Cruising in the lap of luxury

Published Jan 7, 2013

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Johannesburg - Cruise to Maputo and Barra Lodge aboard the MSC Sinfonia.

Join us on the following departure and you could be shopping and sightseeing in Maputo and then soaking up the sun on the soft white beaches of Barra Lodge with the one you love. As you cruise aboard the MSC Sinfonia there’s something to entertain you every minute of the day or night.

The biggest and most modern vessel to ever operate in South African waters, the 58 000-ton MSC Sinfonia offers all the facilities one would expect on the world’s best liners including a simulated golf machine, Put Put course, spa, gym and 135 suites with private balconies.

Start the day with a hearty breakfast on deck, then try your hand at deck quoits, shuffleboard, table tennis or volleyball or just sit back and relax with a cappuccino and watch the waves pass by. Irresistible duty-free shopping is also available. After lunch, leave the children at the crèche and enjoy a short siesta, or take in a movie in your cabin. As the sun sets, sample the delectable Italian cuisine followed by comedy or cabaret shows, and for the night owls there is a disco where you can dance till the early hours of the morning.

Day 1, April 8: depart Durban.

Welcome aboard the MSC Sinfonia. Make sure you are on deck at 1.00pm for the sail away party as she casts off, en route to Maputo.

Day 2, April 9: Maputo.

Maputo (previously called Lourenco Marques) is the sprawling capital of Mozambique. Under Portuguese influence, Lourenco Marques became one of Africa’s most beautiful and fashionable cities with an impressive skyline of tall buildings and a cosmopolitan Portuguese/African atmosphere attracting many visitors. A lot has changed since then and the city is now re-inventing itself and slowly recreating some of its former glory.

Once again the rich and famous are hanging out at the five-star Polana Hotel which has a grand view over the harbour, and a gym, tea gardens and an old fashioned Victorian lift. The most important landmark is the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceiao, which was the nucleus of the original settlement. Another imposing building is the Central Railway Station, an enormous structure looking more like a place for kings than a siding for commuters.

There are also some excellent restaurants where you can enjoy beers and spicy peri-peri prawns. Optional tours to the museums and the city, including lunch at the original Casa del Sol restaurant, will be available to purchase on board.

Day 3, April 10: Barra Lodge.

As soon as the ship has been cleared, general disembarkation will commence for your fun filled “expedition” day on the pristine beaches of the Barra Peninsula.

For outdoor enthusiasts there are a host of optional activities including scuba diving, deep-sea game fishing, nature walks, horse riding, quad biking or a catamaran cruise to Linga Linga, the site of an old whaling station and a good viewing spot for the rare dugongs sometimes seen in the area.

Day 4, April 11: at sea.

Spend the day lounging around the pool in a deck chair or enjoying the dozens of daily activities which range from aerobics classes and dance lessons to bridge competitions. Nights are a dazzling experience with floorshows, cabaret artists, comedians, dancers, magicians and a live band performing every night at sea. The casino offers blackjack, roulette and slot machines and the disco operates until the early hours.

Day 5, April 12: Durban.

Your early morning arrival in Durban signals the end of an exciting fun filled holiday.

Cabin category Price per person

Category 3 R4 760

Category 4 R4 960

Category 5 R5 160

Category 6 R5 320

Category 7 R5 600

Category 8 R5 920

Category 9 R6 200

Category 10 R6 520

Port & Baggage R500

Service Charges R200

Insurance R50

Above prices are the normal brochure prices – please ask for the “best price of the day” when making your reservation.

Included in your fare:

l Accommodation in category booked.

l Three meals plus midnight snacks daily.

l Captain’s cocktail party and gala dinner.

l Singles party, floorshows and disco nightly.

l All games, daily activities, aerobics and gym.

l Casino

This special offer must be booked directly with MSC Cruises.

For brochures, reservations or information on the MSC Sinfonia contact MSC Cruises on (011) 807 5111, Pretoria (012) 342 4496, Cape Town (021) 555 3005, Durban (031) 303-3572.

Visit our website: www.mscstarlightcruises.co.za

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