TIME TO SAY … I WANT TO STAY!
It’s a kind of unofficial tradition for the Capitan to play the famous Andrea Bocelli’s song “Time to say Goodbye!” at every sail away of an MSC cruise ship.
After my recent experience on board the new MSC flag-ship I was thinking to create my own version of this emotional moment: “Time to say … I want to stay!”
MSC SEASHORE is inspired by MSC Cruises’ vision for cruising in warm waters and sunny weather and mirrors the design of the Seaside Class with a wraparound promenade deck offering a choice of outside dining and relaxation areas. The name, which follows the theme of its Seaside Class predecessors MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, has been picked to reflect a cruising experience that brings passengers “closest to the sea.” The beautiful cruise ship is a Seaside EVO-class cruise ship built for MSC Cruises at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. As of August 2021, she became the lead ship of MSC’s Seaside EVO class, a sub-class of the Seaside-class of ships built with larger dimensions. She will be joined by sister ship named MSC Seascape scheduled for delivery in November 2022
Building on the ground-breaking and pioneering design of the Seaside class of ship, aimed at bringing guests closer to the sea, MSC Seashore has been extended and enhanced with a variety of brand-new features, spaces and experiences for cruise lovers. MSC Seashore is equipped with cutting-edge technology becoming the first cruise ship in the world to feature a new air sanitation system, ‘Safe Air’, which uses UV-C lamp technology to eliminate viruses and bacteria to guarantee clean and safe air for guests and crew.
To be honest, I fall in love with Seashore on the very first moment when I stepped on board after, as always, a very smooth and stress-free embarkation procedure. The design features, public areas and venue names are inspired by the metropolitan New York City. These include an imposing three-metre-high replica of the Statue of Liberty at the heart of the casino and a newly designed expansive retail and entertainment area, aptly named Times Square. The main feature of this new area is an impressive 8.5 metre-high LED wall spanning four decks with a projection of the iconic skyline of this entertainment hub in Manhattan that can change from day to night.
With 339 metres, MSC Seashore is the longest ship in the MSC fleet and offers 13,000sqm of outdoor space. Stand-out design features include spectacular glass-floored Bridge of Sighs located at the unique vantage point on deck 16 – 22 metres above the Infinity Pool, stunning panoramic aft elevators and stylish glass-floor catwalks on either side of the ship on the waterfront promenade.
How you can’t be impressed by a floating Paradise with 19 decks (12 passenger-accessible, 11 with cabins), 11 dining venues, 19 bars and lounges, 6 swimming pools, a 2-deck “Cabaret Rouge” (aft-located), the Magrodome (sliding glass roof covering one of the swimming pools), the expanded Infinity Pool (with half-submerged concrete loungers/extends directly to the stern), 2 Infinity Whirlpools (portside and starboard Jacuzzis, with 10 seats each), a main swimming pool (with both swimming and standing water depths and connected to the Pirate Cove Aquapark), 3 catwalks (glass-floored viewing platforms), and an impressive 540m Waterfront Promenade.
Talking about embarkation in Barcelona, I must say that on Seashore the Yacht Club Team mastered an excellent experience: the check-in of the luggage, the formalities and Covid19 related protocols. Dani the Head Butler and his assistant Marcello under the discreet supervision of Rosalia, the Yacht Club Director gave to the entire embarkation an air of “welcome back home”! After a very short wait in the elegant and comfortable YC lounge in the cruise terminal for the test’s result, escorted by one of the butlers I had the chance to be amazed for the first time by the opulence, beauty and elegance of Seashore on my way to Yacht Club.
On Seashore decks are named after iconic lighthouses around the globe: Torre de Hercules Lighthouse (La Coruna Spain) – world’s oldest, Ocean Cay Lighthouse (MSC’s private island Ocean Cay, Bahamas), Santa Marta Lighthouse (Cascais, Portugal), Start Point Lighthouse (Devon England), Bell Rock Lighthouse (Angus Scotland) or Lanterna di Genova Lighthouse (Genoa Italy) to name just some of them. And by the way, similar to buildings in the U.S. without a thirteenth floor, there is no Deck 17 on MSC ships because Italians consider the number 17 to be unlucky.
