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Arrive | Depart | ||||||
25th25 | OctOct | 202121 | Venice, Italy, embark on the MSC Opera | 18:00 | |||
Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading center between Europe and the Orient. Getting lost in the narrow alleyways is a quintessential part of exploring Venice, but at some point you'll almost surely end up in Piazza San Marco, where tourists and locals congregate for a coffee or an aperitif. | |||||||
26th26 | OctOct | 202121 | Split, Croatia | 10:00 | 18:00 | ||
Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. | |||||||
27th27 | OctOct | 202121 | At Sea | ||||
28th28 | OctOct | 202121 | Piraeus, Greece | 09:00 | 18:00 | ||
It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and maddening metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the Parthenon, its honey-color marble columns rising from a massive limestone base, and you behold architectural perfection that has not been surpassed in 2,500 years. But, today, this shrine of classical form dominates a 21st-century boomtown. To experience Athens—Athína in Greek—fully is to understand the essence of Greece: ancient monuments surviving in a sea of cement, startling beauty amid the squalor, tradition juxtaposed with modernity. Locals depend on humor and flexibility to deal with the chaos; you should do the same. The rewards are immense. Although Athens covers a huge area, the major landmarks of the ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods are close to the modern city center. You can easily walk from the Acropolis to many other key sites, taking time to browse in shops and relax in cafés and tavernas along the way. From many quarters of the city you can glimpse "the glory that was Greece" in the form of the Acropolis looming above the horizon, but only by actually climbing that rocky precipice can you feel the impact of the ancient settlement. The Acropolis and Filopappou, two craggy hills sitting side by side; the ancient Agora (marketplace); and Kerameikos, the first cemetery, form the core of ancient and Roman Athens. Along the Unification of Archaeological Sites promenade, you can follow stone-paved, tree-lined walkways from site to site, undisturbed by traffic. Cars have also been banned or reduced in other streets in the historical center. In the National Archaeological Museum, vast numbers of artifacts illustrate the many millennia of Greek civilization; smaller museums such as the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art Museum and the Byzantine and Christian Museum illuminate the history of particular regions or periods. Athens may seem like one huge city, but it is really a conglomeration of neighborhoods with distinctive characters. The Eastern influences that prevailed during the 400-year rule of the Ottoman Empire are still evident in Monastiraki, the bazaar area near the foot of the Acropolis. On the northern slope of the Acropolis, stroll through Plaka (if possible by moonlight), an area of tranquil streets lined with renovated mansions, to get the flavor of the 19th-century's gracious lifestyle. The narrow lanes of Anafiotika, a section of Plaka, thread past tiny churches and small, color-washed houses with wooden upper stories, recalling a Cycladic island village. In this maze of winding streets, vestiges of the older city are everywhere: crumbling stairways lined with festive tavernas; dank cellars filled with wine vats; occasionally a court or diminutive garden, enclosed within high walls and filled with magnolia trees and the flaming trumpet-shaped flowers of hibiscus bushes. Formerly run-down old quarters, such as Thission, Gazi and Psirri, popular nightlife areas filled with bars and mezedopoleia (similar to tapas bars), are now in the process of gentrification, although they still retain much of their original charm, as does the colorful produce and meat market on Athinas. The area around Syntagma Square, the tourist hub, and Omonia Square, the commercial heart of the city about 1 km (½ mi) northwest, is distinctly European, having been designed by the court architects of King Otho, a Bavarian, in the 19th century. The chic shops and bistros of ritzy Kolonaki nestle at the foot of Mt. Lycabettus, Athens's highest hill (909 feet). Each of Athens's outlying suburbs has a distinctive character: in the north is wealthy, tree-lined Kifissia, once a summer resort for aristocratic Athenians, and in the south and southeast lie Glyfada, Voula, and Vouliagmeni, with their sandy beaches, seaside bars, and lively summer nightlife. Just beyond the city's southern fringes is Piraeus, a bustling port city of waterside fish tavernas and Saronic Gulf views. | |||||||
29th29 | OctOct | 202121 | Heraklion (Iraklion), Crete, Greece | 08:00 | 18:00 | ||
Having been controlled by Arabic, Venetian and Ottoman empires over the years - it's no surprise that Heraklion is a diverse patchwork of exotic cultures and historical treasures. Celebrated as the birthplace of the Spanish Renaissance artist, El Greco, you can visit to explore the storied ruins of the Minoan empire's capital, and unearth the rich cultural treasures that Crete’s bustling modern capital has to offer. | |||||||
30th30 | OctOct | 202121 | Rhodes, Greece | 08:00 | 17:00 | ||
