MSC Seashore Review: Is This the Best Value Cruise from Port Canaveral?
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MSC Seashore Review: A Great Value Cruise from Port Canaveral
If you’ve searched online for reviews of MSC Cruises, you’ve probably noticed something interesting-the opinions are all over the place.
Some cruisers absolutely love MSC, while others leave you wondering if you should book at all. We almost let those mixed reviews stop us from trying it ourselves. But the price was just too good to ignore.
So we booked a 7-night cruise on the MSC Seashore sailing from Port Canaveral to see what the experience was really like.
And after a full week onboard, we can confidently say this:
This cruise was one of the best travel values we’ve found.
Here’s what it was really like sailing MSC — from embarkation to food, entertainment, excursions, and MSC’s private island.
Why Cruising from Port Canaveral Is So Convenient
One of the biggest advantages of living in Central Florida is easy access to several cruise ports.
From our home near The Villages, we can drive to multiple cruise ports including:
Port Canaveral
Port Tampa Bay
Port Miami
Port Everglades
For this trip we chose Port Canaveral, which is about a 90-minute drive for us.
That meant:
No flights
No airport delays
No luggage stress
We left home around 9:30 AM and were parked at the terminal before 11 AM. There is plenty of parking at the port in the garage and surface lots. It’s hard to beat starting your vacation that easily.
TIP: Don’t forget to take a photo of where you parked so you will remember when you arrive back tired.
Why We Decided to Try MSC Cruises
Before this trip, most of our cruise experience was with Disney Cruise Line.
Disney cruises are amazing, but they can also be expensive.
We kept hearing how affordable MSC cruises were, so we decided to give them a try.
For this sailing we booked:
A balcony cabin (Fantastica Experience)
Premium drink package
Wi-Fi package
Even with those upgrades, the total cost was significantly less than many other cruise lines.
The Fantastica Experience includes the ability to choose your stateroom location in prime areas, free continental breakfast from room service, no room service fees (still charged for food other than cont. bfast), discounts on specialty dining, extra Voyager Club points, and one free cruise change up to 30 days before departure.
If you’re looking for a cruise that offers great value without sacrificing the experience, MSC is definitely worth considering.
Embarkation at Port Canaveral Was Quick and Easy
Boarding the ship was smoother than we expected.
Two things helped make embarkation simple:
The MSC for Me App
Using the MSC app ahead of time allowed us to complete:
Passport information
Online check-in
Profile photos
Payment setup
This saved a lot of time at the port.
Status Matching Perks
MSC offers a really interesting perk called status matching.
If you have loyalty status with other travel brands, MSC may match it.
Because we have Lifetime Diamond status with Hilton, MSC matched us to their Diamond tier, which meant a faster check-in line and a few extra perks. MSC Loyalty Match can use either other cruise line status or some hotel status as well!
Within minutes, we were onboard and officially in vacation mode.
We highly recommend applying for status match before you book your cruise because it can take a few days to get approved.
First Impressions of the MSC Seashore
Walking into the atrium of the MSC Seashore was impressive.
The ship has a sleek, modern design with:
Multi-story atrium
Swarovski crystal staircases (Each step is worth over $30,000 in crystals!)
Live music
Several bars and lounges
The vibe felt more upscale and adult-focused than many cruise ships we’ve been on.
And yes — our drink package worked the moment we stepped onboard.
Vacation officially started right then.
Entertainment on MSC Seashore
Entertainment on the ship was a pleasant surprise.
Each evening featured theater productions including:
Broadway review-style shows: The theater itself was beautiful with excellent lighting and sound. Be sure you make reservations on the app.
A magician
Comedy performances (not our favorite)
Live music
Le Cabaret Rouge: Intimate venue with variety acts including singing, acrobatics and dancing
But some of our favorite entertainment happened outside the theater.
One of our favorite hangout spots became the Brooklyn Café, which featured:
Live jazz
Acoustic music
Comfortable lounge seating
After 6 PM it becomes adults-only, which makes it a perfect spot to relax with a drink in the evening. They also have the awesome coffee machines so they can make a mean Irish coffee to top off your night.
MSC Cruise Food: What We Thought
Food is one of the most talked-about parts of any cruise review.
Overall, we thought the food was good with several standout options. We ate in the main dining room every night but one and were pleasantly surprised. Service was good and only one night was there a long wait for our food.
The Buffet
The buffet offered a wide range of choices including:
Pasta and Italian dishes
International cuisine
Carving stations
Fresh fruit and salads (loved the roasted vegetable salad)
Each evening, there were selections that matched the theme in the MDR
Our personal favorites were:
Fresh round pizza from the oven
Roasted chicken with different daily flavors (mojo, jerk, bbq)
Soft-serve ice cream
Tip: Skip the thick square pizza and go for the fresh round pizza instead that is located all the way aft.
Main Dining Room
Most evenings we ate in the main dining room and enjoyed the rotating menus.
Some of the dishes we really liked included:
Lamb shank
Chicken parmesan
French onion soup (Tiffany had this every night!)
