119 nightsFrom Genoa, Italy44 ports of call
119 nights World Cruise from Genoa (Portofino)
MSC Cruises · MSC Magnifica
Overview
A 119-night voyage aboard MSC Magnifica, departing Genoa, Italy on 5 Jan 2029 and returning to the same port, calling at 44 destinations along the way.
Genoa, ItalyMarseille, FranceBarcelonaMalagaCasablancaMindelo, Cape VerdeSalvadorRio de JaneiroBuenos AiresPuerto MadrynPort StanleyUshuaia, ArgentinaPuerto MonttValparaisoHanga Roa, Easter IslandPapeetePago PagoLautokaSuvaAucklandTauranga, New ZealandTimaruDunedin, New ZealandHobartSydney, AustraliaMelbournePenneshaw, Kangaroo IslandAdelaideFremantleBroome, AustraliaDarwin, AustraliaBenoa/BaliLembar,IndonesiaCelukan Bawang, BaliSurabaya, JavaSemarangSingaporePhuketColombo, Sri LankaAqabaSuezAlexandria, EgyptCivitavecchia, RomeGenoa, Italy
Cabin prices
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Itinerary
119 nights · 120 ports of call- 1
Day 1 ·Genoa (Portofino), ItalyEmbark
5 Jan 2029Depart 17:00Genoa is marvellously eclectic, vibrant and full of rough-edged style; it’s a great cruise excursion.
Indeed “La Superba” (The Superb), as it was known at the height of its authority as a Mediterranean superpower, boasts more zest and intrigue than all the surrounding coastal resorts put together.
During a holiday to Genoa you can explore its old town: a dense and fascinating warren of medieval alleyways home to large palazzi built in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by Genoa’s wealthy mercantile families and now transformed into museums and art galleries. You should seek out the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, the Palazzo Ducale, and the Renaissance palaces of Via Garibaldi which contain the cream of Genoa’s art collections, as well as furniture and decor from the grandest days of the city’s past, when its ships sailed to all corners of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Acquario di Genova is the city’s pride and joy, parked like a giant ocean liner on the waterfront, with seventy tanks housing sea creatures from all the world’s major habitats, including the world’s biggest reconstruction of a Caribbean coral reef. It’s a great aquarium by any standards, the second largest in Europe by capacity, and boasts a fashionably ecology-conscious slant and excellent background information in Italian and English.
Just 35 km south of Genoa, there’s no denying the appeal of Portofino, tucked into a protected inlet surrounded by lush cypress- and olive-clad slopes. It’s an A-list resort that has been attracting high-flying bankers, celebs and their hangers-on for years, as evidenced by the flotillas of giant yachts usually anchored just outside. It’s a tiny place that is attractive yet somehow off-putting at the same time, with a quota of fancy shops, bars and restaurants for a place twice its size. - 2
Day 2 ·Marseille (Provence), France
6 Jan 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00On the spectacular coastline of the French Riviera lies Marseille, an MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination. This atmospheric port city is known for its unique mix of grit and glamour, seen in its labyrinth of streets and historical architecture. Only a few miles from Marseille’s charismatic cafes and bustling Vieux Port, stunning cities are to be found. Visit Aix-en-Provence, birthplace of Cézanne, or take in the ancient beauty of Avignon. - 3
Day 3 ·Barcelona
7 Jan 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 18:00One of the busiest cruise ports in the Mediterranean, the seaside city of Barcelona is known for its iconic architecture, colourful culture, and world-class drinking and dining.
Explore Antoni Gaudí’s surreal Sagrada Família, the famous boulevard of the Ramblas, the medieval Barri Gótic, and the Museu Picasso. But there’s even more to discover in this sprawling Spanish city, an MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination: from hidden tapas bars and fabulous food markets to Europe’s biggest football stadium. - 4
Day 4 ·At Sea
8 Jan 2029 - 5
Day 5 ·Malaga
9 Jan 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 17:00The elegant central zone of Málaga – a stop-off on your MSC cruise of the Mediterranean – is largely pedestrianized with the focal point, marble-paved Calle Marqués de Larios, lined with fashionable stores, its most elegant thoroughfare.
Plaza de la Constitución, Málaga’s main square, hosts a monumental fountain flanked by slender palms and the terraces of numerous cafés and restaurants. Málaga centre has a number of interesting churches and museums, not to mention the birthplace of Picasso and the Museo Picasso Málaga, housing an important collection of works by Málaga’s most famous son.
Perched on the hill above the town are the formidable citadels of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, magnificent vestiges of the seven centuries that the Moors held sway here.
Málaga is also renowned for its fish and seafood, which can be sampled at tapas bars and restaurants throughout the city, as well as at the old fishing villages of El Palo and Pedregalejo, now absorbed into the suburbs, where there’s a seafront paseo lined with some of the best marisquerías and chiringuitos (beachside fish restaurants) in the province.
The impressive Alcazaba is the place to make for if you’re joining a shore excursion. Clearly visible from your cruise ship, to the left of its entrance on c/Acazabilla stands the Roman Theatre accidentally discovered in 1951, and – following excavation and restoration – now a venue for various outdoor entertainments.
The citadel, too, is Roman in origin, with blocks and columns of marble interspersed among the Moorish brick of the double- and triple-arched gateways. Above the Alcazaba, and connected to it by a long double wall (the coracha), is the Gibralfaro castle. Like the Alcazaba, it has been wonderfully restored and now houses an interesting museum devoted to its history. - 6
Day 6 ·Casablanca
10 Jan 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 21:00Casablanca, an impressive port city on Morocco’s magical coast, is an MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination. Discover Mauresque architecture, attractive beaches, and the colourful Old Medina.
Place Mohammed V, a square of symbolic significance, is resplendent with palm trees and a majestic fountain. Beyond the port, two extraordinary cities await your discovery — vibrant Marrakech and beautiful Rabat. - 7
Day 7 ·At Sea
11 Jan 2029 - 8
Day 8 ·At Sea
12 Jan 2029 - 9
Day 9 ·At Sea
13 Jan 2029 - 10
Day 10 ·Mindelo
14 Jan 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 18:00Mindelo is a portcity on the Cape Verde in the northern part of the island of São Vicente. Mindelo is also the seat of the parish of Nossa Senhora da Luz, and this island's municipality. São Vicente is a small volcanic island integrated in the group of the islands of Barlavento, between Santo Antão, on the West, and Santa Luzia, on the East. The island was discovered on January 22 of 1462, but it was uninhabited until 1838, when the British decided to install a coaling-station in Mindelo to supply the ships that navigated in the Atlantic routes. During many centuries, São Vicente was used for cattle pasturage, namely goats and temporary hunt-preserve. Nevertheless, the excellent port characteristics of the Bay of Mindelo made the island in one of the most important worlds trade post for the supply of coal to the ships that crossed the Atlantic, and it soon became the uppermost place where foreign going ships came for coal supply. - 11
Day 11 ·At Sea
15 Jan 2029 - 12
Day 12 ·At Sea
16 Jan 2029 - 13
Day 13 ·At Sea
17 Jan 2029 - 14
Day 14 ·At Sea
18 Jan 2029 - 15
Day 15 ·Salvador, Brazil
19 Jan 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 16:00High above the enormous bay of Todos os Santos (All Saints), where your MSC cruise ship awaits your return, Salvador de Bahia has an electric feel from the moment you arrive.
