VESSEL REVIEW | MSC Seascape – MSC Cruises’ newest ship boasts emissions-reduction and health-friendly features

Swiss cruise operator MSC Cruises has commenced operational sailings of MSC Seascape, its newest ship.

Designed and built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri as an improvement over the operator's Seaside-class ships, the Maltese-flagged MSC Seascape is the second in the two-ship Seaside EVO-class. As with sister ship MSC Seashore, the newer vessel has an LOA of 339 metres, a beam of 50 metres, a gross tonnage of 169,500, and capacity for up to 5,877 guests.

One of the notable differences in this improved variant of MSC Cruises' two earlier Seaside-class ships is the extended hull length. This means the Seaside EVO-class can accommodate additional amenities and spaces for guests including a new two-deck lounge with panoramic windows, five specialty restaurants, four main dining restaurants, 18 bars, and six pools such as an aft infinity pool. The aft lifts also have panoramic windows.

The ship now also boasts approximately 13,000 square metres of outdoor space with a broad selection of outdoor bars and dining options, pools, a deck area for relaxing and sunbathing, and a waterfront promenade close to the water.

An onboard club spanning 3,000 square metres covers four decks and includes two owners' suites, an exclusive restaurant, a lounge, a pool, a spa, and a private shops. The club's luxurious interiors are the work of architecture firm De Jorio Design International.

The other accommodation options include 11 different types of cabins as well as suites with balconies including aft suites, 50 terraced suites with extended balconies offering up to 15 square metres of private terrace space, and 32 different suites with outdoor private whirlpools. The different cabin classes also each have a small number of slightly larger suites for use by guests with reduced mobility.

For entertainment and recreation, guests have access to a waterpark, a robotic coaster amusement ride, children's play areas, and a casino.

All interior spaces have LED lighting. One of the more notable lighting fixtures is an eight-metre LED wall that spans four decks within the retail area. The lighting on this wall can be adjusted to reflect actual daytime or nighttime conditions depending on the ship's current location.

The ship also has a new air sanitation system developed by Fincantieri. The system uses UV-C lamp technology to eliminate 99 per cent of viruses and bacteria to guarantee clean and safe air for guests and crew. Sailings can be conducted with greater efficiency and reduced emissions thanks to the installation of a selective catalytic reduction system, a heat recovery system, and an active emissions control system.

Like MSC Seashore, MSC Seascape also has onboard features influenced by New York City. These features include a three-metre-high replica of the Statue of Liberty within the casino and a newly designed expansive retail and entertainment area named Times Square.

MSC Seascape will began its inaugural season in the United States. The ship will move later to the Caribbean, offering two different weekly itineraries departing from Miami. The first, in the eastern Caribbean, will sail to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. The second itinerary, in the western Caribbean, will call at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica.

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