In case you missed it, the brand new MSC Bellissima was launched and christened in the UK recently, on a weekend that included appearances from Craig David, Holly Willoughby and the ship’s Godmother Sophia Loren. Luckily, we were there too and had the chance to look around this beautiful vessel before she set sail on her maiden cruise. So, here are five things we loved.

Galleria Bellissima

The Galleria Bellissima is the heart of the ship and features a number of restaurants, bars, cafés and shops. Spanning decks six and seven, it branches off from the impressive atrium and offers a pleasant promenade to explore at any time of the day.

As well as Masters of the Sea, a pub serving a fantastic range of draught and bottled beers, the highlight of this part of the ship has to be the LED ceiling. As the hours pass, the display changes from pretty patterns to famous landmarks and written messages. It’s a great way to add a bit of glam during the evening too.

Sports centre

This sprawling part of the ship covered a wide range of sports but also some alternative pastimes that you won’t find on other ships. Just along from the well-equipped gym, you’ll find the Sportplex (a multi-sport venue complete with basketball hoops and football goals), a two-lane bowling alley, table tennis tables, a VR maze, F1 simulators and a 4D cinema.

Although it was great to shoot some hoops for a bit, it was the last few activities on this list that really piqued our interest. Who doesn’t want to see what it’s like to ride a Formula 1 car? Plus, the 4D cinema was great fun, offering a few different stories during which you had to shoot various enemies with the gun attached to your chair.

Doremiland

If you’re thinking of taking an MSC Cruises holiday as a family, there will definitely be plenty for your little ones to do on board MSC Bellissima. A partnership with Lego means that anyone who loves the little bricks will be in heaven and there are different play rooms for each age range where they can get up to all sorts of fun.

Teenagers aren’t left out either, thanks to a seriously impressive selection of computer games and consoles. The sight of Nintendo Switches, PS4s and Xbox Ones lined up next to the latest games will make their eyes light up, and there are comfy pods to play them in as well.

Jean-Philippe Chocolate Café

Before we even put one foot on board the ship, we were sure we were going to love this dining venue. What’s not to love? If you have a sweet tooth then this is the ideal place to satiate those afternoon cravings, offering a range of handmade chocolates and macaroons for you to enjoy.

There are also pre-packaged chocolates to buy as souvenirs and you can watch the staff prepare chocolate creations in front of your eyes. Pair your sweet treat with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and take a seat.

Marketplace

Sometimes the buffet restaurant gets overlooked on larger ships, but we found ourselves eating here quite a bit. The variety of food on offer and the flexibility in terms of opening times and seating makes it the perfect option for casual dining. After a quick lunch, we returned to the Marketplace in the early hours of the morning for late-night pizza and again the next day for a varied breakfast.

The food was good, featuring many different international cuisines, and there are stations where the chefs will cook you something like an omelette or stir fry to order. We also thought that the separate ‘family and children’ area of the restaurant was a great idea. It was in easy reach of the food and means that adults wanting to avoid kids can do so.

If you would like more information about this new ship or you wish to book an MSC Bellissima cruise, call us on 0800 035 0701. You can also send us an email enquiry by visiting our contact us page.