This is the great cultural and historical centre of Brazil, where Afro-Brazilian heritage is strongest and where capoeira, candomblé and samba de roda were created.
MSC South America cruises offer excursions to the centro histórico of this magical place, a melange of narrow cobbled streets, peeling purple walls, grand Baroque churches, kids kicking footballs, rastas, locals sipping bottled beer on plastic chairs, the wafting aroma of herbs and the almost constant beating of drums, especially as the sun sets. Beyond the old town Salvador is a vast, sprawling city, with a vibrant beach life, modern skyscrapers and plenty of favelas.
The centro histórico is the traditional heart of Salvador; it’s built around the craggy, 70m-high bluff that dominates the eastern side of the bay, and is split into upper and lower sections. Cidade Alta (or simply “Centro”) is strung along its top, linked to the less interesting Cidade Baixa (the old commercial centre, aka “Comércio”) by precipitous streets and the towering Art Deco lift-shaft of the Elevador Lacerda. Cidade Alta is the cultural centre of the city, and the section known as the Pelourinho is the groovy old district with colourful and hilly winding streets, its most vibrant and beguiling neighbourhood.
The best spot to begin a walking tour of the city is at the Praça Municipal, the square dominated by the impressive Palácio do Rio Branco, the old governor’s palace which was in use until 1979. The fine interior is a blend of Rococo plasterwork, polished wooden floors and painted walls and ceilings. - 16
Day 16 ·At Sea
20 Jan 2029 - 17
Day 17 ·Rio de Janeiro
21 Jan 2029Arrive 09:00Depart 23:59As you’ll be able to appreciate when you cruise the Atlantic Ocean with MSC Cruises, in its position on the southern shore of the magnificent Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro has, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most stunning settings in the world.
Extending for 20km along an alluvial strip, between an azure sea and forest-clad mountains, the city’s streets and buildings have been moulded around the foothills of the mountain range that provides its backdrop, while out in the bay there are many rocky islands fringed with white sand.
The aerial views over Rio are breathtaking, and even the concrete skyscrapers that dominate the city’s skyline add to the attraction. As the former capital of Brazil and now its second-largest city, Rio has a remarkable architectural heritage, some of the country’s best museums and galleries, superb restaurants and a vibrant nightlife – in addition to its legendary beaches. A shore excursion on your MSC South America cruise can be the opportunity to visit the Pão de Açúcar.
The Sugar Loaf Mountain rises where Guanabara Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its name may simply reflect a resemblance to the moulded loaves in which sugar was once commonly sold. Alternatively, it may be a corruption of the indigenous Tamoya word Pau-nh-Açuquá, meaning “high, pointed or isolated hill”. On the top of Corcoavado Mountain instead the Art Deco statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), arms outstretched in welcome, stands 30m high and weighs over 1000 tonnes. It was supposed to be completed for Brazil’s centenary independence celebrations in 1922, but wasn’t actually finished until 1931.
In clear weather, fear no anticlimax: climbing to the statue is a stunning experience, with the whole of Rio and Guanabara Bay laid out before you. - 18
Day 18 ·Rio de Janeiro
22 Jan 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 16:00As you’ll be able to appreciate when you cruise the Atlantic Ocean with MSC Cruises, in its position on the southern shore of the magnificent Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro has, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most stunning settings in the world.
Extending for 20km along an alluvial strip, between an azure sea and forest-clad mountains, the city’s streets and buildings have been moulded around the foothills of the mountain range that provides its backdrop, while out in the bay there are many rocky islands fringed with white sand.
The aerial views over Rio are breathtaking, and even the concrete skyscrapers that dominate the city’s skyline add to the attraction. As the former capital of Brazil and now its second-largest city, Rio has a remarkable architectural heritage, some of the country’s best museums and galleries, superb restaurants and a vibrant nightlife – in addition to its legendary beaches. A shore excursion on your MSC South America cruise can be the opportunity to visit the Pão de Açúcar.
The Sugar Loaf Mountain rises where Guanabara Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its name may simply reflect a resemblance to the moulded loaves in which sugar was once commonly sold. Alternatively, it may be a corruption of the indigenous Tamoya word Pau-nh-Açuquá, meaning “high, pointed or isolated hill”. On the top of Corcoavado Mountain instead the Art Deco statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), arms outstretched in welcome, stands 30m high and weighs over 1000 tonnes. It was supposed to be completed for Brazil’s centenary independence celebrations in 1922, but wasn’t actually finished until 1931.
In clear weather, fear no anticlimax: climbing to the statue is a stunning experience, with the whole of Rio and Guanabara Bay laid out before you. - 19
Day 19 ·At Sea
23 Jan 2029 - 20
Day 20 ·At Sea
24 Jan 2029 - 21
Day 21 ·Buenos Aires
25 Jan 2029Arrive 09:00Depart 23:59Buenos Aires is a must-see on your MSC South America cruise to Argentina. Its heart is the spacious, palm-dotted Plaza de Mayo, the ideal place to begin a tour of the area and explore its historical and political connections; its mismatched medley of buildings includes the famous Casa Rosada, or government house.
An amble westwards from the plaza will take you along Avenida de Mayo, the city’s major boulevard, offering an impressive display of Art Nouveau and Art Decoarchitecture. At its western end, Avenida de Mayo opens onto the Plaza del Congreso, presided over by the Congreso Nacional building, the seat of the federal parliament.
Casa Rosada, a typically Argentine blend of French and Italian Renaissance styles, stands on the site of the city’s Spanish fort, begun in 1594 and converted in 1776 to the viceroy’s palace. In 1862, President Bartolomé Mitre moved the government ministries to the building, remodelling it once again.
The final touch was added in 1885, when the central arch was added, unifying the facade. Behind the Casa Rosada, the Plaza Colón features a gigantic Argentine flag and a Carrara marble statue of Christopher Columbus, looking out to the river and towards the Old World.
MSC South America cruises also offer excursions to the north of Buenos Aires, where the four residential barrios of most interest to visitors – Retiro, Recoleta, Palermo and Belgrano – each retain a distinctive character. Nearest to the centre, Retiro and Recoleta – known jointly as Barrio Norte – have chic streets lined with boutiques, art galleries and smart cafés. Recoleta is associated primarily with its magnificent cemetery where, among other national celebrities, Evita is buried.
Both barrios also share an extraordinary concentration of French-style palaces, tangible proof of the obsession of the city’s elite at the beginning of the twentieth century with established European cities - 22
Day 22 ·Buenos Aires
26 Jan 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 20:00Buenos Aires is a must-see on your MSC South America cruise to Argentina. Its heart is the spacious, palm-dotted Plaza de Mayo, the ideal place to begin a tour of the area and explore its historical and political connections; its mismatched medley of buildings includes the famous Casa Rosada, or government house.
An amble westwards from the plaza will take you along Avenida de Mayo, the city’s major boulevard, offering an impressive display of Art Nouveau and Art Decoarchitecture. At its western end, Avenida de Mayo opens onto the Plaza del Congreso, presided over by the Congreso Nacional building, the seat of the federal parliament.
