Ship Review: MSC Seashore

Alex Spencer tests the waters aboard MSC Seashore, christened in 2021 t its own private cay

Overview: MSC Seashore is MSC’s 19th vessel and the biggest in the fleet with capacity for 5,632 passengers. It has two sister ships, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, but is the first since the line announced the ‘reimagined’ Seaside Evo upgrades.

It’s designed to sail in sunny climes and bring guests “closer to the sea” with panoramic windows and lots of outdoor space, including a promenade deck and alfresco dining. MSC’s new flagship was named last month by film star Sophia Loren at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas – the first ship to be christened at a line’s private island.

It’s also the first cruise vessel to feature the Safe Air sanitation system, which uses UV-C lamp technology to eliminate viruses and bacteria in the air

Accommodation: The 15 categories of cabins comprise 11 types of staterooms and suites with balconies, including 50 terrace suites with extended balconies, and 32 suites with outdoor private whirlpools. The biggest are the pair of Owner’s Suites, which measure 1,054 square feet and feature 269-square-foot balconies.

They form part of the MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship complex, which is the largest in the fleet. MSC Seashore has 66 accessible cabins.

Food and drink: There’s no danger of going hungry or thirsty, with just shy of 30 restaurants, lounges and bars. The five speciality restaurants in the redesigned Chef’s Court include MSC’s signature steakhouse, Butcher’s Cut, which now has the option for diners to sit outside, and Kaito Sushi Bar, featuring a fun new conveyor belt on which the dishes rotate.

All-new French-themed Le Cabaret Rouge is a standout live-music bar, while the new Uptown Lounge reflects the ship’s interior with design based on famous New York quarters

Wow factor: In keeping with the outdoor vibe, MSC Seashore has six pools. The best place to take a dip is the new adult-only infinity pool, with sun loungers set in shallow water around its edge. It occupies a spectacular location overlooking the aft of the ship and has a bar.

Book it: MSC Seashore is offering Caribbean round-trip cruises from Miami, ranging in duration from five to 16 nights. The ship will remain in Miami for summer 2022. A seven-night Caribbean & Antilles sailing, departing on 8 January 2022, calling at Nassau and the Dominican Republic with an overnight at Ocean Cay, leads in at US$690 on a cruise-only basis including gratuities. For more information, visit mscbook.com