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MSC Sinfonia cruise bookings
We offer the cheapest cruise prices, biggest discounts and best deal on the MSC Sinfonia (fill in the form below to test this). The Sinfonia has been offering passenger cruises in South Africa since Nov 2009, and in the 2013/2014 season there are a mix of cruises from Cape Town, from Durban and an epic 20-day cruise to Italy or 14 night Island Discovery Cruise.
MSC Sinfonia Reservations
We are now taking bookings for the new 2013/2014 cruise season on the MSC Sinfonia.
Email cruises@southafrica.to if you're experiencing difficulties with cruise reservations.
Vir beskprekings in Afrikaans gaan na MSC Sinfonia Bootvaarte |
shore excursions |
News & History of the MSC Sinfonia
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22 May 2013. SouthAfrica.TO offers 5 MSC Sinfonia cruise prizes in an eTV competition.
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10 May 2013. Greeted by a horse show, the MSC Sinfonia arrives at Mahón on Friday, the capital of Menorca Island.
1 Mar 2013 |
Huisgenoot cruise on the MSC Sinfonia, from Durban to Portuguese Island |
18 Jan 2013 |
The Sinfonia 2012/2013 cruise schedule is announced. She'll be arriving in Cape Town on the 11th November 2013. |
28 Mar 2011 |
The Sinfonia makes its maiden stop at Port Elizabeth, as part of a 4-day Durban to Cape Town cruise, leading up to its repositioning cruise. The marketing director of MSC Starlight Cruises, Mr Allan Foggitt, said: "We are very excited about including Port Elizabeth in our itinerary. It gives us a rare opportunity to showcase the uniquely different characteristics of our three leading port cities to our foreign guests. Best of all it allows our loyal local passengers to join the cruise from their home port. Port Elizabeth and the surrounding areas in the Eastern and Southern Cape areas fits into this pattern as well and we are talking about people of all ages. Increasing numbers of couples are also celebrating their weddings or other romantic functions on board ship and cruising is always popular for corporate incentives and conferencing." |
15 - 19 Nov 2010 |
Some footage from the Rainbow cruise on the Sinfonia |
Aug 2010 |
Starlight Cruises introduces priority boarding on the MSC Sinfonia. |
13 Nov 2009 |
The MSC Sinfonia embarks on its first cruise from Durban. |
Nov 2009 |
The MSC Sinfonia cruises from Italy to South Africa via the Strait of Gibraltar. |
9 Nov 2008 |
The MSC Sinfonia embarks on an 18-day cruise from Italy to Brazil; visiting Barcelona, Lisbon, Casablanca and Salvador de Bahia. |
23 Nov 2007 |
The MSC Sinfonia visits Lisbon for the first time. |
Mar 2005 |
The MSC Sinfonia enters service for MSC Cruises. |
Jul 2004 |
The MSC European Stars is auctioned to MSC Cruises (a division of the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company) for 220 million, and renamed the MSC Sinfonia (it is said to be inspired by great European symphonies). |
19 Jan 2004 |
Following Festival Cruises declaring bankruptcy, the MS European Stars is impounded and laid up in Barcelona. |
25 Apr 2002 |
MS European Stars has its first cruise to Barcelona. |
18 Apr 2002 |
Newbuilding X31 is delivered to Festival Cruises in Saint-Nazaire, and the following day is named MS European Stars. |
4 Mar 2001 |
Having been ordered by Festival Cruises, Newbuilding X31 (its yard number was X31) is launched in Saint-Nazaire (France) by Chantiers de l'Atlantique. |
Top Reviews of the MSC Sinfonia
30 Apr 2013 |
Craig tells us about their anniversary cruise to Mauritius on the Sinfonia, with his adventures including becoming a wedding photographer and swimming in the jacuzzi-like sea of the island. |
30 Apr 2013 |
A romantic cruise from Durban to Inhambane on the Sinfonia - Riaaz & Nisha: "As nature lovers and people who appreciate the beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants, we were in absolute euphoria. With increased jubilation, we decided to swim in the cool blue waters of the shores of Inhambane Bay. "
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29 Apr 2013 |
Amanda takes her family on a last minute Sinfonia cruise to Mauritius: "At the island we swam in the lagoon, ate (yes again!) underneath a little grass ‘roofy’ (don’t know what it’s called) drank ice cold local beer & lay on the white beach sand!" |
29 Apr 2013 |
Fairouza wins a work cruise incentive and after a Mango flight to Durban finds herself on an MSC Sinfonia cruise...on stage...and getting now sleep! |
25 Apr 2013 |
Zeenat enjoy a Sinfonia cruise to Maputo, and shared some photos. |
24 Apr 2013 |
Amits shares photos of his Sinfonia cruise to Maputo and Portuguese Island. |
31 Jan 2013 |
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1 Jan 2013 |
Heid Everett takes some stunning clickies of her cruise to Madagascar - a new year's cruise on the MSC Sinfonia.
