Cunard announces first ever triple SA cruise deployment in 2019

The world’s most famous luxury cruise line, Cunard, has announced its most extensive South African cruise program to date, with three Cape Town departures in 2019.

“Cunard has announced that two of their ships will be calling in Cape Town three times during the 2019 calendar year. Queen Elizabeth will be in Cape Town during both January and November 2019, and Queen Victoria will be in Cape Town during April 2019,” says Divan Viljoen, Marketing Campaign Manager, Cruiseabout, a division of Flight Centre Travel Group.

While Cunard is a popular cruise option for wealthier South African’s looking for a cruise that is more upmarket and of longer length than that offered by MSC Cruises, Viljoen added that Cunard would benefit from the extensive South African diaspora that has developed in the UK and Australia.

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“This is an ideal opportunity for South Africans to visit their families on both the European and Australian continents,” he said.

The three voyages are from 16 night to 24 nights, cruising from Cape Town to Australia and Southampton.

Queen Elizabeth will cruise from Cape Town to Fremantle on January 19^th, 2019. She’ll then return to the Mother City on November 20^th and cruise from Cape Town to Melbourne, a 24-night voyage.

Queen Victoria meanwhile, will offer the age-old Cape Town to Southampton cruise, following the route of the old ocean liners that connected the UK with her former colony. Queen Victoria’s 16-night cruise from Cape Town to Southampton departs on April 12^th. This cruise offers one of the longest stretches of days at sea of any cruise from Cape Town.

Cunard’s reputation for bringing the glamour of cruising alive makes it a popular choice among cruise passengers seeking the golden age of ocean travel. With her Art Deco interiors, Queen Elizabeth is the most similar to her namesake, the QE2 (now a floating hotel in Dubai), while Queen Victoria offers a more traditionally luxurious experience.

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Cunard Line remains rigidly loyal to British cruise traditions, including High Tea in the afternoons and ballroom dancing in the evening. Cunard memorabilia tracing the line’s illustrious past can be found throughout its ships.

“Stops along the January voyage from Cape Town to Melbourne include Reunion, Mauritius and Fremantle, while the Southampton to Cape Town voyage in November stops in Lisbon, Tenerife and Walvis Bay,” says Viljoen.

Queen Victoria’s epic voyage takes her around the world, starting in Southampton and travelling to Florida, central America, San Francisco, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Hong Kong, Singapore and across the Indian Ocean via Cape Town back to Southampton.

“Passengers can choose to sail the entire journey or just parts thereof, ending or beginning their journey in Cape Town,” explains Viljoen.

To find out more about what a Cunard cruise entails, see our cruise line focus.