MSC Seashore

Welcome to the MSC Seashore!

Hi everyone, and welcome aboard! I took this solo cruise on the MSC Seashore from December 7–11 as a little break before the holiday rush — a chance to recharge, unplug, and soak in some sunshine before the whirlwind of Christmas.

Read on for a day‑by‑day account of my adventure — starting with Embarkation Day! 🌴

Embarkation Day – Let’s Go Sailing!

My trip began the night before when I flew into Orlando and stayed at the Holiday Inn Orlando Airport. Super convenient for a quick overnight, though the constant drone of planes overhead meant a pretty early wake‑up call. (That’s life at an airport hotel, right?) The room was clean but showing a bit of its age — totally fine for a one‑night stay after a full workday.

Breakfast, however… let’s just say it didn’t exactly hit the spot. It was a Holiday Inn Express‑style buffet, only this time you had to pay for it. Not my favorite start, but I had a cruise ahead, so spirits stayed high!

I had arranged my transfer to the port through GoPort, and I have to say — they were fantastic. My confirmation said the shuttle would arrive between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., and sure enough, it rolled up right at 9:30. Check‑in was a breeze, luggage loaded up, and we were on our way within ten minutes.

The bus was spotless, super comfortable, and the 45‑minute ride was smooth sailing (no traffic at all!). We stopped once more at another hotel to pick up a few passengers, then headed straight for the port.

As we arrived, the view had me giddy with excitement — cruise ships lined up as far as the eye could see! From the bus window, I caught sight of Royal Caribbean’s massive Star of the Seas, before pulling up to my stop — the MSC Seashore! 🛳️

Central Atrium

We reached the terminal at 10:50 a.m.; I was in line by 11:04, and stepping onto the ship by 11:22 — seriously, one of the fastest embarkations I’ve ever experienced.

And then… wow. Walking into the three‑story atrium of the MSC Seashore was like stepping into a floating art installation. Everything shimmered with reflective metallic accents — and those famous Swarovski crystal stairs lived up to every bit of the hype. ✨

Embarkation aboard MSC is straightforward: you go straight to your Muster Station for a quick check‑in, then later watch the safety video in your stateroom. Easy! With that out of the way, it was clearly time for the first drink of the cruise — my favorite embarkation‑day ritual.

The Seashore is beautifully designed and easy to navigate. I decided to go completely off the grid for this sailing — no Wi‑Fi package! (Brave, I know.) You can still connect to the onboard network to use the MSC app for free, which turned out to be really handy and full of useful info.

After a little exploring, my stomach reminded me that it was pizza o’clock — and no one does pizza like MSC. Fresh, cheesy, perfectly crisp — one bite and I was instantly reminded why I love Italian cruise lines.

The crowd onboard felt like a great international mix, though this time I noticed a heavier American presence than on my previous MSC sailings. Activities were already kicking off all over the ship, but I opted to take it easy and simply wander around, soaking in that “day‑one energy.”

That evening, I joined the LGBT get‑together, where a friendly crew member helped get things rolling. What started as a quick meet‑and‑greet turned into a fantastic little community — we met up every night after that to share stories and laughs from the day.

I’d planned to pop into the Solo Cruiser meet‑up too, but it overlapped with my dinner seating, so dinner won out.

Swarovski crystal stairs

n the Main Dining Room, I was seated at a large table with other solo travelers — a really nice touch that instantly made dinners more social. The food was solid, with plenty of options, and I could tell MSC is continuing to tweak things to appeal more to the American palate.

Post‑dinner, I donated a few dollars to the ship’s casino (😅) before catching one of the evening production shows. MSC shows are always entertaining — think high‑energy song and dance rather than a structured storyline — but the talent level is amazing.

Afterward, I wandered around the ship, chatty drink in hand, meeting friendly fellow travelers along the way. That’s one of my favorite things about solo cruising — people are open, talkative, and you never really feel alone.

Finally, I headed back to my cabin for some much‑needed rest. The room was surprisingly spacious — easily enough for two people, so solo me had tons of room to stretch out. The one noticeable change? MSC has now discontinued turndown service and the second daily cleaning, which used to be a nice little perk. A bit of a bummer, but pretty common across cruise lines lately.

