Tag Archives: MSC Cruise

MSC Bellissima Returns to the Mediterranean

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Returning to Europe after a three-year gap, the MSC Bellissima is kicking off a series of Western Mediterranean cruises today.

Departing from Valencia, the 2019-built vessel welcomes guests for a cruise that sails to four popular destinations in Spain and Italy.

The seven-night route features visits to Barcelona, Genoa, Naples and Livorno, and two full days at sea.

Designed with more extended stays in ports, the itinerary allows guests to explore additional cities such as Madrid and Florence.

With Tarragona replacing Barcelona on selected departures, the cruise is set to be repeated through early November.

Previously scheduled to sail in the Far East, the Bellissima spent the last three months cruising in the Middle East.

Extending MSC Cruises’ season in the region, the vessel arrived in the region in March for a series of seven-night itineraries that included visits to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Sir Bani Yas.

Upon resuming revenue service in July, the vessel also sailed in the Red Sea, offering three- and four-night cruises to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.

Built-in France, the MSC Bellissima debuted in early 2019 as the second in a series of five ships known as the Meraviglia Class.

According to MSC Cruises, the vessel offers a “stunning array of features,” including 12 international dining venues and 20 different bars.

The 167,600-ton ship is also highlighted by the Galleria Bellissima, a 96-meter-long central promenade that features an 80-meter LED dome, in addition to the largest shopping area in the fleet, and a dedicated waterpark.

Boasting 19 decks and a capacity for over 4,500 guests in double occupancy, the Bellissima is also one of the largest ships of the MSC’s fleet – which now has all of its vessels in service again.

In June, the MSC Musica welcomed guests back, marking the return of all of the company’s 19 cruise ships for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MSC Cruise reveals New Dining Concepts for the upcoming MSC World Europa

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MSC Cruises’ upcoming vessel World Europa will introduce seven new dining and drinking venues including a mixology bar and Indian tea house.

The new venues include The Gin Project, a dedicated gin bar with specialist gin experts helping guests mix their own cocktails from more than 70 craft gins available, while Elixir Mixology Bar is a new cocktail venue with an outdoor terrace and “liquor corner” for tasting spirits.

The Coffee Emporium will serve French, Italian, Turkish and Moroccan coffees and coffee brand Lavazza will develop an MSC signature roast which passengers can take home.

Raj Polo Tea House offers English breakfast teas, cold-brewed and iced tea selections and tea-infused cocktails and Chef’s Garden Kitchen features greenery grown onboard using a soilless farming style, which the line has termed farm-to-ocean cooking.

The new venue, Chef’s Garden Kitchen, uses a soilless farming method to grow its greenery La Pescaderia is a restaurant specialising in seafood and features a fresh fish display where guests may choose their fish to eat, while Luna Park Pizza & Burger is a buffet-style venue with family games and American cuisine offerings.

The Masters of the Sea, the line’s signature pub, will have a second floor onboard World Europa, which will feature a micro-brewery with MSC beers brewed on board.

The line’s specialist restaurant mainstays will also be onboard, such as Butcher’s Cut, Kaito Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar and Hola! Tacos & Cantina.

The ship is currently being built in Saint Nazaire and will welcome its first guests on board in December 2022 and sail to the Arabian Gulf region for its inaugural season.

Jacques Van Staden, MSC’s vice-president of food and beverage, said the culinary experience onboard the ship had been designed with the future in mind, such as the technology seen at Chef’s Garden Kitchen.

“Each new concept aims to go beyond what traditional venues achieved in the past and focus on crafted, artisanal and immersive experiences that will revolutionise the place dining holds in the overall cruise experience,” he said.

MSC World Europa Six Months Away

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In just six months MSC Cruises will launch its newest and most environmentally advanced ship to date, the MSC World Europa.

MSC said its new flagship is the first from the World Class prototype series, spanning 22 decks, 47 meters wide, with 2,626 cabins and boasting more than 40,000 square meters of public space.

The company said this metropolis at sea is the future of cruising and will offer a veritable world of different experiences pushing the boundaries of what is possible at sea.

Among the highlights is The Promenade, a 104-meter long, 7 seven deck-high outdoor is one of the key areas of the ship. Opening out onto the aft of the ship with sea views, this is the place to be day or night with entertainment and al-fresco dining space. The glory of the promenade is a striking architectural masterpiece: The Venom Drop @ The Spiral spanning 11 decks, the longest dry slide at sea.

The ship will offer seven new and innovative cabin types not seen on any other MSC Cruises’ ship, and more suites than ever have private whirlpool baths, the company said.

Another highlight is the new Infinite Ocean view cabins with a panoramic sliding window that turns into a glass balustrade when open.

The MSC World Europa will spend her inaugural season in the Gulf. Her season starts on Dec. 20 with a special four-night sailing from Doha in Qatar to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The MSC World Europa will then offer 7-night cruises from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, and on to Sir Bani Yas Island, Her program in the Gulf has been adjusted with calls in the port of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, visiting Al Ahsa oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The ship also calls Doha, the futuristic capital of Qatar, before returning to Dubai with an overnight in the city.

The MSC World Europa will the head to the Mediterranean Sea. In summer 2023, she will offer seven-night cruises calling the Italian ports of Genoa, Naples and Messina, as well as Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain and Marseille in France.