By Fred Felton | Apr. 17, 2024
This month I was invited to a very special visit by the MSC Virtuosa which visited Durban briefly for a crest exchange ceremony with The Master of the ship and local government authorities. The ceremony was done in the presence of MSC Cruises Top Management.
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| MSC Virtuosa visited Durban recently. | Photo: Fred Felton |
‘’The MSC Virtuosa is the largest passenger cruise ship to arrive in Durban,’’ said said Ross Volk, MD of MSC Cruises.
He also mentioned that the ship has far less emissions. Volk also noted that MSC is planning to put 5000 South Africans on their ships as part of the workforce.
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| Crest Exchange on board the MSC Virtuosa with Ross Volk, MD of MSC Cruises, MSC Crew and local authorities. | Photo: Fred Felton |
This cruise ship has a wide variety of features which will keep many passengers entertained for days on end. The ship features the Galleria Virtuosa which is like an indoor shopping mall with an interactive ceiling display.
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| Galleria Virtuosa. | Photo: Fred Felton |
You can also enjoy live entertainment, shows, and the children can get hours of entertainment at the kids club which features LEGO activities.
The MSC Virtuosa has 5 unique pools for guests and even a waterpark at sea. There are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, a casino and of course MSC Yacht Club.
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| One of the cabins on board MSC Virtuosa | Photo: Fred Felton |
Cabins include luxury suites, a duplex and balcony options for those that enjoy a view. You can also find a Robot Bar on the ship which features a robot that makes your drinks for you.
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| Dazzling staircase. | Photo: Fred Felton |
I sat down with Ross Volk to hear about what is coming up for MSC Cruises in South Africa this year:
What is a crest exchange ceremony?
‘’In years gone by from a maritime perspective people didn’t know if you were friend or foe coming in on a sail ship. So the crest exchange is a symbolism of arriving in a port as a gesture of goodwill and welcoming, the port hands over a crest to the ship and the ship hands over a crest to the port to show that the vessel has called and they come in peace and it’s all about camaraderie and the maritime tradition.’’
Can you tell us what MSC Cruise Ships are expected this year?
‘’MSC Musica will be our permanent vessel for the season, starting Mid-November through to Mid-April again Cape Town, Durban but the majority Durban. So about 80% of the calls are out of Durban and 20% out of Cape Town, from an MSC perspective it’s a little early to tell but hopefully we will have one or two other vessels calling in 2025.’’
What is the capacity of MSC Musica?
‘’MSC Musica has a maximum capacity of 3200.’’
For more information on the MSC Virtuosa visit www.msccruises.co.za
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: Geography – The Kwazulu Natalprovince has three different geographic areas. The lowland region along the Indian Ocean coast is extremely narrow in the south, widening in the northern part of the province. The central region is the Natal Midlands and is an undulating hilly plateau rising towards the west. Two mountainous areas are contained in this area, the Drakensberg Mountains in the west and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The Drakensberg is a solid wall of basalt, rising over 3000m skyward near the Lesotho border, whilst the Lebombo Mountains are ancient granite mountains, forming low parallel ranges running southward from Swaziland. The Tugela River flows west to east, across the center of the province and is the region’s largest river. The coastal regions typically have subtropical thickets and deeper ravines and steep slopes host some true Afromontane Forest. The midlands have moist grasslands and isolated pockets of Afromontane Forest. The north has a primarily moist savanna habitat, whilst the Drakensberg region hosts mostly alpine grassland. The former Eastern Cape enclave, of the town of Umzimkulu and its hinterland, have been incorporated into KwaZulu-Natal, following the 12th amendment of the Constitution of South Africa. The amendment also made other changes to the southern border of the province.
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