Pirate's First MSC Experience! A LIVE Seaside 8/20/23-8/27/23 Review

[pirate4me2]

After dinner, we just wandered the ship. We went to the atrium (I’m still in love with the sparkly stairs and can’t help but take a pic of them each time), checked out the bowling alley, took the panoramic elevators, and walked the bridge of sighs. We are really rocking tonight, but I love it…I sleep like a baby when the ships rocking! 
At 8 we watched the Red vs.Blue challenge in the Haven Lounge, and it was amusing. When it was over, I was ready to come back, enjoy my awesome shower, and settle in for the night. I’ve got 100 more pages in my book, I think I may actually finish it! 

[Giskard]

4 hours ago, WhiteOptima said:

We did this on the Vista.  The Havana area was great!  The ship was packed but the Havana area was quiet and some days maybe 10-20 people.  We had the Cabana room and found it was not worth it.  You’re basically sitting on a lounger with a little fence between you and your neighbor.  No privacy, no quiet conversation.  2 cabins were traveling together and were out there late at night and were noisy.  Made it so we rarely sat out there.

When we went on Horizon and saved our $ and did an interior.  Way better.  Went in the bar, grabbed some coffee and breakfast and went and sat out back.  So peaceful.

Didn’t mean to hijack but don’t want you to be disappointed.  

@ninjacat123 I agree with all these Havana responses you've gotten. We love the Havana area on the Vista Class ships but we've always had a balcony not a Cabana. The Cabana "deck" is just too public and the view of the water obstructed. I would end up out at the pool area which I love so don't think its worth the cost for the Cabana, a balcony though..yes.   We've been getting great CCL offers from the casino so when planning our November trip I was surprised that I could get YC balcony for less than a Havana room on Celebration. I did the whole cost comparison for both, even with free drinks in the Casino for both of us the YC  on Seaside was the better deal. This will  be our 2nd YC experience, excited to try it on Seaside on a back to back in November!

[Giskard]

@pirate4me2 loving your live review with pictures! Getting excited to experience Seaside in YC in November!

[psmarkle]

On 8/24/2023 at 11:19 PM, pirate4me2 said:

Ok, sorry for the delay, I got sidetracked by the YC cocktail party on the pool deck. I’m back now tho! 
 

Mom and I hung out on the balcony reading (my goal of finishing my book MAY happen, I’m halfway thru!) until 1:30ish. We debated lunch options (brave gen pop buffet? Pizza? YC buffet?) and in the end the YC pool deck buffet won. And THAT’S when things got interesting. 
 

We went up and I made a salad (side note: the Greek salad in the salad station up there is SO GOOD!) and ordered a cheeseburger from the grill. Yum! I sat at the end of the bar, in the shade, and Arnold brought me a water and I inquired on this green drink another lady had. I honestly don’t remember the name, but it had fresh mint blended up in it, and was good. Mom got one of those, I got the frozen chocolate bar drink, and we munched our food. We were soon joined by a couple we had met at Ocean Cay, and somehow, I’m not really sure how, we ended up with shots of Fireball…and they just kept coming. 

 

I think I would have a blast cruising with you and your Mom...Kindred Spirits, along with all the spirits!!! Grey Goose Martinis for me 🙂

Edited August 26, 2023 by psmarkle

[pirate4me2]

8 hours ago, Giskard said:

@pirate4me2 loving your live review with pictures! Getting excited to experience Seaside in YC in November!

Thanks for following along! I hope your Seaside experience is as awesome as this one has been. YC is amazing!! 
 

5 hours ago, psmarkle said:

 

I think I would have a blast cruising with you and your Mom...Kindred Spirits, along with all the spirits!!! Grey Goose Martinis for me 🙂

Haha we have our moments for sure, then we have a lot of quiet downtime (like right now). I love that YC has both “fun” areas (like the pool bar) but “quiet” areas too. Hopefully we meet up on a future YC trip!

Edited August 26, 2023 by pirate4me2

[lcpagejr]

8 hours ago, Giskard said:

@ninjacat123 I agree with all these Havana responses you've gotten. We love the Havana area on the Vista Class ships but we've always had a balcony not a Cabana. The Cabana "deck" is just too public and the view of the water obstructed. I would end up out at the pool area which I love so don't think its worth the cost for the Cabana, a balcony though..yes.   We've been getting great CCL offers from the casino so when planning our November trip I was surprised that I could get YC balcony for less than a Havana room on Celebration. I did the whole cost comparison for both, even with free drinks in the Casino for both of us the YC  on Seaside was the better deal. This will  be our 2nd YC experience, excited to try it on Seaside on a back to back in November!

