Two New Seashores Perfect For Family Fun

Two New Seashores Perfect For Family Fun
It’s not often that great new places for family vacations debut. In this case – it’s not just one destination, but two. MSC Cruises has inaugurated two beautiful new seashores that are well suited for families: MSC Seashore and the cruise line’s private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. Both can be experienced on a family vacation with MSC Cruises.

Take A Family Holiday On MSC Seashore

MSC Seashore is an exciting new cruise ship that is well designed for families. With space for more than 5,600 guests, MSC Seashore features six swimming pools; eleven restaurants including five specialty dining venues; and eighteen bars and lounges. The new ship also has eleven different types of staterooms including specially designed connecting room configurations for families and exclusive luxurious suites in the MSC Yacht Club, an all-inclusive private VIP multi-deck club area with 24-hour concierge service and more.

Families will be wowed upon entering MSC Seashore’s stunning four-deck atrium. The area features massive LED screens, performance areas and beautiful staircases inlaid with thousands of Swarovski crystals. The lighted staircases provide the perfect setting for gorgeous Instagram shots and family photos.

There are plenty of other jaw-dropping places onboard MSC Seashore as well. MSC Seashore features more than three acres of outdoor space including the very cool Bridge of Sighs (another awesome Insta-worthy spot) and plenty of al fresco dining options. The ship’s Butcher’s Cut steakhouse and Kaito Teppanyaki are good choices for family celebrations. Don’t miss the Venchi 1878 Chocolate Bar, serving up delicious gelato and outstanding hot chocolate and coffee drinks.

MSC Seashore’s pools are also incredible – particularly the Long Island Pool, Pirates Cove Aquapark and the Jungle Pool complete with an overhead sliding magrodome. The Aft Infinity Pool provides beautiful wake views. MSC Yacht Club guests have their own exclusive pool and whirlpools, too.

MSC Seashore caters to family vacationers with almost 100 hours of live kids and family entertainment per seven-night sailing and a massive DOREMILAND kids’ area – the largest in the MSC Cruises fleet. Spanning more than 7,500 square feet, DOREMILAND offers five different clubs for kids and teens: Baby Club (ages 0-3), Mini Club (ages 3-6), Juniors Club (ages 7-11), Young Club (ages 12-14) and Teens Club (ages 15-17). The space-themed area also features The Studio with a cinema, live TV studio and a well-outfitted console room for gamers.

MSC Cruises understands that families want to make great memories together on vacation, too. That’s why they’ve included lots of activities that parents and kids can enjoy including live game shows, competitions, performances and events. The ship’s Hall of Games is like a mini-amusement park featuring attractions such as a full-size F1 Simulator for car racing enthusiasts, a river rafting simulator and an immersive XD cinema. Decks 18 through 20 on MSC Seashore also provide additional destinations for family fun including a winding Adventure Trail, Pirates Cove’s waterslide and play features, and an outdoor sports court.

Another fantastic reason to sail with MSC Cruises is their ongoing Kids Sail Free deals, available on all ships throughout the fleet. MSC Cruises’ Kids Sail Free deals generally apply to children under the age of 18 sailing with their parents in the same stateroom. With this special offer, families only pay port fees and taxes for children traveling in their cabin. On certain sailings, children ages 11 and under sail free and kids 12-17 years of age receive significantly discounted fares.

These Kids Sail Free offers are available on select MSC Cruises sailings and are subject to availability which may vary by season. Be sure to confirm the exact details at time of booking. Parents of little ones will be happy to know that kids under 2 years of age always cruise free on MSC Cruises when sailing as a third or fourth guest. Cruise discounts are also available for active and retired U.S. and Canadian military personnel, making MSC Cruises’ sailings an even more attractive option for family reunions and multigenerational groups.

Play On The Seashore At Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

MSC Cruises’ second family-friendly seashore is just as amazing as the first. Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ 95-acre private island in the Bahamas, offers plenty of fun for families seeking a picture perfect beach experience. Featuring over two miles of white sand beaches, this lovely nature-focused private island is exclusively available to guests sailing on MSC Cruises’ ships.

