La Bella Donna
Sophia Loren is the Empress of the seas as she provides the majesty at the Christening of the MSC Bellissima
LEANING on the balcony of my stateroom onboard the sixth largest cruise ship in the world, I felt the wind on my face and the salty sea air in my lungs.
I inhaled deeply and gazed out across the vast expanse of the bright blue Ikea building glistening in the port. Ah cruising, what a wonderful way to see some of the world’s most alluring port cities.
But, alas, not on this occasion. My ship, the MSC Bellissima is docked in Southampton for two nights and not actually sailing anywhere. I’m here for the ship’s naming ceremony, which is a very posh black-tie affair due to take place in a large marquee on the pier.
A naming ceremony is held to bring good fortune and safety to a new ship, its crew, and passengers.
Things did start off smoothly as Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo Bocelli serenaded the enraptured audience before heavenly Holly Willoughby glided onto the stage to host the ceremony.
Then, the mind-boggling, bendy bod-
ies of Cirque du Soleil contorted their way through a preview of two original shows which can only be seen onboard the MSC Bellissima.
But then there was an unwanted guest (or should that be gust?) as Storm Freya stormed the stage. The tent began to shake as did the large speakers dangling from the roof, so, for safety reasons we were evacuated back onto the ship.
The celebrations continued in the Galleria, a huge Mediterranean-style indoor promenade, and the rest of the naming ceremony was projected onto the 80 metre LED domed ceiling.
Ship naming and Christening ceremonies have been held for thousands of years.
The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used to call on their gods to protect the ships and sailors.
MSC calls on their goddess, Sophia Loren for divine protection over its vessels.
She is the Godmother to 14 MSC ships. Sophia, like a modern-day Empress, commanded the crowd from a balcony as we watched on the screens as a bottle of Champagne smashed into the hull.
A cheer erupted and I swear Sophia shouted ‘are you not entertained?’. If she didn’t she really should have.
Unfortunately, when you cruise on the MSC Bellissima, Sophia won’t be around to entertain you too, but there are plenty of other ritzy, glitzy distractions to make sure you are never bored onboard.
There is a neon-drenched arcade with gaming machines that work players into a frenzied trance, perfect for keeping children occupied for minutes on end.
When overstimulated, you can burn off some energy bowling or playing sportsball in the indoor sports hall.
Or you can head outside and run laps around the deck, because, you know, nothing says ‘relaxing holiday’ like running rings around yourself.
If you prefer splashing around to dashing around, there are four pools, including an indoor pool, a handful of hot tubs and an adultonly solarium with whirlpool bath. There’s also a large waterpark which looks like a whole lot of fun, but I fear after a week of all you can eat buffet binging I would probably get stuck in the water slide à la Homer Simpson.
Thankfully there is a slick, wellequipped gym to ward off the effects of so much food on tap, and my inability to stop eating when full.
If buffets don’t float your boat, there are plenty of other dining options onboard including three main restaurants where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner, a French-style bistro and four speciality restaurants; sushi, teppanyaki, tapas and a steak house.
There’s also a chocolate factory and coffee bar and a crèperie and ice-cream parlour (try the dulce de leche flavour, it is divine).
There’s also no fear of going thirsty onboard as the MSC Bellissima has 20 bars.
Everywhere you turn there are cocktails being shaken, pints being pulled and corks being popped.
It’s like being at a non-stop 21st birthday party, although taking into consideration the average age of cruise aficionados, it’s more like a retirement party.
Ok, I jest. The average age of cruise passengers overall has fallen to its lowest in 20 years and is now a sprightly 46 years old.
darkness descends the lurid lights of the casino crash into life.
The money munching machines emit sounds of cascading coins in the hope of luring passengers in and getting their credit cards out.
Charming croupiers deal decks and spin the roulette as servers refill your drinks far too frequently.
In fact, the whole ship feels like Vegas on the high seas, a floating all-inclusive resort albeit one that isn’t all-inclusive as you have to pay for add-ons.
The MSC Bellissima though does have very competitive prices if you can do without those extras.
After all that strenuous eating, drinking and gambling, you can unwind in the spa and thermal suite.
Here, the therapists will ease strains and pains away with a massage or facial or you can get glammed up with a beauty treatment. For me, the thermal suite was the perfect escape from the hoards onboard. It was tranquil and therapeutic and I was tempted to hide out here just to get some alone time.
You see, every space onboard is filled with something to distract you from the fact that you would be on a boat in the middle of the sea.
If you want though, you can retire to your cabin. And then, the MSC Bellissima has technology onboard so that your travel partAs
ner, or kids, can find out your exact location on the ship.
The MSC Bellissima does, of course, live up to its name. It really is a gorgeous ship.
If you are considering a cruise, the MSC Bellissima has a good balance of outdoor and indoor facilities meaning should there be a rainy day at sea, there is still plenty to do.
This also makes it great for those who want to cruise during the offseason, when the weather may not be that great, there are fewer people onboard and the prices are cheaper.
If you’re looking for an easy breezy way to see a few destinations on your holidays, then a cruise on the MSC Bellissima should be smooth sailing.
You are waited on hand and foot by delightful staff and you don’t have to plan anything, everything is organised for you, even the times you eat.
There are cabins to suit all kinds of travellers from solo sailors to large groups and for a wide range of budgets too. I have no doubt that the MSC Bellissima will bring fair winds and good fortune to all who sail on her.
The MSC Bellissima will spend its inaugural season sailing the Western Mediterranean with three homeports: Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona. It will then spend the winter in the Gulf before redeploying to Asia in 2020, where it will be based.
MSC Bellissima cruises start at €89.50pp based on two people sharing an interior cabin.