Western Mediterranean Cruise with MSC Seaside

Welcome aboard MSC Cruises! The cruise line was founded in 1970 and is the cruise division of the container shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company. MSC Cruises is the world's largest privately family-owned cruise line (Aponte family) and has many years of expertise on the seven seas. The Aponte family has also established an independent charitable organisation, the MSC Foundation, which is also present on board and supports many humanitarian and environmental projects.

MSC Cruises offers its guests a Mediterranean and modern lifestyle at a good price-performance ratio. Guests of all ages feel at home on the sometimes colourful, sometimes understated ships. The ships are also well received on the German market and the number of German guests is growing steadily. A knowledge of English is recommended, although some services are also offered in German.

With the MSC Yacht Club, the ‘ship-within-a-ship concept’, MSC Cruises offers an exclusive area on selected ships with luxurious suites, its own restaurant with five-star service and other amenities.

• Category: Seaside Class
• Built in: 2017
• Home port: Valetta
• Length: 323 metres
• Tonnage: 153,516 BRZ
• Speed: 22.95 knots
• Decks: 20
• Passengers: 5,334
• Crew: 1.513
• Language: German, Italian, English, French, Spanish
• Currency: € or US-$ (depending on the destination)
• Internet: Starlink from SpaceX, internet café and Wi-Fi (fee required)

The staterooms at MSC Seaside are modern and comfortable, with a bathroom with shower, air conditioning, interactive TV, telephone, safe and Wi-Fi (for a fee). The interior and oceanview staterooms are approximately 14-17 sqm in size. The balcony staterooms measure 17 sqm and the suites about 17-62 sqm, depending on the suite category. Some suites have a bathtub. Tip: In the special Yacht Club Suites, guests will find many amenities such as a butler service, an on-site restaurant and in some cases even a private hot tub.

The atmosphere on board the MSC Seaside is relaxed, easy-going and radiates typical Italian joie de vivre. Particularly inviting are the spacious interior and exterior surfaces, which are cleverly connected. Typical of the ships of the MSC fleet are two evenings during the week, where it is more elegant and festive clothing is recommended. For guests who do not want to participate, the buffet restaurant offers the typical relaxed atmosphere. Good food and lots of entertainment complete the offer aboard the MSC Seaside.

There are many different main, buffet and speciality restaurants on board the MSC Seaside. The cuisine is Mediterranean-influenced and offers a culinary variety and exquisite dishes. Drinks are available for an additional charge or you can take advantage of a drinks package.

The following restaurants are included in the price:

• Marketplace Buffet (buffet restaurant): A variety of dishes from the hot and cold buffet as well as Mediterranean delicacies await you here.
• Biscayne Bay Restaurant & Buffet (buffet restaurant): The restaurant is particularly family-friendly.
• Ipanema Restaurant (main restaurant): Enjoy fine dining in the grey and green à la carte restaurant.
• Seashore Restaurant (main restaurant): Look forward to culinary highlights and exquisite dishes in the restaurant decorated with shells and starfish.

Guests of the MSC Yacht Club also have access to an exclusive restaurant with gourmet creations and five-star service.

You pay a surcharge in the following speciality restaurants:

• Asian Market Kitchen: Here you will find a pan-Asian restaurant, a sushi bar and the Teppanyaki speciality restaurant.
• Kaito Sushi Bar: Sample Japanese specialities such as exquisite sushi or soup.
• Butcher's Cut: Savour high-quality Angus beef in the steakhouse.
• Ocean Cay Restaurant: The luxurious restaurant offers a variety of fish dishes with fresh ingredients.

The range of restaurants is complemented by numerous bars and lounges (not included): enjoy an afternoon cappuccino in the Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar, for example, and have an aperitif before dinner in the Seaside Bar. We also recommend the Champagne Bar, where oysters, crabs and caviar are served alongside champagne.

There are many ways to spend your holiday on board. For relaxation, there is the popular Aurea Spa, a luxurious spa where body, mind and soul are brought into harmony. For the athletically active, the Fitness Studio by Technogym® offers state-of-the-art equipment for cardio and strength training as well as innovative courses and training programmes.

A special highlight on board the MSC Seaside is the entertainment programme. Colourful shows, musical performances and many activities await you. Especially the pool areas invite you to linger and swim. Are you more interested in the shows on board? Look forward to impressive performances in the Metropolitan Theatre.
If you are not afraid of heights, you should also definitely try the Zip Line - the longest zip line on board a cruise ship: here you race along a 105-metre high-speed track across the upper deck to the stern of the ship. If that's not enough, you can walk 40 metres above the sea on the glass skywalk at the stern. Also on this deck you will find the Forest Aquaventure Park with great slides.

There is plenty to discover on board for children of all ages: Thrill seekers can try the 105-metre long zip line. In the Forest Aquaventure Park, pool areas and several slides await for plenty of fun. In the LEGO® play area, children have the opportunity to build great things.

Childcare is also provided: babies and toddlers aged between six months and two years are looked after by certified staff in the Baby Club, which was created in collaboration with the leading children's brand Chicco®. Toddlers aged three to six play in the MSC Mini Club and the Junior Club caters for children aged seven to eleven. MSC's experienced entertainers look after the children with various games and many sporting activities. During the day, 12 to 14-year-olds in the Young Club and 15 to 17-year-olds in the Teens Club can enjoy clubs equipped with the latest consoles, games and VR technology, a teen disco and a dinner organised exclusively for teenagers.

MSC Seaside, the ship that follows the sun! With this concept, MSC Cruises offers a ship that combines the experience of a true oceanfront vacation with a full cruise. We are particularly impressed by the spacious outdoor areas. The MSC Seaside is a great vessel for those who want variety, entertainment and a colorful on-board life. Families with children feel very well. The price-performance ratio on the MSC ships is good.