MSC Grand Voyages from Genoa

MSC Cruises

Join MSC Cruises for a 19-night cruise departing from Genoa, Italy, visiting Marseille, Barcelona, Tangier, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands , Las Palmas,Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Maceio, Salvador, Ilheus, Buzios and Santos, Brazil. Enjoy luxurious accommodations and world-class amenities.

Departure date

10 November 2024

Cabins

Outside from

£1,319pp

Balcony from

£1,429pp

Prices do not include flights.
Call us to add flights, hotels and transfers.

Quote Reference number: 344700-2090709

All prices are subject to availability

Your Holiday Summary

Departure - Arrival
10 Nov 2024 - 29 Nov 2024
Duration
20 days, 19 nights
Sailing
8 sea days
Departure Port
Genoa, Italy
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Travelling Itinerary

Day 1
Genoa (Portofino), Italy

Departure: 10.11.2024 at 18:00

Genoa 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.

Day 2
Marseille (Provence), France

Arrival: 11.11.2024 at 09:00
Departure: 11.11.2024 at 18:00

On 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.

Day 3
Barcelona

Arrival: 12.11.2024 at 08:00
Departure: 12.11.2024 at 18:00

One 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.

Day 4
At Sea

Arrival: 13.11.2024
Departure: 13.11.2024

Day 5
Tangier

Arrival: 14.11.2024 at 08:00
Departure: 14.11.2024 at 18:00

Settled on the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier, an MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination, is an energetic and multicultural port. This magical Moroccan city is distinguished by its whitewashed Medina, maze of evocative alleys, bustling squares, and fascinating people. Glimpse the Dar el Makhzen palace, the Church of Saint Andrew, Jardins de la Mendoubia park, and the famous Bab Al Fahs gate. Further afield, visit natural wonders including the surreal Caves of Hercules.

Day 6
At Sea

Arrival: 15.11.2024
Departure: 15.11.2024

Day 7
Arrecife

Arrival: 16.11.2024 at 08:00
Departure: 16.11.2024 at 18:00

Day 8
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Arrival: 17.11.2024 at 08:00
Departure: 17.11.2024 at 18:00

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Las Palmas is a city (and municipality) on the island, Gran Canaria, which is one of the Canary Islands (Spain) located 210 kilometers off the northwestern coast of the African continent within the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the capital city of the province of Las Palmas and the co-capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, sharing this status with Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The city was founded on June 24, 1478, with the name "Real de Las Palmas" by Juan Rejón, head of the invading Castilian army, before engaging in war with the local Guanches (aboriginal people of the Canary Islands). In 1492, Christopher Columbus anchored in the Port of Las Palmas (and spent some time on the island) on his first trip to the Americas. He also stopped on the way back to Spain. Today, a museum is named after him -Casa Colón - in the Vegueta area of the city. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is today a cosmopolitan city. It has five beaches (Las Canteras, Las Alcaravaneras, San Cristobal, El Confital and La Laja) and a big seaport (Puerto de la Luz harbor) that was very important during the 70s and early 90s (and benefited greatly from the closure of the Suez Canal during the Arab-Israeli conflict).

Day 9
Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Arrival: 18.11.2024 at 08:00
Departure: 18.11.2024 at 16:00

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the port capital of Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s seven Canary Islands. The city showcases incredible sights such as the Plaza de Espana, the church of St. Francis of Assisi, and the soaring white wave auditorium, the Auditorio de Tenerife. This quintessential Canary Island’s town is a colourful MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination where you can soak up the sun, dine in style, or take a dip in glittering waters.

