MSC Bellissima

MSC Bellissima is a large cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises and constructed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, formerly STX France, at Saint-Nazaire in France. It is the second ship in MSC Cruises' Meraviglia class, following MSC Meraviglia, and entered service in 2019. The vessel was designed for large-scale international cruising, combining high passenger capacity with a broad range of accommodation, dining, entertainment, retail and family-oriented facilities. Construction began when MSC Cruises and STX France cut the ship's first steel on 28 November 2016. The project represented an investment reported in contemporary reference material as approximately £750 million. Its keel was laid on 15 November 2017, and the ship was floated out on 14 June 2018. Sea trials took place in December 2018 before delivery on 27 February 2019. MSC Bellissima was officially named at Southampton on 2 March 2019. Actress Sophia Loren served as the ship's godmother. Strong winds forced the cancellation of the originally planned quayside marquee ceremony, after which a substitute naming event was arranged on the ship's bridge. The ship measures approximately 315.8 metres in length and 43 metres in beam. Reference material gives its gross tonnage as 171,598 GT. It contains about 2,217 cabins, including approximately 1,418 balcony cabins. Depending on the capacity measure used, published figures describe accommodation for roughly 5,686 guests and a nominal passenger capacity of around 4,500. The ship also carries a substantial crew and supports multiple onboard venues, including restaurants, bars, theatres, pools, family facilities and entertainment spaces. MSC Bellissima's maiden voyage departed on 4 March 2019, and the ship made its inaugural port call in Spain on 12 March. It spent its initial operating season in the Mediterranean before moving to the Persian Gulf in November 2019 for winter sailings from Dubai. In December 2019 it made an inaugural call at Doha, Qatar. MSC Cruises subsequently planned the ship for Asian operations, including itineraries connected with China and Japan. Its deployment history reflects MSC Cruises' strategy of moving large ships between seasonal markets rather than confining them to one geographic region. The ship also served as a technology and entertainment showcase for MSC Cruises. In partnership with Harman International, MSC introduced ZOE, a voice-enabled virtual assistant intended to answer common guest questions and provide information about the ship. MSC Bellissima additionally included entertainment associated with Cirque du Soleil at Sea and benefited from MSC Cruises' relationship with Swarovski. One suite was reported as being decorated with approximately 700,000 crystals. Andrea Bocelli and his son performed during the ship's christening period, reinforcing the company's use of high-profile entertainment and celebrity associations in its product presentation. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the vessel's planned deployment in 2020. MSC Cruises announced the suspension of North American itineraries through 30 June 2020, while the ship's broader Asian program was also affected by travel restrictions and public-health controls. Several crew members and former passengers associated with cruises on MSC Bellissima were reported to have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in March and April 2020. The ship later returned to service in Asian and other international cruise markets. In December 2024, a serious engine failure immobilized MSC Bellissima at Naha, Okinawa, after a sailing from Keelung and calls at Ishigaki and Miyako. MSC Cruises announced full refunds for affected passengers and arranged flights from Naha to Taiwan.

MSC Bellissima was developed as the second vessel in MSC Cruises' Meraviglia class, a generation of large ships intended to combine substantial passenger capacity with flexible seasonal deployment and a dense range of onboard amenities. MSC Cruises and STX France began the shipbuilding project by cutting the first steel on 28 November 2016. Reference material associates the project with an investment of approximately £750 million. The keel-laying and coin ceremony took place on 15 November 2017, followed by the ship's float-out at Saint-Nazaire on 14 June 2018. After completion of construction, MSC Bellissima underwent sea trials in December 2018. The ship was delivered to MSC Cruises on 27 February 2019 and received its official name at Southampton on 2 March. Sophia Loren acted as godmother. The planned outdoor naming ceremony had to be changed because of high winds, with the replacement event held on the ship's bridge. Loren activated the mechanism that released the champagne bottle against the bow. Andrea Bocelli and his son also performed during the christening period. MSC Bellissima began its maiden voyage on 4 March 2019 and made its first Spanish port call on 12 March. Its first operating season was in the Mediterranean, a core region for MSC Cruises. In November 2019 the ship repositioned to Dubai for winter cruises in the Persian Gulf, and it made an inaugural call at Doha in December. The vessel was subsequently associated with MSC Cruises' Asian deployment plans, including China-related sailings and later operations around Japan and other Asian destinations. The ship's design reflects MSC Cruises' emphasis on entertainment, technology and multiple onboard experiences. It has approximately 2,217 cabins, including around 1,418 balconies, and measures about 315.8 metres by 43 metres. Its reported gross tonnage is 171,598 GT. Published capacity figures vary according to whether they refer to nominal passenger capacity or maximum guest accommodation, with reference material citing approximately 4,500 passengers and up to 5,686 guests. Facilities include accommodation, restaurants, bars, retail areas, pools, family spaces, theatres and other entertainment venues. A notable technology feature was ZOE, a virtual assistant developed with Harman International. It was presented as the first virtual assistant installed on a cruise ship and was intended to answer routine questions and help passengers obtain information about the vessel. MSC Bellissima also hosted Cirque du Soleil-related entertainment and included features connected with MSC Cruises' long-standing Swarovski relationship. A Swarovski-themed suite was reported to contain approximately 700,000 crystals, illustrating the ship's combination of mass-market scale and highly visible premium features. The ship's operations were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. MSC Cruises suspended North American itineraries through 30 June 2020, while restrictions and changing travel conditions affected international and Asian cruise plans. In March and April, health authorities and media reported positive SARS-CoV-2 tests involving several crew members and former passengers associated with MSC Bellissima sailings. One performer who had worked on the ship was reported to have remained aboard for an extended period after testing positive despite being asymptomatic. MSC Bellissima continued to operate as part of MSC Cruises' international fleet after the pandemic disruption. On 4 December 2024, the vessel departed Keelung, Taiwan, for Okinawa-related calls. After visiting Ishigaki and Miyako, it reached Naha on 6 December, where a major engine failure left it immobilized. Passengers were stranded while the technical problem was addressed. MSC Cruises announced full refunds for the affected passengers and arranged flights from Naha to Taiwan. The incident became one of the ship's most significant operational disruptions since entering service.

