Hello again from MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, where the MSC Seashore spent the night! Out of all the MSC cruises I’ve taken since Ocean Cay opened a few years ago, this is the first time I’ve been on one that included an overnight stop here. Most itineraries have Ocean Cay as a single-day visit with a departure time of 7 p.m. or later—but you can find a few that include an overnight stay.
Now, an overnight doesn’t mean you’re getting two full days on the island—and there are a few caveats! First, you do have to get back onboard the ship at night. That means no sleeping on the island. The crew who work on Ocean Cay live here, so staying overnight would basically mean camping in their backyard. Be sure you’re back onboard by the all aboard time, which for us was 11:30 p.m.
During the overnight, expect only a couple of bars to remain open after 5 p.m., and those close once the Luna Libre Beach Party wraps up around 10:30 p.m. Also, if you find yourself feeling a bit peckish, be aware that no food is available after lunch service. The buffets and food trucks all close in the afternoon, so you’ll need to head back to the ship for dinner—but you can come and go from the island until the all aboard time.
The gangway opens early in the morning, and a few bars start serving around 8 a.m. and stay open until 10 or 10:30 a.m. All aboard this morning was 11:30 a.m., so while it’s not a second full day, if you’re an early riser, you can still enjoy a peaceful morning walk around the island, catch the sunrise, and squeeze in one last beach visit before departure.
I used the morning to head ashore, get some steps in, and enjoy some time on the island without the crowds. Just note: only a handful of bars are open, and again—no food is available. However, all the beaches are accessible (and beautifully empty), tram service is running to shuttle you around, and if you’re feeling fancy, cabanas can be rented for a half-day at half price.
In yesterday’s report, I shared a whole lot of information about Ocean Cay. If you haven’t checked it out yet, [click here] to give it a read—I pretty much covered everything you need to know about spending time at this awesome private island. If I missed anything, be sure to let me know and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. I’ve been here many, many times over the years, have seen a ton of changes, and I’m excited about what’s next!
MSC Seashore 7-Day Eastern Caribbean Cruise Review: Day 2 – July 21, 2025
As guests were leaving the ship this morning to enjoy a little more time onshore, crew members were reminding everyone about the 11:30 a.m. all aboard time—to make sure we didn’t end up with any pier runners at departure.
Brunch… Italian Stye
Since today is considered a “sea day,” a complimentary brunch is on the menu in one of the ship’s main dining rooms, here’s a peek at the Italian-themed menu which also includes some Italian cocktails.
Delayed Departure from Ocean Cay
When noon rolled around, an announcement was made that we were going to have a delayed departure.
A guest onboard had a medical issue that required medical attention ashore. Ocean Cay is about 65 miles east of Miami, and the nearest hospitals in The Bahamas would be in Freeport or Nassau. No boat or air ambulance arrived while we were docked. While the island does have a doctor and a medical center, it’s likely the guest was transferred there until further arrangements could be made to get them to a hospital.
We eventually left around 2 p.m., and just as we exited the channel, we were greeted by the MSC Seascape, which was arriving at Ocean Cay. It seemed our later departure impacted their arrival time a bit. As we passed by, the two ships’ captains engaged in a friendly horn battle—because why not end the visit with a little fun?
@scottsanfilippo @MSC Cruises Official #MSCSeashore meets sister ship, #MSCSeaside as one departs while the other arrives at Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in The Bahamas. The captains had a bit of fun with their horns. #cruise #cruiseship #msccruises
Second Thoughts on that Extended Balcony
If you checked out the Day 1 report, I gave a bit of a tour of my stateroom—and one of the things I gushed about was the size of the extended balcony. Now, after spending two full days onboard, I’ve realized that size doesn’t always matter!
As I mentioned, the “extended” portion of the balcony—the green area shown in the photos—is not under any type of shade. While it’s great for sunbathing, it also means that everyone above you has an unobstructed view of you… in all your glory… from their balconies. It also gets very hot, with the steel floor radiating heat like a frying pan—so wear shoes!
You also don’t get a full view off the side of the ship. When you’re standing at the balcony railing, there’s additional floor space in front of you that contains a track for the mechanism used to clean the windows on the side of the ship. Plus, you’ll see some of the shade sails from Deck 8 below. And then there’s the slanted privacy divider—while I was looking out over the railing, my neighbors on both sides were too, and we were all awkwardly staring off into the distance pretending we definitely weren’t noticing each other.
