Port Canaveral Welcomes MSC Seaside for Inaugural Voyage

MSC Seaside docked at Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 10 on her inaugural sailing April 19
(Photo: Canaveral Port Authority)
 

Port Canaveral’s newest homeported ship, the has arrived to begin sailing three and four-night cruises to The Bahamas, and seven-night sailings to Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Belize. All sailings include stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

"We are excited to welcome the MSC Seaside to Port Canaveral, yet another beautiful ship in the MSC Cruises line up to call Port Canaveral home,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. "We are proud of our relationship with MSC Cruises, and delighted to be the homeport for this new vessel class. Our Port is setting the standard for excellence in the industry. We’re committed to delivering a world-class experience for all cruise guests."
 

 

In a traditional maritime ceremony, Kevin Markey, Chairman of Canaveral Port Authority and Port officials presented MSC Seaside Capt. Michele Di Mauro with a plaque commemorating the cruise ship's first call to the Port.

"The arrival of the MSC Seaside is another great milestone for Port Canaveral and the Space Coast region, further solidifying our position as the top cruise port in the world," said Canaveral Port Authority Chairman Kevin Markey. "We are committed to continuing our efforts to responsibly grow our Port to promote the economic growth and prosperity of our local community and the state of Florida."

MSC Cruises began year-round service from Port Canaveral in 2021 with the inaugural arrival of the MSC Divina. Recognizing the convenience of easy access for cruise guests and modern terminals and amenities that make it an excellent homeport for the cruise line, MSC Cruises added the MSC Meraviglia to the Port Canaveral rotation for U.S. sailings. MSC Meraviglia, now homeported in New York, returns to Port Canaveral weekly for provisioning calls.

“We built MSC Seaside specifically for Caribbean cruising, with an incredible amount of outdoor space and a sweeping waterfront promenade that allows guests to truly connect with the sea during their time on board,” said Rubén A. Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA. “It’s a privilege for MSC Cruises to play a role in Port Canaveral’s growth with the deployment of yet another large and modern ship in our U.S. fleet. MSC Seaside’s beautiful amenities go hand in hand with our international heritage and the natural beauty and sustainability of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our private destination in The Bahamas, to represent our unique vision for Caribbean cruising. We’re thrilled to share that experience with guests sailing from Port Canaveral.”

 

Canaveral Port Authority Chairman Kevin Markey (left) presents MSC Seaside Captain Michele Di Mauro (right) with plaque welcoming the MSC Seaside on her inaugural sailing
(Photo: Canaveral Port Authority)
 

The MSC Seaside offers a wide variety of impressive amenities, including a seafront promenade, two glass-floor catwalks, and panoramic elevators. Passengers sailing the Seaside will also have the opportunity to upgrade to MSC's exclusive Yacht Club or Aurea Spa cabin categories.

MSC Seaside boasts nine restaurants, including the Pan Asian Market Kitchen by Roy Yamaguchi, and 19 bars and lounges, including the Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar and Venchi 1878 Gelato & Creperie.

There is no shortage of entertainment options on the Seaside, with the Metropolitan Theater, Forest Aquaventure Park, two full-sized bowling alleys, and clubs for kids among a multitude of options. The ship's impressive sea views and outdoor spaces make the MSC Seaside a vacation experience for all ages.

The MSC Seaside, built in 2017, is a 1,060-foot Seaside-class cruise ship with a distinctive aft design and guest capacity for approximately 4,000 passengers double-occupancy.