A Quick Look at Bellissima

MSC Bellissima was named Saturday night in Southampton with MSC's perennial godmother, Sophia Loren, doing the honors.

The video below gives you a quick look around inside the ship. 

Video courtesy of MSC Cruises. All rights reserved.

MSC Bellissima Arrives at Southampton

MSC Bellissima arrived at Southampton this morning (March 1, 2019) in anticipation of its naming tomorrow by Sophia Loren.

While this aerial video isn't thrilling (except for new-ship enthusiasts), it does give a great opportunity to see the ship in detail from all angles. MSC Bellissima is the first of MSC's three Meraviglia-Plus class ship.




But before it arrived, it had to leave. Below is some video of its nighttime departure from the shipyard at Saint-Nazaire Wednesday evening.



Videos courtesy of MSC Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Chantiers Delivers MSC Bellissima

Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivered MSC Bellissima to MSC Cruises today at their Saint-Nazaire yard, and tonight it's making its way toward Southampton where it will arrive early Friday morning in anticipation of its gala naming ceremony on Saturday.

Have you ever wondered what actually happens when a ship is delivered? It's probably not what you think. Prior to that moment when the half-billion-dollar piece of equipment officially changes ownership, the ship was completed by the builder, the cruise line has checked it over in detail and agrees it was completed to their satisfaction and they have provided payment to the yard.  Then comes the moment of the actual transfer, and thanks to MSC, they gave us a look behind the scenes today at the moment when all that was agreed to and ownership of MSC Bellissima was transferred. (Video is below.)

The complete story appeared in the February 27 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Video courtesy of MSC Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - January 24, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• MSC details the notable celebrities who will be at the christening of MSC Bellissima in Southampton in March. Can you guess who the godmother will be?
• Now there's something you don't see every day: a cat in a hat in a blimp. Carnival's resident "big cat" took to the skies over Southern California in the Carnival AirShip. (Photo below)

Details appeared in the January 24 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copeied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 20, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• A new tax on cruise passengers in Amsterdam and MSC dropping calls there
• Royal Caribbean getting sued by an ice-skating passenger
• MSC Bellissima leaving on sea trials

Details appeared in the December 20 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Photos courtesy of Chantiers de l'Atlantique/Bernard Bigger. All rights reserved. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 6, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• MSC detailing the unique Cirque du Soleil shows that will debut with MSC Bellissima
• Delta Queen to sail again
• Carnival Corp to produce a second season of "La Gran Sorpresa."

Details appeared in the December 6 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Bellissima Is Almost Here

It's less than 100 days until MSC Bellissima debuts and is named in Southampton on March 2, and MSC is ready to begin filling us in on its features.

At 171,598-gross tons, and carrying 4,434 passengers in double occupancy (5,686 total), MSC Bellissima will be the largest ship ever to be named at Southampton. It is the second in the Meraviglia class to be delivered by Chantiers, and like most every ship today, extremely technologically advanced to be extremely energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Details appeared in the November 27 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

More Expansion for MSC in Asia

If you are the type who tracks where ships are, then you know that the 138,000-ton MSC Splendida arrived in China today to begin its season there sailing mostly from Shanghai, with several sailings from Yokohama.

The line used the occasion to announce that MSC Bellissima will be deployed to Asia in the spring of 2020. Like MSC Splendida, MSC Bellissima will sail most from Shanghai, but will have a number of sailings from Yokohama.

Details appeared in the April 24 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - March 21, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• MSC choosing a place and date to christen MSC Bellissima 
• Carnival opening the books for Carnival Panorama
• Seabourn Ovation completing sea trials
• Costa Luminosa straying from the route slightly

Details appeared in the March 21 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

MSC Celebrates Two Building Milestones at STX France

There was lots happening in France today, as two major events were coming down for MSC Cruises at the STX France yard in Saint-Nazaire. Then MSC threw in another piece of news just for good measure.

The complete story appeared in the November 15 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - May 1, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Disney Wonder becoming the first passenger ship to transit the Panama Canal's new locks
• MSC opening MSC Bellissima for sale almost two years before the ship enters service. 

Details appeared in the May 1 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 2, 2016

CND subscribers also read about:

• The first steel being cut for MSC Bellissima
• The keel being laid for Seaboun Ovation

Details appeared in the December 2 edition of Cruise News Daily.