MSC Seaside

The 2017-built MSC Seaside cruise ship is the first SEASIDE-Class MSC vessel - with sistership MSC Seaview (2018 June). Seaside is also fleet's 14th liner, and the 2nd MSC newbuild entering service in 2017 - following MSC Meraviglia (inaugurated in June).

The vessel (IMO number 9745366) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 248392000) and registered in Valletta.

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. It was established in 1960. Today, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - the world's 2nd largest containership company. MSC Crociere is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company.

By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC is ranked the world's 3rd largest cruise shipowner - following only Carnival Corporation and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group.

In 2015, MSC ordered four new ships from STX France and Fincantieri Italy, with an option for three more. The first two liners were delivered in 2017 - Meraviglia (May) and Seaside (November).Seaview was delivered in June 2018. The 5300-passenger Seaside-Class ship design was developed for year-round operations in warm climates. It features many and large-sized outdoor areas, ropes course, 5-slide water park, 3 glass-floored catwalks, wraparound Promenade Deck (at sea level) lined up with shops, bars and restaurants (indoor-outdoor seating), glass-walled (sea view) elevators. Among vessel's technological features are Advanced Water Treatment and garbage treatment plants, new-generation scrubbers, optimized hull, antifouling paints, LED lighting throughout, advanced heat recovery technology. The vessel is fully compliant with IMO's "Safe Return to Port" requirement (how long the cruise ship should remain safe for evacuation).

MSC Seaside is part of the "smart" ships' series to be built by MSC, part of line's EUR 9 billion, 10-year investment plan, including the creation of up to 11 new ships, due to come into service 2017-2026.

MSC Seaside is MSC fleet's second ship (after Meraviglia) fitted with new technologies specifically designed to improve the onboard digital experience for passengers. The company entered a partnership with Samsung to support NFC (near-field communication) technology onboard, enabling passengers to use smartphones, cruise cards or bracelets to geolocate themselves or their kids, to access their stateroom or make onboard payments. Interactive screens are placed throughout the ship to enable passengers to make real-time bookings and reservations. Beacon technology is also used, sending location-based, customized notifications to users' phones as they move around the ship. Beacons are triggered whenever a connected device moves into their vicinity.

Decks and Cabins

MSC Seaside staterooms (2066 total) are in 25 categories and include 1610 Outside and 454 Inside. The largest aboard MSC Seaside is the Yacht Club Royal Suite (670 ft2 / 62 m2 plus 355 ft2 / 33 m2 terrace with an outdoor whirlpool hot tub). The ship has 54 wheelchair-accessible cabins, 14 aft-corner suites, suites with outdoor Jacuzzis, terraced balcony staterooms (overlooking the Promenade) and cluster cabins (designed for families with children). About 73% of all staterooms are with private step-out balconies. Most cabin balconies are sized 45-95 ft2 (4-9 m2).

The boat has 19 decks, of which 16 are passenger-accessible and 10 with cabins.

MSC Seaside decks are named after famous resort beaches.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

New and creative dining options are available onboard MSC Seaside. Expect the Fusion Restaurant with specialty dining and VIP Fine Dining Restaurant. The 9 onboard eateries feature cuisines from all around the world including the Pan-Asian restaurant via the partnership with acclaimed chef, Roy Yamaguchi, world-class international steak house and luxury seafood restaurant with Chef's Table.

Follows the complete list of MSC Seaside restaurants and food bars.

