MY FIRST MSC CRUISE: DURBAN TO BAIA de POMENE

I have flown across countries, driven thousands of kilometres on road trips, slept in places where the silence is louder than the traffic back home, and chased sunsets in some of South Africa’s most beautiful corners.

But there was one thing I had never done. I had never taken a cruise.

So, when I found myself at Cape Town International Airport, my duffel bag in hand, about to fly to Durban to embark on an MSC cruise for the first time, I felt a strange mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Since I’ve had terrible seasickness every time I’ve taken a trip from the V&A Waterfront to Clifton on much smaller ships, I’ve made a self-promise to never set foot on a cruise ship. I knew exactly where I was going. I just didn’t know what I was getting myself into. And that, for someone who makes a living exploring the unknown, was rather exciting.

FROM CAPE TOWN TO THE OCEAN

The first leg was easy enough because I opted for the MSC Fly and Cruise deal: Cape Town to Durban. This means my return flights, transfers, and cruise were included in one unique package. A package designed to provide me with a seamless and stress-free travel experience.

I have always enjoyed my trips to the airports because they represent possibility. Everyone walking around seems to be going somewhere, carrying a story that you know nothing about. But this time, I wasn’t flying to a destination where I would check into a hotel, hire a car, and start exploring. I was flying to board a floating hotel. That thought kept coming back to me. A floating hotel. It sounded slightly ridiculous when I said it out loud. But that is essentially what a cruise ship is, except this hotel moves, takes you with it, and somehow manages to pack retail stores, a gym, a spa and hair salon, restaurants, entertainment floors, a theatre, a game centre, a children’s play area/day care, a casino, a disco, multiple bars, swimming pools, indoor and outdoor lounges, and hundreds of other travellers into the experience. By the time we landed in Durban, the anticipation had properly kicked in. This was no longer a plan. It was happening.

DURBAN WAS JUST THE BEGINNING

From the airport, there were MSC cruise crew members already waiting to take us to our shuttle. We made our way towards the KwaZulu Cruise Terminal. And somewhere between leaving the airport and approaching the harbour, I started looking at the journey differently. Usually, when I arrive somewhere, I’m already thinking about what I want to see. Which restaurants to eat at, what attractions to visit, what adventure activities to experience, which hidden gem to find, and what story can I tell? This time, the answer was simple. The MSC Opera cruise ship was the destination.

And then came that moment every first-time traveller knows. The moment when the thing you’ve been imagining finally appears in front of you. For me, it was the MSC Opera. Standing there, looking at this enormous ship, I had one immediate thought: “So… this is where I’m going to live for the next four days?” The MSC Opera cruise was impressive and slightly intimidating. The ship looked less like something I was about to board and more like something that could have its own postcode. I was ready. Or at least I thought I was. I also got my first proper glimpse of the scale of the cruise operation. There were passengers everywhere! Suitcases, families, friends, travel groups, staff directing people, officers checking documents, travellers taking photographs, and, of course, people who looked like they had done this a hundred times and knew exactly where they were going. I was somewhere in between. Trying to look like I knew what I was doing. Because I had booked priority, I was given access to a separate, dedicated luggage area, which made the whole process feel a little more seamless.

IMMIGRATION: THE HOLIDAY HAS PROCEDURES

Before you get to the fun part, there is always the administrative part. Passports and travel documents were checked, and we went through the required immigration and security procedures. The entire process was quick and seamless. As a first-time cruiser, I was paying attention to everything. Where to go, what to show, where to take luggage, and what happens next? It reminded me slightly of being at an airport, except there was a different energy in the terminal. At an airport, you are usually trying to get onto a plane that will take you somewhere. Here, I was about to board something that would become my destination for the next four days. That was still taking some time to process.

A LITTLE LUXURY BEFORE WE BOARD

One of the unexpected highlights of the arrival experience was the MSC Privé Lounge. After travelling from Cape Town, flying to Durban, getting through immigration and navigating the terminal, walking into a private lounge felt like someone had pressed the pause button. It was a calm and comfortable lounge with food and beverages and a little removed from the hustle and bustle outside. And I appreciated that. There is something about having a quiet space before a big experience that allows me to actually take it in. I sat there thinking about the journey I had just made. A few hours earlier, I was in Cape Town, now in Durban, and in a little while, I would be leaving the mainland behind and spending four days at sea. Not bad for a day’s travel.

MY FIRST STEP ONTO AN MSC OPERA

Then came the moment to board the MSC Opera. I walked onto the ship and immediately felt like a kid who had been given permission to explore somewhere they weren’t supposed to. I wanted to see everything. I wanted to know where everything was! Where’s the pool? Where are the restaurants? Where do you get coffee? What’s upstairs? What’s downstairs? And what happens here and there? And try to understand why this ship looks like a huge floating shopping mall. There is something about being on a cruise ship for the first time that makes you temporarily lose your sense of direction. You can walk around for ten minutes and still have absolutely no idea where you are. But that’s part of the fun. Eventually, you stop trying to figure everything out and simply start exploring.

