Episode 2 | 7-Day Cruise from Yokohama Japan in the Cheapest Cabin on MSC Bellissima 

Important note You are watching “Solo Travel Japan” My second channel is “Solo Travel Japan / Food Tour” I have nothing to do with other channels pretending to be me. Thanks! STJ

So far I've learned that avoiding MSC cruises might be a good idea.

I miss seeing exclamation points on the screen when you take a bite of something good. This tells me all I need to know about how the food's been so far.

cant believe they gave you a piece of bread with a leaf and a couple shrimps and called it a main course 😭😭

Don't eat food you don't want! You can order as many of whatever that you want on cruises. Don't hesitate to ask for something else. I personally would not eat food that had an "off" smell. If you get sick on a cruise they make you stay in your cabin (if they find out you're sick.) Love your videos!

Good grief. I’ve watched your channel for a few years and you hardly ever complain, so I bet things were even worse than you are making them out to be. I did have to laugh at the smelly food contest. Glad you are enjoying the desserts!

Five more days to endure this--you have all my sympathy! Also, all my gratitude: You've suffered through it for us, and now we don't run the danger of ever stepping aboard an MSC ship! Thank you!

I went from "Where are the prawns" to "Those are prawns?" The buffet truly had better food.

I think you got better food on the Sunflower Ferry Line.

Funny, the risk of foodborne illness disclosure statement is mandatory in American food establishments that serve undercooked or raw ingredients in any of its menu items, like eggs and sushi. MSC is a Swiss company, so I don't know if they've got similar laws or what. Considering the quality of the food being served, it looks pretty necessary.

Nicely done. Other reviewers have critiqued MSC with an unfavourable rating and you seem to be bearing that out. You should go to the pursers office and demand clean sheets. The food, which is notoriously bad on MSC, is a real problem. The maître d’ should be informed of the bad fish!.. I have been watching you for a while and know you have a good appetite. The meagre helpings you got in the dining room were unforgivable and to make a point, you must order double of each item (not the fish) and keep doing it until you are satisfied. Thank goodness for the buffet. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to more of this voyage. Cheers, Colin.

I definitely don't blame you for eating so much desserts, you deserve it for having to put up with sub-par main dishes!

I'm still shocked that MSC won't let you drink tap water with dinner. Even NCL, with the nickel and diming, will serve free tap water. And the tap water on cruise ships is good, since it's filtered with reverse osmosis. And the food still looks awful.

Really surprised MSC didn't at least serve some simple Japanese comfort food like curry or udon to cater more towards the Japanese client if the typical western buffet isn't appealing considering this is a cruise in Japan/Taiwan. Hang in there!

In the United States (and maybe other countries?) menus are required to mention there’s a risk of foodborne illness when consuming raw or undercooked foods (sushi, rare steak, etc) so if this ship is chartered/home port is outside of Japan that’s probably why you’re seeing that note. Not that you should have any confidence in this food considering the quality we’ve seen so far…….

That is so disappointing that you kept getting questionable food. At this point, I think I would rather eat at the buffet than the main dinning hall. And man, you are lucky you are a coffee drinker... I would be screwed with having to pay for drinks. Looking forward to the up-coming videos!

Perhaps the soup was corn-fed chicken? Thank goodness for the buffet,having seen the restaurant food it would be my choice especially the desserts! I'm sure it was a bit disappointing but remember your fans still love you!

I've been waiting for part 2. To be honest, I would always be hungry with so little food on this menu. Sad for the price of this trip... Because of your ferry videos I'm on summer vacation in Japan and I'm taking as many ferries as I can in 2 weeks and I'm looking forward to lots of curry, haha ​​​​​​​​​​😻😻 Warm greetings from Germany

Tonight is my last night on the Carnival Legend, on it's way back to Baltimore, MD USA from the Panama Canal. I really think it's amusing that I watched your first two episodes while i was also on a cruise ship. Thanks as always.

WE LOVE YOU IN NYC, SOLO TJ!!!! 😭 The Japanese government should subsidize these videos because they are surely driving tourism to your golden shores at a record rate. Thank you and please never change, you beautiful wandering soul!

