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MSC Orchestra is music to our ears!

11 January 2024

Keen on a mini ocean voyage? Set sail on a local cruise with MSC. For South Africans, local cruises are the perfect option for families with children under 18 (kids cruise free on MSC!). They are also an excellent choice for groups of friends who want long lazy days and party-packed nights. Plus, if you’re a first-time cruiser, spending a few nights offshore is an excellent way to test your sea legs.   

With all your accommodation, entertainment and dining needs met in one place – not forgetting the best sea views imaginable – it’s easy to choose to cruise! Which is why we are so excited about the stately MSC Orchestra coming to our shores for the 2019 / 2020 South African cruise season.   

Cruise Control onboard the MSC Orchestra

This season (2019/2020) will see the MSC Orchestra taking its maiden voyage to South African shores. Like its sister ships, the MSC Musica and MSC Opera; MSC Orchestra features a spa, casino, a theatre, restaurant, a gym and family entertainment for all.    

MSC Orchestra - Pentravel

MSC Orchestra

While their features are similar, their experiences are not. The Orchestra is decked in tones of reds, blues and greens. It offers the perfect balance of luxury and relaxation, making it an excellent choice for a lazy family holiday or romantic couple’s getaway. Plus, there’s plenty of entertainment onboard to keep you busy until the small hours!   

To double the excitement, MSC has announced that the 2020/2021 season will have two ships gracing our waters; the MSC Musica and MSC Opera, allowing for more trips, more fun and more memories. You can take your pick of 60 departures, from either Cape Town or Durban, and choose from eight great itineraries. Homeported in Durban and Cape Town respectively, MSC Musica and MSC Opera will alternate routes to give you a wider choice of options to suit your holiday needs.  

MSC Orchestra - Local Cruising with Pentravel

MSC Orchestra

MSC Musica or MSC Opera?

Both ships share the Italian-inspired flair that is expected from MSC cruising, including elegant accommodation with family options, suites and cabins with a balcony or ocean view. There’s non-stop entertainment in a variety of venues, lush relaxation at the Aurea Spa, gourmet cuisine offering an ever-changing array of Mediterranean and international specialties, and a bar or lounge to suit every mood and every moment.  

From the moment you step onboard the MSC Musica to be greeted by the sight of the central foyer’s three-tier waterfall and its see-through piano, suspended on a crystal floor above a pool of shimmering water, you will know this is a special ship. Whether you’re dancing to a band in the dazzling Crystal Lounge, relaxing in the stylish Havana Club cigar lounge, gaming in the Sanremo Casino or enjoying a live show in the stunning Teatro la Scala, MCS Musica is designed to inspire.  

MSC Musica - Cruising with Pentravel

MSC Musica

MSC Musica - Pentravel

MSC Musica

The MSC Opera is a smaller vessel, built along more classic lines. Fittingly named after the quintessential Italian art form, Opera, the ship is a work of art, filled with stunning spaces that convey understated elegance. Whether you are trying your luck in the Med Pearl Casino, relaxing in the La Cabala Piano Bar, dancing in the Byblos Disco, enjoying a show in the Teatro dell’ Opera, or browsing in the new walk-through shopping area, there’s never a dull moment on board.  

Perhaps the only defining difference between the two ships is the new 319 m2 children’s area on board the MSC Opera. With the help of prestigious partners like Chicco, LEGO® and Namco®, MSC has created fabulous new play areas for children of all ages, starting with an exciting Spray Park packed with fun water features.  

With so many options available, the only problem is deciding what to do!   

Save the date!

A new addition to the cruise route menu is the 14-day New Year cruise. This epic ocean adventure will depart from Durban on 26 December and will incorporate destinations including Portuguese Island; Nosy Be, Madagascar; followed by Port Victoria, Seychelles; and then Port Louis in Mauritius, returning to Durban on 9 January. What makes this cruise particularly unique is that it will be the first time that Port Victoria has been included in the cruise offering from Durban outside of MSC Cruises’ Grand Voyage.  

Ready to pack your bags for a local cruise from Durban or Cape Town? We’re the cruise experts. Get in touch with us today.  

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