[MSC Bellissima Cruise with Kids Part 1] A Single Mother's 7-Day, 6-Night Trip with Her 4-Year-Old Daughter! Preparation Edition

For several years, I had been intrigued by the glamorous cruise posts appearing on my Instagram feed. Every time I saw them, I vaguely decided in my heart, 'When my daughter turns four, we are definitely going together.' (The reason for age four is that senior moms told me that by around age four, the 'terrible twos' settle down and they start becoming more mature, haha.)
And then, during Golden Week 2026, the time finally came. The stage for our trip was the massive Italian cruise ship, 'MSC Bellissima.' We boarded the ship departing on May 4, 2026.
I would like to summarize why I chose a 'cruise with kids' and information you should know before booking. I hope this will be helpful to those who are considering it or have already booked.

1. Why choose a 'cruise' for a trip with kids in the first place?

A trip for two with a 4-year-old child. If you travel abroad by plane, a grueling process awaits you at every move: 'packing, heavy bags, and going through immigration while holding your child's hand.' However, a cruise is free from that stress.

• To the destination while sleeping: You only unpack once at the beginning. Since you arrive in a new city when you wake up in the morning, there is zero travel fatigue.

• The peace of mind of a 'moving hotel': If the child gets tired, you can return to the room immediately for a nap. This sense of security was an invaluable benefit for a solo-parent trip.

• Meals are available anytime: There is an all-inclusive buffet open for 20 hours, so you can immediately respond to 'I'm hungry.'

2. Why 'MSC Bellissima'? The reason for choosing it as a 'trial' for our first cruise

Honestly, at first, I was also anxious about whether a cruise would really suit us as a parent and child. What I was particularly worried about was seasickness.

I actually wanted to board a ship touring Europe, but I considered the best choice for us right now, also serving as a 'trial' before attempting a full-scale long-term route.

• MSC Bellissima (⭐︎The ship we chose this time)

  • Departure/Arrival port: Departing from and arriving in Japan, with domestic travel as the main focus.

  • Experience overseas port calls: It calls not only at domestic ports but also at Jeju Island, South Korea. The appeal is being able to use your passport and get a taste of the atmosphere abroad.

  • Measures against swaying: Since it is a super-large cruise ship over 170,000 tons, it is designed to feel less swaying compared to smaller ships. It was perfect for trial groups like us who were worried about seasickness.

  • Facilities: There is a LEGO-partnered kids' club, and children can be looked after for free from age one.

• Royal Caribbean

  • Mainly departs from overseas. I decided that the burden of air travel would be too much, even before considering seasickness.

  • While it was attractive with its wealth of activities, I decided it wasn't quite right for a first-time experience.

• Disney Cruise

  • Character interactions are appealing, but the budget is high. Considering the 'what if it doesn't work out (if we get seasick)' scenario, the hurdle was too high for a trial run.

[Conclusion] 'Reducing the burden of travel, covering concerns like seasickness, while also experiencing an overseas trip to South Korea.' Bellissima was the perfect choice for a first cruise.

3. How to choose dates: Balancing work and vacation

I initially considered reasonable weekday dates, but in the end, I chose a period where I could 'definitely shut out work communications'.

Even if the travel costs were a bit higher, it was an investment in 'irreplaceable time where I could focus 100% on my daughter.' Considering the stress of forcing time off on weekdays only to feel restless about work notifications while on the ship, this was ultimately the most satisfying choice. I didn't sign up for the ship's Wi-Fi either, so I was able to fully digital detox!

4. Drink packages depend on the person! Even if you get one, 'Easy' is enough

Choosing an MSC all-you-can-drink plan is a point that affects your satisfaction level.
It's cheaper to add it when booking, so for those wondering whether to get a drink package, here is some reference.

The price settings on board for individual purchases are something like this (I've forgotten a bit, so these are just estimates):

• Beer: About $7–$9 (about $8–$10 including service charge)

• Water (bottled): About $4 (about $4.60 including service charge)

Honestly, I was surprised that water was over $4 (that's quite a lot at the current exchange rate!). With the Easy package ($59/day), it's calculated that you'll break even with 6 to 7 beers a day.

In my opinion...
Since there were three full days at sea, my impression is that you can drink quite a bit. (Maybe I'm just a drinker, haha)
Also, there are deck chairs everywhere by the pool, and just being there makes you want to drink, haha.
Plus, the package includes bottled water and tea, which was really great!
There were many people who brought their own water bottles to fill up with free water at the buffet, but the lines were quite long. Since you already have to wait in line at the buffet, having to wait in line for water too seemed like a lot of work, so I thought it was killing two birds with one stone if you drink alcohol.

• Contents of the Easy package: Sparkling wine, draft beer, and basic cocktails are covered. I basically only drink wine and beer, so it was enough for me🍷

• Linked rule to be aware of: If an adult signs up, children in the same room are also automatically required to join the 'Kids Plan'.

• Advance booking is the golden rule: Since a 15% service charge is added on board, purchasing in advance before boarding is the smartest way to go. (If you book through a travel agency, they also sell plans that include packages.)

5. Pricing blind spots for mother-daughter trips you should know before booking

You probably often see ads for MSC Bellissima saying kids sail free, but there is a blind spot here: it means kids are free when there are two adults. (Most places are like that, and it's expected, I know. But it's still a bit disappointing, haha. This is the only time I wish I had a husband with me, lol.)

• Pricing for 2 people per room: In cruises, "kids sail free" generally applies to the third person onwards when sharing a room with two adults. For a mother and daughter (2 people per room), you will be charged for one adult (or a discounted rate) even for the child. This is a point that is easy to overlook, so I recommend checking it in advance.

[Extra Edition] It became dramatically easier! Passport "online application"

Since there is a port call in Jeju Island, preparing a passport is essential. I prepared mine (renewal) and my daughter's (new), and now you can apply online via the Myna Portal.

• You only need to go to the counter once to "pick it up": If you apply online in advance, all that's left is to go and pick it up. I was surprised and thought, "Times have really changed."
• Note: The required passport validity period varies depending on the country you are entering, so it is safer to check it at the same time you make your booking.

※ I will disclose the "total cost" of this trip in detail in a separate article at the end of this series!

Next preview: ② [Packing Edition]

"Is swimming in May like a form of ascetic training!?" A list of "must-haves" for traveling with a 4-year-old, taught by someone who has been there. I will also write about how to deal with the temperature difference between inside the ship and outside, as well as communication environments.