MSC Cruises is returning to South Africa for the 2024/25 cruise season with MSC Musica, replacing the larger MSC Splendida which homeported in Durban and Cape Town for the current 2023/24 season.

MSC Cruises opened sales for its upcoming SA cruise season on Wednesday, offering a range of 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-night itineraries to popular destinations like Portuguese Island, Pomene and Port Louis in Mauritius.

MSC Musica will start her season in November, 2024 cruising roundtrip from the recently inaugurated R330-million Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban. Toward the end of the season, the ship will reposition to Cape Town, from which she’ll sail a series of roundtrip cruises to Luderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia until April. 

In a press release, MSC Cruises did not give an indication for its decision to downsize to a smaller ship for the upcoming cruise season, although the decision may have been a result of the country’s ongoing economic crisis as a result of load-shedding, which has depressed economic growth and eaten into families’ disposable income.

Last year, Ross Volk, Managing Director, MSC Cruises South Africa, said the decision to homeport a much larger ship in South Africa for the summer season had been a ‘strategic’ decision, aimed at lowering the cost of cruises for the home market.

“Our goal is to continue to offer our growing cruising community in South Africa the best product and excellent service,” said Volk.

“Our commitment to driving the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in our country is stronger than ever before. We look forward to welcoming regular and new cruisers alike, onboard in 2024/25,” he added.

Although MSC Musica is smaller than MSC Splendida, the largest cruise ship ever to homeport in the country, she still offers a range of world-class experiences and amenities, which the South African cruising public will be familiar with as Musica has previously homeported in the country.

Portuguese Island, Mozambique

Located at the external limit of Maputo Bay, set between the African coast and the Indian Ocean, Portuguese Island is a small, uninhabited island where guests can enjoy swimming, beach hikes and a range of water sports activities.

The 16-deck ship offers 5 restaurants, 10 bars, two lounges, and a casino, nightclub, and full-size theatre. Up top, there are three pools, four whirlpools, a sports court, as well as fully-equipped spa and salon.

The ship’s central foyer has a three-tier waterfall and see-through piano suspended on a crystal floor above a pool of shimmering water, and of her 10 lounges, eight are indoor and two are indoor.

In addition, the ship also offers boutique shops, a library, a game room and dedicated areas for children of all ages with special clubs for toddlers and teens.

Pomene Island, Mozambique

Part of the Pomene Nature Reserve, a protected marine area, Pomene is one of the most picturesque locations in Mozambique, with long stretches of white sand that blend into the horizon.