MSC Opera to return to South African waters for next cruise season

MSC Opera open for bookings

With the 2024/2025 South African cruise season about to kick off, some may be looking to see what the 2025/2026 season could have in store instead, now that MSC Cruises has announced that the MSC Opera will make a return to South Africa.

According to Travel News, after its season in the Mediterranean, the Opera is scheduled to offer a repositioning cruise from Venice to Durban via the Red Sea, calling in Croatia, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion before arriving in South African waters to spend the South African summer season sailing short cruises from Durban and Cape Town.

Bookings have already opened for the MSC Opera’s 2025/2026 South African sailings, which will begin on 28 November 2025.  

MSC Cruises offers new experience at Durban’s Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal

In related news, the 2024/2025 South African cruise season will come with an exciting new offering from MSC Cruises.

The cruise company will soon launch an exclusive MSC Privé Lounge at Durban’s Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal for the upcoming 2024/2025 season.

The new lounge will make transiting through the cruise terminal all the more easier, with a priority embarkation experience.

What’s included?

Guests can enjoy the following benefits at the Privé Lounge:

• A dedicated baggage drop-off area,
• Priority security screening lane,
• A dedicated check-in counter,
• Expedited Immigration procedures, as well as
• Access to the MSC Privé Lounge on the first floor of the terminal where passengers can enjoy light refreshments and non-alcoholic beverages.

How much will it cost?

According to MSC Cruises, the new lounge is already open for bookings, which must be done telephonically by calling the MSC call centre.

The experience can be purchased for R350 per adult for cruises departing from Durban, and only applies to embarkation and does not include disembarkation.