Beaches and an arid landscape await MSC Opera travellers when they pass through Fuerteventura
It is the second-largest island in the Canary Archipelago. Fuerteventura is located around 100 kilometres from North Africa and is influenced by the climate and winds, which find an almost flat island here where it is difficult to get rain.
The dry landscape is punctuated by a few plants. But the goat population, historically estimated at tens of thousands, has eaten away much of the vegetation. Today there are areas set aside for the animals, of which there are around 80,000, and much of the landscape is protected.
Puerto del Rosario is the main town on the island. This is where the MSC Opera docks, a short walk from the centre, with its low buildings, almost all painted white. The whole island has around 120,000 inhabitants. Half of them live in the town centre.
But the greatest attractions lie in the beauty that can be extracted from such aridity. The extinct volcanoes and their craters, and the great dune landscapes, where centuries of wind and erosion have built up natural sandbanks. This is the case of the Corralejo Dunes, a large expanse of sand that, from the sea, penetrates the island as far as the eye can see. This was one of the filming locations for Wonder Woman 1984, a film released in 2020.
Off-road tours are the most practical way to see some areas of Fuerteventura, such as the north-western part. This is one of the excursions that can be purchased on board the MSC Opera. These cars follow dirt tracks that lead to beaches and coves with crystal-clear waters and golden sands, such as Punta Blanca Beach or Aguila Beach, a surfer's paradise.
There are many more along the island. They are, in fact, the main reason why Fuerteventura is so popular. And here the climate allows for contact with the sea even in winter.
Back on the MSC Opera, the stopover here is a little shorter. Even so, it lasts from 9 am to 8 pm. It gives you time to do a bit of everything and still get back, for example, in time to go to the theatre.
The theatre is called Teatro dell'Opera. It seats 711 people and covers an area of 1,135 square metres. As on the other ships in the MSC Cruises fleet, there are two shows each day. One at 7.30 pm, designed for passengers who enjoy dinner on the second shift, at 9 pm. The second show, at 9.30 pm, is mainly for those who dine on the first shift, starting at 6.30 pm.
Every day the action on stage changes. Musical hits, dance, classic themes, there's a bit of everything for all tastes and going to the theatre is very popular on the ships.
There is live music in the bars. In the discotheque, Byblos, overlooking the sea, there is karaoke every night before the DJ comes on around midnight. Themed parties are organised, such as tributes to the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Another form of entertainment can be found at the Med Pearl Casino, which is open most of the time the ship is sailing (except at night). The same goes for the shops, whether they are MSC branded, duty-free, watches or clothes. There are special offers every day.