Very hard to believe that YC pricing was lower than Havana...Im Platinum on Carnival so Ive cruised them quite a bit, including Havana on Vista...Have also done YC 2x and will again in Nov. Perhaps the new ship makes a difference...but I personally do not like layout of new Havana areas on the non Vista built ships.  

[pirate4me2]

I tried to sleep in today, but my dang phone kept dinging with text messages starting at 7 am. I really gotta shut that thing off at night on vacation. It was friends wishing me a happy birthday, and while I appreciate them thinking of me, they all know I’m not a morning person AND I’m on vacation…couldn’t they wait until wine o’clock to send the wishes? 
Anyway, I finally gave in to the fact that I wasn’t going back to sleep and got up. I put on my birthday “crown” (yes, i was THAT person, but only because mom dared me to) and we went to breakfast at the pool bar. I was suprised how many fellow passengers actually took time to wish me happy birthday and engage in conversation! Then, as I was making breakfast, the cooks and bar waiters sang to me! It was so sweet. I sat at the end of the bar, munching my mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and sausage, and then one of the cooks came over…with a breakfast

”cake!” I was blown away, that  was so sweet. And if I had known how good the pancakes were (the “cake”was a pancake with whipped cream, grapes, a donut and cherries) I would have eaten them earlier this week!

[jamon]

thanks for your reviews

[pirate4me2]

Sitting on the balcony reading, and an announcement just came on that Seaside is experiencing an engine issue and we will be delayed a few hours getting into PC tomorrow. They expect walk off to start around 9:30.

Sailing with mom is bad luck…first hurricane Irma, then a tropical storm hit home while we were away, an earthquake in Mexico while we were there on another…she’s cursed!

[jules815]

8 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

Sitting on the balcony reading, and an announcement just came on that Seaside is experiencing an engine issue and we will be delayed a few hours getting into PC tomorrow. They expect walk off to start around 9:30.

Sailing with mom is bad luck…first hurricane Irma, then a tropical storm hit home while we were away, an earthquake in Mexico while we were there on another…she’s cursed!

Oh no.  Good thing you drove to the port. Enjoy your last day on board.

[SenatorsFan]

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day. 🎂🥂💐

[Ciaranaman]

2 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

I tried to sleep in today, but my dang phone kept dinging with text messages starting at 7 am. I really gotta shut that thing off at night on vacation. It was friends wishing me a happy birthday, and while I appreciate them thinking of me, they all know I’m not a morning person AND I’m on vacation…couldn’t they wait until wine o’clock to send the wishes? 
Anyway, I finally gave in to the fact that I wasn’t going back to sleep and got up. I put on my birthday “crown” (yes, i was THAT person, but only because mom dared me to) and we went to breakfast at the pool bar. I was suprised how many fellow passengers actually took time to wish me happy birthday and engage in conversation! Then, as I was making breakfast, the cooks and bar waiters sang to me! It was so sweet. I sat at the end of the bar, munching my mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and sausage, and then one of the cooks came over…with a breakfast

”cake!” I was blown away, that  was so sweet. And if I had known how good the pancakes were (the “cake”was a pancake with whipped cream, grapes, a donut and cherries) I would have eaten them earlier this week!

🎁Happy Birthday 🎉

Bernadette

[pirate4me2]

2 hours ago, jules815 said:

Oh no.  Good thing you drove to the port. Enjoy your last day on board.

Yes, I am very glad we drove!! 
 

2 hours ago, SenatorsFan said:

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day. 🎂🥂💐

Thank you!

 

26 minutes ago, Ciaranaman said:

🎁Happy Birthday 🎉

Bernadette

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

[pirate4me2]

I spent the morning reading (and finishing, yay!) my book on the balcony. Around 11:30 the urge for a frozen toblerone drink hit, so we went up to the pool deck bar. We took the drinks down to Topsail and chilled there for an hour, then decided to check out the famous seafood extravaganza on the pool deck. 
All I can say, is YUMMY! I perused the offerings and settled on the scallop salad, which was PERFECT. Absolutely loaded with scallops, a light dressing, and nice crisp veggies. I took a generous portion, and am now back on the balcony digesting. I think I may go check out the hot tub situation in a moment. 

[Lillabee4me]

2 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

Sitting on the balcony reading, and an announcement just came on that Seaside is experiencing an engine issue and we will be delayed a few hours getting into PC tomorrow. They expect walk off to start around 9:30.

Sailing with mom is bad luck…first hurricane Irma, then a tropical storm hit home while we were away, an earthquake in Mexico while we were there on another…she’s cursed!

I cannot believe you said I am cursed! I just always manage to get extended cruises. I need another shot now.

[psmarkle]

Happy birthday 2 u!!!

[pirate4me2]

12 minutes ago, psmarkle said:

Happy birthday 2 u!!!

