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And after the fourth night we cruised into Cape Town. Thanks to a generous invitation from Starlight Cruises, we were enjoying the pleasures of reviewing a cruise aboard the MSC Rhapsody from Durban to Cape Town via Port Elizabeth. I had overslept a bit - the previous evening was sublime and we had been relaxing on the sun deck (is it still called that at night?!) looking at the very bright half-moon. Once again hats off to whoever decided on the timetable, as the morning lighting is perfect for photographs as one enters into Table Bay Harbour.
The Cape Town Passenger Terminal Hall where we disembarked. Behind it is the Robert G. Bradley warship. |
The Chamarel Port Louis - one of many ships we saw in Cape Town's harbour. |
The BP & Absa buildings are clearly visible from the harbour. |
Exclusive Books at the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre |
Where one exits the disembarkation quay into the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. |
The ferris wheel and swing bridge. |
The fish quay and the old grain silos in the background. |
Behind the tugs is the Hildebrand restaurant. |
Some small tugs tucked into the corner of Jetty 1 & Quay 6. |
The Old Port Captain's Office. |
Quay Four is visible, and sticking out in the top middle is the Ritz Hotel. |
The disembarkation quay for the Rhapsody. In the background is the US warship, Robert G Bradley. |
View from the sun deck of the Rhapsody, with the Table Bay Hotel visible in the top left. |
Passengers on the Rhapsody watch as the ship approaches the V&A Waterfront. |
SAPS board the Rhapsody to conduct clearance procedures. |
Construction on Cape Town's Soccer World Cup 2010 stadium |
The Southern Raider & Southern Patriot lobster boats berthed at Quay 7 in Victoria Wharf. |
The Tina (ZR4584), a fishing vessel owned by Joenardo Fishing CC. |
Passengers on the deck of the Rhapsody (bottom right) view the Lion's Head (top right), the old grain silos (middle) and the Fish Quay (middle). |
Lion's Head in the background, the slopes of Signal Hill and the V&A Waterfront (Nedbank BOE offices) in the foreground |
Constructed in 1962 and owned by Premier Fishing, the Southern Patriot (call sign ZR 4145) is a South African registered south coast rock lobster boat with live lobster tanks, which spends 2 to 16 days at sea (depending on the proximity of the fishing grounds to Cape Town harbour). It delivers lobsters to the refrigerated live lobster tanks in Cape Town. Notice Robben Island in the background of the photo. When you sail into Cape Town you may also see one of its sister vessels - the Southern Raider or the Southern Saint.
If you're a tugboat fun you'll enjoy cruising into Cape Town harbour - here's what we saw:
The "Pinotage" tugboat. The famous Quay Four restaurant can be seen in the background (Quay Four was one of the original restaurants in the V&A Waterfront). |
The "Palmiet" tugboat helping the Rhapsody into its moorings at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront harbour. |
The Enseleni & Pinotage tugboats, with the main Waterfront shopping building in the background (green roofs) and the stadium for the 2010 Fifa World Cup being built further into the background. |
The "Enseleni" tugboat in Cape Town harbour - at the top of the photo you can see the lower slopes of Signal Hill. |
The Robert G Bradley is a US Naval frigate which we saw as we entered Cape Town harbour.
The Rhapsody would eventually dock opposite the Table Bay Hotel at Jetty 2 (with Quay 6 between it and The Table Bay Hotel) at about 0630.
(1) Clearance procedures is obtained from the authorities (2) The luggage is taken ashore. (3) By deck order it is announced when luggage is ashore (each deck is provided with a colour, and the decks have their luggage placed seperately), at which stage passengers may disembark. (4) Keep your cruise card handy for when you leave the ship.
Passengers can obtain priority clearance by:
Carrying luggage with you
By going to reception and arranging to have luggage cleared early
If you have used your credit card, then the Rhapsody closes your account for you, and sends you the paperwork to sign. If you have used a cash account, you must close your account manually (account must be closed by 0730 of day before disembarkation).
Gratuities are normally sent to cabin steward and dining steward, but also to any cabin members who you felt made a difference to your holiday.
Comments are important as it affects people's bonuses.
Statistically, ships today are the safest form of transport
The other cruise ships operated by MSC in South Africa are the Sinfonia and Opera.