MSC Seashore Cruise Review - September 1, 2024

MSC Seashore Cruise Review  -  September 1, 2024

Just the Facts:
Ship: MSC Seashore
Captain: Pietro Maresca (Italy)  Cruise Director: Nathaniel James Khan (England)
Ports: Port Canaveral, USA - Ocean Cay, Bahamas (overnight) - Cozumel, Mexico - Costa Maya, Mexico

I’m cruising as a solo on this 7-day cruise. This is my 3rd cruise on the Seashore, my 22nd cruise on MSC, and my 215th cruise overall.  I do have Diamond status, the highest of the MSC Loyalty Club levels.

Sunday, September 1st / Port Canaveral / Embarkation / Day 1 

I have an assigned 3:00-3:30 pm Boarding time so planned accordingly and left the Florida Villa at about 11:45 am for the drive to Port Canaveral. I arrived at Park-N-Cruise at about 2:00 pm., closing time and was the last person on the last bus.  I did not realize that they closed that early, but a very efficient parking company that I have used for years. I was immediately on my way to the port terminal. I arrived at Pier number 10 at about 2:15 grabbed my bag and went up one level to port security and through quickly. All card lines were open without a line and I went directly to a check-in counter. Very smooth process when arriving later and I was able to go straight to my cabin arriving on Deck 10 at 2:35 p.m. I have a balcony cabin located almost all the way aft, actually near the aft Panoramic Lifts. It is very comfortable, especially for a solo. The cabin has a Queen bed, Wardrobe, Large screen Television, a Counter/dressing table with mirror, a small stocked Refrigerator, Shelving, and drawers inside the wardrobe, a Couch, and a small but adequate bathroom with a solid glass door shower.  At about 4:10 pm I went down to my Muster Station and checked in, thankfully you can check in casually and not as a mass hoard (MSC was last to update the streamlined system). I ordered the premium WiFi package and the reception in my cabin was good. They are strict about one device…and you can not change from a Laptop to an iPhone. We sailed away at about 5:00 pm and I watched from my balcony.  The Carnival Vista sailed just before we did. I have a 7:30 dinner assignment in the Tribeca Dining room (MDR), located on deck 6 aft it was a solo table with four guests this evening.  Dinner and service was good. For dinner, I ordered the Tomato Basil Soup, two very nice Shrimp Cocktails, and the Roast Beef entree with horseradish. For dessert a wonderful Crema Catalonia. After dinner, I had reservations for the 9:30 Production Show: Journey.  Unusual to have one on the first night.  It was good with a theme of travelers from Ireland across Europe by train,  Music and Dance from Ireland, France, Spain (photo), and Italy.  Memorable was Danny Boy, the French Can Can dancing, theme from the Godfather, and Conte Parte.  After a walkabout back towards the cabin I then watched the end of the USC/LSU football game, LSU let us down (I’m now an SEC fan now that my Sooners are in the SEC). It was an easy embarkation day.

Monday, September 2nd / Ocean Cay Marine Reserve / Day 2

Rolling seas overnight with enough movement for a very enjoyable night's sleep. The bed is very comfortable with good pillows: one soft and one firm. We were docked at about 7:00 am and it was a beautiful day. They have begun construction of the second pier, another building, and another beach area all easily visible from the ship. I went to Deck 5 Central Park MDR for breakfast at about 8:45 am and had a shared table. I ordered a Fruit Plate, Danish, Eggs Benedict with a side of Bacon, and hash brown potatoes. I was served Hot Milk which is not always easy to get on other cruise lines but very common on MSC. No usual Monday morning business activities as today is Labor Day so I enjoyed cabin and balcony time. At about 3:00 pm I went up to deck 16 to eat: Pizza (photo) and a very nice Salad with Roast Beef, also Bread Pudding for dessert. MSC is well known for their great Pizza.  I’m not going to get off the ship today so I walked about the upper deck to get a better view of the island. The water here is beautiful and the Palm trees look better with every visit. This stop will only improve over time.  I watched two old 40s-era gangster movies on TCM this afternoon. At 7:30 pm I went to the MDR for dinner, three at the solo table this evening.  I ordered: an Italian Wedding Soup, a Shrimp Cocktail, the Broiled Swordfish entree, and Appel Strudel with Vanilla Sauce and Ice creme for dessert.  Service was good and fast this evening.  Only a short walkabout for me before returning to the cabin.  I watched the 2nd half of the NCAA football game, then the abbreviated Light Show on the island…I assume because of construction.  It was a very relaxing day on the Seashore.

Tuesday, September 3rd / Ocean Cay Marine Reserve  / Day 3 

We were docked overnight and I slept well although I woke early. I had a casual morning updating this blog and doing some online work on this first business day of September. I had a TCM Alan Ladd Movie Day watching three westerns. I had a break at about noon when I went up to the Lido Buffet on Deck 16. The aft Panorama Elevators are perfect for getting from deck 10 to 16. We sailed away from Ocean Cay at about 3:15 pm into some cloudy weather. This is the Captain's Night so several functions in the early evening. I went to the Dining room for the Gala Dinner, I ordered: Eggplant Parmigiana, Shrimp Cocktail, the Filet Mignon entree, and Baked Alaska for dessert. It was a very nice dinner again with great service. I went to the Production show: Encore (photo), which featured songs from Broadway Shows, including Chicago, Hairspray, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and more. Very entertaining, the photo is of the female lead singer, she was excellent. I returned to the cabin and set out my room service order before retiring. It was an interesting day on the MSC Seashore.

