An adventure at sea is easy with a cruise from Tokyo aboard the MSC Bellissima with stops in Kagoshima, Japan, and Jeju Island, South Korea.

My wife and I recently booked a 5-night, 6-day trip on the cruise ship after seeing an ad in Stripes Japan and Okinawa. The ship departs from Tokyo International Cruise Terminal in Tokyo Bay (about 35 minutes by train from Hardy Barracks).

At 15 decks high and 171,598 gross tons, the MSC Bellissima was visible pier side all the way from the Yurikamome Station Gate.

Check-in at MSC Bellisima

Considering the MSC Bellisima carries 5,000 passengers per voyage, checking in was well orchestrated. We were assigned a group number to board at 3 p.m., and after going through customs and showing our passports and CAC cards, were escorted aboard the ship then our room. We were issued a card that doubled as ID, room key, and charge card that we used on board for souvenirs purchases, specialty restaurants, casino credit and shopping.

With so many people onboard, we expected the usual lines at the buffet restaurant, pool, and elevators but were never overwhelmed. At times, some areas got busy, but it was never a madhouse like other cruises we’ve taken. We could always find a quiet spot somewhere on the ship like the couches at the stern pool or one of the lounges.

Good eats

Bellissima has 12 different restaurants, including a teppanyaki and sushi bar, an American steakhouse and tapas bar. My favorite was Hola!, which offered a variety of tequilas poured generously. Hola!’s menu had small bites of everything, from carne asada tacos to quesadillas and chips and guacamole, so we always went with the reasonable all-you-can-eat menu option.

Many of the restaurants had seating over Bellissima’s two-story indoor promenade which made it seem like we were dining in an Italian village. The ceiling of the promenade also has a dynamic 480-square-foot meter LED screen that constantly changes from the colors of the Italian flag to the night sky with shooting stars and many other themes.

Marketplace on the 15^th Deck was the main buffet restaurant, offering four distinct mealtimes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Midrats (late-night meals). The buffet theoretically closed about 30 minutes between meal periods, but they never actually stopped serving the previous meal menu until the next opened. Breakfast included great scrambled eggs, omelets, bacon and sausage, breads, pancakes, and Japanese breakfast items. One of my all-time favorite things was the mozzarella cheese factory viewable through windows in Marketplace. The all-you-can-eat mozzarella balls when combined with tomatoes and olive oil from the salad bar, guaranteed I gained a few extra pounds on the trip.

Exercising the sea legs

If you want to work off the extra calories from all the delicious food, the ship has a great gym overlooking the mid deck open pool with panoramic windows. There’s even a walking course on the perimeter of the top deck for those willing to go out in the sometimes extraordinarily strong wind.

For ultimate relaxation, check out the spa. My wife and I splurged on a 90-minute couple’s massage.

Of course, the ship offers various pools to soak or get a few laps in. There are four pools and seven whirlpools on the top deck, and one is covered by a retractable roof so it can be used anytime. The pools all have bars, and the main open pool has an outdoor movie screen and, on the stage, just below it several times a day, the staff lead extremely popular fitness classes.

Entertainment on board

Guests can enjoy live music performances daily at the 20 different bars and lounges. Check out the nightlife options which are primarily located near the atrium of the ship where the stunning Swarovski crystal staircase is.

For sports leisure fans and kids on board, the ship also has a large sports complex with a basketball court that can be used for about anything from badminton to football. The facility also has F1 simulation, 3D virtual reality courses and a full-sized bowling lane as well as various children’s play areas.

Sailing the high seas in comfort

Experience has shown me that cruising with a balcony is a game changer, so I booked a balcony cabin on the 10^th deck at the stern directly above the fantail. The location was not close to the elevators, but it was great being away from people, and the semi-enclosed balcony walls also gave some privacy while we enjoyed the sunsets and sunrises together.

Our room had two comfortable single beds that could be combined to make a queen and had a large sofa and a stand-up, glass-walled shower with all the usual amenities. The cabin’s décor was the most modern I have ever seen on a cruise ship. Instead of the usual doorknob hangers for “Do Not Disturb/Make Up Room,” our cabin had switches for each that discretely illuminated a different colored LED above the door. The cabin has a safe and storage space was typical but adequate and since we pack light and are usually out, it was no issue.

Cruising from Tokyo to South Korea

The ship was scheduled to stop in Jeju Island, South Korea and Kagoshima, Japan.

Unlike other lines, Bellissima has mainly Japanese seniors and families with some Americans, but also an extremely interesting mix of expats and visitors. You will not find a nightly poolside happy hour DJ party except at the stern pool, but the people spontaneously lined up in front of the promenade bar to dance and the bars were always lively.

As a European brand, onboard shopping was completely different with many surprisingly high-end boutiques as well as the usual tanzanite and other vendors. The staff members were all completely fluent in English and extremely helpful, accepted U.S. dollars, and due to the extremely easy access and great amenities, we plan to cruise with MSC Bellissima again soon.

For more information and US military specials, see their ads in Stripes Japan and Stripes Okinawa.

On mainland Japan, contact Nightflight Travel Yokota: 080-3364-4891/DSN5-6999/IP phone 81-50-3550-6999 or reservations@nightflight.co.jp To book from Okinawa, contact IACE Travel Kadena office at DSN 966-7437 or 036-868-2266 or okiaf@iace.co.jp or IACE Travel Camp Foster at DSN 646-2941 or 098-971-2941 or okimarine@iace.co.jp

MSC’s homepage is www.msccruises.jp/

Naval Air Facility Atsugi

Yokosuka Naval Base

Yokota Air Base

Camp Zama