I recently had the opportunity to embark on a five-day cruise aboard the MSC Meraviglia and was impressed with my experience. The ship is sleek and modern, with plenty of amenities. It didn't feel crowded at all.

Meraviglia has lots of dining options. From the main dining room to a variety of specialty restaurants, there was no shortage of options to choose from. I particularly enjoyed dining at Butcher's Cut, which delivered one of the best steaks I've had at sea. If I had one area of advice to MSC it would be to look at food across the various options. Specialty dining was very good... the main dining room wasn't as good... and the buffet suffered from a lack of variety. Similarly, staffing issues may be to blame, but it was not easy to get a drink at many of the bars onboard and on the island.

There is so much to do on this ship. I didn't have a chance experience it all -- but according to the daily schedules the options ranged from nightly shows, cirque du soleil-style acrobatics show, and smaller music and comedy offerings. The ship also has a spacious indoor promenade that transforms into a bustling hub of activity in the evenings, with live music, bars, and even a virtual reality arcade. I also had a chance to use the gym twice on this cruise, making up for the extra calories I ate and drank while onboard. Read more