Travelers can explore MSC Opera and MSC Sinfonia’s Grand Voyages to South Africa this winter.
Exclusive to MSC Cruises, two routes from Genoa to Cape Town offer a complement of destinations, enrichment and entertainment programs and multiple sea days.
On Oct. 25, MSC Opera will embark on a 17-night Grand Voyage from Genoa, calling in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France, Valencia, Spain, Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco, Dakar, Senegal, and Walvis Bay, Namibia, before arriving in Cape Town on Nov. 11. Over the course of the journey, travelers will enjoy a total of 10 full days at sea, including six consecutive days as they sail between Dakar and the wildlife of Walvis Bay.
Just as MSC Opera is arriving in Cape Town, MSC Sinfonia will be setting off on her own Grand Voyage to South Africa. During a 19-night itinerary, MSC Sinfonia will call in Marseille, France, Barcelona, Spain, Lisbon and Funchal, Portugal, Mindelo, Cape Verde and Walvis Bay, Namibia, arriving in Cape Town on Nov. 30. MSC Sinfonia travelers will be treated to 12 days at sea, including seven consecutive days as they glide along the west coast of Africa.
In addition to Mediterranean ports, highlights of the itinerary include several destinations ‘off the beaten track’ of regular cruise itineraries.
As part of the MSC Grand Voyages series, traditional and comprehensive enrichment programs will be on offer, including salsa, merengue and reggae courses with professional dance instructors, hands-on arts and crafts sessions, and bridge, burraco and chess lessons and tournaments.
Lecture programs (available in English) will be featured on each ship, with a range of topics spanning from Saint Helen and the History of Napoleon to South Africa and Nelson Mandela and Life in the North-Africa Desert.
Guests will enjoy classical concerts as well as live music from South African bands in the ships’ bars and lounges, while combined dining and entertainment programs will take guests on delightful culinary journeys. Every detail has been taken into account, with cocktails, bartending demonstrations, aperitivos, cooking shows and menus inspired by the local traditions of ports visited on the itinerary.
Special nights and gala evenings will take place, including the Great Dance of the Officers, where lucky ladies will have the chance to dance with the ship’s officers, while other onboard activities have been designed to last for several days and create a shared journey for guests. MSC Factor, for instance, is based on reality TV talent contests and lasts throughout the entire voyage.
For more information, visit www.msccruises.com.