MSC Cruises has strengthened its South Africa programme with the introduction of a new ship, the MSC Orchestra, in local waters in late 2019. Bookings for the full 2019/20 season are set to open mid-September 2018.
The MSC Orchestra will operate its first local sailings from November 2019. A Grand Voyage repositioning cruise will leave Genoa, Italy, for South Africa on October 18, 2019.
“Cruising has become immensely popular in South Africa,” according to Divan Viljoen, Marketing Campaign Manager for Cruiseabout, a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group. Viljoen believes the deployment of a new vessel shows MSC’s commitment to growing the South African cruise market.
“MSC’s three- to four-night sailings out of Durban and Cape Town are incredibly popular and are the perfect short break. 11-night Christmas and New Year’s sailings featured in the 2018 programme have remained popular and offer a cost-effective alternative December holiday,” he says.
The MSC Orchestra is the second Musica Class ship and features nine different bars and lounges, seven entertainment venues and three restaurants, including a Shanghai Chinese speciality restaurant, the Four Seasons gourmet Italian eatery and La Piazzetta, which claims to serve the best pizza at sea.
Passengers can spend days at sea at the ship’s sports centre, Turkish baths, saunas or Body and Mind Spa. The Orchestra also features a jogging track and five swimming pools.
Children are catered for onboard in the Jungle Adventure Playroom and there is a favourite teen’s club. “Children under the age of 18 cruise for free and only pay taxes when sharing with their parents, which makes an MSC cruise exceptional value for money,” adds Viljoen.
“For past passengers, the arrival of a new ship is a perfect opportunity to plan a cruise holiday that is close to home in 2019. For families, the value of a cruise holiday is unmatched and there is an itinerary to cater for every type of traveller,” he says.