We sailed on MSC Cruises’ newest ship, MSC Seascape, when she debuted in late 2022. We had high hopes for this mega-ship, but unfortunately, it fell short on several fronts. But, we decided to give MSC Cruises another shot, this time in MSC Yacht Club. Now, we are back and share where MSC Cruises shines and where it falls short with our MSC Seashore cruise ship review.
Our MSC Seashore Cruise Ship Review
Complimentary Dining
One area where MSC Cruises has made some minor improvements is its complimentary dining.
The only casual restaurant on MSC Seashore is the Marketplace Buffet. The venue served breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, dinner, and late-night snacks during our sailing. Thus, cruisers could usually find something to eat most times of the day.
While the layout still leaves much to be desired, the food quality and preparation were noticeably improved during this sailing. While still not the best buffet at sea, the food was on par with some other contemporary cruise lines and certainly more American-ized than our last sailing.
Still, with two different sections often featuring different selections, navigation can be chaotic, especially during peak times. Having sailed on her sister ship, on embarkation day, I headed straight to the pizza station which is aft in this eatery. Like our previous trip, the pizza is among the best at sea.
We were happy to see the cruise line made some enhancements, such as having signs to label all food items.
Our breakfast at the Marketplace Buffet was also on par with rival cruise lines. It offered a variety of selections, including a custom omelet station.
Overall, we still feel like a ship of this size needs more casual, complimentary dining options.
Given that we stayed in MSC Yacht Club, we had access to the One Pool Buffet and Grill during the day. This smaller buffet offered upscale selections including grilled and fried seafood, steaks, and more. The food was noticeably better prepared and more flavorful during our multiple meals. Likewise, in the morning, the Buffet and Grill offered a breakfast buffet, with typical offerings and a custom omelet station.
Similarly, we did not dine in one of the main dining rooms as we ate most dinners in the MSC Yacht Club Restaurant. Still, we sampled several of the dinner items also on the main dining room menus. Again, we would say these meals and starters were more flavorful and better presented than the meals we had in the MDR over a year ago. So, this was certainly another step in the right direction for MSC Cruises.
The big difference is that the Yacht Club Restaurant menus feature many of the same MDR dishes in addition to some upscale selections.
These exclusive menu items from the MSC Yacht Club Restaurant were what you would expect from a premium cruise line. Dishes like the lobster ravioli and the included filet were flavorful and well-plated. For dessert, you won’t want to pass on the tiramisu or New York cheesecake.
Likewise, service in the MSC Yacht Club Restaurant was more personable and better timed. This restaurant had open seating, and we never had to wait for a table for two. Most dinners took between 75 to 90 minutes for our typical three-course meals.
While we can’t comment on the MDR dining experience on MSC Seashore, this level of service was seriously lacking during our traditional dining on MSC Seascape.
Specialty Dining
While the complimentary dining on MSC Seashore still needs some work, its specialty dining is among the best at sea. The cruise ship offers five upcharge venues. During our weeklong cruise, we dined at three of these specialty restaurants for this MSC Seashore cruise ship review.
All of these restaurants are located on Deck 8 in the aptly named Chef’s Court.
One sea day, we pulled up a table at Hola! Tacos and Cantina. This Deck 8 eatery offers lunch and dinner options most days of the cruise. The menu serves up perfectly sized bites inspired by Mexican street food and Latin American favorites. Among our favorites were the nachos and the al pastor and carne asada tacos. While here, you don’t want to pass up one of the custom-made margaritas.
At Hola! Tacos, guests can either pay a la carte or $17.99 for an all-you-can-eat option, which we think is a great deal.
On night 3, we dined at the Butcher’s Cut, one of the best steakhouses at sea. My filet mignon was expertly seared to medium rare. Equally impressive were the side dishes and decadent desserts. You almost can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at this restaurant.
However, if you are dining with a specialty restaurant package, you are limited to only one starter, entree, side, and dessert. And unlike most other cruise lines that only charge for extra entrees, you WILL get charged even for an extra side or starter on MSC Cruises.
Finally, on night 6, we pulled up a stool at Kaito Teppanyaki. I was more a fan of this multi-course dinner and a show than Heidi, particularly because the menu is more seafood-centric. Compared to other cruise lines, MSC Seashore offers more upscale hibachi items, with multiple courses featuring beef and seafood. This interactive dining experience is always a fun time.
The ship also features a dedicated seafood restaurant, Ocean Cay; however, there’s really nothing on the menu for those in your party who don’t like seafood. Lastly, Katio Sushi is a unique concept on MSC Cruises. This conveyor belt setup offers guests an a la carte experience with various sushi selections. Or, at select times, guests can pay a flat fee for an all-you-can-eat 45-minute feast.
Overall, we feel the food at the specialty restaurants is leaps and bounds better than the complimentary restaurants on the MSC Seashore cruise ship.
However, the cruise line’s dining packages are a little confusing. The cruise line has various packages but they all include specific restaurants rather than letting guests decide at which restaurants they’d like to dine. Further, guests with a dining package have a more limited dining experience menu, or they can pay extra for other items on the menu.
Pool Deck
On our cruise, MSC Seashore sailed at about 95% of double occupancy. Even still, none of the outdoor spaces ever felt crowded. MSC Cruises boasts that this ship has over 3 acres of outdoor space, and we can attest in this MSC Seashore cruise ship review that there was ample space to call our own.
The main outdoor pool is the Long Island Pool on deck 18 aft. With a central pool, two whirlpools, and plenty of deck chairs, this space offers a relaxed seaside vibe during the day. It is also home to outdoor parties and nighttime events if the weather allows.
Inside is the aptly named and themed Jungle Pool. This pool is near the Doremiland youth area and features a retractable roof. It also housed some complimentary tabletop games, so it was a popular spot for families and kids to enjoy, regardless of the weather outside.
Deck 8 is home to an outdoor promenade that wraps ¾ around the ship. Aft is the Infinity Pool and is perhaps our favorite area on the ship. This is the adults-only space, although we didn’t see staff enforcing the age restriction for these two wake-view pools.
Besides adjacent to the pools, there are several seating areas on Deck 8 and additional loungers are available on Deck 19 overlooking the Long Island pool. Hot tubs and the Horizon Bar are within walking distance from this Deck 19 space.
Additionally, guests with the Aurea Experience have the exclusive Top 19 Solarium, including upgraded loungers and cabanas. The cabanas are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Not to mention, guests who are lucky enough to be staying in MSC Yacht Club have the One Pool all the way forward on Deck 20. This private outdoor space boasts a pool, two whirlpools, and a nearby bar open most of the day.
While there didn’t seem to be any issues with crowding in the other public spaces, having this reserved sun deck as guests of MSC Yacht Club was wonderful.
Onboard Activities
This seven-day cruise included four ports of call. Along with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, we also spent two full days at the cruise line’s private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
Still, with only two sea days, the cruise director and his team hosted various included activities day and night. Like any cruise ship, there were daily trivia sessions like name that tune or movie trivia. These sessions were typically held in Times Square or the Uptown Lounge.
Another popular event were the several dance classes, seemingly every day of the cruise, along with some arts and crafts sessions.
Additionally, MSC Cruises partners with the Guinness Book of World Records to host onboard events. During these trials, guests compete to try and break world records, like the fastest time to build a Mr. Potato Head. While we didn’t participate, it was fun to watch.
There are also other game shows and cruiser challenges. Games like This or That or Master Chef at Sea pit guests against one another for friendly competitions and prizes. There was also the very well-attended guests vs. crew game show.
Along with live music throughout the ship, Bingo sessions, and more, guests could always find something to do at all hours of the day. Just be sure to grab a print copy of the daily schedule or use the MSC for Me app to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the fun.
Entertainment and Nightlife
While there are quite a few daytime activities occurring throughout the ship, there was never a dull moment in the evenings.
MSC Seashore hosted signature production shows in the Madison Theater five out of seven nights. There was an early and late showing to accommodate the different dining times. While we found these shows to be slightly better than Carnival’s Playlist Productions, they did not measure up to the entertainment offerings found on Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line.
But, these shows were an improvement from the productions we sat through during our previous cruise on MSC Seascape. Among the better productions was the formal night’s Broadway revue show Encore and the final night’s Rock Royalty. The latter included a playlist of 1980’s rock music that had us singing along in our seats.
