MSC Cruises extends Christmas in July sale for 2025/26 South African season

MSC Cruises has extended its annual Christmas in July sale, offering South African travellers a limited-time deal on selected sailings aboard MSC Opera during the 2025/26 cruise season.

The promotion allows guests to book a ‘buy one, get one free’ offer on cabin fares, with prices starting from R4,900 per cabin, excluding mandatory fees. The offer applies to bookings made and paid for by July 31st, 2025.

Passengers need only pay the full fare for the first guest, with the second guest paying only the port fees. A deposit secures the booking, with the remaining balance payable in instalments.

Sailings included in the offer cover a range of short itineraries departing from Durban between January and March 2026, aboard MSC Opera.

Featured itineraries include:

A 2-night cruise departing January 10th, 2026, priced from R8,718 per cabin (including R1,593 in port taxes and hotel service charges)

3-night cruise departing February 20th, 2026, from R11,852 per cabin (including R1,927 in taxes and charges)

4-night cruises on January 19th, January 26th, February 2nd, February 16th, February 23rd, and March 2nd, 2026, each priced from R12,386 per cabin (including R2,261 in taxes and charges)

All sailings are round-trip from Durban, and prices listed are based on interior cabins.

The promotion comes as part of MSC Cruises’ broader efforts to drive early bookings for its South African deployment, with MSC Opera offering local sailings throughout the southern summer.

Carrying more than 2,600 passengers at full occupancy, MSC Opera is a Lirica-class vessel known for her compact layout and family-friendly atmosphere. 

Originally launched in 2004 and refurbished as part of MSC Cruises’ Renaissance Programme in 2015, the ship features a range of amenities including four main dining venues, eight cafes and bars, a theatre, spa, and kids’ club facilities. 

Her size allows for easy navigation and a more intimate cruise experience compared to larger ships in the fleet. The vessel has been a regular visitor to South African waters in recent seasons, serving as the cornerstone of MSC’s commitment to the regional cruise market.

MSC Opera will sail roundtrip itineraries from both Durban and Cape Town between November 2025 and March 2026. The ship’s first departure from Durban is scheduled for November 28th, 2025, calling at Portuguese Island.

Across the season, 12 different itineraries will be offered, ranging from 2- to 14-night cruises. Destinations include popular regional ports such as Maputo, Pomene, and Portuguese Island, along with extended sailings to Madagascar, Mayotte, Mauritius, and Réunion.