MSC Bellissima - Cabins and Technology on board
In terms of cabin space, I was really impressed with the cabin options. You have cabins to suit those who want something smaller and won’t spend much time in there, like the studio inside. You then have your standard inside, and whilst yes - these were 2 of the smaller cabin options - what really impressed me was that the bathrooms were still the same as the one in my spacious balcony cabin. I personally think a bit more space in the bathroom is better than more floor space.
The cabin I stayed in was a balcony cabin and was very roomy indeed. More than enough space for a couple and I would go so far as to say that these would also suit a family with younger children. The bathroom suite housed a quarter moon shower, toilet & sink with vanity mirror. The lighting was fabulous ladies, so this is where I would suggest make up application on those dress up nights.
The cabin itself had plenty of wardrobe storage with a safe, 2 small bedside units, bedside lamps (each with a USB port) a vanity mirror with plugs, USB and the TV facing the bed. To the side next to the large picture balcony doors was a double sofa bed. The balcony itself was not huge but for the time you would spend on here – it was more than sufficient, and the balcony furniture was great. A great spot for a morning cup of tea on those at sea days, before you make use of the onboard facilities. On the bed as a large MSC spread, what looked like the most amazing bed sheets and the pillows were the plumpest I have ever seen.
Other cabins that I saw whilst on my self-guided mini tour of the ship were Duplex Suites which had a double sofa bed and bathroom on the lower ground floor, along with a double bed and bathroom on the upper floor. 2 entrances on both ground and upper level with a balcony - housing a sun deck area and also a private hot tub. We then visited an Aurea Suite which, similar to the Duplex, had a separate sleeping area and a sofa bed in a lounge area with only one bathroom. The balcony in this cabin was angular which with access from both the lounge and bedroom areas made the deck area feel spacious. Ocean View cabins again came in a similar size to my balcony cabin and I have to say the larger style picture window was welcoming if you don't want the facility of the balcony but do like some natural light while in your cabin.
Having 2 daughters and 2 stepsons, finding a general bucket and spade summer holiday is a complete chore - but hurrah! for MSC Bellissima. The family cabins I saw on board rendered me speechless. Featuring the same great bathroom space only this time with a bath! The same double bed and sofa bed set up, they also feature a further 2 bunk beds. This makes it ideal for a larger family like mine. You can have these cabins as an outside with large picture window or a balcony. In addition – you can interconnect with another cabin next door which also has a double bed and double sofa bed meaning you can supersize your cabin to sleeping 10! And, as we all know with families - 2 bathrooms always help.
Accessibility is also in abundance with the adapted cabins featuring spacious bathrooms, wider doors, easy access double beds and an additional 3rd fold down bunk from the ceiling in case you have a carer/family member who you don't want to hop in and cuddle up with. There are ramps to the balcony doors and low level safe/wardrobe rails and even a low-level spy glass in the door. You can really tell that thought was put into the design of these cabins.
Onto the tech, Bellissima has so many staff you will never feel like you are missing out on that personal service but sometimes you just want to service yourself, and for those of you who love a bit of tech spec - here is a rundown of what you can find on board;
3302 onboard navigation sensors / 94 Interactive Screen / 57 Video Wall Monitors / 195 Information Screens / 704 Access Points / 2217 with cabins with smart lock system, Smart TV's and ZOE devices /
The information screens around the ship ensure that you can make the most of your cruise experience. Catering to over 170 languages you can find everything you need on these screens posted conveniently around the decks. The MSCforMe app which you can download from the moment you have booked your cruise is informative and offers tailor made experiences so you can get the most out of your cruise, before, during and after. You can even locate friends and family with app on board and chat with them to make sure that you don't miss meeting for lunch. You can make seat reservations for shows or the best table at dinner both prior to and after embarkation. If you have bought a photo package you can even download all your images here.
And last but by no means least ZOE - your virtual personal cruise assistant on board. Whenever you say 'OK Zoe' she's ready and on hand to help. 400 different people trained Zoe in 7 languages. 2.2 million questions were asked, and 30 different accents were analysed to make sure you get the best experience. You can switch the device off if it’s not your kind of thing and she is only active to listen to your conversations/questions when she is activated by her 'wake up' phrase. Which means your privacy is protected. You can also connect up to 8 mobile devices at any time. Ask Zoe for the weather forecast and she automatically activates your in-cabin TV to display all the info you need.
I have lots of imagery, some of which is included with my blog, but much more on file, so if you want to see more about the cabins and the ship itself. In addition to this blog I will also be popping another together with a few details about the on-board drinks plans, different experiences such as Bella, Fantastica and Aurea, as well as the MCS Yacht Club and how the MSC Bellissima is protecting the environment and the oceans by pushing the boundaries of environmental performance.