Public invited to welcome MSC Sinfonia
MSC SINFONIA will be the first international cruise liner to arrive in Durban, with the official start of the 2016/17 Durban cruise season.
THE Port of Durban will usher in MSC SINFONIA in the early hours of 1 November, marking the first international cruise liner arrival and official start of the 2016/17 Durban cruise season.
The largest and most popular cruise ship in the Durban cruise season is expected to dock at the Port of Durban just after 5am where she will enjoy the traditional welcome including a tug water spraying drill.
To ensure that the public is able to share in the moment, Transnet National Ports Authority has arranged temporary public access to Port of Durban’s North Pier viewing deck on Tuesday morning. The North Pier is located at the top end of Mahatma Gandhi Road, where simple detours are in place due to construction in the area. Roadside parking is available.
Boasting 980 cabins and newly revamped facilities, MSC SINFONIA will arrive on a journey from Venice, Italy, carrying a full capacity of 2600 European and South African passengers.
The slightly longer cruise ship will be berthed at the Point and Leisure Precinct’s longer M-berth following her recent multi-million Euro revamp which has increased her length by 24 metres.
MSC SINFONIA will also receive a warm Durban welcome from senior officials from the Ethekwini Municipality and KZN provincial government who will be joined by Transnet National Ports Authority’s leadership team. The welcoming ceremony will take place at the port’s N-shed, which was upgraded ahead of the 2015/16 cruise season in a joint exercise between TNPA and MSC Cruises. N-Shed now boasts a number of new features including new signage, immigration, baggage scanners, conveyor belt and balustrades among other features.
