MSC Cruises will bring two ships to South Africa’s shores for the 2020/2021 cruise season.

This will mark the first time that two different class MSC Cruises’ ships (Lirica and Musica Class) will be deployed in the country simultaneously and will translate to 50 000 additional cruise passengers.

From December 2020 to March 2021 MSC Opera, which will be homeported in Cape Town, will join MSC Musica homeported in Durban.

“Our decision to increase the number of ships for the South African cruise season in 2020/2021 is due to the significant growth in demand we have seen in our guest numbers over the past few years,” says Ross Volk, md of MSC Cruises South Africa.

MSC Opera, which can host 2 500 guests and was completely refurbished in 2014 as part of the company’s Renaissance programme, will offer 22 departures next season. MSC Musica can cater for 3 200 guests and will offer 40 departures.

“Our most recent season saw a 25% increase in guests compared with the same period in 2017-2018. MSC Cruises has been bringing bigger and better ships to this country and enriching our itineraries as more South Africans are realising that a cruise is an affordable, convenient and exciting holiday option.”

The ships will alternate routes, providing South African cruisers with a wider choice of options.

A highlight of the 2020-2021 season is the 14-day New Year cruise around Southern Africa. It will depart from Durban on December 26 and take in Portuguese Island; Nosy Be, Madagascar; Port Victoria, Seychelles; and Port Louis in Mauritius, returning to Durban on January 9. This will be the first time Port Victoria has been included in the cruise offering from Durban, outside of MSC’s Grand Voyage.