Fab Meraviglia Dec Family Cruise | Umhlanga Family Holiday Review
What about something completely different for your December holiday with the kids? Take a cruise on the brand new MSC Meraviglia and enjoy a winter Mediterranean cruise from your very own Balcony cabin. This ship has amazing facilities and entertainment on offer - a Himalayan bridge; Formula 1 simulators; indoor full-size bowling alley; the fantastic
Cirque du Soleil; chocolatier and so much more. Expect to be awed by this ship!
To book, email us at cruises@southafrica.to, click on the buttons below or call us on 021-531-9638 or 021-531-7453.
Western Mediterranean - 9 December 2017 departure - 9 Nights - Fly / Stay / Cruise
Take advantage of the quieter winter months and don't get thronged by the crowds with this Western Mediterranean package. With visits to Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain, Marseille in France as well as calls in Italy to Palermo and Genoa, this will be a holiday to never forget. We have found it amazing to travel with the children to a number of different countries, with the luxury of only having to unpack once and not have to rush for flights. This
cruise departs from Civitavecchia, the closest port to Rome, Italy.
Price includes return flights from Johannesburg to Rome, Italy; 7 night cruise (full board and lodging) on the MSC Meraviglia; port charges, cruise insurance and service fees; 1 night stay prior to the cruise in a 3* hotel in Rome (B&B basis). Excludes visas and transfers. Price only valid for this departure date. Ask us for different dates that suit your travel needs.
This price is per family and is for two adults and two children under the age of 12. There is limited availability on cabins. Price is subject to fluctuations in prices and the Rand.
Read the full review of our family holiday to Umhlanga here.
2017-06-15. We hopped onto our FlySafair flight from Cape Town to Durban, with the 4 sprogs in tow. FlySafair were offering a kids fly free special (insane, I know), with 4 little ones in tow it was a no-brainer which airline to fly with. We were staying at Marine Terraces in Umhlanga, which is relatively close to King Shaka International Airport (a lot closer than the old airport).
FlySafair have forged a strong partnership with First Car Rental, and wherever we looked there were First Car Rental adverts - we even got a R100 voucher reduce our next car hire with FCR - we had already booked with Bidvest Car Hire, but kept it handy for the next time we travel.
After landing, we picked up our VW Kombi at Bidvest Car Rental, and headed for Marine Terraces, which would serve as home for 3 nights. It's about a 5 minute walk to the beach. We spent the first day at the beach, on Umhlanga's golden sands. The beach opposite Marine Terraces isn't suitable for swimming, as there are rocks in the sea and a vicious backwash (it's well signposted that swimming isn't allowed); so we restricted ourselves to dipping our toes
at the end of the wash, digging holes, building sandcastles, soaking up the sun and, of course, eating ice-cream. Our apartment didn't offer wifi - so be sure to check whether yours does, before you book.
Here's the view from the balcony of Marine Terraces:
Here's the pool at Marine Terraces. It's chlorinated and rather cool. There's a shallow end on the right (about knee-deep) which the kids enjoyed splashing around in.
Front-on view of Marine Terraces:
Next to the pool is a braai area, with tables to sit at:
The balcony had a table and a generous amount of space:
Later we headed down to the Cabana Resort, ate some pizza and played in the rock pools. To be frank, for a family holiday the Cabana area is far better positioned than the Marine Terraces given its proximity to a safe swimming area and restaurants, and the only reasons I'd stay at Marine Terraces would be cost or if I didn't have kids and was looking for slightly more silence.
La Spiaggia Trattoria is a lovely little spot to eat pizza with the family (they did a table for 10 for us). Tip: if you're in a hurry eat inside the restaurant, as outside it's harder to keep touch with your waiter.
One of the things to do in Umhlanga, is enjoy a walk along the beach front:
We walked towards the whale bone pier:
And of course it's obligatory to walk to the end of the pier:
And if you've got kids like us, you've got to get onto the sand and play amongst the rocks, and dare each other to go further in:
It was getting dark, and we don't know the area well, and this is South Africa, so we reluctantly ended our adventures on the beaches.
Umhlanga in Short
Funsunzi in KZN gets no better than Umhlanga, which is situated to the north of Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Umhlanga and nearby areas like Salt Rock have always been popular, but since Durban's Airport was moved from the south to the north (King Shaka International) they have boomed.
Stand-out hotels are:
The Oyster Box which was voted 10th best hotel in South Africa - foodies will love their high tea and curry buffet at lunchtime. After you've eaten go for a swim in the infinity pool, and enjoy the views of the beach.
Beverly Hills which was voted 8th Best Hotel in South Africa
Teremok Marine (Close to the sea, choose the milkwood suite, with its view over the sea from a private balcony and huge bedroom)
Manaar House (Fifteen minute walk to the beach, and 25m back up the hill, room 3 is the most peaceful).
*Terms and Conditions: Prices fluctuate constantly and may have already changed by the time you read this. Prices are only guaranteed once a booking has been made and terms and conditions pertaining to the booking are met. Prices based on 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 12 sharing the cabin type indicated. Prices are subject to availability of cabin category and change. Prices take into account discounts. Prices are an
indication only & can change at any time based on the cost of flights at the time of booking and also remain subject to fuel cost fluctuations and fluctuation of the South African Rand. Shuttles and visas excluded. Limited availability on cabins. We are human and mistakes creep in despite our very best efforts to mitigate these, so E&OE.
Prices subject to change, perhaps even by the time you read this. Errors & omissions occur from time to time
The bottom line: “The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting thigs to happen to him. He goes 'sight-seeing'” – Daniel J. Boorstin
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Until next time!
Karen, Rob & the rest of the SouthAfrica.TO team
