MSC Meraviglia Review: Our Anniversary Cruise with a Baby (Chaos & Champagne Included)

IN THIS POST

When we walked into our stateroom, MSC had left us a bottle of champagne and a plate of macarons to toast our anniversary. A sweet little surprise that made the chaos of traveling with an infant feel instantly more glamorous. But here’s the fine print: MSC does require proof that your anniversary (or birthday) falls during your sailing. I actually had to send over a copy of our marriage license, which felt very official for something as simple as bubbly and cookies. But, hey, totally worth it.

And it’s not just anniversaries. They also celebrate birthdays at sea, as long as your special day lines up with your cruise dates. Honestly, I’ve never heard Royal Caribbean offer anything like this, so chalk one up for MSC in the “thoughtful touches” column.

Bamboo Pool — the weatherproof option (and sometimes a rocking boat)

The Bamboo Pool is clever: it can convert to an indoor pool thanks to a retractable roof. Rain or cold? No problem, you can still swim. Sunny and warm? Roof open, deck vibes intact. That flexibility is a real plus (and something I’ve noticed some other lines *cough*, Royal Caribbean, don’t always offer).

Another standout? The Bamboo Pool stays open later than most other pools on the ship, making it the go-to spot if you’re craving an evening swim or a less crowded, after-dinner dip. If you’re someone who likes to swim past sunset, this is absolutely the place to be.

There’s a huge bar nearby, so getting drinks is easy (again: not in the pool). Chairs are even more limited in this area, but there are plenty of benches and seating where you can stash your things. There are also a few hot tubs tucked in the Bamboo area, which is a welcome touch.

Heads up while sailing in the Atlantic: this pool can get extremely rocky. The motion will toss you side to side if the sea’s feeling dramatic, so be mindful with little swimmers and toddlers.

Horizon Pool — the adults-only (that sometimes feels not-quite)

The Horizon Pool sits toward the back of the ship and offers a lovely view of the wake, very cinematic. It’s adults only, which should mean calm and cocktails, and there is a bar close by, which also means it gets crowded fast. It’s pretty small (just one pool in that section) and, unlike some of Royal Caribbean’s Solarium-style adult areas on ships like Symphony or Oasis, it doesn’t have hot tubs dotted around for extra chill.

We also noticed that toward dinnertime, the music would ramp up a lot, almost as if the ship were saying, “Time to get out of the pool now, friends.” It was loud enough to make lingering unpleasant rather than playful.

Yacht Pool — the exclusive corner

We didn’t get to experience the Yacht Pool since that area is for yacht members / suites — but from what we saw it looked calmer and more relaxed compared to the main pool decks. If you like serenity, this seems like the place to find it.

Final thoughts (and practical survival tips)

The Meraviglia’s pool deck is stylish, and the ship really tries for that resort-by-the-sea vibe. But the reality is: space is limited, people love to claim chairs, and noise can be an issue. If you’re traveling with little ones, the cleanliness/no-drinks rule is actually a relief, but you’ll want to plan around chair drama and the occasional loud fitness DJ.

Quick tips from someone who’s been there:

• Bring high-SPF sunblock for those bed naps (no umbrellas over the daybeds).
• Set an alarm and snag a chair early if you must (or accept bench life in Bamboo).
• Expect the Bamboo Pool to be your rainy-day savior — but watch the motion if you hit open seas.
• If you crave quiet, look into the Yacht experience (or try the adults-only Horizon early in the morning).

Food on the MSC Meraviglia

Food is super important when you’re on a cruise. After all, when you’re trapped at sea, your options are limited; you can’t exactly Uber Eats your way out of disappointment. Before we sailed, we read reviews where some passengers raved about the food while others swore it was dreadful. And honestly? Both are right.

To help you gauge our palate: my husband and I are pretty easygoing when it comes to food. We’re not fans of chains like Applebee’s, but you’ll catch us at Panera every now and then. We’ll happily seek out a local mom-and-pop for authentic flavors over a flashy chain.

So, how did MSC measure up? In our opinion, the food wasn’t spectacular… but it wasn’t horrendous either. It lived in that unfortunate middle ground: meh. By the end of the cruise, we were counting down the days until we could have a proper meal back on land.

A lot of what we ate, especially in the main dining room, felt like it had once lived in a freezer. Sauces, entrées, even pancakes and waffles in the buffet carried that telltale “defrosted” vibe. The waffles reminded me of Eggo, except, dare I say, Eggo might actually win that round. The only thing I ever saw being made fresh in the buffet? Fried eggs. And naturally, that’s what everyone wanted. The line never ended.

Vegetables were also oddly scarce. Most entrées came with a single carrot or maybe two lonely stalks of asparagus. Think more garnish than side dish.

Sunday Dinner & Menu

Monday Dinner & Menu

Tuesday Breakfast – Skipped Main Dining and Ate at the Buffet

Wednesday Breakfast in Main Dining, Dinner at Butcher’s Cut

Thursday

Friday

Buffet

For comparison, the best steak we’ve ever had on a cruise was at Hooked, the specialty seafood restaurant on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. Butcher’s Cut didn’t quite reach that level, but it was still a welcome break from the “meh” of the main dining room.

