Phil Nuttall, managing director of The Cruise Village told TTG: “It’s chic, it’s very bright – I love the fact there are little places to stop off and have a bite to eat.

“MSC ships are evolving so it’s hard to compare them,” he added. “You can see where they’re going – each ship evolves and the technology improves, and they get bigger! It’s part of their strategy – they want to stay ahead of the game.”

Asked who he believed Bellissima would appeal to, Nuttall replied: “When you take the the yacht club into account you can see the ship caters for everybody, so if you want a bit of luxury you can go there. It’s also going to be great for families – I think it’s a ship that caters for most people. It’s a definitely a thumbs up from me.”

Elsewhere, Martin Tanner, head of product for Jetline Cruise, said he was “very impressed”.

“It’s beautifully done – wonderful decorations and fittings. It’s a very modern ship.”

He said he had travelled on a number of MSC vessels, but felt there was “a lot more to do onboard” Bellissima, and that it would appeal to “novice cruisers”.

Meanwhile Simon Wright, Treehouse Travel, noted the UK references throughout the ship, including an English pub and London theatre. “They’ve clearly designed it for the UK market, there are lots of little points within the ship that are very UK-centric.”

Watch agents give their full verdict in the video above, and let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.