Luxury Cruise Holidays | Caribbean Sea Cruises | MSC Cruises

Ship Reviews

I read many reviews of the MSC Seaside and did a LOT of research on it trying to prepare myself for what to expect. There were many reviews that I found to be incorrect. Here are my findings. 1. Ship Design: This was our first trip on MSC. We've been on Royal Carib, Celebrity and others. If you've cruised the newest ships, they'll tend to have big open areas as on Wonder of the Seas, etc. The Seaside is more of a closed-in experience. That design created a ton of deck space, so for example, getting an lounge chair was never an issue. Because it's more closed-in, the first couple of days resulted in very crowded and a bit chaotic of a time when going to dining locations as people needed to address their seatings preference. We also found that other than that, crowding was not an issue. People were fairly spread out. The rooms are beautiful, but the immediate impact to me was that the ceilings are low and while they're nice to look at, the other ships I've mentioned (IMO) were much more preferred. Elevators: Not sure WHY this can be an issue, but the elevators are efficient, modern and set up so you before you even enter an elevator, you indicate the floor you want, the system tells you which do to expect to enter and approx how long it will take to arrive. You do nothing else but enter and exit to your location. That's about as easy as it gets and we did not experience any negatives unless waiting more than 20 seconds sets your hair on fire. GYM: I had hoped to work out for the 2 weeks but found the gym overcrowded and not worth standing around waiting on equipment to come available. Other than that, the gym is nice, showers, steam room, hot tub very good. I tried going in early afternoon too, but could not really find a time where I could walk in and use the equipment w/o waiting. FOOD: I read too many negatives about the food. Let me say this: I was much more disappointed in the food on RCL and Celebrity than MSC. People said the breakfast selections never changed. Not true. There was plenty of rotation, and unfortunately my favorite is LOX and it was nowhere to be seen. However, after a week, we found a sign that said: Feel free to request LOX. Once you did, you had all you needed. Additionally, new items were popping up each day along with staples like scrambled eggs, etc. There IS an omelet station, so you can request your eggs how you'd like them. If you like crispy bacon, good luck with that! It's nearly impossible to find! Apparently, MSC likes the bacon to be under-cooked and rubbery. Sausages and other sides to breakfast were very good, including pork and turkey sausage, potatoes, etc. My few negatives about breakfast is that there is practically no-one available to bring coffee/tea, and that dirty plates removal doesn't typically happen until you leave, which means you're eating with lots of empty/dirty dishes around you. Very unusual compared to other lines. Lunch/Dinner at the buffet were unexpected surprises. Lots of varied dishes which also changed on a daily basis. Very good ethnic dishes, too. I found some very good pastas, and also thought that the Asian food was very good. Carving station was also good but not as consistent. One day I had excellent beef, the next time I tried it, it was nearly inedible. PS: I had that same experience in the Dining Room with the veal. It was the only meal I could not finish because it was inedible (chewy/nervy/grit). Dinners with the Premium 4 Restaurant program was just OK. I would NOT do it again. IMO, you get lured into purchasing it, but when you actually are in the restaurant, almost everything that you really expected to be served, was an additional charge. Poor marketing and I felt scammed after buying it. We purchased off the main menu in 3 of the 4 'specialty' restaurants to have the experience we expected. If you're set on going for Sushi or Steak, just go the restaurant and purchase from the menu w/o buying the whole package. IMO the Butcher Block and Sushi offerings were best. If you don't like sushi, stay with the Asian side of the Sushi restaurant. It was also good. Hibachi is hibachi, nothing special there, but the service. Huge Positive for the Food: MSC has some of the BEST bakers I've ever come across. Their breads/desserts are a 10/10. The pizza on-board is NOT going be as good as what you get back home, but for us it was the BEST CRUISE PIZZA we came across. The crust of the pizza was very good along with the 3 or 4 different choices. Entertainment: THIS is where you notice a downside to taking MSC. While the entertainment was 'entertaining', it is NOWHERE near as good as what is offered on RCL, Princess or Celebrity. The shows are 40 mins, the theatre is small(er) and the production cost-cutting is very noticeable. If you haven't been on those other cruise lines, then the shows on MSC will be fine. Pools: The pools are interesting in that they are all over 6feet 3 inches deep. I'm 6ft tall and could not touch bottom. This kept kids out of the pools. If you're wondering where kids went, they had a kids pool, but it was more of a splash pool for them. It bit weird! The Hot Tubs were generally not over-crowded, and maybe because this was a trans-Atlantic cruise, there were never any kids in them. The ship did have water slides that I didn't try but they were getting attention from the younger crowd. The ship also had zip lines overhead, but in the 2 weeks we were on-board, I may have seen 3 or 4 people actually use it. Likely an added cost stopped most from the experience. Service: Service on the ship is top-notch. The biggest negative is that many have an issue with the English-language but they try. Restaurant service is excellent, cabin stewards work hard and the bartenders on the ship are excellent. We had a bartender in the Haven room who goes by Devo. Excellent and hard working young man. The team in Haven did a great job and we were there every night. In the main bar on the 5th floor, you have Benji and team, who also excelled at their respective service. No complaints at all. Outdoors on the back deck is a smoking area which had a duo who played R&N, Reggae and they were excellent. The smoke was dissipated by the wind so it wasn't too bad to sit/watch if you're a non-smoker. Most of the performers at these locations were great. The one band in the Haven left a lot to be desired, though. Embarkation/Disembarkation: One of the best entering/leaving experiences we've ever had. Totally painless. Air Conditioning: Lots of complaints about lack of air conditioning. We did not experience this, except for a couple of times the first couple of days where people were either gathered to close (outside the restaurants the first couple of days) or the first day when the ship's areas were cooling down until they reached preferred temps. Our room A/C worked fine and I actually had to tone it down by turning up the temp. ROOM: We had a balcony. Beds were made 2x per day! Very clean. Nice room, but if you're in the 6ft / 200lb range, don't drop anything in the shower. You won't be able to pick it up w/o popping open the door or throwing out your back! It's one of the smallest showers I've ever been in! Storage in the room is just ok. We asked for more hangers/towels/soap and it was not a problem Luggage stores under the bed, which is great. Balcony is a nice size the the chairs they've selected are some of the most uncomfortable I've tried. We softened them up with towels. If you're bringing magnetic hooks, hang them from the ceiling because they slide down the walls. PS: And for whatever reason, dirty cups/glasses would not be removed from the room until we put them outside the door. Activities: Plenty of activities for all ages Bingo was weird with just 2 games. Crafts were super-simple, a little too simple but killed time. Karaoke was fun but the room was very crowded with seats mostly unavailable. There was also some karaoke in the Haven room where you are backed by the live band. Cool! Gratuities: Tipping is added to your bill but you can go to Customer Service to remove it and give yourself the opportunity to tip as you please. Massages/SPA: Our group of 8 had massages and felt they were very good. I had the haircut/shave/facial/scalp massage/eye treatment that I purchased for $78 before the cruise and it lasted nearly 2 hours and was excellent. Buy these services before your cruise when they are discounted. Some of these were double the price when purchased on board. On Board Shopping: Was just ok and just like every single other ship, if you're dropping a significant amount on anything, research the prices off the ship. You'll do better to wait. That goes for the EYE/IRIS Picture service. They'll gouge you on the ship, when they had the same exact thing available in Lisbon for much less, saving hundreds of dollars. Casino: A couple of us won decent money at the Casino and had a good time, there. Would be nice to have lower cost gambling tables, but it wasn't a very large casino, but had plenty of slots. it was never over-crowded. Biggest Positive: For us it was price. Value: For this cruise, which visited 3 islands and then crossed the Atlantic, the cost was about $100 per day per person w/o the drink package, and included the balcony room! We got off in Lisbon, but for another couple of hundred, could have stayed another week and visited France/Italy. Since this was our first multi-week cruise, we tried 2 weeks. Afterward, we all felt we could have done another week. Biggest Negative: For the 3rd cruise in a row, my wife and I exited the ship only to get sick for a week afterward. Not Covid, but a pretty good head cold, w/congestion, slight fever, night chills and lethargy. I returned almost a week ago and as of this writing am at about 75%, so maybe another day or two of recovery. OFF-SHIP: As mentioned, we disembarked in Lisbon and for anyone who hasn't been there, we took 4 days there before flying home. Lisbon is a beautiful city with great people who are polite and patient and speak English! They are delightful, and most everything about Lisbon is excellent, from food to service to service. The quality of things are very good and you might feel a bit envious of their lifestyles while there, it's that nice!

