Every cruise has to come to an end eventually, and sadly, that time has come. It’s the final day aboard the beautiful MSC Seashore—a ship that’s been home for the past week—and it’s time to talk about everything this cruise had to offer.
Being a sea day, the ship’s daily planner was packed with activities. You’ll find the full planner at the bottom of the page if you’re curious. All of those events are the work of the cruise director and their team, and on Seashore, that would be Neil Dixon. Cruise directors often don’t get enough credit, but they’re the ones behind the scenes making sure guests are entertained from sunrise to well past midnight.
I actually remember Neil from back when he was assistant cruise director on MSC Seaside. I spent a good chunk of time sailing on that ship and will definitely miss seeing her in PortMiami once she relocates to her new home in Galveston later this year. There’s a surprisingly large group of cruisers who book sailings based solely on who the cruise director is—yes, that’s a real thing. I’ve never quite understood it myself, but for many, the CD can make or break the entire vacation.
If you’re sailing with Carnival, the cruise director usually has the energy of a kid who just slammed a six-pack of Cherry Coke, chased it with a bag of Sour Patch Kids, four Red Bulls, and a full-sized Hershey bar. On Royal Caribbean, it’s basically the same minus the Red Bulls. Then you’ve got Holland America and Princess, where the CD tends to feel more like your freshman-year history teacher at Catholic school—very polite, very informative, and maybe, just maybe, a little stiff.
As for me, I prefer a cruise director who gives useful information without being obnoxious, skips the hard sell on gold-by-the-inch, and doesn’t make me roll my eyes before we’ve even cleared the port on embarkation day. Neil checked all those boxes and then some. So here’s to you, Neil—thanks for making the week a fun one.
The Human Side of the Ship’s Crew
But beyond the cruise director and entertainment team, there’s an entire cast of incredible people who play key roles in making your cruise memorable. Some you see every day, some you may never cross paths with, but they’re all there—working behind the scenes, on the front lines, and everywhere in between. Some wear stripes, some don’t. But one thing I always notice—especially on MSC Cruises—is how visible the “striped ones” are. Whether it’s the bar manager, someone from senior staff, a housekeeping supervisor, or even the captain himself, they’re out and about, interacting with guests, not just tucked away in offices or on the bridge.
One of those visible leaders is someone I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over the years—Ram, the assistant housekeeping manager. We first met by chance on MSC Seascape, just passing in a hallway where he stopped to say hello and ask how my cruise was going. That brief interaction turned into a friendly rapport over a few sailings, and before I knew it, I was bumping into him on every trip like we were long-lost brothers. The last time I saw him before this cruise was in April 2024, near the end of his contract. We sat and talked for a long time. He spoke about how grateful he was for MSC and the Aponte family, how proud he was of his children back home, and how hard—but rewarding—it was to work away from them to support their education.
On that final night, we shared some emotional goodbyes and a few tears. I never imagined that I would be walking around MSC Seashore this week, and hear someone yell, “Oh my gosh!” And there he was—Ram. Now serving as assistant housekeeping manager on Seashore, it was like running into an old friend you hadn’t seen in years. We spent a good half hour catching up, talking about his kids, his job, and sharing hugs (and nearly tears again) while reminding each other, “Don’t you dare make me cry!”
It’s easy to forget the human side of cruising when we’re busy sipping cocktails and soaking up the sun. But for many of these crew members, working on a ship means being away from their families for eight months or more at a time, with only a short break between contracts. They work exhausting hours—hours most of us would balk at—yet they do it with a smile on their face, and when you ask how they’re doing, the answer is always, “Excellent!”
For the majority of crew, like Ram, this isn’t just a job—it’s a lifeline. A way to give their families opportunities they may not have otherwise had. Without them, the cruise experience we all love simply wouldn’t be possible. So the next time you pass a crew member in the hallway or see a name tag you recognize, say hello. You never know the story behind the smile.
Italian Night on MSC Seashore
Before diving into the overall review of this cruise, let’s talk food—because tonight was Italian Night in the main dining room, and that’s kind of a big deal on an MSC ship. With the line’s deep Italian roots and no standalone Italian restaurant like Eataly (which you’ll find on MSC World America), this is the night red sauce gets its well-deserved spotlight. And yes, I had to see for myself whether the experience lived up to the hype.
