MSC Cruises committed to SA employment, but cruise infrastructure needed 

MSC Cruises SA, the local subsidiary of the global MSC Cruises Group, remains committed to hiring more South Africans for shipboard and shoreside positions, but local cruise and transport infrastructure needs to be upgraded, says Managing Director Ross Volk.

MSC Cruises previously indicated its intention to hire 2,000 South Africans as crew this year, with up to 5,000 new hires in South Africa planned by 2028. But Volk told IOL that in order for the country to truly benefit from the cruise industry, greater investment was needed in cruise infrastructure.

“We want to get to 2,000 South Africans on board ships this year; 1,000 next year; and by 2027 to 2028 around 5,000 South Africans on board our vessels,” Volk said, adding that the cruise sector, which is experiencing robust growth in the country, has the potential to reduce South Africa’s unemployment.

The cruise line also has specific metrics, such as hiring 70% of people from previously disadvantaged communities.

However, South Africa’s strength as a cruise tourism destination, its immense size and diversity of landscapes and experiences, could also be a weakness.

“South Africa has such a rich diversity, but it is also very vast,” said Volk. “Because the country is so large, approximately the same size as Western Europe, we need to look at how we manage the situation of creating infrastructure that can get visitors to South Africa’s tourist areas as fast as possible to be able to accommodate the volumes that cruise tourism can bring.” 

According to Volk, the advancement of cruise tourism and the infrastructure required, relies on a collaborative effort between the government and private sector. He stresses the need for comprehensive infrastructure development, both in port facilities and inland, to ensure that visitors can efficiently access the country’s various attractions.

South Africa has seen rampant growth in cruise tourism numbers in recent years, especially during 2024 due to the crisis in the Red Sea. But the lack of adequate cruise infrastructure in the country and on the wider continent has prevented it from fully benefitting from the greater demand.

While South Africa has invested in some infrastructure, such as cruise terminals, most recently the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban, it’s in-person immigration procedures are particularly unpopular with international cruise tourists.