• Main restaurants (dining rooms) offer traditional Italian cuisine and wines. Dining rooms are open for Breakfast (7-9:30 am), Lunch (12-noon - 2 pm_ and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings (7 pm and 9:30 pm) with a
• Seashore Restaurant (922-seat Aft Main Dining Room, size 1670 m2) serves breakfast, lunch (sea days only) and dinner, three fixed seatings, My Choice Dining (between 5:30-9:30 pm). Tables as capacity from 2 to 10 seats.
• Ipanema Restaurant (766-seat Aft Main Dining Room, size 1475 m2, Deck 6) serves dinner only (three fixed time seatings). Tables as capacity from 2 to 10 seats.
• Marketplace Buffet Restaurant (1102-seat buffet restaurant, size 2071 m2, Deck 8) with outdoor Promenade Deck seating (tables and chairs). Marketplace's multiple food stations include carvery, pizzeria (including made-to-order pies), fast-food (panini sandwiches, wraps, burgers, hot dogs), salad bar, fruits, vegan, bread and pasta (fresh-baked on the ship), beverage bar. Marketplace Buffet is open between 6.30 am - 2 am. The restaurant is a great choice for late-night pizzas and afternoon snacks. Seaside cruise ship's other buffet restaurant is on Deck 16 (Biscayne Bay Restaurant).
• Bistrot la Boheme (131-seat food lounge, size 670 m2, Deck 8) operates with a fixed menu charge (EUR 23) or a la carte priced menu: Dining tables are arranged around the Atrium.
• Ocean Cay by Ramon Freixa (32-seat seafood specialty restaurant, size 130 m2, Deck 9) is at fixed charge pp (EUR 49, pre-set menu) or with ordering from an a la carte priced menu.
• Asian Market Kitchen by Roy Yamaguchi includes Pan Asian Restaurant by Roy Yamaguchi (30-seat, size 100 m2, Deck 9), Sushi Food Bar by Roy Yamaguchi (40-seat, size 170 m2, with outdoor seating), Teppanyaki Restaurant by Roy Yamaguchi (32-seat, size 100 m2, dinner-only, with live cooking stations)
• Butcher's Cut (72-seat steakhouse restaurant, size 225 m2, with exclusive Chef's Table, Deck 9) is at fixed charge pp (EUR 49, pre-set menu) or with ordering from an a la carte priced menu. The steakhouse offers brunch (sea days only) with a la carte menu (omelets, carnitas, sandwiches, pancakes, surf-and-turf, desserts, premium wines. Butcher's Cut is open for lunch and dinner.
• Biscayne Bay Restaurant and Buffet (430-seat buffet restaurant for families and kids, size 1050 m2, Deck 9) is the Seaside ship's second buffet restaurant (the other is Marketplace Buffet on Deck 8). Biscayne Bay Buffet is open between 8-10 pm. Here are also offered themed food dinners. Biscayne Bay has dedicated food counters with children's meals, Pizzeria (pizza by the slice, made-to-order pies), fast-food stations (panini sandwiches, wraps, burgers, hot dogs), fresh-baked bread station, salad bar, fruits bar, vegan food station.
• MSC YACHT CLUB Restaurant (128-seat, size 630 m2, Deck 18) is part of Top Sail Lounge (upper level) and serves complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner with no fixed dining times. A different menu is offered every day, reflecting the current cruise itinerary/region of the ship. Top Sail Lounge and its Sundeck and Restaurant are part of an exclusive complex for MSC Yacht Club cabin passengers only.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MSC Seaside is specifically designed for warm climates. The concept behind MSC Cruises Seaside ship is to "bring the sea closer to passengers. The beach-condo-inspired concept focuses on the outdoor space of suites and cabins, many al fresco eating options (20 bars), outdoor spa and fitness facilities, two wellness cabins with advanced Kinesis Technogym fitness equipment and private MSC Yacht Club, with a restaurant, lounge and solarium.

Signature activity areas include Adventure Trail outdoor playground (rope courses, bridges, crawl-through slides) and Zip-Line (length 130 m / 430 ft). The aqua park has 5x waterslides, an interactive Slideboarding tube (combining video games, music, lights, 112-m water slide), Aquatube (innertube slide), 2x high-speed racing slides and 1x family flume-type slide. The waterpark also has 2x separate kids' playgrounds (AquaPlay and AquaSpray).

