MSC Splendida causes traffic jams in Cape Town as season winds down

MSC Splendida is the largest cruise ship ever to homeport in South Africa, and as she respositions from Durban to Cape Town for the remainder of her SA cruise season, she’s bringing traffic to a stop in the Mother City.

MSC Splendida stops traffic with her immense size not only because the general public travel to Table Bay Harbour to get a look at her, but also because her 3,900 passengers create localised congestion around the port area.

The City of Cape Town is advising residents to plan their travel routes wisely to avoid heavy traffic congestion in the city on Wednesday when Splendida docks.

Thousands are expected to flock to the cruise terminal to catch a glimpse of the grand vessel, and alternative transportation methods are being encouraged to ensure smooth and hassle-free travel.

“I encourage residents to consider using the MyCiTi bus service, ridesharing and alternative routes into town,” said Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith. “Travelling early can also significantly alleviate congestion.” 

To manage the traffic flow effectively, traffic services will be deployed at key intersections to facilitate smooth movement throughout the city.

“As the City of Cape Town, we are committed to ensuring the accessibility and efficiency of our transportation networks,” Smith added. “I have requested the provincial minister to schedule a meeting… By working together, we can enhance the overall experience for everyone visiting our cruise terminal.”

Cape Town is the primary cruise port in South Africa for port calls and ‘turnarounds’, and has seen significant growth in the number and size of vessels calling in the city.

Although Cape Town has invested significantly in cruise infrastructure, this has failed to keep pace with the growth in demand, particularly as a result of the Red Sea security crisis, which this year has seen an unprecedented number of cruise ships calling in Cape Town.

The city saw its busiest season last year, and this year has been even busier due to dozens of cruise lines amending itineraries to sail around Africa rather than through the Suez Canal. 

This has created port congestion with multiple cruise ships in port simultaneously, creating bottlenecks at the port entrance, compounded by motorists on Helen Suzman Boulevard slowing down to view the ships.