MSC Cruise from Durban advice

marco79

marco79

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We're planning to go on a cruise from Durban to Portuguese Islands and Pomene early next year.

Anyone have good experiences with booking through travel agents. We're looking for the agent to book the cabins and flights from Cape Town.

What happens at the 2 stops? Do you disembark and spend the day on excursions, or just lazing on the beach, etc.

Thanks in advance.
 
Yep you spend a day doing activities on the beach and return to your cabin in the afternoon. I found going through MSC is cheaper. Recently I saw a special for 4 people on the musica for 12k sharing a room for sometimes next year.
 
I'll sit on the phone layer today with MSC, but thought it might have been easier dealing with an agent. Especially with the flight bookings and transfers from Airport to Cruise ship.
 
Colleagues of mine did it last year, they bought the cruise tickets directly from MSC and booked their own flight tickets down to Durbs, it is no hassle really. They stayed at a guesthouse very close to the harbour, so the guest house's shuttle picked them up from the airport and then they walked to the harbour the next morning.
 
I did it last year. Just book online directly with MSC. Arrange your own flights.

Yes you get off at the islands, eat and drink yourself to death. Take some cash with you when you disembark to buy some coconut cocktails :)
 
Buy drink vouchers before . It's cheaper that way. Take ZAR with you. Their currency is useless in SA. But rands are used that side. Anything else is just routine booking and travelling.
 
Thanks for the tips, I made a booking for the March school holidays 2019. I hope the weather that time of the year isn't too chilly. The kids love swimming and will probably be in the water 80% of the time.

As for this drinks, I will load up on drinks vouchers once we've paid for the cruise.
 
winner said:
Buy drink vouchers before . It's cheaper that way. Take ZAR with you. Their currency is useless in SA. But rands are used that side. Anything else is just routine booking and travelling.
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How does one buy drink vouchers?
 
You have to buy pre-paid drinks voucher packages from MSC a few days before the cruise.
 
bluepoole said:
Colleagues of mine did it last year, they bought the cruise tickets directly from MSC and booked their own flight tickets down to Durbs, it is no hassle really. They stayed at a guesthouse very close to the harbour, so the guest house's shuttle picked them up from the airport and then they walked to the harbour the next morning.
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Thanks. So I booked the cruise for next year March School holidays.

Can you find out from your colleague which guesthouse they stayed at? Walking distance to the harbor would be a great plus.
 
marco79 said:
Thanks. So I booked the cruise for next year March School holidays.

Can you find out from your colleague which guesthouse they stayed at? Walking distance to the harbor would be a great plus.
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It is called Happy Hippo Accommodation - name sounds corny but it was a decent place to stay over for one night, and of course ideally located.
 
I also have a question. The only dates I have available is when the Gospel cruise is the event on the boat. Will all the usual activities on the boat go on as per normal or will the whole cruise be about Gospel?
 
Avoid Imagine Cruises. They muddled up hotel bookings, got flight numbers messed up (quoted QAR3773 when it should have been QAR7337) and tried to charge R15000 for "changing the flight". Luckily insurance paid for the stuff-up, but we spent an extra day in Doha
When I complained after getting back, they blamed it on me. Got a smarmy reply to my email
 
handyman007 said:
I also have a question. The only dates I have available is when the Gospel cruise is the event on the boat. Will all the usual activities on the boat go on as per normal or will the whole cruise be about Gospel?
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The gospel events are held in the theatre & the ticket is sold seperately (R1 000 per person). The ship has its usual activities & entertainment.
 
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