To get some shade, you have to move into the “faux wood” section of the balcony, closer to the sliding glass door.
If you don’t mind laying out on your balcony while others enjoy a clear view of you from above, and you want that extra space, go for it. But for me? I prefer a little more privacy.
One frustrating part of the balcony experience involved the ship’s Wi-Fi. I thought it would be the perfect spot to catch up on work or content creation, but thanks to all the steel, the Wi-Fi signal was completely blocked. So much for productivity out there!
Okay—enough of that. On to the important stuff: loyalty!
MSC Voyager’s Club & Carnival’s Loyalty Program Disaster
Let’s dive into the hot mess that is Carnival Cruise Line’s loyalty program shake-up and see how it stacks up against MSC Cruises’ Voyagers Club.
If you’re a cruise junkie, you’ve probably been following along with the drama that is… Carnival Cruise Line’s loyalty program debacle. Just a few weeks ago, the line announced that their current VIFP program is getting the axe and is being replaced by the new Carnival Rewards program. Needless to say, it’s become a PR nighmare for Carnival with thousands of people taking to social media to voice their very strong opinions and their threats of “never sailing again.”
So what’s the big deal?
Well, Carnival’s current VIFP Club rewards you based on nights sailed—Blue for newbies, all the way up to Diamond for the 200+ night crowd. Perks like priority boarding, laundry, and a Diamond lunch have kept loyalists hooked for years. But come June 2026, VIFP is walking the plank and making way for Carnival Rewards, which is all about one thing: how much cash you drop.
Points and tiers (still Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) now come from spending—3 points per $1 on just about everything: fares, gratuities, spa, drinks, you name it.
Oh, and that lifetime status? Gone. You’ve gotta requalify. They’re giving you two years to hold onto your current level (six years if you’re Diamond) while you try to claw your way back up—or risk dropping to a lower tier. Loyal cruisers are livid. We’re talking thousands of angry comments on Facebook, petitions on Change.org, and people swearing they’re jumping ship to MSC or Royal Caribbean.
Meanwhile, Carnival’s standing firm, claiming the old system was bloated with too many high-tier members clogging up the perks—which, to be fair, is absolutely true.
Over at MSC, the Voyagers Club has a six-tier system (it used to be five, but they recently added the new Blue Diamond level at the top). You earn points based on cruise length and the experience you book—from the entry-level Bella experience to full-on Yacht Club luxury. You also get points for prepaid items like drink packages or Wi-Fi, but as of November 2024, onboard spending (excluding the casino) no longer counts, which has some cruisers—like me, who tend to drop a lot of cash onboard—grumbling a bit.
Still, MSC knows how to treat their loyalists right. As a Diamond member, I get a welcome bottle of prosecco, chocolates, and sweet treats in my cabin, plus an invite to the exclusive Diamond Party and some other surprises along the way. Blue Diamond members get even more!
Diamond / Blue Diamond Member Reception
Today was the day of the Diamond / Blue Diamond reception, where we sipped (lots of) champagne and wine while nibbling on canapés in one of the ship’s lounges. Senior officers, the cruise director, and even the Captain himself made the rounds, chatting us up. The MSC Foundation rep gave a spiel about their global do-gooding, and we even got some salsa dancing from the ship’s entertainers.
Carnival’s new spend-based Carnival Rewards program is a slap in the face to folks who’ve racked up nights over years of cruising—not dollars. Many Carnival cruisers are already taking advantage of MSC’s status match program to jump tiers without starting from scratch. MSC’s five-year expiration window is way more forgiving, and their matching (Carnival Diamond could snag MSC Gold or even Diamond) kind of levels the playing field.
While Carnival’s betting on big spenders—and their new Carnival Rewards Mastercard—to keep the cash flowing, MSC’s Voyagers Club keeps the focus on the cruise experience, with perks that feel personal and events that make you feel like you’re actually a valued part of the brand.
With Carnival’s backlash hitting fever pitch, MSC is looking more and more like the place to sail for those who want loyalty to mean something more than just a credit card bill.
Main Dining Room Menu – Day 3
For those curious as to what was being served in the Main Dining Room, here’s a peek of the Day 3 menu, which was the Caribbean Dinner:
Yacht Club Restaurant Menu – Day 3
And for those living the Yacht Club life, here’s a look at what was being served in their private dining room.