Some context 2nd cruise // couple 35-50 // inside room // Yacht Club // 2nd long 3 weeks+ cruise Service The service our butler Ari, room stewart Carlos, restaurant waiters Yvan and Benedict provided, was outstanding. Something you would expect/receive from a super 5* hotel (Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental) or a 3 Michelin star restaurant. Also the waiters in the top sail lounge were excellent, they would come to you asking for your order within 30 seconds from you sitting down. The people at the bar of YC pool area were also amazing. Everyone treated us as royalty. It will be very hard to find service like this on any other (even ultra luxury) cruiseline. Cabin We selected the inside cabin, as it is quite large (226 sqft) on the Seaside, and the dark room helps us sleep well at night. (and ofc budget friendly) Dining Absolutely outstanding. Steaks, lamb and risotto were on point every single meal. Off-menu items were available, no effort or request was too much to ask from the cooking staff. Service Outstanding service, MSC personnel knows your name and will prepare what you usually drink upon your arrival. You really will use the drink package to the max. Embarkation / Disembarkation Embarkation went fast for us, however the new Miami cruise terminal process needs a lot of improvement. During the Disembarkation process we just waited in the top sail lounge, until our butler Ari called upon us and guided us passed everyone and we were outside in less than 3 minutes. Do not let the pre-cruise relatively high price distract you, MSC Yacht club offers great value as it includes 2 browse wifi devices pp, premium drink package, basically all specialty dining as you are eating in the top sail restaurant, a non-crowded pool space and bar WITH PLENTY of AVAILABLE comfortable lounge chairs, butler, a concierge service that will help you in 2 minutes without waiting, daily restocked mini-bar, top notch service, etc. Unsurprisingly we booked another Yacht Club Grand Voyage for 2026 ...