Casa Rosada, a typically Argentine blend of French and Italian Renaissance styles, stands on the site of the city’s Spanish fort, begun in 1594 and converted in 1776 to the viceroy’s palace. In 1862, President Bartolomé Mitre moved the government ministries to the building, remodelling it once again.
The final touch was added in 1885, when the central arch was added, unifying the facade. Behind the Casa Rosada, the Plaza Colón features a gigantic Argentine flag and a Carrara marble statue of Christopher Columbus, looking out to the river and towards the Old World.
MSC South America cruises also offer excursions to the north of Buenos Aires, where the four residential barrios of most interest to visitors – Retiro, Recoleta, Palermo and Belgrano – each retain a distinctive character. Nearest to the centre, Retiro and Recoleta – known jointly as Barrio Norte – have chic streets lined with boutiques, art galleries and smart cafés. Recoleta is associated primarily with its magnificent cemetery where, among other national celebrities, Evita is buried.
Both barrios also share an extraordinary concentration of French-style palaces, tangible proof of the obsession of the city’s elite at the beginning of the twentieth century with established European cities - 23
Day 23 ·At Sea
27 Jan 2029 - 24
Day 24 ·At Sea
28 Jan 2029 - 25
Day 25 ·Puerto Madryn, Argentina
29 Jan 2029Arrive 09:00Depart 18:00Puerto Madryn, where you will stop on your MSC World Cruise, is on the shores of the beautiful and protected Nuevo Gulf.
The city is the gateway to the incredible Ecocentro, east of the city, an ecological treasure of the Valdés Peninsula where you can discover the rich marine life in the area.
The Welsh landed here for the first time in 1865, but development was slow until the arrival of the railway two decades later, when Puerto Madryn became the port for the villages in the lower Valley of the Chubut River.
The Parque Histórico Punta Cuevas marks the first Welsh settlement in Patagonia with the Monumento al Indio Tehuelche, a statue that celebrates the centenary of the arrival of the Welsh and pays homage to the Tehuelche. From here you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Nuevo Golf at sunset, lit up by the lights of the city. Along the promontory lies Puerto Madryn’s most important attraction, the outstanding Ecocentre. This interactive museum promotes awareness and respect for marine ecosystems. You can take an MSC day trip to go dolphin and sea lion watching out
at sea, or to visit the Valdés Peninsula and Punta Tombo.
The Valdés Peninsula is one of the most important marine reserves in the world, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Nothing can prepare you for the amazing richness of the marine environment that surrounds it – and in particular the southern right whales which migrate here every year to swim in the waters off the town of Puerto Pirámides – nor for the immense colonies of animals living on the Peninsula’s steep, crumbly cliffs. Punta Tombo is home to the continent's largest colonyof penguins; the noise produced by the black and white Magellanic penguins is deafening, but walking through this avian metropolis, surrounded by the strangest sounds and tottering birds is a unique experience.
This is just one of the fantastic destinations of our cruise around the world: MSC World Cruise 2020! - 26
Day 26 ·At Sea
30 Jan 2029 - 27
Day 27 ·Port Stanley
31 Jan 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00 - 28
Day 28 ·At Sea
1 Feb 2029 - 29
Day 29 ·At Sea
2 Feb 2029 - 30
Day 30 ·Ushuaia
3 Feb 2029Arrive 06:00Depart 23:59Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego and the province’s main tourist hub, is located at the southern end of Isla Grande.
Boasting a spectacular location, sandwiched between the mountains – including Cerro Martial and Mount Olivia – and the sea, Ushuaia extends down the hill towards the arm of land that surrounds the Bay, where the ship will stop during your MSC WorldCruise.
The city is protected from the icy Southwest winds and occasional storms that occur in the Beagle Channel. Interesting excursions include the small islands in the middle of the channel in front of the city, with their colonies of seabirds, and the nearby Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is the most populous and popular city in Tierra del Fuego, and depends largely on the thriving tourism industry, which capitalises on the beauty of the area’s natural landscapes.
Overlooking the sea is the Antigua Casa de Gobierno, a late-20th century building that was originally the Governor's mansion before being used by the local government and then as a police station. It has been restored so as to return
it to its original use, so you can get an idea of how the rich lived in Ushuaia at the dawn of the city. The Fin del Mundo Museum houses exhibitions that focus on the region’s history and wildlife, as well as the polychrome figurehead of the Duchess of Albany, an English ship wrecked on the eastern end of the island in 1883. The Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, 12 km west of Ushuaia, is 630 sq. km of rugged mountains, sinuous lakes, southern beech forests, marshy bogs, sub-Antarctic tundra and lush coasts. It extends along the border with Chile, from the Beagle Channel to Sierra Inju-Goiyin, north of the huge Lake Fagnano, which you can also visit on an MSC Cruise day trip, combined with Lake Escondido.
This is just one of the fantastic destinations of our cruise around the world: MSC World Cruise 2020! - 31
Day 31 ·Ushuaia
4 Feb 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 16:00Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego and the province’s main tourist hub, is located at the southern end of Isla Grande.
Boasting a spectacular location, sandwiched between the mountains – including Cerro Martial and Mount Olivia – and the sea, Ushuaia extends down the hill towards the arm of land that surrounds the Bay, where the ship will stop during your MSC WorldCruise.
The city is protected from the icy Southwest winds and occasional storms that occur in the Beagle Channel. Interesting excursions include the small islands in the middle of the channel in front of the city, with their colonies of seabirds, and the nearby Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is the most populous and popular city in Tierra del Fuego, and depends largely on the thriving tourism industry, which capitalises on the beauty of the area’s natural landscapes.
Overlooking the sea is the Antigua Casa de Gobierno, a late-20th century building that was originally the Governor's mansion before being used by the local government and then as a police station. It has been restored so as to return
it to its original use, so you can get an idea of how the rich lived in Ushuaia at the dawn of the city. The Fin del Mundo Museum houses exhibitions that focus on the region’s history and wildlife, as well as the polychrome figurehead of the Duchess of Albany, an English ship wrecked on the eastern end of the island in 1883. The Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, 12 km west of Ushuaia, is 630 sq. km of rugged mountains, sinuous lakes, southern beech forests, marshy bogs, sub-Antarctic tundra and lush coasts. It extends along the border with Chile, from the Beagle Channel to Sierra Inju-Goiyin, north of the huge Lake Fagnano, which you can also visit on an MSC Cruise day trip, combined with Lake Escondido.
This is just one of the fantastic destinations of our cruise around the world: MSC World Cruise 2020! - 32
Day 32 ·At Sea
5 Feb 2029 - 33
Day 33 ·At Sea
6 Feb 2029 - 34
Day 34 ·Puerto Montt,Chile
7 Feb 2029Arrive 09:00Depart 18:00Established in the 1850s by German settlers, Puerto Montt is beautifully situated on the Seno de Reloncaví (Strait of Reloncaví) – where your MSC cruise ship awaits you –, with snowcapped mountains clearly visible beyond the sound on a good day and the Osorno vulcan behind.
Puerto Montt is a large, busy city with traffic-choked streets.
The town stretches along the bay, with Avenida Diego Portales running east along the seafront towards the Plaza de Armas – the centre, surrounded by banks, cheap bars and restaurants. West of the main bus terminal, Avenida Costanera takes you to the busy passenger port with a feria artesanal (craft market) and the Angelmó fishing district.