Shrimp cocktail
Caesar salad
There are always classic options available too like steak, salmon, and grilled chicken if you prefer something familiar. We had friends get the grilled chicken and it was very dry and tough. Try to get one of the nightly specials!
Tour de Brunch was offered on a sea day. Be sure to get to the MDR for this special meal. We loved everything we had, especially the Tiffany mimosa:)
The lamb shank entree in Central Park main dining room.
Specialty Dining Was a Highlight
One evening we tried the steakhouse Butcher’s Cut, and it was fantastic. The specialty restaurants have a prix fix menu that you get to choose an appetizer, entree and dessert for the set package price. There are upgrade options as well. If you see something on the main menu you want, they will just charge you the difference from the package price. You can also make a reservation and order a la carte.
The atmosphere felt like a high-end restaurant and the food was excellent. We were lucky enough to get a table next to a window and it was a beautiful view. The bread basket is a highlight and we highly recommend the lamb chops! Be sure to ask for mint sauce!
MSC ships also offer several specialty restaurants including:
Kaito Sushi-different offerings come around on little robotic plates
Japanese hibachi-traditional hibachi (don’t expect an onion volcano on a cruise ship:)
Ocean Cay-the seafood restaurant
Hola Tacos-Mexican cantina
If you enjoy dining experiences, we definitely recommend trying at least one specialty restaurant during your cruise.
Ocean Cay: MSC’s Private Island Is Beautiful
The highlight of the entire cruise was MSC’s private island in the Bahamas:
Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
Ocean Cay focuses more on natural beauty and relaxation than big waterpark attractions.
What we loved most:
Crystal-clear turquoise water
Multiple beaches and coves
Palm tree shade
Plenty of space
Complimentary food (your drink package works on the island as well!)
It’s the perfect place to spend the day relaxing.
Look at this empty beach! This is one of the rockier beaches, but it was so peaceful and perfect for snorkeling or taking a nap. Wear your water shoes!
Staying Overnight at Ocean Cay
One of the coolest parts of this cruise was that we stayed overnight at Ocean Cay.
That meant we experienced:
A full beach day plus another morning of beach time
A beautiful sunset
A nighttime beach party
A lighthouse light show
Watching the lighthouse show from our balcony was one of those unforgettable cruise moments.
Our Excursion in Cozumel
When we stopped in Cozumel, we tried something different, a Lucha Libre wrestling show. We had an awesome day on Ocean Cay the day before, so we wanted to do something a little more cultural. 😁 We decided to book this on our own because we wanted to stop at Margaritaville on our way back to the ship. We were a little nervous about getting a taxi, but they are located right at the end of the pier, they speak English, take US dollars, and they have flat rates. We had an awesome driver who also pretty much acted like a tour guide. The taxi ride was $15.00 each way, so you may save money if you book through the cruise line or if you have a large party. We enjoyed the freedom and ended up stopping at a few places on our way back to the ship. We also liked that because we did not arrive with a cruise group, we got to pick wherever we wanted to sit.
It included:
A Welcome Margarita
A live wrestling performance
A quick Meet and Greet
Tacos afterward
The show was energetic, funny, and completely unique. All of the grandparents, adults and kids were having a great time. The staff was so nice and the luchadores gave it their all. The tacos were good and expect the staff to come around and try to sell you your photo from the Meet and Greet. It was a reasonable price.
Sometimes the best excursions are the ones you didn’t expect. Just go with it!
Book your Lucha Libre Experience HERE: Lucha Libre Experience in Cozumel
Looking for other excursions in Cozumel? Search HERE
Tips for Your MSC Cruise
If you're planning an MSC cruise, here are a few helpful tips:
Download the MSC app before your trip
Complete your check-in early to save time at the port. You will also be able to make reservations for shows, communicate with family and see all the restaurant menus and activities on the app.
Bring a portable fan
The Caribbean can be very hot, especially in crowded areas. The elevators also got very stuffy.
Use a porter when leaving the ship
They can help speed up the customs process.
Choose your balcony location carefully
Some cabins have fantastic views of the Ocean Cay lighthouse show. Sometimes the winds cause the ship to come in from a different side, so the view is never guaranteed. There is a large smoking concourse on Deck 8 on the starboard side, so the higher decks are more desirable.
Final Thoughts: Is an MSC Cruise Worth It?
After spending a week onboard the MSC Seashore, we can say this with confidence:
Yes! MSC cruises offer incredible value.
Between the beautiful ship, relaxing destinations, and the stunning private island, this cruise delivered a fantastic vacation at a very reasonable price.
We enjoyed it so much that we’ve already booked another MSC sailing.
Planning a Cruise?
If you're thinking about taking a cruise, whether it's MSC, Caribbean islands, or even a bucket-list voyage — we’d love to help.
At Michael and Tiffany Travels, we help travelers find the best itineraries, ships, and values so you can focus on enjoying the journey.
👉 Reach out and let’s design your next cruise adventure.
If you would like to see more of our MSC Seashore 7-day cruise, check out our video below.
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