Jean Philippe Crêpes & Gelato Shop

As someone who takes her sweet crêpes seriously, I made it my mission to find the ship’s crêpe station the second I heard it existed. Located on Deck 6, Jean Philippe’s Crêpes & Gelato isn’t included in the dining package. It’s an extra charge, and honestly? I’d say save your money. While the crêpes looked picture-perfect, they didn’t quite deliver in taste. I’ve had better, and for the price, it just wasn’t worth it.

As for the gelato, I didn’t get the chance to try it. But judging by the post-dinner lines, it’s clearly a fan favorite.

Jean Philippe Chocolat & Cafe

Right across from the crêpe station is the Jean Philippe Chocolate Shop. And this is where things get deliciously dangerous. The entire area smells like a dream (think: rich cocoa and temptation), and the chocolate sculptures alone are worth stopping for. If it smells that good, you can imagine how it tastes. And yes, the chocolates are heavenly.

My only regret? Not buying more. The macarons, in particular, were out of this world. Delicate, flavorful, and somehow even better than ones I’ve had in Paris. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. If you’re going to splurge on something sweet during your cruise, make it this.

As for the coffee, I’ll confess I’m not a coffee drinker. But walking through the cafe and smelling that sweet aroma, I wished I were.

Bars & Drinks on the MSC Meraviglia

If food is the heart of a cruise, then drinks are the soul. And on the MSC Meraviglia, the soul felt a little… copy-pasted. Unlike Royal Caribbean, where each bar had its own signature cocktails and personality, MSC’s bars all shared the same drink list. No specialty menus, no unique concoctions, just one universal lineup.

To make matters more puzzling, not all of the bars were actually open. The ones by the Sportsplex, for example? Never once serviced. They sat there like mirages, pretty to look at but completely useless when you wanted an actual drink.

That said, there were some wins. One big plus: you could grab coffee or tea from any bar, which was a lifesaver considering the buffet’s coffee situation was a caffeine lover’s nightmare.

Here’s the bar breakdown:

• Infinity Bar (Deck 5 – Embarkation level): Always open, rarely busy, and surprisingly great for a morning coffee or an easy pre-dinner drink.
• Edge Cocktail Bar (Deck 6): Popular, but often crowded — think “hustle and bustle” rather than relaxing vibes.
• Champagne Bar (Deck 7): Spacious, light traffic, and perfect for sipping without being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers.
• Brass Anchor Pub (Deck 7): My personal escape hatch. A proper pub atmosphere, cozy and tucked away, and usually home to no more than a handful of people (unless there was live music, then you’d see a small crowd). Just note: this pub leans heavily on beer service. Most cocktails from the standard bar menu aren’t available here, so if you’re craving a mixed drink, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

And because every cruise deserves a favorite drink, mine was the Passionfruit Martini. But here’s a recommendation: skip the Absolut and ask for Grey Goose instead for a cleaner vodka.

Our Room Review on the MSC Meraviglia

We stayed in a balcony stateroom in the aft, the very back of the ship. Now, aft cabins come with a reputation. People warn of endless engine noise, dramatic swaying, and motion sickness galore. So naturally, we boarded a little nervously.

The truth? We did feel a lot of movement, but so did everyone else. Sailing through the Atlantic, the whole ship rocked. Even my husband, who never gets motion sick, felt it on day one. The gift shop ran out of Dramamine, which tells you everything. Once we got closer to Florida, though, the seas calmed, and so did the ship. The swaying wasn’t a room issue; it was an ocean issue, the Atlantic made its presence known.

As for engine noise? We didn’t hear any. What we did notice was smoke on the balconies, despite the “no smoking” policy; some passengers clearly ignored it.

When it comes to size, the room itself felt just slightly smaller than what we’d experienced on Royal Caribbean, but the difference was barely noticeable. Cramped? Yes. Unlivable? No. The balcony, however, was definitely smaller than Symphony of the Seas, and instead of the sleek glass panels Royal uses, MSC’s were solid metal. That meant you couldn’t see the ocean while lounging in bed, a feature I really missed from Royal. Not a total dealbreaker, but a definite step down in design.

Storage was another weak point. Royal gets high marks for designing staterooms with clever storage solutions, but MSC fell short here. Thankfully, I’d read reviews before our trip and packed magnetic hooks — lifesavers, especially with an infant (read: way more stuff). Those hooks kept our floor from becoming a baby gear explosion.

Now, if bedding is your love language, prepare for disappointment. The mattress was thin, more like a padded mat than a bed, and the pillows were flat enough to be mistaken for folded sheets. My husband hated them. Me? I didn’t mind.

One win for MSC, though: the shower. Unlike Royal’s shoebox-sized stalls that left my husband showering with the door open (hello, flooded bathroom), MSC’s shower was comfortably bigger. Dry floors and an actual fit, we’ll call that progress.

What I Packed for My Baby on a Cruise

Packing for a cruise with a baby feels a bit like packing for a small, very demanding celebrity. Besides the obvious entourage of clothes, diapers, burp cloths, formula, baby soap, toys, snacks, and a stroller, we brought along a few extras that turned out to be lifesavers.

