Yacht Club is the Only Way to Go on this Humongous Ship

Item: MSC Seaside
Rating: 4
Author: sasha1950

MSC Seaside Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

sasha1950

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 45

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Bahamas (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 31, 2019

Ship: MSC Seaside

Cabin type: Suite

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

The only way to do this ship is with the Yacht Club (prices are very affordable in off season). Otherwise, it is much to crowded and chaotic. We went down to the $10 jewelry/accessories event and could not even get close to it. It was a literal ZOO. I don't know why these ships have to get bigger and bigger, and then they have to provide a more expensive option such as Yacht Club for those of us who don't want such a large crowded nuthouse. I will NEVER sail on a large ship like this without a "Yacht Club" arrangement. I would have hated it!

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Yacht Club: Restaurant was good sometimes; meat (especially the chicken) and fish (especially the halibut) served very dry at times and had to be sent back. A bit of difficulty as waiters did not understand English. YC Pool Grille Buffet with lobster tails was a highlight! The Buffet on 8 was horrible; so overcrowded and food not very good.

Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar and Venchi 1878 Gelato & Creperie

5 out of 5

Wonderful - chocolate and coffee martinis were fabulous!!

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

The only activities we enjoyed on the ship were the Chocolate Martinis!! Everything else is way too crowded.

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Totally geared to Europeans - "cirque de soleil" type shows with much repetition. Very disappointed. Also, the in-room TV was horrible - only CNN for news, shows were very old crime/comedy shows, with interminably long Spanish commercials in between. In-room movies were very old. Again geared to Europeans.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Our Butlers Primus and Sheena were the best! They could not do enough for us. They really made the cruise special for us.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Cabin 16020 - beautiful suite, always kept clean and neat. The only thing we might suggest is that when passengers disembark, the rooms should be wiped down with sterilizing cloths. Both my husband and I got sick with bronchitis on this ship and pity whoever had to inhabit our space on the next cruise!