MSC Seaside

MSC Seaside is a large cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises and the lead vessel of the Seaside class. Built by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the ship was designed around a concept that emphasized direct access to the sea, broad outdoor promenades, and a stronger connection between public areas and the water than was typical of many earlier cruise ships. At 153,516 gross tonnage and 323 metres in length, she was the largest vessel constructed by Fincantieri at the time of delivery and became one of the largest cruise ships in the global fleet. MSC Cruises announced the order for two approximately 154,000-gross-ton ships in May 2014. The ships were based on the Seaside prototype, a design whose underlying concept had been developed as Fincantieri's Project Mille. MSC later named the lead ship MSC Seaside, using the name for the class that would follow. The company positioned the vessel for year-round Caribbean service from PortMiami, giving it a particularly strong connection with the North American cruise market. Construction began at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard in June 2015. The keel was laid in March 2016, the vessel was floated out in November of that year, and sea trials were conducted in August 2017. MSC Seaside was delivered to MSC Cruises on 29 November 2017. She entered service on 1 December with a 22-night maiden voyage from Trieste to PortMiami. Her christening took place in Miami on 21 December 2017, with Sophia Loren serving as godmother. The ceremony was notable as the first MSC Cruises ship christening held in North America and included performances by Andrea Bocelli and Ricky Martin. The ship's first inaugural cruise from Miami departed two days later and visited destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico. From 2017 through 2020, MSC Seaside primarily operated week-long Caribbean itineraries from PortMiami. The ship was subsequently scheduled for shorter Caribbean voyages from Port Canaveral, while her later deployment history also included Mediterranean operations. Her service proposition combines large-ship entertainment and recreation with premium accommodation: the MSC Yacht Club occupies multiple decks and provides a higher-priced accommodation and service tier, while the MSC Aurea Spa, specialty dining, a theatre, bowling, and a large water park broaden the onboard offering. The ship has 18 decks, a maximum passenger capacity of approximately 5,119, and a crew complement of about 1,413. Its design includes a broad boardwalk-style promenade, an expanded aft outdoor area with a pool, and a narrower aft superstructure that creates more open space around the stern. Propulsion is diesel-electric, using four Wärtsilä engines and GE Marine electrical equipment. Two electric motors drive the propellers, while multiple bow and stern thrusters assist manoeuvring. Exhaust-gas scrubbers were installed as part of the vessel's emissions-control equipment. MSC Seaside remains an active MSC Cruises ship and serves as a representative of the company's large, resort-oriented Seaside-class product.

MSC Seaside originated in MSC Cruises' expansion of its large-ship fleet and its effort to develop a vessel specifically suited to warm-weather cruising. On 22 May 2014, MSC announced an order for two new ships of approximately 154,000 gross tonnage from Fincantieri. Each vessel was reported to have a contract value of about €700 million. The design was derived from Fincantieri's Seaside prototype and was influenced by Project Mille, an earlier concept that placed greater emphasis on open-air public areas, a wider hull, a comparatively narrow superstructure, and the positioning of heavy machinery lower and nearer the centre of the ship. MSC Cruises announced the name MSC Seaside on 17 March 2015. The name identified the lead ship and subsequently became the designation of the Seaside class. The company also announced that the ship would operate year-round from PortMiami on Caribbean itineraries, making the vessel part of MSC's effort to strengthen its presence in the North American market. Steel cutting took place at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard on 22 June 2015. The keel-laying ceremony followed on 4 March 2016, when the first 550-tonne hull block was positioned. A coin ceremony was held on 21 April 2016, and the completed hull was floated out on 26 November 2016. The final stages of construction included outfitting and sea trials. MSC Seaside completed an initial 72-hour set of sea trials in late August 2017 before returning for final work. Fincantieri delivered the ship to MSC Cruises on 29 November 2017. Asya Aponte, a granddaughter of MSC founder and chairman Gianluigi Aponte, performed the delivery ceremony's traditional ribbon-cutting role. The ship entered service on 1 December 2017 when it departed Trieste for a 22-night maiden voyage across the Atlantic to PortMiami. Its formal christening took place at PortMiami's Terminal B on 21 December. Sophia Loren served as godmother, and the ceremony was hosted by Mario Lopez with performances by Andrea Bocelli and Ricky Martin. The event was significant for MSC because it was the first christening of one of its cruise ships in North America. MSC Seaside then began its inaugural cruise from Miami on 23 December, visiting Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Cozumel in Mexico. During the first part of its operational career, MSC Seaside generally sailed week-long Caribbean cruises from PortMiami. A later deployment plan called for three- to seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral beginning in autumn 2020. The ship also operated a full Mediterranean season in summer 2021, illustrating the flexibility of its deployment between the Caribbean and European markets. MSC Seaside's physical design distinguishes it from conventional resort ships through its boardwalk-style exterior spaces and aft configuration. A wide promenade runs along both sides of the ship, while a large aft promenade and pool sit below a narrower, tower-like accommodation structure. Upper decks contain a WhiteWater West-designed water park, and the ship includes the five-deck MSC Yacht Club, the MSC Aurea Spa, themed restaurants, a bowling alley, and a theatre. The vessel is 323 metres long, has a 41-metre beam and an 8.8-metre draft, and can accommodate up to 5,119 passengers with approximately 1,413 crew. Its diesel-electric propulsion plant uses four Wärtsilä engines, GE Marine electrical equipment, two electrically driven propellers, and forward and aft thrusters. Exhaust scrubbers provide additional emissions-control capability. The ship's career also included a criminal investigation in November 2018. Seven crew members were arrested at PortMiami after federal officers reported discovering seven kilograms of cocaine and approximately $100,000 in cash in crew quarters and in the individuals' possession. Authorities said the group had been recruited by another crew member to transport cocaine from Jamaica to the United States. The incident concerned individual crew members and did not change the ship's identity as an MSC Cruises vessel. MSC Seaside continues to represent the Seaside-class approach to large-scale, outdoor-oriented cruise travel.

