MSC Seaview

The 2018-built MSC Seaview cruise ship is the second SEASIDE-Class MSC vessel - with sistership MSC Seaside (2017).

The vessel (IMO number 9745378) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 248717000) and registered in Valletta.

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. It was established in 1960. Today, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - the world's 2nd largest containership company. MSC Crociere is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company.

By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC is ranked the world's 3rd largest cruise shipowner - following only Carnival Corporation and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group.

In 2015, MSC ordered four new ships from STX France and Fincantieri Italy, with an option for three more. The first two liners were delivered in 2017 - MSC Meraviglia (May) and MSC Seaside (November). Seaview was delivered in June 2018. The 5300-passenger Seaside-Class ship design was developed for year-round operations in warm climates. It features many and large-sized outdoor areas, ropes course, 5-slide water park, 3 glass-floored catwalks, wraparound Promenade Deck (at sea level) lined up with shops, bars and restaurants (indoor-outdoor seating), glass-walled (sea view) elevators. Among the vessel's technological features are Advanced Water Treatment and garbage treatment plants, new-generation scrubbers, optimized hull, antifouling paints, LED lighting throughout, advanced heat recovery technology. The vessel is fully compliant with IMO's "Safe Return to Port" requirement (how long the cruise ship should remain safe for evacuation).

MSC Seaview is part of the "smart" ships' series to be built by MSC, part of line's EUR 9 billion, 10-year investment plan, including the creation of up to 11 new ships, due to come into service 2017-2026. Contactless payment is one of the technologies leaving dry land as a cruise ship company revealed plans for next-generation smart ships.

MSC Seaview is the fleet's 3rd ship (after Meraviglia and Seaside) fitted with new technologies specifically designed to improve the onboard digital experience for passengers. The company entered a partnership with Samsung to support NFC (near-field communication) technology onboard, enabling passengers to use smartphones, cruise card or bracelet to geolocate themselves or their kids, to access their stateroom or make onboard payments. Interactive screens are placed throughout the ship to enable passengers to make real-time bookings and reservations. Beacon technology is also used, sending location-based, customized notifications to users' phones as they move around the ship. Beacons are triggered whenever a connected device moves into their vicinity.

Decks and Cabins

MSC Seaview staterooms (2066 total) are in 25 categories and include 1610 Outside and 454 Inside. The largest aboard MSC Seaside is the Yacht Club Royal Suite (670 ft2 / 62 m2 plus 355 ft2 / 33 m2 terrace with an outdoor whirlpool hot tub). The ship has 54 wheelchair-accessible cabins, 14 aft-corner suites, suites with outdoor Jacuzzis, terraced balcony staterooms (overlooking the Promenade) and cluster cabins (designed for families with children). About 73% of all staterooms are with private step-out balconies. Most cabin balconies are sized 45-95 ft2 (4-9 m2).

The boat has 19 decks, of which 16 are passenger-accessible and 10 with cabins.

MSC Seaview decks are named after oceans and seas.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

New and creative dining options are available onboard MSC Seaview. Expect the Fusion Restaurant with specialty dining and VIP Fine Dining Restaurant. The nine eateries onboard MSC Seaview feature cuisines from all around the world including the Pan-Asian restaurant via the partnership with acclaimed chef, Roy Yamaguchi, world-class international steak house and luxury seafood restaurant with Chef's Table.

Follows the complete list of MSC Seaview restaurants and food bars.

