The information contained here is to be used as a guideline only

SA passport holders require a visa for Madagascar and this can be obtained on board at no cost - The political situation in Madagascar currently does not allow us to give much more information than at present for all nationalities the visa can be obtained upon arrival through the ship’s paperwork prepared by the vessel to the local shipping agent; the costs are presently undetermined. Should the Madagascan Government decide to apply a "temporary" suspension as they have done previously, it will be free, however if that does not happen it will be charged for. (Visa costs in previous years ranged at around $25 per person - we cannot however in the current political climate in  Madagascar anticipate the amount that will be charged for visas)   

DESTINATION - Maputo; Barra Lodge; Portuguese Island

Passport information

• ALL passengers travelling will require a valid passport - except in the case of a 2 night cruise to "Nowhere"; "Mossel Bay" Cruises and Durban to Cape Town Cruises and visa versa. A cruise to Mozambique involves leaving South African sovereign territory and, as such requires a valid passport. You can NOT travel by presenting your identity document, driver's licence or any other form of ID besides a valid passport, should this occur you WILL be denied boarding.
• South African Citizens with dual nationality - MUST USE THEIR SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORT TO EXIT AND ENTER SOUTH AFRICA.
• Non-South African Citizens/Permanent Residents must have their permanent residence endorsed in their foreign passport.
• When travelling on a "Nowhere" cruise you will be required to present an original official photo identity document - acceptable documents are an ID book, drivers licence or a valid passport. Children require an original birth certificate. Photocopies and certified documents are NOT accepted.

Visa Information:

• Currently South African passport holders do not require visa for Mozambique when travelling aboard the Sinfonia
• A fee of US$ 25 visa fee will apply to Foreign passport holders - this visa is obtained on board and does not have to be pre-arranged.
• SADAC Passport holders do not require visas for Mozambique
• The following passport holders are not required to pay the Visa charge for Mozambique: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe)

Health Requirements

• There are no official health requirements for Mozambique.
• Precautions: Mozambique is a Malaria area; however shore landings take place during the day when mosquitoes are least active. Please consult your Doctor; Pharmacist or Travel Clinic.

SOUTH AFRICA - Cape Town; Durban; Mossel Bay

DESTINATION - Cape Town; Durban; Mossel Bay

• When travelling on a cruise from Durban - Cape Town; Cape Town to Durban; or on a "nowhere cruise" you will be required to present an original official photo identity document - acceptable documents are an ID book; drivers licence or a valid passport. Children require an original birth certificate. Photo copies and certified documents are not accepted.

Southbound - Cruise SI 001

DESTINATION -LIVORNO (ITALY); VILLEFRANCHE (FRANCE); VALENCIA (SPAIN); CASABLANCA (MOROCCO) AGADIR (MOROCCO); DAKAR (SENEGAL) ; WALVIS BAY (NAMIBIA); CAPE TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA)

Passport information

• ALL passengers travelling will require a valid passport.  This cruise involves leaving South African sovereign territory and, as such requires a valid passport. You can NOT travel by presenting your identity document, driver's licence or any other form of ID besides a valid passport, should this occur you WILL be denied boarding.
• South African Citizens with dual nationality - MUST USE THEIR SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORT TO EXIT AND ENTER SOUTH AFRICA.
• Non-South African Citizens/Permanent Residents must have their permanent residence endorsed in their foreign passport.

Please be informed that Namibian and South African Authorities require that all the passengers arriving from previous African port are vaccinated against the Yellow Fever.
Therefore, all the passengers on board MSC Sinfonia 22.10.2011 and MSC Melody 18.11.2011 MUST present the original vaccination certificate at embarkation.

All the passengers who cannot undergo the vaccination MUST provide MSC Crociere with a copy of the certificate of exemption and bring the original one at embarkation; that certificate, issued in English by the appropriate Vaccination Centre, must report:

1.       certifying doctor’s details and signature;
2.       patient’s details;
3.       the particular cause of exemption;
4.       date and official stamp of the Vaccination Centre;

The above mentioned exemption could be allowed for the following categories:

-          patients suffering from HIV;
-          patients suffering from autoimmune disease;
-          patients suffering from Guillain Barré syndrome;
-          patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy;
-          patients suffering from egg intolerance;
-          patients subjected to thymectomy or with an history of thymus diseases;
-          infants younger than 9 moths;
-          first time vaccinated people over 60 years if
§  subjected to thymectomy or with an history of thymus diseases;
§  suffering from myasthenia gravis;
§  undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

EUROPE - Genoa (Italy); Villefranche (France); Valencia (Spain)

Visa information

• A multiple entry, short stay Schengen Visa will be required by South African Passport holders.
• The country of your longest stay will issue your Schengen visa. Only if your stay in the Schengen states is the same number of days in each country would you apply through the country of the first port of entry  

Health Requirements

• There are no official health requirements for Italy and Spain

Currency

• The official currency in Italy and Spain is the Euro. Money can be exchanged at Bureau de Changes as well as major hotels and banks. All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops. ATM's are widespread and generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining cash.

Morocco - Casablanca; Agadir

Visa information

• A multiple entry Moroccan visa is required. Can be applied for at the Embassy in Pretoria at a cost of approximately R245. (Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco Tel: 012 343 0230). Citizens of EU States do not require a visa for Morocco. South African passport holders who do not intend to disembark in Morocco, or who were unable to obtain visas in time, will be required to remain on board during the call at Morocco, and will not be permitted to disembark the ship in Morocco.