Oh Solo I’m so sorry to see this trip was so cruddy! But with the bad comes the good- hopefully next trip will be better and we now know what to avoid when traveling! Thank you!☺️

It makes me feel bad the Cruise is not providing you with good meal experiences. I'm always on the lookout for those two "!!" you put when really enjoying something so it must be a bit of a downer not finding anything worthy of that throughout this cruise. I really hope you get a nice meal experience throughout the entire trip, maybe at ports ;)

After watching so many nice ferry voyages and food videos of yours, this trip is actually quite "refreshing". It brought a new perspective and even more appreciation towards the ship crew.

I do like the fact that they actually had real arcade games on board, not just skilltester machines. It always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside when I see actual arcade machines around the place these days.

The first day looked so good, and then, the food at the dining hall just looked wrong, from what I've been told... if fish smells like fish, it's old and shouldn't be eaten... and then your bedding not actually being changed...

I’m so sorry that the food wasn’t tasty. I’ve been on cruises from the US and the food was always delicious. Even the foreign food. The entertainment could go either way, but we always had a good time. I would be bored to death if there weren’t places to see off the ship. It’s hard to stick to a budget when everything extra costs so much. I hope you survived this cruise. Love and best wishes from NC,USA

thank you for the upload! avoiding the crowds seems to make the trip more enjoyable. The buffet also seemed better than the main dining hall experience. Hopefully they get those sheets changed.

I heard MCS's food was so-so. But Solo's food looked disgusting! I usually cruise Carnival that gets dinged for being cheap, but the food's almost always delicious! In 5 cruises, I've gotten, maybe 3 things that I hated. & had ZERO STAINED SHEETS INCIDENTS!

My father grew up on the coast of New England. He always says that fish should not smell.

I agree with you; the food does not look appetizing, it seems to be made to look fancy but not for me appetizing. I never much liked the huge ships and now I am even more convinced. Some of the ferry trips you took look like a much better bargain to me. Thanks for showing us. Now what was that song ?????

Oh, Solo. I'm so sad you didn't get tons of delicious food on this trip. But that just means there are more amazing places to visit coming soon.

So glad your sense of humor remains intact. Even while experiencing Small Endurance contests The desserts look delightful. if anything in your cabin is unsatisfactory, you can ask your cabin attendant to take care of it, Certainly they should provide a better set of sheets.

The issues with the food seem that they have a pastry chef who loves their job and a head chef that doesn't. I definitely wish you were having much better food. My two cruises were usually really good food wise.

I like your sense of humor in your descriptions. "Smell endurance"! Dinner and your pasta snack looked way better than that monkfish. I figured the shrimp were small and hiding. The moment outside in the dark really conveyed a mood. Well done.

Thank you for always being honest with your reviews. Love your videos!

STJ, I am really feeling your pain with this lacklustre food!! Totally disappointing by the looks of it! The only Cruise I have ever taken was between Florida and The Bahamas; it was a very short duration, but it even served better-looking food in both the Buffet and Main Restaurants. So I hope people who are watching this don't consider this Cruise when travelling in the area.

yay more solo travel japan!.. thanks

30 Dollars for 30 minutes of Bowling. How ridiculous! For that price you rent a lane here in the Netherlands for an hour! (about 30/35 euros)

The deserts in the buffet looked nice! I have to say I would have been very disappointed in the actual restaurant food if it was me.

I've seen you get better food on the ferries! Genuinely felt bad for you while watching this, STJ-san.

Looks like you've be having a lot of two-stage meals this trip! Thanks for the great video.

Wow! Any cruise I’ve taken drinks are free except for alcoholic ones of course and the sheets?! I would’ve made sure they were changed the 1st night I was there!

You are very talented at making these videos and I think we all appreciate the content very much! Keep it up please.

Hello Solo Travel Japan! I have been watching your videos for a while now and just wanted you to know how much I enjoy them. I learn something almost every video, I enjoy your company on these journeys and I appreciate your sense of humor! Keep up the great work….here’s to more exploring with Solo Travel Japan!!

I guess 20,000 steps. Love your videos!

The only things that looked appetizing on this ship were the desserts

The Smell Endurance contest. 😂 I think I would have gone hungry. Thank you for another enjoyable video!

Those weren't prawns. Those were cocktail shrimp. Prawns are huge. I'd be so mad at being mislead, I definitely would have complained.

My heart broke for you as soon as I saw you were going on MSC. It’s not best known for its food.

Foodwise, the first cruise you went on was much more impressive. I hope you still get to enjoy other fun activities on this trip.