• Main dining rooms (restaurants) offer traditional Italian cuisine and wines. Dining rooms are open for Breakfast (7-9:30 am), Lunch (12-noon - 2 pm and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings (7 pm and 9:30 pm) with a 7-course dinner menu that also includes vegan and vegetarian meals.
• Golden Sand Restaurant (922-seat Aft Main Dining Room, size 1670 m2, Deck 5) serves breakfast, lunch (sea days only), and dinner, three fixed seatings, My Choice Dining (between 5:30-9:30 pm). Tables as capacity from 2 to 10 seats.
• Silver Dolphin Restaurant (806-seat Aft Main Dining Room, size 1475 m2, Deck 6) serves dinner only (three fixed time seatings). Tables as capacity from 2 to 10 seats.
• L'Atelier Bistrot (77-seat food lounge, size 670 m2, Deck 8) operates with fixed menu charge (EUR 23) or a la carte priced menu: Dining tables are arranged around the Atrium.
• Marketplace Buffet Restaurant (1000-seat buffet restaurant, size 2071 m2, Deck 8) with outdoor Promenade Deck seating (tables and chairs). Marketplace's multiple food stations include carvery, pizzeria (including made-to-order pies), fast-food (panini sandwiches, wraps, burgers, hot dogs), salad bar, fruits, vegan, bread and pasta (fresh-baked on the ship), beverage bar. Marketplace Buffet is open between 6.30 am - 2 am. The restaurant is a great choice for late-night pizzas and afternoon snacks. Seaview cruise ship's other buffet restaurant is on Deck 16 (Ocean Point Restaurant).
• Top Sail Lounge (174-seat, size 377 m2, Deck 16 / 18) is a 2-deck high indoor bar lounge, restaurant (on upper level) and an outdoor sundeck area with bow views. Top Sail Lounge is an exclusive complex for MSC Yacht Club cabin passengers only. The food and beverages are concierge-served and complimentary.
• MSC YACHT CLUB Restaurant (128-seat, size 630 m2, Deck 18) is part of Top Sail Lounge and serves complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner with no fixed dining times. A different menu is offered every day, reflecting the current cruise itinerary/region of the ship. Top Sail Lounge and its Sundeck and Restaurant are part of an exclusive complex for MSC Yacht Club cabin passengers only.
• L'Enoteca (Wine and Cocktails Bar, 59-seat, size 211 m2, Deck 16) has a separate area for wine tastings.
• Ocean Cay by Ramon Freixa (40-seat seafood specialty restaurant, size 130 m2, Deck 16) is at fixed charge pp (EUR 49, pre-set menu) or with ordering from an a la carte priced menu.
• Asian Market Kitchen by Roy Yamaguchi includes Pan Asian Restaurant by Roy Yamaguchi (12-seat, size 100 m2, Deck 16), Sushi Food Bar by Roy Yamaguchi (32-seat, size 170 m2, with outdoor seating), Teppanyaki Restaurant by Roy Yamaguchi (72-seat, size 100 m2, dinner-only, with live cooking stations)
• Butcher's Cut (72-seat steakhouse restaurant, size 225 m2, with exclusive Chef's Table, Deck 16) is at fixed charge pp (EUR 49, pre-set menu) or with ordering from an a la carte priced menu. The steakhouse offers brunch (sea days only) with a la carte menu (omelettes, carnitas, sandwiches, pancakes, surf-and-turf, desserts, premium wines. Butcher's Cut is open for lunch and dinner.
• Ocean Point Restaurant and Buffet (450-seat buffet restaurant for families and kids, size 1050 m2, Deck 16) is the Seaview ship's second buffet restaurant (the other is Marketplace Buffet on Deck 8). Ocean Point Buffet is open between 8-10 pm. Here are also offered themed food dinners. Ocean Point has dedicated food counters with children's meals, Pizzeria (pizza by the slice, made-to-order pies), fast-food stations (panini sandwiches, wraps, burgers, hot dogs), fresh-baked bread station, salad bar, fruits bar, vegan food station.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MSC Seaview is specifically designed for warm climates. The concept behind MSC Cruises Seaview ship is to "bring the sea closer to passengers. The beach-condo-inspired concept focuses on the outdoor space of suites and cabins, many al fresco eating options (20 bars), outdoor spa and fitness facilities, two wellness cabins with advanced Kinesis Technogym fitness equipment and private MSC Yacht Club, with a restaurant, lounge, and solarium.