Thank you!

[Best Cat Mom]

4 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

Seaside is experiencing an engine issue

Sorry to hear about the engine issues affecting you but fortunately you're in better shape than most since you drove. Didn't Seaside have engine issues a year or two ago also? We're set to board 3 September so any info you can share is appreciated.

[wikoffclan]

3 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

I spent the morning reading (and finishing, yay!) my book on the balcony.

Two quick questions... What's the book? and did announce it was your birthday?

 

I'll be on Seaside September 10 and my birthday is during the cruise. Just curious if they know it from your account info or if you specified somewhere in the check-in. I'm not big on surprises.

 

BTW --- Happy Birthday!!

[Hogladyrider]

@pirate4me2.... Happy Birthday....whoop it up get into some shenanigans tonight!

[pirate4me2]

1 hour ago, Best Cat Mom said:

Sorry to hear about the engine issues affecting you but fortunately you're in better shape than most since you drove. Didn't Seaside have engine issues a year or two ago also? We're set to board 3 September so any info you can share is appreciated.

I’m not sure about previous engine issues, since MSC just recently reappeared on my radar of lines to try. But all I can say is, the crew (at least in YC) have been fantastic, and they did open the wifi to anyone who needed to change flight plans.

 

28 minutes ago, wikoffclan said:

Two quick questions... What's the book? and did announce it was your birthday?

 

I'll be on Seaside September 10 and my birthday is during the cruise. Just curious if they know it from your account info or if you specified somewhere in the check-in. I'm not big on surprises.

 

BTW --- Happy Birthday!!

I’m semi young, so please don’t judge my book choice…I googled “feel good beach reads” and found American Royals. It was a good book in my opinion. 
My bday was not announced, but the concierge, my butler, and the dining team all knew, so it must be from my onboard Info. 
 

26 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

@pirate4me2.... Happy Birthday....whoop it up get into some shenanigans tonight!

We already have!! More to come! 

[PFK56]

Happy birthday from one Carolina girl to another! Hope tonight is the best one of the cruise!

[pirate4me2]

I never checked out the hot tub situation, I got side tracked people watching from my balcony. From my balcony I can look down and see a deck that juts out from the side…not sure what deck it is. But anyway,..I was amused watching:

 

*A woman who was carrying her flip flops but walking like a chicken (picture picking feet up wayyyyy high and going “ow! Ow! Ow!” With each step) all the way along this deck from aft to front, then aft again…barefoot. Lady, they make flip flops (like you’re carrying in your hand) for this very reason. The deck gets HOT. Put them

on. Don’t get burn blisters on your feet.

 

*Another lady had a man move her a lounger from in the shade out to the sun, then laid out there for maybe 2 minutes…then had him move her back into the shade for 2 minutes…then back into the sun for 5 minutes. This process repeated 3-4 times, until she finally was in the middle of the walkway, half in sun, half in shade. I hope that half-and half tan works for you, ma’am. 
 

*Another girl watched her boyfriend apply sunscreen but waved it off when offered (who turns down a free sunscreen back rub? Maybe I’m a backrub addict, but whatever), and by the time I left my balcony (about 1.5 hrs later) she was apparently waking up from a nap and was

SO BURNED on her back. Like…lobster red, she’s gonna HURT tomorrow. Her BF saw it and apparently said something, and she lit into him. Honey, he tried to prevent this earlier, give him a break. This one’s on you. 
 

Anywayyyy..we got into trouble this afternoon. At 3ish we were thirsty, so we went to TS. We got scolded by a bar waiter for sitting at a table (they were setting up for high tea apparently) so we moved to the bar. Our new friend (I forget his name, forgive me) served us shots,along with our fellow exiles that we met. They found out it was my bday, so we did…ummmm… 4 shots? 2 fireball, 2 bourbon..I think. Then we started mixing drinks, and i think we had 4 each? I dunno.

[pirate4me2]

33 minutes ago, PFK56 said:

Happy birthday from one Carolina girl to another! Hope tonight is the best one of the cruise!

Thank you!!!!

[pirate4me2]

We were banned from high tea. Ok, fine, not banned, but strongly unwelcome…ok, fine, not unwelcome, just highly encouraged to stay at the bar during the tea service. They brought us a few cucumber sammiches, then a few tomato sammiches, and we happily munched as we came up with new concoctions. We may have gotten a few stares of inapproval

as we sat there in our ragged Jean shorts and tank tops, but who cares? We kept our bartender from dying of boredom. 
We finally left at 5, and came back to the room to somewhat clean up for dinner. Tonight is Italian night, they have caprese on the menu and I CANT WAIT. I love caprese, and I have a feeling they will do it right on here.