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MSC Seashore vs MSC Grandiosa
The MSC Seashore was built in 2021. It was renovated in 2026. The MSC Seashore has a New York City-inspired aesthetic complete with a 10-foot-fall replica of the Statue of Liberty at the heart of the casino and shopping area called Times Square. It's 2 years newer than the Grandiosa, which was built in 2019 and renovated in 2024. The Grandiosa features a 364 foot indoor promenade with a "sky" made up of a massive digital LED screen that shows scenes 24/7.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Seashore is considered a large ship. Coming in at 1,060 feet long and 135 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.5 tractor-trailers, and the same height as a 15-story building. Compared to the MSC Grandiosa, the Seashore is 7% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
MSC Seashore holds about the same number of passengers as the Grandiosa based on double occupancy (two people per room). At full capacity, MSC Seashore holds 11% fewer passengers than the Grandiosa.
When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Seashore has more space per person compared to the Grandiosa. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| MSC Seashore | MSC Grandiosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Seaside EVO | Meraviglia Plus |
| Gross Tonnage | 169,400 | 181,541 |
| Length | 1,060 | 1,094 |
| Beam/Width | 135 | 141 |
| Passenger Decks | 15 | 15 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 4,540 | 4,345 |
| Passengers (maximum occupancy) | 5,632 | 6,334 |
| Crew | 1,648 | 1,704 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 3.4 | 3.7 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 30 | 29 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Seashore has twelve different dining options like Red Cactus BBQ & Ribs, Ocean Cay Restaurant, and Kaito Teppanyaki. Of those options, nine are complimentary, or included with your cruise fare. The other eight options have an additional fee.
The Grandiosa has one more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe, L'Atelier Bistro, and Kaito Sushi Bar. Nine of these restaurants are complimentary and the other ten have an additional fee.
The MSC Seashore has about the same number of dining options as the MSC Grandiosa.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Seashore might be a better choice than the Grandiosa. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
Restaurants on MSC Seashore & Grandiosa
| Restaurant | MSC Seashore | MSC Grandiosa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included | |||
| Atmosphere Bar South | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Main Dining Room | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Marketplace Buffet | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Red Cactus BBQ & Ribs | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| The Chicken Man | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| A la carte | |||
| Atmosphere Ice Cream Bar | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Ocean Cay Restaurant | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Sports Bar | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Flat fee | |||
| Butcher's Cut | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| HOLA! Tacos & Cantina | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Kaito Sushi Bar | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Kaito Teppanyaki | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| L'Atelier Bistro | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Exclusive (open to select guests only) | |||
| MSC Yacht Club Grill & Bar | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| MSC Yacht Club Restaurant | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| The One Pool Grill & Bar | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-Cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barq's Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The MSC Seashore has a total of 5 pools and 15 hot tubs. 2 of the pools and 3 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.
The MSC Grandiosa has the same number of pools as the Seashore and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Grandiosa. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools are adults only on Seashore.
| MSC Seashore | MSC Grandiosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 5 | 5 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 3 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 2 | 1 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 15 | 9 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 12 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | ||
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 3 | 3 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Seashore, 54% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Grandiosa, only 53% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| MSC Seashore | MSC Grandiosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✗ | ✓ |
| Adventure Trail | ✓ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bowling Alley | ✗ | ✓ |
| Carousel Acrobatic Production Show | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| F1 Simulator | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Glass Bridge | ✓ | ✗ |
| Indoor Sportsplex | ✗ | ✓ |
| Interactive XD Cinema | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ropes course | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✓ |
| Theater | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
MSC is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests may also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically, guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a MSC ship.
| MSC | |
|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $17.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% |
| Soda Price | $3.50 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $9.00 |
| Drink Package Price | $46 - $85 |
| Internet Plan | $17 - $27 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | |
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