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You’re looking at a regular cruise ship. Nothing untoward.

Except, if you look really closely, you’ll see it’s called the MSC Poesia.

Yes, the jokes write themselves.

That image above is a little unclear. Let’s take a look at the rear:

There it is.

The fun started with a Business Insider SA story published on Tuesday, headlined ‘The MSC Poesia will visit Durban, Gqeberha, and Cape Town on a 4-month voyage around the world’:

South Africa will welcome the MSC Poesia in 2024 as the vessel makes its way around the world in 120-days.

MSC Cruises has announced the final itinerary for its biggest annual voyage in 2024. The MSC World Cruise, set to depart on 5 January, will follow a new route that includes 52 destinations in 31 different countries. South Africa is included as a new addition to the trip.

Look at it go:

Make your dream of seeing the world come true by setting sail with #MSCPoesia on an incredible 121-day journey as you discover the wonders our planet has to offer. Welcome to the MSC World Cruise 2024.

Click here to learn more: https://t.co/TuCrklMSgk#AWorldOfDiscovery pic.twitter.com/tH5y7qRyok

— MSC Cruises South Africa (@MSCcruisesSA) April 21, 2022

Capetonians aren’t great at sticking to dates and times (anybody who has hosted a dinner party can confirm this). However, with a two-year notice period, perhaps we can put together a welcoming party.

On Twitter, the quips came thick and fast:

Jou MSC Poesia coming to CT

— F1sasha (@F1sasha) April 27, 2022

BREAKING NEWS

The MSC Poesia has announced it will be setting sail for… Piel Island!!!

Everyone please remain calm… https://t.co/PCMsXWYR4n pic.twitter.com/XEK3x11c9v

— (@DrVoetsek) April 26, 2022

A lesbian cruise! Woooo

— Melissa Attree (@MelAttree) April 26, 2022

I’ve heard rumours that the mothership is called MA Se Poesia.

— John Harker (@JohnHar74820927) April 26, 2022

The WHAT NOW!?

why do they make it so easy!? https://t.co/NT6sjU1227

— Angel Campey (@YesReallyAngel) April 27, 2022

The Ma se ship. https://t.co/5JoPs6rX4A

— Lester Kiewit (@lesterkk) April 27, 2022

The ship is called what? https://t.co/bRjqvPmRvW

— Bruce Whitfield (@brucebusiness) April 27, 2022

Dear #MSC. Please avoid Cape Town until after your renaming ceremony. Please https://t.co/dZr6qxk48a

— Jack Devnarain (@JackD157) April 26, 2022

Oh, this is a rather unfortunate name for a ship travelling to South Africa, especially Cape Town.‍♀️ https://t.co/IksLsmA6Bl

— Louise-Mari ,Carus’s mommy (@CarustheRottie) April 26, 2022

This is so wrong. The Randburg Waterfront is the spiritual home of the Poesia. https://t.co/E7IZ2aXSkK

— SilverSurfer (@SurferSilverza) April 26, 2022

Johannesburg overlooked again. https://t.co/042lDNLoVR

— Emma Turd (@emmaturd) April 26, 2022

Sheesh, when will Jozi catch a break?

The social media sniggering has also inadvertently shed light on the death of a crew member aboard an MSC cruise ship, Hombisa ‘Nana’ Mafuduka.

This thread was posted numerous times under the original tweet:

#JusticeForHombisa

Our daugher,sister,friend and mother Hombisa Nana Mafuduka left home in January 2022 to work for MSC Cruises and they reported her dead on the 24/03/2022.

They told us(family) that “she vomitted blood,taken to hospital,resuscitated and on the way back

— madame delacroix (@Orliene__) April 22, 2022

That thread details the entire story, which has since been picked up by numerous media outlets.

A spokesperson for MSC, Lebo Mavuso, said the events of Mafuduka’s death are currently under investigation.

[source:businsidersa]