 

Wednesday, September 4th / Day at Sea / Day 4 

Smooth seas overnight and I slept very well. At about 8:00 am. my Room Service was delivered, I ordered Hot Milk, Danish, Fruit Plate, & Special K cereal.  Very convenient.  At 10:00 am I went to the Brooklyn Cafe Lounge for the Diamond  Guest Reception. I had to call Guest Services to get the info as I was issued a blue card and not a black card that I had corrected after the party.  I like this location better than the previous Cabaret location. I was served an Aperol Spritzer straight away, then two Hugo Spritzers, so the party was on.  They had a piano player and a Tango Dance routine by a couple from Argentina as entertainment.  The Cruise Director introduced the Senior Officers as well as the Captain of the Ship (photo).  As the event was finishing they forced the pre-prepared cocktails on those guests that remained so I helped them out by having a couple more of Aperol Spritzers. The party continued. I then went to Guest Services and picked up my correct Black Card then back to my cabin…very soon they were knocking on my door with a bottle of Prosecco, a Chocolate Ship sweet, and Petit Fours.  So the party continued.  At 12:30 pm I went to the Butcher's Cut Steak House (with a glass of Prosecco) for lunch.  The manager seated me so I was able to get my usual request approved straight away…I order two appetizers and no dessert.  I had the Burrata & Beets, Shrimp Cocktail, and a Filet Mignon entree.  This was a real filet, not the shoulder-cut beef they passed off in the MDR last night, and perfectly prepared—a great lunch.  I then soon retired to the cabin for a wee nap.  In the late afternoon, I did some online business and booked an excursion for tomorrow in Costa Maya.  I did go to dinner in the MDR  it was Caribbean Night, but I didn’t care for my appetizers or the meatloaf entree.  The Key Lime Pie was good though.  I had reservations for the Divas Show in the theater but passed and retired early and enjoyed a Coca-Cola and Western movie on TCM.  It was a good sea day on the MSC Seashore.

 

Thursday, September 5th / Costa Maya, Mexico / Day 5

Calm seas overnight and I slept very well. We arrived several hours early by 7:00 am and only two ships today: Ourselves and the Harmony of the Seas. I again had a nice room service breakfast then at about 9:10 am and left the ship and walked down the long pier to meet my excursion. I’m doing the Bacalar 7 Colors Lagoon tour today. We took a very nice bus on an 80-minute drive to Columpio Rancho Encantado on the Balacar Lagoon. We relaxed around the pool as we waited for our Pontoon Boats. They had my favorite Mexican Beer so I enjoyed a couple of Bohemia Cervezas. We were soon loaded on the Pontoon, perfect for the shallow water sites we will visit. We sailed by Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar (the fort) and then visited Cenote Negro before anchoring in the shallows to allow for swimming. We sailed by Cenote Azul and Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island) before stopping at the second swimming location. We then returned to the Restaurant/Resort for a nice Mexican Buffet lunch. It was over two hours on the fresh water lagoon overall (photo). The bus passed through rain as we were returning to Costa Maya. When we arrived it was clear but there were very few guests…they all had returned to the ship when it rained so it was very easy to get through the usual gauntlet of vendors. I was back in the cabin by 4:45 pm. I planned to relax and skip dinner but the menu appealed to me so I went to dinner at 7:30. I ordered: Escargot, Beetroot Salad, Shrimp Cocktail, the Steak Diane entree, and the Tapioca with Mango dessert. A large number of guests were dressed in white for tonight's White Night party.  I returned to the cabin to watch the NFL Kickoff game between the Chiefs and Chargers.  It was great excursion day.

 Friday,  September 6th   /  Cozumel  /  Day 6

Smooth seas overnight and a good night's sleep. I woke at about 7:30 a.m. and we had been docked at Puerto Langosta for a while. At 8:45 I went down to the MDR for breakfast before they closed at 9:00 am.  I ordered three fried eggs with Toast, Ham, Bacon, Grilled Tomato, and Scalloped Potatoes.  Also Tomato Juice, Hot Milk, and Water.  It was a good and hearty breakfast.  After I walked down to Deck 4 and the gangway and was off and walking into town, I like docking at this pier, so much easier for the things I usually do when in Cozumel. My first stop was at the San Miguel Archangel Church, the second at Antonio’s Barber Shop for a haircut just as he opened at 10:00 a.m. Another good haircut too. The third stop is at my Cozumel HQ: Woody’s Bar & Grill. I had table 7 with a nearby fan, electrical plug, and view of the Ship. The good WiFi, Live Entertainment by Michael, great Mexican Coca-Cola, fair (not made to order) Guacamole, a Chimichanga, and Bohemia beer were all nice on this luckily breezy day. The day seemed a bit off though, not many tourists, and the time change. I casually began walking back to the ship earlier than usual. I did stop at the Thirsty Cougar on the Malecon as a break on my walk (photo). I made it back on board before 2:00 pm and refreshed and relaxed until sailing away at about 5:00 PM.  The seas are rolling more than any other time this cruise evening.  Nice ride.  This is one of those days that I’m glad I have a 7:30 dinner time. Dinner was very good, I ordered: Stuffed Mushrooms, Shrimp cocktail, the Penne all Amatriciana Pasta entree, and Coconut Cake for dessert. After dinner I retired to the cabin to watch television, overall another great port day in Cozumel.