Now, those who follow along know I don’t frequent the main dining room all that often—especially on MSC, where the food in the MDR and buffet has developed a bit of a viral reputation for, let’s say, falling short. But I already debunked that earlier in the cruise with a surprisingly good dinner in the MDR, so I came back tonight ready to give Italian Night either a well-earned thumbs up… or a pass.
Italian Night Dinner Menu – Main Dining Room
Italian Night Dinner Menu – Yacht Club Restaurant
Since I’m booked in an Aurea-class stateroom, I’ve got the perk of anytime dining in the 5th Avenue Restaurant. I walked in around 8 p.m. and was seated right away. The place was decked out for the occasion—tables dressed with red and green napkins, matching runners, and servers wearing their festive red, white, and green. A glass of wine arrived, followed by some fresh-baked bread, and I got down to business.
I kicked things off with the Caprese—a simple plate of house-made mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. Fun fact: MSC makes mozzarella onboard, and if you haven’t seen it, the buffet typically hosts a mozzarella bar one day during the cruise featuring different variations, including burrata. This wasn’t that, but the fresh mozz was solid.
Next up was the antipasto—a familiar selection of cured meats and grilled vegetables, all of which also show up on the buffet all day.
Now for the main event: I was torn between two of my favorite Italian dishes—chicken parm and osso bucco. Since chicken parm is a safe bet and hard to mess up, I went out on a limb and ordered the osso bucco to see how the kitchen would handle something a bit more ambitious. I also asked for a side of penne with bolognese, because… pasta.
The osso bucco did not disappoint. In fact, it was tender enough to fall apart with just a fork—no knife required. The sauce it was served with was rich and flavorful, and was mopped up with what was left of that crusty bread. The bone marrow? Melt-in-your-mouth goodness, as who can pass that up on some bread?
And that pasta? That pasta would’ve made any Nonna proud. Perfect al dente noodles with a hearty, meat-rich bolognese that wasn’t skimpy on flavor or portion. Each bite had the perfect ratio of sauce to pasta, with plenty left on the plate for—you guessed it—more bread-mopping.
I skipped dessert, but the meal ended on a high note with the dining room team breaking into a conga line, waving red and green napkins in the air like we were at an Italian street festival. It was a fun, festive way to wrap things up.
Before leaving, Edi, the restaurant manager, made his rounds, stopping by each table to check in. He also reminded guests about the importance of filling out the post-cruise surveys. And he’s absolutely right. Those surveys aren’t just for venting or singing praises—they actually determine promotions, recognition, and even extra perks like shore leave for the hardworking crew members.
So do your part. If someone made your cruise experience extra special, take two minutes and fill out the survey. Mention them by name. It means more than you know, and it’s one of the easiest ways to give back to the people who spend months at sea making our vacations amazing.
Tip: To remember those who made your cruise special and to make sure you give them the recognition the deserve, take a pic of their nametag!
Time to get into it!
Overall MSC Seashore Cruise Review
Accommodations – Aurea Balcony Stateroom 9254
Let’s start with where I laid my head for the week. As I mentioned in my Day 1 report, this cruise was a bit of a last-minute birthday adventure—I booked it on a Thursday for a Sunday departure. The only stateroom category left was an Aurea Balcony Stateroom with an extended balcony, specifically cabin 9254 on Deck 9, aft.
The room itself had the standard amenities: twin beds that combine to form a king, sofa bed, ample closet space, a large-screen TV, a stocked mini-bar ($), a safe, and a (very) compact bathroom with a glass-doored shower. While the stateroom was comfortable overall, the bathroom? That’s where things took a turn. The space is tight—really tight. If you’re seated on the toilet, your right knee is pressed right up against the base of the sink. The shower? Barely enough room to turn around. If you’re on the heavier side, you’ll find the bathroom a bit of a challenge. Compared to the bathrooms on Carnival’s Excel-class ships, which offer double the shower space, this one felt pretty claustrophobic.
Initially, I was excited about the “extended” balcony. I thought it would be a great place to relax and soak up the views—but that excitement faded fast. Once you step out into the extended part of the balcony, privacy goes right out the window. You’re completely exposed to the decks above and the neighbors next to you. Personally, I’d rather lounge in the sun by the pool than on a balcony where I feel like I’m on display. To make matters worse, the ship’s Wi-Fi signal didn’t reach the balcony, which made working or streaming from that space a no-go.