This was a 24 day/23 night transatlantic cruise embarking in Miami and disembarking in Barcelona. The first week was in the Caribbean (St. Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados), the second week was the crossing of the Atlantic, and the final week was split between Portugal, Spain, Italy, and France. Please note that this cruise was done in the Yacht Club, so our experiences and comments are mainly about the Yacht Club accommodations and experiences. Embarkation was done at the new MSC Terminal in Miami - the first OFFICIAL embarkation having boarded on the day after the new terminal was officially opened. Although there were a handful of other embarkations done at the new terminal before ours, there were still some bumps and issues with the new terminal. We arrived early (10AM) and baggage handling for us was done efficiently and effortlessly. There was a small wait before we could enter the terminal and clearing security and getting our wristbands and cruise cards was quick and easy. Small snacks and drinks were provided, but nothing extra special to speak about. Once the ship was cleared for new guests to embark, we were unfortunately herded (in a group of about 40 YC cruisers) aboard like cattle. We asked to wait in the terminal and board after the first main group of YC cruisers since my wife was moving slowly due to a back injury and we were basically told "NO - you have to go now". We stayed at the back of the group with some other slow movers, and were basically shoved out of the way and literally run over by the first group of non-YC cruisers that were allowed to board immediately following us. My wife and I were actually separated during the elevator trip up to deck 16 - and non-YC cruisers jumped into the elevators with both groups. Definitely NOT a great start to what was supposed to be an elevated embarkation experience. The muster drill was just as chaotic - and definitely not done the same was a on prior Yacht Club cruises out of Miami. On previous cruises, finding the muster station and getting our card scanned was done as part of boarding - but on the Seaside - Yacht Club cruisers get to walk down the stairs, find the station, get in line, be told it's the wrong line, told to go here, there, and back to where we started - again, not an elevated experience, but we survived it. Luckily, embarkation and muster drill were there only true downsides of our experience. We had an accessible, interior, Yacht Club cabin - and it suited us just fine. The cabin was big enough, although we truly missed the storage space that comes with a balcony cabin. However, with creatively placed magnets, and the use of packing cubes, wrinkle remover, and shower steam, we were able to live comfortably and maintain decently unwrinkled clothing. Since we spend most of our time outside of our cabin, the cost savings of an interior cabin was well worth it. Food for the most part, was excellent, although on the third week (and third go-around of the Yacht Club Restaurant menu), it did get a bit tedious. Luckily we were always able to find something we felt like eating - or were able to go slightly off-menu for something different. The breakfasts and lunches at the Yacht Club Grill on Deck 19 were always a treat and many days there were special pasta dishes cooked to order which was a treat. The buffet on Deck 19 always had great food and a good selection, so we definitely did not ever go hungry. Interestingly, my wife and I both lost weight during the cruise, but we attribute that to eating HEALTHY (a lot of salads and fruits and healthy meals, without day-long snacking). Service by butler, assistant butler, waiter and assistant waiter was excellent for the most part. Some of the bar staff (bartenders and lounge/deck butlers) provided excellent service, some provided so-so service. One frustration was that there was some inconsistencies in drink quality - one day they were great, the next day they were undrinkable. Special drinks made by one bartender were unknown by other bartenders. Yacht Club could definitely learn about drink service from the NCL Haven bartenders. We were a bit disappointed by the shows in the theater - at times they were definitely second tier. A bright spot was the crew talent show however! Entertainment in the Top Sail Lounge was mixed as well. For the 23 nights - the same piano player played basically the same dozen songs, every night for 21 of the 23 nights at dinner time. It became a running joke among many of the Yacht Club cruisers. We did have Flavio and Jesse Sax during a few evenings - which made the Top Sail Lounge entertainment bearable overall and was definitely enjoyable when they played. The Yacht Club Director was a ghost during the cruise - I think we physically saw him 4 times, and talked to him once. I personally think his absence led to a lackluster performance by some crew members. Luckily the Head Butler seemed to somewhat fill the role as YCD which did seem to help. We were somewhat disappointed at the "Yacht Club" activities - while we had a deck party - it was very limited time wise. The "welcome aboard" briefing and staff introduction was short, and didn't happen until the day we started across the ocean. And this was the only time, during the entire cruise, we saw the captain or almost any other ship's officer. We were also disappointed that there was nothing special for the YC cruisers that did the full 24 day cruise - but we did get the standard "four piece box of chocolate" on our bed the night before disembarkation. We did spend a lot of time at the Aurea Spa and Thermal Area. The spa services (massages) were excellent and well worth the money in our opinion. The Thermal Area was a nice getaway, but almost impossible to use except on port days due to overcrowding. MSC definitely needs better signage for smoking areas - especially on Deck 19 in the Yacht Club. There is a small section for smokers (pretty visible by the presence of ashtrays) - but non-smokers constantly complained about smokers in that area. The international cruisers were not as "vocal" about it - but some US cruisers were downright obnoxious about their anti-smoking views. Cabana reservations for the few cabanas on Deck 19 was confusing and frustrating - and the concierge allowed guests to reserve multiple cabanas (one person reserving for friends) - while other people were in line to reserve a cabana. This is not acceptable in my opinion. You could only reserve a cabana for either morning or afternoon for the following day - and had to be in line, at the concierge desk, at 8AM to do so. You could not call, nor could you make a reservation for more than a day in the future. At least you didn't have to PAY for the reservation like is done on some MSC ships. Overall - the cruise was enjoyable, but at times, it seemed like this was a "training" cruise - especially for many of the Yacht Club staff. While we enjoy days at sea - maybe 6 straight was a bit too much for us, but definitely would NOT stop us from doing it again, but maybe on a different ship or even a different cruise line.

