The Darvaza Gas Crater, famously nicknamed the “Door to Hell,” is one of Turkmenistan’s most extraordinary landmarks. Located deep in the Karakum Desert, this fiery pit has been burning continuously since the early 1970s, when Soviet engineers reportedly set fire to a collapsed natural gas field to prevent the spread of methane.
Chetumal is the capital of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located near the border with Belize on the western side of Chetumal Bay. Unlike the large resort centers farther north on the Caribbean coast, the city functions primarily as a government, commercial, and cultural center.
The Dead Sea lies at the lowest point on Earth, around 430 meters below sea level, and features water with nearly ten times the salinity of the ocean. That level of salinity makes floating on its surface effortless. Visitors can lie back without effort, with views opening across barren hills and reflective water. This shoreline also hosts a mix of minerals collected over millennia and known for their soothing effect on skin and joints.
Tan Chau, located in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, is most well-known for its exclusive silk production, using local materials such as dyes made from the mac nua (Diospyros mollis) fruit.
Formally called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Ocean Cay is a private island only accessible to MSC Cruises guests. Activities include beachside lounging, snorkeling, paddle boarding, lighthouse climbing, dining, shopping and more.