MSC Seaside Review: 13 Fabulous Things That Will Delight Your Family

Here’s our updated MSC Seaside review for families. Discover 13 reasons an MSC Seaside cruise delivers great fun and real value for families traveling with kids, plus a few honest words of caution.

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By the time a ship has been sailing for several years, you can stop guessing how it performs and start telling families what actually holds up. That’s where we are with MSC Seaside. This was our family’s first sailing with MSC, and while there were a few notable blips, the ship earned its place as a strong, affordable option for families. Seaside also kicked off MSC’s whole Seaside class, which now includes Seaview, Seashore, and Seascape, so the formula here has been refined across several newer ships.

So, what’s the bottom line? MSC Seaside gives you a beautiful, modern ship, genuinely family friendly pricing, and a long list of things to keep every age busy, as long as you go in with realistic expectations about food and a watchful eye on the upcharges. Here are the 13 things worth knowing.

1. An MSC Seaside Cruise Offers Affordable Family Pricing. 

If you’re cruising with your kids, MSC remains one of the best values at sea. Most major cruise lines offer a “kids sail free” promotion only once in a while. MSC runs its version on select sailings throughout the year, and not just on Seaside but across its North American ships.

Here’s the deal. On most cruise lines, the 3rd and 4th passengers in a cabin pay reduced fares regardless of age. With MSC’s Kids Sail Free pricing, children 17 and under sailing as the 3rd or higher guest with two adults in the same cabin pay only taxes and port fees. That’s a big expansion from the 11-and-under rule that applied when this review first published. Depending on the sailing and itinerary, a price that is solely taxes and port fees can be a fraction of an adult fare.

Important note: Kids Sail Free applies to select sailings, excludes the MSC Yacht Club, and is subject to availability, so the savings appear at booking, not as a guarantee for every date.

2. An MSC Seaside Cruise Boasts Outstanding Water Park Facilities. 

The Aquaventure Park

“Absolutely awesome.” That’s how my kids described the multi-story water park on deck 18, the Forest Aquaventure Park. I’m not much of a waterslide fan myself, but they looked spectacular to my untrained eye.

The park features five slides, two of which have see-through sections that extend out over the ocean. On our original sailing, there were no height restrictions, but that has changed in recent years.  

The Aquaventure Park is much more than the main slides. The children’s splash area and kiddie pool were well used the whole week. The splash area had a lot going on, including various sprayers, a climbing structure, and a big dumping bucket, plus a couple of smaller water slides and a small pool.

The Aquaventure Park is conveniently located near the regular kids’ club facilities. Only steps away. Overall, the water attractions and splash park were fantastic.  Our family thoroughly enjoyed them.

Other Pools on MSC Seaside

MSC Seaside has several pools beyond the water park. The Jungle Pool Lounge, also on deck 18, is a jungle-themed family pool with a whirlpool. It’s partially enclosed, so it gets a little muggy.

The outdoor family pool (Miami Beach Pool) sits one deck down on 16. (There’s no deck 17, considered an unlucky number in Italy.) Another outdoor pool on deck 7, the South Beach Pool, doesn’t permit children under 16. 

The MSC Yacht Club area has its own pool.

Each pool we visited had plenty of lounge space, but the pools themselves ran on the smaller side. They were all over 5 feet deep, so all of your little ones need a close eye. We also didn’t see swim vests offered, but luckily we’d brought our own.

3. An MSC Seaside Cruise Has Real Thrills for Tweens and Teens

Up on the top decks, MSC Seaside has a cluster of active, daring attractions that can have strong appeal to tweens and teens.

The headliner is a pair of zip lines that run high above the ship, each roughly 390 feet long, sending you out over the sports court and open deck below. (There’s a $10 charge for the zip lines.) Nearby sits an aft sports court for basketball, volleyball, and similar games, and the Adventure Trail, a next-generation ropes course that links into the waterpark structure with bridges, climbs, and crawl-through elements at height.

4. Our MSC Seaside Review Of The Kids’ Clubs: Top Notch! 

MSC Seaside dedicates a large section of deck 18 to its kids’ clubs, with three primary areas and separate entrances. On one end is the Baby Club (for kids under 3). The large middle section holds the rooms for the Mini Club (ages 3 to 6) and the Junior Club (ages 7 to 11). The far end has the Young Club (ages 12 to 14) and the Teens Club (ages 15 to 17).

Mini Club/Junior Club

The bright, festive Mini and Junior rooms have a LEGO theme. Along with the thousands of LEGO bricks throughout, there are gaming consoles, computers, arts-and-crafts areas, and a small performance space, plus tween-friendly group games like foosball. 