Early travelers described Rhodes as a town of two parts: a castle or high town (Collachium) and a lower city. Today Rhodes town—sometimes referred to as Ródos town—is still a city of two parts: the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site that incorporates the high town and lower city, and the modern metropolis, or New Town, spreading away from the walls that encircle the Old Town. The narrow streets of the Old Town are for the most part closed to cars and are lined with Orthodox and Catholic churches, Turkish houses (some of which follow the ancient orthogonal plan), and medieval public buildings with exterior staircases and facades elegantly constructed of well-cut limestone from Lindos. Careful reconstruction in recent years has enhanced the harmonious effect. | |||||||
31st31 | OctOct | 202121 | Limassol, Cyprus | 10:00 | 18:00 | ||
A major commercial port, cruise ship port of call, and wine-making center on the south coast, Limassol, 75 km (47 miles) from Nicosia, is a bustling, cosmopolitan town, with some of the liveliest nightlife on the island. Luxury hotels, apartments, and guesthouses stretch along 12 km (7 miles) of seafront, with the most luxurious ones just to the north of town. In the center, the elegant, modern shops of Makarios Avenue (where you'll mainly find clothes and shoes) contrast with those of pedestrian-only Agiou Andreou in the old part of town, where local handicrafts such as lace, embroidery, and basketware prevail; make sure you avoid shopping on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, when many shops close at 2 pm. A luxurious marina that will hold 650 yachts as well as house apartments, shops, and restaurants should further boost the town's lively appeal. | |||||||
1st01 | NovNov | 202121 | At Sea | 19:00 | 19:00 | ||
2nd02 | NovNov | 202121 | At Sea | 15:00 | |||
3rd03 | NovNov | 202121 | Eilat, Israel | 08:00 | 23:00 | ||
4th04 | NovNov | 202121 | 'Aqaba, Jordan | 08:00 | 18:00 | ||
The resort town of Aqaba, on the Red Sea at the southern end of Jordan, is a popular spot for divers with some of the best coral reefs in the world. Snorkeling and other water sports are popular, and it's easy to hire a boat for a day or half-day, including lunch.Aqaba has become quite a bustling destination, with several large luxury hotels and a large shopping area. There are many jewelry stores selling pearls, gem stones, and gold and silver jewelry. It's worth noting that although it's an international beach resort, Aqaba is quite conservative—certainly much more so than Amman—and North Americans tend to be more comfortable at the private hotel beaches. | |||||||
5th05 | NovNov | 202121 | At Sea | ||||
6th06 | NovNov | 202121 | At Sea | ||||
7th07 | NovNov | 202121 | At Sea | ||||
8th08 | NovNov | 202121 | At Sea | ||||
9th09 | NovNov | 202121 | Salalah, Oman | 09:00 | 18:00 | ||
The lush landscape around Salalah is the intriguing result of a quirk of nature. Since it is uniquely situated in the path of the Khareef, or South Western Monsoon, this stretch of the Dhofar Coast is covered in fine mist and frequent rain from mid-June through mid-September. By the time the monsoons cease, the entire coastline is a verdant stretch. Waterfalls, rolling grasslands, and thickly wooded wadis (riverbeds) thrive alongside rapid mountain streams. Unique in this desert region, Salalah attracts many visitors from the surrounding Arabian Gulf countries who are anxious to experience a rare lushness in a region where rain and greenery are in short supply. Once a stop on the ancient trading routes that connected the Levant to India and China, Salalah has a rich history that goes back centuries. Traders from Mesopotamia, the Persian Empire, and beyond passed through Salalah in their search for frankincense, making it a major center for trade in the coveted exotic ingredient. Pre-Islamic tombs and grave sites, some believed to be up to 2,000 years old, are scattered all over the nearby mountainsides and the present-day city, which has an estimated 195,000 inhabitants. | |||||||
10th10 | NovNov | 202121 | At Sea | ||||
11th11 | NovNov | 202121 | At Sea | ||||
12th12 | NovNov | 202121 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, disembark the MSC Opera | 09:00 | |||
Just a few decades ago, Abu Dhabi, the island capital of the United Arab Emirates, was a small fishing village with houses made of mud-brick and palm fronds. Today, as a result of revenue from oil, Abu Dhabi is one of the world's richest cities, with wide, tree-lined okulevards, lush green parks, gushing fountains and imposing skyscrapers. Somewhat of a dichotomy, Abu Dhabi is a combination of ultra-modern sophistication and Arab mystique, with friendly and hospitable people offering a warm welcome to visitors. Abu Dhabi's history originated in the 18th century, when, according to legend, a group of tribesmen pursuing a gazelle came upon a freshwater well which they named Abu Dhabi, or "Father of the Gazelle". In the 19th century, the first fort was built over this well by a sheikh of the Al-Nahyan dynasty. The fort's name is Al Husn Palace, also known as Old or White Fort, and it is one of the few buildings in Abu Dhabi that is more than 25 years old. Its whitewashed walls are eye-catching amid the backdrop of today's skyscrapers. Presently, it is home to the Cultural Foundation and serves as a documents centre. Abu Dhabi had little significance until the discovery of vast oil reserves in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In the years following, the city's economy and infrastructure developed rapidly and changed Abu Dhabi beyond recognition. |
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
Features a double bed, which can be converted into two singles. Also includes: air conditioning, spacious wardrobe, bathroom∘ with shower, hairdryer, towels, shampoo & shower gel, TV, telephone, mini-bar, safe deposit box.
