October 16, 2026 — MSC Cruises (MSC Group) has finished MSC Bellissima’s 2026 China season in Shanghai and is moving the 4,500-passenger ship to winter homeports in Japan and Taiwan.
Season just ended
Bellissima sailed a spring program from Shanghai’s Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, spent the middle of the year in Southeast Asia, then returned in August for four- to seven-night trips to Japan and South Korea, calling at Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Busan and Jeju. The season, which marked 20 years of MSC in China, was reported to be close to sold out.
Winter deployment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Homeports | Tokyo, Keelung (Taiwan) and Naha (Okinawa) |
| Cruise length | Four to six nights |
| Sample ports | Miyakojima, Ishigaki, Seogwipo (Jeju) |
| Runs | Through early 2027; exact start date TBA |
| Return to Shanghai | Mid-January 2027 |
Cruise Industry News also notes that Costa Serena leaves the region later in October 2026, and that in 2027 only two international-brand ships will sail year-round in Asia: MSC Bellissima and Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas.
What it means for airline travelers
- Three starting points: Keelung is the port for Taipei, Naha is Okinawa’s capital, and Tokyo is served by two major airports. Confirm which Tokyo terminal your sailing uses before booking flights.
- Short cruises, long flights: with four- to six-night trips, a delayed arrival costs a big share of the holiday. Arrive the day before, especially if you are flying standby across the Pacific.
- No change to interline or travel-industry cruise rates was mentioned.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News, “MSC Bellissima Wraps Up Season in Shanghai” — https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/msc-bellissima-wraps-up-season-in-shanghai/
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