With that, I called it a night — waves gently rocking me to sleep and dreams of adventure waiting in the morning. 🌙💤

Next up: Day 2 — Nassau! Stay tuned

Day 2: Nassau — A Taste of the Bahamas

Continental Breakfast on the balcony

I woke up early to soft sunlight streaming through the balcony curtains — the best kind of alarm clock. There’s nothing quite like enjoying room‑service breakfast on the balcony, ocean breeze in your hair, coffee in hand, endless blue on the horizon. It’s one of those simple cruise joys I never get tired of.

As we sailed into Nassau, I couldn’t help but soak in the view. It’s always a lively sight — bright turquoise waters, white buildings along the waterfront, and the steady flow of ships gliding in and out. There were four other ships in port that day, including the Disney Fantasy, which either followed us in… or maybe we followed her. 😉 Either way, Nassau was buzzing!

It’s definitely not my favorite port, but I’ll give credit where it’s due — they’ve done a nice job refreshing and building up the port area. Like many Caribbean ports, Nassau can feel a bit commercial and less cultural, but I found the atmosphere friendly and safe, and no one was overly pushy (at least inside the port gates).

After a quick walk around, I joined a food tour — because let’s be honest, tasting a destination is my favorite way to explore it. And our guide, Gigi, was fantastic — full of personality, humor, and great stories about Bahamian life.

Nassau Food Tour

Our first stop was a rum cake factory — which turned out to be more of a quick sales stop. You walk in, get a sample, get handed a menu before you even swallow, and then it’s back out the door. Still, can’t complain about free cake before noon!

After a short ride around town, we arrived at our lunch stop — and WOW, it absolutely delivered. Tender BBQ ribs and chicken, flavorful peas & rice, and the creamiest Bahamian mac & cheese. Hands down, the highlight of the food tour. I could’ve happily stayed there all afternoon.

Next up was a tea house, where we sampled conch fritters and conch salad — both delicious! Unfortunately, it turned into another “buy our miracle tea!” pitch, promising cures for just about everything, but hey… the snacks made it worthwhile.

Our final stop was the one I’d been most excited about — a rum distillery. Sadly, it didn’t live up to expectations. The “tour” lasted all of eight minutes, with no discussion of the process or craft behind their rum. We were simply ushered into the shop, encouraged to buy something, then nudged toward the bar to purchase a tasting. The rum itself? Just okay. Definitely not bringing a bottle home.

But even with a few letdowns, I enjoyed getting off the ship and seeing more of Nassau beyond the port gates. Food tours, even the imperfect ones, always give you a quick glimpse into local flavor — both literal and cultural.

By late afternoon, it was time to head back to the ship, ready for dinner with my solo travel friends. We swapped stories from the day — and of course, compared notes on who found the best conch fritters in town.

After such a full day, I decided to turn in early. Tomorrow was going to be extra special — Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, MSC’s private island and one of my favorite reasons to sail with them. Can’t wait to share that next!

See you tomorrow for Day 3!

Day 3: Ocean Cay Marine Reserve — Rain, Relaxation & Rhythm

I woke up to a gloomy morning — gray skies, light rain tapping the balcony railing, and not a single sunbeam in sight. Not exactly the tropical postcard I’d hoped for, but sometimes that’s all part of the adventure.

Ocea

n Cay Marine Reserve

(Pic from a previous sailing)

I decided to hit the buffet for breakfast, hoping a good coffee would brighten my day. The selection felt a little smaller than I remembered from previous MSC cruises — though, to be fair, I’m not the biggest buffet fan to begin with. A few bites, some fruit, a pastry, and I was fueled and ready to explore.

Even with the drizzle, I was excited to step ashore. I wanted to check out the new Marine Research Center, which focuses on rebuilding the coral reefs around the island. It’s really impressive — MSC has put serious effort (and funding!) into their conservation program here.

Marine Research Center

The island itself has an interesting backstory: it actually started out as a sand‑mining site before MSC acquired it and transformed it into a peaceful, eco‑focused retreat. No flashy water parks or roller coasters here — just natural beauty, soft sand, and clear blue waters. It’s designed to be quiet, restorative, and sustainable — exactly what a private island should be.

Unfortunately, the rain picked up again, so I wandered back to the ship, grabbed a drink (okay, maybe two 🍹), did a little reading, and enjoyed a mid‑cruise nap with the sound of rain against the balcony. Not the sunny beach day I’d planned, but honestly, it was wonderfully relaxing.

