18 Night Cruise sailing from Santos to Hamburg aboard MSC Magnifica.

Opulent and magnificent - get ready for a new class of luxury liner unlike any other. MSC Magnifica is the latest 'Musica-class' luxury cruise ship from MSC Cruises.

The MSC Magnifica ship carries 2,500 passengers and most can enjoy the luxury of a sea-facing cabin with balcony. Lucky guests on MSC Magnifica are expertly looked after by a 1,000-strong crew, enjoying the best of modern Italian style as they embark on their chosen voyage.

At the heart of MSC Magnifica is a lush haven of tranquillity, the luxurious MSC Aurea Spa. This sumptuous wellness centre offers a myriad of relaxation options from saunas and Turkish baths to a fitness centre, beauty salon, Thalassotherapy room, relaxation area and massage rooms. Why not give in to the magic of an authentic Balinese massage from professional masseurs?

Recreation options onboard MSC Magnifica are endless. Soak up the sun in the solarium or choose from 3 swimming pools, one under the ingenious 'Magrodome' retractable roof - perfect for winter cruising. Anyone for tennis. or basketball for that matter, not to mention jogging!

MSC Magnifica boasts all the fine dining and entertainment amenities you would expect on a superior luxury cruise ship, and much more besides. With a choice of 5 restaurants, numerous bars, an internet cafe and cigar lounge - not forgetting the plush 1,200-seat theatre, cinema, casino and disco - the MSC Magnifica truly lives up to her Italian name - magnificent!

Highlights of this cruise:

Santos
Santos is a municipality in the São Paulo state of Brazil, about 79 km (49 mi) from the metropolis São Paulo, capital of the state São Paulo. Standing on an island, Santos boasts the largest dock area in Latin America and is considered the world's foremost coffee port.

The city of Santos has impressive modern buildings, wide tree-lined avenues and wealthy suburbs. It retains a charm despite the development of an enormous port complex. Although best known for its commerce, it is also a holiday resort with magnificent beaches, plenty of shops and a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Buzios
Travel two hours north of Rio de Janeiro, and far from the hustle and bustle of the city you'll find Buzios, a former tiny fishing village that would have been lost to the world had the French actress Brigitte Bardot not made it her favourite beach destination in 1964. Bardot's endorsement catapulted this colourful and lively beach-front port town to fame.

Salvador
Located on the north-east coast of Brazil, Salvador is the third most populous Brazilian city, after São Paulo.
As the first colonial capital of Brazil, Salvador da Bahia is one of the oldest cities in the country. Much of the population of Salvador has Black African ancestry and the city has retained its Afro-Brazilian roots making it an important centre for culture and the arts.

You can experience a little of this enthralling heritage on the 'Bahia by Night' tour, where visitors can enjoy a show of typical Afro Bahiana music and dance.

Visually, the city is stunning, with 17th- and 18th-century architecture dotted with gold-embellished churches.

Recife
Recife is one of the largest and most important cities on the north east coast of Brazil. An historic city dating back to 1535, Recife is characterised by its laid-back holiday ambiance, great urban beaches along a unique coastal environment, vibrant culture and entertainment.

Portuguese is spoken here and 'Recife' (pronounced 'hee-see-fee') means 'reef', in reference to the reefs that are found off-shore and which you can swim around during your stay here.

Arrecife
Arrecife is a city in the Canary Islands situated on the east side of the island of Lanzarote. Arrecife has been the capital of Lanzarote since 1852.

Located in the Atlantic Ocean, Lanzarote is the most north-eastern of the Canary Islands and is just 115 kilometres off the coast of Africa, hence its year-round dry, mild climate. Holiday-makers will be struck by Lanzarote's incredibly unique landscape, which is not only unusual compared to its neighbouring islands, but to anything else in the world! Its extraordinary scenery is due to its volcanic origins; large parts of the island are covered with ashes and lava, and Lanzarote's inhabitants have successfully cultivated the rich, fertile soil.

This is why today visitors will frequently see large, lush plantations of fruits and vegetables. Of particular note is the region of Geria, with vineyards nestling between volcanic craters.

La Coruna
La Coruna (also called A Coruna) is both a region and a busy port town located in Galicia, north-west Spain.

As a bustling hub for business and exports, the area combines its traditions of agriculture and fishing with successful new industries, notably fashion and textiles.

Leave your luxury cruise liner in the dedicated cruise ship terminal and come ashore for the day. Unlike other Mediterranean port destinations around Spain, La Coruna represents the 'green heart' of the country thanks to its panoramic ocean setting and verdant surrounding countryside.

Indeed, La Coruna represents a refreshing break from the other, better-known and more crowded holiday destinations. Support local industries with a spot of retail therapy in the good shopping facilities and ensure you take a break to sample the local 'tapas' cuisine.
The city has a wide range of good museums and attractions, ideal for children and adults of all ages; take your pick from the Picasso Museum, the interactive House of Humankind (the first of its kind dedicated to the human being), MACUF, the contemporary art museum, the Fine Arts museum or the aquarium.

Hamburg
Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city after Berlin and one of the country's key hubs for media and industry. The second-largest port in all of Europe, Hamburg is the ninth largest port city in the world. But don't be put off by these 'seconds'; Hamburg is at the front line of energy and dynamism.

As a passenger onboard our luxury MSC cruise liner you will experience this exciting metropolis right from the moment your ship docks in the state-of-the-art cruise liner terminal. Perhaps not the most obvious holiday destination, Hamburg nevertheless makes for a worthwhile stopover during your Northern Europe cruise vacation.

Head for the Aldstadt (old city) with its unique architecture and attractive canals. You may like to visit Michaelis Church, the most significant Baroque church structure in Northern Germany boasting an impressive 132 metre-high tower. Children are well-catered for in this city: an essential outing is to Hagenbeck Zoo, complete with giraffes, elephants, monkeys and tigers all in an open, natural setting.

If you're seeking true stillness in the city, head to Hamburg's botanical gardens, the 'Planten un Blomen' with its parks, tropical greenhouse and the largest Japanese garden in Europe - a real treat for garden-lovers. For other great day trip ideas further afield, be sure to consult our programme of excursion packages, which offer the best deals on local sights and attractions.

Finally, a word about burgers. the hamburger apparently did not originate in this city, but the world's favourite fast food is named after this German town!