Are you going on a cruise on MSC Meraviglia? I’ve been cruising on MSC Meraviglia for the past two years and have pretty much tried everything on the ship.
Below, I’m sharing the best breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert items you should look for on the menu, so you’ll know exactly what to order.
Before we get into the specific dishes, a quick note: most of the food I’m talking about is from the main dining room and the buffet, and these are all complimentary.
Some of these foods are everyday dishes you can get almost any time, while others might only be offered once per cruise, on special nights like Italian Night or Gala Night. So, if you see any of the dishes I mentioned on your menu during the cruise, order them.
If you’re curious how the ship’s food compares to other cruise lines, I’d say it’s outstanding—surpassing even some higher-end lines like Celebrity Cruises. Trust me I know, I’ve been on over 25 cruises in almost all the cruise lines.
If you’re wondering how the ship’s food compares to other cruise lines, I’d say it’s exceptional—better than even some of the more upscale lines like Celebrity Cruises. Trust me, I’ve sailed on over 25 cruises across nearly every major cruise line.
Now let’s get to my food recommendations.
Best Breakfast and Brunch Foods on MSC Meraviglia
One thing that’s unique about MSC cruises is that they actually offer brunch, not just a standard breakfast that shuts down around 9 a.m. Brunch is continuous service in the main dining room, stretching from breakfast into lunch hours, and it’s typically offered on sea days. You get a special brunch menu with a mix of popular breakfast favorites and lunch dishes.
I really appreciate the extended hours—traveling with my teen daughter, we often sleep in and miss regular breakfast, so brunch lets us still enjoy a proper sit-down meal.
And my go-to brunch dish is the Japanese Fried Chicken. It’s lightly breaded fried chicken served over fried rice with a runny hard-boiled egg on top.
I also love the Eggs Benedict. You can order it in the main dining room during breakfast, and it’s also available on the brunch menu. It makes breakfast feel so luxurious.
My husband always orders the steak and eggs for brunch.
My kids love mac and cheese for brunch
I really enjoy the breakfast Danish. I’ll always get it for breakfast. I also like to order it through room service. Room service is free if you order Continental breakfast items. These are non-hot breakfast items like yogurt, danishes, fruit, coffee, and cereal. I try to order room service at least once during my cruise- it’s so luxurious.
And then my guilty pleasure: hash browns. It’s my favorite breakfast side. You will need to get more than one because it’s delicious.
Keep an eye out for the chia seed pudding on the brunch menu. It’s so good.
Best Lunch Foods on MSC Meraviglia
Being an Italian cruise line, so you already know I have to talk about the pizza. The pizza is amazing. Get it at the buffet. If you see a fresh pizza coming out, grab a slice.
I also love the spaghetti with meatballs. You can order it for lunch in the main dining room. I recommend ordering it at least once during your cruise.
Another lunchtime favorite is the fried chicken sandwich. When you see this on the lunch menu, get it.
I have to talk about the Caesar salad on MSC Meraviglia because it’s genuinely one of the best Caesar salads I’ve had on any cruise ship. It is so good that even my son, who does not eat salad, ordered it every single day. Thanks to this cruise, he’s now officially a Caesar salad eater.
One important thing to know: this seems to be very ship-specific. Not all MSC cruise ships have good Caesar salad. For example, the Caesar salad on MSC World Europa was one of the worst I’ve ever tasted. The dressing was so bland it basically tasted like creamy mayo. So take advantage of the good Caesar salad on Meraviglia while you can.
If you’re stopping at the private island, definitely don’t miss the lunch buffet. The island lunch is completely free, and the spread is huge — burgers, salads, grilled meats, fresh fruit, and plenty of desserts. You’ll also find ice-cold drinks like water, lemonade, and iced tea, all included at no extra charge.
Love the pulled pork, ribs, and mac and cheese.
For lunch, my kids like the buffet. There are a lot of kid-friendly foods like corn dogs and potstickers.
I also always get the chips and guacamole.
The fries are really good on this ship.
