Summer is nearly here for us southern hemisphere peeps, and there’s no clearer sign than last Saturday when the MSC Sinfonia cruise ship finally departed from Italy heading for Cape Town. She’ll stop at Valencia (Spain), Casablanca (Morocco), Agadir (Morocco), Dakar (Senegal) and Walvis Bay (Namibia), before arriving in the Mother City on 9 November 2010.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company used to cruise along the east coast of Africa (which provided an epic 3 continent adventure seeing Asia, Africa & Europe), but this ended when the MSC Melody, making its way from Durban to Genoa (Italy), came under fire from Somali pirates in April 2009. The pirates were warded off by the MSC’s Israeli security staff and by passengers reportedly throwing deck chairs at the pirates who had opened fire from their boats with automatic weapons.
Most of the MSC Sinfonia’s cruises in South Africa are from Durban Harbour. They cater for a diverse range of tastes, with a “Rainbow Cruise” from Durban to Maputo & Barra Lodge from 15 to 19 November 2010, a “Steve Hofmeyer” cruise leaving Durban for the Portuguese Island on 15 January 2011, and a Jacaranda 94.2 “Love Boat” cruise from 11 to 14 February 2011.
There are only a couple of Sinfonia cruises from Cape Town – a positioning cruise to Durban on 9 November 2010, and a positioning cruise leaving Cape Town for Italy on 3 May 2011 (this cruise is nearly fully booked already).
For those looking for luxury there are 132 suites with private balconies. The ship also has 371 outside cabins (with port holes) and 272 inside cabins. Imod readers will be happy to know that there is an internet connection available via the ship’s satellite connection. It’s expensive. When I cruised I used my 30 minute card in short bursts, coming prepared each time with exactly what I wanted to do. When docking at ports it’s often possible to use your 3G card (also expensive because you pay international prices).
If you’re looking to save on your cruise costs, South Africa Travel Online gives away a R500 cruise voucher each week on their Facebook Group (as well as a R500 hot air ballooning & R500 overland safari voucher) – just “like” the group and leave a comment to be in with a chance. Most of the cabins up to the end of December 2010 have been booked up, but there is still selected availability left on the more expensive cabins. Alternatively, there is still some availability on the MSC Sinfonia for the first few months of 2011. And just to check whether anybody actually reads this, we’ll also give away a R500 cruise voucher (click through the link to see the terms) on the Sinfonia cruise ship to one of the imod readers leaving a comment below this article.
It looks like an amazing cruise. I wish i could be there one day. Unfortunately I can not afford to pay for a cruise.
Hi Ilka
Thanks for popping by and leaving the comment. Cruises are VERY expensive – it takes a lot of people by surprise, and it amazes me on a daily basis how there’s so many people in South Africa who can afford it.
Its a life long dream of mine to be on a cuise like the Starlight cruises, but its not cheap……With a voucher, it will open up the possibility!! Hope I can win one and surprize my fiance!!!!!
And the winner of the R500 cruise voucher is Ilka Collinson. Ilka, have a look at http://www.southafrica.to/transport/cruises/cruise-voucher.php to see how to use the voucher
Congratz Ilke, we’ve chosen you as as the winner of the R500 cruise voucher. Get hold of us at cruises@southafrica.to
Well done Ilke, when are you going on a cruise?
My husband and I are going on our first cruise, Nov, 29. CAN’T WAIT!! A family member booked us on this cruise as a gift of appreciation. What a wonderful gift, for which we are truly thankful.
Have a fantastic time Cheryl!
What an awesome family you’ve got, Cheryl, to buy you a cruise as a gift! Enjoy (I’m sure you will). Be sure to spend some time just staring at the ocean.
I went on the Sinfonia this Jan 2010 and it was great There was so much to do or if you wanted you could just lie around and soak up the sun. We were on a 5 day cruise and it was not long enough so we are doing a 11 day cruise this year
It brings a whole new meaning to the word pamper
The crew on the Sinfonia will do almost anything to make your holiday great so if you are going on holiday a cruise with the MSC Sinfinia is a must Great!! Great!! Great!!
We cruised on the Sinfonia just after you, Paul, in February, and also loved it. We cruised from Durban to Maputo & the Portuguese Island (just off Inhaca)…what luxury! I especially enjoyed our jaunt on Inhaca. I would love to do one of the 11 day cruises.
I’m jealous of all this talk, think mid-year 2011 or end of year latest, I’ll have to jump onto a cruiseliner and see what it’s all about!