While enjoying your MSC World Cruise, you can take day trips from Puerto Montt to Puerto Varas. Dominating the southwestern corner of the lake, it has become a popular resort town and backpacker haunt, with unparalleled sunset views of the two nearby volcanoes, Osorno and Calbuco.
Rivalling Pucón in terms of nearby outdoor attractions, Puerto Varas does not feel too crowded despite its popularity, and makes an excellent
base for volcano-climbing, white-water rafting, kayaking and cycling. Though the town is spread out over 3km of lakefront, most services, hostels and restaurants are located within a couple of blocks of the little Plaza de Armas.
The town’s German colonial architecture gives it a European feel, and notable early twentieth century buildings like the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (1915-18) and private residences include Casa Kuschel, on Klenner 299 (1910), Casona Alemana (1914) at Nuestra Señora del Carmen 788 and Casa Angulo (1910) at Miraflores 96.
This is just one of the fantastic destinations of our cruise around the world:MSC World Cruise 2020! - 35
Day 35 ·At Sea
8 Feb 2029 - 36
Day 36 ·Valparaiso,Chile
9 Feb 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 23:59Of Chile’s 4000km-plus coastline, the brief central strip between Rocas de Santo Domingo and Los Vilos is the most visited and developed. Known as the Litoral Central, this 250km stretch boasts bay after bay lined with gorgeous, white-sand beaches, and a string of coastal resort towns.
Valparaíso and Viña del Mar sit next to each other near the middle of the strip. They are geographical neighbours, but poles apart in appearance and atmosphere.
Viña is Chile’s largest beach resort and one of its ritziest. With its high-rises, casino, and seafront restaurants, as well as the beaches and clubs in nearby Reñaca, Viña typifies modern hedonism.
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Valparaíso, on the other hand, has far more personality, with ramshackle, colourfulhouses spilling chaotically down the hills to the sea (but no decent beaches). “Valpo” is Chile’s principal port and naval base, and also perhaps the country’s liveliest and most vibrant city. The nightlife and excellent seafood attract much of Santiago to its bars and restaurants at the weekend, as does the nearby beach
resort of Viña del Mar. For stretches of sand, you’ll need to head south or north.
Closest to Santiago, via the “Autopista del Sol” (Ruta 78), are the resorts south of Valparaíso, which are busier and more developed. The one spot besides the beaches where you might want to spend some time in Viña del Mar is the lovely Quinta Vergara park, where the manicured grounds are home to a vast array of exotic imported plants. It is located a couple of blocks south of Plaza Vergara behind the Metrotrén Estación Viña, with the futuristic-looking Anfiteatro, home to the annual music festival, as its centrepiece. - 37
Day 37 ·Valparaiso,Chile
10 Feb 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 18:00Of Chile’s 4000km-plus coastline, the brief central strip between Rocas de Santo Domingo and Los Vilos is the most visited and developed. Known as the Litoral Central, this 250km stretch boasts bay after bay lined with gorgeous, white-sand beaches, and a string of coastal resort towns.
Valparaíso and Viña del Mar sit next to each other near the middle of the strip. They are geographical neighbours, but poles apart in appearance and atmosphere.
Viña is Chile’s largest beach resort and one of its ritziest. With its high-rises, casino, and seafront restaurants, as well as the beaches and clubs in nearby Reñaca, Viña typifies modern hedonism.
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Valparaíso, on the other hand, has far more personality, with ramshackle, colourfulhouses spilling chaotically down the hills to the sea (but no decent beaches). “Valpo” is Chile’s principal port and naval base, and also perhaps the country’s liveliest and most vibrant city. The nightlife and excellent seafood attract much of Santiago to its bars and restaurants at the weekend, as does the nearby beach
resort of Viña del Mar. For stretches of sand, you’ll need to head south or north.
Closest to Santiago, via the “Autopista del Sol” (Ruta 78), are the resorts south of Valparaíso, which are busier and more developed. The one spot besides the beaches where you might want to spend some time in Viña del Mar is the lovely Quinta Vergara park, where the manicured grounds are home to a vast array of exotic imported plants. It is located a couple of blocks south of Plaza Vergara behind the Metrotrén Estación Viña, with the futuristic-looking Anfiteatro, home to the annual music festival, as its centrepiece. - 38
Day 38 ·At Sea
11 Feb 2029 - 39
Day 39 ·At Sea
12 Feb 2029 - 40
Day 40 ·At Sea
13 Feb 2029 - 41
Day 41 ·At Sea
14 Feb 2029 - 42
Day 42 ·Hanga Roa (Rapa Nui), Chile
15 Feb 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00Hanga Roa is the main town, harbour and capital of Easter Island, a province of Chile. It is located in the southern part of the island's west coast, in the lowlands between the extinct volcanoes of Terevaka and Rano Kau. The population of 3,304 comprises 87 percent of the total population of the island. - 43
Day 43 ·At Sea
16 Feb 2029 - 44
Day 44 ·At Sea
17 Feb 2029 - 45
Day 45 ·Bounty Bay Passage, Pitcaim
18 Feb 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 11:00Bounty Bay is an embayment of the Pacific Ocean into Pitcairn Island. Bounty Bay is named after the Bounty, a British naval vessel whose eighteenth-century mutiny was immortalized in the novel Mutiny on the Bounty, and the numerous subsequent motion pictures made of it. - 46
Day 46 ·At Sea
19 Feb 2029 - 47
Day 47 ·At Sea
20 Feb 2029 - 48
Day 48 ·Papeete, Tahiti
21 Feb 2029Arrive 09:00Depart 23:59In the heart of the Pacific Ocean exists a paradise of crystal clear waters, white beaches and primitive vegetation.
A place of pure beauty, where every corner hides wonderful treasures. It is French Polynesia, home of the island of Tahiti and the bustling port city of Papeete. This is where your incredibly beautiful vacation with MSC World Cruise will start on a journey to discover sensational places. It is the home of pearls; in Papeete, you can visit the first museum in the worlddedicated to the processing of these natural jewels, in particular the black pearl of Tahiti, the protagonist of the museum named after one of the largest cultivators of pearls, Robert Wan.
Here each step of the delicate process of harvesting and processing pearls will be explained and you can learn how they become beautiful jewels. The museum also offers a comprehensive guide to the history and legends associated with pearls, crossing various cultures and civilizations. During your MSC Cruise into this exotic land, you will have the opportunity to visit the pulsating center of the city of Papeete, famous for its market. Activity begins at first light, with fruit, vegetables, fish, flowers and crafts.
It is a place not to be missed especially early in the morning to breathe in its magical atmosphere before it is full of people. The entire island of Tahiti offers visitors a hiking dream, including walks in Bougainville Park, full of flowers and manicured plants, or a ride to Marae Arahurahu, the best place to admire the old traditional Polynesian temples and learn about their history by admiring one of the best preserved on these islands. MSC Cruises also offers a fantastic tour in the sky of Tahiti to see the whole island in one fell swoop. - 49
Day 49 ·Papeete, Tahiti
22 Feb 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 18:00In the heart of the Pacific Ocean exists a paradise of crystal clear waters, white beaches and primitive vegetation.