My husband and I greatly enjoyed this cruise. The staff were exceptional, and the ship was very clean. This might have been the 1st cruise where we didn't get sick. We look forward to future cruise opportunities with MSC. This was our 1st TA and we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly it went. The food was ok, we did get what we paid for and was comparable to NCL. Don't expect lobster, scallops or large shrimp. Like all cruise ships, there is room for improvement in the buffet. Desserts looked beautiful, but many lacked taste. Our balcony room on the 11th floor did not have enough storage or shelving. If they just updated the couch, it would make much more room. Loved the fact they had a guest speaker on sea days who was not trying to sell you anything. It was very educational. We look forward to our next MSC cruise.

Accommodation

Combining comfort and style, the accommodation on MSC Seaside includes luxury suites with whirlpool baths and combinable cabins for families and groups.

Accommodation Types

Bingo Inside

MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite

Two-Bedroom Grand Suite Aurea

Grand Suite Aurea

Premium Suite Aurea with Whirlpool

Premium Suite Aurea with Terrace

Premium Suite Aurea

Deluxe Suite Aurea

Junior Suite Aurea

Balcony

Balcony Bella

Bingo Balcony

Deluxe Ocean View

Ocean View Bella

Bingo Outside

Interior

Interior Bella

Bingo Inside

MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite

Dining

On MSC Seaside, you can enjoy the spectacular ocean views while you eat. And with nine delightful restaurants to choose from, including five sophisticated speciality restaurants, dining on MSC Seaside is as varied as it is delicious.

Dining Types

Bistrot la Bohème

Ipanema Restaurant

MSC Yacht Club Restaurant

Marketplace Buffet Restaurant

Ocean Cay Restaurant

Butcher's Cut

Asian Market Kitchen

Seashore Restaurant

Biscayne Buffet Restaurant

Bistrot la Bohème

Ipanema Restaurant

MSC Yacht Club Restaurant

Marketplace Buffet Restaurant

Ocean Cay Restaurant

Butcher's Cut

Asian Market Kitchen

Seashore Restaurant

Enrichment

Seek the extraordinary and make your cruise holiday an unforgettable adventure.

