Editor’s note: TPG’s Kristy Tolley accepted a free trip from MSC Cruises to cruise on MSC Seascape. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren’t subject to review by the line.
I dare you not to ogle the minute you step on board MSC Cruises‘ MSC Seascape.
The soaring four-deck atrium practically shouts at you, thanks to the seemingly endless walls of glass, bright colors, shimmering chrome and glittering Swarovski crystal staircases that flank the atrium bar. The atmosphere feels electric — perhaps a combination of passengers’ first-day celebratory vibes and the dazzling design elements that saturate the atrium.
The space is loud but glamorous, offering a hint of what you might expect during your time on board. A bevy of bars spread throughout the ship ensures a good time no matter which deck you’re on. A moody lounge-style theater hosts intimate performances from singers, dancers and contortionists. An LED wall pays homage to New York City’s bustling Times Square, and your days will feel just as busy as you head from hotly contested trivia competitions to lively crew-led parties.
I sailed a seven-night fully booked sailing and was surprised to discover the ship rarely felt overly crowded. While pools were often packed and shows and activities were well attended, queues were minimal and I never felt claustrophobic. The impressive number of pools and the variety of entertainment available throughout the ship seemed to spread out the passenger population.
If you want the ability to do all the things and then kick back in peace, MSC Seascape might be the ship for you. From bright lights and buzzy parties to quiet spaces and intimate venues, here’s what you can expect from Seascape.
Overview of MSC Seascape
The 170,412-ton MSC Seascape is 19 decks high and carries 4,540 passengers at double occupancy (5,877 at maximum occupancy). Built in 2022, it’s one of four ships in MSC Cruises’ Seaside Class. If you’re unfamiliar with the European cruise line, that’s likely because it previously focused on sailings in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. However, it has rapidly expanded its footprint in North America with sailings departing from cruise hubs in Miami and Port Canaveral, Florida; New York City; and Galveston, Texas.
Seascape’s demographics seemed to run the gamut — couples, groups of friends and even solo cruisers (although it doesn’t offer any cabins for singles). MSC bills the vessel as “family-friendly.” While I didn’t notice a ton of kids on my mid-October sailing, the ship boasted a slew of options for cruisers with kids (fun water park areas, a robust kids club scene and other family-focused activities).
Additionally, the ship had an international vibe, with passengers speaking many different languages. On more than one occasion, I witnessed lively conversations between crew members and passengers in Italian, Spanish and French. Additionally, the captain’s announcements were made in English, Italian and Spanish.
The ship’s nightly shows, live music and variety of activities consistently impressed me, and its luxury Yacht Club suite enclave offered a remarkable luxury experience.
Overall, it’s a fun ship with many ways to stay entertained.
Related: MSC status match: How status with another cruise line got me perks with MSC
What I loved about MSC Seascape
Thermal Spa
We stayed in the MSC Yacht Club suite enclave, and one of the perks I most appreciated was complimentary access to Seascape’s thermal area within the Aurea Spa. It’s open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you can come and go as you please. (Note that on sea days, you do need to book a time slot because of the increased number of folks using it.)
The hot tub was large enough to accommodate several people without feeling hemmed in, though we never shared it with more than four or five others. Heated loungers lined the hot tub, ideal for a post-dip nap.
The spa also featured a Kneipp room, where you walk through a sequence of hot and cold showers, and a lovely Himalayan salt room I could have enjoyed for hours. I frequented the sensory steam rooms and sauna and even braved the snow room several times, proud that I stayed in for two whole minutes. It was invigorating! Thermal spa guests also have access to an outdoor private deck area with loungers.
One of the two saunas was under maintenance during our sailing, making the one in service a bit crowded during sea days. However, you can always head to the fitness center locker rooms, both of which feature a single-sex sauna.
Passengers who book the Aurea experience or a room in the Yacht Club receive complimentary Thermal Spa access. All other passengers will pay $80 per person, per day. You’ll save a bit with a couples pass, which costs $129 per day, per couple.
The bar scene
I’m low-key obsessed with themed bars on cruise ships and will spend a good chunk of my evenings enjoying their vibe. A few of my favorites are Royal Caribbean’s Pesky Parrot, Carnival Cruise Line’s Alchemy Bar and Virgin Voyages’ Sip Champagne lounge. At first, I was disappointed to realize that, apart from the 1920s-style Le Cabaret Rouge and perhaps the Sports Bar, no bar on Seascape offered the gimmicky-yet-cool atmosphere I seek.
However, after exploring the ship’s nightlife, I changed my tune. I discovered you don’t necessarily need a theme to provide a great bar experience.
Whether I wanted to cure my FOMO or nurture my inner introvert, Seascape had my back. The openness of the Seascape Bar (Deck 5), Shine Bar (Deck 6), and the Champagne & Wine Bar (Deck 7), all of which overlooked the ship’s atrium, provided an ideal setting to people-watch and meet other cruisers. For a quiet drink in a luxurious setting, the Cocktail Bar (Deck 8) hit the mark. Here, I felt as if I were transported to a posh cocktail lounge within a high-end resort. I also found that the Loft Cafe (Deck 8) offered the perfect mix of trivia and tipples.
