MSC Seaside
MSC Cruises
Ship information
MSC Seaside
Ashley Kosciolek
Cruise Critic
MSC Seaside is lively and fun, incorporating jaw-dropping entertainment, lots of outdoor spaces (it's a sun worshipper's paradise!) and family-friendly activities that include a 4D cinema, bowling, ziplines and a large water park.
But what really sets this vessel apart from other ships sailing in the Caribbean is its European flair and service, and the international mix of cruisers onboard.
The MSC Seaside ship’s interior showcases glitzy Italian design, meals in the dining room are European-style (read slow, sometimes taking more than two hours) and service from waiters and bartenders usually comes minus the smile many North Americans expect. Don't get us wrong, most of the MSC Seaside cruise ship crew are pleasant and generally helpful; just don't expect the over-the-top friendliness you often find on other cruise lines.
The one exception to this can be found in the MSC Seaside Yacht Club, a suites-only enclave for the ship's highest-paying passengers. Here, service is friendly, attentive and efficient, and many Yacht Club passengers spend the bulk of their time onboard within its confines, whether in the spacious lounge or on the exclusive Yacht Club sun deck with accompanying pool.
The MSC Seaside Cruise Layout Allows for Good Passenger Flow
With a capacity of over 5,000 passengers, a tonnage of 153,516, and the size of three-and-a-half American football fields, MSC Seaside is an imposing vessel. It would be easy to think that with that many passengers the ship would feel crowded and chaotic. While you may not be able to find many places onboard to be perfectly alone and in absolute peace and quiet, the layout makes for good passenger flow.
MSC Seaside deck plans are well designed, with separate levels for public spaces and staterooms. The lower four decks pack in restaurants, bars, the lively atrium, general services, and the Aurea Spa and Fitness Center. Cabins are housed all together on decks 9 through 15, with the Yacht Club located on Deck 16 along with the main pool and a few restaurants. There are also a handful of cabins on Deck 5.
The best cabins on MSC Seaside for light sleepers are those on decks 10 to 14, as they are sandwiched between other cabin-only decks and get virtually no noise from public spaces.
Decks 18 through 20 are the place to go for some thrills and family fun. The kids’ and teens’ clubs are here, as are the water park, the zipline, the sports arena, and a few areas exclusive for Yacht Club guests. (Note: Be prepared to pay extra for most of the onboard activities, including all of the oversized arcade-style attractions – 4D cinema, Formula One racecar simulator, bowling, etc. – and outdoor activities like the zipline.)
MSC Seaside Cruises Draw a Mix of American and International Passengers
MSC Cruises’ Seaside is a popular pick among guests hailing from Europe and the American Southeast. To cater to the ship's largely 40-something English- and Spanish-speaking passengers – many of whom live within driving distance of the ship’s home port of Port Canaveral – most announcements on Seaside are only made in English and Spanish.
In the theater, however, you'll hear about five languages, and there's usually a large contingent of passengers from several European countries, including Italy and Germany. MSC Seaside Caribbean cruises are particularly popular among an international crowd, as are Mediterranean itineraries.
There are plenty of opportunities to make new friends from all over the world, with anywhere from 50 percent and up of your fellow passengers from outside of North America.
Cruise Line
MSC
Tonnage
153,516
tons
Ship Length
1,059
feet
Launched
2017
Guest Cabins
2,026
Cabins
Occupancy
5,084
passengers
Ship information
MSC Seaside
Ashley Kosciolek
Cruise Critic
MSC Seaside is lively and fun, incorporating jaw-dropping entertainment, lots of outdoor spaces (it's a sun worshipper's paradise!) and family-friendly activities that include a 4D cinema, bowling, ziplines and a large water park.
But what really sets this vessel apart from other ships sailing in the Caribbean is its European flair and service, and the international mix of cruisers onboard.
The MSC Seaside ship’s interior showcases glitzy Italian design, meals in the dining room are European-style (read slow, sometimes taking more than two hours) and service from waiters and bartenders usually comes minus the smile many North Americans expect. Don't get us wrong, most of the MSC Seaside cruise ship crew are pleasant and generally helpful; just don't expect the over-the-top friendliness you often find on other cruise lines.