• 2021

  Mediterranean season

  [1]MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Seaside operated her first full summer season of Mediterranean voyages.

• 2018

  Crew drug-smuggling arrests

  [1]MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org

  Seven crew members were arrested at PortMiami in connection with the reported seizure of cocaine and cash.

• 2017

  Delivered and enters service

  [1]MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org

  Fincantieri delivered the ship on 29 November; she entered service on 1 December on a transatlantic maiden voyage to Miami.

• 2017

  North American christening

  [1]MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Seaside was christened at PortMiami on 21 December, with Sophia Loren as godmother.

• 2016

  Keel laid and hull floated out

  [1]MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org

  The first 550-tonne hull block was laid in March, and the completed hull was floated out in November.

• 2015

  MSC Seaside name announced

  [1]MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Cruises announced the ship's name and confirmed that she would lead the Seaside class and operate year-round from PortMiami to the Caribbean.

• 2015

  Construction begins

  [1]MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org

  The first steel for MSC Seaside was cut at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard.

• 2014

  Two Seaside prototype ships ordered

  [1]MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Cruises announced an order for two approximately 154,000-gross-ton ships from Fincantieri, establishing the program from which MSC Seaside emerged.

Large, resort-style cruise ship offering mainstream and premium-tier cruise vacations, with an emphasis on outdoor spaces, Caribbean deployment, family entertainment, and MSC Yacht Club accommodations.

• Cruise ship · 2017

  MSC Seaside

  MSC Seaside is a 153,516-gross-ton cruise ship and the lead vessel of MSC Cruises' Seaside class. The 323-metre ship combines large-scale accommodation with outdoor promenades, an aft pool area, water attractions, restaurants, a theatre, a spa, bowling, and a premium MSC Yacht Club section. Its diesel-electric propulsion system includes four Wärtsilä engines, electrically driven propellers, manoeuvring thrusters, and exhaust scrubbers. The vessel was built by Fincantieri and entered service in 2017.

• 2018

  PortMiami cocaine-smuggling arrests

  Seven MSC Seaside crew members were arrested after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers reported finding seven kilograms of cocaine and approximately $100,000 in cash in crew cabins and in the crew members' possession. Authorities alleged that the crew had been recruited to move cocaine from Jamaica to the United States.

  Source

Read more

• 2020

  Planned Port Canaveral deploymentStrategy

  Background

  MSC Cruises planned to broaden the ship's Florida departure options and offer shorter Caribbean itineraries.

  Action taken

  MSC Seaside was scheduled to begin three- to seven-night cruises from Port Canaveral in autumn 2020.

  Aftermath

  The planned deployment expanded the ship's intended access to the central Florida cruise market.

  Source

• 2017

  MSC Seaside enters passenger serviceProduct launch

  Background

  After delivery and a transatlantic maiden voyage, MSC Cruises prepared the new lead ship for its North American launch.

  Action taken

  MSC Seaside entered service in December 2017 and was christened at PortMiami before beginning inaugural Caribbean cruises.

  Aftermath

  The vessel became the lead operating example of the Seaside class and an important MSC Cruises ship in the Caribbean market.

  Source

• 2014

  Order of Seaside-class prototype shipsStrategy

  Background

  MSC Cruises sought a new large-ship platform oriented toward warm-weather cruising and outdoor passenger spaces.

  Action taken

  The company ordered two approximately 154,000-gross-ton ships from Fincantieri, based on the Seaside prototype.

  Aftermath

  The order produced MSC Seaside and the wider Seaside class, with the lead ship assigned to year-round Caribbean service from Miami.

  Reported contract value per ship. €700 million (2014 announcement)

  Source

1. 1MSC Seasideen.wikipedia.org