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service and Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. Follows the complete list of MSC Seaside lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Medical Center (16-seat Infirmary, size 251 m2 / 2701 ft2, Deck 4) is the ship’s hospital operated by resident doctors/physicians and nurses on 24-hour duty. Payments are made by the boarding pass (treatments equivalent to a private doctor’s visit). General health insurance policies do not apply, so buying cruise health insurance is recommended.
• Photo Shop, Art Gallery (16-seat, size 200 m2, Deck 5)
• Emotions-Immersive Gallery (50-seat photo gallery, size 218 m2, Deck 5)
• Atrium Lobby Lounge with MSC Future Cruise (19-seat Cruise Consultant Office, size 126 m2), Reception (24-hour Guest Services Desk, 32-seat, size 270 m2), Atrium Bar (Seaside Bar, 77-seat coffee/cocktail bar, size 508 m2, Deck 5)
• Metropolitan Theatre (Deck 6 / 7) is the ship's main show lounge (capacity 946 seats, size 1313 m2, stage/dance floor surface 190 m2) hosting live classical concerts, operas and all seven Broadway-style evening show productions (on a rotating basis, 4 are performed nightly). Each show includes 5 singers, 15 dancers, 14 variety artists. The shows are named "My Life in Music’ (live performed popular movie soundtracks), ‘The Dream’ (dance show), "The Wizard" (magician show), "Peter Punk" (Peter Pan themed).
• Retail Shopping Area (duty-free shopping arcade with retail shops and brand-name boutiques, Deck 6), including Fine Watches and Jewellery Shop (size 67 m2), Boutique Accessories (fine bags, fashion accessories, size 64 m2), Boutique Monobrand (fashion shop for men-women-kids, size 64 m2), Perfumes and Cosmetics Shop (size 104 m2), Mini Mall (duty-free shop for tobaccos-liquors-snacks-beverages-toys, size 110 m2)
• Piazza Grande (square-type area with live music, pastry and ice cream bar, size 630 m2, Deck 6)
• Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar (93-seat chocolate factory and coffee bar with an open kitchen by Venchi, size 520 m2)
• Business Centre (21-seat Meeting Room, size 47 m2, Deck 6)
• Shine Bar (74-seat pre-dinner cocktail bar, size 600 m2, Deck 6)
• MSC Excursions Office (74-seat, size 400 m2, Deck 6)
• Promenade Atrium Lounge (served by its own Bar, Deck 6)
• Miami Casino (237-seat gaming lounge, size 1150 m2, Deck 7) served by Casino Bar (35-seat, size 120 m2)
• Galleria Shopping Area, including Watches and Sunglasses Shop (size 60 m2, Deck 7)
• Champagne Bar (94-seat bar, cold food, size 670 m2, Deck 7)
• Garage Club & Bar (35-seat fast food bar, disco nightclub, size 181 m2, Deck 7) features a central dance floor, jukebox, vintage gas pump, high tables with chairs, classic American car (DJ booth), nightly transforms into disco club.
• Interactive XD Cinema (8-seat Interactive XD Dark Ride Cinema 5D, size 64 m2, Deck 7)
• F1 Simulator (Formula 1 virtual car driving simulator, Deck 7)
• Arcade Games (virtual gaming lounge with arcade machines, size 73 m2, Deck 7)
• Bowling (two full-size bowling alleys, size 100 m2, Deck 7)
• Entertainment Area (live band music and show performances, Deck 7)
• Haven Lounge & Bar (170-seat, size 820 m2, stage for live music performances, dance floor surface 63 m2, Deck 7) hosts daily dance classes, aerobics sessions, trivia games, bingo, shopping promos, foosball and ping pong tournaments.
• Library & Billiard Room (21-seat library lounge with pool table, size 90 m2, Deck 7)
• Venchi 1878 Gelato and Creperie (66-seat ice cream bar and creperie by Venchi, Deck 7)
• South Beach Pool (168-seat pool deck, size 1045 m2, Deck 7) with South Beach Swimming Pool (adults-only) and served by South Beach Bar (75-seat outdoor poolside bar)
• Waterfront Boardwalk is an outdoor Promenade Deck (Deck 8) with seating (for bars and lounges). Part of the open-air Promenade Deck are two catwalks (panoramic glass-bottomed platforms with glass railings). Each of them is 130-ft / 40-m long and extends beyond the ship’s edge (location midship - portside and starboard).
• MSC AUREA SPA (ship's wellness complex on Deck 8) is sized 2410 m2 (spa and sports facilities). Priority lift access is provided to MSC Aurea Spa cabin passengers. Wellness facilities include Spa Wellness Area (with Swimming Pool), Thalasso Area (with Thalassotherapy Pool), Thalasso Room (body treatments), Solarium (sundeck area), Yoga Studio, Nail Salon, Massages and Treatments Rooms, Medi SPA (botox, filler, anti-aging facials and body treatments), Beauty Parlor (makeup-waxing-nail services), Barber Shop (men's wellness and male grooming services and treatments), Jean Louis David Hair Salon (hairdresser / cutting-coloring-styling, hair treatments), Spa Reception (Waiting Area), Doctor, Fitness Centre (size 870 m2, MSC Gym Powered by Technogym) with External Gym Area, SPA Gym and Shop (retail shopping for haircare-skincare-beauty products from premium brands, Armani sportswear), Thermal Area (dark/bright sensory steam bath), Finnish Sauna Room, Emotional Showers, Kneipp Therapy Room, Salt Room, Snow Room, Relax Room (with heated benches).
• The Piazza is an indoor square with bars and shops (Deck 8), including Fashion Jewellery Shop (brand jewelry and watches, size 55 m2), MSC Logo Shop (MSC Cruises logoed merchandise, size 67 m2), The Gallery (Jewellery Boutique, size 26 m2).
• Broadcasting Room (4-seat TV recording room, size 14 m2, Deck 8)
• Sports Bar (160-seat, size 425 m2, Deck 8) serves drinks and finger food has bar stools and large HDTVs (live-streaming sporting events).
