MSC Bellissima Returns to Shanghai for a Third Summer of Homeport Sailings

MSC Bellissima arrived at Shanghai’s Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal on August 1, marking its third consecutive year homeporting in the city and officially launching MSC Cruises’ 2026 Shanghai summer season. The season also marks MSC’s 20th anniversary in the Chinese market.

The ship returns with a round of upgraded onboard offerings for the China market, including an MSC Smart Concierge service, interactive experiences built around Unitree robotics, K-pop-themed parties, and menus blending Italian culinary heritage with Chinese dining preferences. The opening voyage was a five-night round trip calling at Kitakyushu and Busan.

MSC Cruises China president Helen Huang described the season as seeing “explosive sales,” with some popular routes and cabin categories close to sold out. The 2026 deployment features four- to nine-night itineraries calling at Jeju, Busan, Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, Kagoshima and other Japanese and South Korean ports.

Bellissima is expected to keep sailing from Shanghai through early fall, with a possible repositioning in late October or November. The strong early demand suggests China’s outbound cruise market continues to recover toward pre-pandemic levels, with Shanghai cementing its role as the country’s dominant homeport.

Sources: Cruise Industry News, Travel And Tour World