Later in the afternoon, the skies finally cleared a bit, and I made a beeline for my favorite spot on the island — the Lighthouse Bar. There’s just something special about that place: the views, the breeze, the music, the energy. I met up with my LGBT group friends, and we chatted the afternoon away, laughing and watching the late sun peek through the clouds.

Then it was time to head back onboard for dinner, which, unfortunately, turned out to be the least memorable meal of the trip. My Thai curry didn’t quite hit the mark — more “mystery spice mix” than actual curry — and the service was noticeably slower than usual. But hey, some nights are culinary hits, and others are just “well, that happened.”

Luckily, the night totally redeemed itself because it was Silent Disco Night!

What. A. Blast. The vibe was incredible — multicolored headphones glowing, people dancing to completely different songs, and everyone just having pure fun. I ended up with a fantastic group of new friends — and apparently surprised quite a few folks with my Latin‑style dance moves! (Who knew this white boy could keep up with reggaeton beats?) 😄

After dancing up a storm, I grabbed a late‑night snack at the buffet — because what’s a cruise without one last midnight plate of pizza? — then called it a night, ready for the final sea day ahead.

Next up: Day 4 — Sea Day Bliss and Saying Goodbye to the Seashore 

Day 4: Sea Day – Savoring the Final Moments

Woke up to glorious sunshine streaming through the balcony curtains — a perfect farewell from the ocean. Hard to believe it was already the last day of the cruise! I grabbed a coffee and spent the morning just wandering around the ship, soaking it all in and catching up with the new friends I’d made along the way.

There’s something special about that final sea day — a mix of nostalgia and contentment, like you want to freeze time for just a bit longer.

Eventually, I made my way to the Main Dining Room for Sea Day Brunch, complete with a well‑earned mimosa (because brunch without bubbles just feels wrong).

I’ve said it before, but cruise ships really do know their way around breakfast. My eggs Benedict was spot‑on — perfectly poached eggs with golden, runny yolks and a rich, velvety hollandaise. Simple, classic, and absolutely delicious.

Main Pool Deck

After brunch, it was time to do what every Sea Day calls for — soak up some sun on the pool deck. The best part? Even with everyone onboard, the MSC Seashore never felt crowded. There was space to stretch out, enjoy the breeze, and just let the sound of the waves work its magic.

After getting my fill of Vitamin D, I headed inside for the afternoon comedy show. The comedian had a few solid jokes and some that missed the mark, but overall it was a fun way to pass the time (and stay cool).

Next on the schedule: the Love and Marriage Game Show, one of my absolute favorites on any cruise. And this one did not disappoint! It was hysterical. Between the cheeky questions, the off‑color humor, and one elderly gentleman who had the best unintentional comedy moments, the entire theater was in tears laughing. Pure entertainment gold.

As the sun began to set, I got ready for my favorite dinner theme: Italian Night. The dining room looked festive, the crew was in great spirits, and the Osso Buco stole the show — tender, rich, and bursting with flavor. Hands down, the best thing I’d eaten all cruise.

After dinner, I wandered the ship one last time, chatting with friends, having a few drinks… and before I knew it, I’d hit my daily drink package limit (15 drinks a day – I swear I wasn’t trying!). Thankfully, Diego at the Brooklyn Lounge worked a little bartender magic and managed to slip me one final Manhattan.

With that perfect nightcap, I called it a night, full of gratitude, laughter, and a touch of sadness that it was all coming to an end. Tomorrow would be an early wake‑up call — time to disembark, head to the airport, and return to reality.

Final Reflections

What a truly amazing cruise this was. The MSC Seashore offered the perfect balance of relaxation, connection, and discovery — exactly what I needed before diving into the holiday season.

Cheers to me

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love solo cruising. There’s something incredibly freeing about traveling on your own — no schedules to coordinate, no compromises, no pressure to be “on” all the time. You learn a lot about yourself when you have the space to just be. You realize you don’t need to be constantly entertained — sometimes the best company you can keep is your own.

If you’ve ever thought about cruising solo, I can’t recommend it enough. You meet amazing people, set your own pace, and truly connect with the experience in a whole new way.

Here’s to more adventures, more sunsets, and more time spent discovering the world — one port (and one cocktail) at a time.

Until the next adventure…