A place of pure beauty, where every corner hides wonderful treasures. It is French Polynesia, home of the island of Tahiti and the bustling port city of Papeete. This is where your incredibly beautiful vacation with MSC World Cruise will start on a journey to discover sensational places. It is the home of pearls; in Papeete, you can visit the first museum in the worlddedicated to the processing of these natural jewels, in particular the black pearl of Tahiti, the protagonist of the museum named after one of the largest cultivators of pearls, Robert Wan.
Here each step of the delicate process of harvesting and processing pearls will be explained and you can learn how they become beautiful jewels. The museum also offers a comprehensive guide to the history and legends associated with pearls, crossing various cultures and civilizations. During your MSC Cruise into this exotic land, you will have the opportunity to visit the pulsating center of the city of Papeete, famous for its market. Activity begins at first light, with fruit, vegetables, fish, flowers and crafts.
It is a place not to be missed especially early in the morning to breathe in its magical atmosphere before it is full of people. The entire island of Tahiti offers visitors a hiking dream, including walks in Bougainville Park, full of flowers and manicured plants, or a ride to Marae Arahurahu, the best place to admire the old traditional Polynesian temples and learn about their history by admiring one of the best preserved on these islands. MSC Cruises also offers a fantastic tour in the sky of Tahiti to see the whole island in one fell swoop. - 50
Day 50 ·At Sea
23 Feb 2029 - 51
Day 51 ·At Sea
24 Feb 2029 - 52
Day 52 ·At Sea
25 Feb 2029 - 53
Day 53 ·Pago Pago, American Samoa
26 Feb 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00The Samoa Islands are one of the most popular destinations in the Pacific Ocean. Their crystal clear water, beaches surrounded by the green of wild nature, and the hospitality of the Samoan people, are the perfect recipe for a dream vacation with MSC World Cruises.
Pago Pago is the capital of American Samoa, located on the island of Tutuila, offering a splendor for the eyes thanks to the magnificent mountains and forests that occupy much of the territory.
In the city, you will start off your excursion with the discovery of Samoan culture at the Jean P. Haydon Museum, home to several local traditional artifacts. In the western part of the city lies the picturesque farmer's market where you can find colorful fragrant produce, such as delicious exotic fruits.
During your holiday with MSC on this beautiful island, you will have the chance to explore the western and southern areas, home to Matafao Park, the highest peak of American Samoa, or Tia Seu Lupe, an ancient star-shaped Polynesian burial mound. You will experience a close encounter with the wonders of this place by admiring
Flowerpot Rock, an unusual rock formation, while in the background of the capital city, Mount Alava is an excellent destination for your excursions along the ridge and is the official path to the National Park of American Samoa. Not to be missed is a jump into the water of Leone Falls found in the village of the same name, where there is also a basalt quarry, an important archaeological center of the country. Many of the objects and artifacts found in and around the Pacific Rim were carved out of the stone extracted from this quarry.
There will also be moments of relaxation during your MSC cruise on one of the beautiful beaches of Pago Pago, the Alega Beach, an ideal spot for snorkeling, and the super-white Tula Beach. - 54
Day 54 ·At Sea
27 Feb 2029 - 55
Day 55 ·At Sea
28 Feb 2029 - 56
Day 56 ·At Sea
1 Mar 2029 - 57
Day 57 ·Lautoka, Fiji Islands
2 Mar 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00The most beautiful islands in the world can be found in the Pacific Ocean, small paradises with a tropical climate that offer ideal destinations for relaxing or taking wonderful excursions into lush nature.
Without a doubt, one of these is Viti Levu, the largest island of Fiji, where Lautoka, the second largest city in the country can be found. During your vacation with MSC World Cruise, you will visit this charming city center, famous for its harbor and large sugar cane factories. For precisely this reason, Lautoka is also known by the name of Sugar City.
The city refines its typically urban look with avenues lined with palm trees; you can head off from the city center to visit the nearby Mamanuca Islands, where white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters provide superb opportunities for snorkeling and surfing. This archipelago is a collection of twenty islands with a large coral reef just offshore which protects it from the waves. Boasting sunny weather and immersion in a lagoon, the Mamanuca Islands are an absolute delight for the eyes and it is here that you can find
Castaway, the island where the famous film starring Tom Hanks was produced.
Thanks to your MSC Cruise, you will also have the chance to visit the Yasawa Islands, the other group of islands near Viti Levu made famous as a result of the 1980 film "The Blue Lagoon". Needless to say, these wonderful places have been an inspiration for the world of cinema with their breathtaking scenery and white beaches as far as the eye can see.
Another must-see of your excursion with MSC Cruises will be the tiny island of Nananu-i-Ra, just 3.5 square kilometers. From these jagged coves and soft grassy hills, you can admire the Nakauvadra Range, a volcanic mountain range on Viti Levu. - 58
Day 58 ·Suva, Fiji Island
3 Mar 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00Suva is the capital of the South Pacific island nation of Fiji. It's a city of broad avenues, lush parks and grand British colonial buildings, such as the Suva City Library. Suva's colorful, lively Municipal Market offers a range of local fruit and vegetables. Fiji Museum, set within the Victorian-era Thurston Gardens, contains examples of traditional canoes, war clubs and tattooing tools. - 59
Day 59 ·At Sea
4 Mar 2029 - 60
Day 60 ·At Sea
5 Mar 2029 - 61
Day 61 ·At Sea
6 Mar 2029 - 62
Day 62 ·Auckland, New Zealand
7 Mar 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00Adorned with a harbor and a spectacular bridge, the largest and most populous city in New Zealand is also one of the most beautiful. Auckland will be the next stop on your MSC World Cruise, for an extraordinary vacation in the "City of Sails", named as such for its beautiful bays and its passion for water sports and yachting.
Its superb location, on a narrow strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, is made even more attractive by the lush subtropical forests that surround the nearby hills and the volcanic landscapes of the surrounding islands. Another stop on your trip with MSC Cruises that can not be missed is the Sky Tower, the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere. At 328 meters in height, this tower offers breathtaking sights: out of its glass windows, the view stretches for 80 kilometers in every direction.
To find out all about the Maori culture and the origins of life in the ocean, you can visit the Auckland Museum, with a section dedicated to the Second World War. Here you can not only enjoy the collections on the local traditions, but also
watch live vocal performances and dances by the local people. The National Maritime Museum instead will reveal the secrets of sailing in New Zealand, and at Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World aquarium, you can see fish of all kinds, alternating with the recreation of fantastic arctic excursions.
The city has a lot to offer in terms of art galleries, festivals and events of all kinds, related to music, cooking, wine and adventure, such as bungee jumping, skydiving, kayaking, swimming with dolphins and diving or shellfish. Thanks to your MSC cruise ship, you will experience unique moments in one of the most amazing cities in the world. - 63
Day 63 ·Tauranga, New Zealand
8 Mar 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 17:00These “sheltered waters”, the meaning of the name Tauranga in Maori, will also shelter you while on an MSC World Cruise in New Zealand.
The city extends along a narrow peninsula dotted with parks and gardens lying behind a vibrant promenade, The Strand. Tauranga is a delightful city in which you can spend half a day wandering around between shops, restaurants and art galleries. If you miss the ocean, you can take a taxi to Mount Maunganui, the name of both the mountain that protects the port of Tauranga and the district overlooking the Pacific, with its long sandy beach and surfers.