Signature activity areas include Adventure Trail outdoor playground (rope courses, bridges, crawl-through slides) and Zip-Line (length 130 m / 430 ft). The aqua park has 5 waterslides, an interactive Slideboarding tube (combining video games, music, lights, 112-m water slide), Aquatube (innertube slide), 2x high-speed racing slides and 1x family flume-type slide. The waterpark also has 2 separate kids' playgrounds (AquaPlay and AquaSpray).

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service and Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. Follows the complete list of MSC Seaview lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Medical Center (16-seat Infirmary, size 251 m2 / 2701 ft2, Deck 4) is the ship’s hospital operated by resident doctors/physicians and nurses on 24-hour duty. Payments are made by the boarding pass (treatments equivalent to a private doctor’s visit). General health insurance policies do not apply, so buying cruise health insurance is recommended.
• Photo Shop, Art Gallery (8-seat, size 200 m2, Deck 5)
• Emotions-Immersive Gallery (50-seat photo gallery, size 218 m2, Deck 5)
• Atrium Lobby Lounge with MSC Future Cruise (19-seat Cruise Consultant Office, size 126 m2, Deck 5), Reception (24-hour Guest Services Desk, 32-seat, size 270 m2), Atrium Bar (Seaview Bar, 77-seat coffee/cocktail bar, size 508 m2)
• Odeon Theatre (Deck 6 / 7) is the ship's main show lounge (capacity 934 seats, size 1313 m2, stage/dance floor surface 190 m2) hosting live classical concerts, operas and all seven Broadway-style evening show productions (on a rotating basis, 4 are performed nightly). Each show includes 5 singers, 15 dancers, 14 variety artists. The shows are named "My Life in Music’ (live performed popular movie soundtracks), ‘The Dream’ (dance show), "The Wizard" (magician show), "Peter Punk" (Peter Pan themed).
• Retail Shopping Area (duty-free shopping arcade with retail shops and brand-name boutiques, Deck 6), including Fine Watches and Jewellery Shop (size 67 m2), Boutique Accessories (fine bags, fashion accessories, size 64 m2), Boutique Monobrand (fashion shop for men-women-kids, size 64 m2), Perfumes and Cosmetics Shop (size 104 m2), Mini Mall (duty-free shop for tobaccos-liquors-snacks-beverages-toys, size 110 m2)
• Piazza Grande (square-type area with live music, pastry and ice cream bar, size 630 m2, Deck 6)
• Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar (66-seat chocolate factory and coffee bar with an open kitchen by Venchi, size 520 m2, Deck 6)
• Business Centre (21-seat Meeting Room, size 47 m2, Deck 6)
• Shine Bar (143-seat pre-dinner cocktail bar, size 600 m2, Deck 6)
• MSC Excursions Office (74-seat, size 400 m2, Deck 6)
• Promenade Atrium Lounge (served by its own Bar, Deck 6)
• Platinum Casino (237-seat gaming lounge, size 1150 m2, Deck 7) served by Casino Bar (35-seat, size 120 m2)
• Galleria Shopping Area, including Watches and Sunglasses Shop (size 60 m2, Deck 7)
• Champagne Bar (94-seat bar, cold food, size 670 m2, Deck 7)
• Garage Club & Bar (35-seat fast food bar, disco nightclub, size 181 m2, Deck 7) features a central dance floor, jukebox, vintage gas pump, high tables with chairs, classic American car (DJ booth), nightly transforms into disco club.
• Interactive XD Cinema (8-seat Interactive XD Dark Ride Cinema 5D, size 64 m2, Deck 7)
• F1 Simulator (Formula 1 virtual car driving simulator, Deck 7)
• Arcade Games (virtual gaming lounge with arcade machines, size 73 m2, Deck 7)
• Bowling (two full-size bowling alleys, size 100 m2, Deck 7)
• Entertainment Area (live band music and show performances, Deck 7)