Dinner at Kaito Teppanyaki
After the reception, I headed back to my room to get ready for the evening. Tonight, I had a reservation at Kaito Teppanyaki, a restaurant that always delivers a great dinner paired with a show—making it a popular spot for families.
Dinner at Kaito Teppanyaki will run you $49–$79, depending on which teppanyaki menu you choose. There are three options, plus a vegetarian and a kids’ menu. If you have a dining package, you can choose between the $49 or $55 menus—or pay a $20 upcharge to enjoy the $75 Shogun menu.
There are multiple seatings each night—5:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 9:45 p.m. While there are eight teppanyaki tables (each accommodating two chefs and 24 guests), reservations fill up fast, especially for the early seatings. It’s always best to book as soon as you get onboard—or pre-cruise—if this is one of those can’t-miss dining experiences on your list.
Dinner starts with a large plate of sushi, and if you’re not into raw fish, you can opt for a veggie version instead. That’s followed by soup and salad.
For my dinner, I went with the $20 upcharge for the Shogun menu, and it looked like the rest of the folks at my table did the same. That meant the next course was lobster tail, black cod, and scallops—all of which were delicious.
Then came the main event: garlic fried rice and Ozaki Wagyu, which I requested blue—actually, less than blue. I asked the chef to give it a quick sizzle on one side, flip it, and do the same on the other. The chef happily accommodated my request, and the Wagyu melted like butter.
Dinner wrapped up with ginger ice cream and caramelized pineapple—the perfect finish.
I say it all the time: when it comes to any cruise line, one of the best values in specialty dining is always the teppanyaki restaurant. You get so much food, it’s impossible to leave hungry. And with the chef cooking everything right in front of you, you get a dinner and a show—with the added bonus of being able to tell the chef exactly how you want your meal prepared.
Sunshine Party on MSC Seashore
One of the highlights of cruising on a Seaside-class ship is the atrium. It’s the heart and soul of the ship—and sadly, atriums are quickly disappearing on newer ships. In their place? Mall-like “avenues” where shops and extra gaming space take over.
On embarkation day, the atrium delivers that first “wow” moment when you step onto the ship and are greeted with a massive, multi-story space that immediately says: you’re on vacation. That “wow” has been stripped away on ships like Carnival’s Excel-class and even MSC’s World-class ships, where you walk into… well, a hallway.
When you board a Seaside-class ship, you know right away the atrium is going to be the spot to party—no matter what time of day. It spans Decks 5 through 8, with the Seashore Atrium Bar anchoring the lower level. Decks 6–8 have more bars and even the Mexican restaurant, Hola! Tacos & Cantina, right in the heart of the action.
At night, the atrium comes alive with live bands, events like the Silent Disco (which, honestly, I still think is kind of stupid—I don’t get why this is a thing), and themed parties like tonight’s Sunshine Party, celebrating the music of the ’60s to the ’80s. The night kicked off with a warm-up party featuring the guest entertainers, the Oceanic Band. Then at 10:45 p.m., the DJ took over, spinning the hits many of us grew up with—from ABBA to the Beach Boys, with the Village People and Culture Club thrown in for good measure.
It was a night of high energy and wall-to-wall people—on the Swarovski crystal staircases, packed onto the dance floor, and lined up along the balcony railings. It was awesome to see so many people just having a great time. It’s too bad this kind of space has been scrapped on newer ships, where the alternative is partying out on the Lido Deck in the Caribbean heat and 300% humidity. The vibe just isn’t the same.
The party wrapped up around 11:30 p.m., and it was off to bed for me.
We’re spending the next day at sea as we head toward our next port of call: Costa Maya, Mexico. Fun fact—Royal Caribbean just purchased the port of Costa Maya. Yep, they officially took possession earlier this month for $295 million. The sale included the port itself and 34 properties nearby, which are slated to be redone in a massive $600 million project that will transform the area into Perfect Day Mexico set to open in the fall of 2027.
Perfect Day Mexico will be an exclusive destination for Royal Caribbean passengers, while the existing port area will still host ships from other cruise lines.
This will likely be the last time I see Costa Maya in its current form before the bulldozers arrive and construction kicks off. If you’ve been here before, you already know—it’s overcrowded and a bit of a logistical mess when multiple ships are in port. But more on that in the Costa Maya report later this week.
Until then, thanks for following along!
Daily Planner for Day 3