Health Requirements

• No vaccinations are required to enter Morocco

Currency

• The official currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). Currency can be exchanged at banks or official Bureau de Changes. Dirhams cannot be obtained or exchanged outside of Morocco and receipts must be retained as proof of legal currency exchange, as well as in order to re-exchange money when departing. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger shops, hotels and restaurants. Travellers cheques are not widely accepted, it is best to have Euros or USD.

SENEGAL - Dakar

Visa information

• Visas are not required for S.A passports holders visiting Senegal. British Passport holders to check with the Embassy (Embassy of the Republic of Senegal Tel: 012 460 5263

Health Requirements

• There are no official health requirements for Dakar

Currency

• The official currency is the West African CFA Franc (XOF). The CFA franc is fixed to the Euro at a rate of 1Euro = 655.957 CFA francs. Credit cards are accepted only by major establishments catering to the tourist trade, with American Express being the most widely accepted (commission is charged) There are ATM's in Dakar, and travellers cheques can also be cashed in Dakar.   

NAMIBIA - Walvis Bay

Visa information

• South African and British passport holders do not require a visa for Namibia.

Health Requirements

• Yellow Fever as per above

Currency

• The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD). Its' value is equivalent to the South African Rand (which is also accepted as legal currency in Namibia). Major credit cards are accepted. Travellers' cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at any bank or Bureau de Change. ATM's are available in larger towns only.

CAPE TOWN - South Africa

Visa information

• British passport holders do not require a visa for South Africa.

Health Requirements

• Yellow fever as per above

Currency

• The official currency is the South Africa Rand. Major credit cards are accepted. Travellers' cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at any bank or Bureau de Change. ATM's are commonplace.

Northbound - Cruise SI 042

DESTINATION - CAPE TOWN; WALVIS BAY (NAMIBIA); DAKAR (SENEGAL); SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE (CANARY ISLANDS SPAIN); FUNCHAL (MADEIRA ISLAND - PORTUGAL); MALAGA (SPAIN); CIVITAVECCHIA (ROME - ITALY); GENOA (ITALY)

• ALL passengers travelling will require a valid passport. This cruise involves leaving South African sovereign territory and, as such requires a valid passport. You can NOT travel by presenting your identity document, driver's licence or any other form of ID besides a valid passport, should this occur you WILL be denied boarding.
• South African Citizens with dual nationality - MUST USE THEIR SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORT TO EXIT AND ENTER SOUTH AFRICA.
• Non-South African Citizens/Permanent Residents must have their permanent residence endorsed in their foreign passport.

NAMIBIA - Walvis Bay

Visa information

• South African and British passport holders do not require a visa for Namibia.

Health Requirements

• Required Vaccination: There are no official Health requirements for Namibia

 Currency

• The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD). Its' value is equivalent to the South African Rand (also accepted as legal currency in Namibia).Major credit cards are accepted.
  Travellers Cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at any bank or bureau de change. ATM's are available in larger towns only.  

SENEGAL - Dakar

Visa information

• Visas are not required for S.A passports holders visiting Senegal. British Passport holders to check with the Embassy

Health Requirements

• There are no official health requirements for Dakar

EUROPE - Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands Spain); Funchal (Madeira Island - Portugal); Malaga (Spain); Civitavecchia (Rome-Italy); Genoa (Italy) 

Visa information:

• A multiple entry, short stay Schengen Visa will be required by South African Passport holders.
• The country of your longest stay will issue your Schengen visa. Only if your stay in the Schengen states is the same number of days in each country would you apply through the country of the first port of entry

Health Requirements

• There are no official health requirements for Europe.

Currency

• The official currency in Madeira; Spain and Italy is the Euro. Money can be exchanged at bureau de changes as well as major hotels and banks. All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops. ATM's are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining cash..

DESTINATION - POINTE DES GALETS (REUNION); PORT LOUIS (MAURITIUS)  

 
Passport information

• ALL passengers travelling will require a valid passport. This cruise involves leaving South African sovereign territory and, as such requires a valid passport. You can NOT travel by presenting your identity document, driver's licence or any other form of ID besides a valid passport, should this occur you WILL be denied boarding.
  
  
• South African Citizens with dual nationality - MUST USE THEIR SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORT TO EXIT AND ENTER SOUTH AFRICA.
  
  
• Non-South African Citizens/Permanent Residents must have their permanent residence endorsed in their foreign passport.

REUNION - Pointe des Galets

Visa information

• Visas are not required. South African and all other passport holders are covered by the Captain’s blanket visa.
  
  
• South African passport holders may NOT travel on temporary passports to Reunion - it MUST be a proper valid passport

Health Requirements

• Recommended Vaccination: Hepatitus A; Tetanus

Currency:

Reunion is an overseas département of France and therefore since 2002 the unit of currency is the Euro. Pointe des Galets, Reunion does not accept Rands or USD, they accept only Euros. The banks there also do not exchange these currencies, and it is therefore imperative that if you will be disembarking in Reunion that you have Euros with you for spending.

MAURITIUS - Port Louis

Visa information

• South African and British passport holders do not require a visa for Mauritius
  
  
• South African passport holders may travel on a temporary passport provided it is valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure from Mauritius

Health Requirements

• There are no official health requirements for Mauritius

Currency:

The official currency is the Mauritian rupee (MUR). Foreign currency can be exchanged at all Mauritian banks, large hotels and Bureau de Change. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners cards are accepted at most large hotels and retailers. Travellers cheques can be exchanged and offer a better exchange rate than cash.

The information contained herein is intended as a guide only and confirmed correct at the time of compilation. The final responsibility rests with the passenger to ensure that all Travel and Health Documents are in order and are obtained timeously.