Durban Harbour lit up with colour, music, and glamour as MSC Cruises, the leading cruise brand in South Africa, celebrated the arrival of MSC Musica, the largest and most luxurious cruise ship to do a seasonal tour in South African waters last week.
I was one of almost 1500 lucky people were treated to a lavish gala dinner on board, followed by an awe-inspiring show in the ship’s 1200-seater theatre, and entertainment by SA acts, Jeremy Loops and Mi Casa.
“MSC Cruises is thrilled to celebrate the arrival of this elegant lady to our shores to mark the start of her six-month seasonal tour in the region,” says Ross Volk, Managing Director for MSC Cruises South Africa. “This is further proof of our dedication to the South African cruising market, which continues to grow in popularity, thanks to the luxurious yet affordable holiday that cruising offers the whole family. MSC Musica promises an unparalleled cruise experience – from delicious food to exciting on-board activities to island excursions to top-class entertainment. Until April 2019, the ship will be setting sail from Durban and Cape Town to various locations around southern Africa, including Mauritius, the Reunion Islands, and Mozambique’s Pomene Bay and Portuguese Island. ”
MSC Musica has a passenger capacity of 3223, which is around 550 more than MSC Sinfonia, the ship that South Africans fell in love with on her many tours in the region over the past few years. Over 16 decks, this luxurious ship offers something for everyone. Dining options include an á la carte Italian seafood and steakhouse restaurant, an authentic Japanese sushi bar, two formal dining rooms, and an all-day world cuisine buffet and pizzeria. On the activity side, MSC Musica offers mini golf, tennis, basketball, virtual games, bowling lanes, children’s activity clubs, a gym, a power walking track, and a Balinese spa. MSC Musica also has exciting nightlife, boasting a casino, bars, dance floors, a cigar lounge and a wine tasting bar.
Mr Volk continues, “As well as welcoming MSC Musica to our shores, we will also be building a R200-million cruise terminal at the Port of Durban as part of the KwaZulu Cruise Terminal (KCT) consortium. MSC Cruises will also be opening a hospitality school in the Durban Harbour in the near future, which will train young South Africans who are keen to be part of the hospitality industry. We have also invested heavily in the broader Southern Africa region, by growing tourism and small businesses in Mozambique’s Pomene Bay and Portuguese Island. In addition, in November next year we are looking forward to welcoming MSC Orchestra to Durban for the very first time for the 2019/2020 cruise season.”
Angelo Capurro, MSC Cruises’ Commercial Executive Director for Emerging Markets and South Africa, comments on how MSC Cruises’ growth in South Africa reflects its global expansion, “In the past 18 months, MSC Cruises has christened three ultra-modern ships– MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview – as part of the commitment we made to construct 17 ultra-modern ships by 2027, which will bring our fleet total to 29 and see our passenger capacity more than triple. In our quest to offer our guests the ultimate cruising experience, MSC Cruises’ total investment in constructing these ships will be around R220 billion.”
For more information on MSC Musica’s 2018/2019 season, visitwww.msccruises.co.za.
