VIDEO: Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida) welcomes cruise ship MSC Seaside for inaugural voyage

   April 29, 2023 ,   Cruise Industry

Port Canaveral’s newest homeported cruise liner arrived on April 27th to start 3- and 4-night roundtrip Bahamian itineraries (Nassau) as well as 7-night voyages visiting Mexico's Cozumel and Costa Maya and Belize City. All itineraries visit MSC's private island Ocean Cay Bahamas.

In a maritime ceremony, Kevin Markey (Canaveral Port Authority's Chairman) and Port officials presented the Master of MSC Seaside - Captain Michele Di Mauro, with a plaque commemorating the ship’s first visit to the Port.

MSC Cruises commenced year-round homeporting in Port Canaveral back in 2021 with MSC Divina.

Recognizing the convenience of easy access for tourists and modern terminals that make it an excellent homeport, the company added MSC Meraviglia (now homeported in NYC New York) returning to Port Canaveral on a weekly basis for provisioning calls.

Ruben A. Rodriguez (MSC USA's President) said they had built MSC Seaside "specifically for Caribbean cruising, with an incredible amount of outdoor space and a sweeping waterfront promenade that allows guests to truly connect with the sea during their time on board.”

“It’s a privilege for MSC Cruises to play a role in Port Canaveral’s growth with the deployment of yet another large and modern ship in our U.S. fleet. MSC Seaside’s beautiful amenities go hand in hand with our international heritage and the natural beauty and sustainability of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our private destination in The Bahamas, to represent our unique vision for Caribbean cruising. We’re thrilled to share that experience with guests sailing from Port Canaveral.”