And Chris, you’ll know where to book your tickets :) Mid-year the choices for cruising from South Africa are rather limited unfortuanately, as the MSC Melody & MSC Sinfonia have headed up north to sunnier climates. There are some cruises with the RMS St Helena to St Helena Island, which will give you a more rustic cruise experience on a half cargo half passenger mailship (the last of its kind). We actually went on our honeymoon on the RMS, and absolutely loved it. Had some of my fondest cruise memories on that boat.
Absolutely :)
I went on a cruise on board the Sinfonia…it was a life changing exp.
The entire staff on board are super customer care orientated.
They even cater for disabled people.
The food and stay was worth every penny
I would certainly recomend a trip to you>>>the reader
Isn’t it just awesome how the Sinfonia caters for the disabled. At first sight it may seem expensive, until you figure out how much it would cost for booking a hotel, the meals, the entertainment and travelling to the places you see.
By the end of 2011, I will have been on a cruise, mark my words… and it’ll be MSC thanks to Karen!
I’m planning to cruise for the first time early December 2011 from Durban to Portugese Island for 3 nights over a weekend. Is 3 nights too short for a cruise?
Fatima, different people enjoy different length cruises. For some people a 3 night cruise is the ideal length – a weekend away as you say, and including a stop at the glorious Portuguese Island.
For me 3 nights would be too short, as it boils down to only 2 days at sea. I would argue that you need at least 10 nights at sea to really feel time and the ocean stretch out in front of you…I, personally, yearn for long stretches at sea.
Since it’s your first cruise it’s prudent to go for a short one (a small percentage of people discover that they suffer from motion sickness), and save the glorious long cruises for subsequent adventures.
My first cruise was on the Rhapsody in 2005 to Bazaruto island. It was fantastic and the service was outstanding. Just came back from my second trip on the Melody to Tulear, Madagaskar. The trip and entertainment was fantastic but unfortunately I cannot say the same about quality of the food, service and the excursion to the island. According to the itenary we were suppose to be at Tulear from 13h00 to 13h00 next day. We were only allowed to go at about 16h00 and had to be back by 19h00. We left the following morning around 8h00. Only later did we found out that we had to leave earlier so that we can reach Durban Port sooner to allow them to get ready for the 11-day cruise to Mauritius. Not suppose to be my problem is it? Definately not what I paid for and I was in Cat 9.
Besides it all, I am already planning my next trip. This time it will definately be longer but I will go for the Sinfonia. I am thinking about the 18-day trip to Italy next year. Any detail available around this trip?
Wilna, good to hear that you’re still keen on cruising. I’ve been on about 5 cruises, and things don’t always go according to plan. The cruise to/from Italy is also the one I’ve got my eye on, and the good news is that it’s open for booking already.
MSC Sinfonia SI 042 – Cape Town, Genoa – 30 Mar 2012 to 17 Apr 2012 – Prices from R21,020 per person sharing.
Do you know what the date is when it is coming from Genoa to South Africa this year. Suppose it’s sometime around October?
Wilna, I sure do know about that one, as I’m thinking of cruising on it! SI 001 – Genoa, Cape Town (one-way) 22 Oct 2011 to 8 Nov 2011 – Prices from R19,880 per person sharing.
Some people prefer the psychology of cruising from home, than cruising to home, but to me it doesn’t matter.
Did not have a problem like your person. For me everything is alright!
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Why on earth would you need internet access and facebook when you’re on a cruise? Poor article, tells me nothing I actually want to know about what the do’s and dont’s are. Anyway going with wife and kids in Feb, as not in cyclone season.
Justin, the reason we need internet access as our business is online (including a Facebook page). The article wasn’t intended as a do’s and dont’s, and it’s a good idea – I think we should write one like that. I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time on your cruise. Let us know how it went.
I think WiFi access is hugely important – Personally, I know more people who go on cruises as ways to go to meetings than to actually relax – it’s a good middle grounds really. A relative of mine recently went on a cruise up to Namibia, he enjoyed some relaxation on the cruise liner, but was locked into email and Internet as he was giving a presentation on arrival in Namibia. So, Justin, instead of getting annoyed, why not let us know what you’re looking for and I’m sure Karen, who is incredibly experienced, can guide you in the right direction – your comment was as pointless and what your comment was complaining about, basically ;)
I went on the MSC Sinfonia last year December and it was life changing. I hear MSC Opera is coming this new season and i can’t wait to go on it. It was my first time cruising last year and i can not get over the experience..