Cape Town – The summer holidays are around the corner and if you're wondering what sort of holiday is going to give you exceptional value, along with lots of fun - well then an Indian Ocean cruise might just be the one to plan for 2018.
Cruising is gaining popularity across the board as travellers look for summer holidays that won't break the bank. In a recent MSC Cruises survey, the world’s largest, privately-owned cruise line says that what South Africans want most in their travels and holiday experiences is "more sun, sea, and sand".
According to the MSC survey, budgets are a big concern for local travellers. MSC says that 52% of the survey’s respondents said that budgets influenced their travel and holiday decisions.
SEE: Cruise season 2017: SA's ports to host magnificent cruise liners
"While many people have the perception that you have to be wealthy to be able to escape to a far-flung island on a luxury cruise liner, it turns out that cruising can be one of the most value-added and affordable holiday options in SA,” says MSC Cruises South Africa Managing Director Ross Volk.
Volk says that what many don't realise is that for less than R1 500 a day cruising offers “stylish accommodation, more food than you could possibly eat, non-stop entertainment, activities for adults and kids of all ages and yes, access to some of the most breathtaking, Mozambique islands you can imagine”.
'Cruising can be one of the most value-added and affordable holiday'
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a land-based holiday with all these frills and thrills for the same value.”
So if sailing the high sea is your ultimate escape, then you'll be pleased to know that in addition to the annual cruises to Africa’s warm east coast, the luxury cruise liner has announced a new cruise to Pomene Bay in Mozambique.
Just 605km north of Maputo, Pomene Bay is praised as one of Mozambique’s hidden jewels. “On one side, the smooth-as-glass Indian Ocean laps onto the powdery white sand of its palm-lined beaches, while the other side is framed by the clear waters of a spectacular mangrove estuary,” says MSC Cruises.
This picturesque destination is added to MSC Cruises’ itinerary for the 2017/18 season from October.
SEE: Quick Guide: Magical Mozambique
But that’s not all.
MSC Cruises announced that a new ship, boasting “ground-breaking developments”, is heading for South African shores in 2018/2019. Named Musica, MSC promises that this cruise ship “is set to get the 2018/2019 South African summer off to a glittering start”.
The MSC Musica is able to accommodate over 2500 guests, and boasts a wider a-la-cart menu, more swimming pools, and greater entertainment facilities and lounges than the Sinfonia. “In fact, Musica’s double story theatre is bigger than any theatre we have on land in South Africa,” says MSC.
WATCH: Woman dives 17m into the world's deepest pool on a cruise ship
MSC Cruises also recently in launched the MSC Meraviglia in June 2017, the company’s new flagship and “next-generation mega-ship” and has been dubbed “the ship for all seasons”. Take a look.
