MSC Cruises has released new details on the MSC Bellissima, the cruise line’s second Meraviglia-class ship that is scheduled to launch in approximately 100 days. The ship, which will have a maximum capacity of 5,686 guests (4,434 double occupancy), will sail with a number of new features, including a digital cruise assistant, a new tapas restaurant and two new Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows.
New highlights include:
New Digital Cruise Assistant – Zoe: The ship’s digital cruise assistant, Zoe, will be available onboard in seven languages designed to answer the most commonly asked questions from the comfort of guests’ staterooms. Zoe is a voice-enabled artificial intelligence device fitted in every stateroom and custom designed for MSC Cruises in partnership with HARMAN International.
New Tapas Restaurant Concept From Ramón Freixa: Located on deck 6 at the heart of the ship’s Mediterranean-style promenade, HOLA! Tapas Bar will be created by the two-Michelin-starred Spanish chef Ramón Freixa. Designed as a social dining experience, guests can enjoy shared plates and a celebration of the Mediterranean way of life. The restaurant will be open throughout the day.
Altogether, the ship will have 12 international dining venues and 20 bars, including new French specialty restaurant L’Atelier Bistrot, as well as pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury’s Chocolaterie and Chocolate Bar, dedicated entirely to unique and elegant chocolate creations, desserts and treats.
Two New Cirque du Soleil at Sea Shows: MSC Bellissima will be the second MSC Cruises ship to sail with Cirque du Soleil at Sea, with two brand new show concepts designed exclusively for MSC Cruises guests, with more details to be announced this December. The line’s Cirque du Soleil partnership will also result in four additional shows created for sister ships MSC Grandiosa, launching November 2019, and MSC Virtuosa, launching in 2020.
More New Entertainment: From a new Grand Canyon-themed aquapark with three water slides to a full-size bowling alley, F1 simulator and XD cinema, there are activities for guests of all ages, MSC said. Six new Broadway-style theater performances will play each evening in the 985-seat theater. Cruisers can also participate in a full program of activities and entertainment organized and hosted by the onboard entertainment team.
A highlight design feature is MSC Bellissima’s Mediterranean-style promenade with an 262-foot LED sky screen. The promenade, as the social hub of the ship, will have a shopping gallery with over 200 brands. For those looking for relaxation and rejuvenation, the Balinese-style MSC Aurea Spa offers 79 different body and facial treatments along with a thermal area.
New Magic Themed Kids’ Program: For children, MSC Bellissima will sail with activities and facilities designed in partnership with LEGO and Chicco. A 7,534-square-foot children’s play area with a brand-new School of Magic program and weekly Magic Talent Show will highlight the new ship’s offerings.
Finally, the new ship will sail with a number of environmentally friendly features, including an exhaust gas cleaning system for cleaner emissions; an advanced wastewater treatment system; smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) to recover heat from machinery spaces; and LED lighting and smart devices to significantly save energy, among others.
MSC Bellissima is the second ship in the cruise line's Meraviglia class and the fourth of MSC Cruises next-generation ships to come into service in just over 18 months. MSC Bellissima will spend its inaugural season in the Mediterranean offering seven-night cruises to some of the region’s most popular ports before moving to the Emirates for winter 2019/2020.
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