MSC for Me mobile app
I still hang on to my old-school tendencies to use the cruise ship’s paper daily planner. However, I relied more on the mobile app during this sailing than I ever have on previous cruises with other lines.
The MSC for Me mobile app made our list of best cruise ship apps for good reason. You can stay in touch with your group through its onboard chat capability. You can also book onboard events or dining and add them to your schedule, as well as purchase shore excursions and drink or dining packages.
What I liked most was the notifications feature. Alerts ranged from general information, such as Seascape’s arrival time in our next port of call and the optimum dining hours to avoid crowds at the buffet, to personal reminders of the activities or reservations we had already booked. Throughout the day, I also received reminders of events I didn’t have on my radar. That’s how I discovered the Loft Cafe offered a smaller, quieter continental breakfast. Thanks, MSC for Me app!
Solid plant-based options
Over the last few years, cruise lines have improved slightly in providing decent options for vegan and vegetarian passengers. Some offer a handful of plant-based dishes on every restaurant menu, but I often resort to creating my own meal by combining side dishes on the menu. While I’ve recently added seafood back to my diet, I still gravitate toward plant-based offerings. MSC Seascape had them in spades.
Seascape’s complimentary Marketplace Buffet and Restaurant included a special vegan section, which featured a few plant-based dishes that changed daily, as well as a good selection of vegan or vegetarian dishes mixed in with regular buffet items. Vegan chili, aloo matar with rice and papadum (an Indian curry dish), and Thai vegan sweet garlic roasted eggplant were among several tasty options.
One mainstay was a freshly prepared plant-based burger. It blew me away. The soy patty tasted similar to a traditional beef burger, unlike the dry, flavorless quinoa- or bean-based options I’ve had on many other lines. (I’m looking at you, Guy’s Burger Joint!)
What I didn’t love about MSC Seascape
Confusing specialty dining packages
Specialty dining on MSC Seascape seemed so much more complicated than it should have been due to confusing Dining Experience packages.
To be fair, you can book a table at any of the specialty restaurants independently. They include Butcher’s Cut (steakhouse), Ocean Cay (seafood), Hola! Tacos & Cantina (Mexican) and Kaito Teppanyaki and Kaito Sushi Bar (Asian). The idea behind the Dining Experience packages is that you can save money by purchasing bundles of restaurant meals in advance.
Dining Experience packages are offered in two- to four-restaurant bundles and vary in price depending on the number of restaurants you choose. The prices are $155 per person (for four restaurants), $110 per person (for three restaurants) and $95 per person (for two restaurants), plus an 18% gratuity.
But there’s a catch: When you eat at an onboard restaurant as part of a dining package, you cannot order from the regular menu. Instead, you must choose your dishes from a package-specific, more restrictive menu.
With a package, you can choose a starter, entree and dessert from the Dining Experience menu (for a maximum of three dishes). You’re allowed to replace a dish from the Dining Experience menu with one from the a la carte menu at a cost of 50% of the listed price. You can order any additional dish from the regular menu at full price. The exception was the menu at Hola! Tacos & Cantina, where the “all you can eat” option was included in the Dining Experience package.
Essentially, if you stray outside of the restrictive menu offered in the Dining Experience package, you’ll eat away at your savings.
The Dining Experience menus offered a choice of eight to 10 starters, five entrees and five desserts. I would have preferred to have been able to order from the entire menu. While I was pleased with my sockeye salmon at Butcher’s Cut, I would have loved to have been able to order the shellfish platter and the scallops Benedict offered on the full menu.
You can peruse each restaurant’s Dining Experience menu options before you purchase, so you can see if the dishes you’d like to order are included.
Also, you should price out your intended order. I was surprised to discover that the dining packages don’t actually save you that much money.
We got the three-restaurant package for a total price of $220 for two people. However, our meals at Butcher’s Cut, Kaito Teppanyaki and Hola! Tacos & Cantina purchased a la carte would have cost us a total of $235.90, saving us just shy of $16 (plus the extra gratuity). Based on our spending, we would have lost money had we chosen the two-restaurant package (priced at $190 for a couple) and dined at Butcher’s Cut and Hola! Tacos & Cantina. Our meals at those two restaurants would have cost us $158.98 without the dining package. Buyer beware.
The push to purchase a Dining Experience seemed excessive, too. Within the first hour of boarding the ship, at least five people approached us to discuss buying a dining or drink package. I expected that on embarkation day, but I was taken aback when we continued to encounter hard sells on day two and (surprisingly) on day six of our seven-night sailing.
No ATMs on board
I typically bring extra cash when I cruise. We usually give our cabin steward a tip at the end of the sailing, and I like to have bills for luggage porters and excursion tour guides. Somehow, my husband and I miscommunicated our precruise responsibilities, and neither of us brought enough bills. “No problem,” we thought. “We’ll just hit the ship’s ATM.”
However, after scouring the ship and inquiring at the guest services desk, we discovered there was, in fact, no onboard ATM. The only way to get cash during your sailing is to get an advance against your credit card at the guest services desk. Passengers are charged a 5% fee for the transaction.
MSC Seascape cabins and suites
Seascape offers 2,270 guest rooms, with accommodations for every budget. Choose among more than a dozen cabin categories — inside windowless rooms, ocean-facing balcony cabins and an array of suites. Suites include those located in the MSC Yacht Club, the line’s exclusive private area that offers accommodations across several categories, and two ginormous Owner’s Suites that debuted with this ship. Some suites feature extended balconies with private hot tubs.
Traveling with a larger group? While not specifically listed as “family cabins,” MSC Seascape’s connecting cabins are ideal for families. These include sets of three balcony cabins with connecting doors, essentially creating a single three-bedroom, three-bathroom cabin. Other options for families traveling together include the two-bedroom Grand Suite Aurea, which can sleep up to eight guests.
MSC Yacht Club guests can spread out in a 667-square-foot Royal Suite with a whopping 355-square-foot balcony or splurge on a 1,055-foot Owner’s Suite featuring a separate living room, a walk-in closet and a 269-square-foot balcony with a private hot tub.
The ship also offers more than 75 accessible cabins for passengers with limited mobility. Cabin features include wider doors, lower closet rods and ramped thresholds, as well as wider bathrooms with roll-in showers, raised toilets, grab rails and lower sinks.
Similar to my issue with MSC’s dining package offerings, the line’s booking setup is a real head-scratcher. Once you’ve chosen your cabin type, you must then select an “experience package” (Bella, Fantastica or Aurea). Your chosen package determines the perks you’ll receive on your sailing but might include things like preferred dining time, welcome amenities, complimentary room service and priority boarding.
My husband and I stayed in a Deluxe Grand Suite (with a balcony) in Seascape’s MSC Yacht Club suite complex on Deck 16. The Yacht Club is MSC Cruises’ “ship within a ship” concept. Our Yacht Club cabin gave us exclusive access to a private pool and sundeck area and included exclusive dining at the Top Sail restaurant, our own lounge and bar areas (with free drinks), and a dedicated concierge and guest services desk.
We also enjoyed private events, such as a cocktail reception with the captain, a whiskey and chocolate tasting, an upscale afternoon tea, and a fun DJ-led island party on the Top 19 pool deck, complete with conga line dancing with crew members. We also made good use of the ever-present nibbles available in the Top Sail Lounge.
Yacht Club fares include gratuities, room service, and premium alcohol and Wi-Fi packages. You do not need to purchase add-ons or pay additional fees like you would in cabins outside the Yacht Club.
Our cabin was spacious and awash in various shades of gray, with pops of yellow. It felt upscale and minimalist and offered an incredibly serene atmosphere.
Our queen-size bed was firm but comfortable, fitted with soft linens and a cozy duvet comforter. However, our pillows were extremely flat and did not provide ample neck support, resulting in a fitful first night of sleep. The next morning, I mentioned our pillow predicament to our butler, and he replaced them with dreamy memory foam pillows.
Two nightstands flanked the bed, each with two drawers and two bedside lights (a larger, brighter light and a small reading light). A single USB outlet was located on one side of the bed above the nightstand. An upholstered bench at the foot of the bed provided additional seating or a spot to stash the decorative pillows at bedtime.
A fixed open-shelving unit separated the sleeping area from the living space. It held a handful of knick-knacks (glued to the shelf). The living area featured a soft and cushy microfiber couch that can also serve as a bed. A lovely glass-and-chrome coffee table and a chair rounded out the seating area.
On the wall opposite the bed and couch was a long two-drawer desk/vanity with a large mirror. A hair dryer was in one drawer, with plenty of extra room for me to stash my flat iron, brush and hairspray. A second drawer held a laundry bag (with order forms) and a small sewing kit. An ottoman was tucked under the desk.
To the right of the desk, a storage space offered two cubbies for shoes or other loose items. It was topped with a Nespresso maker and a tray of snacks and bottled water. A similar storage cubby was to the left of the desk, as well as two cabinet doors that hid the minifridge and pull-out trays filled with coffee cups, saucers, wine glasses, tea bags and Nespresso pods. Above it, a large flat-screen TV hung from the wall.
Two tall clothes closets bookended the wall unit. Both held tons of hangers. The closets also held two cozy robes and two pairs of terrycloth slippers.
The room had two North American outlets, two European outlets and two USB and USB-C ports, all at the desk area, as well as the USB outlet at the nightstand.
Since we were staying in the Yacht Club, our suite came with a complimentary minibar stocked with juice, beer, soda and bottled water (flat and sparkling), as well as mixed nuts, Pringles and Toblerone chocolate. Items were replenished daily. We also received one free bottle of spirits (vodka, gin or whiskey). Probably my favorite room perk was the Nespresso machine, so I could enjoy my morning coffee without having to leave the cabin. I asked our cabin butler, Jeetoo, for cream, and he promptly stashed a large container in our minifridge for me to use the entire week.
Our bathroom was the real highlight for me — the spaciousness was a nice departure from cruise ship bathrooms I’ve previously experienced. Marble floors and countertops created a contemporary and upscale feel, and I appreciated the full-size bottles of MSC-branded soap and lotion. Storage options included two glass shelves above the vanity, one stocked with extra handcloths and shower caps.
Two cabinets underneath held a box of tissues and extra toilet paper but left plenty of room to stow personal items on the shelves. The commodious glass-enclosed shower had both standard and rainfall showerheads. A small chrome shelf in the corner was just big enough to hold your personal shampoo and conditioner. However, the shower featured a bench that served as another toiletry shelf (or a convenient prop for shaving your legs). Our shower was also stocked with full-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.
The only ever-so-slight niggle I had about the cabin was the positioning of the chair by the coffee table. It blocked the opening of the balcony door, so we had to move the chair to the right to get to the door. However, we couldn’t just leave the chair there permanently for convenience, as it blocked the closet doors. The couch, ottoman and bench at the foot of the bed provided plenty of seating, so the chair was just in the way for the most part.
A valuable perk of booking a Yacht Club suite is the personal embarkation/debarkation experience. Our driver dropped us off by the MSC Yacht Club tent, where we handed over our bags and waited for someone to lead us through the check-in process. From bag drop-off, it took us less than 15 minutes to go through security and check-in (and receive our Yacht Club wristbands). We were escorted to a private waiting area with other Yacht Club passengers and enjoyed free sparkling wine, water, juices and snacks while we waited to board (which was only about another 20 minutes).
Once on board, Yacht Club passengers can head to the club’s exclusive Top Sail Lounge for drinks and canape-style snacks like finger sandwiches and mini desserts while waiting for their cabin to be ready. Almost every table and bar seat was taken when we arrived, though, so we opted to explore the ship instead. After touring the ship, we returned for a relaxing embarkation day lunch in the Top Sail restaurant.
Related: MSC Cruises’ MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know
MSC Seascape restaurants and bars
MSC Seascape offers a decent mix of restaurant and bar choices, from complimentary main dining and buffet options to a handful of specialty restaurants. A weeklong sailing is enough time to sample a variety of onboard dining.
Restaurants
Included-in-fare dining
MSC Seascape’s four main dining rooms are The Green Wave (Deck 5), Cala Jondal (Deck 6), Skyline and Aegean (both on Deck 7). All are included in your cruise fare and offer set seating for dinner (7 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Menus are the same across all four restaurants, but each venue features its own specials that change daily.
Your dining times and restaurant will be determined by which accommodation experience you purchase (Bella, Fantastica or Aurea). For example, Bella and Fantastica guests can choose early or late dining in Green Wave, Cala Jondal or Aegean, while Aurea guests can dine anytime between 6 and 9:30 p.m. in the Skyline Restaurant.
The Green Wave also serves breakfast daily and brunch on sea days from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (for all passengers). You don’t need to make a reservation for brunch.
We tried out The Green Wave’s sea day brunch, and it was just OK. My husband ordered a spicy gin bloody mary with bacon but received a classic vodka bloody mary with no garnish. He wasn’t impressed with it.
My go-to brunch order is typically smoked salmon eggs Benedict, but I wasn’t wowed by it here. Additionally, I bit into a pretty sizable fishbone. To be fair, our server whisked away my dish and quickly replaced it with a new Benedict (which was tastier than my original dish). Additionally, the head server apologized profusely and checked back with me to ensure I was satisfied with the second dish.
The Marketplace Buffet and Restaurant provided an impressive selection of dishes. It’s split into three separate sections that were spread out enough to keep queues manageable during peak dining times. Breakfast offerings were plentiful — from scrambled eggs, meat sides (bacon, sausage and ham) and fresh fruit to Mexican-style deviled eggs (topped with black beans, corn and jalapenos), mini cheese quiches and deli meat-wrapped dill pickles, stuffed with cream cheese. Two stations were designated for made-to-order omelets.
For lunch and dinner, stations included soup, salad and pasta; an international counter with rotating Asian, Indian and Italian cuisine; and a carving station with side dishes like mashed potatoes, french fries, baked beans and the like. The designated “For Kids Only” buffet was adorable, with a whimsical arch for kids to enter the food station and colorful banners hanging from the top. Younger cruisers (ages 3 to 11) could fill their plates with pancakes, doughnuts, yogurt and cereal at breakfast and chicken nuggets, broccoli and mashed potatoes during lunch or dinner.
One bummer we encountered was that complimentary soft-serve ice cream was not available 24/7 as it is on other cruise lines. It’s only offered at the “Sweet Treats” section of the buffet during lunch and dinner. I asked several dining staff members to confirm the availability, hoping I’d get a different answer, but alas, it was true. That said, the soft-serve ice cream on this ship was probably the best I’ve had on any cruise. It was rich and sweet — definitely made with less “ice” and more “cream.”
For something light in a laid-back atmosphere, the Loft Cafe lounge serves a modest continental breakfast every day from 8 to 10 a.m. Pair your pastries, bagels or yogurt parfait with a mimosa or espresso martini.
Added-fee dining
While the specialty dining packages were a bit confusing, added-fee dining itself was fairly cut and dry, and our overall experience at the three added-fee venues we tried was favorable. The specialty restaurants on board Seascape are open nightly for dinner and for lunch on sea days (though prices are the same as the dinner menu). Our dining experience package allowed us to dine at three specialty restaurants during our cruise. We chose Butcher’s Cut, Kaito Teppanyaki and Hola! Tacos & Cantina.
I’m a pescatarian, but I’ve found that steakhouses do seafood particularly well, so I try and dine at them whenever I cruise. My steakhouse seafood streak remains intact, thanks to our meal at Butcher’s Cut. Seafood mains here consisted of sockeye salmon, scallops Benedict and black cod. The sockeye salmon was the only seafood dish listed in the Dining Experience menu, so I chose it. My husband enjoyed his filet mignon. It was cooked perfectly and served with four sauces — forest mushroom, peppercorn, chimichurri and bearnaise.
If you want to order off your set Dining Experience menu (or are paying a la carte), splurge on a dry-aged tomahawk steak for two ($150) or a 24-ounce T-bone ($89). The traditional menu (outside the Dining Experience package) features a la carte items such as crabcakes ($18), foie gras deviled eggs ($14) and a handful of salads ($13-$15) for starters and various entrees such as scallops Benedict ($38), roasted corn-fed chicken ($35) and New York sirloin ($60).
The atmosphere at Butcher’s Cut was moody, with dim lighting, wine-hued leather banquette seating and dark woods. It would be an ideal spot for an anniversary dinner or a romantic meal. From the ambience to the food, this was the best meal of our sailing.
It might seem odd that this fish-loving girl didn’t choose to try Seascape’s Ocean Cay seafood restaurant. That’s because none of the dishes on the limited Dining Experience menu appealed to me. The full (a la carte) menu looked amazing, featuring an impressive list of cold and hot appetizers such as steamed king crab, tuna tartare, littleneck clams, carpaccio and salads. Lobster tail, sea bass and a selection of pastas were among the entree options.
Hola! Tacos & Cantina offers all-you-can-eat tapas-style dining. Choose from freshly made guacamole (it was top notch), tortilla soup, salads and a variety of tacos (including pork, shredded chicken, fish and spiced ground beef). If you have a bigger appetite, tostadas, burritos, tamales or enchiladas will likely fill you up. Our chips and guacamole didn’t stand a chance — we devoured them faster than you can say “margarita.”
Speaking of margaritas, they served one of the best I’ve had in some time. Additionally, my fish tacos were fresh and delicious. We enjoyed our meal, but in hindsight, I would have selected a different restaurant for the Dining Experience package. The price tag of $17.99 per person (for all you can eat) outside the dining package certainly wouldn’t break the bank.
I love an entertaining meal, so Kaito Teppanyaki was our final restaurant choice for our Dining Experience package. It delivered on both amusement and flavor.
Our two dining experience options here were Katana (sea bass fillet and chicken) and Sencho (Atlantic salmon, tiger prawns and sirloin). For $20 more, we could replace one of our choices with Shogun (misoyaki butterfish, scallops, lobster and filet mignon). All choices also included miso soup and a salad, sashimi and sushi, fried rice, and a delicious dessert of caramelized pineapple and ginger ice cream.
Kaito Sushi Bar serves sushi and sashimi plates via a conveyor belt, as well as tempura, teriyaki, soups, noodles, rice and desserts from an a la carte menu.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar on Deck 6, where you’ll find decadent gelato, milkshakes and all the homemade chocolate candy your heart desires. Specialty coffees and chocolate-forward cocktails are also available here.
MSC Yacht Club passengers and those who booked Fantastica or Aurea experiences enjoy 24-hour complimentary room service delivery. Continental breakfast items are free, but other menu items are priced a la carte.
Yacht Club dining
From lunch on embarkation day to three dinners, all our meals in the Yacht Club’s Top Sail restaurant were fantastic. The atmosphere was upscale and serene, and the service was well paced and always impeccable. Menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner featured a well-rounded selection of starters or salads, entrees and desserts, all included.
For breakfast, we usually dined at the Top 19 sundeck buffet. Choices ranged from made-to-order omelets or eggs (fried or scrambled) and breakfast sides like potatoes, sausage or bacon to pastries, bagels and oatmeal or muesli. The buffet is also open for lunch.
Bars
MSC Seascape is home to a slew of places to get your drink on, from buzzy atrium hot spots to cozy lounges. Yacht Club passengers can enjoy complimentary cocktails in the exclusive Top 19 Bar and the Top Sail Lounge. Most bar menus included a few nonalcoholic options and the rotating “drink of the day” featured a zero-proof option as well.
Passengers can belly up to the atrium’s buzzy Seascape Bar (Deck 5) or take the crystal staircase up a floor or two for a drink at the Shine Bar (Deck 6) or the Champagne & Wine Bar (Deck 7). If there’s no seat at the bar, no worries. Each level featured ample seating areas on both sides of the ship and were popular spots throughout our sailing.
I’m not a sports fan, so I rarely spend any time at onboard sports bars. Seascape’s Sports Bar on Deck 8 was an exception. The spaciousness and whimsical sports-themed decor — including a football-shaped bar — drew me in. You can enjoy craft beers, cocktails and a modest menu featuring game-day favorites like wings, nachos and cheeseburgers. The venue also featured individual booths with TVs where you can enjoy a semiprivate game-watching experience with your friends.
Seascape’s Loft Cafe (Deck 8) is a bar and lounge area where the cruise director films the ship’s daily morning show. It’s also the spot for trivia competitions (which were packed every time we went), live music, continental breakfast and a daily (unhosted) cocktail hour for solo travelers.
If you crave a pre- or post-dinner margarita, Hola! Cantina Bar is conveniently situated across from Hola! Tacos & Cantina. The bar showcases a variety of tequila, mezcal and Mexican beer. Go with a standard margarita or mix it up and create your own margarita or “mezcalita.”
Although the Wine Cellar (Deck 8) is not a traditional bar with a full-time bartender, it offers a decent selection of wines from all over the world — Australia, France, Italy, New Zealand, California and Oregon — via two self-serve wine dispensers available 24/7. Each dispenser holds eight bottles available as 2-, 4- or 5-ounce pours that vary in price from $7 to $30, depending on the brand and pour size. Use your cruise keycard to pay.
Oenophiles will not want to miss a tour of the venue led by the onboard sommelier (typically on the first sea day). Our tour kicked off with a complimentary glass of Champagne and a charcuterie snack. The sommelier educated us on the winemaking process, the world’s distinct wine regions and other wine-related tidbits. We closed out the tour with another free glass of Champs.
A few displays advertised the Wine Cellar’s wine-tasting experiences (from $120 to $200 per person), but we didn’t receive a hard sales pitch to purchase one, which I appreciated.
Just around the corner from the Wine Cellar, the Cocktail Bar is a swanky little enclave. The plush gold and green seating, gold accents and gorgeous artwork created an upscale atmosphere rivaled only by the impressive selection of signature cocktails, such as the rum-forward Penny Lee and the unique gin-and-elderflower liqueur creation, Perfume River. Wine and Champagne are also available, and the menu features a handful of zero-proof mocktails.
Le Cabaret Rouge showcases variety-show-style entertainment with a side of cocktails, wine or Champagne. If you’re into boozy sweet drinks, head to Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar. Indulge in a chocolate martini or a Choco Negroni, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, Campari, red vermouth and Venchi’s signature Chocoviar (caviar-style chocolate microspheres). My rum-infused hot chocolate was out of this world.
The Infinity Pool Bar (Deck 8), Jungle Pool Beach Bar (Deck 16) and Marina Pool Bar (Deck 18) served classic beachy beverages, beer and cocktails. Other places to wet your whistle on board include the Casino Bar (Deck 7), the Uptown Lounge (Deck 8), the Marketplace Buffet Bar (Deck 16), the Sky Bar (Deck 16) and the Horizon Bar (Deck 19).
MSC Seascape activities
Seascape’s pools, hot tubs, splash areas and waterslide areas were hugely popular on my Caribbean cruise. Instead of one large top-deck main pool, you’ll find several smaller pools and a collection of hot tubs throughout the ship. (For a party, check out the two 20-person infinity hot tubs on both sides of Deck 8.) From adults-only spaces to family-focused pools, you’ll find a pool to match your vacation vibe. While sea days by the pools were bustling, none of the areas seemed overly crowded. I almost always noticed available loungers throughout the day.
Seascape’s main Marina Pool on Deck 18 had an extended shallow-water ledge around the pool for those who’d rather cool off and hang out than swim. The pool also featured a circular water fountain island with several loungers and plenty of deck seating around the pool. The pool is surrounded by a few hot tubs, as well.
Also on Deck 18, the Pirates Cove splash park area was a popular hangout for families with kids. It had a large dump bucket, two waterslides and an “adventure trail” (a modest ropes course). Although Pirates Cove opened to the sky, the towering pirate ship layout with two waterslides and a large octopus filled the space, creating more of an indoor water park atmosphere than a sunny pool environment. It was an ideal setup for those who prefer more shade with their splashy fun.
The Jungle Pool on Deck 16 was a clear winner for passengers during our cruise, likely due to its location near the Marketplace Buffet and just outside the Doremiland Kids Club. The walls covered in faux greenery created a jungle-like atmosphere, and when closed, the retractable roof provided a greenhouse vibe. The pool was flanked by two hot tubs. The roof was open for most of our sailing, with the exception of a couple of rainy days.
For a kid-free experience, head to the 18-plus Infinity Pool at the aft (back) of the ship on Deck 8. It’s a lovely, bliss-inducing retreat. Yacht Club passengers have their own private pool and hot tubs on Deck 20.
For more relaxation, the Aurea Spa (Deck 8) features 22 treatment rooms, including three dedicated to couples massages. Passengers can choose from a slew of R&R treatments, such as bamboo, Swedish or deep tissue massages; facials; hair and barber services; and nail services. The spa also offers a dry flotation treatment, which features a zero-gravity component to your massage.
Seascape’s fitness center is located beside Aurea Spa and offers a variety of cardio equipment, spin bikes and free weights. With the exception of a daily complimentary morning yoga stretch class, fitness and yoga classes incur a fee.