During our sailing, drop-off care wasn’t available on the first night, but the clubs stayed open for several hours for a fun LEGO Family Fun night. And the MSC fleetwide LEGO offerings have expanded since our original cruise.

Schedule/Activities

Activities in both the Mini and Junior clubs include arts and crafts, group games, sports, gaming, and dancing, plus lots of LEGO. Every day had at least one 2-hour LEGO Family Fun window. Other themed nights over the week included a mystery island night, a superhero night, and a scary night with a haunted house and face painting.

Both the Mini and Junior clubs ran from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Young and Teens clubs ran from 10 a.m. to midnight. On sea days, the clubs closed for break periods.

After-Hours Care

When the complimentary club hours wrap around 11 p.m., MSC offers paid after-hours group care, sometimes called Kids Around the Clock, typically running into the early morning (up to 2 a.m.). If you want a real grown-up dinner or a late show, this is what buys it.

High-Tech Child Tracking

Each child gets a wristband with a tracking chip. Club staff use it to manage who can sign in and out and to flag anything logged at registration, like food allergies or whether a child may go to the pool unsupervised (an actual option on the form, which I declined).

For a fee, you could sign up for an app that allowed you to track your kid all over the ship. Prices started at $18 for one child. The per child cost decreased with each additional child in your family.

The MSC for Me app is the broader digital tool you’ll use throughout the cruise, for online check-in, daily schedules, booking activities, ship wayfinding, and messaging others in your group. It works on the ship’s internal Wi-Fi network and doesn’t require a paid internet package for any of these features, including messaging. However, the chat feature is limited to guests 16 and older, so it won’t help you reach younger children in your party.

The club staff were a highlight. Everyone was enthusiastic, friendly, and multilingual. (It was impressive watching a staff member skip between three or four languages as different families came for pickup.)

Kids in the Junior group can be self-signers with parental permission, meaning they can sign themselves in and out without an adult. For more on how that decision plays out across cruise lines, see our kids’ club guide.

Young & Teens Club

The Young and Teens clubs have alternating hours through the day. Daytime activities included sports competitions and tournaments, dance contests, and gaming challenges. Evenings leaned into music and dance, and the Teens Club hosted weekly events like a White Party and a Lip Sync Battle. As noted in point 3, when the teen club is quiet, the top-deck thrills pick up the slack.

4. MSC Seaside Welcomes Infants And Toddlers. 

Only a handful of cruise lines offer real drop-off care for infants, and MSC is now one of them. In fact, as we cover in our kids’ club guide, MSC sits alongside Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival as the major lines offering true infant and toddler drop-off care. When this review was first published, Seaside‘s expanded baby hours looked like an experiment. They’ve since become a standard part of how MSC serves families across the fleet.

Babies and toddlers have their own dedicated play space in the kids’ club rooms. The space alternates between ‘Baby Time,’ when parents or caregivers bring little ones to play with the provided toys or join organized activities, and ‘Baby Care,’ a paid drop-off service where parents can step out.

Worth flagging: MSC overhauled Baby Care’s structure in spring 2026. It previously ran as two free 2-hour windows per day; it’s now a paid service offering up to 8 hours of availability per day, with a cap of 15 babies at a time. MSC has not published specific pricing for the new structure, so check current rates directly with MSC or onboard before counting on it for full-day coverage. The exact hourly windows we experienced on our own sailing reflected the old model and are no longer representative. Confirm current Baby Time/Baby Care scheduling through the MSC for Me app or at the kids’ club desk on embarkation day.

In addition to childcare, MSC offers a range of Chicco-branded amenities for families with infants, including bottle warmers, strollers, bouncy chairs, and “Caddy Knapsack” child carriers, available first come, first served. I also noticed the buffet had an abundance of really nice high chairs.

6. An MSC Seaside Cruise Offers Solid Family Programming.

Throughout the week, the ship ran a full roster of activities aimed at families, including a talent show in the main theater, a family disco night, a family movie night, a family sports competition at the pool, and a LEGO Family Fun Night.

The ship also rotated through theater shows that were largely family-friendly. Notably, it offered two versions of the comedy show, one billed as a “family show” and another as “adults only,” which is a thoughtful touch.

One more thing your family may enjoy: MSC has its own cast of characters, the Doremi family. These are friendly, sun-styled characters (Doremi and his siblings Mila, Dorebro, and Dorebaby) who preside over activities like a costume parade, a cooking class, and a disco, with scheduled photo opportunities. If characters are a draw for your kids, it’s a nice extra, even if it isn’t on the scale of Disney. 

