Travel – Cruising To Pomene
KEMONG MOPEDI visited Mozambique’s Pomene Island on a four-night MSC Musica cruise. She describes the experience as “peace of mind like no other!”
“It’s such a pity that we’ll only fully know our way around the ship on the eve of our departure,” jokes one of the guests right after embrakation, remarking on the majestic 16-deck, 65-ton floating paradise that is the MSC Musica. To say that it’s a maze, would be an understatement.
What could have easily been a five-minute stroll to the restaurant wing from my cabin, took up to 15 minutes of getting lost and finally succumbing to asking for help at reception. By the way, leave all your space issues on land, because although the cabins are comfortable, the bathrooms are quite compact. The MSC Musica is also wheelchair-friendly, which is a great perk! Unlike the frustration one experiences when getting lost on land, there was something rather amusing and stress-relieving about finally finding my way, after bumping into the same strangers thrice in different spots and discovering, amongst other things, the library and quiet private lounges where I’d escape to each time the hive of activities at the pool deck got a bit much on some afternoons.
Be it a stokvel outing, lovers’ bonding session, family reunion or a girls’ winding down retreat, a cruise offers great value for money and perfect settings, depending on what your soul is calling out for. Think, peaceful mornings on the pool deck right down to debaucherous parties that end well into the wee hours of the morning. Even with 2 500 guests at full capacity, I never felt overwhelmed or
claustrophobic — and I am pedantic about space!
I went on this cruise battling that start-of-the-year fatigue — you know the type that usually follows when you haven’t taken time off to recharge in a while? I absolutely loved that in the midst of all the theatre shows, casino traffic and teenagers going about their business, I could order a drink and find a quiet corner in the ship to read. There is, literally, ample space for everyone. Overall, life aboard the MSC Musica felt like living in a multiracial close-knit community, the type that greets and looks out for each other and has genuine small talk in the lifts and dining halls.
EAT UNTIL YOU DROP, LITERALLY
While on the subject of dining halls, with close to 9 000 breakfast, lunch and supper dishes prepared daily and full spread buffet meals, there was never any shortage of food while aboard the ship, and that includes vegetarian and Halaal preferences. Food and beverage manager Paolo Testa says there are four main kitchens on the ship, which operate around the clock to ensure that the food and baked goods are always
available. A self-confessed glutton and a disliker of à la carte menus, I really enjoyed the variety of breakfast, lunch and supper dishes on offer at the 24-hour buffet restaurant on the 13th floor. And then there was the pizza bar, which ran until 2 am, and ended up being a meeting spot for partygoers and insomniacs. The pizza bar, we were told, produces almost 300 large pizzas daily. The only edible thing you’ll be required to pay for at the main restaurants are your beverages. Sushi lovers are in for a treat at the Kaito Sushi Bar, where we got more than we had bargained for when – in the middle of our meals, one of the waiters broke out in song!
KIDS’ HAVEN
No one enjoys the meandering about the boat quite like kids do. On local cruises, children under 18 sail for free, provided they share a cabin with their parents. They will, however, be charged for port duties and other mandatory charges. For those sailing with kids, the MSC Musica boasts fully equipped childcare centres, mini and junior clubs that run on a schedule, and the most patient childminders trained to handle all types of tantrums. The various children’s age groups are kept busy with a range of games and activities, leaving parents to enjoy their downtime sans the nagging and incessant requests from the little ones. You don’t need to bring a pram if your little one still uses it – there are stollers available aboard. We were told that MSC Musica’s new and upcoming fleets will be fitted with tracking technology for children aged between seven and 17 – a GPS worn around the neck – to make it easy for parents to locate them anywhere on the ship.
POMENE ISLAND
Preparing to dock at Pomene, 600 km north of Maputo, was hassle-free, thanks to the highly organised crew members who also entertained guests waiting in the long queues to be transported to the Mozambique island on a tender boat. Behind the rows of palm trees and stalls set up by locals, lay picture-perfect white sands and inviting blue waters. Pomene was a scorching 42 degrees when we arrived — the kind of heat that sent me home with the worst case of sunburn. Silly me, I forgot to top up on sunscreen after swimming in the warm Indian Ocean. Upon arrival at the lagoon, you can either be a beach bum or sign up, beforehand and at an additional cost, for excursions like quad biking and snorkeling. A drive to the quad-biking venue will afford you a glimpse into local living and more striking scenery.