MSC Cruises recently opened sales for its 2023-24 sailing season featuring its most modern ship to serve South Africa, MSC Splendida.
The 14-deck passenger vessel can accommodate up to 4,363 passengers and features for the first time in South Africa, the MSC Yacht Club – a premium ‘ship within a ship’ concept with 71 spacious suites, a dedicated concierge desk, 24-hour butler service, private restaurant, swimming pool and sunbathing area.
MSC Splendida will be based from November 2023 in the port of Durban and offer a range of voyages that last between 3 and 14 nights to Namibia, Mozambique and other Indian Ocean destinations. MSC Cruises will in total operate 35 sailings of MSC Splendida from both Durban and Cape Town during 2023-24.
Ross Volk, Managing Director, MSC Cruises South Africa said, “MSC Splendida will take cruising in South Africa to the next level and redefine holidays at sea. It will give our guests of all ages an incredible opportunity to indulge in wonderful, enjoyable and memorable experiences.
“This further demonstrates our commitment to the South African tourism sector and MSC Cruises’ aim to drive both the tourism industry and the cruising sector with a resultant positive economic impact to the country.
“The ship will be staffed by nearly 1,400 crew, who look forward to giving our guests the experience of a lifetime, many of whom will be sourced and trained locally through the Shosholoza Academy in Durban.”
MSC Splendida has a range of themed bars and dining venues including specialty Mediterranean and American steak house restaurants. The ship also has four swimming pools, The Strand Theatre for nighttime entertainment, Club 33 nightclub, an ultramodern gym, squash court and running track.
For more information on MSC Cruises, visit www.msccruises.co.za.
“Aladdin is so much more than a ‘boy meets girl’ story with bad guys and magic,” says Director Glenn Hayden of the current production of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp running at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace until the 4th of December.
With a spectacular 21st Century take on the old-time classic fairy tale, Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is filled with dreams mixed with incredible artistry and a thrilling and colourful production which continues to remind us that the magic is in all of us…and we could all do with a little hope and love at this time of the year.
When we think of magic, Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is one of the first stories that comes to mind. Aladdin is a classic ‘rags to riches’ tale with a young hero, a beautiful princess, and an evil villain, and is made complete with genies, wishes and magic. The story is one of the best known and most retold fairy tales of all time. Based on an original text by Producer Anjil Naidoo, Aladdin has been reimagined for the stage by an international team of award-winning theatre artists and a cast of 20 of South Africa’s best young and established actors and dancers.
Director and dramaturge Glenn Hayden, playwright Lakhinandan Boruah, composer Pranashan Singh, choreographers Bertwin D’Souza and Shampa GopiKrishna and Disrupt Media have combined forces with Astrid Productions to bring to the stage a new production of truly epic proportions for South African family audiences.
This new and extravagant production of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is the brainchild of producer Anjil Naidoo. Determined to showcase the abundance of South African talent, Anjil wrote an original text of the Aladdin story and set about putting together a creative team of theatre professionals that would bring her vision to the stage.
Anjil says that, This is especially exciting at a time when the arts are in such immense need of revival following the difficult times, we have all experienced. I can’t wait for everyone to come out and enjoy the show!
Following the birth of her dream, the search was on to put together the best cast possible who would bring Aladdin alive. Stars Vash Singh and Yasmin Hankel in the title roles of Aladdin and Princess Almas, who are supported by the magical talents of Belinda Henwood, Rowan Bartlett, Darren King, Tshediso Kabulu, Sanele Sibiya, and an ensemble of extraordinary dancers.
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp is set to be a unique production of size and quality rarely seen in South Africa. With the inclusion of an original score, riveting choreography and a script that is fun, witty, and heartfelt, it will be a production that no child, adult, or theatre lover will want to miss.
Final show week details for Theatre of Marcellus:
2 Dec 14:30 | 18:30
3 Dec 11:00 | 14:30 | 18:30
4 Dec 11:00 | 14:30 | 18:30
Tickets are available at Ticketpro from R243.
November 2022 is a month to celebrate… because it is Col'Cacchio Pizzeria's 30th anniversary! It’s with great pride and joy that restaurateur-and-entrepreneur-
Loxtonia, the range of 100% pure apple ciders from the Ceres Valley, have launched two LITE versions of their most popular ciders – Crispy Apple and Blush – in pace with the ever-growing trend towards no and low alcohol lifestyle alternatives.
