Recommend February 2018 - 37

Globetrotting
onboardreview
Passengers can go ziplining while sailing the
Caribbean on board MSC Seaside.

Steve Grasso

solarium offering spa service and a bar menu.
For the fitness buffs, Seaside has a 9,300-sq.ft. gym with state-of-the-art Technogym
cardio and strength training equipment. On
the top deck, there's an outdoor sports area
for basketball, soccer and other sports. And,
escorted tours and activities, including bicycle
tours, are available during port stops.
And then there's one of the most popular
aspects of cruising-dining. Seaside's main
restaurants have both early and late seatings
and offer favorites and fine dining, as well as
vegan and vegetarian options.
wristbands, which, among a host of tech-driven
Offering breakfast and lunch alfresco is a
features, enables parents and staff to "locate and poolside restaurant & buffet, plus a popular
monitor children aboard the ship."
dining spot is the Marketplace Buffet, with over
Continuing MSC's efforts for family group
22,000 sq. ft. featuring multiple stations with
sailings, six distinct clubs cater to children
everything from appetizers to desserts. Here, 13
of varying ages-from the Baby Club (up to
food stations are designed with open kitchens
3 years old) to the Teen Club for the 15 to
so guests can interface with cooks as they serve
17 set. And to bring families together, there's
pizza, carvings, Mexican taco wraps and other
the DOREMI Studio, a lounge for family
ethnic dishes, paninis, vegetarian dishes, and
entertainment and activities.
prepared salads. Tea, coffee and fruit drinks are
available at numerous stations.
For a change of pace, there are six specialty
Over-the-Top Amenities
restaurants-a bistro with French classics; a
While there are special features for children,
steakhouse; Ocean Cay for seafood; and the
Seaside caters to all age groups with
Asian Market Kitchen by renowned chef Roy
entertainment, shopping, a casino, multiple
Yamaguchi. Oh, did we fail to mention the
bars, a spa, a gym and biking shore excursions.
Venchi chocolate bar and its mouth-watering
The ship's 934-seat Metropolitan theater
Italian candies and gelato?
hosts a variety of Broadway-style shows
nightly; some of the 14 bars and lounges have
entertainment and dancing; there are surprise
Accommodations For Everyone
shows throughout the cruise in the atrium;
Seaside has more than 2,000 suites and cabins of
there's an interactive XD cinema; a spot for
all shapes and sizes with ocean views, balconies,
billiards; a sports bar with TV; and the Forest
private terraces and modular connecting rooms
Aquaventure Park on the top decks with four
(there are accommodations for guests with
water slides, including two high-speed racing
disabilities or reduced mobility, as well).
slides with clear loops extending over the side
The ship's VIP retreat, the Yacht Club,
of the ship. And, according to MSC, for the
features 86 suites for those who want privacy
first time on a cruise ship, there's "interactive
and special amenities, which include butler
slideboarding technology."
service, two dedicated rooms at the spa, a
In addition, for the thrill-seekers, there are
dedicated restaurant, all-inclusive private
two 344-ft.-long ziplines from the very top of
bar, and private pool and sundeck with two
the ship ending at the back of the ship. Three
whirlpool baths. Sasso says that this "ship
pools (and sun decks) and a whirlpool enhance within a ship" concept gives guests the
the fun and relaxation.
upscale small ship cruise experience, plus the
Clients will be impressed with the almost
opportunity, if they wish, to partake in all the
26,000-sq.-ft. Aurea Spa, featuring 22 massage
other features of the entire ship. ■
rooms, a thermal area, saunas, steam rooms,
For more on MSC and its fleet,
special showers, and indoor and outdoor
visit RECOMMEND.COM
relaxation areas, plus beauty salon, nail
boutique and barbershop. And, venturing to
Contact Information
the 19th deck, cruisers will find the adults-only MSC Seaside: msccruisesagent.com

MSC Seaside
Hal Herman

Cruising opportunities to the Caribbean
have increased with the introduction of the
MSC Seaside-a 4,132 passenger ultramodern, high-tech ship sailing out of Miami
on a year-round basis. It will join MSC
Divina's seasonal offerings out of Florida
to The Bahamas and Caribbean. And the
European-based company will continue
to add to its U.S. sailings in October
2019 when it brings its 2,244-stateroom
Meraviglia to Miami joining the Seaside for
year-round cruises to the Caribbean.
Entering the market with a star-studded
naming ceremony right before the first of
the year, the Seaside was conceived and
constructed to undoubtedly offer something
for everyone-from families with children
to honeymooners, as well as adventure
seekers and even those wanting an upscale
relaxing experience.
"The Seaside adds another dimension
of quality and variety. It's different and
revolutionary," boasts veteran cruise
executive Rick Sasso, MSC's North America
chairman. "It was built for warm weather
Caribbean cruising with the most outdoor
space of any new ship." He also points to
an exclusive Seaside innovation-a lower
deck Promenade that encircles the entire
ship. There's also an upper deck single
glass-bottomed path that leads out from the
ship, allowing guests to view the ocean and,
according to MSC, bring them "closer to
the sea."
In addition to Seaside's innovative design,
the ship has many high-tech features,
including one guests on large ships would
definitely appreciate-a digital way finder
that not only provides information but can
help guests find their way around the megaship. Add to that feature the MSC for Me

february 2018 37

http://www.RECOMMEND.COM http://www.msccruisesagent.com

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