MY CABIN BECAME HOME

Your luggage is brought up to your cabin much later after you have boarded. That helps because you don’t have to walk around with your large bags. Eventually, I found my cabin. And that was another little moment. Because for the next four days, this wasn’t just a room. It was home. My luggage had somewhere to go, my passport had somewhere safe to stay, and, for once, I didn’t have to think about where I was sleeping the following night. That is something I hadn’t fully appreciated before the cruise. As travellers, we are often obsessed with what’s next. Next destination, next accommodation, next attraction, and next activity. Cruising removes some of that pressure. You unpack once, and then the journey comes to you.

AND THEN WE SAILED

There is something deeply satisfying about watching land disappear. At first, the coastline is right there. Then it becomes smaller and smaller until eventually, there is mostly blue. Ocean in front of you, ocean behind you, ocean to the left, and ocean to the right. For someone who loves road trips, this was completely different. On a road trip, I am constantly looking at the road ahead. On a cruise, there isn’t really a road. There is just the horizon. And suddenly, I understood why people fall in love with the sea.

FOUR DAYS OF DOING LESS

The four-day cruise itinerary included a full-day visit to Baia de Pomene in Mozambique. On the first day, I wanted to do everything so that I could familiarise myself with the ship. On the second day, I started relaxing. By the third day, I had completely surrendered, and we were supposed to explore Baia de Pomene however, the bad weather meant spending the day on the MSC Opera. And somewhere in between, I realised that perhaps this was the point. Cruising teaches you to slow down. You don’t have to drive anywhere, you don’t have to find parking, you don’t have to check Google Maps every fifteen minutes, and you don’t have to pack your suitcase every morning because you’re moving to another hotel. You simply wake up and decide what kind of day you want.

Maybe it’s breakfast, maybe it’s the pool, maybe it’s exploring the ship, maybe it’s entertainment, maybe it’s shopping, or maybe it’s finding a quiet corner and doing absolutely nothing. And as someone who is constantly chasing the next story, there was something refreshing about doing nothing.

THE OCEAN BECAME PART OF THE EXPERIENCE

One of my favourite parts was simply being outside, walking around the top open deck and just watching the ocean. Feeling the wind, looking at the horizon, and waiting for the sunset. There were moments when I didn’t take out my phone or carry my camera. That might sound insignificant, but for a travel content creator, it isn’t. I’m usually thinking about the next best shot, angle, caption, or story to tell. But sometimes you need to put the camera down and simply be there. That’s exactly what I did. The ocean has a way of making you do that. It doesn’t care about your content calendar, and it definitely doesn’t care about your Instagram feed. It just keeps moving, and forces you to pause.

WHAT MY FIRST CRUISE TAUGHT ME

Before this trip, I thought travel was mostly about getting somewhere. Now I’m not so sure. Sometimes it’s about the road. Sometimes it’s about the people you meet. Sometimes it’s about the unexpected detour. And sometimes, apparently, it’s about boarding a massive ship and disappearing into the ocean for four days. My first MSC cruise reminded me that travel doesn’t always have to be complicated. You don’t always need a packed itinerary, and you don’t always need to chase an attraction. Sometimes the luxury is simply having nowhere you need to be. For four days, the ship became my world, and eventually, I stopped thinking about what was happening back on land.

WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?

Before the trip, if someone had asked me whether cruising was my kind of travel, I probably would have hesitated. I’m a road-trip person. Give me a full tank of fuel, a good playlist, and an unfamiliar road, and I’m happy. But after four days at sea, I understood something. Cruising isn’t necessarily about changing the way you travel. It’s about adding another way to experience the world. And I’m glad my first time was with MSC. From that first flight out of Cape Town, the arrival in Durban, immigration and check-in, the quiet moment in the private lounge, and finally stepping onto the ship, every part of the journey became part of the story. And perhaps that’s what I will remember most. Not just the ship, not just the food, and not just the ocean. But that strange and wonderful feeling of leaving land behind for the first time and realising that there is still so much of the world I haven’t experienced yet.

Sometimes, the best way to discover a new destination is to let the journey become the destination. I have shared my favourite moments on my Instagram page here.

If it’s your first cruise, there are a few things that can make the experience much smoother, especially because a cruise ship is basically a floating hotel, resort, restaurant, and transport system all at once.

FIRST-TIME CRUISE TIPS: WHAT TO BRING AND WHAT TO KNOW

1. Pack a small carry-on bag

Think of it as your “I can survive until my suitcase arrives” bag.

When you arrive at the cruise terminal, your main suitcase will be taken from you and delivered to your cabin later. So, keep a small backpack or overnight bag with you.