The MSC Seashore cruise ship deck plan shows 2270 staterooms for 4560 passengers (max capacity is 5877) served by 1648 crew-staff (818 crew cabins). The cruise ship features new cabins designed to suit all your needs during your holiday and if you decide to cruise with the flag-ship of MSC you can choose from 11 different types of cabins and suites with balconies including the coveted aft suits, 50 terraced suites with extended balconies and 32 different suites with outdoor private whirlpools. If you want to get to know an unparalleled accommodation experience you must try the 2 new opulent Owner’s Suites at the largest and most luxurious MSC Yacht Club. Of course, if you are lucky enough to find one available!
My choice for this voyage was the incredible Royal Suite (16043) located on the 16th Deck – Boston Light Lighthouse. With approx. 62 sqm., the Royal Suite has a separate living area and dining room, a spacious balcony (33 sqm.) with its own private whirlpool bath and dining table, a walk-in generous wardrobe and bathroom with large shower, vanity area with hairdryer. With an Interactive TV, telephone, WIFI connection included a Bar setup, refrigerator and espresso coffee machine everything was designed to create the ambiance for a perfect holiday.
The team assisting me during this cruise was the perfect example for the unparalleled experience offered by MSC in their exclusive concept “ship within the ship” – the Yacht Club. Pradeep (Butler) and Putu (Assistant Butler) mastered a perfect service day and night. Proactive, intuitive with a graceful attention to details and an impressive care, both of them proved once again that the biggest asset of any MSC ships is the crew on-board
And if you want to expand your luxurious experience in the Royal Suite you must try once to have lunch on your balcony. I chose a sea day and despite the breeze Paolo, Marcello Alessandro and Pradeep under the impeccable supervision of Dani, managed to create a memorable moment.
This cruise marked my 46th voyage with MSC, and I can say that I am in love with their product “YACHT CLUB”. Seashore’s MSC Yacht Club is currently the fleet’s largest (total area 2973 m2). The all-inclusive Suite complex (ship-within-a-ship concept) accommodates the highest paying passengers (YC cabin categories only). It spreads over 4 decks and features a 3-deck high Onyx Wall (back-lit), Swarovski crystal-covered staircases, Top Sail Lounge (bar lounge with live music, gourmet canapes, complimentary beverages), exclusive Yacht Club restaurant (offering breakfast-lunch-dinner, premium wine list, daily-changed a la carte menu), and “One Pool” – a poolside bar and grill. The private sundeck and pool area were expanded to 1950 m2, with a bigger swimming pool and a panoramic Jacuzzi (8-seats, with individual controlled jets). The complex houses 131 Suites plus 2 Owners Suites (new category cabins sized 98 m2) with larger terraces (outdoor hot tub, glass wall, dining and sundeck areas).
The TOP SAIL LOUNGE is the perfect place for a drink before or after dinner. And, as a smoker, I love the outdoor space, placed in front of the lounge protected by the wind with glass panels and adding a touch of versatility with a sunny space in the day and an elegant and discreet atmospheric lightening in the evening. The ideal spot to watch the sunset. The gourmet canapes and signature cocktails were served with grace by a very attentive team of butlers, who learned in no time your favourite drink. In the afternoon and evening the TOP SAIL LOUNGE was a perfect venue to spend some time before discovering the rest of the ship having live music in the background. Maybe that was the only weakest link here: sometimes the music was a little bit too loud transforming a decent lounge conversation in a tiring shouting. While Edo Bordignon – a fantastic pianist and excellent vocalist was able to adapt his ambitus to the mood of the audience, balancing very professional between lounge and dance music, the other act in the lounge, Trio Swing, were extremely talented but confusing background music with a concert. Loud doesn’t mean always better!
The sun deck dedicated to the Yacht Club on MSC Seashore it’s impressive with 1950 m2, a bigger swimming pool than on other ships and a panoramic Jacuzzi (8-seats, with individual controlled jets). The “One Pool – bar and grill” offers daily the option for an alfresco breakfast and lunch. The menus are different than in the Yacht Club Restaurant with fresh grilled meat and fish, freshly made pasta and a mouth-watering salad bar. Despite the laid back atmosphere, the team here follow the same service standards like anywhere else in Yacht Club and the constant presence of the Head Waiters Giovanni and Alex is a guarantee that even by the pool the touch of luxury and exclusivity are present any time of the day. Add to all of this the amazing cocktails and the charismatic personalised service offered by Arnold and you will have the perfect image of a great day by the pool.
The only downsides of the “One Pool” area are the size (a bigger number of guests can dilute the exclusivity of the product, and not all the time Yacht Club is lucky enough to have the Seashore A team lead by Rosalia Scaldafferi providing a personalised service to 300+ guests) and the weird, designed cabanas which look more like an exposed cage than a discreet and elegant retreat due to the lack of privacy and reduced space around.
The Yacht Club has its own restaurant on all MSC ships. On board MSC Seashore the YC Restaurant is the perfect definition for an elevated gastronomic experience embellished with an exquisite service. I have to admit that I was more attracted by the breakfast and lunch on the sundeck but every dinner taken in the Yacht Club Restaurant was a unique experience. The elegant style of Maître D’s Giovanni and Rafaelle ( any top restaurants around the world will be grateful to have them)the knowledgeable Sommelier Alessandro (for him each bottle of wine has a story which needed to be shared) and the attentive, classy and gracious service of my waiter Paulo was a perfect match for the delicious food. Indeed, sometimes the Kitchen still needs to work a little bit on presentation but overall, 5 stars for the food and service in Yacht Club Restaurant. By the way in a 7 days cruise you will have 2 themed night: a gala dinner (with the “eternal” lobster, but I will suggest you to go for the Rossini) and a Mediterranean Night with a interesting approach of Med dishes ( and don’t miss the bouillabaisse). Twice Giovanni Gargiulo, the charming and professional Head waiter, after surprised us with his secret pasta dishes in ONE POOL, spoiled in YC Restaurant our palates with a live cooking of Crêpes Suzette and Cherries Jubilee – a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips, but who cares, you are in holiday!
Despite the fact that Seashore’s “MSC Yacht Club” is currently the fleet’s largest (total area 2973 m2), spreading over 4 decks, the feeling of luxury, exclusivity is kept intact due to the professionalism of the Yacht Club Director Rosalia Scaldaferri. With grace and style, bringing the modern managerial style in line with MSC values, with a charming presence every moments of the day and in any location around Yacht Club, Rosalia brilliantly leads a team of professional butlers, assistant butlers, waiters, stewards, and bar staff which successfully write every cruise the successful story of MSC Yacht Club.
A step behind Rosalia but always a step ahead any guest’s wishes, desires, requests or needs, the Head Butler, Dani Agung Sri Prasetyo brings to the team years of experience, passion, dedication and a elegant managerial style being the perfect example for what we normally call: “walk the talk”. No surprise that the Yacht Club team present now on board of MSC Seashore is the most successful one, always THE TEAM opening MSC new ships.
Maybe the only bit which didn’t fit or match the general brilliance of the Seashore’s “MSC Yacht Club” was the Concierge. With an attitude which reminded me of a 2 stars motel on a motorway, they always seemed to be “busy” always looking at the computer’s screens avoiding any eye contact with the passing passengers. With an annoying, sometimes, communication skills, considering the high standards just a line in the written SOP, they were keen to give you the information … the wrong ones. Most of the time I had the feeling that they were paid to sabotage the efforts of the rest of the teams. The Concierge was the only place where the Yacht Club’s sprit was hard to be detected. Couple of times I ask the Concierge to pass a message to my Butler, but the message never reach him creating embarrassing situations. Other times wrong information regarding the Covid19 tests on-board and the shore excursion booking process created issues which can be avoided in a very simple way: “doing your job properly and being accountable”. But from Seashore Concierge point of view was always somebody else fault. And blaming your team with a smile is not the MSC way!
Weird enough but in 7 days I didn’t have time to explore and take the advantage of all attractions and venues on board. I barely had time to enjoy the main pool – Long Island Pool on deck 18 which has two different depths so you can choose to swim or simply stand and hang-out in the water, gravitating around a 360-degree water fountain island in the centre or relaxing in the new lounge space within the pool. Whilst this ship is designed for warmer weather, the Jungle Pool features a larger magrodome that can be closed to create an indoor pool area when needed. This popular area has been enlarged and now includes an additional deck over and around the space, providing new areas for guests to sit and relax. It is just a short walk to the newly located buffet on deck 16 for a lunchtime snack – perfect for families who enjoy spending time by the pool. And of course the stunning Infinity pool with half-submerged concrete loungers/extends directly to the stern and the 2Infinity Whirlpools (portside and starboard Jacuzzis, with 10 seats each). The only question mark related to the design is that the pools on board seems to be a little bit to small for a ship operated in warm waters at full capacity.
Opening the doors to the MSC Aurea Spa is like entering another world. This universe of wellbeing, fitness and self-care is a must-see for anyone wishing to pamper themselves. MSC Seashore boasts 21 treatment rooms, including two couple’s treatment rooms, as well as a Medi Spa Centre, and an exclusive outdoor area to relax in the sunshine. For those in search for a new look is good to know that beauty salon, nail boutique and barber are completely redesigned. Of course during my voyage, due to the increased Health & Safety measures in order to grant a safe cruise for all guests, , some of the experiences were closed: Steam Rooms, Heat Baths Whirlpools, Ice & Snow Experiences. The Saunas, Salt Relax Room, Harmonic Relax Rooms, Experience Showers, Heated Loungers were open during my cruise.
A voyage with MSC Seashore 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 Gym 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. To be honest I didn’t try to find the Gym for myself, only for research purposes. Bad boy!
Providing a cruise experience that suits all of the family, MSC’s Seashore boasts popular, free of charge kid’s clubs. Babies and toddlers are well looked after in the Baby club, while 3-11 year olds can have fun taking part in different activities including LEGO, arts and crafts and cooking at the Mini and Junior clubs. Meanwhile, with two clubs for 12-17 year olds, teenagers can spend some time away from their parents making friends and enjoying the fantastic facilities on offer to them, including dance parties, a cinema room and games consoles. With 703 m2 of dedicated kids’ space, the largest in the fleet, and re-designed rooms, the kids’ area on board MSC Seashore offers an unmatched experience. From the décor, design colours, and themes of the areas, the MSC Seashore’s Kids Club will give all children a chance to reach for the stars, thanks to a futuristic new theme, dedicated to space and planetary exploration. Every cruise includes a special and unmissable event: the “LEGO® Experience On Board“. An entire day dedicated to LEGO® bricks & activities for the whole family to enjoy. With 98 hours of live entertainment for the whole family per cruise, there is always something new and exciting for both parents and children to enjoy their time together!
The only area accessible for an old overweight man like me was the fabulous Pirates Cove Aquapark which features an impressive range of fun exciting activities for the whole family including adventure trails, treasure hunts, a galleon for kids and much more. The Kraken’s tentacles wrap around the adventure trail on its way to the Long Island Pool. Enhanced by virtual reality, MSC Seashore offers one of the largest and most interactive water attractions at sea.
With 18 bars and lounges, including twelve indoor and six outdoor venues, five specialty restaurants and four main dining restaurants – a gastronomic adventure with globally inspired menus await guests on board MSC Seashore. The ship has been fully redesigned to include even more options for eating and drinking with new bars and restaurants as well as outdoor venues and seating to bring the guests’ connection to the sea to new heights.
The ship has four main dining restaurants, including a dedicated restaurant for Aurea guests, serving first-class Mediterranean and international specialties in stylish surroundings. In all these venues menus change daily with exquisite dishes created for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more casual dining, the Marketplace Buffet has also been redesigned to give guests a real marketplace feeling with three distinct areas, each with a different design and ambience: Il Mercato, La Piazza and La Trattoria. In addition to its indoor seats, the buffet now features a new outdoor aft dining area as part of the Sky Bar, which offers comfortable lounge seating as the perfect spot for a cocktail with the ultimate sea view. After talking with Naga Dasari, the F&B Director on board MSC Seashore I realize that creating something for every palate and preference, providing a diverse array of outstanding international culinary experiences and high class services is more than a goal, it is a reality on board Seashore.
MSC Seashore’s Chef’s Court is home to the ship’s five specialty restaurants, situated in a new location on Deck 8 closer to the sea. Offering both new concepts and signature favourites, each venue serves a mouth-watering menu of international flavours. The ship’s signature steakhouse, Butcher’s Cut, will offer al fresco dining along the iconic waterfront promenade. Even with a guide as the famous and experienced Corporate Chef Luca Cesarini a final decision is hard to make.
Kaito Sushi Bar for the first time in the fleet, includes a sushi conveyor belt for guests to select dishes, with fresh sushi, sashimi, tempura and more. This popular venue offers deliciously authentic Asian cuisine prepared in front of guests with the highest quality ingredients.
Butcher’s Cut the signature American-style steakhouse serves select Linz heritage angus beef, gold standard in high-end angus beef thanks to the best genetics in breed. The menu includes a range of prime cuts for all appetites, paired with their favorite New World wines or cocktails. The new al fresco dining area allows guests the full MSC Seashore experience, with fresh air and sea views.
The first in the Seaside generation and the second in the fleet, HOLA Tacos & Cantina which feature the Latin American and Mexican-inspired cuisine in family style dining. Guests can enjoy a number of street food specialties and choose from an extensive list of tequilas and mescals, all combined in a fun, interactive setting
Ocean Cay is a chic seafood restaurant which serve Mediterranean-style fish and seafood dishes made with fresh ingredients, all complemented by an extensive wine list.
Kaito Teppanyaki brings an interactive and engaging experience, guests will delight in the tastes and spectacle of this venue, with eight grills, becoming the largest teppanyaki restaurant on any MSC Cruises ship. In this combined entertainment and dining experience, chefs cook with flair on an open grill with sizzling ingredients coming together to form delectable dishes.
And if the final bill at the end of the cruise is a threat for you don’t forget that on-line before boarding MSC Seashore or on-board you can benefit from the special offers of different dining packages
- 4 DISTINCT EXPERIENCES THE FINEST FOUR – which includes: Ocean Cay, Teppanyaki restaurant, Butchers Cut and Hola! Tacos & Cantina
- 3 DISTINCT EXPERIENCES TRILOGY – which includes: Ocean Cay, Butchers Cut and Hola! Tacos & Cantina
- TWO DINING EXPERIENCES DUO – which includes: Teppanyaki restaurant and Butchers Cut
Or the unique experience of BUTCHER’S CUT CHEF TABLE with your own Chef and your
Among MSC Seashore’s many new features, there are numerous bars and lounges for guests to enjoy a drink, a light bite or take in some of the ship’s 16+ daily hours of entertainment. As Alyn Tocu, the Bar Operations Manager warned me from the very beginning is hard to decide where to have your next drink on-board: maybe in the The Wine Cellar, a brand-new concept, which includes a spectacular, walk-through wine cellar and oenological tasting experience or in the Sky Bar for panoramic sea views, a rooftop bar, ideal stop for cocktails or maybe in Horizon Bar situated on deck 19, and offering comfortable outdoor lounge seating. Of course, you can choose The Sports Bar decked out with sports memorabilia, which features a new billiard room or maybe the Chef’s Court Cocktail Bar located in the new Chef’s Court area at heart of the ship, the ideal venue to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in stylish surroundings. Hard to chose between The Uptown Lounge and Brooklyn Café both kind of a piano lounge and bar, featuring live music and cocktails for those looking to wind down after dinner. Add to all of those MSC Aurea Bar where Aurea guests will also delight in the Top 19 Solarium’s stylish, which includes an outdoor lounge area and bar to complete a relaxing day in the sun.
But my all-time favourite was the Champagne Bar, a cosy bar for true connoisseurs, perfect for lively conversations and making new friends. The charming and elegant service of Danjela Dishi and the entire team made me return almost every night in that glamorous corner of the ship
From French retro-chic to sleek contemporary, the entertainment venues on MSC Seashore immerse guests in a series of different universes, filled with the latest technology for fantastically fun experiences. The options are endless, from the main theatre or the new aft lounge, the high-tech disco and the larger than ever casino through to the sports bars – there’s something for every member type of traveller.