• 2024

  Naha engine failure

  [1]MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org

  A serious engine failure immobilized the ship at Naha, Japan, prompting refunds and arranged flights for passengers.

• 2020

  Pandemic disruption

  [1]MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org

  COVID-19 cases associated with crew and former passengers were reported while international itineraries were disrupted.

• 2019

  Delivery and naming

  [1]MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Bellissima was delivered on 27 February and named at Southampton on 2 March, with Sophia Loren as godmother.

• 2019

  Maiden voyage

  [1]MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship began its maiden voyage on 4 March and made its inaugural Spanish call on 12 March.

• 2019

  Persian Gulf deployment

  [1]MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel repositioned to Dubai in November for its winter Persian Gulf season.

• 2018

  Float-out and sea trials

  [1]MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was floated out on 14 June 2018 and completed sea trials in December.

• 2017

  Keel laying

  [1]MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org

  The keel-laying and coin ceremony took place on 15 November 2017.

• 2016

  First steel cut

  [1]MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org

  MSC Cruises and STX France began construction of MSC Bellissima at Saint-Nazaire on 28 November 2016.

A large, technology-oriented MSC Cruises flagship-style vessel positioned around international itineraries, high-capacity accommodation, family leisure, premium entertainment and extensive onboard amenities.

• Meraviglia-class cruise ship · 2019

  MSC Bellissima cruise ship

  MSC Bellissima is a 171,598 GT Meraviglia-class passenger ship measuring approximately 315.8 metres long and 43 metres wide. It contains about 2,217 cabins, including approximately 1,418 balconies, and offers accommodation, dining, entertainment, retail and leisure facilities for thousands of guests. The ship is deployed on seasonal international itineraries rather than a single permanent route.

• Onboard technology · 2019

  ZOE virtual assistant

  ZOE is a voice-enabled virtual assistant introduced aboard MSC Bellissima through MSC Cruises' collaboration with Harman International. It was designed to provide ship information and answer routine passenger questions, making it a prominent technology feature of the vessel.

• Cruise entertainment · 2019

  Cirque du Soleil at Sea

  MSC Bellissima offered Cirque du Soleil-related performances as part of MSC Cruises' onboard entertainment program. The shows formed part of the vessel's positioning as a destination in its own right, with theatrical programming complementing dining, accommodation and leisure facilities.

• 2024

  Passenger remediation after Naha engine failureOther

  Background

  A critical engine failure immobilized MSC Bellissima at Naha during an East Asian itinerary.

  Action taken

  MSC Cruises announced full refunds for affected passengers and arranged return flights from Naha to Taiwan.

  Aftermath

  Passengers were transported out of Japan while the vessel remained subject to technical intervention.

  Source

• 2020

  Pandemic itinerary suspensionStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic created widespread travel restrictions and operational risks for cruise companies.

  Action taken

  MSC Cruises suspended all North American itineraries through 30 June 2020 and adjusted international deployment plans.

  Aftermath

  MSC Bellissima's planned international and Asian operations were disrupted while health-related cases associated with the ship were reported.

  Source

• 2019

  Launch of MSC BellissimaProduct launch

  Background

  MSC Cruises expanded its Meraviglia class with a large ship designed for Mediterranean and later international seasonal deployment.

  Action taken

  The company accepted delivery, named the vessel at Southampton and began commercial operations in March 2019.

  Aftermath

  MSC Bellissima entered Mediterranean service before moving to the Persian Gulf and Asian markets.

  Source

1. 1MSC Bellissimaen.wikipedia.org