Pack the following: 

• Book
• Camera
• Toiletries
• Swimwear
• Sunscreen
• Medication
• Sunglasses
• Wallet/cards
• Change of clothes
• Phone and charger
• A light jacket or jersey
• Passport/ID, cruise booking confirmation, boarding pass, and cruise documents

2. Don’t overpack clothes

Cruise cabins can be surprisingly compact. You don’t need an outfit for every possible scenario. I would suggest checking your specific cruise line’s dress-code requirements before leaving.

A good basic combination is:

Day

• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Sandals
• Sneakers
• Comfortable Trousers

Pool/beach

• Sun Hat
• Cover-up
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Swim Shorts
• Swimwear (Full or One-piece Swimwear)

Evening

• Smart-casual outfit
• Comfortable shoes
• One or two slightly dressy/evening outfits

Cold/Windy

• Jersey
• Hoodie
• Light jacket

3. Pack comfortable shoes

You’ll probably walk much more than you expect. The ship is enormous, and you’ll be walking between your cabin, restaurants, bars, retail stores, theatre, pool deck, entertainment area, gym, spa, and salon, embarkation areas, and excursion meeting points.

4. Correct charging equipment

Your cabin may have fewer conveniently located plugs than you’re used to.

Bring the following:

• Power bank
• Travel adapter
• Phone charger
• Laptop charger
• Charging cables
• Camera charger

Please note that irons are not allowed. Cruise lines often restrict certain electrical equipment, so check the specific cruise line’s prohibited-items list before packing one.

5. Bring your own basic toiletries

Although cruise cabins usually provide some toiletries, I prefer having my own. Bring toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant, moisturiser, lip balm, sunscreen, hair products, hand sanitiser, and organic wet wipes. 

6. Bring medication

Don’t rely only on the ship’s medical centre or onboard shop for everyday medication. Pack whatever you normally use, plus basics such as:

• Plasters
• Stomach medication
• Prescription Medication
• Headache/Pain medication
• Motion-sickness medication

Remember to keep important medication in your carry-on, not your checked luggage.

7. Don’t assume you’ll get seasick

This was something I was worried about as a first-timer. Modern cruise ships are huge and generally very stable, but you can still feel slight movement, particularly on rougher seas.

If you are concerned:

• Stay hydrated
• Avoid excessive alcohol
• Spend some time outside
• Consider bringing motion-sickness medication
• Choose a cabin lower down and closer to the middle of the ship

8. Be aware of the roaming charges

This one can save you a very nasty bill. When the ship is at sea, normal mobile roaming can become extremely expensive. Don’t assume that your normal roaming package works at sea.

Before sailing:

• Consider using the ship’s Wi-Fi
• Download entertainment offline
• Download maps for port destinations
• Switch off data roaming if you don’t intend to use it
• Check your network provider’s cruise/roaming rates

9. Understand how onboard spending works

You generally won’t be walking around with cash paying for every drink or purchase. Your cruise account/card is normally linked to your onboard account. Keep an eye on your onboard account so there are no surprises at the end.

You may be charged for things such as:

• Shopping
• Excursions
• Certain drinks
• Spa treatments
• Specialty restaurants
• Some entertainment or activities

10. Explore the food options

One of the best parts of cruising is that food is everywhere. Don’t immediately settle into one restaurant.

Explore:

• Buffet
• Poolside food
• Casual restaurants
• Specialty restaurants
• Main dining restaurant
• Room service, where available

11. Download/read the daily programme

This was a big one for me as a first-time cruiser. There can be so much happening simultaneously that you’ll miss things if you don’t plan.

Look for:

• Live music
• Excursions
• Pool activities
• Dance classes
• Restaurant hours
• Trivia/Theatre/Shows
• Port arrival/departure times

I highly recommend choosing 2–3 things you absolutely want to experience each day and then allowing the rest of the day to happen naturally.

12. Explore the ship on Day 1

Don’t spend your first afternoon sitting in your cabin! Go exploring. Find your dining room, theatre, pool, gym, spa, reception, emergency assembly point, your favourite bar, and your favourite quiet spot. You’ll feel much more comfortable once you understand the layout.

13. Don’t skip the safety drill

Even if you’ve cruised before, do the mandatory safety briefing/drill. Find out where your master station is and pay attention to the instructions. This is probably the least glamorous part of the cruise, but one of the most important.

14. Bonus tip – Don’t try to experience everything

A cruise can feel overwhelming because there is always something happening. Give yourself permission to sit on the deck, watch the ocean, have a drink, read a book, or simply do nothing. That’s part of the experience.

MSC Armonia’s South African debut

Great news for cruise lovers and first-timers like myself! MSC Cruises has confirmed that MSC Armonia will make her debut in South Africa during the 2026/27 cruise season. The season is scheduled to begin on 27 November 2026, with more than 30 departures from Durban and Cape Town. Sail to exclusive destinations like Pomene Island, Portuguese Island – only accessible with MSC Cruises, and other loved destinations including Walvis Bay, Mauritius and Reunion Island. Book here.