THE CHRISTMAS CRUISE – 22nd DECEMBER 2023 – FROM DURBAN.
ITINERARY: PORTUGUESE ISLAND and POMENE BAY

PORTUGUESE ISLAND

“Set between the African coast and the Indian Ocean, Portuguese Island is a small, uninhabited island: one of the enchanting destinations of an MSC cruise to Southern Africa. It is located at the external limit of Maputo Bay, host to the capital of Mozambique, under the cover of Inhaca Island, the chosen location for some of the most luxurious resorts of the entire continent.

During your holiday, take some time between dips in the warm, crystalline ocean waters to stroll around this island. It is six kilometers long, about an hour’s walk on sand that caresses the soles of your feet (during the central hours of the day, it is best to wear open sandals because the sand becomes very hot), with only the blue of the water and the green of the low vegetation for company.
The mild effort involved will be repaid in kiosks serving refreshing beverages and local food. If you like rum, try the Tipo Tinto, which is distilled from local sugar cane. There is also no lack of beach activities: in addition to all the services available for those who just want to lay in the sun undisturbed, such as beach umbrellas, deckchairs, and sunbeds, there is equipment for playing beach volleyball and beach tennis.
However, a piece of advice for all: don’t stop as soon as you get off the tender t that brings you to the island, look for a more secluded bay; they are just a short, pleasant stroll away. For those who wish it, it is also possible to circumnavigate the island and admire the coast and the bay of Maputo in a traditional dhow: boats with a triangular sail of Middle-Eastern origins that have sailed the waters of the Indian Ocean for centuries.
From Portuguese Island, it is possible to reach the nearby main island of Inhaca, where, in addition to fantastic beaches, there are restaurants, bars, a market, and even a Marine Museum and old lighthouse.” – MSC CRUISES SA

POMENE BAY

“Smiling and hospitable people, magical beaches, hut villages, baobab and mangrove forests, unspoiled islands, and some of the most stunning beaches on the African continent.

Your MSC South Africa cruise welcomes you to Mozambique, a natural portent just waiting to be discovered. Between the capital Maputo, in the South, and Pemba, in the North of the State, there are 2000 kilometers of coastline, characterized by stretches of white sand that blend into the horizon, blue lagoons, and unexplored coral reefs.
During your holiday with MSC Cruises, you can disembark in Pomene, one of the most picturesque sites in Mozambique, depending upon sea and weather conditions. The lagoon that protects this extraordinary bay, set between the blue Indian Ocean and the waters where the mangroves grow – these extraordinary plants appear to float on the surface of the water, like a forest in a fairy tale – is part of the Pomene Nature Reserve, a protected marine area that has managed to preserve its authentic and wild beauty thanks to its remote location.
An MSC Cruises excursion to this sun-kissed place offers you the opportunity to relax with long walks or horseback riding on the beach, to explore the surrounding nature with the help of a guide, immersing yourself in lush leafy vegetation, with an abundance of different species, or watch the sunset while lying on the fine sand of Pomene. Your MSC cruise ship will take you to an African paradise that is also famous for diving and snorkeling, perfect for lovers of the underwater world. Mozambique is a land full of natural beauty spots that never cease to surprise and amaze.” – MSC CRUISES SA