MSC Bellissima will join the MSC fleet in the company’s Meraviglia - class of cruise ships in March 2019. She will have a tonnage of 171,598 GT and a capacity of 4,500 passengers. MSC Bellissima features the highest ratio of sea-view balcony cabins of any cruise ship, as well as family options and duplex suites with a private whirlpool bath.
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The largest cruise ship ever to be christened in the UK docked in Southampton today. The MSC Bellissima, which cost £1billion to construct and can carry a total of 4,500 passengers, sailed in from Saint Nazaire where it was built and it will be christened at an official ceremony tomorrow evening, with Sophia Loren doing the honours. Images reveal what the state-of-the-art ship looks like inside, with plush suites and ritzy restaurants. To top it off, there's a large waterpark on the roof. Scroll down for video
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In total, there are 12 different restaurants on board the Bellissima, serving everything from sushi to steaks, and 20 bars. To make Brits feel at home, there is a classic pub or if it's a glass of bubbles passengers are after, there's a dedicated champagne bar, complete with 20 varieties. Another highlight on the huge liner is a custom-build performance stage. MSC splashed £20 million on the attraction as part of its on-going collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. The specialised theatre, with a circular stage and more intimate seating arrangement, allows acrobats to perform jaw-dropping stunts while at sea.
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Along with Cirque du Soleil performances, other entertainment offerings include a theatre with Broadway-style shows and a two-deck inside promenade with a spectacular 262-foot-long LED dome projecting different light displays including the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. To get travellers in the party spirit, there are 11 different areas to dance, nightly karaoke sessions and the bars stay open until 2am. But if it's a spot of relaxation cruise-goers are after, there's a Balinese spa with massages and beauty services on the menu. Other amenities include a gym, bowling alley and two pool areas with a water park. In total, the MSC Bellissima features 19 decks with accommodation ranging from basic cabins to 'royal suites'. To enhance the onboard experience, the cruise company has decked all of the cabins out with in-room concierge systems called Zoe which react to voice command.
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More than 2,000 guests will attend the christening ceremony in the UK on Saturday, including VIPs and British stakeholders. The ship will remain in the city for three days, giving the opportunity for over 3,000 UK and Irish travel partners and guests, to experience the beautiful addition to the MSC cruises fleet. Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented: 'The crowning moment of the launch of any new ship is her christening, a traditional maritime ceremony that holds great importance for us. 'For each new ship, MSC Cruises carefully selects a country and a port to host the christening. 'We have chosen to host the christening of MSC Bellissima in Southampton as a demonstration of our continued commitment to growth in the UK and Ireland. 'This is a truly beautiful ship, worthy of the name Bellissima and this christening will be a truly beautiful moment for MSC Cruises and the UK .' MSC Bellissima will become MSC Cruises' fourth mega-ship to come into service in less than three years since 2017 as part of the company's ten-year €10.5 billion investment program. The ship will depart on her maiden voyage on March 24 taking passengers on a seven-night Mediterranean trip leaving from Genoa, Italy. She will continue to spend her inaugural season in the western Mediterranean before moving to spend the winter in the United Arab Emirates, calling Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas, Muscat and Khasab. Antonio Paradiso, the managing director of MSC cruises UK and Ireland added: 'MSC Cruises is going from strength to strength in the UK and Ireland.' Gallery: 18 exciting new cruise ships you’ll want to explore now [Love Exploring]
Published 7:38 AM EST Jan 2, 2019
More than half a dozen cruise lines that market to North Americans are rolling out new oceangoing ships in 2019. Here, USA TODAY profiles one of the newcomers: MSC Cruises' MSC Bellissima. For information on the others, return to the main page of our Guide to the New Ships of 2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Xerox 3320 fuser reset. MSC BELLISSIMA Line: MSC Cruises Maiden voyage: March 4 Home ports: Various Size (in gross tons): 171, 598 Passengers: 4,434 The buzz: MSC Bellissima is just the latest in a string of new ships for Europe-based MSC Cruises, which is in the midst of a massive expansion. Like its sister, MSC Meraviglia, which debuted in 2017, Bellissima will be significantly bigger than most of the ships in the MSC fleet, and it will have all the trappings of a major megaresort. Among them: An Aqua Park with three water slides, a splash pool and an adventurous 'Himalayan Bridge' sky walk that allows passengers to cross the vessel nearly 200 feet above the water. Bellissima also will boast an 82-foot-long main pool, an amusement area with race car simulators, a flight simulator, a 4D cinema, a full-sized bowling alley and an interior promenade covered by one of the largest LED domes at sea. There also will be an aft pool that transforms into a dance area at night, a massive kiddie zone and exclusive Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows performed in a custom-made entertainment venue. Twelve distinct dining venues on Bellissima will include a sushi bar, teppanyaki restaurant, American-style steakhouse and a new-for-MSC specialty restaurant called HOLA! Tapas Bar by Ramón Freixa. Among other new features, Bellissima will have a state-of-the-art, in-cabin digital cruise assistant, Zoe, available in seven languages. Bellissima is the second of MSC's new Meraviglia Class of ships. Two more, larger 'Meraviglia Plus' vessels will be coming in late 2019 and 2020. With their arrival, the line will have four of the largest cruise ships in the world. Itineraries: Bellissima will operate seven-night sailings in the Western Mediterranean that feature calls at Barcelona, Spain; Marseille, France; Genoa, Naples and Messina, Italy; and Valletta, Malta. Passengers can embark and disembark at several of the ports. Fares start at $688 per person. Information: 844-311-6465; msccruises.com.
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