• Haven Lounge & Bar (187-seat, size 820 m2, stage for live music performances, dance floor surface 63 m2, Deck 7) hosts daily dance classes, aerobics sessions, trivia games, bingo, shopping promos, foosball and ping pong tournaments.
• Library & Billiard Room (24-seat library lounge with pool table, Deck 7)
• Venchi 1878 Gelato and Creperie (66-seat ice cream bar and creperie by Venchi, Deck 7)
• Sunset Beach Pool (168-seat pool deck, size 1045 m2, Deck 7) with Sunset Beach Swimming Pool (adults-only) and served by Sunset Beach Bar (75-seat outdoor poolside bar)
• Waterfront Boardwalk is an outdoor Promenade Deck (Deck 8) with seating (for bars and lounges). Part of the open-air Promenade Deck are two catwalks (panoramic glass-bottomed platforms with glass railings). Each of them is 130-ft / 40-m long and extends beyond the ship’s edge (location midship – portside and starboard).
• MSC AUREA SPA (ship's wellness complex) is sized 2300 m2 (spa and sports facilities). Priority lift access is provided to MSC Aurea Spa cabin passengers. Wellness facilities include Spa Wellness Area (with Swimming Pool), Thalasso Area (with Thalassotherapy Pool), Thalasso Room (body treatments), Solarium (sundeck area), Yoga Studio, Nail Salon, Massages and Treatments Rooms, Medi SPA (botox, filler, anti-aging facials and body treatments), Beauty Parlor (makeup-waxing-nail services), Barber Shop (men's wellness and male grooming services and treatments), Jean Louis David Hair Salon (hairdresser / cutting-coloring-styling, hair treatments), Spa Reception (Waiting Area), Doctor, Fitness Centre (size 870 m2, MSC Gym Powered by Technogym) with External Gym Area, SPA Gym and Shop (retail shopping for haircare-skincare-beauty products from premium brands, Armani sportswear), Thermal Area (dark/bright sensory steam bath), Finnish Sauna Room, Emotional Showers, Kneipp Therapy Room, Salt Room, Snow Room, Relax Room (with heated benches).
• The Piazza is an indoor square with bars and shops, including Fashion Jewellery Shop (brand jewelry and watches, size 55 m2, Deck 8), MSC Logo Shop (MSC Cruises logoed merchandise, size 67 m2), The Gallery (Jewellery Boutique, size 26 m2).
• Broadcasting Room (4-seat TV recording room, size 14 m2, Deck 8)
• Sports Bar (155-seat, size 425 m2, Deck 8) serves drinks and finger food, has bar stools and large HDTVs (live-streaming sporting events).
• Seaside Lounge (95-seat, size 301 m2, Deck 8) and Seaside Bar (97-seat, size 47 m2) serve premium coffee, gourmet pastries, signature cocktails. The lounge has a stage (for live music performances), dance floor (surface 16 m2), comfortable seating (plush sofas and armchairs with low tables). In the evenings the bar lounge transforms into a jazz club. It also can be privately booked for exclusive events. Th bar accesses the promenaded Deck (outdoor seating, smoking allowed area).
• MSC Excursions Point (size 54 m2, for shore excursions / tours booking and information, Deck 8)
• Panorama Pool Deck (2400 m2, Deck 16) has a large swimming pool (for all ages), raised stage for live performances (crew shows, sea day deck parties, live music), a large LED screen (outdoor movies and music videos daily), three Jacuzzies (spa pools / whirlpool hot tubs), Panorama Bar (156-seat, poolside outdoor, serves beverages - frozens, beers, wines), Siesta Beach Sun Deck (aft sunbathing area with loungers and deckchairs), Panoramic Lift (aft), Bridge of Sighs (glass-bottomed bridge / viewing platform).
• Magrodome Area with Jungle Pool (retractable glass-roof covered pool deck, size 950 m2, Deck 18), Jungle Bar (210-seat indoor pool bar), Jungle Pool Lounge (240-seat, size 1500 m2) has deckchairs and table games (foosball, Ping-Pong). Nearby is the Zipline's entrance.