Features a porthole∘ and a double bed, which can be converted into two singles. Also includes; air conditioning, bathroom with shower, hairdryer, towels, shampoo & shower gel, TV, telephone, mini-bar, safe deposit box.
Features a double bed, which can be converted in to two singles. Also includes: air conditioning, spacious wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub, TV, telephone, cable internet connection (for a fee), mini-bar, safe deposit box.
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A cafeteria style, self-service buffet.
MSC Opera offers 2 main restaurants, La Caravella and L’Approdo and an outdoor restaurant, Il Patio. Each one boasts a top gastronomic selection thanks to the variety of dishes and the high quality of the foods, from choice Italian meats, scrupulously controlled, to fresh fruit. Every product is fresh and carefully handled, such as bread baked on board with the passion and knowledge of the most distinctive boulangerie.
Dishes range from traditional and tasty Mediterranean fare, to the most refined international recipes.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, tables seat anywhere from 2-8 guests.
A Gala Buffet is held every night at midnight with the exception of the first and last night of the cruise.
Alfresco restaurant, serving pizza and fast-food styled dishes.
MSC Cruises is proud to bring the very best in artisanal gelato to our travellers. Venchi has been making superlative desserts since 1878 and owes much of its success to the use of 100% natural ingredients and exclusive recipes, from its intense extra dark chocolate to luscious gianduja and refreshing fruit sorbets.
Freshly made daily on board
Bar with vitamin drinks made from fresh fruits and juice such as Orange Delight and Carrot Fantasy.
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
713 seat theatre, and the main show lounge onboard. Offers tiered seating, and features small-scale production shows and cabaret performances.
Full gaming casino which offers roulette, poker, blackjack, and slot machines. It is open until late at night whilst at sea. Tournaments are regularly held onboard, and there are surprise promotions offered for those who play the slots - the winners are picked at random.
Late-night bar and nightclub with a 450 square foot dance floor.
Show lounge, with piano and bar and 193 square foot dance floor.
The ship's card room is located on deck 7 and seats 28 guests.
On MSC Opera guests can choose from 8 bars, inspired by different themes and inimitable in their wine and food selection, thus satisfying even the most sophisticated and demanding palates. These include the Caruso Lounge and The Cotton Club Bar.
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
Comes in five different age groups, with dedicated services and entertainment activities for each, open from 9am to 11pm.
Baby Club is for those under 3 years.
Mini Club is for those 3-6 years old.
Juniors Club is for 7-11 year olds.
Young Club is for 12-14 years old.
Teens Club caters for 15-17 year olds.
A children's playroom, open to all kids onboard.
An onboard arcade, with a variety of video games and digital options. Open to all children onboard.
The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.
18 nights aboard the MSC Opera | |||
Drinks packages available. | |||
Evening entertainment & Broadway style shows | |||
Speciality Restaurants (charges may apply) | |||
Award winning MSC Aurea Spa (charges apply) | |||
Gratuities Included | |||
Port Taxes and Fees | |||
ABTA and ATOL Protection* |
Date 25th Oct 2021 |
Nts 18 |
Please Call for Availability |
Date 25th Oct 2021 |
Nts 18 |
Please Call for Availability |
Fusion Cruises when selling travel arrangements is a trading name of The Midcounties Co-operative Ltd. Fusion Cruises is an Accredited Body Member of Midcounties Co-operative Travel Consortium. (ABTA:P6652, ATOL:6053).
Book with Confidence. We are a Member of ABTA which means you have the benefit of ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct.
Some of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme but ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services offered on this website. This website will provide you with information on the protection that applies in the case of each holiday and travel service offered before you make your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk