My husband and I used to be avid cruisers – we love the value, the nonstop dining options, and the luxury of unplugging with the excuse of “my cell gets no service on the ocean.” It had been a couple of years since we indulged in the cruise lifestyle, so by the time we were lucky enough to embark upon an 8-day Caribbean cruise for two on MSC Seaside ship by MSC Cruises, we were ready to go!
According to the company, “MSC Seaside rewrites the rule book of cruise ship design, blending indoor and outdoor areas to connect you with the sea like never before.” I was particularly enthusiastic about this ship, as it is brand-new and had been receiving so much attention from the press. It’s also described as “the ship that follows the sun,” and it’s the company’s first purpose-built ship for the North American market. Watching the MSC Cruises’ YouTube video about the MSC Seaside had whet my appetite, because the ship’s amenities looked spectacular. I can personally testify they’re even more appealing in person!
We enjoyed so many aspects of this spectacular ship, from the astounding high-caliber entertainment to the friendly staff members. I do want to comment on how SMOOTH and FAST the embarkation process was. Other cruise lines felt like a huge headache just to get on the ship, but with this cruise, it felt like no time at all passed between parking our car and being in our balcony room.
It’s always overwhelming to board a ship and see numerous activities. We were impressed by a full-replica Formula One race car simulator, the longest zip line at sea, multiple water slides and a two-lane bowling alley. So many fun things to do!
Click here to watch a passenger enjoying the MSC Seaside Formula One racing car simulator
Don’t get me started on the Venchi Chocolate Bar! I sniffed the air every time I walked through that part of the ship. I finally caved in and bought some chocolate indulgences (all delicious and rich).
The blogger in me also loved the Swarovski crystal staircases in the atrium! So many posing options, but I’m simply going to post my photo of one of the staircases. It was so beautiful, all my pitiful attempts at posing on it probably would just ruin the aesthetic, LOL!
I tremendously enjoyed the MSC Aurea Spa. It’s the largest Balinese spa at sea, and the staff members were so friendly and welcoming. The decor was chic, described as “exotic designer interiors combining natural stone, wood and rich mosaics with superb sea views.”
We particularly enjoyed the Thermal Spa! That was actually my favorite thing from our entire indulgent spa experience.
If you’re a spa-lover like I am, you can splurge on the week-long Thermal Spa access pass, which is $190 per person. At the very least, I highly recommend planning to do at least one day of it! The day pass is $60 per person, and I believe it’s well worth the price for the unique experience.
You’re given a bracelet, which has icons that are actually a suggested series of steps to take. Some of the individual rooms were familiar, such as a sauna, but others were entirely new – for example, there’s a SNOW ROOM! I started laughing when my husband and I were shivering together in it, and he started singing a hymn to himself for comfort. We only remained in that room for a couple of minutes.
The suggested series of steps takes you through a sequence, reminding me of the Asian-style hot-and-cold therapies. We both felt so invigorated afterwards! My favorite room was truly the Himalayan salt room. So relaxing and good for respiratory therapy!
Nathan and I enjoyed a Couples Massage, which is a full body massage for 50 minutes in one room with two beds. The rooms were attractive — note the swan-styled towel art — and the atmosphere was relaxing. If you are going to indulge in a treatment, my recommendation would be to do it during a “Sea Day” (a day on the cruise itinerary in which you remain at sea and do not stop at a port). It gives you something to look forward to! That’s what we did.
Overall, we absolutely LOVED our time on MSC Seaside. I hope you get to experience it for yourself some day! Comment below and let me know what you think of this magnificent ship.
Thanks for reading!
XO,
~Angela~
MSC Cruises provided this complimentary cruise in exchange for coverage. As always, opinions are my own.
Your blog site Ms. Angela is amazing! Thanks for sharing it to us. 💕 I really dream of a fancy vacay in a cruise ship. Seeing this inspires me most to work hard in order to achieve one of my dream. 😊