Our recent Cruise with MSC aboard the Meraviglia October 8th – October 18th, 2019. This was a 10 NIGHTS – Canada Fall Foliage Cruise with Overnight in Quebec, Sailing the St Lawrence, and 3 other ports. We Purchased the following Aurea Class Balcony (B3) Unlimited Beverages Included & Spa and we also did status matching which gave us MSC GOLD Status.

Embarkation Day. We (group of 6) arrived at port around 11:15, unloaded our luggage, but there were no porters, or nobody around give directions as were to go. Luggage everywhere, so we proceeded to lug our luggage to a conveyor belt upon getting to the conveyor we were told only Even number taken here (what did that mean floor or room) again no signs or personnel providing directions. Finally, we found a porter who took our luggage. Now on to security, again no one providing directions to the mass of people it was chaos, we finally wiggled our way in line. We had a few folks in our group that had medical issues (1 with cane and another with a boot on foot) we finally we able to moved to the head of the security line (again they were only going to let the 2 folks go, but we are traveling as a group). Now on to the check in line, once again no one there to direct the crowded (multiple lines from security trying to funnel into check in line). No one separating folks for Priority check in (which I believe gold status had). So once again we wait while we are in line we are hand a piece of paper notifying us that we will not have the second day in Quebec and they were giving us a $50 room credit (25 a person) for missing ½ a day in Quebec. We finally reach the check in counter, folks there did not seem to know what to do we were hand an immigrations document of Canada and told we need to hand it in somewhere did not know where or by when. We only had 1 key card ready, we had to wait an additional 15 minutes for the second card. Cards in hand now we are on our way, caught up with our group and had on boarding picture taken now on to the Gang Way…guess what another line. There were only 1 gangway open and 1-person scan cards. Really, 1 gangway and 1 person to scan 5000 passengers. Finally, 3 hours later we were on board the ship, but we were the lucky ones others had greater than 4 hours to check in.

The Safety Drill was a JOKE, for muster station (tv Sound room) there was no one by the doors at meeting point to check in with, finally my partner went out to find them standing by the elevator and direct them to the group of people who were waiting. The actual drill was not good either as compared to other ships. They only did the directions for life jackets, no directions of what to do if not in your cabin, what about those traveling with children...etc. Read more