MSC is one of our favourite cruise lines and the Bellissima is in the top of its game. Come and explore the MSC Bellissima for families with Cruising with Kids as we hopped onboard and reviewed what MSC’s new ship had to offer.
MSC Bellissima Ship review for Family’s
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MSCÂ are well renowned for their glamorous ships, Swarovski staircases, mirrors and champagne everywhere you look but are they good for families? Well aside for their opulence that have a surprising amount of activities and choice for people with young families.
Is a MSC Bellissima a good choice for families and children?
Families have been well catered for and considered when building the MSC Bellissima cruise ship. MSC Cruises have been voted the best cruise line for families and you can certainly see why. In fact MSC is very kid friendly with lots of activities and clubs and spaces for them to hang out.
Does the MSC Bellissma have kids clubs?
Yes! the MSC Bellissma kids clubs are fantastic and there are five clubs which are broken down into specific age groups.
- Baby Club for under 3 years
- Mini Club 3-6 years
- Junior club 7-11
- Young club 12-14
- and Teen club 15-17.
MSC Cruises newest ship has over 700 square metres of kids playroom in total with six different child mascots and 7 playrooms. You can find the kids clubs on Deck 18.
MSC have partnered with big brands such as Lego and Chicco to ensure your children have a magical stay.
Does the MSC Bellissima have a children’s water park?
Check out the pool facilities and the outdoor Grand Canyon Aqua park onboard Bellissima as it is the place to be for kids. There are three slides including a huge champagne bowl and two racing tubes all on deck 19.
For smaller children there is an aqua play area with mini slides, water shooters and a smaller pool. Around the outside of the pool is a Himalayan bridge. Adults and kids alike can attach themselves safely to the rope assault course and cross the ship 80 metres above the water!
There are also other pools that children are allowed in, ( this may not include children in nappies) on the ship these include the Grand Canyon pool and the main Atmosphere pool.
What entertainment is onboard MSC Bellissima?
In the Sportsplex you will find the Virtual Games Arcade. Here you can find two life size authentic F1 racing simulators an XD theatre and even a bowling alley.Â
The choice of entertainment onboard the new MSC cruise ship is huge. There are over 210 weekly activities for adults and 300 hours of live music per cruise. There are two Cirque du Soleil shows on the Bellissima which have been created exclusively for MSC.
Syma and Varélla will take you on a journey of love, sea adventures and acrobatic feats. The shows have their designated carousel lounge which had been purpose-built to entertain guests. Prepare to be amazed.
Along the Mediterranean style promenade is a 96 meter long LED screen which change by the hour. You can see shows and fireworks across the ceiling along with shows along the prom.
Discos are usually held in the sports arena but you can expect to find live music all around the ship and parties on the promenade
How kid friendly is MSC Bellissma and what Family Activities can you expect onboard?
There are plenty of activities onboard Bellissima such as sports activities in sportsplex, dance classes, Â quizzes, lounges and lots of live music. Adding to this there are shows every night in the London Theatre. You will be hard pressed to not find something to do.
The latest innovation from MSC is the new Virtual reality maze. Don a head set and get immersed into your favourite games all in 4K definition.
There are a range of sports on offer include a huge arena with tournaments and activities throughout the day.
There is also a dedicated running track and fully stocked gym for those who wish to keep up their fitness levels whilst holidaying.
Dinnertime, food and beverages
There are 12 dining venues and 20 bars providing 20 varieties of champagne onboard MSC Bellissima and the kiddies they are entirely catered for.
Dinner is served in one of the three main restaurants where you will be allotted a table. The main dining room is also open for lunch and breakfast for a more relaxing retreat. You can also eat in the Marketplace buffet with a wide array of choices.
One of the main reason that make MSC Bellissima for families perfect is their catering options for children. The kitchen serve tasty and healthy dishes that are available in the dedicated kids area of the buffet. During mealtimes the main restaurants offer ‘special kids’ menus created specifically by a team of nutritionists  who also cater for a variety of allergies and other special dietary requirements. (Always ask your server if you are unsure.)
When we dined we did have some issues with Gluten free choices as the menus were not in full service but we were rest assured this would not be the case when the ships were fully operational.
There is also a menu for babies which consists of a special selection of dishes suitable for babies between 6 and 12 months of age, thanks to the new partnership with the Osservatorio Chicco. You can also find a children menu in the yacht club.
So let’s not forget the parents! Specialty dining on the Bellissima
If you prefer you can choose a dining package or choose to pay a little more to try one of the specialty restaurants.
Hola the tapas bar has been created by the culinary chef Ramón Freixa. The tapas bar features traditional tapas and a range of cocktails and wines.
L’Atelier Bistrot is a new concept with a selection of cheese and charcuterie as well as traditional French dishes.
The Butchers Cut is an American steakhouse restaurant serving cuts of steak and an open kitchen so you can see all the action. They also serve craft beers, American wines and cocktails.
Kaito teppanyaki and sushi bar would be great fun for families! You can watch you dinner cooked right in front of your eyes. Or pop next door for some mouth-watering fresh sushi whilst people watching along the promenade.
If you have a sweet tooth then you could all visit Jean Philippes chocolat & cafe on the promenade deck. Watch chocolate being made in the open kitchen taste handmade chocolate or macaroons or treat yourself to a hot chocolate or mocha.Â
Hop across the promenade to Jean Philippe Maury’s Crepes and Gelato, for some mouth-watering surprises. Â
Are there cabins on the MSC Bellissima for larger families?
The MSC Cruises Bellissima has 175 cabins for families which can accommodate up to 10 guests with interconnected doors and balconies that join together. These unique cabins have been clustered together to enable larger families more choice. All cabins have a lock at the top to stop small children from opening the doors. You can find these cabins on the MSC Bellissima deck plans.
Overall the MSC Bellissima for Families is a great choice and they have pulled out all of the stops in catering for families large and small onboard.
MSC Kids Clubs overview
Take a look at our in-depth MSC Bellissima kids club guide here.
I was invited on the MSC Bellissima on a press trip all thought and opinions are my own. We were recently invited to join the MSC Bellissima for her naming ceremony and explore her for a few days. MSC are the world’ largest privately owned cruise line and a market leader in Europe. As brand ambassadors we got to see the Bellissima progress from shore to sea and finally her naming ceremony in Southampton. So just how kid friendly is MSC Bellissma for families?
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