Best Dinner Foods on MSC Meraviglia
One dish I always look for is Eggplant Parmesan. Whenever I see Eggplant Parm on the menu, I order it. It’s usually offered once a cruise, often on Italian Night.
If you’re more of a meat-eater, order the Osso Bucco.
The Chicken Parmesan is also delicious. If you see it on the menu, get it.
Another dish I can’t stop thinking about is the lasagna. It’s so good.
If you like lamb, be on the lookout for leg of lamb as well. My son loves this and orders it on every cruise.
If you’re a fish eater, definitely try the fish dish. It’s always delicious—I’ve never been disappointed.
On Gala night, get the prime rib or lobster.
Order the linguine with clam sauce on Italian night.
If nothing on the dinner menu jumps out at you, there’s a great backup dish that’s available every day: salmon with rice. This is an everyday item on the dinner menu and it’s consistently good.
For appetizers, one of my favorites is Frito Misto. You’ll love the mix of fried seafood.
I also love the fried calamari.
Another excellent starter is the seafood puff pastry. It’s creamy seafood topped with a flaky puff pastry.
My favorite appetizer is tomato and mozzarella. The mozzarella is freshly made on board the ship, and you can taste the difference. It’s usually offered at least once in the main dining room.
My kids love the spring rolls. If you see it on the menu, order it as an appetizer.
Try the antipasto plate at least once.
My husband never misses an opportunity to order the escargot.
When it comes to soup, order the lobster bisque. It’s so good. The French onion soup is also a favorite.
Best Desserts on MSC Meraviglia
Now we have to talk about the desserts onboard. You honestly can’t go wrong with any of them. This ship serves some of the best desserts I’ve had on any cruise.
My favorite dessert on the ship is Grandma’s Chocolate Cake. Luckily, it’s an everyday dessert item. It’s the perfect chocolate cake — not too sweet, not too fudgy, just right.
On Gala Night, my go-to dessert is Baked Alaska.
Another dessert you shouldn’t miss is the cheesecake. Whenever I see cheesecake on the menu, I order it.
I also really like the apple pie. Don’t miss it.
Since it’s an Italian cruise line, you have to try the tiramisu at least once. They do classic Italian desserts very well.
And here’s one more dessert that you can’t miss: the carrot cake. Once you taste it, you’ll keep going back for more. So when you’re walking through the buffet and you see carrot cake, get a slice.
I also love the sorbets. I always get it as a secondary dessert. It’s a great palate cleanser.
If you’re wondering what’s good at the buffet for dinner, I honestly don’t know. We never ate there in the evenings because the main dining room food is so good that it feels like a waste to skip it. We only head to the buffet after dinner or after the evening show to grab a late-night snack, which is usually a burger or pizza.
Best Non-Alchoholic Drinks on MSC Meraviglia
I want to mention a couple of non-alcoholic drinks, that I love. Do know that these drinks are not included in your cruise, you’ll have to pay extra for them.
If you have the drink package, it’s included in your package.
My go-to mocktail is the Nojito. It’s basically a mojito without the alcohol — super refreshing and perfect by the pool.
My kids love the Virgin Piña Colada. It tastes like vacation in a glass, and it’s always a fun treat for them on board.
Cruise Essentials to Buy Before Your Cruise
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Travel Must-Haves
Passport neck wallet – Keeps your passport and travel documents secure and accessible. It also has RFID protection.
Cruise lanyards – A super convenient way to keep your cruise card within easy reach. No more digging through your bag every time you need it! I recommend getting one lanyard per person in your group and choosing different colors so it’s easy to tell them apart.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with anti-pickpocket clip – Genius anti-theft clip and versatile enough for both port days and evenings in the dining room.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with RFID – Padded shoulder straps with RFID lining to safeguard against identity theft.
Insulated water bottles –I don’t like spending money on bottled water, and I always want fresh water in my cabin. I’ll fill my bottle at the buffet or ask my server at dinner, then bring it back so I have water at night. This is my go-to water bottle—I prefer ones without straws since they’re much easier to wash in the cabin sink.
