Cruise to Portuguese Island

MSC Cruises have several itineraries disembarking from Durban that visit Portuguese Island. Dining options aboard these cruises are plentiful, from a large buffet to several restaurants offering international flavours such as Italian and Japanese. 

Yes, when your cruise ship anchors two kilometres offshore for Portuguese Island day trips, speedboats will regularly ferry passengers ashore. The island is small and uninhabited with beautiful tropical beaches, making it a perfect location to explore on foot in your own time and at your own pace.  You won't have to venture too far to find an idyllic beach all to yourself! Be sure to go exploring with some light footwear as the sand can become very hot through the middle of the day. 

Portuguese Island is part of the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve off the coast of southern Mozambique and as such cruises anchored near the island are required to inform passengers to respect the island's protected wildlife and marine biodiversity before they're ferried ashore for day trips. 

With its year-round tropical climate, Portuguese Island is always warm come wind or occasional rain. Although you can expect to find the island mild and sunny, essential items to bring ashore include a short sleeve shirt or t-shirt, shorts, skirt, swimwear, sunhat, sun protection and comfortable footwear. 

While Portuguese Island itself is uninhabited save for pop-up food and market stalls and musical entertainment, there are no festivals to catch as part of cruises to the island.  

Families enjoy special treatment aboard MSC Cruises' itineraries disembarking from Durban for Portuguese Island. Pools, colourful play amenities and separate Kids and Teens Clubs will keep the cruise adventure going. There are also themed cruises with Kids & Teens Cruise activities like Magic shows, NEON party and a fun treasure hunt on Portuguese Island itself. 

You can expect a full range of amenities aboard MSC Cruises' itineraries to Portuguese Island. These include two pool areas, a spa, gym facilities, live theatre performances, entertainment bars and lounges, a night club, a casino, Japanese and Italian restaurants, and adventure play areas for children. 

Excursions to Portuguese Island include day trips where you'll be ferried ashore from your cruise ship via tenders (speedboats). Once ashore, you can relax with a drink or from a barbeque buffet under a thatched roof right there on the beach, swim and enjoy snorkeling adventures in the warm, crystalline waters, hire a pedalo boat or even join a dhow sailing cruise around the island. 

Yes. You can enjoy the high-speed thrill of towed banana boat rides or hire pedalo boats and kayaks for a calmer on-water experience. For some excellent exploration join a dhow sailing cruise around the island. 

Emergency services are available onboard 24/7 by calling the ship's medical emergency number. All MSC cruise ships that include Portuguese Island in their itineraries have a well-equipped medical centre, a doctor and other medical staff.