The Sports Arena (Deck 20) was home to tennis, basketball, pickleball and other activities. Shuffleboard, pingpong and pool tables were located on Deck 18 near Doremiland. You need to pick up shuffleboard pucks, paddles and the like from the ship’s arcade, Hall of Games.
The arcade itself offers a number of different games, as well as a VR flight simulator and VR motorcycles. You’re charged per game (just tap your cruise card to pay). This area is also where you’ll find the interactive XD Cinema, where you can fight zombies and werewolves or become a ninja for an added fee.
Thrill-seekers will want to try Robotron, a three-person ride that cantilevers passengers over the ship’s pool deck 174 feet above the water. It flips riders upside down and every which way to a pumping soundtrack you pick yourself. I had planned to try it out on our last day, but alas, it was closed due to the weather. Each ride costs $12 per person.
The layout of the dedicated kids club area on Deck 18 was well thought-out. It’s called Doremiland, named after MSC’s mascot, Doremi (like the musical notes). Clubs for all age groups branch off from one main check-in lobby, making drop-off and pickup convenient for families with kids in different groups.
Doremiland is divided into the Baby Club (infants and toddlers to 3 years), the Mini Club (ages 3 to 6), the Junior Club (ages 7 to 11), Young Club (ages 12 to 14) and the Teen Club (ages 15 to 17). Age-appropriate activities for each group range from arts and crafts, movies and story time for the younger set to dance parties, video games and karaoke for tweens and teens. One evening (around 7 p.m.), we walked by the Teen Club area, where about 10 teens were hanging out, laughing and having a great time.
A handful of families were checking out the club during our tour, but I didn’t notice many kids on board, in general. The club director told me our sailing had around 300 kids (ages 1 to 11) on our fully booked sailing. However, it was mid-October, when most children were in school.
You’ll find duty-free shops replete with upscale clothing and accessories, cosmetics and perfumes, spirits, and MSC-branded items along Deck 8.
You can find a fantastic variety of live music throughout the ship on any given night. Seascape Bar (Deck 5), Loft Cafe (Deck 8) and dual pianists at Times Square (Deck 6) always seemed to draw a crowd.
If you like to dance in large groups, don’t miss the theme parties led by the cruise director and activity team. We had a blast at the ship’s top-deck White Party. I especially loved learning party dances from other countries. We started off jiving to “Macarena” and “Cuban Shuffle,” then worked our way across the globe with dances from the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Germany and other countries.
Other ways to pass your time on board include arts and crafts, karaoke, trivia games, and group dance classes. I noticed several passengers playing cards and board games by the pool and in various lounges throughout the day. Check your daily activities sheet or the MSC for Me app for the club schedule and activities. A few times throughout the cruise, I was content to sit at the base of the stunning glass sculpture “Magic of the Sea,” rising four decks from Deck 5, and just people-watch.
MSC Seascape shows
The entertainment on MSC Seascape was terrific. It offered a solid range of live music, big theater performances, and variety-style or comedy shows in smaller venues.
Seascape’s main theater, the Chora Theatre, is on Deck 7. Shows are free, but you must book your spot ahead of time. (Crew members will check your cruise card when you enter.)
Yacht Club passengers get special seating for shows. For our first show, our butler led us to Chora Theatre’s “VIP” Yacht Club seating a few minutes before the performance began. However, the area was near the back of the theater. I prefer seats closer to the stage, so for the following shows, we reserved our spots and arrived early enough to grab seats in the front.
Every show we attended was fun, well choreographed and showcased a talented team of performers. Some productions also featured impressive acrobatics and aerialist performances. Don’t miss “Premiere,” a movie-themed production that takes you on a journey through iconic films. The finale song, “The Greatest Show,” had me gobsmacked. I’d be remiss if I didn’t call out the two lead female vocalists. Their range was incredible, and they both delivered nearly flawless performances. I was completely transfixed by one singer’s version of Adele’s “Easy on Me.”
If you’re a theater geek like me, you’ll appreciate that after each performance, the singers and dancers come down from the stage for photos with passengers.
In addition to the line’s full-cast productions, MSC also brings guest performers on board for limited engagements. During our sailing, we were treated to a concert by singer Lorraine Crosby. She’s known for her vocals on Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” and has toured with Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler and Andy Taylor (of Duran Duran). She performed songs by Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Queen and others.
Chora Theatre was also home to “MasterChef at Sea,” based on the popular cooking show. Here cruisers can see if they have the culinary chops to roast the competition. Audience members took a food-centric quiz, and the best scorers earned a spot in three two-person teams who battled it out on stage. Teams received the same ingredients (bananas, strawberries, chocolate sauce and other items) and were tasked with creating a unique dish that would be judged by the ship’s master chef. Winners won a branded chefs hat and apron — and, of course, bragging rights.
On Deck 7, the secondary theater, Le Cabaret Rouge, is reminiscent of a 1920s-era French cabaret lounge. Smaller than the Chora Theatre, the intimate venue hosted variety-type shows with live music, dancers, singers and aerial artists, as well as late-night DJ sets.
