MSC Opera embarks on maiden voyage to SA

On November 1, MSC Opera embarked on her maiden voyage to South Africa from Venice, Italy.

During the 18 day, 19 night voyage, MSC Opera will sail from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Atlantic Ocean and down the west coast of Africa to the South Atlantic Ocean, before arriving in Cape Town on November 20.

To mark the luxury cruise ship’s maiden call in Cape Town, on November 20 MSC Cruises is hosting a special charity event in aid of abandoned and abused children.  Proceeds from tickets to the event and its auction will go to the Ukuthemba Foundation, a local organization providing safe home environments for orphans and neglected and abused children.

There will also be a traditional crest exchange between captain, Sabelo Mdlalose, chief harbour master at the Port of Cape Town and captain Ciro Pinto. The crest exchange is a time honoured maritime tradition and involves an exchange of commemorative plaques between MSC Cruises as well as members of Cape Town’s port authorities.

Following the Ukuthemba and Cest Event, MSC Opera will set sail for her new homeport in Durban, where she will host an exclusive party on November 23 for media, VIPs and travel industry representatives in celebration of her arrival. MSC Cruises ceo, Pierfrancesco Vago, will be in attendance to celebrate MSC Opera’s first season in the region.   

MSC Opera then has a full schedule of three and four night cruises, operating out of Durban from November 24 until early March 2013. She will take over cruises to Maputo, Portuguese Island and Barra Lodge in Mozambique from sister ship MSC Sinfonia, who will in turn replace the smaller MSC Melody, allowing guests from the Cape Town region to experience a new product from their own home port.

MSC Opera is slightly larger than her sister ship MSC Sinfonia and can accommodate over 1,700 guests.  

In addition to the change in vessels, the popular Christmas cruise itinerary has also been modified slightly and will now sail to Portuguese Island and then on to the tiny village of Anakoa in Madagascar. The 11-night festive New Year cruise will now include the celebration of New Year’s eve under La Reunion skies and a call in Mauritius on New Year’s day, where MSC Opera will remain in port for three nights.

Towards the end of the season, MSC Opera’s itineraries will include Port Elizabeth and she will also sail a small number of cruises out of Cape Town to Mossel Bay, Walvis Bay, and Luderitz before leaving South African shores for the European summer.

MSC Opera has 856 cabins of which 172 are balcony cabins and 28 are balcony suites. The ship has four restaurants, eleven bars, two pools, and two whirlpools and boasts the sumptuous MSC Aurea Spa, a disco, video games room, internet café, casino, team building facilities and a medical centre. The ship also has an array of duty free shopping and caters for kids with the Buffalo Bill children’s play area, special dining options for children and families, and four different kids clubs. Additional facilities include the Cotton Club bar and a stage on deck for outdoor entertainment.

Bookings for the 2012/13 season are now open.