MSC CRUISES BECOMES FIRST INTERNATIONAL CRUISE LINE TO RESUME OPERATIONS FROM MAINLAND CHINA HOME PORT

• MSC Bellissima celebrates her maiden call in Shanghai and departs on first sailing, making her the first international cruise ship to resume local home port sailings
• MSC Cruises the only international cruise brand to deploy two ships in China in 2024 with MSC Bellissima and MSC Splendida
• Cruise line confirms Winter 2024-25 deployment in China

Geneva, Switzerland, 18 March 2024 – MSC Cruises hosted a special event on board MSC Bellissima in Shanghai, China to mark her maiden call, making the Company the first international cruise line to resume sailings from mainland China since the pandemic. To celebrate this milestone, MSC Cruises invited government officials, travel agents, media and partners on board to experience the line’s Asian flagship.

MSC Bellissima will home port in Shanghai, Keelung and Shenzhen throughout summer 2024. At the event the cruise line also announced Winter 2024-25 deployment in the region that will see MSC Splendida operating from Shenzhen and Xiamen from December 2024-April 2025, while MSC Bellissima will return to her home port in Shanghai from January 2025.

This makes MSC Cruises the only international cruise brand to deploy two ships, operating from four major ports within the first year of returning to the region.

Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented: “MSC Bellissima’s maiden call in Shanghai reaffirms our commitment to a market that continues to play an important strategic role for us. 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 and MSC Splendida both have shore power capability, meaning that the ships can switch off their engines when alongside in port, eliminating local emissions. This is in line with MSC Cruises’ commitment to protect the environment and create a sustainable future for cruising. 

To make the event extra special, world-renowned Chefs Enrico & Roberto Cerea, from acclaimed restaurant DA VITTORIO crafted a special menu for the ceremony as well as the ship’s first sailing. Guests were also treated to a stunning drone show and entertainment around the ship to help celebrate MSC Bellissima’s arrival to Shanghai.