That corn soup was nothing but failure served in the sadness bowl

It is truly impressive, absolutely impressive my friend. That is exactly what I mean when I say enjoy life to the maximum. One day, I aspire to be just like you, my friend. Lots of love, stay safe, and have a great time.❤

All cruise lines do warn of illness because some people order things medium or rare. They just want you to know that eating that is not their fault, if it happens to make you sick. That being said, Iv'e never gotten ill from a medium rare steak or hamburger. BTW, a medium rare hamburger (for some of us) is amazing, as long as it's ground fresh. My cruise line does this and while it takes a bit longer (they have to ground it fresh for you) it is worlds away from the dry burgers some places offer. Thank you for the video.

Solo San,You deserve more subscribers for the quality of the vlogs you're posting. Keep Going!

I sailed on MSC Seascape and the fruit juices were free at the buffet all the time

Looks like it wasn’t crowded but not sure the service was the greatest. Love your videos!

I've been on a number of Celebrity and Princess cruises and can see that the cuisine on your MSC ship doesn't seem to measure up to what's expected on a cruise ship. Far from it! Also I'm surprised that the corridors on your ship have plain white walls as if it was a prison.....The overall decor looks no different than a boring office building.....I must say it surprises me.....But thanks for sharing, much appreciated as always!!!

well, now i know that if i ever get the chance to take a ship around Japan, i will be taking a ferry !

What a beautiful day

I certainly wouldn't be eating food that smelled off! So far it is looking like the buffet is serving better food than the main restaurant.

First meal not so great. But the desserts look good. Was the cruise busy? Lots of scenes with few people.

When I saw the corn soup you had, I thought I might go and make some. Then I remembered my blender is broken. Sadness.

You are brave. I cannot not eat bad smelling food. Paying for water would also bother me. Your room is nice.

I only tip when it is a SUNFLOWER SHIP. That is continued from the last video, Tom YQR Regina Canada.

A dollar a minute for bowling. Wow

I really feel for you MSC is the worst and horrid cruise line I am surprised they are still around, I want to join others by thanking you for enduring this just to show us different videos on your channel, I think you are doing wonderful job, I can see you like cruising or travel on water therefore; I want to suggest a very nice cruise line if you get the chance to try it out, it is Holland America Line, they have nice cruise ships my favorite is Eurodam, I went on Eastern Caribbean cruise and it was phenomenal, beautiful mid size ship not overcrowded at full capacity, wonderful food but most of all wonderful staff I am now planning my next cruise with them on one of their other ships. Thank you for the great videos on your both channels, I truly enjoy it I have learned so much from this about beautiful Japanese culture, cuisine and of course beautiful Japanese people and country.

Your lunch looked terrible. I'm surprised you ate it. Snacktime at least they didn't drown the pasta in sauce. Hamburger that smells bad, I wouldn't eat it. I guess the cheapest cabin doesn't change sheets everyday.

Don’t think I can watch the next video without crying 🫣 this is so sad my friend 😢.

STJ , there you are ! Good to see you again. I'm sorry that you have had " unhappy" food experiences. I have only been on a Carnival cruise & the food was very good, but I think that you miss the Japanese ferry that you are used to. I see however you have found my favorite place on a cruise ship, the back of the boat!( It's so peaceful back there) Also the peach melba looked the yummiest to me!🍑 Have a good time! From with love from Georgia

That advisory warning about "illness from undercooked food" is pretty standard on printed menus in the USA. I think most often they print that to legally cover for their business for allowing certain steaks/pork/shellfish to be served to customer's wishes. So no one who eats rare steak can sue them for getting sick, etc.

I am so surprised that the food was so bad on your cruise. We had amazing food when in Japan.

The ship looks lovely and really big! It’s sad that the food isn’t better. 😢 stick to the desserts! Safe travels and love all your videos. I can’t wait to see the next episode! ❤

wow, sounds like this is not the company to cruise with! hope things improve

This ship is spooky to me. Food seems 2/5 stars. Also your cabin 😢 why not an outside one... I could never ever sleep if I had an inside one... I would be too scared. But I would really be too scared for an outside one, too. The entire concept of these cities on a boat are insane to me... but I guess it is a good template for a large spaceship when we need to evacuate earth to move to one of Jupiter's moons... 😅

