MSC Seaside

9/14/23

Some people collect baseball cards. I collect photos of cruise ships. The one pictured above is the MSC Seaside out of Port Canaveral, which launched in 2017, has a passenger capacity of 5,000, and features rows of balcony cabins that evoke the image of condominiums, much like the ones that line the waterfront of the ship’s previous port in Miami Beach. We’re getting ready to sail on the Seaside as you read these words.

I just wish the ship were a little more attractive. Apparently, as cruise ships have grown larger, the imaginations of ship designers have shrunk. It used to be that even the biggest passenger vessels had gracious curves and elegant superstructures and were sleek and streamlined to cut through the waves. Then Donna and I started cruising, and the cruise lines said, “Who are we trying to impress, Mike and Donna? Just build ’em tall and wide.”

Nowadays, cruise ships are all about cramming as many amenities into every available inch of space to maximize the cruise experience. As a result, ships are boxier and less appealing to the eye. Some might even call them ugly.

That’s right. I said it. Cruise ships can be eye sores. And that’s okay with me because the only design feature I care about is how cushiony the bed in my room is. (I need my beauty sleep to look good walking the promenade.)

The MSC Seaside is also known for being a very high-tech ship. So, if you don’t here from me for a few days, it might just be because I can’t figure out how to reconfigure the ship’s satellite dish to transmit my blog. But I’ll do my best to stay connected. I never want to give you up, dear audience. After all, being out at sea doesn’t change what time it is. It’s NFL Time At Sea, baby!

#nevergonnagiveyouupnevergonnamakeyoucry…