Located about 65 miles off the Florida coast, Ocean Cay’s proximity to the mainland allows guests to spend a full day and evening enjoying the island. MSC Cruises’ ships are able to dock directly at Ocean Cay’s pier, so going back-and-forth between the ship and the island is easy and hassle-free for families. That’s a huge plus and way better than many other private destinations in the Caribbean where small tender boats are required to get ashore. Since MSC Cruises owns the island, cruise cards are accepted and no cash is needed on Ocean Cay.

The story behind Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is an uplifting one - demonstrating MSC Cruises’ commitment to sustainability and positive environmental change. For decades, the island was a sand extraction site and industrial dumping ground. MSC Cruises spent several years cleaning up the island, removing over 1500 tons of scrap metal and industrial debris, rehabilitating the sea beds, and creating a nursery for coral restoration. The cruise line planted over 4,600 trees and 75,000 native plants and shrubs on the island to provide lush vegetation. In addition, a 65-square-mile marine reserve was established around the island. As a result of this extraordinary effort, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve was born.

At Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the focus is on appreciating and connecting with the wonders of nature. There are no amusements and theme park-type water slides on this award-winning private island - guests can enjoy those onboard MSC’s ships. Instead, MSC Cruises has teamed with scientists and universities to restore the marine life and coral reefs around the island. Loggerhead sea turtles came to lay their eggs on Ocean Cay’s beaches this year and the first tiny sea turtle hatchlings emerged from the nests in September.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is all about spending a perfect beach day relaxing on the island’s pristine white sands and playing in the surrounding turquoise waters. The picturesque private island features eight gorgeous beaches, food outlets, beach bars, shopping areas and even a spa. Guests may also enjoy visiting Ocean Cay’s red-and-white lighthouse and taking a 30-minute guided tour. Book your timed admission in advance and climb up the lighthouse’s 165 steps to take in the spectacular views.

It’s fun to check out the many beautiful seashores on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Some favorites include lively Lighthouse Bay, stunningly long South Beach, and beautiful Sunset Beach. Yacht Club guests have exclusive access to Ocean House Beach, which also offers a chic restaurant, bar and lounge area. Beach cabanas accommodating up to six people are also available in some locations.

Families with younger children will definitely want to head to Ocean Cay’s Seakers Family Cove to spend the day. This family-friendly spot offers a magnificent white sand beach with gradual entry to the shallow Family Lagoon, perfect for little ones. Seakers Food Court is also within easy walking distance, serving complimentary tasty American and Bahamian fare. Seakers Family Cove also offers a number of fun activities for families including treasure hunts and sand castle building contests. Make sure to visit The Smiling Fish nearby for some fantastic soft serve ice cream in a number of delicious flavors.

While it’s nice to spend the day relaxing on Ocean Cay, families and multigenerational groups can make lifelong memories on exciting excursions here as well. Families will likely enjoy the Ocean Cay Bahama Bank Escape, the Kayak Explorer Tour, Shipwreck Snorkeling, the Ocean Cay Lighthouse Climb and even the Ocean Cay Waverunner Tour. Deep sea fishing trips, all-day snorkel safaris and scuba diving excursions are also available, too. These Ocean Cay excursions are very popular, so make sure to reserve your favorites well in advance.

One of the most unique aspects of a visit to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is the nighttime events. MSC Cruises remains at Ocean Cay late into the night – and sometimes even overnight. That provides plenty of time for even more family fun. A traditional Bahamian Junkanoo Parade kicks off the evening activities along with live music and stellar light shows. Ocean Cay’s lighthouse is covered with millions of LED lights and it puts on a spectacular show after dark with its memorable light display. Additional activities include beach-side stargazing, glow-in-the-dark paddle boarding, and enjoying time spent together sitting around the fire pits on the beach.

For more information on MSC Seashore and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, visit: msccruisesusa.com.






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