Seascape, MSC’s latest floating theme park ship

in New York

The champagne bottle shattered under the wall. Straight out of the Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste MSC Seascape opened in New York on the evening of December 7 in front of nearly 2,000 partners, travel agents and journalists who were invited to discover MSC Cruises’ latest ship, 339 meters long. The delicate flower of the Big Apple gathered tonight to see the speeches and dance numbers followed by back-to-back performances on the stage of the Chora Theatre, in the boat’s performance hall, in a ceremony that was full of glitter, and rather endless, like the Americans. do you have the secret?

Actress Sophia Loren, chosen as godmother Seascape as it has for 17 other ships in the MSC fleet, had a whirlwind (and virtual) foray. In his absence, the heavy task of the traditional “ribbon cutting” therefore fell to Alexa Aponte-Vago, daughter of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte. The highlight of the show was the appearance of American singer Ne-Yo, who came to sing a few songs in the atrium to a wild crowd. To prolong the pleasure, we spent the night in this new giant of the seas.

And the least we can say is that he wowed us. The grand main hall, visible from the four lower decks, is all marble and patterned carpet on the floor, colored LED lamps along the walls, reflective metal cladding and Swarovski crystal encrusted stairs. MSC wants to set itself apart from its North American competitors by combining European good taste with cruise ship glitz. And it’s quite successful. There are fifteen bridges, numbered from 5 to 20 (except for 17, as this number brings bad luck to Italy). Those just above are reserved for the Yacht Club cabins, pools and lounges, a top-of-the-line area we didn’t get to visit. Most of the 2,270 cabins are located on the center decks. There are fourteen different types. “Deluxe balcony” like ours are the most. On the menu: in addition to the bed, a convertible sofa (very comfortable), a desk, a wardrobe, a balcony, a TV screen and a small bathroom.

Family boat

Excursion on the new MSC Seascape

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Compared to the rest of the cruise line’s fleet: MSC Seascape is dedicated to family holidays with an abundance of modern entertainment and activities for children and teenagers. In this regard, remember that children under the age of twelve are free on MSC cruises as long as they sleep in the same cabin as their parents. And to say that there is a lot to occupy them is an understatement. First, the 600 square meter paradise in the children’s club is open from 8 am to 11 pm. There are consoles, board games, ping-pong tables, mini-billiards and Lego building workshops. Children up to the age of 16 are welcome there by the activity leaders. Parents can head to the spa for total relaxation. It has a wide range of free entry equipment and treatments and massages by appointment. The only downside. given its size, it’s hard to believe it’s not usually crowded when the boat is full.

The ship also has six outdoor and indoor pools, including one with a retractable roof to suit the weather. We like the overflow, from where you can admire the panorama from the back of the boat. “Game Hall” will delight fans of arcade terminals and virtual reality games. There is also a Formula 1 simulator and an interactive cinema. And for those who don’t get seasick (or dizzy), outside, a mechanical wing called the Robotron spins its occupants through the air. Shows are held every evening in two halls of the ship. Cabaret Rouge, where singers, dancers and contortionists bring the Roaring 20s to life, and Chora Theatre, with spectacular dance shows, puppet acts, acrobatics, singers and interactive sets.

In addition to dining, the ship has ten restaurants in addition to a 22-hour buffet. Our favorites are Butcher’s Cut, where you can sample ultra-fine cuts of meat, and Kaito Tepanyaki, where you watch a Japanese chef put them on the plancha. After dessert, we extend the meal in one of the twenty bars: the Sky Bar, which offers a view over the edge, or the Cocktail Bar, for more creative drinks. Unless you choose a big casino with slot machines and blackjack tables… But what happens? Seascape stay on Seascape.

Practice

Two seven-night itineraries will be offered this winter, departing from the Port of Miami.

• One Eastern Caribbean from €473 per person with stops in Nassau in the Bahamas, San Juan in Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
• The other, west of the archipelago, from €426, with stops in Cozumel, Mexico, George Town, Cayman Islands, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Both cruises will pass by Ocean Cay, a once trash-filled island that has been rehabilitated by MSC and is home to coral, fish and sea turtles. From April 2023 to 2023 Seascape will change the course of North American cruises from Brooklyn.