TravelPulse Canada was on hand as MSC Meraviglia returned to Saint John, New Brunswick for its first visit to Canada since 2019.
Launched in 2017 as the sixth-largest cruise ship in the world, the Meraviglia is one of the biggest vessels to visit Saint John this season, an important contributor to a port enjoying near-record numbers after two years with no ships and 2022’s truncated ‘restart season.’
Decor on MSC Meraviglia brings the bling factor. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
MSC Meraviglia is offering 10- and 11-night voyages roundtrip New York, to highlight the beauty of Eastern Canada and the U.S. during the fall months. Other Canadian stops on the itinerary include Sydney, NS, Charlottetown, PEI and Halifax, NS, while Boston, MA, Portland, ME and Newport, RI are among U.S. calls.
"The return of MSC Meraviglia to Eastern Canada after four years is a cause for celebration,” says Ian Patterson, Country Manager, MSC Cruises Canada.
“Our guests will be able to enjoy experiencing the beauty and the tranquility found in the region and we believe the sailings will benefit the local economies of the ports and local destinations that the ship will visit."
There was plenty of economic activity around the port during our visit. Carnival Venezia was there when we arrived, replaced the next day with the Meraviglia and the Emerald Princess. The following day would see three ships in port, and up to 10,000 passengers disembarking into the city of 80,000 and the surrounding Bay of Fundy area.
Dan the Clay Man is one of the charmismatic vendors outside the Saint John cruise terminal. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Vendors lined the street in front of the cruise terminal, which itself is fronted by the Area 506 Container Village, a colourful and welcoming space with a good range of craft and souvenir vendors, a stage for free musical performances and places to enjoy a beer and a bite.
Both the outside vendors and those in Area 506 embodied the warmth of welcome that Maritime Canadians are renowned for, and their offerings were creative and interesting. Cruise passengers appeared fully engaged with the city and its people, even though some had clearly prepared for winter, with parkas and mittens despite the balmy 18C temperature.
The Area 506 Container Village has lots to offer port visitors in Saint John. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
The uptown area of the Canada’s oldest incorporated city fronts onto the harbour where Samuel de Champlain dropped anchor in 1604. It’s a charming place of old stone buildings, with plenty of shops, restaurants and craft breweries to entertain cruise visitors.
(Photo Credit: City of Saint John)
We had the pleasure of lunching aboard the Meraviglia with Mayor Donna Reardon, the city of Saint John’s 79th mayor – and only the third female to hold the role. She said the cruise ship season “injects a real energy into the area.” Mayor Reardon noted that the construction currently underway near the cruise terminal will feature a slip with granite stairs, a small skating rink, restaurants and bars with four-season outdoor heated patios and a performance stage.
Research has shown that the combined economic benefit from cruise ships in Saint John is close to $70 million per year. The 2023 cruise season is well on its way to rank among the best-ever, with more than 76 port calls, including 10 inaugural calls. This year there will be 21 days with three ships in port.
MSC Canada BDM Tammy Thompson at the Air Canada Vacations launch in Toronto. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Tammy Thompson joined the MSC Cruises Canada team as Business Development Manager in March of this year, the latest step in a 20-year travel career. She says the fact that MSC is a family-owned company is reflected in every aspect of its operations, enhancing the experience both for employees and guests.
“It’s all about the details, and caring about people,” Thompson says. “Small touches really stand out and really improve the guest experience.”
It may be a family-owned company with 300 years in the shipping industry, but MSC is a massive operation, with the resources to continue to grow and innovate, both in sustainable technology – a major company focus – and in the guest experience.
“We know we’re different and we thrive on that,” says Thompson. “We offer a multicultural experience and we do things differently, like making our own chocolate and cheese onboard. Our entertainment is elevated, we offer a superb product for family travellers, and we’re getting rave reviews about our cuisine.”
The MSC Team.
As the third-largest cruise line in the world, the Italian-owned, Swiss-based company offers itineraries across the globe, giving Canadians cruisers who enjoy the product plenty of choices for future travel.
The water park area on MSC Meraviglia. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
“We’re really starting to get on the map with Canadian travel agents and cruisers. There’s a lot of interest and a lot of opportunity. Many in this market are still getting to know us, but we’re getting lots of repeat clients,” Thompson says.
“We know that Canadians are craving new experiences that are fresh and exciting, and we have so much to offer. We have many more ships on order, and each one of them brings new innovations and advancements in sustainability.”
MSC is famed for its Swarovski crystal staircases. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
A quick ship tour revealed Meraviglia’s – the name translates as ‘wonder’ -- glitzy ambience with an opulent European feel. This is embodied by the MSC-signature atrium staircase adorned with more than 60,000 Swarovski crystals. The family element was obvious with extensive kids and teens facilities, a large sports court, driving and flight simulators and an expensive top deck waterpark.
Lunch in the main dining room featured a wide range of options – and our table agreed that the cuisine was excellent. A visit to the Marketplace buffet revealed another smorgasbord of choices.
MSC Meraviglia will return to Saint John and the Canadian Maritimes with an extended schedule in 2024, visiting in April, May and August as well as the fall months.
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