Pashmina – This multi-purpose wrap always earns its spot in my luggage. Use it as an evening wrap, a lightweight plane blanket, or a cover-up when visiting places of worship that require modest dress. I never cruise without one—you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.
Cruise Planning Essentials
Day Passes to Resorts– Booking private beach resort access in advance guarantees a comfortable beach experience at the cruise port.
Travel Insurance with CFAR Coverage– CFAR travel insurance gives you flexibility to cancel your cruise for any reason and recover part of your costs if plans change.
Last Minute Cruise Deals– Search for last minute cruise deals.
Cabin Comfort & Organization
Non-surge Cruise power strip– Cabins never have enough outlets (check cruise line rules first).
Magnetic hooks – Super-strong magnetic hooks that attach easily to your cabin walls. They’re perfect for hanging hats, cruise lanyards, goggles, swimsuits, and towels. I personally use the 85+ lb hooks—they’re incredibly sturdy and can even hold backpacks!
Small portable fan – Improves airflow and keeps Inside Cabins from feeling stuffy.
Motion sensor night light – Perfect for Inside Cabins, for when you get up at night to use the bathroom. It also has a magnetic base, so you can easily attach it to your cabin walls.
Toiletries & Laundry
Hanging toiletry bag – Keeps your essentials neat and accessible.
Fabric freshener spray – Fights wrinkles and refreshes clothes between wears.
Travel-size detergent – Handy for washing swimsuits, underwear, and quick-dry clothing in the sink.
TSA-approved travel containers – Easy to pack your lotions, creams, and other liquids without worrying about TSA rules.
Health & Wellness
Anti-seasickness medicine – My go-to meds for anti-seasickness. I take one in the morning on sea days (bring chewables for kids).
Acupressure bands – A natural alternative for seasickness relief. I use this with the anti-seasickness meds.
Packing & Storage
Cruise travel planners– Check out my travel planners, they help you stay organized before and during your trip.
Packing cubes – I never travel without packing cubes! They make packing and unpacking so easy—you can simply slip the entire cube into the cabin closet or drawer. I like to assign a different color to each person so there’s no mix-up.
Foldable duffel bag – I always pack a foldable duffel bag in case I bring home too many souvenirs or do some extra shopping. It doubles as an extra carry-on and barely takes up any luggage space.
Foldable shopping bag – Perfect for shopping at cruise ports, these bags fold up small enough to keep in your purse. I always carry one with me—you never know when you’ll need it! Plus, many countries charge a fee for shopping bags, and I’d much rather use my own than pay extra.
Foldable backpack – Perfect for cruise port days when you need an extra bag. I love that these backpacks are lightweight and fold down small, so you can toss one in your luggage without taking up much space.
Travel luggage scale – I always keep one in my suitcase so I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport. It’s a simple way to avoid overweight baggage fees.
Apple AirTags – I pop one into each of my bags so I can track my luggage for peace of mind. They’re especially helpful if you have a short layover and worry about your suitcase getting left behind.
Beach Essentials
Towel Clips – A simple must-have for pool and beach days! They keep your towels from slipping off lounge chairs, and I never cruise without brining a few in my luggage.
Waterproof phone pouch – Protect your phone from water and sand while still being able to snap photos. I always bring one when cruising the Caribbean or Mediterranean—it’s a lifesaver for beach and pool days.
Striped beach bag with zipper – You’ll need a beach bag with zipper to keep your things secure. I like this one because it’s stylish, has a water bottle holder, keeps belongings secure and has a lot of pockets.
Kid-Friendly Cruise Essentials
Magnetic toys – Cabin walls are magnetic, making these toys perfect for fun, mess-free entertainment. They keep kids busy when you’re in the cabin, especially since cruise TV options for kids can be limited. It’s always best to bring your own toys.
Collapsible beach buckets and toys – You’ll definitely want to bring beach toys if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise! This collapsible set includes foldable buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds, all packed neatly in one bag. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase without taking up much space.
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