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If you’ve been eyeing an MSC cruise and wondering whether the MSC Seaside is worth it, consider this your sign. I recently came back from a weekend sailing aboard MSC Seaside, and I’m here to give you the real details: the good, the bad, and the “this depends entirely on what kind of traveler you are.”

Let’s Talk Ship

First things first: the ship itself is gorgeous and LARGE.

MSC Seaside has a very modern, Miami-inspired vibe. Think sparkling atriums, Swarovski crystal staircases, lots of glass, ocean views everywhere, and a more international feel compared to some other cruise lines. If you’re looking for plenty of spaces to take pictures with beautiful background details, the Seaside won’t disappoint.

The ship also has:

• multiple pools
• specialty dining
• a large spa
• waterfront promenade areas
• a bowling alley
• an arcade
• and plenty of bars and lounges to explore

If you enjoy people-watching, lounging with ocean views, fun games, and a ship that feels lively and energetic, this one definitely delivers.

Now I know what you’re wondering: Get to the good stuff!

The Suite Life

So let’s talk about the room. I stayed in a Premium Aurea Suite (Cabin 9258), and honestly? There were things I absolutely loved about it… and a few things that would make me hesitate before booking it again.

The Things I Loved About the Premium Aurea Suite

Priority Embarkation & Disembarkation Was a HUGE Plus

One of the first perks my family and I noticed was the priority line for getting on and off the ship. And let me tell you… this mattered.

While other lines were long and crowded, we had our own dedicated line, which made embarkation feel significantly smoother and less stressful. I don’t know about you, but when I’m starting a vacation, I want to get to it as quickly as possible! So starting your vacation without standing in a massive line already sets the tone differently.

The same thing applied when getting off the ship. Having priority disembarkation was convenient and made the process feel much less chaotic. (While Suites with the Aurea experience typically disembarked in the third group, I disembarked in the second group as a Gold member. Want to learn more about this? Leave a comment below!)

The Room Felt Surprisingly Spacious

For a cruise cabin, the suite actually felt roomy since it was closer to the size of a small standard hotel room than a traditional cruise cabin.

But what really made the space stand out were the panoramic views/balcony.

There was:

• one large window facing the side of the ship
• another facing the back of the ship

When I tell you it was so freaking nice! The room felt incredibly light, airy, and bright during the day. It almost gave the illusion of having much more square footage simply because of how open everything felt visually.

If you love natural light, you’ll probably LOVE this cabin.

The Welcome Amenities Were a Nice Touch

When we arrived, there was:

• a welcome basket
• a bottle of prosecco
• chocolates waiting for us

By the way, when I say “chocolates waiting for us,” this was a more quality-over-quantity type of situation.

Don’t expect a boatload of chocolate. But they did include a 70% dark chocolate bar that was actually really good. On days that our attendant cleaned our room, he would also leave milk chocolate squares on our pillows.

Aurea Perks Worth Appreciating

The suite also included:

• thermal spa access
• discounts on spa services

If you enjoy relaxing in the spa area and are likely to book services such as massages, this is definitely a nice perk to have included rather than paying separately.

Nespresso Machine = Immediate Win

The room included a Nespresso machine with pods already stocked inside the cabin. They had a nice mix of espresso, decaf, blonde roast, etc.

My sister was even able to make herself a mixed drink in our cabin! The Marketplace Buffet on deck 8 had almond milk, and she brought her own pistachio syrup. That alone honestly made the mornings feel more luxurious.

There’s just something about sipping espresso while looking out at the ocean that makes you feel like you’re the boss of your life and everyone else is just living in it.

The First Round of Minibar Drinks Was Included

According to our attendant, the friendly and super attentive Arcana, the first set of minibar drinks was included, which was another pleasant surprise.

Small perk? Yes.

Still appreciated? Also yes.

The Bathroom Was MUCH Better Than Average

One thing I genuinely appreciated was the bathroom size.

The shower area was significantly more spacious than the average cruise cabin shower. You didn’t feel like you were Superman trying to shower inside a phone booth. (…Don’t laugh! i’m serious! Seasoned cruisers know exactly what I’m talking about!)

Nice Extra Touches

The room also came with:

• 2 bathrobes
• 2 pairs of slippers

The bathrobes themselves were nice, though definitely not as plush/fluffy as I personally prefer. But still very much appreciated.

And then there was one feature that genuinely made us pause and go:

“Okay… that’s actually cool.”

The curtain for the back-facing window was remote controlled.

Was it necessary? No. You could easily grab the curtain and pull it closed yourself.

But was it fun? Absofreakinglutely!

Now… Here’s What Needs Improvement

The Curtain Does NOT Fully Block the Light

While the remote-controlled curtain was cool, there was one major issue:

It did not fully cover the back window when closed.

At all.

As a girl who typically uses blackout curtains, I noticed this immediately. But I’m all for trying new things and decided not to complain.

However, if you’re the type who is sensitive to light while sleeping, or you were hoping to comfortably sleep in darkness until you were ready to wake up, this cabin may honestly not work for you.

There’s really no way to make the room completely dark because light still comes through the uncovered portions of the window. Consider yourself warned…

Charging Setup Could Be Better

My roommate and I slept in separate beds, and only ONE bed had a USB port above it. There were no visible outlets near, beside, or behind the beds.

That meant she had to charge her phone near the vanity area instead. If you like having your phone charging right beside you overnight, this may be annoying.

There were additional charging areas near the vanity, but I highly recommend bringing:

• an American adapter or the foldable version
• AND a European travel adapter (I like these latter two in particular because they’re foldable which makes them more portable)

That way you can fully utilize all available outlets and ports in the cabin.

Here’s Where Things Got a Little Shaky

Now for the biggest downside.

Because these suites are often positioned all the way in the back (or front) of the ship, you feel things more acutely. Since my suite was located toward the back, we occasionally felt noticeable vibrations, especially while docking.

This may have been related to:

• thrusters
• propulsion adjustments
• mooring operations
• or other fancy ship mechanics I know virtually nothing about

Either way… you could definitely feel it.

What Light Sleepers Should Know

Another thing: You can hear music from the ship into the wee hours of the night.

Now to be fair, the soundproofing was actually pretty decent overall. But despite that, my roommate and I could still hear the music at times.

And on some nights? The music went on until around 3:00 AM!

So if you’re a light sleeper, the combination of:

• vibrations
• docking movements
• late-night music

…may make this a suite you’ll want to skip.

So…Would I Recommend Staying Here Again?

Honestly? It depends on the type of traveler you are.

If you:

• are NOT a light sleeper
• enjoy natural sunlight in the mornings
• like waking up with the sun instead of an alarm clock
• appreciate spacious cabins and panoramic views
• don’t mind occasional vibrations or distant music

…then this suite may absolutely be perfect for you.

But if you:

• need complete darkness to sleep
• are highly sensitive to noise
• get bothered easily by ship movement or vibrations

…you may want to reconsider this particular suite altogether. Other options to consider:

Deluxe Suite Aurea (Midship cabins available)

These are probably your BEST option if you:

• want suite perks
• want Aurea benefits
• want less vibration/noise
• want a more stable ride

They’re located on decks 9–15 and are more distributed throughout the ship rather than being predominantly concentrated only at the very back/front. That being said, you will lose the panoramic window views…so pick your poison!

Overall though, I still enjoyed my time aboard MSC Seaside, and I’m glad I experienced the Premium Aurea Suite firsthand because now I can give you the REAL details beyond the polished marketing photos.

Next up, I’m going to review:

• the FOOD aboard MSC Seaside
• AND MSC’s private island experience

…so stay tuned because I definitely have thoughts.