Earlier this year I was luckily enough to visit the iconic The Capital Zimbali in Durban. Truly a world-class coastal getaway, The Capital Zimbali is located in Ballito, around 20 minutes north of King Shaka Airport in Durban. The weekend of my stay happened to be a very stormy and rainy weekend in the East Coast but nevertheless The Capital Zimbali had loads to do to keep me busy and it still proved to be an incredible getaway.
If you haven't read my full review of Four Seasons The Westcliff, what are you waiting for? During my stay I also visited the acclaimed Flames restaurant at the hotel. Here's my experience of the dinner and breakfast at Flames.
In August 2022 I got to experience world-class, 5-star luxury right here in Johannesburg, at Four Seasons The Westcliff. This hillside gem overlooks the Rosebank and Johannesburg CBD skylines.
On a recent trip to Durban I spent a night at Sibaya Lodge located just next to Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom, north of Durban. With a touch of Zulu elements in the decor and style, Sibaya Lodge is a fantastic North Coast getaway that offers great value for money. It's designed to reflect the royal heritage of KwaZulu-Natal. As a KZN born and bred, I can confirm that it in fact does reflect the Natal vibe. Overlooking the Indian Ocean, I can't think of a better way to enjoy the warm KZN weather. I couldn't believe my stay was in the middle of winter!
MY VERDICT: Family-friendly bed and breakfast accommodation that reflects the feel of KZN with Sibaya Casino easily accessible
Set on one of KwaZulu-Natal’s rolling green hills, Sun International’s Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom commands a magnificent 360 degree view of the Indian Ocean and the lush subtropical vegetation surrounding the 48 hectare North Coast property.
The architecture of the property, with its casino, two hotels and entertainment area, pays contemporary homage to the proud heritage of the Zulu kingdom and its brave warriors.
Sibaya offers world class accommodation for business and holiday travel. Stay at either the 118-room Sibaya Hotel or the 36-room luxurious boutique Royal Sibaya. All rooms have sea, pool or garden facing views.
Location
Sibaya Lodge is conveniently located next to Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom in northern KZN. At a 12km drive, it's just a stones throw away from King Shaka International Airport. It's an 8 minute drive away from the hub of Umhlanga and Umhlanga beach and just 5km away from the seaside town of Umdloti. It'll take you about 25 minutes to get to central Durban and 30 minutes to Ballito.
Room, Facilities & Food
Sibaya Lodge's 118 air-conditioned rooms have sea, pool and garden views and are a spacious 28m2 with either a queen bed and sleeper couch or 2 double beds. The rooms are fairly simple with your bed, couch, TV, cupboard and tea/coffee station. It also has a large bathroom with a big, open shower (I love really spacious showers!). The room had carpets and warm lighting which made it feel homely.
In terms of facilities, the lodge has a lovely pool area as well as an outdoor gym. There's also free parking, if you drive there, and free wifi.
I had breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast hall overlooks the pool area. The breakfast selection was a standard buffet, with hot and cold breakfast options you can choose from.
Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom
For vibrant entertainment there is the casino with both smoking and non-smoking sections. Chose from the latest technology slot machines including touch-bet Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Poker, or opt for real Tables games.
Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom is a stones throw away and has amazing restaurants like Butcher's Block and Jewels of India, along with a variety of fast food places. You can also of course make use of the casino if that's your kind of thing, or have a go at the arcade.
Butcher Block Sibaya
I had dinner at Butcher Block Steakhouse Sibaya during my stay. Butcher Block was absolutely exceptional and I would highly recommend. Known for its steaks I of course couldn't resist. I went for the Blue Cheese + Jalapeño steak under Butcher's Choice, while my brother ordering the Surf + Turf. Both options were incredible with the steaks having been prepared perfect Medium Rare just as requested. Can we just take a moment to appreciate perfectly executed steak? Incredible! I also indulged in a Cherry and Cranberry Wine Spritzer as well as a Blueberry Daiquiri. Of these, I would highly recommend the Blueberry Daiquiri.
