South Africans can now experience the warm waters of the East Coast and the beauty of the West on the MSC Splendida which is spending its first local cruise season in the region during 2023/24. And the gastronomic delights on board are going to be an important part of the journey.
Splendida docked in the Port of Durban the first time in late November, before starting a season of cruises around the Southern African coast.
To mark the vessel’s first cruise season in the region MSC Cruises generously invited a thousand guests, including travel industry professionals, media and VIP guests, to experience a night on board in the port. As a representative of Travel News, I was among the lucky overnight guests who got a taste of the hospitality that holidaymakers will get to enjoy this cruise season.
Embarkation was longer than the norm as the company’s computer systems in London had connectivity issues, which caused a delay in processing passengers through the brand-new R300 million Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal. But once the passengers were on board, MSC Cruises, with its sterling people, redeemed itself.
The broad, welcoming smiles and hospitality of the international crew hailing from Japan, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and many other countries, swiftly washed away all stresses and strains, as did the gastronomic delights that awaited us in the Butchers Cut Steakhouse and the Sea Pavilion Restaurant where chefs had prepared a sample spread of the menus.
At Butchers Cut, the smoked tomato soup and the shrimp cocktail were both delicious starters. Mains of Alaskan sockeye salmon with corn barley risotto, and for meat lovers, ribeye steak with peppercorn sauce on mashed potato – both tender and flavourful. Sushi lovers were treated at the Sea Pavilion Restaurant where the chef had prepared a colourful and tasty assortment of sushi dishes ranging from Maguro Sushimi and Sake Nigiri to Samurai Tempura. Both restaurants served dishes that were aesthetically delightful and delectable on the palate – given more time on board I would most certainly become a regular at both these restaurants.
Staff at the restaurants and the bar, where I grabbed an ice coffee before heading to my cabin to unwind, deserve full marks for their friendly and extremely efficient service.
Splendida accommodates 4 363 passengers in 1637 cabins, over nine decks, including interior, ocean view, balcony, family, executive and royal suite categories, 80% of which have private balconies. Splendida has almost double the number of cabins on the MSC Sinfonia. The additional space on the Splendida is palpable in the lounges and bars and in the cabins and suites, which range in size from 23-29 sqm.
My cabin was comfortable and well appointed with a king-size bed, sufficient charging ports, storage space and a small, neat ensuite bathroom with a shower.
Service at the dinner in the La Reggia dining room on Deck 6 mid-ship was slow
so we skipped dessert and decided to explore the ship, not least the Aquapark on deck 14 where Dr Victor & the Rasta Rebels were playing in The Aquapark, and the Aft Lounge on deck seven where Mafikizolo drew a big crowd partying the night away, followed by DJ Lala and Che Cherry in the Club 33 Disco for the really dedicated revellers.
I grabbed a late-night pizza on deck 14, where I devoured a delicious hot slice of a margarita, and finished off with a cup of hot chocolate before turning in for the night.
Breakfast served in the Bora Bora Buffet offered a range of meal options from muesli, cereals and fruit, to a continental breakfast or a full English breakfast, grilled kippers, smoked salmon, omelettes, eggs Benedict, and waffles accompanied by a choice of breads, fresh fruit juices, coffees and teas. No chance of becoming bored with this breakfast menu, even over the space of a week. I settled for the MSC Express with scrambled or fried eggs, hash brown potatoes, grilled tomato, sautéed potatoes and baked beans. Looking back, I realise if there had been more time I would have indulged a little more on the fruit, and cheeses and lingered over coffee before tucking into a hot breakfast.
But it was almost time to disembark. The brief but exhilarating overnight experience was over.
I am a landlubber but tasting the inside of a cruise ship, some five years after my first trip to Mozambique’s Pomene Beach in 2018, I did feel the pull of ocean, and of course the warm hospitality onboard.
MSC Splendida will serve passengers embarking from both Cape Town or Durban during the cruise season, sailing across the Indian and South Atlantic Ocean, visiting destinations such as Portuguese Island, Réunion and Mauritius.