10:39 I’ve found if I want something in a hotel (I know it’s a cruise) I’ve left a note for the staff, usually a thanks and a smiley face, maybe leave them a chocolate bar…they’ll give you all the extra towels and coffees a woman could want 😂 But…if I found stained sheets 🤨 I’d be at the reception desk! Usually if you say I need an extra bin bag, towels etc I’ll empty it myself staff usually come do it. I might be a bendy cripple but even I can change a bin bad in about an 18cm bin in the room. Ridiculous, I know 🙄

❤ cant wait to watch now your my fav

Wtfuss with the food?!! "Eat at your own risk" (everything is rotten) 😂😂😂

Was disappointed you didn't film your go on the water slide. ;)

It seems not very crowded on this ship. I love it 👏🤩

I guessed 30,000, so I wasn't too far off! It's a bummer the food hasn't been all that great for you. I hope you find something tasty other than the desserts! 😉

Ugh- the food is certainly dubious. I went on a Caribbean cruise, and you could eat around the clock, and beverages, other than alcohol, were free. I hope the food gets better.

wow very interesting content friend

Was that just four prawns - four tiny prawns? I know it's included in the fare but..................😁

Well, on 24,000 steps you can certainly have that extra dessert. Gosh, that cabin looks small, and a bit claustrophobic. I certainly could not cope with it. Looking forward to Okinawa.

Beautiful ❤

I’ve heard people complain about MSC but jeeeez they should be paying people to put up with that! The stained sheets would be something you’d mention to a cabin steward on any other cruise line. Meanwhile that old formerly Crystal ship you went on before was older but way nicer!

In hotels and cruise ships you don’t get your linens changed until the 3rd day. It’s a standard practice. I’m sure the sheets were cleaned though stained but someone folds those linens and in hospitality when something is stained that badly they are to be spot cleaned intensely until the stain comes out. If not it’s donated. The housekeeping staff definitely saw those stains they just wanted to get the job done and go without having to go allllllllll the way back to linen storage LOL I work in hospitality

It was all still very pretty, but the food seems to have been very hit or miss, but mostly miss! At least there was lots to look at, and you seem to have had fun exploring.

The poor quality of the food amazes me. I'm surprised and glad you didn't get sick. This may be the worst cruise you've ever been on. Thank you for your endurance.

Amazing ship

For anyone wondering, there's no Deck 17 because 17 is an unlucky number in Italy.

Ferry travel has spoiled us. Not a "cruise" person, I guess.

Hey STJ! Did you notice that ORB sailing into your cabin at the 10:00 mark...as you entered? Watch the upper right hand corner of the screen (at 10:00) as the word "Thanks" appears on screen. That is so creepy 😳No wonder you had a lousy cruise. You had a tag-along spirit accompanying you the whole time...giving you grief. Man, that's SPOOKY And...such a dark, claustrophobic cabin? No way I'd stay in there.

I'm surprised you are not participating of any activities in the Cruise. Cruises are always crowded and usually people have fun there.

The food situation here is very poor. And the gods help them if I found stains on my sheets.

Ninja shrimps 😅😅😅😅

I've worked in shipping, as you will know from previous comments on other videos, and I have to say that in 30 years of travelling and working on them, this is the worst food I have ever seen served to passengers I have seen better food served on deep sea fishing trawlers - I suggest a nice long cruise on a Sunflower vessel to make up for it

Prawns Mary Celeste!

Hi! I really hope that you are finding some enjoyment on this trip. From the first day I felt that this was not going to be of your liking. In the first place, too big a ship, too many people, too little food in the main restaurant. I don't like big crowds, and all the inconveniences they bring when it's time to use the different services of the ship. I don't like either those gourmet restaurants with big dishes and a little food in the middle of them. The food today was depressing. I could feel the smell of the fish through the screen of my Android. The dish with prawns was totally strange. Usually, they are placed on top of the rest of the food, not hidden under it. A mystery. The buffet service seems a little better, even though I also found strange that the burger had a strong smell. Ugh! And the fact that the sheets hadn't been changed is also kind of, nasty? I already got sick of this trip in two days! But I will follow your experience till the end, to give you my support. I believe that your other followers will do the same, to share your good and bad moments. Please, you are a food lover. If you feel that the smell or the taste of something is bad, do not eat it! Tell the waiter about it and ask for a note of complaint. The same applies to the sheets and the hygiene of your room. You are not traveling there for free. You deserve good service.

That hamburger patty really looked suspicious. Hope your stomach is holding up ok >< Thanks for sharing your travels, the good and the bad :)