Arrival in Cape Town of World Odyssey marks start to 2024/25 South African cruise season

South Africa’s 2024/25 cruise season has officially begun with the arrival this week of World Odyssey in Cape Town.

The 2024/25 cruise season is expected to be the largest yet for Cape Town, with more than 130,000 cruise tourists expected aboard more than 70 cruise ship calls, and 268 across the country’s other six cruise ports.

World Odyssey docked in the Port of Cape Town on October 22nd, 2024, with 538 passengers aboard.

The South African cruise season runs until April next year, and Cape Town’s growing position as a global cruise destination is expected to contribute substantially to the local economy.

According to Wesgro, Cape Town’s official tourism agency, the cruise sector brought R1.32 billion to the Western Cape economy in the 2023/24 season, an increase from R1.2 billion in the previous year. 

Despite a slight drop in the number of ship calls – from 70 the previous year to 67—the economic impact saw a significant increase, reflecting the high spending power of cruise passengers.

Expenditures by vessels, passengers, and crew reached R1.5 billion, supporting 1,965 jobs across sectors such as retail, hospitality, and tourism services, showing how integral the cruise industry is to the local economy.

Retail, driven by passenger spending on local goods, accounted for 47% of these jobs, while hotels and restaurants made up 31%.

Wesgro celebrated the new season’s official launch at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, which sits adjacent to Cape Town’s recently renovated cruise terminal. 

“The 2023/24 season has reinforced Cape Town and the Western Cape’s standing as a premier destination for international cruise lines,” said Wrenelle Stander, CEO, Wesgro. “The R1.32 billion injection into the Western Cape economy showcases the sector’s resilience and its consistent value to businesses and communities across the province.”

Cape Town sits on one of the world’s busiest routes, and has benefitted over the last year or so from the security crisis in the Red Sea, which has forced all major cruise lines to reroute cruise itineraries around Africa, rather than through the Suez Canal.

During the upcoming cruise season, five ships will homeport in Cape Town, while a number of famous vessels will make port calls in the city, including Queen Mary 2, the world’s largest and only remaining ocean liner.

Seven Seas Splendor, Azamara Quest, Seabourn Sojourn, Silver Spirit, and MSC Musica will all sail a range of roundtrip itineraries out of Cape Town between November, 2024 and April, 2025.