Crest exchange ceremony celebrates MSC Sinfonia's first visit to South Africa - Pre

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The first ever visit of the cruise ship MSC Sinfonia to South African shores will be celebrated by a traditional exchange of crests between the ship and local authorities when she makes her maiden call at the port of Cape Town on Tuesday 10 November 2009.

The Minister of Transport, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele (Member of Parliament), key national, provincial, city and port authorities, the media, travel agents and invited guests will attend a special onboard function to mark the much anticipated arrival of the nine storey, 58600 ton MSC Sinfonia which has capacity for 2100 passengers.

The ship, which will remain in Southern Africa for the full summer season, will be the biggest and most modern cruise ship ever to operate out of a local port.

The time honoured maritime custom will be led by the ship's Captain Ciro Pinto and involve an exchange of commemorative plaques between Mr Achille Staiano, the Commercial Manager International Market for MSC Cruises and Minister Ndebele and members of Cape Town's port authorities.

"It's appropriate that we can acknowledge our first visit to South Africa in the country's beautiful mother city. We are proud to take the opportunity to present our magnificent ship with her distinctive Italian design, style and service during this brief one day stop-over," said Captain Pinto who has been at the helm of MSC cruise and cargo ships in Southern African waters for some 32 years.

Pinto, who is captaining MSC Sinfonia for the first time, said he is looking forward to taking the ship from the Atlantic, around the famed Cape Point, and into the Indian Ocean to Durban - the final port of call of her maiden Southern Africa voyage which started in Livorno Italy on Saturday 24 October.

MSC Sinfonia's first time arrival in the KwaZulu Natal port on Friday 13 November will again be celebrated by a crest exchange with port authorities at a gala onboard function which will also signify the start of the cruising season.

Described as the finest floating hotel ever to visit South Africa, MSC Sinfonia opens the season with a 2-day cruise out of Durban on 14 November. A full schedule of long and short cruises to Mozambique and the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar, Comores, Mauritius and Reunion continue through to April 2010.



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