Guests do need to make reservations for these shows. Once onboard, they can use the MSC for Me app or touch screens around the ship to book individual shows. However, since we were staying in MSC Yacht Club, we could bypass the lines and attend any shows in the reserved seating section.
On the other two nights, headliner acts included a magician and a comedian. Both were average cruise shows.
Throughout the rest of the ship, live music was available in many of the venues. The musical acts varied from a jazz duo to an all-female rock band to a solo guitarist.
The other main entertainment space on the MSC Seashore cruise ship is aft on Deck 7. Le Cabaret Rouge is a cozy lounge with rich colors and lush furniture. This multi-story space is home to variety acts throughout the week. Our sailing featured tango dancers, a violinist, and a rock band.
Later in the evening, Le Cabaret Rouge typically became the ship’s night club open until 3 AM or later. But…Heidi and I never made it past midnight.
Perhaps the best attended nighttime events, though, were the parties! MSC cruisers love to have a good time. And the cruise line ensures everyone can dance the night away with its signature parties, which are usually held either in Le Cabaret Rouge, the Atrium, or on the pool deck.
The Glow party was popular with cruisers donning their best neon gear.
The White Party and Silent Disco, held inside because of the weather, were very well-attended too. Fellow cruisers packed the Atrium and Seashore Bar in their finest attire to enjoy these events. In fact, I don’t think we’ve ever seen so many cruisers get into the suggested themed attire.
Sports Deck
Along with several family-friendly onboard activities and events, you would expect to find several onboard attractions and public spaces on a mega-ship geared towards families. And MSC Seashore had just that! Among the better-themed onboard attractions is the Pirates Cove Aquapark.
This elaborately designed waterpark features waterslides, a splash area for younger children, and several water features. It offers dual racing body slides, a raft slide, and a family-friendly body slide.
Above the park is an “Adventure Trail”. But don’t be fooled; this is not an elaborate ropes course like found on some other cruise lines and ships. Instead, it offers three different “challenges” laid out in a straight line.
Like any large cruise ship, the park was busier on sea days. But during our stop in Costa Maya, I had the waterpark to myself when it opened in the morning.
The sports court is aft of the waterpark on Deck 20. While it feels like an afterthought, guests can challenge one another to several games, like basketball or soccer. Of course, many of the sessions here included pickleball games as well.
Inside on Deck 18 is the Hall of Games. This arcade also boasts virtual reality experiences.
Signature to MSC Cruises is the F1 simulator. Guests climb into an F1 racecar for this immersive digital experience. It is actually more difficult than you think. Other digital games include an XD cinema, a VR raft ride, and other more typical arcade games. These attractions are an up-charge, but guests can save money by purchasing a Fun Pass.
As previously mentioned, guests can head to the top level of the Jungle Pool area for included tabletop games like foosball and ping pong as well.
Lastly, forward on Deck 8 is the fitness center. This gym contains a variety of state-of-the-art workout equipment from Technogym, free weights, and a cycling room. Surprisingly, MSC Seashore does not have a jogging track though. However, we did notice many cruisers using the Deck 8 waterfront promenade for morning walks.
Bars and Lounges
Another area where MSC Cruises doesn’t really stack up to other mega-ships is its bars and drinks program. While the ship boasts 20 bars and lounges, many are indistinguishable from one another. Bars like the Shine Bar, the Champagne Bar, or the MSC Seashore Bar all have a similar design and look. There is lots of silver and reflective surfaces, with little color or theming.
Regarding theming, the only bars with a unique concept are the Sports Bar, its official name, and the Brooklyn Café. The former includes sports artifacts and equipment that looks like it was purchased at a local Home Goods store.
The Brooklyn Café is the resident coffee shop during the day and features live jazz music in the evenings. With a yellow and brown color palette, it is a relaxing spot that resembles a writer’s nook.
Further, most bars serve the brand’s generic menu. The cruise line offers a pre-cruise “Easy Drink Package” and two additional alcohol packages, so the menu focuses mainly on beverages included in that baseline package. Of couse, standard selections like our go-to Cosmopolitan or Old Fashioned were on the menu.
One of the things we enjoy doing on cruises is testing out unique drinks from the various signature bar menus around the ship. Yet, the only bar on MSC Seashore that did have a signature menu was the Cocktail Bar on Deck 8. Nestled next to the specialty restaurants, this bar serves globally inspired libations. Among the unique offerings are the Rickshaw and the Maui Magic Cooler.
