After ten cruises with Royal Caribbean and Disney, I decided to try a controversial line to see if it was really as bad as the critics claim.
To switch things up, I spent seven nights aboard MSC Seashore, sailing to bucket-list destinations in Italy, Spain, and France. Although not the newest ship in the fleet, the 169,400 gross-ton vessel wasn't small by any means, carrying more than 5,800 passengers and featuring flashy amenities like water slides, ropes courses, a Swarovski crystal staircase, and more.
Overall, I really enjoyed the MSC Seashore cruise ship and would recommend it to future cruisers. However, as a European cruise line, MSC Cruises offers a different experience to what most American travelers may be accustomed to on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Norwegian.
Here's my honest MSC Seashore review, including 7 things I loved and 7 things I hated about the ship during my seven-night Mediterranean sailing.
For starters, MSC Cruises has a solid status match program
Before I booked my MSC Seashore cruise, I took advantage of the cruise line's status match program. As an Emerald member in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, I was able to transfer my loyalty status to MSC's Voyagers Club, which granted me Gold status before I ever stepped onboard.
While not MSC's highest tier, there were many beneficial perks that enhanced my cruise experience. In addition to receiving a 5% discount on my cruise fare, I enjoyed benefits such as a complimentary one-hour visit to the thermal spa, an invitation to the loyalty cocktail reception, and a free MSC Voyagers Club drawstring bag.
The good thing about MSC's status match program is that it's not limited to cruise line loyalty programs! Travelers can also match elite status from a wide range of airlines and hotels.
MSC Seashore had really slow internet
I bought the "Browse and Stream" Wi-Fi package for my seven-night Mediterranean cruise, and it was easily the worst internet I have ever had while at sea! I'm so glad I didn't opt for the cheaper package because the speeds on the upgraded plan were already painfully slow.
Curious about just how slow the internet really was, I did a speed test on my laptop and found that I was able to download 2.56 megabits per second (Mbps), while my upload speed was only 0.33 Mbps!
At the time, another freelance travel writer was aboard an older Royal Caribbean ship sailing to Iceland. Her speed test showed download speeds of 9.68 Mbps, though the upload speeds were still a little sluggish at just 0.76 Mbps.
In addition to slow internet speeds that made communicating with friends and family ashore frustrating, MSC Cruises does not allow you to rotate between devices. This means that whichever device you initially register the package on will be the only device that can access Wi-Fi for the duration of the cruise.
Personally, I think this is annoying and a bit of a money grab since most modern-day travelers often switch between devices like cell phones, tablets, and computers. In my case, I ended up purchasing two packages just to use my phone when I didn't have my laptop with me.
MSC's destination elevators help reduce crowds
Cruise ship elevators can feel crowded at times, especially during embarkation and disembarkation. In many cases, it is faster to take the stairs instead of waiting for a packed elevator and squeezing inside once it finally arrives.
One thing I loved about MSC Seashore was its destination elevators, which help relieve the disappointment of dealing with full elevators. By assigning passengers to specific elevators based on their selected deck, the system helps distribute crowds and reduce the number of stops along the way.
In theory, this kind of destination elevator system also prevents children from pressing every single button, and although it does not completely eliminate crowds during peak transit times, it does make the experience more organized and efficient.
The lack of complimentary dining options was frustrating
Having sailed on some of the world's largest cruise ships (such as Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas), I'm used to having a variety of complimentary dining options during my sailing.
That said, MSC Seashore had a different approach to dining with fewer complimentary venues. Outside of the buffet and main dining room, there weren't any places to grab a quick snack, like Sorrento's or Cafe Promenade for late-night pizza and sweet treats.
Thankfully, since my sailing, MSC Cruises upgraded the ship and added new fast-casual dining options, including The Chicken Man and Red Cactus BBQ & Ribs. Now, guests can enjoy everything from complimentary chicken tenders to pork ribs, banana pudding, chicken sandwiches, and more.
Still, you won't find the same level of constant, grab-and-go variety that you might expect on Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line.