The one exception to this can be found in the MSC Seaside Yacht Club, a suites-only enclave for the ship's highest-paying passengers. Here, service is friendly, attentive and efficient, and many Yacht Club passengers spend the bulk of their time onboard within its confines, whether in the spacious lounge or on the exclusive Yacht Club sun deck with accompanying pool.
The MSC Seaside Cruise Layout Allows for Good Passenger Flow
With a capacity of over 5,000 passengers, a tonnage of 153,516, and the size of three-and-a-half American football fields, MSC Seaside is an imposing vessel. It would be easy to think that with that many passengers the ship would feel crowded and chaotic. While you may not be able to find many places onboard to be perfectly alone and in absolute peace and quiet, the layout makes for good passenger flow.
MSC Seaside deck plans are well designed, with separate levels for public spaces and staterooms. The lower four decks pack in restaurants, bars, the lively atrium, general services, and the Aurea Spa and Fitness Center. Cabins are housed all together on decks 9 through 15, with the Yacht Club located on Deck 16 along with the main pool and a few restaurants. There are also a handful of cabins on Deck 5.
The best cabins on MSC Seaside for light sleepers are those on decks 10 to 14, as they are sandwiched between other cabin-only decks and get virtually no noise from public spaces.
Decks 18 through 20 are the place to go for some thrills and family fun. The kids’ and teens’ clubs are here, as are the water park, the zipline, the sports arena, and a few areas exclusive for Yacht Club guests. (Note: Be prepared to pay extra for most of the onboard activities, including all of the oversized arcade-style attractions – 4D cinema, Formula One racecar simulator, bowling, etc. – and outdoor activities like the zipline.)
MSC Seaside Cruises Draw a Mix of American and International Passengers
MSC Cruises’ Seaside is a popular pick among guests hailing from Europe and the American Southeast. To cater to the ship's largely 40-something English- and Spanish-speaking passengers – many of whom live within driving distance of the ship’s home port of Port Canaveral – most announcements on Seaside are only made in English and Spanish.
In the theater, however, you'll hear about five languages, and there's usually a large contingent of passengers from several European countries, including Italy and Germany. MSC Seaside Caribbean cruises are particularly popular among an international crowd, as are Mediterranean itineraries.
There are plenty of opportunities to make new friends from all over the world, with anywhere from 50 percent and up of your fellow passengers from outside of North America.
Cruise Line
MSC
Tonnage
153,516
tons
Ship Length
1,059
feet
Launched
2017
Guest Cabins
2,026
Cabins
Occupancy
5,084
passengers
Cabin Information
22 Cabin types available with images
Available on decks: Deck 10 - Maspalomas
Available on decks: Deck 5 - Cape Cod
Available on decks: Deck 11 - Flamenco Beach
Available on decks: Deck 9 - Lanikai
Available on decks: Deck 9 - Lanikai
Available on decks: Deck 9 - Lanikai
Available on decks: Deck 11 - Flamenco Beach
Available on decks: Deck 13 - Pink Sands
Available on decks: Deck 15 - Venice Beach
Available on decks: Deck 11 - Flamenco Beach
Available on decks: Deck 9 - Lanikai
Available on decks: Deck 9 - Lanikai
Available on decks: Deck 9 - Lanikai
Available on decks: Deck 9 - Lanikai
Available on decks: Deck 9 - Lanikai
Available on decks: Deck 16 - Miami Beach
Available on decks: Deck 16 - Miami Beach
Available on decks: Deck 16 - Miami Beach
MSC Seaside has 22 cabin types available
Balcony Cabins
Balcony Cabins
Balcony Cabins
Balcony Cabins
Balcony Cabins
Balcony Cabins
Balcony Cabins
Suite Cabins
Suite Cabins
Suite Cabins
Suite Cabins
Suite Cabins
Suite Cabins
Suite Cabins
Suite Cabins
Suite Cabins
Deck Plans
15 deck images available
MSC Seaside Shows and Theater
On MSC Seaside, the Metropolitan Theater is home to production shows, concerts and comedy sketches. MSC's goal in making the theater smaller than those on other ships was to create a more intimate experience with more flexibility for passengers. To that end, the line offers three nightly performances; there are six shows altogether, one for each night of the cruise, with three time slots of the same show each night.