MSC Seashore plays host to 4 new and original full-scale theatrical productions, with three performances each night of the cruise in the Madison Theatre: Belle Epoque, Coast to Coast, Meravigiloso Amor and Magic Woods. Unfortunately, on this voyage I didn’t find the physical time to stop in the theatre and watch any of this production but that’s a promise for the next time
I was more interested in the new concept launched on board MSC Seashore from the entertainment point of view. Le Cabaret Rouge inspired by French cabaret lounges of the 1920s, features original shows, a true feast for the eyes, with acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians all rolled into one breath-taking spectacle. With 400 seats, this multi-functional space flows seamlessly from cocktail hour with live music to an all-out dance party as the evening develops. I had the chance to watch an magic “Paris Spectacular with Toulouse-Lautrec” , the inspiring “Woman in Art” and the dynamic “Modern Collection”, all very different but all exceptional.
Live music is at home on board MSC Seashore with a lot of venues hosting great musical live acts with Trio La Brava, Rudy or Thiago in the Atrium, Trio Swing and Edo in Yacht Club Lounge or Miguel & Jazz Band in the Brooklyn Café. And of course, the parties. The charismatic Entertainment Manager Francesco Pulpo had a difficult task to adapt the already famous MSC parties to the new protocols imposed by the “safe bubble” concept. But his experience and his ingenuity transformed a possible handicap in a big advantage by moving parties from the Atrium to the Long Island Pool where the fantastic weather guaranteed a enormous success. In a week cruise you can expect 3 themed party: Flower Glory, Tropical and of course, the MSC signature party White Party
Of course, shopping must be part of anyone cruise schedule. On MSC Seashore you can find a wide selection of the best boutiques at sea stocked with all your favourite premium brands, so you can enjoy the best shopping experience during your cruise. All the hops are open all day and until late at night when at sea. And you can’t disembark before visiting the amazing MSC Logo Shop where you can infuse your cruise with gifts that spark magical memories of your voyage across the waves! Navigate the MSC Logo Shop for everything from gadgets to books and novelty gifts! You’ll also find MSC’s very own DOREMI Mascot. And in all the shops and boutiques on-board you can benefit from the expert guidance of the fabulous staff lead my the Shop manager Mircea Petru always ready to help to find something for the special people in your life, whatever their age and taste! And the best kept secret: on MSC ships you will get the lowest tax and duty-free prices applicable in accordance with local legislation.
Being home now and taking a step back looking at all photos and videos from this one-week journey on board MSC Seashore I can’t stop thinking how much professionalism, dedication, passion, forward thinking is needed to transform a 339m long ship, with 2270 staterooms, 5877 passengers and 1648 crew in such a formidable success. From an outsider replacing the flat “another cruise” with everlasting memories seems to be “mission impossible”. Not for the Hotel Director Neven Zdunic and his Deputy Adriano Palomba who not only know how to lead an excellent team towards success at every step of guest’s journey but know how the create magic touches on the Seashore’s brilliant basics.
MSC Seashore is a beautiful futuristic ship, extended and enhanced with a variety of brand-new features, spaces and experiences, aimed at bringing guests closer to the sea. But all these goals will never be reality without the amazing crew of this fantastic cruise ship. From the Pool Stewards to the officers and managers, from the Yacht Club Director to the butlers and bar staff everybody breath the same strong essence: “MSC is a family company with a family spirit!”. And to be honest, because of them, because of MSC crew I manage to cruise 8 times in Annus Horribilis 2020/2021 and 46 times in the last 7 years.
Reading all this very long 8 pages maybe you understand why, in the last day, the disembarkation day I wanted to sing loud, as loud as possible on the gangway my own version of Bocelli’s song “Time to say…I WANT TO STAY!”. But unfortunately for me, fortunately for my fellow passengers my voice wasn’t in the same place as my heart.
And the only solution was to fly back home, run to my computer and do the obvious and expected: I booked another cruise on board MSC Seashore and I am embarking next week.
That’s the risk when the ports of call stop being the destination! That’s the joy when the ship and staff on board are the destination!
Thank you MSC Seashore and see you soon!
Leonard Miron 