MSC Cruises will bring MSC Sinfonia back to South Africa for the 2027-28 cruise season, with 32 sailings from Durban and Cape Town.

Sales have opened for the programme, which will begin on 12 November 2027 and include cruises ranging from three to 12 nights.

MSC Sinfonia will start the season from Durban’s Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal, operating itineraries to destinations in Mozambique before embarking on a New Year cruise that includes Port Louis in Mauritius and La Possession in Reunion.

The ship will then reposition to Cape Town in January 2028 for a series of cruises to Namibia before returning to Durban to complete the season.

“MSC Sinfonia has had much success in South Africa, and we are confident that guests will be very happy with what this great vessel has to offer. We are always mindful of the preferences and entertainment profile of the South African traveller, and MSC Sinfonia is just one of the ships in our fleet that best suits the local market. We look forward to welcoming everyone onboard in 2027 for what promises to be another successful cruise season,” said Ross Volk, Managing Director, MSC Cruises South Africa.

The 13-deck MSC Sinfonia is part of MSC Cruises’ Lirica class and can accommodate just over 2,500 passengers across 976 cabins.

Its onboard facilities include six bars and lounges, four dining venues, three outdoor bars, two swimming pools, and a shopping area.

Facilities for younger passengers include a spray park and dedicated children’s and teenagers’ clubs developed in partnership with LEGO, Chicco, and Namco.

The ship also features the MSC Aurea Spa, a Technogym-equipped fitness facility, a theatre, a casino, and a nightclub.

MSC Sinfonia offers conference and event facilities for groups ranging from 130 delegates to events for up to 550 people.

The 2027-28 programme will include calls at Portuguese Island, Maputo, and Pomene in Mozambique, as well as Walvis Bay in Namibia.

Portuguese Island is located at the edge of Maputo Bay between the Mozambican mainland and the Indian Ocean, while Maputo offers access to the capital’s central Baixa district, railway station, and Mercado Central.

Pomene forms part of the Pomene Nature Reserve, a protected marine area on Mozambique’s coast.

During the New Year itinerary, the ship will extend its programme into the Indian Ocean with calls at Port Louis and La Possession.

The latter is located on Réunion and provides access to the island’s volcanic landscapes, including the Dolomieu and Bory craters.

From Cape Town, MSC Sinfonia will operate itineraries to Walvis Bay. The Namibian port is known for its natural lagoon and marine and bird life, including populations of flamingos and pelicans.

The return of MSC Sinfonia will follow the ship’s planned South African deployment during the 2026-27 winter season.

MSC Sinfonia 2027-28 South Africa season

• Season begins 12 November 2027
• 32 sailings
• Three-, four-, five-, seven-, and 12-night cruises
• Departures from Durban and Cape Town
• Calls include Portuguese Island, Maputo, and Pomene in Mozambique
• Cape Town programme includes Walvis Bay, Namibia
• New Year cruise includes Port Louis, Mauritius, and La Possession, Reunion
• Cape Town deployment begins in January 2028