Tech-wise, the stateroom is lacking in USB and charging options. There were just two USB ports at the desk and one on one side of the bed. As for power outlets, you get two U.S. and two European plugs at the desk, and that’s it. With so many of us traveling with multiple devices, I hope MSC addresses this during the ship’s next dry dock and adds more outlets or USB ports—it’s simply not enough.
Despite those gripes, the room was clean, the A/C kept things nice and cool, everything functioned properly, and it was quiet—I didn’t hear a peep from either of my neighbors. My room steward, Anil, did a great job keeping the place spotless and well maintained.
And just to clear it up, if you’re coming from other cruise lines and expecting nightly towel animals… nope, not on MSC. Sorry, towel animal fans.
Video Tour of Stateroom 9254 on MSC Seashore
MSC Seashore Food
As I’ve mentioned before—and even wrote an entire article called “Is the Food Really That Bad on MSC?”—MSC Cruises often gets roasted online for its food, especially in the main dining room and buffet. A lot of that stems from the line’s Italian roots. No matter how hard MSC tries to Americanize their offerings, at the end of the day, it’s still a Mediterranean cruise line, and the food often reflects that. For some American passengers, especially those expecting a more familiar lineup of dishes, the menus can feel a bit foreign. That said, how did the food stack up on this particular sailing? Let’s get into it.
Main Dining Room (Free) – ★★★☆☆ – On my first visit to the MDR, I ordered the upcharge steak, and as I mentioned in my daily report, it was on par with what you’d expect in the $55-per-person Butcher’s Cut steakhouse. If I factored that in, I’d give the MDR a four-star rating, but I’m keeping it at three since most guests stick to the included items. While both meals I had here were significantly better than previous MDR experiences on MSC ships, there’s still room for improvement. For example, the caprese and antipasto I had during Italian Night were just okay—nothing you couldn’t scoop up from the buffet. But the osso bucco and pasta that followed were excellent and showed that MSC can get it right.
Buffet (Free) – ★★★☆☆ – Let’s start with the layout: it’s not the easiest to navigate. In an attempt to control guest flow, the ship uses portable stanchions to organize queues—but good luck with that. Many of the European passengers don’t believe in the concept of waiting their turn, and they’ll cut right in front of you without a second thought. The stanchions feel more like a suggestion than a rule, and the result is often just confusion and frustration.
As for the food, breakfast was your usual selection of eggs, pancakes, sausage, and a surprisingly great variety of offerings. Lunch brought a mix of hot dogs, burgers, carving stations, vegetarian dishes, salads, and the star of any MSC buffet: the pizza. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—MSC knows how to make pizza. It’s consistently fantastic and easily the best free food onboard.
Dinner offers much of the same variety you’d find in the MDR, and one small but appreciated detail? Bacon. Unlike Carnival, which rations bacon like it’s a luxury commodity (handed out by crew only on certain days), MSC had tray after glorious tray of it at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dozens and dozens of dessert options and there was even a designated kids’ area, and seating was never an issue. Multiple pop-up bars also made grabbing a drink easy without having to flag down a server.
Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse ($) – ★★★★☆ – I had two meals here during the cruise, and both were excellent. Service was on-point, the atmosphere was cozy but upscale, and the steaks were cooked exactly to order. If you’re a steakhouse fan, it’s worth the splurge. It’s hard to imagine, but the Butcher’s Cut restaurants on the Seaside-class ships, are actually SMALLER than on the World-class despite the significant increase in passenger count.
Kaito Sushi & Teppanyaki ($) – ★★★★☆ – This was one of the most fun dining experiences of the week. You get dinner and a show at the teppanyaki grill, and I appreciated that the meal started off with a sushi course. That way, you get a taste of both sides of the restaurant—the sushi bar and the teppanyaki—and both held up in terms of freshness and flavor. The chefs were entertaining without being over-the-top, and the quality and quantity of the food were both excellent.
All Star Sports Bar ($) – Not Rated – I didn’t end up dining here. The menu is extremely limited with only a few items like Caesar salad, wings, nachos, a burger, and apple pie. All are à la carte upcharge items, and nothing really stood out enough to pull me in, especially with better options available elsewhere.