The line has traditionally relied on jaw-dropping visual performances -- acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, magicians -- to avoid language barriers among its international passenger base. We're happy to report that MSC Seaside entertainment remains phenomenal.
The MSC Seaside casino is located on Deck 7, adjacent to the main theater. It offers a number of table games as well as slot machines. There are no smoking areas inside the casino.
MSC Seaside Daily Things to Do
The ship offers various activities throughout the day, including stretching and tai chi in the mornings, several different types of trivia, dance classes, foosball tournaments, scavenger hunts and art auctions.
MSC Seaside also has an impressive repertoire of extra-fee amusement games, including a self-leveling pool table and an arcade with a Formula One simulator, a 4D cinema, dual bowling lanes and an air hockey table.
Nightlife on MSC Seaside
Aside from theater productions, MSC Seaside offers live music and dancing in The Garage nightclub until the wee hours. The atrium is buzzing with passengers from early in the morning, and there are always live shows and contests to attend. This is also where themed parties are held on special nights.
MSC Seaside Bars and Lounges
The ship offers a couple dozen bars and lounges spread over several decks. Beyond the standard poolside and atrium bars, passengers can choose from a huge range of other spots to drink, including quiet lounges with panoramic ocean views, and hopping drinking holes open until the wee hours.
MSC Seaside drink packages are a good option if you expect to have more than a couple of beers per day. Plans range from those that only include alcohol-free drinks to premium all-inclusive packages. (If one person in the cabin purchases a package, everyone in the cabin must purchase one.)
Highlights include:
Seaside Bar (Deck 5): The Seaside Bar sits at the base of the ship's four-deck central atrium, making it a great location for an embarkation-day drink or a pre-dinner cocktail. Its backdrop is a trio of giant LED screens showcasing a rotating selection of videos.
Shine Bar (Deck 6): Found on the second level of the ship's atrium, this centrally located watering hole is, like the Seaside Bar, perfect for pre-dinner drinks. What's special about it is the amount of chrome used throughout. Its intent is to catch the sun's rays as they come through the floor-to-ceiling windows that surround the bar, giving it a glistening appearance.
Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar (Deck 6): This sweet shop and coffee bar, one of two Venchi outposts onboard, also sells specialty cocktails like coffee martinis and "Chocolate and Bubbles" -- prosecco with chocolate and truffles.
Champagne Bar (Deck 7): On the third deck of the ship's atrium is the Champagne Bar, a bright and elegantly modern space with a white bar and stools, flanked by two smaller bar areas that can be booked for private tastings.
Garage Club (Deck 7): This 1950s diner-themed area boasts a bar, dance floor, jukebox, neon signage, vintage Gulf gas pump, high-top tables with chairs and a classic car that serves as a DJ booth. At night, it's the ship's disco. It has no set closing time, which means it stays open until everyone leaves. The DJ told us that's often as late -- or as early -- as 4 a.m.
Seaview Lounge (Deck 8): This quiet lounge with excellent sea views is frequently home base for daily activities. Just next door, a see-through broadcasting booth allows passersby to watch as the cruise director records the morning show.
Sports Bar (Deck 8): This bar offers drinks, added-fee finger food and semi-private booths with individual TV screens so groups can watch sporting events together. Walls are decorated with autographed memorabilia, adding to the vibe. More extensive than the offerings on most ships, the beer menu includes more than 30 different brews.
Top Sail Lounge (Deck 16): Those booked in MSC Yacht Club cabins have access to the two-deck Top Sail Lounge, a private lounge with free drinks and a restaurant on its upper level.
Miami Beach Bar (Deck 16): This bar is where you'll want to go for your ice cream fix. Priced a la carte, you can purchase by the scoop or can splurge on a sundae or milkshake. Also available is a full menu of cocktails,
MSC Seaside food is generally enjoyable, with dishes focusing heavily on meats, fish and homemade pasta. Dishes tend to be small but filling, leaving you feeling satisfied but not overfed. In true European style, expect meals to be long, drawn-out affairs, sometimes taking between two and three hours.
