Norwegian Cruise Line changes more itineraries for 2024/25 South African cruise season

Norwegian Cruise Line has made substantial adjustments to Norwegian Sky’s 2024 Grand Voyage from Lisbon to Cape Town.

Departing November 16th, 2024 the 21-night cruise was originally set to visit the Canary Islands and various African ports, but now excludes Casablanca and Agadir in Morocco and Banjul in Gambia.

Port times at six stops have also been adjusted. The changes are similar to those made to the itineraries for Norwegian Dawn, which is homeporting in Cape Town for the 2024/25 season.

While Norwegian Cruise Line gave no reason for Norwegian Dawn’s amended itineraries, the cruise line attributed these most recent changes to ongoing efforts to enhance fuel efficiency as part of its environmental commitment. 

In a message to affected guests and travel partners, the company reiterated its dedication to sustainability.

“We are committed to providing the best vacations at sea and have been working tirelessly to continue elevating the quality of the overall guest experience while positively impacting society and the environment,” the cruise line said. 

Apologising for the adjustments, Norwegian Cruise Line assured guests that these modifications were made with optimal guest experience in mind.

With Casablanca, Agadir, and Banjul no longer part of the itinerary, Norwegian Sky will instead call at Funchal, Portugal, along with Santa Cruz de la Palma and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain. 

The cruise line described these alternative destinations as offering “stunning natural landscapes, vibrant city life, and a rich cultural heritage,” enhancing the experience for passengers.

Further schedule changes will affect port times at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Dakar, Abidjan, São Tomé, Luanda, and Walvis Bay, with the overall cruise route stretching from Lisbon, Portugal, to Cape Town, South Africa, and including a stop in Arrecife in Spain’s Canary Islands.

In recognition of the disruption, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering guests a US $100 non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom. Additionally, affected travelers will receive a 10% Future Cruise Credit, valid for any published sailing through December 31st, 2025.

While Norwegian Sky’s African itinerary is a one-off during her repositioning around the southern tip of the continent, Norwegian Dawn will be spending much longer in SA waters.

Norwegian Dawn will cruise a range of alternating 12-night cruises from Cape Town to Mauritius and Mauritius to Cape Town between November 2024 and May 2025. 

These cruises have proven popular with both the home market in South Africa and the cruise line’s US and Europe-based fly-cruise market, with the ship already confirmed for another season in 2025/26.