Ocean Cay Seafood Restaurant ($) – ★★★☆☆ – This one took a little reflection. Dinner at Ocean Cay Seafood Restaurant was good—the service was on point, the setting was nice, and the food was well-prepared. But when I compared the overall experience to my meals at Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Teppanyaki, it just didn’t measure up. Maybe it’s because I’m not the biggest seafood fan to begin with, or maybe the dishes just didn’t have that wow factor I was hoping for. Either way, while it wasn’t a bad meal by any means, it wasn’t particularly memorable either. If I sail MSC Seashore again, I’d probably skip Ocean Cay in favor of one of the other specialty options onboard.
MSC Seashore Fellow Passengers
MSC Cruises is known for drawing a very international crowd, and this cruise was no exception. While there were certainly plenty of Americans onboard, there was also a noticeable number of Brazilians and Europeans in the mix. With it being summer, the passenger base leaned heavily toward families, though not in overwhelming large groups. You saw the typical mix: parents with screaming kids in tow, teens doing laps around the ship in packs, and young couples kanoodling by the pool after one too many Michelob Ultras.
If I had to ballpark the average age, I’d say it fell somewhere in the 35–45 range, with a smaller percentage of guests falling into the 55+ category. Not exactly a party crowd, but definitely not a sleepy one either. As I noted in the buffet section, some of the Europeans have an aversion to lines or personal space and those moments could test your patience if you’re used to more orderly behavior. Still, for the most part, the vibe was upbeat, laid-back, and very “MSC.”
MSC Seashore Service & Upkeep
Fantastic—truly, what more is there to say? From start to finish, the service onboard MSC Seashore was exceptional. Every crew member I encountered went out of their way to smile, greet guests, and offer assistance. Whether it was a bartender, a server, or someone from housekeeping, the level of attentiveness and friendliness was consistent throughout the cruise. It may sound stupid, but that little three second interaction really makes a difference.
The housekeeping team deserves a special mention—not just for keeping staterooms clean and tidy, but for maintaining the public areas in near-pristine condition. The ship was spotless from top to bottom, and it was clear that crew members took a lot of pride in keeping it that way.
That said, there was one minor sign of aging starting to show. As MSC Seashore approaches her fifth birthday in July 2026, the carpeting in some high-traffic areas—especially the atrium—is beginning to show wear and tear. A few stains here and there (like strawberry daiquiri mishaps on gray carpet) were noticeable and are probably due for a refresh in the near future. Beyond that, though, there was no visible rust, no chipped paint, and no noticeable maintenance issues anywhere in the public areas. The ship still looks sleek, clean, and well cared for—another testament to the crew that keeps everything shipshape.
Debarkation
Debarking MSC Seashore was hassle-free —something that’s always appreciated. Guests have two options when it comes to getting off the ship: self-disembarkation, where you carry your own luggage and are among the first allowed off, or traditional disembarkation, where you leave your luggage outside your stateroom the night before and pick it up in the terminal the next morning.
For this cruise, I opted for the self-disembarkation route. According to the disembarkation schedule that was delivered to staterooms the night before, things were set to start at 7:30 AM—and true to form, they did. I made my way down to Deck 6 at 7:35 AM and found only a small line. Within minutes, I was walking off the ship and into the terminal.
MSC uses facial recognition technology for customs clearance, which made the whole process a breeze. You stand in front of the scanner, the system matches your face with your passport info, and just like that—boom—you’re cleared. I was at my car by 7:55 AM and home by 10:15 AM.
What’s Next?
Now that my time on MSC Seashore has come to an end, I’m getting ready for what is going to be a VERY busy winter season and am excited to be embarking on some very interesting cruises between now and the end of the year, including:
- Carnival Celebration, August 24 – 31, 2025
- Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady, October 17 – 25, 2025
- Cunard Queen Elizabeth, October 28 – November 6, 2025
- Holland America Line Rotterdam, November 28 – December 7, 2025
- Explora Journeys Explora I – December 12 – 29, 2025
- …and there may be more to fill in off weeks!
So be sure to follow along here, on Facebook, on my YouTube Channel and even on TikTok!
Daily Planner for Day 7
