There were try hat-tricks for Welsh international duo Rhys Patchell and Josh Turnbull, while acting captain Josh Navidi led by example by crossing over twice.
That feat was matched by winger Tom James - the Blues' all-time record try scorer, who returned to BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park this summer after two years away - while Aled Summerhill also grabbed a pair of scores.
Zebre did grab a second-half try through Ulrich Beyers but they never looked like keeping Danny Wilson's side off the top of the GUINNESS PRO12 pile.
Ulster were the only other side to kick off the campaign with maximum points after they beat the Ospreys 28-6 at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday.
Luke Marshall's last-gasp try sealed Ulster's bonus points after Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey and Wiebahn Herbst had each crossed over, while the visitors had just two Sam Davies penalties to show for their efforts.
The Scarlets put an end to Glasgow Warriors' 20-match winning run on the Scotstoun soil with a disciplined display in Scotland.
Aaron Shingler and Hadleigh Parkes each scored before the break and the Scarlets held on to beat the reigning GUINNESS PRO12 champions 16-10.
CJ Stander inspired Munster to a hard-fought 18-13 win at home to Benetton Treviso, the flanker picking up where he left off last season with a two-try showing.
Connacht held off a Newport Gwent Dragons fightback at the Sportsground to get their season underway with a 29-23 triumph.
And Edinburgh ground out a 16-9 victory over Leinster at Meggetland on Friday night as Damien Hoyland crossed over twice for Alan Solomons' side.
TRY OF THE WEEKEND
There were plenty of tries to choose from at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday but Aled Summerhill's first was the pick of the bunch.
After a tap-and-go from well inside his own half, Tavis Knoyle scythed through a gap in the Zebre defence before Tom James and then Dan Fish took the Blues to their visitors' 22.
But when the latter was brought down there was no hint of a ruck forming, Fish instead returning the ball to James before a sevens-style series of offloading began, culminating in Summerhill receiving the ball by the right touchline and flying over.
BREAK OF THE WEEKEND
One of the tries of the weekend came out of nothing and Bundee Aki was the reason.
The Connacht centre appeared in trouble, running sideways inside his own 22, but - all of a sudden - he picked a gap in the Newport Gwent Dragons line and skipped his way between three defenders.
After haring well into the Dragons half, Aki calmly looked over his right shoulder and fed Fionn Carr to skip under the posts.
PLAY OF THE WEEKEND
Stuart McCloskey was imperious against Ospreys on Friday night and the Ulster centre's try was fitting of his all-round performance.
McCloskey looked to have run into a brick wall near the right touchline, only to send Jonathan Spratt flying to the ground with a powerful hand-off.
The man-of-the-match rushed through the gap he had created before powering his way towards the line - despite carrying for the final ten metres with two Ospreys hanging off him.
PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND
John Barclay had plenty of motivation to go to Scotstoun and topple the Glasgow Warriors - something no team had done in the league since 2013 - and it showed.
In an impressive first-half from the Scarlets, the former Warrior was dominant at the breakdown, just days after missing out on selection for Scotland's Rugby World Cup squad.
And when they were forced to batten down the hatches late on, Barclay was once again leading by example.
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