouthwatering choices that seafood lovers will drool over. Choose from items like oven-baked rock salt crusted Mediterranean sea bass, king crabs, sesame-seared yellowfin tuna and Boston lobster. Or get a platter to share with goodies like oysters, tiger prawns and brown crabs.
Marketplace Buffet
MSC Meraviglia’s buffet restaurant offers a cozy informal dining space with windows giving nice views to the sea. The kitchen also is an open concept so passengers can watch chefs make fresh mozzarella and other dishes. The buffet is open 20 hours each day.
Main Dining Rooms (4)
MSC Meraviglia’s four main dining rooms offer MyTime, Flexi and Classic dining options. This means, you can choose a program that lets you keep you dinner plans open and flexible or pick the traditional early or late dining slots and be seated at the same table with your familiar waiters and dining companions each night.
The main restaurants serve a mix of Mediterranean and international cuisine, with new menus every day. One of the main venues also offers breakfast and lunch hours.
MSC Yacht Club Restaurant
This eatery is for passengers staying in the MSC Yacht Club — a ship-within-a-ship exclusive area with luxury suites, butler service, concierge service and a private pool deck.
Cruisers here can dine any time of day, selecting items from a menu that includes Trilogy of Salmon (salmon and crab roulade, salmon rillettes and salmon tartare with saffron mayo), duck and turkey terrine, twice-baked blue cheese souffle and other gourmet favorites.
Carousel Lounge
This theater is designed to accommodate the fantastical Cirque du Soleil shows, and the troupe offers two productions on MSC Meraviglia<span data-contrast=”auto”>. Passengers can book a “dinner and a show” special package that gives you a three-course, set-menu meal just before you settle in to watch the spectacle.
The ship also offers a Chef’s Table experience and room service.
Brought to you by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts
