2024 MSC Seascape Review: Our Seascape Escape

MSC Overview

MSC has been trying hard to make its mark on the American cruise market. They currently have 3 ships sailing in the US- Meraviglia out of New York; Seascape, Seaside, Magnifica, Divina, the new World America (when launched in 2025) out of Miami, and Seashore out of Port Canaveral. They pride themselves on being environmentally friendly, have recently expanded their cruise offerings to include Galveston in 2025, and are working on a state of the art cruise terminal in Miami.

This was not our first MSC cruise, we have travelled twice on MSC's Poesia. MSC is a European cruise company and newer to the American cruise market. We love MSC. Not only are they affordable, but they offer everything that we are used to having on any of the other cruise line's – various dining offerings, water activities, kids' club, entertainment, bars, spa, gym, etc..

We have enjoyed the European feel of MSC Cruises, they do announcements in several languages, offer house made pasta and pizza (the best we have eaten at sea), and many times our fellow cruiser mates are European.

Booking Online

This was our family cruise (9 people- ages from 1 to 51), so we had to plan ahead to fit everyone's schedules. We booked this 7-day cruise in October 2022 for a sailing in January 2024.

We were extremely interested in the itinerary, the new ship, and the premium interior suite. The itinerary included Ocean Cay, MSC's private marine reserve island. I knew that they were going to be renovating this island so I wanted to be sure to check it out before they stopped sailing there. The MSC Seascape was introduced in 2023 so I was happy that we would be sailing on a newer ship with all of the bells and whistles. But we were most interested in the premium interior suite on deck 10. It shows 300 square feet, which is pretty big for a cruise ship interior stateroom.

MSC's booking process was really pretty easy. When you book, you choose if you would like a promotional package (the promotions usually include wifi and a drink package) or cruise only, which MSC experience package you want- they have 3 to choose from (Bella, Fantastica, Aurea), and your dining time- and that's it, you're booked!

They also offer the MSC Yacht Club. Which allows you access to exclusive areas, similar to a ship within a ship with additional amenities and privileges.

I would recommend doing some research into the type of cabin you prefer, check out my article: Choosing the Best Cruise Cabin, and the different experiences that MSC offers before booking. The experience offerings are really something that is unique to MSC so taking the time to decide which experience is best can make a huge difference in your cruise vacation. We really like the Fantastica experience because we like to choose our cabin location and we enjoy having breakfast delivered.

Tip: Decide on cruise travel insurance as soon as possible after booking to be sure that you and your cruise investment is well covered, anything can happen! If you have questions about cruise travel insurance, the Ultimate Guide To Cruise Travel Insurance has the answer!

MSC for Me App

The MSC for Me App can be downloaded at home after you have booked. It is really designed to be used onboard but there are features that you will want to use before leaving home.

You are able to complete your online check-in, take your security photo, and add a credit card for onboard purchases. We found that it was pretty picky when taking the security photo, so make sure you have plenty of time and patience when you begin the check-in process.

Once onboard, the app works much better. You will put your phone in airplane mode, connect to the ship's wifi, and open the app. You will be able to see all of the day's events, view bar and restaurant hours of operation, and chat with others onboard, without purchasing wifi.

If you have any questions or experience any issues, there is a help desk on deck 5 midship.

Miami Pre-Cruise

We ALWAYS go to the embarkation port city the day before the cruise begins.

This cruise began in Miami, so we stayed at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami because we love the location. It it right across the street from Bayside Marketplace. Bayside offers water activities, restaurants, bars, shopping, and other entertainment. The Holiday Inn is about a 10-15 minute drive from the cruise terminal as well.

The Holiday Inn is in much need of a full renovation but it offers all you need for a one or two night stay. There is a bar/restaurant on-site, a small pool, and there is a shuttle service that provides transportation to the port for a fee.

Seascape Embarkation in Miami

Embarkation was really smooth for this cruise!! We put on our matching t-shirts and left our hotel at 11:45AM and we were onboard by 12:20PM. Our check-in time was 1:30PM, so my plan was to be at the pier, drop off our luggage and just wait to be called.

However, there was no line to check-in at all and because we were a group with small children, they sent us to priority check-in. After we checked-in and took the escalator up to the waiting area, they had already called our boarding number so we simply got onboard!

This was the first time that we weren't given our cruise card at check-in. They were already printed and waiting for us on our cabin door. Our rooms were also available right away, so no waiting there either! I have to say that this was the quickest and easiest embarkation we have ever experienced. It made for a wonderful start for a spectacular cruise! Here are our tips on How to Navigate Embarkation Day, so your cruise can start out spectacular too.

Once onboard, we decided to purchase the wristbands to use onboard so we didn't have to carry around our cruise cards. They were $10 each, and we could use them for most onboard purchases and as the key to open our cabin door. They can NOT be used to disembark or embark the ship, but we found them to be comfortable and convenient. We purchased them on deck 5 at the Hub.

MSC Seascape Staterooms

We were a group of 9 traveling together, in 4 cabins. Since we had little ones with us, we wanted our cabins to all be close together. We were able to do this by booking far in advance and choosing the Fantastica experience so we could choose our cabin location. We were all on deck 10 forward, starboard side at the VERY front of the ship.

Interior- My son and his wife had an interior room. It was just as to be expected, a complete and simple space. They liked being able to have a dark place to take a nap in the afternoon and they loved how affordable it was!

Premium Interior- This was the cabin we were most interested in! There are only 2 of these cabins and we were able to snag one! Because of its location at the front of the ship, it has additional space, like 300 square feet of space.

It was configured like a long rectangle. When you walk in, there is a large space in front of you that you could store a stroller, crib, or other large items. Then there is a set of bunk beds and the bathroom. As you move further into the cabin, there is a sofabed on the right and the vanity area to the left.

At the back of the cabin is the closet and the bed. There is so much room! It was wonderful for my daughter's family of four. They loved it!

Balcony- We had a balcony room, it's our favorite cabin type. We love watching the ocean and having our morning coffee with a view in our pajamas.

This balcony was set pretty far back on the ship, so we overlooked a turbine and the crew's area below. However, the view was not obstructed, it was just further away than we have had in the past.

We only had balcony neighbors on one side of us, which was nice. We probably would not book this cabin again due to the view below us.

For those who are concerned about noise, this area of the ship was really very quiet and our hallway was only our group because the hall ended. There would be no need for anyone to go as far as our cabins, so that was really nice!

Seascape Dining Experience

The Seascape offers several dining options: from main dining to specialty dining, and of course the buffet restaurant. There are over 11 different dining venues and food being served from 6AM to 11:30PM, and pizza delivery until 1AM, there's no need to go hungry onboard!

Seascape offers 8 different seatings for the main dining restaurants and My Choice Dining for those who have the Aurea Experience or Yacht Club.

They also offer specialty dining. You can book a package before you leave home (and save), or you can book once you are onboard. We did not eat in any of the specialty restaurants this cruise.

The options for specialty restaurants include: The Butcher's Cut- steak restaurant, Ocean Cay- seafood restaurant, Kaito- teppanyaki and sushi bar, and Hola! Tacos & Cantina- mexican.

We were perfectly fine with the options in the main dining room and found something great to eat every night. We also love getting to know our wait staff! By the second or third night, they have our drinks waiting for us, know our names, and have suggestions for what to order.

Main Dining Room-We were perfectly fine with the options in the main dining room and enjoyed getting to know our server.

Breakfast- They do offer breakfast in the main dining room daily. The wait staff will be walking around with a bread basket and offering juice and coffee. They have a menu of classic breakfast items and many side items to choose from as well. We have found that eating here takes more time than eating at the buffet, so be sure you have the time to spend. It is nice to be able to sit and enjoy your breakfast instead of trying to find a seat at the buffet and trekking back and forth to get your food and drinks.

Lunch- We do enjoy having lunch in the main dining room. They may ask if you are willing to sit with other people, which we enjoy doing. It is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow cruisers. The menu is typically soup, appetizer, salads, and sandwiches, which were all very good. This is a great option if you aren't interested in fighting the crowd at the buffet. I find that I enjoy eating in the main dining room on sea days, it is a much calmer atmosphere.

Dinner- They have a menu that changes daily (usually themed-French, Caribbean, Italian) and on Gala Night they do offer lobster free of charge. They have a menu that offers classic entrees nightly, think chicken breast, steak, spaghetti, etc..

Buffet– We were happy with all of the food and drink options at the buffet. They tried hard to keep the supply of food, drinks, and plates available all of the time. They do have devices on each table to press a button for drink service. We found that the servers did not seem to use the devices, they simply came over to get get your drink order. When we are travelling with others, we like to designate an area in the buffet where we always sit. This makes it easier to find each other, especially when there is a crowd.

Breakfast- We ate at the buffet many times for breakfast. It is a fast way to get something to eat before heading out for an excursion. They have a cereal bar, an omelet station, a cold area with meats and cheeses, and a bread bar. It is typically very crowded, so be sure to pack your patience.

Lunch- The buffet has really great offerings for lunch, especially if you are hanging out at the pool and do not want to go get dressed for the main dining room. They have a sandwich area, wonderful pizza, soups, salads, and many main entrees. We really enjoyed getting a soft serve ice cream cone. You can find it at the end of the dessert bar.

Dinner- The first night of the cruise we ate at the buffet because we didn't want to miss the Sailaway Party and the beautiful views when sailing out of Miami. We found the buffet to have really good options and it wasn't as busy as it is at breakfast or lunch on a sea day.

We really liked that the buffet had a designated kid's area. The buffet in this area is lower and offers kid-friendly foods.

Dress Code– The dress code for the main dining room is very relaxed. The only exception is on Gala night, men are required to wear pants in the main dining room. At the buffet, you will need to be wearing a cover up over your swim suit and have shoes on.

MSC Seascape Theme Nights

For these theme nights, you can dress up as much or as little as you want. We have fun with it, sometimes we wear matching outfits. We usually wear our themed outfit to dinner but if you prefer, you can wait until later in the evening when the events and parties start.

Here's the scoop on the Theme nights. We were on a 7 night cruise, and every night there is a suggested way to dress for the evening.

You do not HAVE to participate if you choose not to, typically the cruise activity staff will be dressed according to the theme, the main dining room may have a menu that reflects the theme, and there will activities in the atrium, lounges, and sometimes a pool party where the evening's theme will be the star of the show.

On our cruise, we had the following theme nights: Glow/Casual; Gala; Tropical; 60's, 70's, 80's; Rock/Casual; and the last night of the cruise is always casual.

The only exception is Gala night. Gala night is usually the first sea day of the voyage. On Gala night, they request that men wear long pants to the dining rooms. If you do not want to wear pants in the main dining room, this would be a great night to see what the buffet offers at dinner, many times it is similar to the main dining restaurant. Gala night is the one dinner during the cruise when lobster is served free of charge.

Seascape Bars

Casino Bar- This was our top choice for a consistently good drink! It is not flashy or fancy but the bartenders here always were prompt with their service and the drinks always tasted the way they were supposed to.

Champagne Bar- The Champagne Bar has a great location! We like being able to watch the events in the center of the ship while sipping on our drinks.

Cocktail Bar- This was our favorite bar for their unique drinks. We had the Easy Plus Plan, so we did pay the upcharge for a some of their drinks, but it was worth it!

Shine Bar-This was our least favorite bar on the ship. It seemed to always be busy because of its location in the center of the ship, the bartenders really didn't have time to be friendly, and the drinks were very inconsistent.

Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar- A wonderfully unique place to grab a hot or cold drink! They offer a rum and chocolate tasting if you are looking for a fun activity. Their drinks are NOT included in the Easy Plus Plan, so you will need to pay for all of the drinks there.

Cafe Bar- We didn't find this bar until mid-week, but it became a fast favorite for us! They serve coffee drinks and croissants, along with a full bar and they have a nice outdoor seating area. On the inside they have a stage area for speakers and karaoke.

Sports Bar- This was another bar that we really liked. The inside has coves with TV's so you can watch your favorite sporting event and they have a wonderful outside seating area that is great in the evening! They do offer some snacks for purchase here too.

Entertainment

This is one area that we found MSC to be lacking a bit. They offer entertainment but it is pretty mediocre. You will not find Broadway type shows or great gameshows, but they do try to have something to offer to pass the day away.

Le Cabaret- Every evening Le Cabaret offers entertainment. They have singers, dancers, magic, acrobats, and other variety type shows. We found it to be ok for an hour or so. The venue itself is really interesting. It is tiered and had the feel of a nice nightclub.

Uptown Lounge- We spent quite a few evenings here to watch karaoke and trivia games. It is right outside of the smoking area so there are a lot of people in and out. We did not notice any smoke smell or odors inside the lounge. The bar staff here was very friendly and it was a fun venue.

Dueling Pianos- We watched the Dueling Pianos a few times and we were really disappointed in the quality and the venue. They are seated in an open area not inside of a bar or lounge which seemed to take away from the interactive nature of a piano bar.

Comedy Show- We went to the family and the adult comedy show hoping that it would get better, but it was not very good at all. During the family show, nearly the entire audience walked out and at the adult show, of the few people who were there, we saw several people sleeping. Unless they have replaced the comedian, I would not recommend going to this show.

Central- The Central area of the ship offered the best entertainment. They did dance competitions, and other fun activities that corresponded with the daily theme. It gets crowded because there is always something fun going on.

Aurea Spa

We absolutely loved the onboard spa! It was a beautiful and relaxing area.

Thermal Suite Pass- One of the few items that we added on to our reservation before leaving home was the Thermal Pass. It allows you to use the Thermal Area of spa from 8AM-9PM every day of the cruise.

The Thermal area has a snow room, salt room, 2 steam rooms (one with aromatherapy), 2 saunas, a hydrotherapy pool, heated loungers, and several circuit type showers. It was quite crowded on the first full day of the cruise but later in the week and later in the day, it was much quieter. They also have an outdoor area with lounge chairs and a whirlpool that are available. This is relaxing area to enjoy.

Couples Massage- Don't forget to go to the spa on Embarkation Day. They entice you with mini chair massages. They also have drawings, you must be present to win. We signed up for the drawing and won! (I never win anything!) So we were able to put my winnings toward a couples massage and it was wonderful!

Tip: Schedule your spa treatment appointments when you board the ship. Sea day appointments fill up fast!

Pools

There were 4 water areas on the ship, each of them had their own feel. At 2 pool areas (main and jungle) there are bars, hot tubs, and yummy gelato that you can purchase. We found that they were very generous with the gelato serving sizes.

There are lifeguards at all of the water activity areas.

Jungle Pool- The jungle pool had more shady areas to stay out of the sun and didn't ever seem as crowded as the Main pool did. There are 2 whirlpools along side the pool. Above the pool area there are pool and ping-pong tables and plenty of seating. This is a nice place to relax and read a book.

Pirate's Cove- The Pirate's Cove area had a splash area, a baby area with ankle deep water, and it was where the entrance to the water slides was available. There is not an actual pool in this area, it is more of a play zone.

Main Pool- The main pool is where the Sail Away Party takes place, along with other activities throughout the cruise. It has an fun, lively vibe and there are usually crowds that gather there on sea days. There are 2 whirlpools on each side of the pool and plenty of loungers available for seating.

Infinity Pool- The Infinity pool is an adults only pool area on deck 8 all the way at the aft (back) of the ship. There are lounge chairs in the water and abundant seating available. There is a bar and gelato available. This is a beautiful area to sit at as you are sailing away from port.

Note: We had a 1 year old with us. The rules seemed to vary at the pool, depending upon which lifeguard was on duty. Some of the lifeguards allowed him to be in the pool as long as we removed his diaper and others only allowed him to splash in the shallow areas, the inconsistency was difficult on the parents and the child. We willingly adhered to whatever the lifeguard on duty asked of us.

Shopping

When you are at sea, the MSC shops will open up so you can do some shopping. The ship offers several shops including a jewelry store with both fashion jewelry and fine jewelry, a duty-free liquor store (that offers tastings), a watch/sunglasses shop with a great selection of name brand products, and a MSC logo store with clothing and other items, they even have a LEGO MSC cruise ship!

Deck 6 offers a perfume and cosmetics store, as well as a boutique clothing shop.

They do offer different specials throughout the week, be sure to keep an eye on the daily program or just walk through the shops every now and then to check out the offerings.

