MSC Cruises is celebrating its 15-year anniversary of operating in Japan by opening sales for its first-ever winter season in the country.

MSC Cruises recently hosted a group of travel advisors onboard MSC Bellissima on a week-long sailing from Dubai to Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Doha, before returning to Dubai.

MSC Cruises will redeploy MSC Bellissima to a new homeport of Barcelona this summer due to “overwhelming demand” for cruise holidays in the Mediterranean. From Barcelona, MSC Bellissima will sail to Cannes (France), Genoa, La Spezia and Civitavecchia (Italy), plus Palma de Mallorca (Spain).

MSC Cruises has extended the deployment of MSC Bellissima in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea for the Northern Hemisphere winter 2021/2022 season. The decision follows a highly successful inaugural season in the region this summer.

MSC Cruises says it is on track to resume operation in Japan from April 2021 having received a health and safety certification from the country’s official maritime classification society.

MSC Cruises has unveiled a new brand campaign that is focused on the sea and the guest experience aboard its ships. Filmed on board MSC Bellissima while in the Mediterranean, “The Sea at its Most” campaign will be rolled out in 30 countries around the globe and celebrates the sea’s myriad of elements, existing both as a means of transport – taking guests to new places, new shores and new lands – and also a means of discovery – heightening and enriching the travel experience.

MSC Cruises is introducing a cabin adorned in 700,000 Swarovski crystals aboard MSC Bellissima, the cruise company’s newest flagship vessel. Partnering again with Swarovski, guests will be dazzled by the one-of-a-kind Crystal Cabin that will be available from mid-November 2019.

MSC Cruises is expanding its partnership with two Michelin-starred Spanish chef Ramón Freixa with the opening of a further two HOLA! Tapas Bar restaurants on board MSC Meraviglia from May and MSC Grandiosa when the new ship launches later this year.

MSC Cruises has officially welcomed the latest addition to the company’s modern fleet – MSC Bellissima. The new flagship was named in a glamorous and traditional maritime naming ceremony in the port of Southampton.