Day 10
At Sea

Arrival: 19.11.2024
Departure: 19.11.2024

Day 11
At Sea

Arrival: 20.11.2024
Departure: 20.11.2024

Day 12
At Sea

Arrival: 21.11.2024
Departure: 21.11.2024

Day 13
At Sea

Arrival: 22.11.2024
Departure: 22.11.2024

Day 14
At Sea

Arrival: 23.11.2024
Departure: 23.11.2024

Day 15
Maceio

Arrival: 24.11.2024 at 08:00
Departure: 24.11.2024 at 17:00

On your South America cruise to Brazil, you’ll come across the big and burgeoning beach resort of Maceió, its striking beaches and clear, turquoise waters attracting cruisers from all over the world. It’s also smack in the middle of a far longer strip of some of the best beaches in the country, all easily accessible on day trips. When you arrive with your MSC cruise in Maceió, you’ll start off in the affluent and lively resort area that starts at Pajuçara, a few kilometres to the east of downtown, built along a spectacular beach. While the city centre itself, the commercial and administrative heart of the city just inland from a more polluted (and generally deserted) stretch of sand and the grubby port district, is somewhat down-at-heel it does have a smattering of belle époque buildings and enticing museums. However, what you’ll want to discover on your MSC South America cruise excursion is the amazing beaches. Sixteen kilometres south of Maceió, the coast road loops around Praia do Francês, which even by Alagoan standards is something special. An enormous expanse of white sand, surf and thick palm forest, it even boasts several pousadas or inns, and a burgeoning restaurant scene. Most folks end up at the northern end, a protected lagoon formed by a large reef offshore; surfers take in the pounding waves at the less busy and unsheltered end. Beach bars line the northern section, while Avenida Dos Corais and Rua da Algas run parallel to the sand and are lined with shops and restaurants. Given its proximity to Maceió, it’s no surprise Francês has effectively become a city beach – so expect a lively atmosphere.

Day 16
Salvador, Brazil

Arrival: 25.11.2024 at 09:00
Departure: 25.11.2024 at 18:00

High 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.

Day 17
Ilheus, Brazil

Arrival: 26.11.2024 at 08:00
Departure: 26.11.2024 at 18:00

Ilhéus is a city on the banks of the Cachoeira and Almada Rivers, in the eastern Brazilian state of Bahia. It's known for its colonial architecture and beaches, including Millionaires Beach in the south, lined with palm trees and food stalls. A Christ statue watches over central Christ Beach. Praia da Avenida beach skirts the center, offering views toward the striking spires of 20th-century St. Sebastian Cathedral.

Day 18
At Sea

Arrival: 27.11.2024
Departure: 27.11.2024

Day 19
Buzios, Brazil

Arrival: 28.11.2024 at 07:00
Departure: 28.11.2024 at 16:00

On a peninsula north of Cabo Frio, Armação dos Búzios, or just Búzios, is an immensely scenic resort full of high-spending beautiful people, and a very popular port of call on holidays to Brazil with MSC Cruises. Armação, the main settlement, is built in a vaguely colonial style, its streets lined with restaurants, bars and chic boutiques, and has been nicknamed “Brazil’s St Tropez”. It comes then as little surprise to find that it was “discovered” by none other than Brigitte Bardot, who stumbled upon it while touring the area in 1964. Búzios consists of three main settlements, Manguinos, Armação and Ossos, each with its own distinct character. Manguinos, on the isthmus, is the main service centre, with a tourist office, a medical centre and banks. Midway along the peninsula, linked to Manguinos by a road lined with brash hotels, is Armação, an attractive village where cars are banned from some of the cobbled roads. Most of Búzio’s best restaurants and boutiques are concentrated here, along with some of the resort’s nicest pousadas, or inns, and there’s also a helpful tourist office on the main square, Praça Santos Dumont. When you step ashore from your MSC cruise, a fifteen-minute walk along the Orla Bardot – which follows the coast from Armação, passing the lovely seventeenth-century Igreja de NossaSenhora de Sant’Ana on the way –, brings you to Ossos, the oldest settlement, comprising a pretty harbour, a quiet beach and a few bars, restaurants and pousadas. Within walking distance of all Búzios’ settlements are beautiful white-sand beaches – 27 in total – cradled between rocky cliffs and promontories, and lapped by crystal-clear waters. The beaches are varied, with the north-facing ones having the calmest and warmest seas, while those facing the south and east have the most surf.

