Overnight stay on the new cruise ship MSC Bellissima

Check-in was quick and simple with lots of staff to point you in the right direction! After handing my paperwork over, my photograph was taken and I was given my key card which lets you embark and debark the ship when in port, it opens your cabin and is your payment card when purchasing anything onboard.

Bellissima by name and by nature, this beautiful ship took my breath away with her magnificent Swarovski staircases glistening in the Atrium, a lovely setting and a great place to meet up with friends with live music playing to guests on arrival.

With a capacity for welcoming 4,500 guests onboard it didn’t feel overly crowded with a double-deck inside promenade, an array of shops, restaurants and bars and featured an incredible 80 metre LED Sky Screen projecting different skies and patterns that change throughout the day.

There are 10 different types of cabin and I was very lucky to have been given a balcony (14220) which was plenty big enough for two people. A comfortable bed, a sofa that turned into a bed, interconnecting door and plenty of storage space for a two week stay, and the wardrobe included hangers and a safe. The bathroom included a good size shower cubicle with more storage space to keep your toiletries. The room itself had good size TV, a fridge, telephone and every cabin has its very own “Zoe” MSC’s virtual personal cruise assistant! The patio door slide style opened onto a compact balcony with two chairs and a footstool.

If you feel like treating yourself then The MSC Yacht Club is for you with luxurious accommodations spanning three decks, private facilities and butler service round-the-clock with its own solarium, a small swimming pool, a large lounge and a restaurant.

There were bars and restaurants aplenty, you certainly wouldn’t go hungry or thirsty onboard! Speciality restaurants such as Hola! A Spanish Tapas Bar, Kaito Sushi Bar and the Kaito Teppanyaki Restaurant and an American-style steakhouse Butcher's Cut to name a few. The main dining room where we ate in the evening was divided in two by a corridor and featured a mirror and glass-encased wine cellar. Here, you could choose from a set menu which is changed daily and on Deck 15 there is the Marketplace Buffet which is open 20 hours a day. I had breakfast and lunch there and it didn’t disappoint.

For entertainment, Cirque de Soleil perform two exclusive shows six nights a week in The Carousel Lounge which has a circular stage and comfy chairs surrounding it. There is also the London Theatre with semicircle tiered seating and stage at the front which will show West End style shows and a Casino for those who love a dabble on the tables or slot machines.

For the more athletic there is a sports complex for games like basketball, tennis, volleyball and football (the complex doubles as a nightclub in the evening) a state-of-the-art gym and to relax and unwind, a luxurious spa.

The main Pool Deck features a 25-metre pool and at night the pool is illuminated with special lighting. There is a 10-metre indoor pool with a dome that can be opened when the ship is in port or when the sun is out. The Aft Pool on Deck 16 is transformed into a dance space at night. For the children (and adults) there is an aquapark, a rope course which sits 80 metres above the water, F1 racing simulators, a virtual reality maze, full size bowling alley and lots of arcade games.

The kids' areas were incredible! Separate rooms for different age groups, including a baby room and a teen chillout area. They are kitted out with all sorts of amazing toys and technology including LEGO, board games, X box’s, Play Stations and a “music booth”. All the family facilities are situated in the same area on the ship.

It was so easy to find everything onboard and if you did get lost there are numerous large touchscreens around the ship where you can find information including a ship map and what the weather is that day!

I had a fabulous time staying overnight and exploring the ship, she really is as beautiful as her name implies!