MSC Seaview
MSC Seaview is a Seaside-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises and delivered in 2018.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
MSC Seaview is a Seaside-class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. Constructed by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, the vessel was delivered in June 2018 and entered commercial service with a maiden voyage from Genoa on 10 June 2018. She is the sister ship of MSC Seaside, the lead vessel of the class, and was developed from Fincantieri's Project Mille concept. The design was intended to bring more of the ship's public life closer to the sea, using a comparatively broad hull, a narrower upper superstructure, extensive outdoor promenades, and a large aft pool area. The ship has 18 decks and measures approximately 323 metres in length, 41 metres in beam, and 74 metres in height. Her published passenger capacity is 5,119 across 2,066 passenger cabins, while the crew complement is approximately 1,413 people accommodated in 759 crew cabins. At maximum occupancy, the vessel can carry as many as 6,592 people. Propulsion is provided by a diesel-electric system using four Wärtsilä engines and GE Marine electrical equipment, with total generation capacity of about 62.4 megawatts. Two electric motors drive the main propellers, while bow and stern thrusters assist manoeuvring in ports and restricted waters. The ship has a service speed of approximately 21.3 knots and a maximum service speed of about 23 knots. Exhaust-gas scrubbers were fitted as part of the vessel's emissions-control equipment. MSC Seaview's onboard offer is built around resort-style cruising rather than a narrow transport function. Its design includes broad boardwalk promenades on both sides of the vessel, an aft promenade deck, several pools, a WhiteWater West-designed water park, a multi-deck MSC Yacht Club luxury area, themed restaurants, a bowling alley, and a theatre. These facilities support MSC Cruises' mid-market cruise proposition while also providing a premium accommodation tier through the Yacht Club. The ship therefore combines high passenger volume with differentiated dining, entertainment, family, and luxury products. MSC Cruises initially deployed MSC Seaview on weekly Western Mediterranean itineraries calling at ports including Marseille, Barcelona, Naples, Messina, and Valletta. After its inaugural Mediterranean season, the vessel was repositioned to Brazil for the 2018–2019 winter season, and a similar seasonal pattern was planned for the following year. MSC later considered a winter deployment from Dubai in the Persian Gulf for 2020–2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted fleet deployment plans and led to a proposed return to Brazil instead. The ship subsequently returned to Mediterranean operations during the summer season. The vessel also became associated with two notable operational events. In June 2019, a passenger went overboard during a Mediterranean voyage and a crew member entered the water in an attempted rescue; both people were recovered and taken for medical attention. In April and May 2020, during the early COVID-19 crisis, MSC Seaview was quarantined at the Port of Santos after coronavirus infections were reported among the crew. Public reporting cited a progression from an initial group of positive crew members to 80 confirmed cases and 30 suspected cases, followed later that day by a reported total of 86 confirmed cases. The incident occurred during a period when cruise operators worldwide were suspending or radically changing operations.
History
MSC Seaview was developed as part of MSC Cruises' expansion of its large-ship fleet and belongs to the Seaside class. On 22 May 2014, MSC Cruises announced that it had ordered two new cruise ships from the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The vessels were planned at approximately 154,000 gross tons each and were based on the Seaside prototype. The reported contract value was approximately €700 million per ship. The design was related to Fincantieri's earlier Project Mille concept, which proposed placing major machinery and heavy public areas in ways that could support a wider hull, a lower centre of gravity, and more extensive exterior spaces. Construction of the ship that would become MSC Seaview began with a steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard on 16 October 2015. MSC announced the ship's name on 4 July 2016. The keel-laying and coin ceremony took place on 2 February 2017, following maritime tradition by placing two coins beneath the new keel block. The ship was floated out on 23 August 2017. On 23 April 2018, she departed for a five-day programme of sea trials, during which the vessel's systems and handling were tested before delivery. Fincantieri delivered MSC Seaview on 4 June 2018. The official christening followed in Genoa on 9 June, with actress Sophia Loren acting as godmother. The ship began her maiden commercial voyage from Genoa on 10 June. This first seven-day itinerary travelled through the Western Mediterranean, with scheduled calls at Marseille, Barcelona, Naples, Messina, and Valletta. Weekly Mediterranean sailings formed the ship's inaugural operating pattern. For the winter 2018–2019 season, MSC repositioned the vessel to Brazil, illustrating the seasonal deployment model common to large cruise ships. A comparable Brazilian winter programme was planned for the following year. The ship was designed as an outward-facing resort at sea. MSC Seaview and her sister ship MSC Seaside use a comparatively wide hull, a narrower tower-like superstructure, and public decks intended to place passengers close to the water. A broad