By Anna Trosper
May 2, 2024

I was one of eight agents from Wishes Family Travel selected to sail on the MSC Seaside for a Seminar at Sea. I was very honored to be one of the agents who got to go and am thankful to MSC Cruises USA for hosting us on this sailing.

MSC Cruises, just for some history, is new to the USA but entered the cruise market in Europe in 1988. They began as a cargo shipping company and MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company. They branched out to the US market back in 2013.

I sailed on the MSC Seaside. She is a stunning ship on the inside with so many great spots to sit and relax or to watch the sea go by. They did a great job with the pool areas also - there are so many to choose from.

As with any cruise, there are bound to be things you loved and enjoyed and, well, things you would rather forget. This cruise was not different.

Here are a few things I loved and a few not so good!

LOVED – The stunning staircases

The Swarovski Stairs are definitely one of my top photo spots onboard. These stairs, without doubt, blew my mind. They are stunning. Each stair of the 72 steps (2 staircases) glitter with $40,000 worth of crystals. That is $2.8 million in total! I know... (Is that a collective gulp I heard?) If that was what the staircases cost, imagine how much the rest of the ship is worth in fixtures and fittings alone!!

Not so much – Ship layout

I was not impressed with MSC Seaside’s atrium-style layout. This means there is a large central hub spanning several decks. Each deck has a few bars, lounges, restaurants and other venues overlooking the atrium. I find it a waste of space and to be a bit cramped. Today’s most modern ships often feature a longer thoroughfare, called a promenade, instead of an atrium. This design improves passenger flow and provides a more open feeling to the ship. While I certainly loved the variety of venues and ocean-facing design elements of the ship, I simply prefer a more open layout when I cruise.

Loved – Drink package

I loved having a drink package during my week onboard, as I could order drinks without worrying about the individual cost per drink. It really helped put me into “vacation mode” and, at such a low price, it is a fantastic value.

Even if guests didn’t have a drink package, they could enjoy a few drinks on a budget. Many cocktails on MSC are priced at just $10. This is significantly more affordable than other mass market cruise lines that often charge $14 or $15 per drink.

Plus, bartenders were walking around the atrium on formal night offering a selection of complimentary drinks on a tray. I found this to be a nice touch, and I especially would have enjoyed this if I were cruising without a drink package.

Not so much – Beverage refrigerator

In your stateroom you will have a beverage refrigerator, stocked with water, sodas, and a few alcohol drinks. My cabin steward came into the stateroom the first day, unlocked it, and left. I drank a couple bottles of water and a soda, believing that these items were either included with the room or covered under my drink package. There was no signage, and the room steward provided no explanation. I later learned that these are not included. Since I had a drink package, I was able to order these beverages on deck to restock the beverage refrigerator in the room. I do not understand this rule, but it is good to know.

Loved – Onboard activities

Something I loved about my MSC Seaside cruise was the onboard activities. Everything from adrenaline-pumping sports activities to trivia sessions were offered around the ship, and it was fun to try a variety while onboard.

The ship has four water slides, three of which jet off the side of the ship with nothing but the ocean below. Equal parts thrilling and terrifying, there is a zipline on board! I did this and I can say it was fun but does not go very fast. Indoors you can enjoy attending karaoke, geography trivia sessions, live music performances, arts and crafts sessions, and more. No matter the time of day, there was always a way to stay busy on the ship, which helped to prevent boredom throughout the week.

Not so much – Hidden costs

With MSC being a budget-friendly cruise line, you will find hidden costs on board.

The zipline is $10. Bowling is $45 per lane for 1 hour. The F1 and VR simulators are $12 per turn. They may not be big costs but, if you have a large family, it can add up.

Liked - Stateroom

I stayed in a Balcony stateroom. Overall, the layout is just like other cruise lines. The balcony was a good size; I never heard any noise from staterooms next to me or people walking by. The bathroom was a little smaller than other lines but doable. Storage? Not much. This is one area I did not like. Also, my stateroom could sleep 3 – between the two twin beds and the sofa bed. If that was the case, there would be no room to walk around, as it was hard to get into the closet because the couch was right in front of it. The stateroom also felt a little outdated to me.

Not so much - Food

This was really hit or miss. I was very disappointed in the food. I was very excited about all I had heard about the food on board but, once on, not so much. Meals in the main dining room were at times inedible. On the menu at the bottom of the page were upgrades with a cost of $20. I did this and the food was great!

Buffett- again, hit or miss. There was a very large selection to choose from. I heard so many good things about their pizza and when I got it- well, let’s say it was not the best I have ever had. You must get it when it first comes out of the oven or it will be soggy – I found out the hard way when wearing white!

Now there are some specialty dining restaurants you can purchase, and the food is great. The Kaito Teppanyaki, the ship’s hibachi restaurant, costs $40. I found the price reasonable for dinner at a specialty restaurant, and the performance was just as impressive as the food itself.

LOVED!!!! – Ocean Cay Marine Reserve

One of my favorite days on my MSC Seaside cruise was the day I visited Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, MSC’s private island in the Bahamas.

Ocean Cay is a 95-acre island located just 65 miles east of Miami. It’s surrounded by crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches, making it a picture-perfect beach day for the thousands of passengers visiting the island each day.

I arrived at Ocean Cay with no expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my time on the island.

We agents got a tour of the island and the history of its making, then had the whole day to explore and enjoy. The island had a tranquil beach vibe, very well-maintained. There is a shuttle service to help you get around. Stops at the island have a late departure (often midnight). Our visit even included an evening party on the beach and laser light shows on their lighthouse. Seeing the sunset from the island was a highlight of my trip.

Not so much – Beach umbrellas

MSC charges for umbrellas at Ocean Cay.

Although I loved having the opportunity to visit Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, I hate the fact you must pay for a beach umbrella. When visiting a cruise line’s private island, I expect most aspects of the experience to be included in my cruise fare—certainly chairs and umbrellas. This is the case at private islands like Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay.

Ocean Cay visitors who want a shady seat must rent a beach umbrella for around $15. There is not much shade on the island without an umbrella or cabana, so plan accordingly. I rented a cabana for $250, which is a very low cost for a cabana. I split the cost with 3 other agents, so it really was not so bad.

Liked - Entertainment

The shows on board were just what I expected from MSC. For a budget-friendly cruise line, they were not that bad. They did a Michael Jackson tribute, and that show was very good! Would I miss a show for a good dinner or to have fun doing something else? Yes!

So, overall, the MSC Seaside ship is ok. Not the best, but not the worst. You must go into it knowing it is a budget-friendly cruise line. They are also a European cruise line and are used to catering to European preferences. European travelers tend to prefer fewer amenities and lower costs so they can vacation more! I think they are going to have to change a few things for the US cruisers.

I hope this helps you know if MSC is the right cruise line for you. If you would like to talk about this cruise line or want help finding the right cruise line for your next adventure, I would be happy to help. Contact me at annat@wishrsfamilytravel.com . You can also follow me on my FACEBOOK page for tips, travel deals and so much more.

Safe Travels!

MSC Seaside Cruise Review