MSC Cruises confirms MSC Opera for 2025/26 South African cruise season

MSC Cruises has confirmed MSC Opera for the upcoming 2025/26 South African cruise season, sailing roundtrip itineraries from both Durban and Cape Town between November and March.

As part of the announcement of its new cruise season in South Africa, the cruise line is also offering a March Madness promotion with 15% off bookings made before the end of the month.

Following her Mediterranean deployment, MSC Opera will reposition to South Africa for the summer, with itineraries ranging from short cruises to Portuguese Island, Pomene and Maputo, to extended 14-night sailings visiting Madagascar, Mayotte, Mauritius, and Réunion.

The ship’s first departure from Durban is scheduled for November 28th, 2025, calling at Portuguese Island. In total, 12 different itineraries will be available throughout the season across several dozen cruises.

MSC Opera will operate from Durban’s Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal and Cape Town Cruise Terminal. To support travellers extending their stay, MSC Cruises offers partnered hotel options in both cities.

Part of the Lirica class, MSC Opera accommodates 2,658 passengers in 1,070 cabins. 

The ship features ample open-deck areas, a choice of dining options, and a range of entertainment and wellness facilities.

The ship features a variety of staterooms, including family-friendly cabins, suites, balconies and ocean view options. Dining options onboard include Mediterranean and international cuisine, with menus that change regularly. 

Entertainment includes theatre productions, live music, lounges, and a casino, while onboard leisure facilities range from a double pool complex and whirlpool baths to a gym and the MSC Aurea Spa. 

Families are also catered for, with kids’ clubs, LEGO and Chicco play areas, as well as dedicated teen spaces.

Bookings for the 2025/26 season are now open. Guests who book by 31 March 2025 can take advantage of MSC Cruises’ March Madness promotion, offering up to 15% off selected itineraries.

MSC Opera is slightly smaller than MSC Musica, which homeported in South Africa during the most recent season.

The deployment of MSC Opera marks a further reduction in capacity for the SA market as MSC Cruises weathers the country’s ongoing economic stagnation, which has led to reduction in the country’s cruise home market.

While Cape Town has seen a historic boom in cruise demand in the past year, it has been driven by international fly-cruise tourism.