Protea Hotel Victoria Junction (in Greenpoint, Cape Town) is reopening on 1 September, after a 4-month refurbishment.
Cruise news: RMS St Helena cruise V163 sets sail tomorrow for St Helena Island. It is scheduled to return on 8 September 2011
Children Cruise Free
(book your cruise at MSC Sinfonia or MSC Melody or email victor@southafrica.to - the author of this article)
With all the entertainment on board, cruising makes for an easy holiday with the kids. Yes, those lovely and adorable little beings that make you lose soo many hours of sleep during their formative years as they demand nappy-changes as well as your attention 24/7. Only to tell you years later that you don't understand them - you are soo old-fashioned - and all other heart-gouging statements.
Well, whether you hate yours or love them, MSC Cruises loves them all the same, which is why 2 children - under the age of 18 years - get to travel free when sharing a cabin with 2 adults on all cruises on both the MSC Melody and Sinfonia respectively.
To assist you in child entertaiment both ships offer:
Children's Playroom
The MSC Melody has Pluto's Play House while the MSC Sinfonia has the Pinocchio Club. It's a dedicated playcentre for children betwen the ages of 4 and 12 years where various activities are lined-up through out the day. Hostesses are always in attendance to watch over the children.
2 Pools = Double The Fun
Two pools ensure that there is ample space for practising for the kids to wear themselves out with swimming. There is also a shuffleboard, sports centre (mini golf, running track, mini football & basketball) and a video games room.
Teen discoteque
Night time is well catered for with a teenagers discotheque and club.
Pricing
This what a family of 2 adults and 3 children departing from Cape Town on the MSC Melody can expect to pay:
Cruise Code |
Dates |
Nights |
Itinerary |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MY 002 |
06 - 08 December 2011 |
2 |
Cape Town - Cape Town (cruise to no where) |
R 6,352 |
MY 004 |
11 - 15 December 2011 |
4 |
Cape Town - Walvis Bay - Cape Town |
R 12,783 |
MY 005 |
15 - 18 December 2011 |
3 |
Cape Town - Durban |
R 9,257 |
The Cost Price includes mandatory Travel Insurance for the adults, Port Charges and Service Fees and the Prima Special has already been discounted.
As for a family of 2 adults and 2 children departing from cruising from Durban:
Cruise Code |
Dates |
Nights |
Itinerary |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SI 023 |
23 - 27 January 2012 |
4 |
Durban - Maputo - Inhambane - Durban |
R 8,412 |
22 Jan - 02 Feb 2012 |
11 |
Durban - Ile Sainte Marie - Pointe des Galets - Port Louis - Durban |
R 20,330 |
|
MY 015 |
02 - 08 February 2012 |
6 |
Durban - Fort Dauphin - Durban |
R 11,834 |
SI 032 |
25 - 27 February 2012 |
2 |
Durban -Durban (cruise to no where) |
R 5,196 |
The Cost Price includes mandatory Travel Insurance for the adults, Port Charges and Service Fees and the applicable Special for each cruise.
So, the next time you are planning your family cruise holiday remember 'kids are on the house' when cruising with MSC.
Author: Victor Bunjira (victor@southafrica.to)
Hotels
Stay in CPT from R250/night
Stay in Durban from R370/night
Stay in JHB from R250/night
Car rental from R182/day
Airlink announces that it is increasing its Nelspruit-Livingstone flight frequency to 4 weekly in March 2012 and 5-weekly in August 2012.
Hope everybody took advantage of yesterday's 1time flight special. We booked a JNB-CPT flight for R1387 for 3 of us and an infant.
If you are cruising in the Caribbean, please contact your cruise agent to check whether your cruise has been impacted by Hurricane Irene. At the time of writing no Royal Caribbean cruises had been impacted, but Norwegian Cruise Lines had announced itinerary changes.
The Purple shall rule! Thabang wrote to ask about Kimberley - Johannesburg trains: "I wanna know if there's a train going to Kimberly from Johannesburg and how much does a return trip cost? oh and how long is the journey?"
Our reply: "Good morning Thabang, hope you're well! Yes, there is a train leaving Johannesburg every day at 12h30, arriving in Kimberley at 21h00. The price is R100 per person one way for an economy seat, and R150 per person one way for a tourist class ticket (with a bed, etc.).
The return trip will cost the same (either R100 or R150 depending on your preference) and will be about the same length of time".
Errors & omissions occur from time to time.
add cheapflights@southafrica.to to your address book
The Bottom Line: In response to an article on annuity rates in South Africa, Barry wrote "I wish I'd had this information a year ago!"