The port-intensive itinerary was amazing
My cruise aboard MSC Seashore was my first to Europe, and I loved how easy it was to visit three different countries! This removed the hassle of constantly repacking and navigating crowded train stations and airports, which had been my previous experience traveling through Europe.
With only one sea day, my schedule was busy from sunup to sundown — but it was worth the exhaustion! I boarded the ship in Genoa and woke up in Civitavecchia (Rome) the next morning, followed by a day in Palermo before the one and only sea day. After that, the ship visited Ibiza, Valencia, and Marseille before returning to Genoa.
Although I wish I had more time to explore each port, it was great to get an overview of the different destinations to see what each had to offer! Now, I know which ones I'd want to spend more time exploring on a future land-based trip, and which are worth revisiting on future cruises.
MSC's transportation was unorganized
Except for Palermo and Genoa, the cruise ship pier wasn't within walking distance of the towns' centers. While I appreciate that they offered transportation, I found it relatively unorganized and chaotic. Not only that, but it was not included in the cruise fare (The cost could be billed to your onboard account, though).
In Valencia, for instance, MSC charged €14 for the thirty-minute ride into the city. When I got off the ship in the morning, I had to wait about twenty minutes just for a bus to arrive! The bus to Ibiza was €14, too, and at €19 per adult, the shuttle to Marseille was even more costly.
Thankfully, I had arranged a separate excursion through the cruise line for €65 that included transportation to and from Aix-en-Provence! I am glad I made this decision, as the extra €45, to me, was worth spending on a tour.
I loved lounging in the adults-only Infinity Pool
Located on Deck 8 in the aft of the ship is the adults-only Infinity Pool.
This spot was a great escape from the crowds at the Long Island and Jungle Pools, and the views from the pool were breathtaking! What made it so relaxing was that there wasn't any loud music blaring, and the pool was always relatively empty.
That said, it was a bit chilly since the sun was blocked by the ship's higher decks in the afternoon. However, the nearby gelato (for an additional fee) made up for it.
The original production shows weren't anything special
In my opinion, the original theater shows on MSC Seashore weren't anything to write home about. During my seven-night cruise, I watched Gravity, French Follies, and Allegro, and while each had its unique angle, the execution consistently fell flat.
For starters, I could clearly see dancers looking at one another for cues, so they were never truly in sync. Additionally, the shows lacked a clear storyline, making it difficult to follow any kind of "plot" — if there was even meant to be one.
On the plus side, the specialty acts (i.e., acrobats, contortionists, etc.) were good, and I thought the costumes were a lot of fun. They definitely felt European!
MSC Seashore had tasty food
MSC Cruises isn't known for its food. In fact, it is one of the most common criticisms you’ll hear about the line. That said, I couldn't disagree more.
Personally, I thought the buffet was better than some of the Royal Caribbean ships I've sailed on. I never had any difficulty finding something to eat and loved the variety — from handmade pastas to pizza, short rib, rice and lentils, breakfast pastries, and more.
When it came to MSC's dining room, I enjoyed the rotating menus. Although I only ate in the dining room three times, I was never disappointed! However, I'm an adventurous eater and don't mind trying new things. For example, the beetroot risotto was surprisingly tasty!
Moving on, I thought that MSC's specialty restaurants were affordable and well worth the upcharge. Both my meals at Kaito Teppanyaki and HOLA! Tacos & Cantina came in at under €50. Comparatively, Izumi Hibachi on Royal Caribbean ships often costs $50! As such, I appreciated that my dollar went further aboard the MSC Seashore.
The complimentary coffee wasn't any good
Personally, I found the complimentary coffee in the buffet bitter and burnt, and I was surprised that MSC didn’t advertise a partnership with a well-known brand like Royal Caribbean with Lavazza.
By the third day of my seven-night cruise, I was purchasing specialty coffees each morning at the Seashore Bar located in the atrium of the ship.
The minimal $3.00 splurge was worth it, especially since my interior stateroom was located on the same floor as the Seashore Bar. As such, this was a much more relaxing way to start my mornings, instead of going all the way up to Deck 16 to be immersed in a large crowd of hungry families just for a cup of coffee.