One of the city's main attractions is the Tauranga Art Gallery, which opened in 2007. The gallery is housed in a former bank that was transformed inside by creating large exhibition spaces; the exterior is completely sheathed with metal panels, similar to those of medieval armour. On The Strand, there is an ad hoc structure that houses the Te Awanui, a 14-metre long carved Maori war canoe used during ritual ceremonies; it is a truly remarkable example of New Zealand’s indigenous art. If you want
to relax, seek out the roses and Begonias in Robbins Park, or if you prefer to dive into the past of Tauranga, there’s nothing better than a visit to the immaculate Elms Mission House, one of New Zealand's oldest standing houses, built between 1835 and 1847 for the first missionaries. A visit to this house, which still has its original furniture, is part of an MSC tour that ensures that you don’t miss out on anything in Tauranga.
If you want to go further afield, about 70 km inland you can visit Tudor-style spa bath houses and the Government Gardens near the town of Rotorua, which are well worth a visit, as are the Glow-Worm Waitomo Caves and the Hobbiton Movie Set, where Peter Jackson reconstructed J.R.R Tolkien’s County for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. - 64
Day 64 ·At Sea
9 Mar 2029 - 65
Day 65 ·Timaru
10 Mar 2029Arrive 10:00Depart 19:00 - 66
Day 66 ·Dunedin, New Zealand
11 Mar 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00 - 68
Day 68 ·Cruising Milford Sound
12 Mar 2029Arrive 17:00Depart 18:00 - 68
Day 68 ·At Sea
13 Mar 2029 - 69
Day 69 ·At Sea
14 Mar 2029 - 70
Day 70 ·Hobart, Australia
15 Mar 2029Arrive 06:00Depart 19:00Where the Sky and Sea Meet
An earthly paradise of rare beauty. It is impossible to describe Fiji in any other way, a place far from reality, beautiful, iridescent ‒ a place where the sky and sea offer up dreamlike colors and atmospheres.
With your MSC World Cruise, you will have the opportunity to disembark in Suva, the capital of Viti Levu, the largest island of this beautiful archipelago. In town, you can start your tour by visiting the Fiji National Museum with its numerous archaeological finds and ancient local crafts on display. Other buildings of great interest are undoubtedly the majestic Sacred Heart Cathedral and the Suva City Library, both dating to the early twentieth century, but there are also many parks to admire that are home to beautiful local flora species.
The capital city offers visitors many places where they can have fun and eat in fine restaurants enjoying typical local dishes such as fish marinated in coconut milk. Suva is undoubtedly a lively cultural and culinary center that will amaze you. Do not miss the chance to also spend a bit of time at the Municipal Market.
Thanks to your MSC Cruise, you can relax on the beautiful white sand beaches of Viti Levu, which jut into cobalt-blue waters brimming with colorful corals and diverse marine creatures. Not to be forgotten is the hinterland with its rain forests, steep mountain ranges, and deep canyons carved by rivers and waterfalls. The perfect place for an unforgettable excursion surrounded by unspoiled nature. - 71
Day 71 ·At Sea
16 Mar 2029 - 72
Day 72 ·Sydney, Australia
17 Mar 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 23:59Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia's largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby. Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs. - 73
Day 73 ·Sydney, Australia
18 Mar 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 20:00Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia's largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby. Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs. - 74
Day 74 ·At Sea
19 Mar 2029 - 75
Day 75 ·Melbourne
20 Mar 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 20:00In many ways, Melbourne is the most European of all the Australian cities, its highlights making it one of the most unique stops on an MSC Grand Voyages cruise:magnificent landscaped gardens and parks provide green spaces near the centre, while beneath the skyscrapers of the Central Business District (CBD), an understorey of solid, Victorian-era facades ranged along tree-lined boulevards presents the city on a more human scale.
The CBD lies at the heart of the city, a grid bounded by La Trobe, Spring, Flinders and Spencer streets, dotted with fine public buildings and plenty of shops. To the north of the CBD, a wander through lively, century-old Queen Victoria Market will repay both serious shoppers and people-watchers.
In the east, the CBD rubs up against Eastern Hill, home to Parliament House as well as the landscaped Fitzroy Gardens, from where it’s a short walk to the venerable Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a must for sports fans. A shore excursion on your MSC Grand Voyages cruise can be the opportunity to visit the riverside’s most innovative development: the new 92-storey Eureka Tower located on the Southgate site and named after a landmark rebellion in Victoria’s gold-rush era (the top levels are clad in gold). Finished in 2006 and towering 300m, it is the tallest building in Melbourne.
Visitors can enjoy amazing views of the city and beyond from the 88th-floor Skydeck, which features the stomach-churning “skywalk”, The Edge, a 3m glass cube that juts out over the city below. Another MSC excursion is the Serendip Sanctuary: a square kilometre of bush, marsh and wetlands where you can observe kangaroos, wallabies and emus, as well as numerous other water birds, in their natural habitat. - 76
Day 76 ·At Sea
21 Mar 2029 - 77
Day 77 ·Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
22 Mar 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 20:00 - 78
Day 78 ·Adelaide
23 Mar 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 19:00Adelaide is a gracious city and an easy place to live, and, despite its population of almost 1.3 million, it never feels crowded; what is more, this port is one of the enchanting destinations of an MSC Grand Voyages cruise.
It’s a pretty place, laid out on either side of the Torrens River, ringed with a green belt of parks and set against the rolling hills of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Adelaide’s city centre is laid out on a strict grid plan surrounded by parkland, and virtually every building, public or domestic, is made of stone.
At the heart of the grid is Victoria Square, and each city quarter is centred on its own smaller square. North Terrace is the cultural precinct, home to the major museums, two universities and the state library. Hindley Street is the liveliest in town while Rundle Mall, its continuation, is the main shopping area. Government House, Adelaide’s oldest public building, was completed in 1855: every governor except the first has lived here. - 79
Day 79 ·At Sea
24 Mar 2029 - 80
Day 80 ·At Sea
25 Mar 2029 - 81
Day 81 ·At Sea
26 Mar 2029 - 82
Day 82 ·Fremantle/Perth, Australia
27 Mar 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 23:59Although long since merged into the metropolitan area’s suburban sprawl, Perth’s port of Fremantle – “Freo” – retains an altogether different character to the centre of Perth: one that’s just waiting to be discovered on an MSC Grand Voyages excursion.
It’s small enough to keep its energy focused, with a real working harbour and busy yacht marina, and has an eclectic, arty ambience without too many upmarket pretensions. A cruise to Fremantle is a good way to understand how this town attracts people with its famed weekend markets and café-lined “Cappuccino Strip” or South Terrace where funky boutiques are also found. Exploring Fremantle on foot, with plenty of streetside café breaks, is the most agreeable way of visiting the town’s compactly grouped sights.
The cheery Fremantle Markets include a fruit and veg market, and a more tourist-focused section crammed with stalls selling souvenirs, arts and crafts and New Age paraphernalia. The buskers who play here are said to be some of the city’s best. The lively E-Shed markets are located in a historic warehouse building on the waterside and are worth a quick look, especially for their budget food stalls. A shore excursion on your MSC Grand Voyages cruise can also be the opportunity to visit the city itself, Perth, Western Australia’s youthful capital; it has a reputation for endless sunshine and an easy-going lifestyle.