boardwalk runs along both sides of the vessel, while the aft promenade includes a large pool area below the aft cabin tower. Upper decks contain pools and a water park designed by WhiteWater West. The ship also includes the five-deck MSC Yacht Club, a premium area with enhanced accommodation and services, as well as themed restaurants, a theatre, bowling facilities, and other entertainment venues. MSC Seaview has 18 decks, is approximately 323 metres long, 41 metres wide, and 74 metres high. Its draught is about 8.55 metres and its depth is approximately 12.1 metres. The ship provides 2,066 passenger cabins and can accommodate approximately 5,119 passengers under the stated passenger-capacity figure. Crew accommodation covers 759 cabins for approximately 1,413 crew members, producing a cited maximum population of 6,592 people. Four Wärtsilä diesel engines supply electrical power through GE Marine equipment, generating about 62.4 megawatts. Two electric motors drive the propellers, and four forward and three aft thrusters support port manoeuvring. The stated service speed is approximately 21.3 knots, with a maximum service speed of about 23 knots. Exhaust scrubbers were installed to reduce soot and manage emissions. The ship's deployment plans were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. MSC had originally scheduled MSC Seaview for a winter 2020–2021 season from Dubai in the Persian Gulf, but widespread cruise-industry disruption led to a planned return to Brazil instead. In April 2020, the vessel entered quarantine at Santos after coronavirus cases were detected among crew members. Reports initially referred to ten positive crew members, followed by Brazilian reporting of 80 confirmed infections and 30 suspected cases among 615 crew members, and later 86 confirmed cases. The event occurred amid global cruise suspensions and public-health restrictions. MSC Seaview was subsequently planned to return to Mediterranean service in summer 2021. A separate June 2019 overboard incident saw a crew member attempt to rescue a passenger; both were recovered and taken to hospital, after which the voyage resumed.
- 2020
Port of Santos quarantine
[1]MSC Seaview entered quarantine at Santos after COVID-19 cases were reported among the crew.
- 2018
Sea trials and delivery
[1]MSC Seaview undertook five days of sea trials in April, was delivered by Fincantieri on 4 June, and was christened in Genoa on 9 June.
- 2018
Maiden voyage
[1]The ship began commercial service from Genoa on 10 June with a seven-day Western Mediterranean itinerary.
- 2017
Keel laid and ship floated out
[1]The keel and traditional coins were laid in February, and the completed hull was floated out in August.
- 2016
Name revealed
[1]MSC Cruises revealed the name MSC Seaview for the second ship in the Seaside class.
- 2015
Steel cutting
[1]The steel-cutting ceremony for the second Seaside-class ship took place at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard.
- 2014
Order announced
[1]MSC Cruises announced an order for two approximately 154,000-gross-ton Seaside-class ships from Fincantieri, including the vessel later named MSC Seaview.
Products and positioning
A large, resort-style, mid-market cruise ship with extensive outdoor public spaces, family entertainment, and a premium MSC Yacht Club accommodation area.
Passenger cabins · 2018
MSC Seaview cruise accommodation
MSC Seaview has 2,066 passenger cabins distributed across an 18-deck cruise-ship layout. The accommodation product supports mainstream MSC Cruises itineraries while connecting passengers to the vessel's dining, entertainment, pool, promenade, and family facilities.
Premium cruise accommodation · 2018
MSC Yacht Club
The MSC Yacht Club is a premium accommodation and service area spanning five decks. It gives the ship a higher-end tier within its broader mid-market proposition, offering enhanced accommodations and amenities for passengers purchasing the premium product.
Pools, promenades, and water park · 2018
Seaside outdoor leisure areas
The ship's signature leisure spaces include wide boardwalk promenades on both sides, an aft promenade deck with a large pool, upper-deck pools, and a water park custom-designed by WhiteWater West. Together they express the Seaside class's emphasis on open-air, sea-facing recreation.
Restaurants and entertainment · 2018
Onboard dining and entertainment
MSC Seaview includes three themed restaurants, a theatre, bowling facilities, and other public venues. These offerings form the ship's resort-style onboard programme and complement its family attractions, pools, and premium accommodation.
Brand decisions
2020
Seasonal deployment changes during the COVID-19 pandemicStrategyBackground
MSC had planned to deploy MSC Seaview from Dubai in the Persian Gulf for the winter 2020–2021 season, but the pandemic disrupted cruise schedules and fleet positioning.
Action taken
The planned Dubai deployment was changed in favour of a proposed return to Brazil, with Mediterranean service planned for summer 2021.
Aftermath
The ship was also quarantined at Santos in April 2020 after COVID-19 infections were reported among crew members.
2018
Launch of MSC SeaviewProduct launchBackground
MSC Cruises was expanding its fleet with the Seaside class, a ship design focused on outdoor spaces, high passenger capacity, and resort-style amenities.
Action taken
MSC accepted delivery of MSC Seaview from Fincantieri in June and placed her into Western Mediterranean service from Genoa.
Aftermath
The ship operated weekly Mediterranean voyages during its inaugural season and was then repositioned to Brazil for the 2018–2019 winter season.
Sources1 sources
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