MSC Seaside Review: Is It Worth It?

As a travel advisor, I believe it's important to experience different cruise lines firsthand so I can give my clients honest, real-world advice. I recently sailed aboard MSC Seaside, and while there were definitely some highlights, there were also some disappointments.

My biggest takeaway? If you're considering MSC Cruises, book Yacht Club. It's the experience MSC is truly known for, and after sailing in a standard Fantastica balcony cabin, I can confidently say that's the way I would cruise MSC in the future.

If you're a loyal Royal Caribbean cruiser, be prepared—MSC offers a very different experience.

The Pros

Incredible Value

The biggest advantage of MSC is the price. Comparable itineraries were roughly half the cost of Royal Caribbean, making MSC an attractive option for travelers looking to save money.

Great Nightlife

MSC definitely has a more energetic, international vibe. If you're looking for a cruise with lively parties, music, dancing, and late-night entertainment, you'll probably enjoy the atmosphere.

Ocean Cay is Beautiful

MSC's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, was one of my favorite parts of the trip. There are plenty of beaches, lots of lounge chairs, beautiful water, and it never felt overcrowded.

Ocean Cay Specialty Restaurant

Without question, the Ocean Cay specialty restaurant served one of the best meals of the entire cruise. If you sail MSC, I highly recommend making a reservation.

sunset dining at ocean cay specialty dining — Dinner by Sunset is the best way to dine on this ship!

Mixed Seafood grill — Packed with flavor: Lobster, Shrimp, Tuna Steak, Calamari & Salmon! Worth every penny!

Brown Butter Dover Sole w/ Truffle Mashed Potatoes & Brussel Sprouts!

Excellent Entertainment

The production shows were fantastic. They were energetic, professional, and very entertaining throughout the cruise.

Amazing Spa

The spa and thermal area exceeded my expectations. If you enjoy relaxing, plan on spending a few hours there. It was easily one of the highlights of the ship.

Lower Gratuities

Another pleasant surprise was that MSC's gratuities weren't nearly as high as what many travelers are accustomed to on Royal Caribbean.

The Cons

Fantastica Cabin Was Disappointing

Unfortunately, our Fantastica balcony cabin was far from fantastic.

The room felt very small, wasn't particularly clean upon arrival, and throughout the cruise we never even met our cabin attendant.

One day while we were enjoying Ocean Cay, our room wasn't serviced at all.

We were given only one roll of toilet paper for three people, and had to call Guest Services for additional toilet paper, fresh towels, and even our luggage tags, which were supposed to be delivered automatically.

Fantastica Room — Sorry for the dark and messy photo, but this shows the space well! Barely room for 3.

Food Was Hit or Miss

The food reputation you've probably heard is fairly accurate.

Main Dining Room: Just okay.
Buffet: Disappointing.
Taco specialty restaurant: Unfortunately not very good.
Ocean Cay specialty restaurant: Outstanding.

Salmon was average, nothing bad but also nothing special. Would have been better if it has a sauce on it.

meatball main dining room — Best part of the main dining room meal was the meatball appetizer

The difference between restaurants was significant.

Everything Closed Early

One of the biggest frustrations was how early many venues closed.

Want gelato after lunch? Sorry.

There wasn't any available in the afternoon or evening.

Even on Ocean Cay, many food locations shut down about 90 minutes before all-aboard time, so grabbing one last snack or ice cream before returning to the ship wasn't possible.

Tiny Pools

Calling them pools almost feels generous.

They felt more like oversized hot tubs and were constantly crowded. We never even used them.

Bartender Service

This was probably the biggest surprise.

Almost every bartender we encountered seemed irritated whenever someone ordered a drink. It often felt like asking for service was an inconvenience.

On the positive side, nearly every waiter we interacted with was friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful.

Elevator Frustrations

The elevators were consistently packed.

Most of the time we simply gave up waiting and took the stairs instead. The silver lining? My step count was excellent!

Poor Communication

Communication throughout the cruise left a lot to be desired.

We didn't learn until around 7:00 p.m. on our final evening that luggage needed to be outside our cabin by 10:00 p.m. We already had dinner and a show planned, so packing became a rushed process.

Disembarkation was equally frustrating. We had to leave our cabin by 8:00 a.m., but weren't actually allowed off the ship until around 9:15 a.m.

Better communication would have made the final day much less stressful.

My Final Thoughts

MSC Cruises certainly has its place in the cruise market.

If budget is your top priority, you enjoy a lively nightlife, and you're looking for a beautiful private island, MSC offers excellent value.

However, if you're used to the overall service, dining, ship layout, and guest experience on Royal Caribbean, be prepared for noticeable differences.

For my clients, my recommendation would be:

Upgrade to Yacht Club if your budget allows. That's where MSC truly shines.
Consider a 3- or 4-night sailing to experience the cruise line before committing to a longer itinerary.
Absolutely make reservations for the Ocean Cay specialty restaurant.
Spend time in the spa's thermal area—it's worth every minute.

As for me, I'm glad I experienced MSC firsthand because it allows me to better advise my clients. While I'm happy I sailed MSC Seaside once, I'll likely stick with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and other premium cruise lines for my own future vacations.

Every cruise line has its strengths, and finding the right fit is what makes the difference between a good vacation and an unforgettable one. That's exactly why working with an experienced travel advisor at Go Far VIP Travel matters.