By
Rebecca Gibson |
English TV presenter Holly Willoughby and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and three-time Grammy Award-winner Nile Rodgers and his band Chic will participate in MSC Cruises’ christening ceremony for MSC Bellissima in Southampton, UK on 2 March 2019.
MSC Bellissima, which will be the largest ship ever to be christened in Southampton, will be officially named by godmother and Academy Award-winning actress Sophia Loren in a ceremony hosted by Willoughby. There will also be an exclusive Cirque du Soleil at Sea performance on the pier, marking the first time the live entertainment company has performed at the launch of a ship. This performance will be followed by a gala dinner and live music from platinum-selling UK singer Leee John onboard MSC Bellissima.
Celebrations will continue the following day when 3,500 travel agents from the UK and Ireland board the ship to enjoy a tour and a full day of activities. The day will conclude with an evening performance from Southampton-born award-winning songwriter, singer and DJ Craig David.
“I am so proud to be hosting the naming ceremony of MSC Bellissima in Southampton and to have the opportunity to showcase our newest ship to so many of our travel agent partners, media outlets, valued guests and future cruisers,” said Antonio Paradiso, managing director for MSC Cruises UK & Ireland. “MSC Cruises is on a fantastic journey in the UK & Ireland, and the growth, and development we have seen in the last five years has been remarkable. The MSC Bellissima launch celebrations are the next step in this journey that promises, with the continued support of our travel agents to exceed all our expectations.”
MSC Bellissima will depart Southampton on 4 March for a 10-night inaugural cruise to Genoa, Italy. The vessel will then begin a series of seven-night Mediterranean itineraries calling at Genoa, Naples and Messina, Italy; Valetta, Malta; Barcelona, Spain; and Marseille, France.