We offer an incredible choice of shore excursions to suit every taste: whether you prefer adventure, nature, culture or history, we’ve designed something for you and the whole family.

From Culture & History and our breathtaking Scenic Routes, to our Active & Adventure tours and the discovery of Natural Wonders, to Sea & Sun’s relax, our Something Special experiences and our Accessible Tours, you can enjoy the treasures of each destination in your preferred way.

We’ve also established the MSC Family Explorer Club, Excursions Explorer Package and MSC Bike Adventours, which are unique to our line and available on selected MSC Cruises' itineraries.

Enrichment Types

Sustainable Shore Excursions: MSC Protectours

MSC Family Explorer Club

Easy & Accessible Excursions

Behind The Scenes

Bike Tours

Sustainable Shore Excursions: MSC Protectours

MSC Family Explorer Club

Easy & Accessible Excursions

Behind The Scenes

Bike Tours

Sustainable Shore Excursions: MSC Protectours

MSC Family Explorer Club

Easy & Accessible Excursions

Entertainment

MSC Seaside offers endless fun for everyone, with a high-tech theatre, bowling alleys and an interactive, multi-storey water park featuring 5 water slides, an adventure trail and an AquaPlay™ area designed for tots. There are also colourful kids’ play areas created in partnership with LEGO® and Chicco®.

BARS & LOUNGES

A refreshing choice of 19 classy bars and lounges for an evening of laughter with friends, accompanied by drinks

Entertainment Types

Zip Line

Water Park

Swimming Pools

4D Cinema

Atrium

Metropolitan Theatre

Forest Aquaventure Park

Arcade

Billiard Room

MSC Formula Racer

Garage Club

South Beach Pool

MSC Yacht Club Pool

Miami Beach Pool

Miami Beach Bar

Venchi Chocolate Bar and Venchi 1878 Gelato & Crêperie

Champagne Bar

Aurea Bar

Wine & Cocktails

Sports Bar

Haven Lounge

Photo Portrait

Photo Shop

MSC Logo Shop

Duty Free

Fashion Boutique

Accessories

Beer Festival

Sailaway Party

Master Chef

MSC Factor

Theme Parties

Seaview Lounge

Bistrot La Bohème

Jungle Bar

Miami Casino

Seaside Bar

Shine Bar

South Beach Bar

Top Sail Lounge

Zip Line

Water Park

Swimming Pools

4D Cinema

Atrium

Metropolitan Theatre

Forest Aquaventure Park

Arcade

Health & Fitness

An MSC Cruise is not just a chance to travel and explore – it’s also a chance to relax, feel healthy, and look your best. Unwind with a soothing sauna, relax with a traditional Balinese massage, or treat yourself to a high-tech beauty treatment during your cruise in our MSC Aurea Spa.

Book one of our Spa & Beauty Packages now to take advantage of our pre-boarding rates.

SPA & BEAUTY

Feeling healthy and looking your best is a part of the MSC Cruises experience. Try something new, like high-tech beauty treatments, a soothing sauna or enjoy a Balinese massage. Book now one of our spa packages and take advantage of our pre-boarding rates.

PLEASE NOTE:

In order to grant the best experience to our guests, all Thermal Area experiences are available by appointment only.

Access to the MSC Aurea Spa is only permitted for guests over the age of 18. Click here to discover the details.

Pregnant guests are not allowed to use any heat treatments within the Thermal Area.

SPORT & FITNESS

A voyage with MSC Cruises brings you the leisure time and the facilities to maintain and build your fitness thanks to a wide choice of Sports Facilities and a state-of-the art Sports Centre with fabulous sea views. You can admire the panorama, burn off calories and keep in shape. Whether you prefer to train alone, love a workout in company or live to compete, you’ll find just what you need.

PLEASE NOTE:

Click here to discover the treatments and services available according to our Spa and Gym Minors Policy.

Health & Fitness Types

Basketball

Tennis Court

Volleyball

Five-a-side Football

MSC Aurea Spa

Gym

Thermal Area

Beauty Salon

Medi Spa Centre

Hair Salon

Power Walking Track

Basketball

Tennis Court

Volleyball

Five-a-side Football

MSC Aurea Spa

Gym

Thermal Area

Beauty Salon

Kids & Teens

amily holidays are a special time – a blend of fun, special times together as a family, and quality time as individuals. Over the years, we’ve built a renowned reputation as a company that can cater for all needs at all times, paying special attention to the individual needs of children, tweens, teens, and parents, as well as creating incredible shared experiences for the whole family.