MSC Seaside Cruises

Life aboard MSC Seaside
Until March 2021 MSC Seaside sails from Miami across the Caribbean. She offers two 7-night itineraries: to the Western Caribbean visiting Jamaica (Ocho Rios), Mexico (Cozumel) and the Caymans (George Town); and to the Eastern Caribbean calling at Puerto Rico (San Juan), St Maarten (Philipsburg)and the Bahamas (Nassau). The majority of cruisers join the two 7-night itineraries for a fortnight’s relaxation. Now that MSC is reaching across the Atlantic, the Line has ‘Americanised’ its style. From April 2021 MSC Seaside relocates to Genoa, to run 7-night cruises in a circuit of the western Mediterranean. Guest can embark from any port on the route: Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona, Naples or Livorno. MSC has designed this latest generation of cruise ships blending indoor and outdoor areas to connect you with the sea. Circling the entire ship is a seafront promenade lined with places to eat, drink, shop, swim and sunbake. One can enjoy superb views from the two-deck glass-walled atrium, panoramic elevators and from the glass skywalk, giving a jaw-dropping view of the sea below! The MSC for Me app uses digital technology to connect you with guests, the crew and the ship. Fodor’sTravel 2019 awarded MSC Runner-Up for “The Best Family Cruise.”

MSC Seaside is superbly modern in design, created especially with families and for suite guests looking for 'ship-within-a-ship' privacy in mind. Young passengers have an aqua park top-of-the-ship with the most interactive and originally-designed aqua park at sea: five water slides aquatubes, tipping buckets, spray cannons, solid stream jets, rain tree, and mini-slide; also an adventure park with rope courses next to the pool; all over two decks and some suspended above the water. Inside there are nine food outlets offering an international range of cuisines, as well as 20 bars. Entertainment areas include the main theatre presenting Broadway shows, a stylish comedy club, sports bar, and even a full-sized bowling alley. The ship’s enhanced MSC Yacht Club facilities offer a specialty dining room, private solarium, lounge, and pool. When booking, reserve ahead of time your dining requests, entertainment and activity selections, and make allowances the many pay-extras when budgeting. Select which of four ‘experience’ levels are best for you, and check out any and all offers currently available.

Accommodation
The ship features open, modular, connected staterooms, convertible staterooms and cluster cabins for families and groups, and luxury suites with private jacuzzis and hanging gardens. In all there are 11 stateroom types. They include yacht club royal, deluxe, and interior suites; family-size suites with balconies; grand suites; and standard balcony, outside and interior rooms. Roughly 72% of the cabins will have a balcony and 76% will be located outside. All staterooms feature double beds (or two singles), wardrobe, bathroom with tub and shower, air-conditioning, mini bar and safe, interactive TV, telephone, and WiFi connection (for a fee). There’s a turndown service to prepare your bed each night. Higher stateroom ‘Experiences’ move you to a higher deck and offer more perks.

Family cluster cabins made up of 2 or 3 connecting cabins, for up to 10 people. MSC Yacht Club passengers also get priority boarding, dedicated priority check-in and checkout, butler service available 24 hours, dedicated concierge 24 hours a day, private restaurant, unlimited drinks in all MSC Yacht Club venues or from the minibar, complimentary beverage selection, and exclusive access to The One Sun Deck and Top Sail Lounge, free Thermal Suite and direct private lift to the MSC Aurea Spa and 24-hour (free) room service. When booking, check where you are in relation to the water park area. Interestingly, on MSC ships there is no deck 17, and no staterooms ending in 17, due to an Italian superstition.

Food and Dining
MSC Seaside has nine dining options, four of which are complimentary. There are two main dining rooms and two buffets. The principal dining rooms have open seating for breakfast and lunch, and two seatings for dinner. (Incidentally, instead of paying for bottled water in dining rooms – a Continental custom – fill your own bottle in your cabin, chill it in the mini-bar, and bring it with you at meal times.) ‘Anytime’ dining is available for guests in higher cabins. Expect a formal evening during a cruise. Children have the option of their own dining area, time and menu. Dietary requests must be submitted on a form ahead of time, and may be payable. Note that items in casual dining may also be pay extra – good coffees and so on. There’s no tea or coffee for lunch and dinner in the dining rooms, only in the buffet. You may have to ask for milk.

The pay-extra specialty dining restaurants can be booked ahead of your cruise. They include Butcher’s Cut for steaks, the Asian Market Kitchen, Teppanyaki, Ocean Bay Restaurant, and Bistro – La Boheme. Yacht Club guests have their own complimentary specialty restaurant that includes drinks with meals. At all hours casual dining is available at the Marketplace buffet and Biscayne Bay Buffet and Pizzeria. Dining venues offer good views out to sea, a delightful ambiance. Of course there are specialty drinks, crepes, chocolate goodies and so forth, just pay a little extra.

Entertainment
The line offers a rich program of shows, Broadway and Las Vegas-style theatrical performances, live music and nightlife. Fast-moving commentary comes in up to six languages, depending on your cruise location. Many productions will be visual rather than spoken. (Announcements are kept to matters of emergency, as most information appears on the daily newssheet.) There’s plenty of live music, dancing and special activities to keep you awake till late. Children and teenagers have five age-group centres and activities, while adults in the Yacht Club have the top deck to themselves. Youngsters access brand products from LEGO and Chicco. The Amusement Park and Aqua Park are adjoining, and certainly will become the focus for younger ones.

The pools are heated by a heat recovery system – great! The number of water slides and their features are impressive. During sea days relax in a beach chair, gaze up at the condominium-style staterooms above, and relax. A few occasional notes: Children sail free on certain itineraries, and in July/August there may be 400 or so. Heavy smokers are everywhere on certain itineraries, and the staff may be more focused on Continental passengers. Port calls may be short time-wise.

Explore the decks

18 - Deck 18 16 - Deck 16 15 - Deck 15 14 - Deck 14 13 - Deck 13 12 - Deck 12 11 - Deck 11 10 - Deck 10 9 - Deck 9 8 - Deck 8 7 - Deck 7 6 - Deck 6 5 - Deck 5