Star Studded Line Up Revealed for the Naming Ceremony of MSC Bellissima in Southampton
MSC Cruises are hosting probably the most glamorous and star studded event ever held in Southampton. UK & Ireland Managing Director Antonio Paradiso is thrilled to be showcasing their new flagship MSC Bellissima to the UK.
Day One
The three day event starts with VIPs embarking the largest ship ever to be launched in Southampton.
They will be the first people to try out some of the most innovative technology at sea. Each stateroom on this next-generation ship, will feature the world’s first virtual personal cruise assistant ZOE.
Other features include;
- A 96 metre promenade with the longest LED sky screen at sea
- A new specialty restaurant concept HOLA! Tapas from two-time Michelin-starred Chef Ramón Freixa
- A a new French specialty restaurant, l’Atelier Bistrot
- A a Chocolaterie and Chocolate Bar from the award-winning pastry chef and chocolatier Jean-Philippe Maury
- World-class entertainment
- MSC Aurea Spa
- Family facilities in partnership with LEGO Group and Chicco
- MSC Yacht Club
- A shopping gallery featuring over 200 brands
Day Two
On 2nd March the evening begins with a Gala drinks reception for guests at 6pm.
Shortly afterwards the naming ceremony will commence pierside. Celebrity host for the evening will be none other than UK TV favourite Holly Willoughby, presenter of Strictly Come Dancing, This Morning and Celebrity Juice.
Nile Rodgers, three-time Grammy Award Winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, will perform along with his band Chic. Their hits include “Le Freak”, which is preserved in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.”
MSC Bellissima will feature two brand new Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows VARÉLIA and SYMA. Evening celebrations will include a very special pier side performance. This will be the first time that Cirque du Soleil, the world leader in live entertainment, has performed at the launch of a ship and this will provide a taster of what lies in store for MSC Cruises guests on board MSC Bellissima.
No MSC Cruises Naming Ceremony would be complete without Academy Award-winning actress, Sophia Loren. The cruise line have chosen Ms Loren as Godmother to their entire fleet. She will perform the traditional ribbon-cutting and officially name the spectacular MSC Bellissima.
Guests will then rejoin the ship to enjoy a delicious gala dinner. As the entertainment continues back on board, guest can dance the night away to live music from platinum-selling UK singer Leee John and his band, who will be performing the latest and greatest hits. You can read my full interview with Leee here.
Day Three
The festivities continue with 3,500 UK and Ireland travel agents boarding the ship. They will be able to enjoy a full day of activities and entertainment. Craig David will give an evening performance to the lucky travel agents.
Increasing the Popularity of Cruise
Antonio Paradiso, MD for MSC Cruises UK & Ireland commented, “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.”
“The naming ceremony is our opportunity to showcase MSC Cruises to the whole of the UK, and it is this sort of exposure that will allow us to raise the profile of cruise holidays. Each celebrity that is involved with the naming ceremony, or each dining or entertainment partnership that enhances our cruises provides an opportunity to present cruise to a new audience and it’s these new audiences that are so important in increasing the popularity of cruise”
MSC Bellissima will depart Southampton on March 4th to commence her 10-night inaugural cruise to Genoa. From March 17th MSC Bellissima will commence 7-night itineraries in the Mediterranean calling Genoa, Naples and Messina (Italy) Valetta (Malta), Barcelona (Spain) and Marseille (France)