• Seaside Lounge (97-seat, size 301 m2, Deck 8) and Seaside Bar (77-seat, size 508 m2) serve premium coffee, gourmet pastries, signature cocktails. The lounge has a stage (for live music performances), dance floor (surface 16 m2), comfortable seating (plush sofas and armchairs with low tables). In the evenings the bar lounge transforms into a jazz club. It also can be privately booked for exclusive events. The bar accesses the promenaded Deck (outdoor seating, smoking allowed area).
• MSC Excursions Point (size 55 m2, for shore excursions / tours booking and information, Deck 8)
• Infinity Bridge (Deck 8)
• Top Sail Lounge (152-seat, size 377 m2, Deck 9 / 10) is a 2-deck high indoor bar lounge, restaurant (on upper level) and an outdoor sundeck area with bow views. Top Sail Lounge is an exclusive complex for MSC Yacht Club cabin passengers only. The food and beverages are concierge-served and complimentary
• L'Enoteca (Wine and Cocktails Bar, 56-seat, size 211 m2, Deck 9) has a separate area for wine tastings.
• The aft-located Miami Beach Pool Deck (2400 m2, Deck 9) has a large swimming pool (for all ages), raised stage for live performances (crew shows, sea day deck parties, live music), large LED screen (outdoor movies and music videos daily), three Jacuzzies (spa pools / whirlpool hot tubs), Miami Beach Bar (156-seat, poolside outdoor, serves beverages - frozens, beers, wines), Miami Beach Sun Deck (aft sunbathing area with loungers and deckchairs), Panoramic Lift (aft), Bridge of Sighs (glass-bottomed viewing platform).
• The "Bridge of Sighs" (Deck 9, aft) is a panoramic catwalk (glass-floored walking platform, with glass railings) for stunning stern ship views of the ocean.
• Magrodome Area with Jungle Pool (retractable glass-roof covered pool deck, size 950 m2, Deck 18), Jungle Bar (193-seat indoor pool bar), Jungle Pool Lounge (193-seat, size 1500 m2) has deckchairs and table games (foosball, Ping-Pong). Nearby is the Zipline's entrance.
• Children's facilities on Deck 18 include Forest Aquaventure Park (83-seat, size 970 m2), Teen Club (size 28 m2), Young Club (size 56 m2), Junior Club LEGO (size 70 m2), Mini Club LEGO (size 100 m2), Baby Club CHICCO (size 80 m2), Doremi Land, Doremi Studio (100-seat, size 130 m2), Reception (for the kids' facilities).
• Forest Aquaventure Park is the ship's water playground with a wading pool, 4x waterslides (2x racing, 1x slideboarding, 1x standard), water cannons, fountains, playground climbers.
• Doremi Studio is a theatre-like (TV studio) with a big LED screen and tiered seating, family time games, dance floor, interactive gaming.
• Baby Club CHICCO is a nursery (babysitting facility via partnership with CHICCO / Italian babywear company). It is open for toddlers from 6 to 36 months old and offers a lot of free baby products (diapers, wipes, bottles, Infant formula, selection of strollers and cots). The nursery has a large TV, colored books and soft play area with age-appropriate toys, a separate room with cots, bathroom. Supervised activities include Mini Olympic games, cooking class, Baby Time (allows parents to play with their kids), Baby Care (allows parents to leave their children / 1-year-old and older for ~90 min in the morning-afternoon-evening). Parents must do the feeding, but the staff change nappies. Nursery's opening hours are between 9 am - 1 pm, 3-6 pm and 8-11:00 pm.
• Mini Club LEGO is a playroom (for 3-6-year-olds) with Lego and Duplo bricks, cinema, foosball, kids books, crayons, pens, age-appropriate toys, kids programming with supervised activities (sports, arts-crafts, treasure hunts, musical chairs, games, dressing up, cooking in the TV Studio).
• Junior Club LEGO is a playroom (for 7-11-year-olds) with a brick pit, age-appropriate toys and games, cinema, foosball, supervised activities (games, sports, arts-crafts), educational activities. The two rooms are connected and when opened up create a large playground.
• Young Club is for tweens (12-14-year-olds) and operates on a different basis from the younger kids' clubs. Programming is offered all day on sea days and only in the afternoon on port days. Facilities include table tennis, foosball, PS4, some double seats in which kids can lounge back to play video games from a TV placed in the ceiling, as well as traditional board games. The most innovative technology asset is a multi-media table allowing kids to post messages and pictures which then get screened on the club's walls. Programming includes generation games, lip sync battles, sports tournaments in the Sportplex. There is a EUR 10 per kid per hour charge for use of the club between 11 pm - 2 am (otherwise access is free).
• Teen Club is for children 15-17-year-old and has dance floor, plenty of chairs, large TVs, beanbags, video games (PS4, VR, Nintendo). The programming includes virtual gaming, sports and dancing competitions including ping pong and mini-golf.
• The fore-located MSC Yacht Club Open Area (112-seats, size 1600 m2, Deck 19) is an exclusive sundeck with Swimming Pool (One Pool / MSC Yacht Club Pool), Pool Bar, 2 Solariums each with a large Jacuzzi (spa pool), cabanas (for rental), sunbathing areas with padded loungers and deckchairs. Pool towels are complimentary and provided in the cabins.
• On deck 19 is also the ship's Sports Court - aft-located multisports court (for basketball-volleyball-tennis) and 2 separate zip lines, each 120 m/393 ft in length. Midship is the Magrodome - retractable roof cover over deck 18's midship pool deck.
• Miramar Bar (78-seat, with panoramic sea view, Deck 19).

