Earlier this month, I had the chance to attend the christening ceremony of MSC Cruises’ new ship MSC Seascape in Manhattan.
As a part of the occasion, I spent a few day and a half on the ship, spending an evening on board and operating round exploring what it has to supply. Although it wasn’t an everyday cruise, I did type some impressions of the vessel.
As a notice about my expertise with MSC’s Seaside class, I sailed an everyday cruise on the very first ship within the class — MSC Seaside. This month was my first time experiencing the evolution of that class, as Seascape is a part of the Seaside EVO class. Whereas others could concentrate on the similarities and variations between this ship and her predecessor MSC Seashore, my first impressions can be with this ship as my first expertise with the EVO class solely.
1. There are many spots to take a dip.
If you happen to love swimming and have been dubbed a “fish” by your loved ones and buddies, MSC Seascape is a good ship for you. Along with the primary lido deck pool, there’s the family-focused Jungle Pool with a retractable roof and the beautiful Infinity Pool on the aft.
There are additionally scorching tubs scattered across the ship, together with on the primary pool deck, within the Yacht Membership, and within the huge Aurea Spa. Some suite staterooms even have scorching tubs on their balconies.
I’m personally an enormous fan of the water and find it irresistible when ships have plenty of locations to swim and calm down in a scorching tub. Infinity swimming pools are an enormous cruise ship pattern proper now, and MSC does theirs very well with a big, curved design that enhances the form of the Bridge of Sighs above it. And having the devoted Jungle Pool for households with youngsters simply is sensible, particularly because the Pirates Cove Aquapark and youngsters’ golf equipment are proper close by.
2. I really like the specialty restaurant grouping.
Once I first boarded MSC Seascape and realized that almost all the specialty eating places had been grouped collectively in a spot referred to as Chef’s Courtroom on deck 8, I puzzled if that was an excellent factor — largely as a result of I are likely to suppose that spreading out related options on ships is best as a result of it disperses the crowds.
However the extra I considered it, the extra I feel it’s genius to place these venues in a single spot. Crowd dispersement for specialty eating isn’t the identical concern that, say, it will be for a swimming pool. And having them in a single space makes it really easy as a result of should you had dinner in Butcher’s Lower final evening and are doing Teppanyaki tonight, you already know the place you’re headed.
Plus, there’s a heat, cozy cocktail bar simply contained in the doorway to Chef’s Courtroom — good for assembly up with your pals and grabbing a pre or post-dinner cocktail.
3. ROBOTRON is a worthy addition, however I’m unsure it’s price the associated fee.
The massive addition to MSC Seascape that units her other than sister ship MSC Seashore is a top-deck attraction referred to as ROBOTRON. The robotic arm swings three riders round and the wrong way up to the beat of varied songs, set in opposition to the backdrop of an LED display screen and full with views of the ocean and pool deck beneath.
Every experience is three minutes lengthy and there are three depth ranges, so most everybody can experience and nonetheless be comfy.
I feel this experience is a enjoyable addition to the ship, particularly because it doesn’t appear to be as a lot of a noise intrusion as, say, the go karts might be on NCL and the curler coaster might be on Carnival. Nonetheless, I’m unsure it’s price its $11 value. The surprising elements of the experience are enjoyable since you don’t know precisely which course you’ll be swinging subsequent not like say, a curler coaster the place you’ll be able to actually see what’s forward. However on the finish of the day, I’d say it’s not fairly as thrilling as different kinds of rides, both.
If you happen to suppose the worth is price a attempt, go for it. However don’t go in anticipated the most important thrill ever, as a result of I don’t suppose you’ll discover that in ROBOTRON.
As a tip, I’d advocate using on the first alternative throughout your cruise to make sure you get at the least one experience because the crew don’t function ROBOTRON if it’s too windy out.
4. Sensible elevators are, properly, sensible.
I’m fairly positive I’m behind the instances relating to sensible elevators, as a result of I do know different ships have already been utilizing them and I simply haven’t sailed these but. So whilst you take that into consideration, I’ll inform you that I’m fairly impressed with my first sensible elevator expertise on MSC Seascape.
In case you are additionally new to sensible elevators, let me rapidly clarify how they work. As a substitute of hitting an ‘up’ or ‘down’ arrow on the elevator financial institution, you employ a display screen to pick out the precise deck you’re headed to — earlier than the elevator even arrives.