We had the Premium Extra Drink Package as part of MSC Yacht Club perks. This package covers all beers, wine, and cocktails by the glass up to $16. In our experience, this package essentially covered all signature cocktails and mixed drinks around the ship.
Staterooms
We previously stayed in a Deluxe Balcony stateroom on MSC Cruises’ sister ship, MSC Seascape. We felt that stateroom was on par with modern cruise ships in terms of layout, décor, and functionality.
For this cruise, we stayed in a Deluxe Suite, the most common suite in MSC Yacht Club. We were assigned suite 18001, which is on the ship’s portside, all the way forward on Deck 18.
This suite measured about 269 square feet, with a large balcony that was 86 square feet. This is about 40% larger than the deluxe balcony cabins found throughout the rest of the ship.
Upon entering the stateroom, the bathroom was to our right. Beyond the bathroom was the bed with an oversized desk and vanity area. Continuing into the suite was the television above the dry bar and the seating area, which consisted of a sofa, coffee table, and chair.
The design aesthetic was much like our previous MSC cabin, which had a muted color palette with neutral tones and silver accents. Even though we knew the room was bigger, we were surprised about how spacious it felt. The seating area felt like its own separate space. Actually, it resembled a mini-suite you would find on a premium cruise line ship.
As part of MSC Yacht Club perks, guests get a daily refill of the mini-fridge. There is also an in-cabin coffee maker and complimentary room service, including some of the best pizzas at sea!
Another noticeable upgrade from standard staterooms was the bathroom. With elegant marble finishes, the bathroom offered a full-sized shower with a waterfall head, premium eco-friendly bath products, and a built-in bench. There was plenty of storage space and an extra-long vanity area reminiscent of a hotel on land, certainly not the typical cramped cruise cabin bathroom.
There was also more than enough storage space in the suite, even for over-packers like ourselves, with two separate closet areas. The three separate clothes bars and series of drawers afforded plenty of room to unpack and settle in for the week.
Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t the best during our sailing, as it rained on quite a few occasions. Still, the balcony did offer the opportunity to relax with ocean breezes. With two upright chairs and a table, this balcony was longer and deeper than the usual deluxe balcony outdoor space.
With all the suite enhancements and additional benefits of MSC Yacht Club, we are unsure if we can ever return to a standard room when sailing with MSC Cruises in the future.
Overall MSC Seashore Cruise Ship Review
There is a lot to MSC Seashore that will appeal to mega-ship fans.
The cruise ship offers a variety of outdoor spaces and pools, several signature attractions, and distinct dining venues. With ample bars and lounges, cruiser director-led events and activities, live music, signature productions, and parties almost every night, guests can do as much or as little as they want during the cruise.
While MSC shines in some areas, the food and beverage program still needs some enhancements, particularly when it comes to complimentary dining. The specialty restaurants are great, but the ship really suffers when it comes to casual dining and quick-service options.
Yes, the food quality is better than our last sailing with the brand, but besides the pizza nothing really stands out. Compared to Carnival Cruise Line with options like Guy’s Burger Joint or venues like Royal Caribbean’s El Loco Fresh, MSC Cruises still falls short.
The main dining room food quality has also improved since our last sailing. But since we dined in the Yacht Club Restaurant, we can’t comment on the service in the MDR.
On a similar note, while I appreciated the unique theater shows, the production quality was underwhelming. Most of the singers, dancers, and signature acts were talented, but the performances often lacked elaboarate technical effects, set pieces, and storytelling like some competitor brands.
However, many will most likely overlook these shortcomings when they see the cruise fares. MSC Cruises offers one of the best values at sea. With weeklong cruises starting as low as $350 per person or under $550 with Easy Plus Drink Packages, these sailings are a nearly unbeatable deal.
Those looking to upgrade to the more elegant and refined MSC Yacht Club can still find great deals for entry-level suites, with week-long rates starting at $2,200 per person. Thus, guests can enjoy a small ship feel with this ship-within-a-ship experience at a fraction of the cost of a luxury cruise line.
At those prices, MSC Seashore is certainly a great option for those looking for a Caribbean getaway that is stylish and sophisticated and offers plenty of amenities for everyone in the family.
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