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Waterpark on the deck of the MSC Sinfonia

Passenger posing on the top deck of the MSC Musica

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MSC Rhapsody Cruises

The MV MSC Rhapsody was built in 1977, and is known as the "Rhapsody". The ship was commissioned by Hugh Hefner (of Playboy fame) to be built in the same style as the Cunard Countess. When the ship was built Hefner couldn't come up with the cash so Cunard Cruises paid for it and it was originally called the "Cunard Princess", and was launched by Grace Kelly. The ship was later sold to Starlauro lines and became known as the Rhapsody. In the days when the Rhapsody cruised South Africa's shores, that was still when Starlight Cruises used to sell tickets on behalf of MSC Cruises.

This ship is not to be confused with Royal Caribbean's "Rhapsody of the Seas" cruise ship.

Review

2013-08-03. Rating 5/ 5 . This trip I won't forget. Me, my cousin & a friend went on this trip! It was really nice, the crew I can remember were so helpful. I got seasick the second day and missed the visit to the boat's control room and everything. The doctor onboard gave me an injection and after a few hours I was able to communicate with everybody and felt my old self! The visit to the islands was amazing - we went on a rubberduck and it was a bit scary (there were sharks swimming around us). I wont forget the Captain's ball, and all the parties! We didn't really sleep, didn't want to miss anything. Made so many friends! I would really like to go on a trip like this again! And take my kid that's turning 18 with! Ronel Steenkamp

MSC Rhapsody is Rated 5/5 based on 1 customer review

Pool

Cruising division

The cargo division of MSC is well known with over 300 ships (all named after women). The cruising division of MSC was started when the owner bought his wife a second-hand cruising vessel. After they had bought 4 second-hand ships, they started building their own ships. The MSC Preziosa is the latest ship to be released. Her inaugural cruise was on the 23rd March 2013.

The Rhapsody has been sold by MSC, leaving at the end of February 2009. Manos bought it and started using her services out of Haifa. Now it's the MSC Sinfonia and the MSC Opera which are cruising South Africa's shores.