A lot of fun could also be had just walking through the ship. The heart of Seaside is a large three-story open atrium that’s striking day and night. In the evenings it became an entertainment hub. At one end, in front of a giant multi-story screen, tiered stages featured performers, usually music and dancing peppered with skits. Every night the atrium and its floors filled with people for a festive atmosphere. On our sailing, every atrium event was well attended.

7. Ocean Cay: MSC’s Private Island Is a Highlight for Families

A big change since this review first published: MSC Seaside itineraries from Miami now feature Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC’s private island in the Bimini chain of the Bahamas, about 65 miles from Miami. It opened in December 2019, and it’s now a centerpiece of many Seaside Caribbean sailings. 

A few highlights:

• You walk right off the ship. Seaside docks directly at the island, so there’s no tendering, no lines for little boats, just step off and you’re there. With young kids, that alone is a gift.

• There’s a calm, shallow lagoon for little ones. The family lagoon and Bimini Beach offer gentle, gradual water that’s ideal for toddlers and less confident swimmers. There are several beaches in all, each with its own feel. 

• The evenings are special. Many sailings include a late or overnight stay so you can enjoy the island after the day crowds thin. The lighthouse puts on a free music-and-light show after dark that you can watch from the beach.

Starting in January 2026, MSC began rolling out new family activities on the island, including an augmented-reality treasure hunt (kids scan wooden sculptures around the island to learn about marine life and conservation), a LEGO pop-up at the Welcome Pavilion featuring LEGO mascots alongside Doremi, and a wellness program. (These additions are being phased in over several months, so the exact mix on a given sailing will vary.)

A few practical notes. Ocean Cay is cashless, so your cruise card covers everything. Towels are not provided, so you’ll need to bring one from the ship (and remember to return it). And because it’s a marine reserve, pack reef-safe sunscreen. If you want a private retreat, beach cabanas are available to rent for the day.

8. MSC Seaside Showcases the Beauty of the Ocean.

MSC refers to Seaside as The Ship That Follows The Sun. They did a great job of embracing that theme throughout the ship. It seemed like almost every public space – except for the casino- was filled with floor-to-ceiling glass and panoramic ocean views. There was an abundance of glass everywhere, including the staircases in the multi-story atrium. It really does make the ship feel larger and closer to the ocean.  

9. MSC Seaside Offers Some Awesome Premium Activities.

MSC Seaside has several fun activities for the whole family, but some come with real upcharges. On deck 7 there’s a large indoor entertainment area with bowling, an interactive cinema, an F1 race car simulator, and a virtual arcade. Be forewarned: nearly everything here costs extra, even the air hockey, and billiards carried a charge too.

These add up fast. Bowling runs $25 for 30 minutes or $45 for an hour (plus shoe rental), and time was strictly enforced. Our lane shut off when time expired even though we weren’t quite done. The interactive 4D cinema cost about $10 for adults and $8 for kids for roughly 10 to 15 minutes. You could buy a “fun pass” for discounted use, but the area was still a little pricey. 

Also expect wait times. We went on a port day when our excursion was canceled, and still hit a small line and a waiting list. The racing simulator was always popular.

We had so much fun here that my 5-year-old begged to go back nearly every day. Fortunately for my wallet, the area kept odd hours that limited our visits.  

The Virtual Arcade

A word about the arcade. The actual number of games was small. There was a pay-to-play air hockey table (one payment got you a game to 7 points, first come first served, unsupervised, no waitlist or time limits, so guests sorted out fairness on their own), one claw game, a couple of prize games, and two video racing games. That was about it. There’s room for more, so it may have grown since our sailing.

Important note for parents: keep an eye on your kids’ cruise bracelets. They open your cabin, and adult bracelets can charge to your account. We were told at check-in that the kids’ bracelets wouldn’t have charge features. That held for my oldest, but my youngest managed several turns at the claw machine before we caught it.

10. The MSC Seaside Buffet Earns Special Praise (& a Word on Dining).

MSC Seaside has two buffets, the large Marketplace Buffet on deck 8 and a smaller buffet with a pizza bar on deck 16 near the pool (the Biscayne Bay Buffet). The Marketplace Buffet was probably the best buffet I’ve had on a cruise ship, and we had a great experience with the pizza bar too.

One feature recent travelers consistently call out: the fresh pasta. MSC makes its pasta onboard rather than serving a pre-made product, and it shows. Cruise Critic’s own review of Seaside specifically singles out the pasta as one of the buffet’s strongest offerings, and the fresh-pasta station is something you’ll find tucked toward the back of the Marketplace Buffet, alongside a made-to-order egg station. 

