MSC Seaside to expand Florida cruising this week

MSC is keen to step up its cruise footprint in North America with the debut of MSC Seaside in Miami this week.

The ship built specifically for year-round Caribbean service by the European-based cruise line will have its naming ceremony tonight with appearances by godmother and Italian actress Sophia Loren, former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, master of ceremonies Mario Lopez and performances by Ricky Martin and tenor Andrea Bocelli.

While MSC has sailed one of its newer ships MSC Divina from Miami since 2013, MSC Seaside will be the first ship the cruise line has debuted in North America.

“MSC Seaside has been designed … to bring our passenger experience closer to the water,” said MSC Cruises Executive Chairman and CEO Pierfrancesco Vago.

Part of that design is its large open aft deck, which is part of the wraparound waterfront promenade and the two glass panoramic elevators that rise from the deck.

“The aft of the ship is similar to a Miami condo with a beach feeling," said Maurizio Cergol, senior vice president of marketing and new concept design at Italian shipyard Fincantieri, where the ship was built.

Much like the rest of the MSC fleet, the ship sports what could be called an Italian flair with lots of reflective surfaces, but with a modern feel.

Also, the ship has one of the largest water parks at sea with five slides, including one that is part-slide, part-video game. The 1,059-foot-long, 134-foot-wide ship’s design also features 463,000 square feet of public space including a double-deck atrium with glass walls offering views of the ocean. The ship also has the line’s largest ship-withina-ship concept, the MSC Yacht Club, which offers a private lounge, pool and solarium.

Restaurants include Asian Market Kitchen by celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi as well as a quicker-service eatery called Teppanyaki.

“MSC has Mediterranean roots. Their passion for food; it’s part of their life,” Yamaguchi said. “My father was very, very passionate about cooking, and he’s the one that always used to take us to the different ports in Japan for us to experience food in many different ways, so I think we both share the same passion of, food is life.”

A total of nine dining options also include Ocean Cay Restaurant, Butcher’s Cut, Bistrot La Bohème and The Biscayne Bay Buffet & Pizzeria.

The 153,516-ton ship that can hold 4,140 guests at double capacity is also the largest the line has ever sailed stateside, although another new ship, MSC Meraviglia, which is currently the largest in MSC’s fleet, will make its way to Florida in 2019.

In the meantime, Seaside will sail alongside Divina from Miami through the winter season, marking the first time the company has invested such passenger capacity from Florida.

The ship will sail alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries with some inside cabins starting at around $500 a person, based on double occupancy.

More information on the ship can be found at www.msccruisesusa.com