Guest Services

The Hub is the photo and digital area on the ship. You can purchase any of the pictures that are taken throughout the week and get any of your questions answered about wifi and connectivity.

Tip: Purchase your pictures before the last day of your cruise. If you wait, you will have to join the crowd of others who are purchasing last minute photos.

The Shore Excursion Desk is located on deck 6, you can stop in here to book shore excursions or to ask questions you may have about shore excursions you have booked. When you are looking at shore excursions from home, sometimes they sell out. You can always check once you are onboard for availability because many times they hold back space to sell during the cruise and sometimes people will cancel their excursion once onboard, leaving available space.

Future Cruises and Guest Services are both available on deck 5. Guest Services will handle situations like a lost cruise card or if you have questions about your folio (bill). Future Cruises will be able to help you plan your next cruise on MSC and special promotions when you book onboard. The future cruise consultants will have a talk scheduled so you can see what upcoming cruises are available.

Kid's Club

My grandchildren, ages 1 and 5, were with us on this cruise.

Our 5 year old loved the kids' club and went a few times throughout the week. He enjoyed the Lego aspect of the club and found the staff to be fun and friendly.

MSC Seascape Ship Overview

Decor- MSC really creates elegant looking ships with crystal staircases and beautifully decorated bars. There is never a shortage of places to take the perfect picture. This ship's theme is New York City and it has a Statue of Liberty in the central area of the ship, called Times' Square. Be sure to check out the hallway on the way to the Cabaret Lounge for cool lighting and a picture in a hot air balloon.

Cleanliness- When we were aboard, the ship was extremely clean and we saw crew members constantly keeping everything well maintained. We had an issue with our balcony door and they came late at night and stayed until it was fixed. We felt as though all of the food we were served was fresh and cooked properly.

Crew- As always, the crew was extremely helpful and friendly. We got to know our cabin steward, our wait staff at dinner (one of the reasons I really enjoy eating in the main dining room), and several of the bartenders. The crew was very kind and helpful with my grandchildren (ages 1 & 5), bringing special food at dinner and cleaning the cabin between nap times.

MSC Seascape Itinerary

This was a classic Western Caribbean itinerary. We had perfect weather every day, we were very lucky because many others missed ports because the ocean was too rough. This itinerary also had the perfect blend of sea days and port days. When you are on a large ship with lots of activities, it's nice to have a day or two at sea to rest or to enjoy all of the amenities offered onboard.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica- Ocho Rios was our first port of call, with its lush green mountains and welcoming culture. Top attractions here tend to be more adventurous- climbing Dunn's River Falls, jumping in the water at the Blue Hole, or rafting down the Martha Brae River.

Since we have been here before, we wanted our adult kids to have a fun and adventurous day, so we played onboard with my grandchildren while they enjoyed a tour that included river tubing and the Blue Hole.

They booked a tour with Courtney Taylor Tours and were very happy with the tour, guides, and the responsiveness of the company prior to the tour.

This was the first time I have ever stayed onboard while the ship was in port. It was as if we were VIP's! The crew was very accommodating for the kids and we had our pick of seats at the pool.

Georgetown, Grand Cayman- Our next stop was Georgetown, Grand Cayman, which is a tender port. We were very lucky that our captain was able to find a way to allow us to tender in to port safely- we were the only ship that didn't cancel and stay at sea. We did have to use an alternate port, farther away from the center of town, but we were still able to enjoy Grand Cayman for the day.

Tip: Be sure to watch the app and your tender tickets if you want to get off the ship promptly. They will typically have a time and location to meet the evening prior to the port to get tickets for your cabin.

We booked our tour through Shore Excursion Group, it was the Grand Cayman Icons Tour- Turtles, Hell, and Seven Mile Beach.

We got off to a bumpy start because the tour provider, CAYTOURS, did not show up. After several calls from both other tour company representatives and myself, we got going and had a fun day.

We went to see Hell, which is a unique rock formation and a quick 10 minute stop to say you have been to “Hell”. They have a couple of little shops and a deck walkway to view the rock formations.

Tip: There is a post office in Hell, bring addresses to send funny postcards to friends and relatives.