When you select, it would inform you — out loud — which elevator you’ll be taking (A, B, C, or D) and roughly how lengthy it would take to get there. After stepping inside, you don’t have to decide on the ground or do something since you already did that earlier than the elevator arrived. This computerized, sensible method of doing elevators appeared very environment friendly to me and I can see simply why it’s catching on throughout the cruise trade.
Typically, throughout extraordinarily busy instances equivalent to embarkation or firstly of an enormous atrium celebration, the elevators could be in such excessive demand that the display screen would inform you that an elevator wouldn’t come for a couple of minutes. That is irritating but in addition extraordinarily useful as a result of should you don’t wish to wait that lengthy, you already know instantly and might both head to a different elevator financial institution or take the steps.
General, I’m one hundred pc in on sensible elevators and might see this changing into the usual throughout the cruise trade.
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5. It’s stuffed with sparkle and shine.
If you happen to’ve sailed with MSC Cruises earlier than, you’re already conversant in the glitz and glamour that they incorporate into every of their vessels. MSC Seascape continues the pattern; whereas I used to be on board a pal and I had been speaking about how we’d by no means seen so many shiny surfaces on a single ship earlier than.
You’ve bought the dazzling Swarovski crystal staircases, a focus on many MSC cruise ships. Every stairstep options hundreds of {dollars} price of crystals, and it’s virtually an MSC ceremony of passage to take a photograph on one in every of these staircases. (Did you even sail MSC should you didn’t?)
Typically, the atrium — one of many spots the place these staircases are situated — is filled with reflective surfaces that shine with numerous colours relying on the time of day and what occasion is perhaps taking place there.
One other glitzy picture op can really be discovered within the aforementioned sensible elevators, which characteristic mirrored partitions. The hallway between the atrium and Venchi and the rounded hallway main into Le Cabaret Rouge are different shiny, photo-worthy spots too.
6. The buffet house is ginormous.
MSC Cruises’ unique Seaside-class ships have an everyday buffet after which a second household buffet, however MSC Seascape has one enlarged buffet as a substitute. I’m impartial in regards to the resolution to have only one buffet on these EVO ships. The household buffet is nice, however Seascape‘s buffet is situated proper off the family-friendly jungle pool and it’s huge.
Like with most cruise ship buffets, the Market Place Buffet has two sides, one in every of which is perhaps closed throughout slower instances of day.
I discovered the structure to be extremely well-designed, with folks in a position to stroll round simply and discover the meals they needed. There are many meals stations (together with the ship’s yummy pizza), and I can’t think about anybody going hungry there.
Whereas my time on board was a particular circumstance with fewer friends than a traditional cruise would have, I nonetheless don’t imagine that discovering a desk goes to be a lot of a difficulty for passengers on a traditional crusing. All the buffet house was very spectacular to me, and I feel friends will discover its design simple to navigate with loads of house for having fun with a meal.
7. There’s a lot for teenagers to do.
MSC Seascape is totally brimming with facilities for teenagers and households. I already talked about the Jungle Pool, which contains a glass roof that may slide closed throughout inclement climate. Simply off the Jungle Pool are all the youngsters’ golf equipment, starting from areas for infants and their dad and mom all the best way as much as youngsters. Simply as a notice: should you’re crusing this ship and have youngsters who love LEGOS, be sure that they spend time within the youngsters’ membership. MSC has a partnership with LEGO and there are a number of LEGO-themed areas.
Additionally close by is the Pirates Cove Aquapark, which is a pirate and ocean-themed water play house for youthful youngsters full with a rope bridge, slides, sprayers, and dumping buckets. The ship additionally options a number of water slides for the entire household, which begin on the high of the ship close to the sports activities courtroom and finish subsequent to Pirates Cove.
I used to be additionally impressed with the ship’s arcade, which options conventional arcade video games alongside various digital actuality video games — together with a System 1 simulator. A giant professional about this house to me is that it’s bought home windows. Normally cruise traces tuck the arcade into an inside room just because if you’re enjoying video games, you don’t actually need a view. That is advantageous, however the oceanside spot MSC selected for the arcade here’s a welcome design characteristic.
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