✈️ Travel Note: This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclaimer & Disclosures for details.

If you’re a foodie like me and ever wondered what it’s like to eat on the MSC Seaside, let me tell you: the ship itself is an experience before you even get to the food.

The first thing you notice about the Seaside is just how big and open it feels. The ship has this glamorous, almost upscale hotel aesthetic with massive glass features everywhere, sparkling staircases, velvet accents, mirrored surfaces, and sleek modern lounges. It feels airy and stylish without feeling stuffy. Even when there were plenty of people onboard, the ship rarely felt claustrophobic because of how spacious the design is.

And there’s a surprising amount to do onboard besides just eating and staring at the ocean.

You’ve got:

• an arcade,
• a one-lane bowling alley,
• pools and hot tubs,
• multiple bars and lounges,
• shops,
• a gelateria,
• live entertainment,
• a casino,
• and plenty of little spaces to just sit and relax with ocean views.

Honestly, the ship is built in a way that encourages wandering. You can accidentally end up spending an hour just exploring different decks.

Complimentary Dining vs Specialty Dining

One thing to know before cruising on MSC: your cruise fare already includes plenty of food. You can absolutely cruise without paying extra for dining.

MSC separates dining into:

• Complimentary dining (included in your fare)
• Specialty dining (additional cost/upcharge)

On the Seaside, the complimentary dining options included:

• Seashore Restaurant (Main Dining Room – Deck 5)
• Ipanema Restaurant (Main Dining Room – Deck 6)
• Marketplace Buffet
• Biscayne Bay Buffet & Pizzeria 

The two main dining rooms serve rotating nightly menus with Mediterranean-inspired dishes, seafood, Italian options, and international cuisine.

The buffet areas are more casual and offer all-day dining with a huge variety of stations and cuisines.

Then there are the specialty restaurants, which cost extra. Depending on the sailing, these can include:

• Butcher’s Cut (American-style steakhouse)
• Hola! Tacos & Cantina
• Kaito Sushi Bar
• Kaito Teppanyaki
• Ocean Cay Seafood Restaurant 

I personally skipped specialty dining this time around because I wanted to judge the cruise experience based primarily on what was already included in the fare. (And honestly? I was trying to save money too.)

But if I sailed on the Seaside again, I’d probably try at least one specialty restaurant, specifically Butcher’s Cut. I’ve consistently heard good things about it online, especially regarding the steaks and overall quality.

The Marketplace Buffet Was the Real MVP

I’m just going to say it plainly:

The Marketplace Buffet ended up being my favorite dining spot on the ship.

There were tons of options and cuisines throughout the cruise, and the offerings changed day by day enough to keep things interesting.

Breakfast was especially strong.

There was:

• an omelet station,
• a fried egg station,
• pastries,
• fruit,
• breakfast meats,
• breads,
• cereals,
• potatoes,
• and more.

The best part? They made the eggs fresh in front of you. These were real eggs, not that powdered scrambled egg situation some people fear on cruises.

For omelets, you could customize everything:

• bacon,
• onions,
• mushrooms,
• peppers,
• cheese,
• and other mix-ins.

And yes… I absolutely took advantage of that multiple mornings.

Throughout the sailing, there were staple items that seemed to always be available:

• cheese stations,
• breads,
• fruit,
• pizza,
• chicken,
• fish,
• vegetables,
• rice,
• desserts,
• water,
• iced tea,
• lemonade,
• coffee,
• and various sweets like cookies, cakes, and dessert bars.

The pizza deserves its own section.

MSC’s Pizza Is Ridiculously Good

I’m sorry, Royal Caribbean International. I truly am. But I think MSC has the best pizza at sea (that I’ve tasted…I reserve the right to change my mind once I’ve cruised on some other ships/cruiselines…).

Yes, Sorrento’s on Royal Caribbean is convenient. Yes, it’s comforting after midnight.

But MSC’s pizza? It actually tastes like pizza from a genuinely good coal-fired pizza spot back home.

The crust had texture.
The cheese tasted fresh.
The slices looked beautiful.

You could usually choose between regular thin crust and thicker styles, and I ate far too many slices during this cruise.

Thankfully, the Seaside is such a large ship because I genuinely needed to get my steps in to offset how much pizza I consumed. #Zeroregrets

Themed Food Days Were a Nice Touch

When we were docked in the Bahamas and at Ocean Cay, the buffet leaned more Caribbean-inspired, which I appreciated.

I spotted things like:

• jerk chicken,
• beef patties,
• Caribbean-style sides,
• and other island-inspired dishes.

Then on the final sea day, I noticed the buffet shifted heavily into Asian-inspired offerings.

There was one sticky rib dish in particular that people were swarming. Every single time I walked by, the tray was basically empty. I never even managed to grab one.

Apparently they were incredible because my cousin got one and immediately told me they were really good, so at this point I’m choosing to believe the hype.

Main Dining at Seashore Restaurant: Great Service, Forgettable Food

Our group was assigned to the Seashore Restaurant on Deck 5.

Now let me start with the positive: the crew and service were excellent.

Our servers, especially Sujai, remembered us from night to night, tried their best to remember allergies and preferences, and genuinely worked hard to make dinner pleasant.

The hospitality itself? Wonderful.

The food? …This is where things get complicated.

And listen, it pains me to say this because I wanted to love it.

But the main dining room food just wasn’t anything to write home about.

I had:

• cocktail shrimp,
• French onion soup,
• salmon,
• and key lime pie.

Everything was perfectly edible.
Nothing was bad.
But nothing truly wowed me either.

It was one of those meals where you finish it and immediately forget about it afterward.

In fact, several nights, my party and I found ourselves gravitating back toward the Marketplace Buffet instead.

I know that probably sounds backwards because the main dining room is supposed to feel more elevated, but I have to be honest.

I personally think MSC’s main dining needs to step it up a bit.

And honestly? I don’t think this issue is exclusive to MSC.

I’ve noticed many cruisers across multiple cruise lines saying that post-pandemic cruise dining quality — especially in complimentary main dining rooms — just doesn’t feel quite the same as it once did. Discussions on sites like Cruise Critic and Reddit frequently mention declines in menu complexity, portion quality, staffing pressures, and consistency across several major cruise lines. (Cruise Critic)

Hopefully, things eventually rebound closer to pre-pandemic standards because cruise dining used to be one of the standout parts of the overall experience.

Would I Cruise MSC Seaside Again?

Honestly? Yes.

• The ship itself is gorgeous.
• The buffet was surprisingly strong.
• The pizza alone almost deserves a return trip.
• And the crew worked incredibly hard.

Next time though, I’d probably budget for at least one specialty dining experience, most likely Butcher’s Cut, just to see how much of a difference the upgraded dining makes.

Have you cruised on MSC before? Or another cruise line entirely? I’d love to hear your thoughts:

• Which cruise line had your favorite food?
• Did you prefer buffet dining or main dining?
• And am I wrong about MSC having the best pizza at sea? 🍕