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It may well be likely that both the older ships may be leaving MSC in 2010 especially if they are replaced by Sinfonia.
Rhapsody's previous visits to SA were not a huge success, although she ran full she was not as popular with pax as previous ships and certainly not a popular as the Melody.
The market here is however changing and many are looking for a more refined product and are prepared to pay higher fares hence Starlight moving to charter Sinfonia.
The market here is roughly the same the Aussie market was 15 years ago when they introduced Pacific Sky to replace Fair Princess although due to the demand in Europe in their "season" we have not yet had a year round deployment but there is no doubt the market could support it and the weather out of Durban is superb year round. Hopefully either MSC will give us a decent modern ship year soon or another operator may look at the market and decide to move a ship here as they reduce capacity elsewhere and further develop the market. There is huge potential for fly/cruise packages from Europe and the US to SA including Safari etc. but it does need modern tonnage that can handle ocean waters.
Thanks to Cruise SA for the info on Sinfonia as the actual ship moving to SA in 2010.
Ken
SINFONIA will certainly be a big step forward for the SA market.
Ken - So, what did you think of ROYAL STAR?
Is good that Sinfonia is coming,, would be even better to get a new fresh cruise company, a proudly South African one..
As for Rhap and Melody,, I think that Rhapsody should go to Monarch Classic Cruises and cruise with sis Ocean Countess,, Melody should go to Golden Star renamed Aegean Melody..
quote:Originally posted by dougnewman:......Ken - So, what did you think of ROYAL STAR?
Charming little ship - more like being on a large yacht than a cruiseship (she is about the same size as the Royal Yacht Britannia). Lots of original features still remain and the crew religiously polish the brasswork day in day out!!!
She was a bit on the small size for the sea conditions we met when leaving the shelter of the Mozambique Channel Man that was a rough 36 hours - the Maitre D was handing out pills in the Dining Room like sweeties (candy)!!! An interesting experience - but the itinerary was second to none!!
Pam
A friend of mine (maybe of yours too) was going to sail in her soon but his cruise (in the Red Sea) was cancelled. So he is off on DALMACIJA instead, which looks like another little charmer! I was looking forward to his report on her, but now I am looking forward to hearing about DALMACIJA instead (and that is one I actually might sail in if she is any good, as she is not so far away, her cruises are only a week and they are very cheap).
All in all their biggest season here, don't be surprised to see Rhapsody stay in SA at the end of the season, seemingly Sinfonia is confirmed for 2010 but Melody and Rhapsody may both end up here as well during the world cup before leaving for new owners.
quote:Originally posted by PamM:When did you sail Ken? I've read a fair number of reviews over the last couple of years all bascially saying similar, great food, great itinerary; shame about the state of the ship, tired, worn out and bad plumbing.Pam
We sailed in January 2007. Yes, the food was excellent and the service very personal. The hull of the ship is pretty battered after 50 years or so but I found the interiors to be in fairly good shape and we had no problems with plumbing or A/C. The crew are very proud of the ship and the Cruise Director was a real 'old ships are the best' fanatic and personally blamed Carnival for SOLAS 2010!!!
The cabins are remarkably small unless you splash out on a 'suite' which is basically 2 cabins knocked into one. A lot of first time cruisers we met were under awed by the ship but, as we knew what to expect, we found it charming and intimate. So intimate in fact, that we got to speak to most of the 150 or so pax during the cruise which is a completely different experience to a larger cruiseship!!
The ship seems ideally suited for cruising the small Indian Ocean islands but, although we wouldn't have missed it for the world, she is a bit on the small size to sail down the coast of South Africa!!
Pictures here if you care to see http://travel.webshots.com/album/560602247mgCegw
She looks like a rather charming little ship, and well-maintained. Her exterior and open decks look wonderful. The interiors don't do much for me - very 1980s AMK with all that smoked glass, chrome and general shininess. Sadly there appear to be no vestiges of her original 1950s Italian interiors which were, I imagine, much more stylish.
Still, a very neat-looking little ship. I am glad to see that she appears well taken care of.
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