Perth’s closest beaches extend along the Sunset Coast, 30km of near-unbroken sand and coastal suburbs stretching north of the Swan River, bordered by the Indian Ocean and cooled by afternoon sea breezes. Two of the most famous are Cottesloe Beach – 7km north of Fremantle, it’s the most popular city beach, with safe swimming; there are ice-cream vendors, cafés and watercraft-rental outlets aplenty – and Scarborough. - 83
Day 83 ·Fremantle/Perth, Australia
28 Mar 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 12:00Although long since merged into the metropolitan area’s suburban sprawl, Perth’s port of Fremantle – “Freo” – retains an altogether different character to the centre of Perth: one that’s just waiting to be discovered on an MSC Grand Voyages excursion.
It’s small enough to keep its energy focused, with a real working harbour and busy yacht marina, and has an eclectic, arty ambience without too many upmarket pretensions. A cruise to Fremantle is a good way to understand how this town attracts people with its famed weekend markets and café-lined “Cappuccino Strip” or South Terrace where funky boutiques are also found. Exploring Fremantle on foot, with plenty of streetside café breaks, is the most agreeable way of visiting the town’s compactly grouped sights.
The cheery Fremantle Markets include a fruit and veg market, and a more tourist-focused section crammed with stalls selling souvenirs, arts and crafts and New Age paraphernalia. The buskers who play here are said to be some of the city’s best. The lively E-Shed markets are located in a historic warehouse building on the waterside and are worth a quick look, especially for their budget food stalls. A shore excursion on your MSC Grand Voyages cruise can also be the opportunity to visit the city itself, Perth, Western Australia’s youthful capital; it has a reputation for endless sunshine and an easy-going lifestyle.
Perth’s closest beaches extend along the Sunset Coast, 30km of near-unbroken sand and coastal suburbs stretching north of the Swan River, bordered by the Indian Ocean and cooled by afternoon sea breezes. Two of the most famous are Cottesloe Beach – 7km north of Fremantle, it’s the most popular city beach, with safe swimming; there are ice-cream vendors, cafés and watercraft-rental outlets aplenty – and Scarborough. - 84
Day 84 ·At Sea
29 Mar 2029 - 85
Day 85 ·At Sea
30 Mar 2029 - 86
Day 86 ·Broome
31 Mar 2029Arrive 10:00Depart 20:00 - 87
Day 87 ·At Sea
1 Apr 2029 - 88
Day 88 ·At Sea
2 Apr 2029 - 89
Day 89 ·Darwin
3 Apr 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 23:59Darwin is a young, lively and cosmopolitan city, as you will find in the busy bars along Mitchell Street and watching the runners and cyclists who enjoy the city’s tropical parks and waterfront districts, where your MSC cruise ship awaits you.
Darwin exceeds all expectations: it is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia, with a population of over 136,000 inhabitants made up of a mixture of different ethnic groups.
To appreciate it fully, visit its historic buildings and natural attractions, or try the excellent Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine.
While enjoying your MSC World Cruise, you can take day trips from Darwin to Litchfield National Park, with its waterfalls and forests. Crocodylus Park, on the edge of the city, is perfect for a day outdoors, combined with the beautiful Territory Wildlife Park a little further away.
The modern Parliament House is the perfect place to start your visit. It is by far the most impressive building in the Northern Territory, with an extremely imaginative design: the shape of the top of the exterior columns, reminiscent of a bomb, isin remembrance of the adversity Darwin suffered during the war. Once through the security control, the airy atrium is full of small references to the Northern Territory, from the original crest to the desert flower mosaic. Cyclones, air raids and termites have destroyed many of the old buildings in Darwin, but a few architectural gems have survived.
Government House, not far from Parliament House, was restored in the 1970s, after the original residence was devoured by white ants. The cream corrugated roof and potted palms make it a fine example of an elegant tropical building, today the official residence of the Administrator of the Northern Territory. - 90
Day 90 ·Darwin
4 Apr 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 16:00Darwin is a young, lively and cosmopolitan city, as you will find in the busy bars along Mitchell Street and watching the runners and cyclists who enjoy the city’s tropical parks and waterfront districts, where your MSC cruise ship awaits you.
Darwin exceeds all expectations: it is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia, with a population of over 136,000 inhabitants made up of a mixture of different ethnic groups.
To appreciate it fully, visit its historic buildings and natural attractions, or try the excellent Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine.
While enjoying your MSC World Cruise, you can take day trips from Darwin to Litchfield National Park, with its waterfalls and forests. Crocodylus Park, on the edge of the city, is perfect for a day outdoors, combined with the beautiful Territory Wildlife Park a little further away.
The modern Parliament House is the perfect place to start your visit. It is by far the most impressive building in the Northern Territory, with an extremely imaginative design: the shape of the top of the exterior columns, reminiscent of a bomb, isin remembrance of the adversity Darwin suffered during the war. Once through the security control, the airy atrium is full of small references to the Northern Territory, from the original crest to the desert flower mosaic. Cyclones, air raids and termites have destroyed many of the old buildings in Darwin, but a few architectural gems have survived.
Government House, not far from Parliament House, was restored in the 1970s, after the original residence was devoured by white ants. The cream corrugated roof and potted palms make it a fine example of an elegant tropical building, today the official residence of the Administrator of the Northern Territory. - 91
Day 91 ·At Sea
5 Apr 2029 - 92
Day 92 ·At Sea
6 Apr 2029 - 93
Day 93 ·Benoa
7 Apr 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 20:00Benoa Harbour (Pelabuhan Benoa), 25km south of Denpasar, is the arrival and departure point for MSC Grand Voyages cruises to Indonesia.
Benoa is a shelter for cruise ships sailing the Indian Ocean; it’s also a handy port for cruisers wanting to see Bali’s highlights. With pristine tropical beaches, elegantly sculpted rice paddies, volcanic peaks, and uncontaminated coastlines for world-class surf or sunbathing, Bali, with Lombok, is a tourist paradise; it has been attracting visitors for almost 100 years.
An unmissable excursion during your MSC Grand Voyages cruise is Ubud, Bali’s cultural heartland, home to a huge number of temples, museums and art galleries, where Balinese dance shows are staged nightly, a wealth of craft studios provide absorbing shopping, and traditional ceremonies and rituals are observed daily. Once you get away from the main thoroughfares, Ubud’s lovely location is apparent, set amid lush, terraced paddies offering plenty of scope for hikes and bicycle rides, many of them with fine views up to the central mountains.