We went to the Cayman Turtle Center, which was the highlight of the day. If you have kids or someone who loves sea turtles, this is a great place to spend a couple of hours. Some highlights include a turtle lagoon where you can purchase food to feed the turtles and a turtle encounter area where you can touch the turtles.

Other non turtle adventures include a pool, water slide, aviary, crocodile area, and a shark feeding show.

Our last stop was to famed Seven Mile Beach. The ocean was rough, but it was still beautiful and we were able to get in the water for a bit. The beach area had chairs and umbrellas for rent, food truck and a vendor area with souvenirs.

Cozumel, Mexico- Cozumel is one of the top cruise ports in the Caribbean. This island is is popular for culture, shopping, water activities, and trips to the mainland (Playa Del Carmen, Mexico).

Since we have visited and enjoyed Cozumel many times before, we opted to have an unstructured shopping day. We ported at Punta Langosta and the shopping area was just a short walk away. There was plenty to keep us busy for a few hours. There is a 2 story open air shopping mall with souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, liquor stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores.

Ocean Cay, Bahamas- Our final port of call for this cruise was to Ocean Cay, MSC's private marine reserve island in the Bahamas. We were so fortunate to have awesome weather for a perfect beach day! We spent a long day here, with arrival at 8AM and all aboard at 7:30 PM.

Ocean Cay has 6 beaches (one is exclusively for Yacht Club guests) and a lagoon, so you will not feel crowded here! There are plenty of chairs and 2 booths where you can rent umbrellas and floating mats. They serve a free lunch and your drink package is applicable on the island too!

The focal point of the island is the lighthouse and right after sunset they do a light show to enjoy before you set sail. This is a beautiful island and I am looking forward to visiting again and seeing what they do with it in the future.

Note: This island will be closed in the spring of 2024 for renovations and expansion.

If you are curious about which Caribbean or Bahamas cruise itinerary is for you, The Ultimate Guide to Caribbean and Bahamas Cruise Ports is for you!

Seascape Disembarkation in Miami

Our disembarkation was super fast and easy! We chose the Express Walk Off option. We packed up on our last night and left out the necessities for the next morning. We did NOT leave our luggage in the hall because we carried our own luggage off the ship.

Disembarkation day we got up at 6AM, got ready and went to the buffet for breakfast. After breakfast, we went back to our cabin and waited to hear the announcement that the ship had been cleared to disembark passengers. We got our luggage and headed toward the gangway. Once we were there, they scanned our cards one last time.

For my tips on having a worry-free disembarkation day, check out the Ultimate Cruise Disembarkation Guide.

We then headed to customs and immigration (which was a simple face scan), then on to grab an Uber ride to the Blue Lagoon hotel near the Miami airport.

I used ResortPass to book the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon for the day. We had a late afternoon flight and it's nice to relax at a resort with a pool, hot tub, bar, and restaurants for a few hours rather than sitting in the airport. If you are looking for something more active, there are after cruise excursions to the Everglades. Here is a review of The Everglades Holiday Park Shore Excursion.

By 8:30 AM, we were sitting by the pool at the hotel!

This hotel offers a free shuttle service to the airport every half hour and offers a free luggage holding area. There is a Starbuck's inside and a small convenience store. Plus, they have a building outside with restrooms and a changing area so you can change clothes and freshen up before heading to the airport.

Tip: Bring ziploc bags to put wet swimsuits in until you get home.

Book Again?

This was a fantastic cruise!! The whole family loved it!

Embarkation and disembarkation was really quick and easy.

The Seascape is a gorgeous, sparkling ship. She is really huge and has a large capacity of 5,600 passengers and 1,600 crew. So crowds at times were an issue. It takes a couple of days to get acquainted with where the venues are and how to get back to your cabin!

There are activities and entertainment available for all ages. We were a multi-generational group and we had a blast together and apart.

There were places on the ship to hideaway from the crowds and there was an adults-only area if you choose to get away from the kids for awhile.

The food quality in the free restaurants was really good. There weren't any dishes that stood out as the “best” we had ever eaten but nothing was bad and there was plenty of variety for everyone.

The staff was helpful and friendly, always trying their best to make sure that you had the best vacation ever.

This cruise was affordable and checked all of the boxes for our family. I would not hesitate to book again!