MSC Seashore felt so spacious and luxurious
Modern-day cruise ships rarely feel spacious. Instead, cruise lines tend to cram in as many venues, cabins, and amenities as possible.
Although there were still moments when the ship felt crowded — especially during popular events like the White Party or the buffet during peak dining times — it didn't feel like I was on a cruise ship with thousands of other passengers.
Embarkation and disembarkation were easy, too. I arrived at the port an hour earlier than my scheduled embarkation time, and I was still on board within thirty minutes of getting out of the cab. Likewise, my group was called to disembark at 9:15 a.m., and I was at the Genoa train station by 9:45 a.m.
Something else I loved was my interior cabin. Many people avoid these windowless cruise rooms. However, the bright, neutral tones made the 150-square-foot cabin feel larger than it was.
The bathroom was another highlight, feeling modern and well-designed, with a sleek glass shower that was a nice departure from traditional capsule showers.
I hated that it wasn't easy to stay hydrated
Bottled water isn't available for free on mainstream cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. However, it is easy to stay hydrated thanks to complimentary water stations throughout the ship.
On MSC, however, access felt more limited, with complimentary water mainly restricted to certain areas, such as the buffet and dining room.
When I ate at Kaito Teppanyaki, for example, I was charged around €4 for a bottle of still water — they would not pour water by the glass. Had I been eating at Izumi aboard Royal Caribbean, I know that I would have only been charged if I ordered a soda or alcoholic beverage, not water!
MSC Seashore had great live music
While I wasn't a fan of the original theater performances, I loved the live music throughout MSC Seashore. There was one artist whom I enjoyed the most, though: Solo Pianist Paul. Each evening, he could be found in "Times Square" playing covers of songs from different decades.
On the first night of the cruise, for instance, he played old-time rock n' roll, while on the last night of my sailing, he focused on the hits of today. My favorite night, however, was when he played covers of songs from the 90s and 2000s!
Not only did I enjoy his musical abilities, but I also enjoyed the spacious venue. It was bright and lively, with most families stopping in for a song or two. I really appreciated that Paul was not tucked into a confined space, like the nearby Brooklyn Cafe.
I hated that my sailing was an interport cruise
This cruise was my first time on an interport sailing. This meant that passengers could embark and disembark at multiple ports on the itinerary. So, for example, rather than everyone getting on in Genoa, Italy (like I did), others started their cruise in Rome (Civitavecchia), Palermo, Valencia, or Marseille.
While this kind of cruise is more common in Europe and makes it easier for travelers to board from different cities, the constant flow of new guests arriving and departing with suitcases in tow was a little annoying.
Not only that, but since muster drills are required for all embarking passengers, the louder-than-usual emergency signal was blasted almost daily. As someone sensitive to loud noises, it was frustrating that MSC didn't warn guests ahead of time that it would be repeated or when to expect it.
Is MSC Seashore worth it?
Going into the cruise, I was skeptical because of the mixed reviews I had heard about MSC Cruises, but my experience was far more positive than I anticipated. MSC Seashore was beautiful and packed with amenities, ranging from multiple pools to hot tubs, waterslides, a ropes course, an F1 simulator, and more.
The food was better than I thought it would be, too, and the specialty restaurants offered good value and a quality dining experience.
That said, MSC Seashore isn't perfect. The Wi-Fi was disappointing, the complimentary dining options felt limited, and the original production shows were far from what I'd expect from cruise lines like Royal Caribbean or Norwegian.
In the end, I think MSC Seashore can offer lasting memories — if you can find a good fare and go in with realistic expectations. If, for example, onboard entertainment and dining variety are top priorities, you may be happier sailing with another cruise line.
However, if you're looking for a modern ship with plenty of activities, attractive public spaces, and an affordable price, MSC Seashore is absolutely worth considering.
Throughout April 2028, MSC Seashore will sail out of Miami and Port Canaveral (Orlando), offering three- to 22-night sailings to The Bahamas and Caribbean. Prices start at $229 per person, according to MSC's website. After that, she will relocate to the Mediterranean.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