Another MSC excursion can let you experience one of the greatest highlights of Bali and Indonesia: the Bali Safari and Marine Park. It draws several thousand visitors from all over the world who come to see animals from Indonesia, India and Africa (elephants, tigers, Komodo dragons and so on). There’s also a water park and theatrical shows. - 94
Day 94 ·Lembar
8 Apr 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 18:00 - 95
Day 95 ·Celukan Bawang
9 Apr 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00 - 96
Day 96 ·Surabaya
10 Apr 2029Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00 - 97
Day 97 ·Semarang
11 Apr 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 17:00 - 98
Day 98 ·At Sea
12 Apr 2029 - 99
Day 99 ·Singapore
13 Apr 2029Arrive 09:00Depart 23:59The Port of Singapore refers to the collective facilities and terminals that conduct maritime trade, and which handle Singapore's harbours and shipping. It is ranked as the top maritime capital of the world since 2015. - 100
Day 100 ·Singapore
14 Apr 2029Arrive 00:01Depart 18:00The Port of Singapore refers to the collective facilities and terminals that conduct maritime trade, and which handle Singapore's harbours and shipping. It is ranked as the top maritime capital of the world since 2015. - 101
Day 101 ·At Sea
15 Apr 2029 - 102
Day 102 ·Phuket
16 Apr 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 17:00Phuket Town (Muang Phuket) stands distinct from the tailor-made tourist settlements along the beaches as a place of tangible history and culture waiting to be appreciated on an MSC Grand Voyages cruise excursion.
Most visitors hang about just long enough to jump on a beach-bound songthaew, but you may find yourself returning for a welcome dose of real life; there’s plenty to engage you in a stroll through the small but atmospherically restored heart of the Old Town, along with many idiosyncratic cafés and art shops, several notable restaurants and some good handicraft shops.
Some of the Old Town’s most elegant buildings line the western arm of Thanon Thalang, where a dozen signboards highlight the special features worth an upward or sideways glance: pastel-coloured doors and shutters, elaborate stucco mouldings, ornate wooden doors, and the distinctively arched “five-foot walkways” that link them. MSC Grand Voyages cruises also offer excursions to the newly erected Big Buddha of Phuket, a towering 45m statue atop the aptly named Khao Nakkerd hill, which dominates many island vistas, including Kata Yai to the south-west.
Made of concrete but faced with glistening white-marble tiles, the eastward-looking Buddha boasts enormous proportions: he sits on a lotus flower that’s nearly 25m across and even his individual hair curls measure almost 1m each. Views from the base of the statue extend east over Ao Chalong to hilly Ko Lone beyond, while western panoramas take in Kata Noi. For islanders, Chalong is important as the site of WatChalong, Phuket’s loveliest and most famous temple, which enshrines the statue of revered monk Luang Pho Saem, who helped resolve a violent rebellion by migrant Chinese tin-miners in 1876.
Elsewhere in the temple compound, the Phra Mahathatchedi (pagoda) is believed to contain a relic of the Buddha. - 103
Day 103 ·At Sea
17 Apr 2029 - 104
Day 104 ·At Sea
18 Apr 2029 - 105
Day 105 ·Colombo
19 Apr 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 in the city proper. It is the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination. - 106
Day 106 ·At Sea
20 Apr 2029 - 107
Day 107 ·At Sea
21 Apr 2029 - 108
Day 108 ·At Sea
22 Apr 2029 - 109
Day 109 ·At Sea
23 Apr 2029 - 110
Day 110 ·At Sea
24 Apr 2029 - 111
Day 111 ·At Sea
25 Apr 2029 - 112
Day 112 ·At Sea
26 Apr 2029 - 113
Day 113 ·Aqaba
27 Apr 2029Arrive 07:00Depart 19:00When you disembark from your MSC cruise in Aqaba, you can enjoy its idyllic, sunny setting on the shores of the Red Sea, at the country’s southernmost tip.
From something of a dowdy backwater, in the last decade or so Aqaba has transformed itself into a pleasant, if still under-resourced, leisure destination. Hotels at all grades are springing up in the town as well as at luxury waterfront developments up and down the coast; investment is coming in to improve the city’s infrastructure and facilities. Some of the best diving and snorkellingin theworld is centred on the unspoiled coral reefs that hug the coast just south of the town – an engaging contrast with the nearby desert attractions of Petra and Wadi Rum.
The city centre forms a dense network of streets and alleys clustered just behind the beach road (called the “Corniche”). A shore excursion on your MSC Grand Voyages cruise can also be the opportunity to discover Petra. Tucked away in a remote valley basin in the heart of southern Jordan’s Shara mountains and shielded from the outside world behind an impenetrable barrier of rock, Petra remains wreathed in mystery.
Since a Western adventurer stumbled on the site in 1812, it has fired imaginations, its grandeur and dramatic setting pushing it – like the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal – into the realms of legend. Today, it’s almost as if time has literally drawn a veil over the once-great city, which grew wealthy enough on the caravan trade to challenge the might of Rome: two millennia of wind and rain have blurred the sharp edges of its ornate classical facades and rubbed away at its soft sandstone to expose vivid bands of colour beneath, putting the whole scene into soft focus. - 115
Day 115 ·Suez
28 Apr 2029Arrive 21:00Depart 21:15Suez is a seaport city in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez, near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, having the same boundaries as Suez Governorate. It has three harbours, Adabiya, Ain Sokhna and Port Tawfiq, and extensive port facilities. - 115
Day 115 ·Suez Canal Transit
29 Apr 2029Arrive 10:00Depart 10:15 - 116
Day 116 ·Alexandria
30 Apr 2029Arrive 06:00Depart 20:30Discover the ancient history of this cultural, intellectual, political and economic metropolis famous for its temperate winters, white sand beaches and magnifi cent scenery. - 117
Day 117 ·At Sea
1 May 2029 - 118
Day 118 ·At Sea
2 May 2029 - 119
Day 119 ·Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
3 May 2029Arrive 09:00Depart 19:00Discover the culture and colour of Civitavecchia, an MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination. This Italian gem is an enjoyable flight from many European and non-European cities. Celebrated for its 16th-century Michelangelo Fort, ancient Taurine Baths, and marble Vanvitelli fountain, the port is a convenient starting point for visiting Rome, Italy’s regal and romantic capital. - 120
Day 120 ·Genoa (Portofino), ItalyDisembark
4 May 2029Arrive 08:00Genoa is marvellously eclectic, vibrant and full of rough-edged style; it’s a great cruise excursion.
Indeed “La Superba” (The Superb), as it was known at the height of its authority as a Mediterranean superpower, boasts more zest and intrigue than all the surrounding coastal resorts put together.
During a holiday to Genoa you can explore its old town: a dense and fascinating warren of medieval alleyways home to large palazzi built in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by Genoa’s wealthy mercantile families and now transformed into museums and art galleries. You should seek out the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, the Palazzo Ducale, and the Renaissance palaces of Via Garibaldi which contain the cream of Genoa’s art collections, as well as furniture and decor from the grandest days of the city’s past, when its ships sailed to all corners of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Acquario di Genova is the city’s pride and joy, parked like a giant ocean liner on the waterfront, with seventy tanks housing sea creatures from all the world’s major habitats, including the world’s biggest reconstruction of a Caribbean coral reef. It’s a great aquarium by any standards, the second largest in Europe by capacity, and boasts a fashionably ecology-conscious slant and excellent background information in Italian and English.
Just 35 km south of Genoa, there’s no denying the appeal of Portofino, tucked into a protected inlet surrounded by lush cypress- and olive-clad slopes. It’s an A-list resort that has been attracting high-flying bankers, celebs and their hangers-on for years, as evidenced by the flotillas of giant yachts usually anchored just outside. It’s a tiny place that is attractive yet somehow off-putting at the same time, with a quota of fancy shops, bars and restaurants for a place twice its size.
Your ship: MSC Magnifica
Explore MSC Magnifica's cabins, dining and onboard facilities.