For us Joburgers, Sibaya Lodge is a great option to get out of the city and enjoy the balmy KZN weather. You also won't have to spend much on your Uber as it's so close to the airport.
This weekend I had the pleasure of staying at the Fairway Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort at the Randpark Golf Course in Johannesburg. This hidden gem comes as a complete surprise as it's tucked away in the residential suburb of Randpark Ridge. It's a piece of luxury and escape in a peaceful area.
Mother's Day, on 8th May 2022, is a great time to show Mom how much you appreciate her. Get more from your Mom’s Day treat with this delicious recipe.
A pet is more than a loyal companion; they’re an important part of the family and truly make a house feel like a home.
To ensure your pet’s health and happiness, here are some tips on how to take care of your pet.
Easter is around the corner and that means plenty of South Africans are eagerly awaiting some much-needed time off and a delicious Easter lunch. With time off and food being a winning combination, there is one key ingredient missing – a stunning location. Of course, your dining room table may be a fine piece of wood, it’s got nothing on the setting that Mzansi can provide when creating your seat at the table.
In Mzansi, we have the world in one country so there are always plenty of options to recreate your seat at the table.
Life can get quite hectic. If we’re not trying to meet work deadlines, helping the kids with homework we know absolutely nothing about, we’re keeping abreast of popular series so we don’t read or hear any spoilers! Don’t you fret. Throughout the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there’s always a sweet, soft spot in every special moment. Do you want to know how you can find the sweet spot amidst the chaos? ‘Nougat’ it!
Unilever has recently launched the redesigned look and formulation of the much loved Handy Andy creams. The renovation of the Handy Andy cream features a new modern look, improved product formulation and an innovative packaging solution in keeping with Unilever’s Clean Future strategy. The Clean Future strategy details how Unilever intends to incorporate sustainability-oriented ideas into its product formulations and packaging to decrease its carbon footprint.
Handy Andy’s innovative at-home refill will reduce consumer plastic waste
Unilever announces the launch of Handy Andy Floor and All-Purpose concentrated refill. The new 200ml refill allows consumers to refill and reuse their Handy Andy 750ml Floor and All-purpose bottles for life.
The 200ml and 750ml bottles are 100% recyclable once the plastic cap and labels are removed and are made from recycled materials which reflects Unilever's commitment to decreasing the use of virgin plastic and single-use plastic as part of their Clean Future Strategy. The Clean Future Strategy is unique in its intent to embed the circular economy principles into both packaging and product formulations at the scale of global brands to reduce their carbon footprint.
Unilever has committed that by 2025 it will halve its use of virgin plastic, by reducing its absolute use of plastic packaging by more than 100,000 tonnes and accelerating its use of recycled plastic.
Made with 60% less plastic (vs Handy Andy 750ml Floor and All-Purpose Bottle), Handy Andy 200ml concentrated refill reduced plastic waste. The refill contains a 3,75x concentrated formula, delivering the same superior clean for which Handy Andy is known and loved.
Ammarah Chand, Brand Manager of Hard Surface Cleaners at Unilever South Africa, said: “South Africans are looking for ways to reduce their plastic footprint and a concentrated refill that uses less plastic and is 100% recyclable is an easy switch that can have a positive impact on the world around us while still providing value to our consumers.”
Going smaller is certainly better; the refills are lightweight and save on storage space. The refill’s space-saving design also comes with a smaller price tag, retailing less than the price of 750ml Floor and All-Purpose bottles.
Handy Andy 200ml Concentrated Refill contains Handy Andy's cleaning expertise, combined with the germ-killing power of Domestos that kills 99.9% of germs while leaving your home smelling great with that added streak-free shine. There is no bleach in Handy Andy Floor and All-Purpose products.
The Handy Andy Floor and All-Purpose Cleaner 200ml Concentrated Refill with the power of Domestos is available at all major leading supermarkets across the country.
To dilute; simply pour 200ml concentrated refill into an empty 750ml Hand Andy Floor and All-purpose bottles and fill with 550ml water. Close lid and shake well to mix. Like the 750ml Handy Andy Floor and All-Purpose Cleaner, the 200ml Concentrated Refill comes in 3 variants, Ocean Fresh, Lavender Fresh and Pine Fresh.
Additional Branded Info
No bleach in product.