New MSC Seascape combines green cruising with high-end comfort and style

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Standing on the upper deck of the MSC Seascape at its berth in New York City on a chilly December day, with the Manhattan skyline twinkling in the background, it takes a little imagination to fully embrace what a voyage on the stunning new hi-tech cruise ship feels like.

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But, really, that’s easy enough.

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Simply close your eyes, bundle up against the cool winter breeze and let your imagination run wild, the MSC Seascape gliding through the Caribbean with a warm blue sky above you while kicking back with an icy drink in your hand, the pool beckoning invitingly.

And there, in an instant, MSC Seascape has transported you to the place of your cruising dreams. But it can easily become reality, too.

The MSC Seascape, the 21st cruise ship in the MSC Cruises fleet and its newest flagship, was unveiled during a glitzy naming ceremony — Matteo Bocelli, the son of Italian singing sensation Andrea Bocelli and a star in his own right performed while iconic Hollywood star Sophia Loren, the fleet’s godmother who traditionally christens new ships for MSC Cruises, sent her best wishes by video — at its berth in Manhattan last month.

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Although MSC Seascape will be sailing out of the Port of Miami for the next few months, with two Caribbean itineraries that include stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, New York will become its home port in April, offering cruisers another departure point. The Big Apple was also chosen for the naming ceremony because the ship has a NYC theme throughout, with a specific nod to Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and the familiar Manhattan skyline projected with an 8.5-metre-high LED screen.

In the MSC Seascape, Canadian cruise lovers not only have another option for sailing the sunny seas, but one that involves leading-edge, futuristic technology to cut down on its carbon footprint and a ton of other green features that will allow even the most environmentally conscious to sleep soundly in their cabin.

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The effort by MSC Cruises, the world’s third-largest and fastest-growing cruise line, to ensure the MSC Seascape was at the fore of the industry is truly impressive. MSC Cruises has set a lofty goal of net zero emissions across the fleet by 2050 — with incremental steps before that, obviously — by using the most advanced technology and synthetic and bio-fuels that have not yet been developed.

Reflecting that commitment to sustainability, the MSC Seascape has environmental tech that includes best in-class wastewater treatment systems, a freshwater (desalination) production plant, exhaust gas cleaning system, a smart HVAC system monitored by a team in London 24/7, LED lighting and high-efficiency appliances, and heat recovery “loops” that use the ship’s engines to heat water on board.

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The attention to detail even includes trim optimization software that ensures the ship is riding at its most efficient in the water and paint on the hull that allows the MSC Seascape to glide through the water more effortlessly.

“Obviously this is a continuous effort, it’s not a single solution,” said Michele Francioni, MSC Cruises’ senior vice-president of cost optimization and process improvement. “We believe the continuous optimization will give us a boost to the ultimate target of zero emissions.”

While MSC Cruises thought about how best to make the Seascape environmentally friendly, the company didn’t skimp on the things that make cruising fun and attractive to sun-seekers.

Let’s look at MSC Seascape by the numbers:

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SLEEPING: The ship, which is 339 metres in length and can carry nearly 5,900 passengers, boasts 2,270 cabins, with 12 different types of staterooms and suites.

FOOD AND DRINK: There are 11 dining options, including specialty restaurants, and 19 bars and lounges.

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT: There is one casino, the 1,172-seat Chora Theatre, the 400-seat Le Cabaret Rouge. Guests will also enjoy 98 hours of live, New York-style entertainment and cutting-edge amusement options.

SHOPPING OPTIONS: There are 11 stores, including the luxury watch seller Time Vallee.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE: There are six pools, including the aft infinity pool, Marina Pool, the Jungle Pool, which can be transformed to an indoor setting, and the Pirates Cove aqua park for kids, complete with multi-level slides and other interactive features. MSC Seascape boasts 13,000 square metres of outdoor space, much of it based around the pools.

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MSC Seascape is completely family friendly and has many activities to keep kids occupied while mom and dad have some alone time, including the Baby Club (1-3 years old), the Mini and Junior Clubs (3-11) and the Teens Clubs (one for ages 12-14 and another for 15-17-year-olds).

If you’re looking for a much higher-end — and more private — experience, MSC Yacht Club (131 suites) provides 24-hour butler service, dedicated concierge and luxurious accommodation.

Besides the usual bells and whistles on high-end cruise ships, like a barber and hair salon, spa and a nail salon, MSC Seascape has a handful of other cool features to enhance your cruising experience — ROBOTRON, an amusement park-style ride that flies you 53 metres above the sea, the Bridge of Sighs — a glass-floored walkway on the 16th deck, and the incredible Swarovski crystal staircase in the main atrium.

The topper is the Venini glass sculpture, ‘Incanto del Mare’ (Magic of the Sea), that rises through decks 5-8. The sculpture was created for the MSC Foundation.

MSC Seascape is currently offering itineraries to the Caribbean, with ports of call including Mexico, Belize, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Bahamas. All include a visit to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, a 38-hectare island that was once used to mine sand but is now a marine reserve.

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