 

Saturday, September 7th / Day at Sea / Day 7

There were some rolling seas overnight, just enough rocking for a good sleep. I had a relaxing morning then went up to the Buffet for the first time at about 10:30 am for breakfast. I had Eggs, French Toast, Ham, and Bacon with milk and sat on the bump out with a view aft. Beautiful weather today and I did a short walkabout (photo) before cabin/balcony time. Today is NCAA SEC College Football Day for me.  I had the cabin set with snacks and began with the noon game between Texas and Michigan.  Then the 3:30 kickoffs.  At about 4:30 I went to Hola! Tacos & Cantina, the Tex-Mex restaurant on deck 8, and the All-you-can-Eat menu ($17.99). I ordered almost everything on the menu.  I ordered: the Signature Guacamole (2), Pico de Gallo (2), Queso Fundido, Tamales (2), Chicken Enchilada (2), Pork Enchilada (2), Chili Con Carne, and the best items on the menu…the Street-Style Soft Tortillas.  My favorites were Al Pastor (2) and Carne Asada (2).  In retrospect, I would do more soft tacos and less entree enchiladas.  A lot to eat.  This was my third visit in three cruises and the best restaurant on the ship in my humble opinion.  My big game, Oklahoma vs. Houston had a 7:45 kickoff.  The WiFi was streamlining well and I could get both the SEC Network as well as the Oklahoma radio broadcast.  The game was much closer than anyone expected and Oklahoma was lucky to pull out a victory.  It was a long but fun football day with excellent food. 

Sunday, November 8th / Port Canaveral / Debarkation
Fair seas overnight and I slept well. We arrived on time and were docked just after 6:00 am. I finished packing and waited until I actually saw guests on the gangway at about 7:00 a.m. and luckily got an elevator and joined the line. Thanks to facial recognition we were soon on the street. I was on the parking shuttle bus before 7:30 and on the road by 7:45 a.m. Went through the carwash in Lakeland, stopped for groceries, and was home at about 10:15 a.m. Easy Peasy.

Ship
Maiden Voyage: 2017 I Gross Tonnage: 153,500 tons
Passenger Capacity: 5179 | Crew: 1413 I Length: 323 meters/1060 ft
Max Cruising Speed: 22 knots I Avg Speed 21 knots
Installed power: Diesel (40,000kW) I Propulsion: Twin propellers
17 passenger decks Builder: Fincantieri
Godmother: Sophia Loren

Cabin
I had cabin 10276 a starboard side balcony located on deck far aft with a long walk to the main aft elevators, but close to the aft Panoramic elevators . Storage is fine if solo. The toilet seems smaller perhaps because the glass shower doors restrict movement. The cabin has a push-button safe, twin/king beds, a large padded headboard, two small nightstands, wall-mounted wall lights, a large mirror, a small stocked refrigerator, a small table/bench (unusual), and a nice TV with interactive features. My cabin steward was very good.

Dining / Food
The dinners in the MDR are very good, and the service and settings were wonderful. I love the tablecloths. Our wait staff were excellent, very pleased with the service. The buffet food was good to very good. Not as many selections as in the past, but the food variety was fine. Favorites: all the Pizza, all the Pasta, Guacamole, Hamburgers, and Salad Bar. I only did one premium specialty restaurant: The Butcher’s Cut for lunch and it was very good.

Comments - MSC Cruise Line
MSC is very different than the usual American cruise lines and if you're looking for the same experience it will be much different. You may like the differences or you may be very unhappy with the differences. As an experienced cruiser, I love different. If you don’t like change or are not flexible you will probably NOT like sailing a European cruise line. Following are my observations on sailing MSC: 

MSC Pluses
Beautiful Public Rooms, Good MSC Production Shows and entertainment, Quality and Beautiful Themed Bars, Nice Cabins, Hot Milk readily available on buffet and MDR, Attentive bar servers, and Good MDR Breakfasts.  Tablecloths.

Changes since Covid
Announcements are now only in English
Fewer children since they changed the ‘Children sail free’ promotion.
Many more American guests result in more: Scooters, Wheelchairs, and complainers.

Highlights of the Cruise
Balacar Excursion in Costa Maya
Hola! Tacos and Cantina
Port Day in Cozumel
Production Shows
Butcher’s Cut Steak House