4-Day Cruise to China and Japan Tour on MSC BELLISSIMA

Our cruise got off to a rocky start: I couldn't be found on the passenger list during check-in. It turned out our cabin had been changed without notifying either me or the boarding staff. They spent a long time trying to figure out why I was missing until they finally found a handwritten note in a logbook about the cabin switch. There were three families traveling together; we had specifically booked three cabins next to each other, but we ended up being moved from Deck 14 to Deck 8—and no one could give a clear explanation why. We started the boarding process at 1:00 PM but didn't get into our cabin until the evening because the new one was locked and the key cards weren't there (meaning we couldn't use any onboard services). The cabin steward knew nothing about it and told us to go to reception. On the first day, the line at reception was like the queue for the Louvre; I waited there for about an hour. The reception staff didn't know why the cards were missing either, so I had to explain that our cabin had been changed (it seems to me that if there was a problem with the cabin, they could have handled the logistics without involving me). I later checked the cabin we were originally supposed to have; it was a total wreck—it looked like it had flooded and was being dried out (it wasn't repaired by the end of the cruise, so the next guests likely faced the same issue). In other words, the problem had existed for a while, but they didn't think it necessary to warn us in advance. So, the first day was a total loss. The travel agency's website advertised the trip as 5 nights/6 days, but in reality, it was 5 nights/4 days (you can essentially write off the first day), and on the last day, disembarkation began at 7:30 AM—meaning you had to get up at 6:00 AM, have breakfast, and head out. The dining arrangements were a disaster, too. It’s the first time I’ve seen long lines at a buffet restaurant when half the tables are empty—meaning there aren't actually that many people. It’s all down to the way the food service is organized. There are constant plumbing issues in the cabins, too: sometimes the toilet overflows, and at other times, only hot water comes out, with no cold water.

It was our first time travelling with MSC and unfortunately, it will be our last.

I want readers to know that we are not cruise snobs, but we give very fair and reasonable feedback for the benefit of other (future) cruise travellers.

The Good: the ship is absolutely beautiful. It's a city on the water and our balcony suite was excellent.

The staff were just wonderful and did an amazing job with the 5000+ passengers.

The negative: the food was very average in both the dining rooms and buffets. This is an area the cruise company needs to improve because the food becomes boring very, very quickly. Some of the food was cold, tough, still frozen, or for the desserts - bland and tasteless (looks nice but taste like crap).

The ships entertainment was also very average for a 10-day cruise. The young singers and dancers did an OK job, but there is much better quality performances on other cruise lines. Bands and other live musicians were very average.

Lots of trouble with drink ordering and over charging on our drinks package caused a few trips to guest services to fix it all up.

I big thank you to those crew personnel that deal with so many passengers on these cruises, as they all work so hard. Maybe the cruise leaders can find better solutions to resolve the highlighted issues to help make MSC a better cruise company

Our experience aboard the MSC Bellissima from April 2 to April 11, 2026, traveling as a family with a toddler and during a 16-week pregnancy, was unfortunately marked by significant operational and communication failures that future travelers should be aware of. From the moment we arrived at the terminal at 11:00 AM, the embarkation process was extremely disorganized, with absolutely no assistance provided for luggage despite traveling with six suitcases, a stroller, and a small child; we were forced to carry everything over a considerable distance without guidance or support, and the entire process took nearly five hours, with boarding completed close to 3:50 PM. A particularly concerning issue occurred during check-in when the system flagged my pregnancy—information I had not actively disclosed at that moment—yet at no point prior to the cruise was I informed through the app, email, or any communication channel that a medical clearance letter would be required to board; as a result, I was nearly denied boarding and had to urgently contact my doctor late at night due to the time difference to obtain documentation, creating an extremely stressful and avoidable situation, especially considering my condition, and with very limited empathy shown by staff, aside from one employee who informally assisted us. Regarding dining, while the food itself was acceptable and we were always able to find options, including for our child, the menu was repetitive, and more concerning was a persistent unpleasant humidity-like odor in the Lighthouse Restaurant across multiple days and meal times, suggesting issues with ventilation or cleanliness that negatively impacted the dining experience; service in bars was notably attentive and efficient, while buffet service tended to be slower due to overcrowding, although I would like to highlight that Eduardo, one of the waiters, provided exemplary service and stood out for his attentiveness and professionalism. Entertainment was one of the more positive aspects of the cruise, with consistent live music, a variety of evening shows, and ongoing activities that helped maintain a lively atmosphere onboard. However, port logistics were another major weakness, particularly in Kagoshima, where we waited nearly two hours in a disorganized taxi line with no clear system, no staff control, and no priority given to families, even as other passengers were allowed to cut ahead. In Jeju Island, accessibility issues became evident when disembarking with a stroller, as there was no clear ramp access or assistance provided, forcing us to carry the stroller with our child inside on stairs, which is unacceptable for a cruise catering to families. Finally, the disembarkation process was completely out of control: although the ship arrived in Tokyo at 10:15 AM, we did not exit the port until approximately 2:20 PM, with our assigned disembarkation time at 12:24 PM and luggage groups 43–45 still not being called while earlier groups were significantly delayed, demonstrating a total breakdown in scheduling, communication, and crowd management; the process was slow, confusing, and far below the standards we have experienced on multiple cruises departing from cities such as Miami and Seattle. On a positive note, the balcony cabin itself was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained, and our cabin attendant, Sabina, provided excellent, attentive, and detail-oriented service throughout the trip. Overall, while the ship has potential and certain aspects such as entertainment and bar service were enjoyable, the repeated issues with organization, lack of communication, poor port logistics, and inadequate handling of special situations such as pregnancy and traveling with a child significantly impacted our experience; this review is intended to ensure that other travelers are fully aware of what to expect and can prepare accordingly if they still choose to sail on this vessel.