MSC Seaside Free Dining
Seashore Restaurant (Deck 5) and Ipanema Restaurant (Deck 6). MSC Seaside main dining room menus are the same on both Seashore and Ipanema. Every menu includes a starter, an entrée and dessert. Options include antipasti, fish, salads, pasta, chicken, beef, and seasonal soups. Chef's selections are noted on the menu, and a "Classic Favorites" section features a variety of items for picky eaters. Extra-fee items are also offered, each with one free side.
The Seashore Restaurant is open every day for breakfast, for lunch on sea days only and for dinner every night, in three set seatings, though passengers who choose MSC's flexible My Choice dining can eat dinner at Seashore any time during the main restaurants’ opening hours.
Ipanema is open for dinner only but also has three set seatings. Both restaurants offer sea views through large windows. Tables seat anywhere from two to 10 people. Service in the main dining room is generally efficient but not overly engaging.
Marketplace Buffet (Deck 8) and Biscayne Bay Buffet (Deck 16). MSC Seaside has two onboard buffets: Marketplace, the main buffet near the ship's outdoor promenade, and Biscayne Bay, a smaller and more family-friendly buffet near the ship's main pool area. Both buffets offer indoor and outdoor seating.
Both buffets are open for breakfast and lunch daily, with virtually identical offerings, but only Marketplace is open for dinner each night. Both are also open during select between-meal hours to offer pizza and grill items. Additionally, Marketplace does afternoon and midnight snacks like sandwiches and cookies.
An out-of-this-world standout is the MSC Seaside buffet pizza, which is made fresh throughout the day.
Note that passengers cannot access the Biscayne Bay Buffet from the forward end of Deck 16. It can only be accessed from the aft elevator bank and stairs, so anyone already on Deck 16 but at the front, will need to go down a deck, walk toward the back of the ship and then go back up.
MSC Yacht Club Restaurant (Deck 18). This restaurant is restricted to and complimentary for passengers booked in the MSC Yacht Club. The space is set on a balcony overlooking the club's private Top Sail Lounge on Deck 16. Tables accommodate between two and 10 passengers.
The menu varies daily but is different from what passengers get in the main dining rooms; it often features higher cuts of meat than what you'd find elsewhere.
MSC Seaside Specialty Restaurants and Other For-Fee Dining Options
MSC Seaside specialty restaurant menus range from Asian to international and steakhouse. Prices are average by industry standards, and food quality is a cut above the ship’s free dining options.
Asian Market Kitchen (Deck 16); a la carte. Headed by renowned chef Roy Yamaguchi, Asian Market Kitchen is a trio of Asian dining options including Kaito Teppanyaki (with four menu choices), a sushi bar and Hawaiian-influenced pan-Asian cuisine.
The sushi and pan-Asian eateries share one space, with all items printed on one menu. For the Pan-Asian choices, there's also a prix fixe dining package that lets you choose three dishes from a smaller menu. Service is attentive and friendly.
Ocean Cay (Deck 16); prix fixe or a la carte. This bright eatery with a nautical but classy theme was the most pleasant culinary surprise of the sailing for us. The prix fixe dinner option entitles diners to one dish from each section of the multicourse menu, up to a maximum of three dishes. (Several of the higher-priced menu items are not included in the prix fixe menu.) Or, you can order a la carte.
Tip: Book a table for lunch for gorgeous sea views.
Butcher’s Cut (Deck 16); prix fixe or a la carte. The menu is extensive at this fine dining steakhouse. The prix fixe option lets you choose up to three dishes, but no more than one from any given section, or you can order a la carte. We had no complaints about the food and left feeling completely stuffed.
A la carte brunch is served at Butcher's Cut on sea days.
**Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar (Deck 6) and Venchi 1878 Gelato & Creperie (Deck 7); a la carte
**Through a linkup with Italian chocolatier Venchi, MSC offers two outposts for anyone with a sweet tooth. The chocolate bar indoors on Deck 6 features gelato, specialty coffee drinks, milkshakes, sweet alcoholic drinks, Italian hot chocolate and chocolate by the pound. The gelateria and creperie, found outdoors on Deck 7, serves crepes, milkshakes, waffles and ice cream.