Day 20
Santos (Sao Paolo), Brazil

Arrival: 29.11.2024 at 08:00

Santos, one of Portugal’s first New World settlements, was founded in 1535. Today your MSC ship will be docking in Latin America’s largest port, through which passes a large proportion of the world’s coffee, sugar and oranges. The city stands partly on São Vicente island, its docking facilities and old town facing landwards, with ships approaching by a narrow, but deep, channel. Its compact centre retains a certain charm that’s massively popular with local tourists, and there is a good deal of historical and maritime interest around the city. On an MSC South America cruise excursion to the city centre you’ll find the ruins of some of Santos’s most distinguished buildings along Rua do Comércio. Although sometimes only the facades remain, some of the nineteenth-century former merchants’ houses that line the street are gradually being restored, the elaborate tiling and wrought-iron balconies offering a hint of the old town’s lost grandeur. MSC South America cruises also offer excursions to the local Santos Futebol Clube. It’s best known as the club for which the great Pelé played for most of his professional life (from 1956 to 1974); their stadium, the Vila Belmiro, is open to the public when there’s no game on. In addition to honouring Pelé at the club’s small museum, you can take an hour-long guided tour including the players’ bar and dressing rooms. Santos’s beaches are across town from Centro on the south side of the island. The beaches are huge, stretching around the Atlantic-facing Baía de Santos, and popular in summer.

MSC Orchestra

Combining spacious, elegant interiors with the variety for which our Musica Class is renowned, MSC Orchestra promises your dream cruise. Because life aboard can be just what you want it to be. If relaxation is your goal, there is ample deck space to unwind in the sun on board MSC Orchestra. Alternatively, why not pay a visit to the heavenly MSC Aurea Spa with pampering Turkish baths, saunas and a whole range of soothing massages. Active types can amuse themselves in the Sports Centre with state-of-the art gym, 5 swimming pools and even a jogging track that allows you to take in the fresh sea air and stunning ocean views. MSC Orchestra also takes you on an exciting culinary journey, ranging from the Shanghai Chinese Restaurant with authentic dim sum specialties to the Four Seasons gourmet Italian dining experience and La Piazzetta, where you can taste the finest pizza outside Naples. Whether dancing to live music in the leopard-style Savannah Bar, tempting lady luck in the Palm Beach Casino or catching a spectacular show in the Covent Garden Theatre the entertainment on board will keep you amused all night. Children can go wild in the Jungle Adventure playroom while teens get their own Teen’s Club. Whatever your age you can guarantee you’ll have the holiday of a lifetime on board MSC Orchestra.

General characteristics

Ship name: MSC Orchestra
Length: 293.83 m (964 ft)
Capacity: 3,013 passengers
Total cabins: 1,275
Tonnage: 92,409 GT

MSC Orchestra

What’s on Board

Recreational
Food and Drink
Relaxation
Entertainment
Fitness
Other
Decks
recreational

Recreational

  • Card Room
  • Childrens Play Room
  • Golf Simulator
  • Kids Pool
  • Library
  • Mini-golf course
  • Nightclub
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Shuffle Board
  • Table Tennis
  • Water Slide
food-and-drink

Food and Drink

  • A la carte restaurant
  • Bar
  • Cafe
  • Chinese Restaurant
  • Four Seasons Restaurant
  • Italian Restaurant
  • Lounge
  • Lounge Bar
  • Poolside Bar
  • Sushi Bar
relaxation

Relaxation

  • Hot Tubs
  • Jacuzzi
  • Massage
  • Sauna
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
entertainment

Entertainment

  • Children's Club
  • Children's Play Area
  • Cigar Club Room
  • Disco
  • Karaoke
  • Photo Gallery
  • Show Lounges
  • Theatre
fitness

Fitness

  • Basketball
  • Fitness Center
  • Football
  • Gym
  • Jogging Track
  • Tennis
  • Tennis Court
  • Volleyball
  • Yoga

Decks

Deck 5 - Pianoforte Deck 5 - Pianoforte
Deck 6 - Violino Deck 6 - Violino
Deck 7 - Saxofono Deck 7 - Saxofono
Deck 8 - Arpa Deck 8 - Arpa
Deck 9 - Viola Deck 9 - Viola
Deck 10 - Lira Deck 10 - Lira
Deck 11 - Flauto Deck 11 - Flauto
Deck 12 - Clarinetto Deck 12 - Clarinetto
Deck 13 - Mandolino Deck 13 - Mandolino
Deck 14 - Chitarra Deck 14 - Chitarra
Deck 15 - Xilofono Deck 15 - Xilofono
Deck 16 - Sport Deck 16 - Sport
fitness

Other

  • Art Gallery
  • Duty-free shop
  • Kids & Teen Shopping
  • Photo Gallery
  • Photo Shop
  • Security Safe
  • Shore Excursion Office