Categories: SA Cruise News

MSC Cruises releases Durban cruise itineraries for MSC Orchestra’s 2019/2020 season

MSC Cruises have revealed details of MSC Orchestra’s inaugural cruise season in South Africa, sailing roundtrip from Durban in the Indian Ocean between November, 2019 and April, 2020.

MSC Orchestra is a sister ship to MSC Musica, which replaced the much smaller MSC Sinfonia in the South African cruise market for the upcoming 2018/2019 cruise season.

Orchestra is a sister ship to Musica, both the largest cruise ships ever to homeport in Durban.

RELATED: Durban beachfront redevelopment progressing well says municipality

RELATED: MSC adds Pomene Bay in Mozambique to South African cruise itineraries

Orchestra will cruise a near-identical itinerary to Musica, with a slimmed down selection of cruise destinations that include MSC Cruises’ new beach destination Pomene Bay and the ever-popular Portuguese Island.

4-day Pomene Bay cruise

Pomene Bay will be included on MSC Orchestra’s 4-day roundtrip Durban cruises, while Portuguese Island will be included on all 3-day cruises.

3-day Portuguese Island cruise

If you want to visit both on the same cruise, you’ll have to book one of three 5-night cruises from Durban aboard MSC Orchestra.

One of these 5-night cruises (departing December 23rd, 2020) is the annual Christmas cruise, while on December 28th, MSC Orchestra will cruise from Durban on her 11-night New Year voyage to Mauritius and Reunion.

Pomene Bay features heavily in MSC Orchestra’s roundtrip Durban cruise season.

RELATED: MSC confident Musica will become South Africa’s “new darling”

RELATED: Best roundtrip Cape Town cruises in 2019/2020 season

After spending three days at sea, Orchestra will stay overnight in port for two nights before cruising overnight to Reunion, where she will spend a further two days, before heading home for Durban.

11-night New Year Cruise

In early January, MSC Orchestra will also cruise from Durban to Cape Town (January 8th, 2020) to cruise two roundtrip Cape Town voyages to Namibia.

5-day Cape Town to Namibia

The first is a 5-day cruise visiting Walvis Bay and Ludertiz, while the second is a 4-day voyage to Walvis Bay.

4-day Cape Town to Namibia

She’ll then cruise back to Durban to round-off the cruise season with alternating 3 and 4-day cruises to Portuguese Island and Pomene Bay respectively.

With these itineraries, MSC Cruises are betting on Pomene Bay proving as popular with the South African cruising public as Portuguese Island has for the past few years.

“The addition of Pomene Bay will give guests more reasons to cruise with MSC Cruises,” says Ross Volk, managing director, MSC Cruises SA. “Portuguese Island represents a day of fun and festivities, Pomene Bay will enhance the cruise experience with an element of tranquillity, serenity and discovery, bringing something fresh and exciting to our itineraries.”

You can find out more details about MSC Cruises’ upcoming South African itineraries here, and don’t forget to let us know what you think!

Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com.

Recent Posts

MSC Cruises cancels Armonia repositioning voyage to South Africa over Red Sea

MSC Cruises has cancelled MSC Armonia’s repositioning voyage to South Africa due to the security…

6 hours ago

Cunard features overnight calls in Cape Town and Durban on 2027 World Cruise

Cunard will include maiden calls in Durban and an overnight stay in Cape Town during…

1 day ago

Seven Seas Prestige to feature largest fitness centre in Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has revealed details of the wellness facilities aboard Seven Seas Prestige,…

3 days ago

Oceania Cruises marks launch of new Oceania Sonata at Fincantieri shipyard

Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri have launched Oceania Sonata at the Marghera shipyard in Italy ahead…

5 days ago

Celebrity Reflection to gain 59 new staterooms in major 2027 refurbishment

Celebrity Reflection is expected to gain 59 additional staterooms during a major refurbishment scheduled for…

1 week ago

Azamara Cruises reveals 3 World Cruise options for expanded 2029 programme

Azamara Cruises has revealed plans for three World Cruise itineraries in 2029, ranging from 139…

2 weeks ago