MSC Meraviglia debuts in new seasonal Miami home

The 171,598gt ship has double-occupancy capacity for 4,488 passengers, making it the largest MSC has deployed in North America.

MSC Meraviglia will sail seasonally from Miami.

Joins Seaside, Armonia and Divina

‘We are thrilled that MSC Meraviglia will now be part of the beautiful Miami skyline, joining MSC Seaside, MSC Armonia and MSC Divina,’ said Ken Muskat, EVP and COO, MSC Cruises USA, who reported ‘tremendous excitement and buzz from our travel advisor partners and guests’ since the ship came to North America in October.

The 2017-built MSC Meraviglia features a two-story Mediterranean-style promenade with the longest LED dome at sea and lined with a variety of shops and specialty restaurants. These include HOLA! Tapas Bar and Ocean Cay, restaurants by Spanish chef Ramón Freixa, and Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café, an open-front chocolate atelier by world-renowned pastry chef Jean Philippe Maury. Each chef has two Michelin stars.

Cirque du Soleil

In addition to six different full-scale theatrical productions every night in the main theater, MSC Meraviglia stages Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows ‘Viaggio’ and ‘Sonor’ in a purpose-built entertainment and dining venue, the Carousel Lounge. Kids and family programs include a winter-themed aqua park with four water slides, a Himalayan bridge suspending cruisers high up above the ship, an interactive XD cinema, two full-size bowling lanes and multiple LEGO-designed kids clubs.

The MSC Yacht Club all-inclusive ‘ship-within-a-ship’ concept provides private amenities and 24-hour butler service.

Through April 5, MSC Meraviglia will sail two seven-night western Caribbean itineraries visiting ports in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize, Honduras and the Bahamas.

For example, the Jan. 12 cruise will visit Ocho Rios, Georgetown (Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Prices start at $629 per person for a balcony stateroom.

The Feb. 16 cruise will call at Roatán, Belize City, Costa Maya and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Prices start at $639 per person for a balcony stateroom.

With MSC Meraviglia’s arrival in North America, the ship now features MSC Cruises’ partnership with home and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart, which launched earlier in 2019 on all Caribbean sailings. This includes celebration surprise gift packages, special holiday dinner menus and recipes and specially curated shore excursions.

Summer season in Europe

MSC Meraviglia will go to Northern Europe in April for the summer 2020 season before resuming North American service in October 2020, starting with three 10-night sailings from New York to Canada/New England before returning to Miami.