Every performance we saw in both the Chora Theatre and Le Cabaret Rouge was well attended and often completely full.
I didn’t make it to the comedy show, which took place one evening in the Chora Theatre, but I did enjoy the live music around the ship. From steel drum and acoustic guitar music to dueling pianos and solo vocalists, the music on board Seascape was top notch.
MSC Seascape itineraries and pricing
Through October 2025, MSC Seascape is sailing three- and four-night Bahamas voyages to Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve round-trip from Miami. It also sails seven- and eight-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries featuring calls in Cozumel, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; San Juan, Puerto Rico; or George Town, Cayman Islands.
From November 2025 onward, MSC Seascape will be based in Galveston, Texas. There, it will offer weeklong round-trip Western Caribbean sailings, featuring stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Roatan, Honduras.
The line offers competitive pricing on Caribbean sailings out of Miami. At the time of writing, inside cabin prices started at $334 per person (including taxes and fees) for a four-night Bahamas cruise and $369 per person (including taxes and fees) for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing. Seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston currently start at $594 per person (including taxes and fees).
Related: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises ships and itineraries
What to know before you go
Required documents
As with any sailing, there’s certain paperwork you’ll need to cruise on MSC Seascape. If you’re a U.S. citizen sailing from and returning to a U.S. port, you can sail with either an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver’s license (you must have both) or a passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
Gratuities
Passengers on Bahamas and Caribbean sailings aboard MSC Seascape will pay an automatic service charge of $16 per person, per day; MSC Yacht Club passengers will pay $20 per person, per day. There’s no service charge for children 2 and younger.
Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars for cruisers who do not have a drink package. If you have a drink package, you’ll pay the 18% service charge when you purchase the package, but not on individual drinks. A 15% service charge is also added to items in minibars and purchases in salons and spas.
Wi-Fi
The line’s MSC for Me app allows passengers on the same ship to chat with one another for free without purchasing a Wi-Fi package. You can also make dining reservations, view the daily schedule and check your onboard bill.
Pricing for Wi-Fi packages varies based on the number of devices you use and whether you plan to just browse the internet and check email or watch shows on Netflix or other streaming services. MSC Yacht Club passengers get complimentary Wi-Fi for up to two devices per person.
Your options for Wi-Fi packages for MSC Seascape are the Browse Cruise Package (you can text on messenger services, browse the web and send emails using your devices) and the Browse and Stream Cruise Package, which adds video chat capabilities, streaming and the ability to post or livestream on social media.
Unlike Wi-Fi plans with many other cruise lines, MSC plans are tied to specific devices, so you can’t switch between them. For example, if you purchase a one-device package, you can’t use it for your mobile phone, log out and then log back in with your laptop. For Wi-Fi on both devices, you must buy a two-device package.
Carry-on drinks policy
Cruisers are not allowed to bring their own alcohol on board MSC Seascape.
Smoking policy
Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not allowed in cabins or on cabin balconies. Passengers can smoke in a few designated areas, including on Deck 8, just outside both the Loft Cafe and the Uptown Lounge.
Laundry
MSC Seascape does not offer self-service laundry facilities. However, passengers can send their clothing out to be washed, folded, pressed or dry-cleaned for a fee. Yacht Club passengers enjoy free ironing for four items and complimentary laundry for up to three items.
Electrical outlets
Cabins on MSC Seascape all have a mix of 110-volt North American outlets, 220-volt European outlets and USB ports. In my Yacht Club balcony cabin, I had two North American outlets, two European outlets and both USB and USB-C ports at the desk/vanity area. A USB port was located by one side of the bed just above the nightstand.
Currency
The onboard currency for MSC Seascape is the U.S. dollar (as is the case for all MSC itineraries in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and New England, South America, and South Africa, as well as MSC Grand Voyages going to Europe and to Australia).
Drinking age
You must be 21 to consume alcohol on MSC Seascape’s sailings from the U.S.
Dress code
Passengers on MSC Seascape’s warm-weather itineraries can wear T-shirts, shorts, bathing suits and cover-ups during the day when there’s no set dress code.
Folks on our cruise seemed to dress in step with the line’s “smart casual” attire guideline for dinner. That might include khakis with button-down or polo-style collared shirts for men and sundresses or nice pants with a flowy top for women. I saw a few people wearing (unripped) dark jeans.
The dress code was more refined for our “gala” evening on our seven-night sailing. However, on our cruise, clothing ran the gamut. Cruisers wore everything from nice sundresses, linen pants and button-up short-sleeved shirts to sequined gowns, cocktail dresses and suits. I felt completely comfortable in my simple black sundress and gold sandals.
On my sailing, the ship also had “tropical” and “white” nights listed on the daily schedule as suggested attire. If you want to participate, pack accordingly.
Bottom line
MSC Seascape is a flashy vessel with fun shows, great food and an incredible suite complex for cruisers who want to cocoon themselves from the hustle and bustle.
With a number of pool areas, including one with a retractable roof, this vessel is well suited to warmer itineraries. Add to that a buzzy nightlife and activities galore, and you have a fantastic ship for singles, couples, multigenerational families and friend groups.
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