First up: baby sunblock. We used the Badger Mineral Baby Sunscreen Cream SPF 40 (a gentle organic mineral formula), and it quickly became my most-reached-for item between pool decks and island stops. Protecting her skin was non-negotiable, and I was glad I overpacked instead of underpacked.

Then there was the baby float. We bought the Laycol baby float on Amazon because it was not only more affordable but also designed to grow with her until age three. At Ocean Cay, she lounged in it under a cabana like she had her own VIP section. She loved it, and we loved watching her. Still, a friendly reminder, always supervise your baby on a float. Even the calmest wave can turn a cute moment into a scary one.

Of course, a swimsuit and swim nappies made their way into the suitcase too. Between splashing at Ocean Cay and poolside playtime, these were essentials for keeping our little one both safe and entertained.

For diaper duty, we packed Munchkin Arm & Hammer disposable changing pads. Germs have a way of spreading faster on a ship, so these gave me peace of mind every time we had to do a diaper change in a public restroom. And a tip worth noting: the ship’s changing station isn’t tucked away in the ladies’ room, it’s in the handicapped-accessible restroom.

Bottled water was another non-negotiable. While water is technically included on board, I wasn’t about to play a midnight game of “find the bottled water” with a hungry, crying baby. Instead, I applied for a medical exemption so we could bring our own bottled water for formula. If you’re sailing with an infant, definitely request this far in advance; it takes time to get approved.

Magnetic hooks. This was my ultimate VIP item of the trip. With limited storage space in the stateroom, these hooks kept clutter off the ground and gave us somewhere to hang all the baby’s gear. If I had to recommend one organization hack for cruising with a baby, this would be it.

A stroller fan was another must-have. Between hot weather excursions and afternoons on the top deck, it kept our baby cool and comfortable. Honestly, it kept us cool, too.

Now for the things we packed but didn’t use. First, the collapsible laundry basket. This was recommended by many moms online to let your little one also have some fun in the water, since babies aren’t allowed in the ship’s main pools. But since MSC doesn’t strictly enforce this rule, we didn’t need it. And honestly, there were many other babies swimming in the pool too. Besides, being able to hold your baby and swim around the pool was way more fun.

Then there were the headphones. I thought we’d need them for loud parties, shows, or music events. But between our baby being too tired to stay up late and us secretly relieved to call it an early night, they never left the bag. We had big plans to dance the night away, but the truth? Lullabies replaced nightlife, and I didn’t mind one bit.

Traveling with an Infant on the MSC Meraviglia

Our stroller, on the wider side, did fit through the hallways, though maneuvering past cleaning carts in the hallway was tricky. Inside the room, however, there was no way to keep it open, so we left it folded outside our door. We weren’t alone: at least eight strollers lined our hallway every night. Pro tip: always put the brakes on and pull it close to your door so it doesn’t roll away or block people.

As for pool rules: technically, non-potty-trained babies aren’t allowed. In reality, the rule wasn’t enforced. We put our daughter in swim nappies and had no issues. Of course, we were cautious, making sure she wasn’t about to go, staying near the pool exit, and always being ready to leave. Because trust me, you do not want to be the couple responsible for shutting down a pool to be drained, cleaned, and refilled. Hours of angry stares aren’t the souvenir you want to bring home.

Now, here’s where MSC really shines for families: kids under 12 sail free. Yes, you read that right. Our 6-month-old cost us nothing on this cruise, just the port fees, which are minimal. Compare that to Royal Caribbean, where I had to pay several thousand dollars for my baby at the exact same rate as an adult. Absurd, right? With MSC, this family-friendly pricing is not only refreshing but also a massive win for bigger families looking to save. It’s one of the smartest, most parent-friendly policies I’ve seen in cruising.

Should You Bring Your Baby on a Cruise?

Well, it really depends.
And I know—that’s probably not the clear-cut yes or no you were hoping for. But when it comes to cruising with a baby, common sense and knowing your own child matter more than any blanket advice.

If your baby tends to be more colicky, easily overstimulated, or struggles with new environments, loud noises, or schedule changes, it may be worth waiting. A cruise introduces a lot at once—new sounds, motion, routines, and environments—and that can be overwhelming for some babies (and parents).

On the other hand, if your baby is more on the chill side and can generally go with the flow, cruising can actually work surprisingly well. The key is resetting your expectations. This won’t feel like your pre-baby vacations—and that’s okay. It’s slower, softer, and more about moments than packed itineraries.

For us, the timing was… not ideal. Our daughter started teething the very day we left for the cruise. The first few nights were rough—lots of crying, difficulty settling, and very little sleep. It was exhausting, and yes, there were moments where we questioned our decision.

But even with that challenge, we still found pockets of joy. Quiet walks on deck, room service breakfasts, and simply being together—without the distractions of everyday life—made it worthwhile.

My takeaway:
If you know your baby, manage your expectations, and accept that this trip will look different than vacations past, bringing a baby on a cruise can be a good idea. Just go in prepared, flexible, and gentle with yourself.