By
Alex Smith |
MSC Cruises has resumed operations from mainland China for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, after MSC Bellissima made its maiden call in Shanghai.
The cruise line held an event onboard MSC Bellissima to mark the milestone, inviting government officials, travel agents, media and partners to see its Asian flagship. Chefs Enrico and Roberto Cerea from restaurant Da Vittorio created a menu for the ceremony as well as the ship’s first sailing. A drone show took place over MSC Bellissima, while performers provided entertainment around the ship.
“MSC Bellissima’s maiden call in Shanghai reaffirms our commitment to a market that continues to play an important strategic role for us,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises. “We are fulfilling our commitment to bring to the region a modern Asian flagship and we are dedicated to further invest in China and benefit the local economy. We want to push high-quality development of the cruise industry in the region, promote the cultural tourism industry and related home port markets.”
MSC Bellissima will homeport in Shanghai and Shenzen in China and Keelung on the island of Taiwan throughout summer 2024. The cruise line also announced its winter 2024-25 deployment, which will see MSC Splendida sailing from Shenzen and Xiamen between December 2024 and April 2025, while MSC Bellissima will return to its homeport in Shanghai from January 2025.
The new deployment will make MSC Cruises the only international cruise brand to deploy two ships in the region next year.