Vuyi Qubeka boarded an MSC Cruise from Durban to Portuguese Island off the coast of Mozambique. It proved to be more of a cacophony of zany individuals having heaps of fun than a dowdy pastime for the aged.
The grand MSC Opera
I’ll admit: when I was first told I would be going on a cruise my voracious curiosity to try something new was met with a cringe. Blame it on movie cliches: a surplus of old people playing bingo, the possibility of running into a bitter iceberg (thanks James Cameron) or simply my aversion to water. Either way, cruising made me nervous. But somewhere along the way on the three-day MSC Cruise from Durban to Portuguese Island, I surrendered to the concept of ‘the cruise’ and discovered a myriad reasons why life is more fun when you’re out at sea.
Cruising on the MSC Opera
Durban’s salacious sun created a spotless setting for our departure. I was travelling with a friend, Merise and we were both newbie cruisers. I begin scanning the rows of people ready to board, trying to picture what the next few days would be like. Of course, there were the expected ‘couples of age’ but between them were people of all ages, races and shapes. I observed a black beauty in heels donning a long shiny weave and a Benoni boet who seemed too old to still be wearing board shorts and Oakley sunnies.
Photo courtesy of MSC Cruises.
After registration and luggage check-in I finally boarded the glamorous MSC Opera. My eyes boggled as they meet sweeping golden staircases and sensual curves of shiny walnut burl-wooden counter tops. Turning in all directions, I took in the detailed opulence of polished marble and glittering Swarovski crystal. I’m not usually one for over-the-top interiors, but the grandness was impressive. On the walk towards my room, I observed the difference in detail of the lounges and restaurants as I passed them, each one seemingly more glamourous than the one before. Upon entering my room, I was met by an unpunctuated view of the vast, blue ocean. I opened the sliding door to the balcony and sat on a patio chair listening to the caressing sounds of the ocean, simultaneously in awe of man’s ability to create such an impressive vessel and the sheer magnificence of the ocean around me.
Photo courtesy of MSC Cruises.
I could tell you about the mouthwatering, Mediterranean-inspired five-course dinners aboard the MSC Opera; or about the 24-hour Italian feasts of freshly baked pizza and hotdogs in heavenly buns. I could go on about the congenial pool chairs that come with a convenient sun-shade attached, found on the Le Piscine Pool area on Deck 11. I could even suggest indulging in a thick, creamy double-chocolate ice cream at the Ice Cream Bar. If that conjures up a little guilt, I could recommend working the calories off at the gym overlooking the azure water. And if that all sounds a little tiring, I could propose unwinding with a 20-minute Turkish bath in the MSC Aurea Spa. I could list the all-day activities that range from dancing lessons and live music at the La Cabala Piano Bar on Deck 6 to doing the Durban kwasa kwasa (a pelvic gyration dance) to the sounds of tribal house in the Byblos Discoteca (nightclub). I could. But I won’t.
Why?
Well, because I just have and because cruising blissfully aboard the MSC Opera allowed me the time to unwind and get to know some of the people on it. And they were every bit as interesting as the cruise ship itself.
Take, for example, John O’Sullivan, a 75-year-old Irish man. He was born on the day German soldiers invaded Poland, the start to World War II. John had almost been married for fifty years and has been on over 30 cruises. I felt as if he’d been awaiting my ears ever since he entered retirement. We sat in the quiet sophistication of the library on Deck 7 where he regaled me with stories about working on ships his entire life. John was full of tales from far and wide, from stories of war to the catharsis of the shipping industry. He had seen things come and go, a life lived over many eras.
I met Miriam Zulu from Soweto. She was on the cruise with five of her close friends as a fiftieth birthday gift from one of her six children. Dancing with them in the open air felt more a thirtieth, than a fiftieth. My absolute favourite party of four was an Afrikaans mother, her son and his wife, and her older son who was recently dumped. The cruise was his mother’s attempt to heal his wounds.
Chatting to these people, I was struck by the thing that makes cruises so special. A cruise is a floating resort, but unlike resorts on land, cruise holidays are a pleasing substitute for demanding airport travel, multiple hotel bookings and the admin of planning your own itinerary. More importantly, cruises present the opportunity for you to befriend the most unlikely of individuals.
Shopping at the market on Portuguese Island. Photo by Vuyi Qubeka.
Portuguese Island excursion
The excursion to Portuguese Island was my favourite part of the trip. I booked another excursion to the nearby Inhaca Island (Shangaan for ‘old white man’) for an authentic experience of real Island life. If you go, be sure to grab a cold pineapple or coconut beer at the local tavern to cool off. Or devour the region’s signature braaied marinated tiger prawns with a crispy coconut coating at one of the local restaurants. Ask one of the residents for Ofentia’s Bakery where you can try a scrumptious fish samosa you won’t forget. (A lot of stores on Inhaca Island are not named and simply go by the owner’s name, but just ask. The locals are friendly.)
Orange under the palm trees on Inhaca Island. Photo by Vuyi Qubeka
Sadly, we were not able to alight in Maputo. The port was closed due to high winds. I spoke to a few passengers who mentioned that they had had this experience before, so expect the unexpected.
Photo courtesy of MSC Cruises.
Leave your expectations at home and be thrilled by guests and staff from all over the worlds’ nations!
Find out more about a three-day MSC Cruise form Durban to Portuguese Island here
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