• Children’s facilities on Deck 18 include Forest Aquaventure Park (83-seat, size 970 m2), Teen Club (size 28 m2), Young Club (size 56 m2), Junior Club LEGO (size 70 m2), Mini Club LEGO (size 100 m2), Baby Club CHICCO (size 80 m2), Doremi Land, Doremi Studio (100-seat, size 130 m2), Reception (for the kids’ facilities).
• Forest Aquaventure Park is the ship's water playground with wading pool, four waterslides (2x racing, 1x slideboarding, 1x standard), water cannons, fountains, playground climber.
• Doremi Studio is a theatre-like (TV studio) with a big LED screen and tiered seating, family time games, dance floor, interactive gaming.
• Baby Club CHICCO is a nursery (babysitting facility via partnership with CHICCO / Italian babywear company). It is open for toddlers from 6 to 36 months old and offers a lot of free baby products (diapers, wipes, bottles, Infant formula, selection of strollers and cots). The nursery has a large TV, coloured books and soft play area with age-appropriate toys, a separate room with cots, bathroom. Supervised activities include Mini Olympic games, cooking class, Baby Time (allows parents to play with their kids), Baby Care (allows parents to leave their children / 1-year-old and older for ~90 min in the morning-afternoon-evening). Parents must do the feeding, but the staff change nappies. Nursery's opening hours are between  9 am - 1 pm, 3-6 pm and 8-11:00 pm.
• Mini Club LEGO is a playroom (for 3-6-year-olds) with Lego and Duplo bricks, cinema, foosball, kids books, crayons, pens, age-appropriate toys, kids programming with supervised activities (sports, arts-crafts, treasure hunts, musical chairs, games, dressing up, cooking in the TV Studio).
• Junior Club LEGO is a playroom (for 7-11-year-olds) with a brick pit, age-appropriate toys and games, cinema, foosball, supervised activities (games, sports, arts-crafts), educational activities. The two rooms are connected and when opened up create a large playground.
• Young Club is for tweens (12-14-year-olds) and operates on a different basis from the younger kids' clubs. Programming is offered all day on sea days and only in the afternoon on port days. Facilities include table tennis, foosball, PS4, some double seats in which kids can lounge back to play video games from a TV placed in the ceiling, as well as traditional board games. The most innovative technology asset is a multi-media table allowing kids to post messages and pictures which then get screened on the club's walls. Programming includes generation games, lip sync battles, sports tournaments in the Sportplex. There is a EUR 10 per kid per hour charge for use of the club between 11 pm - 2 am (otherwise access is free).
• Teen Club is for children 15-17-year-old and has dance floor, plenty of chairs, large TVs, beanbags, video games (PS4, VR, Nintendo). The programming includes virtual gaming, sports and dancing competitions including ping pong and mini-golf.
• MSC Yacht Club Open Area (112-seat, size 1600 m2, Deck 19) is an exclusive sundeck with Swimming Pool (One Pool / MSC Yacht Club Pool), Pool Bar, 2 Solariums each with a large Jacuzzi (spa pool / whirlpool hot tub), cabanas (for rental), sunbathing areas with padded loungers and deckchairs. Pool towels are complimentary and provided in the cabins.
• Sports Court - aft-located multisports court on Deck 19 (for basketball-volleyball-tennis) and 2 separate zip lines, each 105 m/344 ft in length. Midship is the Magrodome - retractable roof cover over deck 18's midship pool deck.
• Miramar Bar (78-seat, with panoramic sea view, Deck 19).