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14 Dec 2012 |
Footage of the Sinfonia cruising into Cape Town, with the sun rising and views of the Table Bay Harbour Mouth, Devil's Peak, Table Mountain, Lion's Head, Signal Hill, the Table Bay Hotel, and passengers on deck watching her come in. |
12 Dec 2012 |
Scott Quayle's first cruise is aboard the MSC Sinfonia, sailing from Cape Town. |
10 Dec 2012 |
The MSC Sinfonia experience by Michael, on a cruise to Luderitz which was redirected to Mossel Bay. |
10 Dec 2012 |
Cruise from Cape Town to Mossel Bay on board the MSC Sinfonia |
3 Dec 2012 |
Alison's first cruise ever, and she reviews the Sinfonia from Cape Town to Walvis Bay. |
July 2012 |
Video of an MSC Sinfonia Mediterranean cruise: |
Louise's light lunch on the MSC Sinfonia |
Louise and Salvelio were invited on board the MSC Sinfonia in Port Elizabeth to enjoy a lunch cooked by "Sinfonia's splendid executive chef", Pasquale Scarpati. Louise ordered the creamy seafood risotto, " I had this as a first plate and found it scrummy, the risotto perfectly al dente and the prawns beautifully cooked". Salvelio opted for the main course of "succulent Marche-style leg of lamb". |
12 Apr 2011 MSC Sinfonia cruise ship |
"We boarded the ship and as soon as we stepped into the reception area it hit me: "We're on a gorgeous cruise ship." Who gets to say that often? We were given all our necessary information and went to our suite. I don't think we will ever "grow up"... as soon as the door closed we let out a total girly squeal and just jumped around the room. Yes. I know. Don't judge ;-) The best part of the room for me was the balcony. Just amazing." Bailey Schneider
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Durban - Portuguese Island |
A fantastic cruise after which I felt a yearning for another longer one, for more time spent sucking in the salt air off the azure waters of Portuguese Island. Highlights of the cruise were the snorkelling excursion and watching Stephen Cloete's stand-up comedy. |
Durban - Maputo |
An often-missed but fascinating part of the cruise into Maputo is looking at the colonial wreckage of gun platforms on Xefina Island, as you cruise into the bay of Maputo, a stark reminder of the history of Mozambique. In Maputo we did a tour of the city (although our little one so loved being at the play area on the Sinfonia, that we had to leave the tour early), seeing the train station, the fort and the National History Museum (with the only collection of elephant foetuses in the world!). |
Livorno - Durban |
AmoMondo cruise from Livorno (Italy) to Durban (South Africa) on the MSC Sinfonia, in a category 12 balcony cabin suite. The ship was expected to embark passengers and set sail by 11am from Livorno, before embarking more passengers at Genoa. She stayed on board at Monte Carlo, Dakar, Agadir and Casablanca, but visited Valencia, Walvis Bay ("we all absolutely loved this port"), Cape Town ("had a great time despite rather cool and windy weather") and Durban (stayed at the "Beverley Hills Hotel at Umlanga Rocks. This was a fantastic hotel right on the Indian Ocean which I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone"). |
Anne's cruise of a lifetime |
Anne cruised from Genoa (Italy) to Monaco, Valencia Espana, Malta, Tunisia and Rome. |
Design of the MSC Sinfonia
Two jacuzzis and 2 outdoor swimming pools. Inside the ship are 2 sit down restaurants, a library, a disco, 2 showlounges, a casino and a cafeteria.
Quotes
The following is usually included:
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All Accommodation on board
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All Meals on board
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All Live Entertainment on board
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Insurance
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Port fees
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Service fees
Excluded:
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All Drinks
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Transfers to and from the harbour
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Any further item of a personal nature
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Spa treatments
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Any items not mentioned above
Port charges
R400 per person for cruises of 3 nights or shorter, R500 per person for longer cruises.
Cabins
There are 778 cabins on the Sinfonia, of which 135 have private balconies. The cabins are all equiped with televisions, air-conditioning, radio, mini-bar, en-suite bathroom, private safe and 24 hour room service.
Inside Cabin |
Outside Cabins |
Suites With Balcony |
Category 1 - 5 |
Category 6 - 10 |
Category 11 |
Cabins (13 sq. m), disabled cabins are available (21 sq. m), single beds that can be converted into double bed (upon request, excluding cabins for the disabled), airconditioning, TV, telephone,bathroom with shower, minibar and safe. The Sinfonia has 5 category 1 cabins, all of which are 4-berth (but bookings are sometimes available for 2 people to share one). There are 14 category 2 cabins (2 are 3-berths and the rest are 4-berths). Category 3 has a number of 2-berth cabins. The highest inside cabins are the category 5 cabins on deck 10 (same deck as the balcony suites). |
Cabins (13 sq. m), single beds that can be converted into double beds, airconditioning, TV, telephone,bathroom with shower, minibar and safe. Category 6 cabins may have an obstruction to the view (e.g. a lifeboat). Category 6 cabins can only accommodation 2 people. |
Suites with private balcony (22 sq. m), Double bed, airconditioning, spacious wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub, TV, telephone, internet connection (at a fee), minibar and safe. Category 11 cabins can sleep a maximum of 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children (with the possibility of an additional infant). |
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Here's a photo of a category 4 inside cabin:
Golf
Golf lovers can play miniature golf and use the golf simulator.
Tonnage & passengers
The MSC Sinfonia can host 2065 passengers, and weighs 58600 tons.
Entertainment
The MSC Sinfonia's entertainment team is known as the "dream team", they're mostly South Africans, and are headed up by the legendary Stephen Cloete. Here's their rendition of Big Bamboo:
Every night, and sometimes during the day, there's numerous shows on board.
Nationality of officers
Italian
Internet Acess onboard
Read through our detailed article about the internet access onboard the MSC Sinfonia
Embarkation procedure
Each cruise has a different embarkation time. You can enquire through cruises@southafrica.to or your direct agent for the embarkation times of your cruise. Check in opens 5 hours before and closes 1 1/2 hours before embarkation.
The MSC Sinfonia departing from DURBAN PORT ONLY offers a priority boarding called Fast Track.
Flying home
Once the MSC Sinfonia arrives in Durban harbour, clearance by port authorities and disembarkation can take a while, and it is recommended you book to fly out of Durban after 13h00 that day.
Click here for a detailed description of the disembarkation procedure.
Pronunciation
The Sinfonia is pronounced "Sin-fin-ee-a", NOT "Sin-phone-ee-a".
Halaal & vegeterian cuisine
Halaal meat is available and a vegetarian choice is served at meal times. Please inform your travel agent about your dietary requirements as this information needs to be added onto the booking. Unfortuanately, the MSC Sinfonia does not cater for Kosher meals.
Touch of class packages
Please specify in the reservations form whether you'd like one of these packages added on.
Packages
CODE |
PACKAGE |
DESCRIPTION |
570 |
Romantic sunrise |
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571 |
Bon voyage deluxe |
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572 |
Bon voyage classic |
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573 |
Standard birthday |
This package can only be presented and consumed in the main restaurants on-board. |
635 |
Special moments package 1 |
This package can only be presented and consumed in the main restaurants on-board. |
574 |
Special moments package 2 |
This package can only be presented and consumed in the main restaurants on-board. |
630 |
Fruit basket |
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631 |
Fruit basket special |
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632 |
VIP treatment South Africa |
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Wines
CODE |
PACKAGE |
DESCRIPTION |
575 |
Classic South African Selection |
Four bottles of wine selected by our sommelier:
This package can only be presented and consumed in the main restaurants on-board. |
576 |
Superior South African Selection |
Seven bottles of wine selected by our sommelier:
This package can only be presented and consumed in the main restaurants on-board. |
Spa and Relaxation packages
CODE |
PACKAGE |
DESCRIPTION |
Spa 1312 |
Relaxing Touch Spa |
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Spa 1313 |
Relaxing Wave |
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Spa 1308 |
All Exclusive |
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Something for the kids
CODE |
PACKAGE |
DESCRIPTION |
636 |
Soda & Ice cream |
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Sister ships
Other cruise ships the MSC operates from South African waters is the MSC Opera (the agent in South Africa is MSC Cruises). Have a look at our photos of the Rhapsody cruising into Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Other cruise ships of the MSC are the MSC Armonia, MSC Divina, MSC Fantasia, MSC Magnifica, MSC Melody (no longer in service), MSC Preziosa (latest edition), MSC Splendida, MSC Lirica, MSC Musica, MSC Opera, MSC Orchestra and the MSC Poesia (and if the MSC Poesia visits South Africa, the name alone will market it!).
