MSC Musica still stuck outside Cape Town Harbour, cruise to Durban delayed

MSC Musica spent a second night at anchor outside Cape Town Harbour Friday, prevented from entering the port by strong winds gusting up to 50-knots.

The ship was scheduled to dock in Cape Town on Thursday, ending a 4-night roundtrip cruise to Walvis Bay, Namibia, but gale-force conditions forced port authorities to close the harbor.

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“The MSC Musica will not be able to enter the port due to strong winds. The MSC Musica will not be entering the port this [Thursday] afternoon, an assessment will be made for later tonight or early tomorrow morning,” said City of Cape Town Traffic Service’s spokesperson, Richard Coleman yesterday.

The ship spent Thursday night and Friday at anchor off Mouille Point. Although the weather conditions remained inclement, with strong winds and rain showers, the ship is not in any danger, and passengers are comfortable as she is anchored in calm waters.

MSC Musica’s Friday departure from Cape Town to Durban, to complete her 2018/2019 South African cruise season, has now been delayed and is instead expected to depart Saturday evening.

In a notice sent to passengers waiting to board the ship in Cape Town, MSC Cruises South Africa said they would update them by 11am Saturday morning.

“Passengers who have stayed in hotels arranged for them last night, please remain at your accommodation until further notice,” the statement said. “Cape Town residents are advised not to make their way to the port.”

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“All passengers please monitor email and SMS communication which will be sent to you for further updates. We will notify you by11:00am,” it added.

Cruise Arabia & Africa has reached out to MSC Cruises South Africa for confirmation, but it is likely her Port Elizabeth port call on the Cape Town to Durban cruise will be cancelled, enabling the ship to depart on her January 28th departure from Durban as normal.

MSC Musica is now expected to make port in Cape Town in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to port officials.

“The latest on the MSC Musica is that the cruise ship will be coming into port at 02h00 tomorrow [Saturday] morning. This should not affect our traffic at all,” said City of Cape Town Traffic Service’s spokesperson, Richard Coleman.

MSC Musica is the largest cruise ship ever to homeport in South Africa for a full cruise season. She will be replaced next year by her sister ship MSC Orchestra, which will cruise roundtrip from Durban and Cape Town between November, 2019 and March, 2020.