MSC Seashore Expert Review

Line: MSC Cruises

Built: May 2021

Passenger Capacity: 5,331

Class: Seaside EVO

Routes: 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean sailings from Miami

Best For: Families, couples, and solo travelers. Those looking for a multi-cultural European-type cruise experience. 

Not For: Travelers looking for an intimate cruise experience. 

Highlights: 

• More than three acres of outdoor space for guests to enjoy 
• Aft Infinity Pool and Bridge of Sighs walkway
• 11 dining venues and 19 bars/lounges
• 25,000 sq. ft. MSC Aurea Spa 
• Pirates Cove Aquapark, F1 and Rafting VR simulators, immersive XD simulator entertainment venues

Overview 

MSC Seashore is the first ship in the line’s Seaside EVO class. She is an evolution of her sister vessels, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview with 65% of the public spaces being redesigned. The ship is one of the most environmentally-friendly ships at sea and features ‘Safe Air’, a new air filtration technology that uses UV-C lamps to eliminate viruses and bacteria. 

At approximately 1,112 feet  MSC Seashore is the longest ship in the fleet, which allows for more space for restaurants, entertainment, and activity venues. For travelers looking for a small, intimate cruise experience you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed by the sheer size of this ship and the number of things to do. 

As with most MSC ships, you will find much of the design and onboard amenities have a European flare. MSC Seashore was built for travel in warmer climates (specifically the Caribbean), and because of this was designed with more outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy the weather and views outside. 

Design

MSC Seashore was designed as an homage to New York City, with a number of its venues paying tribute to famed locales of the Big Apple. Times Square, one of the central public areas, features the ship’s casino and shopping arcade. This space features a 9.5-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty and a 27.5 foot LED light display that projects the skyline of NYC. Restaurant venues across the ship are named after Manhattan hot spots like Tribeca and Central Park. 

Much of the ship’s interior decor features bold colors, flashing lights, and plenty of glitz. The main Atrium offers a stunning light display complemented by numerous DJs and musicians who frequently play in the area. 

From the exterior, MSC Seashore offers a different story. The vessel features sleek lines reminiscent of the oceanfront condos found in Miami’s South Beach. To connect guests to the ocean around them, MSC Seashore features infinity glass panels in many of its open outdoor spaces to give the illusion of guests being one with the sea. This design is prominently featured at the Infinity Aft Pool, the Bridge of Sighs walkway 16 floors above sea level, and a glass-floored Infinity Bridge walkway suspended from the ship over the water.  

Activities

It’s hard to find yourself bored on MSC Seashore with the large volume of activities offered on the ship. To guests that are new to cruise, it may feel a little overwhelming with the number of things to take advantage of, especially if you are on a shorter sailing. 

Some of the ship’s greatest highlights are the four onboard pools, one featuring a retractable sunroof. Other outdoor amenities include numerous whirlpools, a sports court, as well as several fun waterslides. The Pirate’s Cove Aquapark is perfect for families, featuring water thrills, ropes course, adventure trails, and a fun pirate ship theme. 

Just want to sit relax? Guests will find lounge chairs dotting almost every square corner of the exterior public spaces, which are perfect for sunning by the sea.  

Inside, featured amenities include a luxury shopping arcade, art gallery, 24-7 pool and game room, an arcade, and a 12,227 sq ft casino. The Hall of Games area features a variety of high-tech immersive activities including an F1 simulator, a VR river rafting experience, and an immersive XD theatre. 

The Aurea Spa offers a wide range of treatment options and spaces to ‘zen-out’. Decorated with natural stones and muted colors, guests can pamper themselves with Balinese massages and body treatments. The Thermal Area offers several whirlpools, steam rooms (including a ‘dark’ steam room), Himalayan salt room, plunge pools, and even a ‘Snow Room’ cooling experience. Adjacent to the Spa, is a Beauty Salon, Hair Salon, and MEDI Spa Center. The MSC Gym features state-of-the-art equipment by TechnoGym and fantastic ocean views. 

