Geoff Brock & Bruce Gamble
         
     

March 2016 South Africa : Mom's 80th birthday cruise

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The day after the party, Mom, Jackie, Linda and Bruce set off for the drive to Durban.
Mom was in pain after dancing last night, so we stopped a couple of times for her to get out of the car and walk about.
 
We stayed overnight at the Josco Smith Cottage in Durban North. It was perfect for our needs. The owner, Walter, who lives in the house next door, had kindly agreed to let us leave our car there while we were on the cruise.
 
 
 
In the morning, we took a taxi to the port.
 
The first glimpse of our home for the next four nights, the gleaming MSC Sinfonia.
 
 
 
We were told that there were ONLY 2000 guests on our cruise!

Our cabins were 9176 and 9180.
 
 
Once aboard, we began to get our bearings in the public areas, because it was too early to go to our cabins.
 
 
It's the first time I've seen a helicopter being used to transport pilots to and from ships.
 
The all-important cruise card. Mom learned the hard way that she needed to carry it with her at all times, after getting locked out of the cabin whilst the rest of us were somewhere else on the ship. She stood forlornly in the corridor for over half an hour waiting for one of us to return!
 
Our cabins were spacious and comfortable.
 
 
The first of our daily programmes (opens in a separate tab/window)
 
Shortly after lunch, we sailed from Durban. It happened so quietly, we hardly knew we had left!
 
 
 
 
 
The Il Covo restaurant, where our evening meals were served.
 
 

Although we felt quite tired, we went to the second performance of the nightly show in the theatre.

It was called "Fabulous"... and it was!
 

Day 2 - The Port of Maputo

(The programme opens in a new tab/window)
 
Approaching the port of Maputo in the morning.
 
Maputo skyline
 
Maputo harbour
 

We docked in Maputo at around 10:30 a.m. Bruce, Jackie and Linda decided to disembark and do the city tour, leaving Mom on the ship, at her request. (See separate page for photos of our tour.)
This photo was taken later the same day, whilst still in the port of Maputo, where we were due to remain overnight.
 
 
 
Desserts that evening in the Il Covo restaurant.
 
Later that evening, Linda and Jackie joined a group learning to Cha Cha Cha...
 
... and here is the video evidence!
 

Day 3 - Portuguese Island. Well that's what the programme said...

...however, at breakfast time, there was an announcement from the Cruise Director, on behalf of the Captain, stating that the sea swell was too high to allow tenders to be launched and that the excursions to Portuguese Island were cancelled. Some people were disappointed, but we were quite happy to relax and enjoy the facilities on board.
 
I took the opportunity to explore the ship a bit more. This is the disco. I was impressed.
 
Mini golf and basketball courts on the top deck.
 
Looking back (left) and forward (right) gives some sense of the size of the vessel.
 
One of the two pools.
 
Although the sea looked a little rough, we felt very little movement on the ship.
 
 
That evening, we had drinks in the Buddha Bar before dinner.
 
 
 
 
Tiramisu was the speciality dessert for the Italian themed evening in the restaurant.
 
   
The warm up for the late evening performance of "Romeo & Giulietta".
   
 
Cruise director, Stephen.
 
After the performance, Linda was back on the dance floor...
 
... doing the "YMCA"...
   
 
... and here is the video to prove it. Well done Linda!
 

Day 4 - At Sea (officially)
 
We had lunch today in the larger Il Galeone Restaurant.
 
The Buddha Bar
The bar where the dancing lessons took place
 
The impressive reception area
 
Dinner (and a beautiful sunset) in the Il Covo restaurant.
   
 
 
   
 
 
It was so balmy that we spent some time on the open deck that evening.
 
 
   
 
The final performance, entitled "Nature".
 
It was preceded by a performance from the kids...
 
... and followed by a colourful finale.
 
 
Two stars of the show, posing for photographs afterwards.
 
The rather sad departure day programme, mainly giving details of disembarkation procedures and luggage tags!
 

Day 5 - A very early arrival back in Durban.
 
 

That was it. A great cruise. We will be back one day, hopefully!
 
 
©Geoff Brock and Bruce Gamble