Itineraries

Following MSC Seaside itinerary program started with roundtrips to Caribbean ports and homeporting in Miami Florida USA (starting December 2017). Itineraries included as destinations Bahamas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Jamaica.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, Seaside was relocated from the Caribbean to Europe for 7-day Mediterranean roundtrips from homeports Civitavecchia-Rome, Genoa, Marseille, Siracusa (Sicily). For winter 2021-2022 (November-March) Seaside was deployed in South America/Brazil (with homeporting in Santos-Sao Paulo.

In winter 2022-2023 (December-April) Seaside operated 7-day and 14-day (B2B) Caribbean voyages leaving out of homeports Fort-de-France (Martinique) and Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe).

In summer 2023 (April-November) the liner was deployed in the Caribbean and homeported in Port Canaveral/Orlando Florida. The season was based on short breaks (3- and 4-night roundtrips visiting MSC Ocean Cay Bahamas) and 7-night voyages to Mexico (Cozumel and Costa Maya), Belize, and Ocean Cay.

For MSC Seaside's Caribbean 2022-2023 season (December thru April), the company introduced fly-cruise packages for Brazilians inclusive of roundtrip chartered flights (Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport to Martinique Aime Cesaire Airport and back to Sao Paulo) and all land transfers (airport-cruise port-airport).

MSC Seaside's Brazil-to-Caribbean fly-cruises for winter season 2023-2024 were again based on charter flights, homeporting in Martinique and 3x different (7-day) itineraries:

• Itinerary 1 visits Point-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Castries (St Lucia), Kingstown (St Vincent), Bridgetown (Barbados) and St George (Grenada).
• Itinerary 2 visits Point-a-Pitre, Rouseau (Dominica), St John’s (Antigua), Basseterre (St Kitts) and Philipsburg (St Maarten).
• Itinerary 3 visits Point-a-Pitre, Castries, Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), Bridgetown, and St George.