Entertainment

MSC Seashore offers four new full-scale productions in its Madison Theatre, with three shows each evening. The Le Cabaret Rouge Theatre, inspired by a French lounge of the 1920s, features a brand new live music performance complete with dancers and acrobats.  

Other featured activities include day and night musical performances all around the ship, movies, games, and competitions, and a variety of indoor and outdoor activities for all ages.  

Dining 

An eclectic mix of specialty restaurants can be found on the MSC Seashore. - Photo by Cruiseline.com

MSC Seashore offers four main dining rooms, five specialty restaurants, and 18 bars/lounges. MSC Seashore has included a variety of indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a new option for guests. The Chef’s Court on the 8th Floor offers specialty restaurants HOLA! Tacos and Tequila, Ocean Cay seafood restaurant, Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, Kaito Teppanyaki, and Sushi Bar, and the Sports Grill. 

For a more relaxed experience, Marketplace Buffett offers a revolving selection of complimentary food choices from early morning to late night. There is a limited selection of quick grab-and-go options, so expect more of a seated experience when looking to grab a bite to eat. 

Food served in the Main Dining rooms, was in our experience, was average to above average, however the service was very attentive. The Market Place buffet offers an eclectic variety of options for all meals, with some standout dishes. All buffet items were plated and served by an MSC Cruises crew member, with the lines moving at a steady pace keeping guests on the move.

Cabins

MSC Seashore offers 2,268 total cabins and suites, with 21 different types of categories. The vessel’s ‘ship within a ship’ area, MSC Yacht Club, features luxurious suites, a private pool, restaurant, bar, 24-hour service, and a multitude of premium amenities. 

One of the suites in the MSC Yacht Club area. - Photo by MSC Cruises

Several stateroom categories include different amenities depending on the category and experience level booked by the guests. Passengers who choose the Bella experience receive fewer amenities than guests which Fantastica, Wellness, or Aurea experiences. 

Cabin categories include: Interior Rooms, Deluxe Interior Rooms, Premium Interior Rooms, Deluxe Ocean View Rooms, Deluxe Balcony Rooms, Balcony Aurea, Junior Suites, Premium Suite Aurea Deck, Grand Suites, Two-Bedroom Grand Suites, Yacht Club Interior Suites, Yacht Club Deluxe Suites, Yacht Club Royal Suites, and the Yacht Club Owner’s Suite. 

Coveted rooms include the Aft Suites (50 cabins with terraces and extended balconies) as well as 32 select suites which feature a private balcony with a whirlpool. 

We stayed in a Deluxe Balcony Room on the 12th floor. This room featured a King-sized bed, with a sitting area and a private balcony. Overall, we found the room to be of average size for a cabin of this type, but one unique feature that struck out was the number of storage spaces that had been included all over the room. The closet was organized with an area for half hanging clothes and half shelving for folded items. A mid-sized suitcase fit at the base of the hanging clothes area, although it was a bit of a tight squeeze. There is room to store suitcases and bags under the bed so they are out of the way. There was an average number of electrical outlets in the room, with a strip of outlets over the desk area as well as USB ports on each side of the bed. 

The bathroom was slightly on the smaller side with not much room to move about in. The shower was of average size, with included shampoo and soap dispensers. Several washcloths and three towels are provided each day. 

Our cabin steward was friendly and introduced himself right away as we boarded the ship! 

Kids & Teens 

The Juniors Club features a space exploration theme. - Photo by MSC Cruises 

MSC Seashore’s children’s programming accommodates all guests ages 0 - 17. Kids and teens clubs are included in the cost of the cruise fare. MSC Seashore, boasts its largest-ever kid’s club (7,656 sq. ft.), complete with new activities and a Space travel theme. All children are divided into one of five groups based on age: Baby Club (0-3), Mini Club (3-6), Junior Club (7-11), Young Club (12-14), and Teen Club (15-17). 

With MSC’s wide base of European cruisers, parents rave about the kid’s programming onboard which gives the opportunity for children from around the world to come together and make friends. 

At this time due to COVID-19 restrictions, MSC Babycare (for ages 0-3) is currently unavailable. 

Want to sail on MSC Seashore? Explore All Cruises