Itineraries

MSC Seaview itinerary program is based on Western Mediterranean cruises (7 nights / 8 days roundtrips) leaving from homeports in Spain, Italy, and France (Barcelona, Genoa, Marseille, Naples, Messina Sicily).

During winter months, the ship starts operations in South America on roundtrip cruises from Santos (Sao Paulo) Brazil. Ports of call are Ilhabela, Buzios, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia. The ship offers repositioning cruises / Transatlantic crossings between South America and Europe (Mediterranean) in Spring and Fall.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in summer 2021 (July-August) Seaview was homeported in Kiel Germany and Copenhagen, Denmark for 7-day Baltic Sea itineraries (to ports in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Russia. In November Seaview then was repositioned to the Mediterranean, then (via a Transatlantic crossing) to the Caribbean. During the Caribbean season (winter 2021-2022) Seaview was homeported in Fort-de-France (Martinique) and Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe), operating 7-day roundtrips to St Lucia Island (Castries), Barbados (Bridgetown), Trinidad (Port-of-Spain), Grenada (St Georges), St Vincent Grenadines (Kingstown).

The vessel (Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 6257) has volume 153516 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 11385 tons, max draught 8 m. The powerplant is based on 4x Wartisla marine diesel engines (models 2x 12V46F + 2x 14V46F) with combined output 62,4 MW (83680 hp). The propulsion is based on two Azipod thrusters with combined output 40 MW (53640 hp). The registered shipowner is MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING CO (via CNS COMPANIA NAVIERA SEASIDE 2 SA), while the registered manager is MSC CROCIERE SPA.

Seaview is the second Seaside-class MSC ship - preceded by MSC Seaside (2017) and Fincantieri's second-largest passenger ship ever (after Seaside). There was also an option for a third Seaside-class liner, with scheduled delivery 2021. The other MSC vessel launched in 2017 (May) was MSC Meraviglia.

Samsung supported near-field communication systems allowing passengers to use a digital device (smartphone, sail card or bracelet) to locate themselves or their companions on the ship. The new technology also allows cabin access and making onboard payments. Interactive screens throughout the ship allow excursion booking and making restaurant reservations

On July 5, 2016, MSC announced the name of the second Seaside-Class ship - "MSC Seaview", with a scheduled launch in June 2018. On February 1, 2017, at Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard was held the keel-laying (coin) ceremony. The special event was attended by Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC Cruises' Executive Chairman).

On August 23, 2017, was the float-out from drydock.

During MSC Seaside's delivery ceremony (November 29, 2017), MSC announced the order of two "Seaside EVO" class ships from Fincantieri (contract value EUR 1,8 billion). The new ships are bigger (16 m longer, 17,330 GT tons heavier, capacity 467 more passengers) in comparison to the sister-ships Seaview and Seaside. Newbuilds' deliveries were scheduled for 2021 (Seashore) and 2023 (yet unnamed). Seaview's official delivery to MSC was on June 4, in Monfalcone. The ceremony was attended by Gianluigi Aponte MSC Group's executive chairman), Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC Cruises executive chairman), Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO) and two Italian governors (of Venetoa and Friuli Venezia Giulia).  The liner arrived in Genoa June 7.

The christening ceremony was on June 9, 2018, in Genoa. The naming ceremony was attended by MSC executives and the company's key travel partners. Among the VIP guests were the Aponte and Aponte-Vago families and the godmother Sophia Loren. The ceremony was hosted by Michelle Hunziker (Italian TV star) and included live performances by Zucchero, Piccolo Coro Dell'Antoniano (kids choir) and Matteo Bocelli (Andrea Bocelli's son).

The new ship design features 2 engine rooms – located forward and aft. Top-notch safety systems and new marine technologies were implemented for better efficiency, thus lowering fuel consumption. The ship is powered by all four / two pairs of Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 12V46F) with total power output 62,4 MW.

MSC Seaview refurbishments review

The ship's first drydock refurbishment was in 2023 (March 31 thru April 15) conducted at MSC's shipyard in Valletta Malta. The routine drydocking was for regularly scheduled maintenance and classification works, technical overhaul, hull cleaning/painting.

Inaugural cruise Itineraries 2018

The Seaview ship spends its inaugural cruise season in Europe (Western Mediterranean). The ship is homeported in Barcelona, Genoa, Marseille, Naples, and Messina (Sicily Italy), offering roundtrips from each of these turnaround ports.

Next table shows the ship's Inaugural Cruise itineraries with ports of call (date sequence and port times).

3-day Inaugural Cruise from Genoa

2-day from Marseille to Genoa

7-day Mediterranean - prices started from USD 1800 pp

17-day repositioning cruise to South America (from Barcelona to Santos Brazil) - prices started from USD 1960 pp

4-day Inaugural South America cruise - prices from USD 1260 pp

7-day South American cruise - prices from USD 1240 pp

Godspeed to the new ship!