The Food

We ate a lot of meals at the buffet, partly because the main dining room food disappointed us. Room service also left a lot to be desired. For instance, we ordered something billed as “Tex-Mex Chips & Salsa” that turned out to be pita-bread “chips” and a cup of tomato sauce for salsa.

But the buffet food itself was objectively good. One section always had the standards (burgers, chicken, mashed potatoes), and another rotated menus from around the world. The night they featured Indian food was particularly tasty.

If the main dining room underwhelms, Seaside‘s paid venues are worth a look, including Butcher’s Cut (a well-regarded steakhouse), Asian Market Kitchen (teppanyaki and sushi), and Venchi for Italian chocolate and gelato. The two main dining rooms are the Seashore Restaurant (deck 5) and the Ipanema Restaurant (deck 6).

Ambiance

We also enjoyed the buffet environment. Surprisingly, the tables were less crowded together than in the main dining room, and there was ample seating even at breakfast. You know how on some ships you scramble to lock down a table? We never had that. Not once.

The abundance of outdoor seating probably helped. The wide decks allowed double rows of tables, one in the shade and one in the sun, with a walkway between them roomy enough that people could pass without feeling cramped. We thoroughly enjoyed eating outside on both deck 8 and deck 16. Another nice touch: every table had a silent buzzer to summon a beverage server, handy if you had a drink package.

11. Choose the Right MSC Experience for Your Family

MSC offers a set of “experiences” that let you tailor your cruise. When you choose your stateroom, you also choose an experience level, each with its own price and perks. The main tiers are Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea, with the MSC Yacht Club as a separate, premium “ship within a ship.” (MSC retired the older “Wellness” experience, so the lineup is now Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea.)

At the entry end, Bella is the traditional cruise experience with other amenities available a la carte. Fantastica adds perks like a better cabin location, preferred dining times, and continental breakfast delivery. Aurea sits above that, centered on the best cabin locations, priority boarding, and spa benefits.

Here’s an important change from the original version of this review. Aurea no longer includes the free drink package it once did. When we sailed, our Aurea experience came with beverage packages for the whole cabin, free ice cream, and more, and it was hands down the best beverage-package value we’d had. That perk has since changed. Today, beverage packages are generally sold separately. The MSC Yacht Club, on the other hand, does include beverages as part of its all-inclusive setup, along with access to exclusive areas, a private restaurant and lounge, and heightened service.

MSC’s Voyagers Club offers a Status Match. If you hold status with another cruise line or certain hotel programs, MSC will often match it and hand you perks like priority boarding and some specialty dining from your very first sailing. (Hotel-program matches in particular are not always one-to-one, so check what your status maps to.) It’s worth doing before you cruise.

12. An MSC Seaside Cruise Still Has Absolutely Awesome Internet.

This is one area that has only gotten better. MSC Seaside has adopted Starlink, the same low Earth orbit satellite internet that has reshaped connectivity at sea, with faster speeds and better coverage in cabins and public spaces. On our sailing, even before this upgrade, the internet was our best cruise connection to date, rarely dropping even on busy sea days, which mattered because we relied on WhatsApp to stay in touch across our travel party.

The package structure has changed since our sailing. MSC now sells tiered Wi-Fi packages, generally a “Browse” option and a faster “Browse & Stream” option, based on your connection needs and number of devices. As with the old plans, buying online before you board usually saves you money.

Related Content: Your Cell, Texts & Wifi On A Cruise: This Is What You Need To Know 

13. Absolutely Fabulous Laundry Packages!

Most folks may not care about laundry, but the MSC Seaside approach deserves a shout-out. It’s certainly not a reason to pick a cruise on its own, but it’s a nice bonus. You can buy a laundry package before boarding or on the ship. You pay a set fee for a certain number of pieces, and the price is fixed regardless of the item. It doesn’t matter if you submit 10 pairs of pants or 10 t-shirts. The package covers laundry, not dry cleaning. (Note: there are no self-serve laundry machines on board.)

For families traveling with babies, MSC also offers a special baby laundry service that washes baby and toddler clothes separately, in a specialized machine with special detergents. (For more, see our post on laundry on a cruise ship.)

MSC Seaside Review: Closing Thoughts

An MSC Seaside cruise is a great, affordable option for families. It’s a beautiful ship with genuine range, from a standout water park and top-deck thrills for older kids to real drop-off care for the littlest ones, plus a private island that has only made the itineraries stronger since we first reviewed it. Just go in with eyes open regarding food expectations and upcharges. 

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This review was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2026 to reflect current pricing, ships, amenities, and itineraries.

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