MSC SEASIDE

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Latest news

Engine issues delayed return to port

On Aug 27, 2023, the 'MSC Seaside' suffered technical issues and power reduction in one of the engines, during a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing, and had a delayed return to Port Canaveral as a consequence. The passengers were nitified as well as booked guests of the next cruise. Guests were provided with free internet access to contact airlines or travel agencies. The ship had sailed from the port on Aug 20 en route to the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, Costa Maya and Cozumel. Embarking guests for the next cruise to Nassau and the Marine Reserve were asked to deelay their arrival at port by two hours.

Cruise ship received an extremely low score on health inspection

The 'MSC Seaside' received an extremely low score on her most recent health inspection from the CDC, which was conducted on April 27, 2023. The ship received a failing score of 67, with the health agency’s report showing a large number of violations in areas including food preparation and storage, item storage, the crew manifest, and more. Cruise ships must receive a score of at least 86 to pass their unannounced inspections, which occur twice a year for vessels sailing from United States ports.The 'MSC Seaside' is currently based in Port Canaveral, Florida. MSC Seaside scored very well on its other CDC inspections, which took place in April 2018 and February 2019. The vessel received scores of 94 and 92 in those cases, respectively. During the latest inspection, however, inspectors noted a slew of infractions. Ten flies were located in the bar area near the undercounter technical compartments at the Seaside Bar. Foods in various parts of the ship were found to be in the temperature danger zone — being stored at warmer temperatures than is safe or allowed. Handles of self-service tongs were touching food at the buffet at multiple stations. Baskets of cleaned and sanitized cutlery were stored on top of a portable table that had old food debris on it. Dried food residue from at least a day prior was inside an open seam at the pizza preparation counter. Dried food residue was on the food-contact surface of a cleaned plate out for passenger self-service at the buffet. Old food soil and pooled water left over from the night before was inside condiment storage inserts below the grills at Teppanyaki. A crew member was observed cooking and handling raw hamburger meat and then opening the door to a cold store room without washing his hands. Pool depth markers were not prominently located in/around multiple pools. The total number of passengers and crew on board were not the totals listed on the logs. Multiple bathrooms around the ship had soap dispensers that were out of soap. The 'MSC Seaside' management must now submit a corrective action statement, saying how it has addressed its infractions. Following that, there will be another unannounced inspection to see whether the appropriate changes have been made.

Ten passengers arrested for drug smuggling

Ten passengers of the 'MSC Seaside' were arrested in the port of Valencia on April 7, 2022, for hiding 54 kilos of cocaine in their luggage, worth around 3 million Euros. The ship left Santos on March 19. Agents of the Guardia Civil, aided by the anti-drug dogs, intercepted the drug load during routine checks. Four men and six women, all Brazilian nationals, ended up in handcuffs on charges of international drug trafficking. To try to go unnoticed on the ship and not arouse suspicion, the arrested traveled as a couple, simulating a pleasure trip. The Guardia Civil assumed that the ten detainees belong to at least two different criminal organizations with no link between them, but with the same modus operandi. One of the criminal organizations intended to distribute drugs in Madrid and the other in Lisbon. Similarly, three of the couples had booked a hotel in Valencia, where they intended to facilitate the sale to third parties. The drug was distributed in 15 suitcases, each weighing about three and a half kilos. Those arrested, aged between 23 and 50, were at the disposal of the investigative court of Valencia.