Smiling and hospitable people, magical beaches, colonial cities and hut villages, baobab and mangrove forests, unspoiled islands and some of the most stunning beaches on the African continent.
Your MSC South Africa cruise welcomes you to Mozambique, a natural portent just waiting to be discovered. Between the capital Maputo, in the South, and Pemba, in the North of the State, there are 2000 kilometres of coastline, characterised by stretches of white sand that blend into the horizon, blue lagoons and unexplored coral reefs.
During your holiday with MSC Cruises you can disembark in Pomene Bay, one of the most picturesque sites in Mozambique. The lagoon that protects this extraordinary bay, set between the blue Indian Ocean and the waters where the mangroves grow – these extraordinary plants appear to float on the surface of the water, like a forest in a fairy tale – is part of the Pomene Nature Reserve, a protected marine area that has managed to preserve its authentic and wild beauty thanks to its remote location.
A MSC Cruises excursion to this sun-kissed place offers you the opportunity to relax with long walks or horseback riding on the beach, to explore the surrounding nature with the help of a guide, immersing yourself in lush leafy vegetation, with an abundance of different species, or watch the sunset while lying on the fine sand of Pomene Bay. Your MSC cruise ship will take you to an African paradise that is also famous for diving and snorkelling, perfect for lovers of the underwater world. Mozambique is a land full of natural beauty spots that never cease to surprise and amaze.
Vessel: MSC ORCHESTRA
Departure date: 12 Apr 2021
Departs at 15:00PM
Explosion of colour
When you alight from your MSC cruise in Durban – South Africa’s third-largest city and the continent’s largest port – you will be captured by its tropical colours and holidaying people.
A shore excursion on your MSC South Africa cruise can be the opportunity to discover Durban’s second-largest ethnic group, its Indian population, whose mosques, bazaars and temples are juxtaposed with the Victorian buildings of the colonial centre.
The pulsing warren of bazaars, alleyways and mosques that makes up the Indian area around Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street is ripe for exploration, and there are some excellent restaurants around Durban’s photogenic harbour area. Durban’s city centre grew around the arrival point of the first white settlers, and the remains of the historical heart are concentrated around Francis Farewell Square.
Durban’s expansive beachfront on the eastern edge of the centre has one of the city’s busiest concentrations of restaurants, a surfeit of tacky family entertainment. Durban’s beachfront, a high-energy holiday strip just east of the centre, is South Africa’s most developed seaside. MSC South Africa cruises also offer excursions to the 6km-stretch of the beach from the Umgeni River in the north to the Point in the south, traditionally called the Golden Mile.
The big draw of Addington Beach – and the only really worthwhile attraction along the beachfront – is instead uShaka Marine World. This impressive water adventure wonderland is a tropical African theme park, complete with palm trees, fake rock formations and thatched bomas. The most appealing section is uShaka Sea World, designed in and around a superb mock-up of a wrecked 1920s cargo ship. The complex also includes a dolphin stadium and a seal pool, where daily shows (three a day) feature these creatures, as well as uShaka Wet ’n Wild, a series of pools and water slides, including The Drop Zone, the highest water slide in Africa.
Arrivesz: 09:00AM / Departs at 16:00PM
When you disembark at Maputo on an MSC Cruise to Africa, you will find a lively port city where intense flavours of the continent are seasoned with a hint of Portugal. In the architecture and every-day life in Maputo, a strong influence of Portuguese colonization, which only came to an end in 1975, can still be felt.
While strolling through the city, such as the heart of the central and extremely busy Baixa neighbourhood – which has been defined by some as the Paris of Africa for its busy day and night life – you will encounter large Rationalist-style buildings. A short distance from Baixa, there is a marvellous railway station, designed in the beginning of the 20th century by Gustave Eiffel (yes, the one that is also responsible for the famous Paris tower), full of marble and wrought iron, decorated columns and beams.
It is decorated with clocks, enormous ceiling fans, azulejos tilework, carved wooden doors, wrought iron benches, large bells and two antique steam railway engines displayed on the tracks. To get your strength back, stop by the fashionable Kampfumo bistro. Avenida Samora Machel hosts the famous Casa do Ferro, a building constructed entirely of iron plates, designed by the same prolific French engineer for the city’s Portuguese governor.
A visit to one of the public markets during your stroll through the city cannot be avoided. The characteristically busy Mercado Central, with stalls heaving with exotic fruits and vegetables; Or, the incredible fish market, located slightly farther from the city centre in Caminho da Costa do Sol.
Come here mid-morning, when the fishmongers are yelling their offers for all to hear and the market is overflowing with fresh fish: an impressive array of seafood, including large crabs, sea snails and lobsters. Behind the market, there is a locale where the daily catch is cooked. The peri-peri shrimp, with their unique spicy aroma are a must-try. Finally, visit the FEIMA Curio Market, where you will find rarities and interesting artisan products. Lovers of relaxation, on the other hand, will have the chance to go on an off-roading excursion to the beautiful beaches on the Indian Ocean.
Arrives: 08:00am / Departs: 18:00pm
This day cruising at sea.
Enjoy the facilities on board.
Arrives : 07:00am
MSC ORCHESTRA
Combining spacious, elegant interiors with fine dining, varied entertainment programme and high-quality, resort-style amenities, MSC Orchestra promises you a dream cruise. With a choice of countless different ways to relax and enjoy yourself each day, life aboard can be just what you want it to be.
