MSC brings new ship to SA
MSC Opera will replace MSC Sinfonia in the 2014-2015
cruise season, followed by the revamped MSC Armonia for
the 2015/16 season. MSC Sinfonia has sailed in SA waters
since 2009 and has headed back to Italy where it will undergo
a €200 million (R2,9bn) upgrade. MSC’s full fleet of Liricaclass
ships are to be part of the MSC Renaissance upgrade
programme. Ships will be lengthened by about 30 metres and
incorporate new entertainment options, a new on-deck water
park, technological advancements, extended shops and nearly
200 new cabins on each ship. MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC
Sinfonia and MSC Opera will all undergo transformation by the
end of next year.
HOLLAND America Line brings MS Rotterdam to Cape Town
in November, beginning the second leg of its 85-night Africa
Explorer cruise. MS Rotterdam will leave Southampton on
September 28 and arrive in Cape Town on November 14,
travelling via the Mediterranean, the UAE and the Indian
Ocean. The 48-night southbound trip starts at R87 990 per
person sharing and the 35-night northbound cruise, from
R63 070 per person sharing, including meals, entertainment
on-board and port charges.
RCI goes hi-tech
ROYAL Caribbean International has introduced greater wireless
capacity and speed on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the
Seas. For the first time it is feasible for guests to download
streaming video or post video clips to Facebook. The WiFi
speeds are expected to exceed or match those achieved on
land. The company is developing new pricing plans for this
added service.
Choose your cruise with Fred. Olsen
FRED. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched ‘You Choose Your
Cruise’, a 15-night itinerary that allows passengers to decide
which port they would like to head to next. Guests are given a
choice of two ports. Once they reach that port they will then
be given a choice of another two ports. For example, before
leaving Southampton, guests must vote for either Vigo in
Spain or Leixoes in Portugal. At the chosen destination, guests
will vote again for the next port of call. The cruise departs
Southampton on October 10, 2015 on board Braemar.
Makeover for Carnival Legend
CARNIVAL Cruise Lines has just completed a multimilliondollar
makeover of Carnival Legend, adding a host of new and
exciting innovations. The ship has returned to service, sailing
seven-day Caribbean cruises from Tampa, Florida, before
repositioning to Sydney in late September. Carnival Legend
will undertake a 23-day trans-Pacific voyage from Long Beach,
California, on August 30, arriving in Sydney on September 22.
The ship will then sail eight- to 12-day cruises to destinations
throughout New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.
