Enjoy world-class services on MSC Cruise Durban to Portuguese Island

A typical day on Portuguese Island

Portuguese Island is a small, uninhabited island situated across the bay from Maputo, a stone's throw away from Inhaca Island. During the cruise season, it is considered MSC Cruises' private Indian Ocean island.

The destination is on 90% of MSC Cruises departures from Durban and it is a great way to get an insight into Mozambique.
The island has no permanent residents or structures, no pollution, no roads and no traffic, only white sandy beaches and a paradise-like feel.

After breakfast onboard, passengers arrange a tender ticket to disembark to cross to Portuguese Island. (The tender is included in the cruise)

Each and every passenger receives a time slot to access the various tender boats.

The tender ride is an experience on its own. The boats are specially designed for this Mozambican island; contrary to most other tenders around the world, MSC doesn’t use the ship’s tender but a specialized high-speed boat with a capacity of +- 150 people.

The tender boats deliver passengers directly onto the pristine white sandy beach of the uninhabited island.

MSC has built wooden structures with bars, decking, shade and an area for serving lunch, on the beach to cater for the 2,500 passengers who disembark every week. The ship crew brings everything on land from the drinks to the Feta Cheese!

Experience the crowd when you get on the Island and then start your journey again, but instead of turning right, turn left. You will find one of the best-kept secrets of the island: the perception of having the island to yourself. To walk around the island takes about an hour and a half (+- 6km) and you will barely see anyone else.

Find a great spot where you can lay your towels down and spend your morning sunbathing and swimming in the warm waters of Maputo Bay.

You will find yourself in paradise, with no noise, no rush and no worries. The only disturbance will be the waves breaking and the sound of birds, a true Robinson Crusoe experience.

Just before lunch, go back to the main area, and head up to the lunch buffet. Take this opportunity to enjoy sipping on a cocktail and listening to live music. As the ship crew is well known to create an island-like feel with the decor and the food served at the buffet.

After a filling lunch, go back in the water to enjoy the last couple of hours of this idyllic island.

Before returning to the vessel, browse the local market for some typical Mozambican souvenirs - wooden items and trinkets, traditional sarongs and powerful rum.

The market is really vibrant and colourful. Despite it not being very big and most of the stalls offering similar items, it is a great spot to meet some of the locals and support them with a purchase or two.

It is now time to return to the ship. The tenders only run from the ship to the beach at Portuguese Island between 08h00 and 12h00, then from the beach to the vessel between 12h00 and 15h00.

It takes around 20 minutes of queuing to get back to the ship and enjoy a shower before getting ready for the evening.

Your cruise Ship: MSC Orchestra

The MSC Orchestra is 92,409 tonnes, 2,550 passengers with 1,014 crew members. She is owned by MSC Cruises and is sister to the MSC Magnifica, MSC Poesia and MSC Musica. The Orchestra was in SA during 2019/2020 & replaced the MSC Musica during the 2021/2022 season. MSC Musica vs MSC Orchestra for a comparison of the two ships.

• 2 Main Restaurants (L'Ibiscus & Villa Borghese)
• 1 Buffet Restaurant (La Piazzetta)
• 1 Speciality Restaurant - Shanghai ($/€)
• 1 Theatre
• 2 Lounges
• 16 Bars

• Casino
• SPA with treatments rooms
• Boutiques
• Card Room & Library
• Children Playroom
• Mini-Golf