Several major international cruise lines are preparing to conclude their 2024/25 sailings from Cape Town, with a series of repositioning voyages scheduled through May and early June. 

These end-of-season departures offer a final opportunity for travellers to embark from South Africa’s primary cruise port in the Mother City before the annual winter lull in cruise traffic.

Norwegian Sky will depart Cape Town on May 14th on a 21-night itinerary calling at ports in Namibia, Angola and Ivory Coast, ending in Barcelona, an itinerary she sails annually at the end of the South African cruise season. On May 22nd, Oceania Nautica sets sail on a 26-night voyage to Barcelona, visiting a range of destinations along Africa’s west coast.

Mein Schiff 6 will follow on May 26th with a 20-night transoceanic crossing to Trieste, Italy, while AIDAstella departs May 31st for Palma de Mallorca via Namibia on a 19-night itinerary.

These voyages are among the last to depart from Cape Town this season, which will formally pause following a final sailing by Seven Seas Voyager on June 4th. The 23-night itinerary sails north to Lisbon, featuring a mix of African and European ports.

Coming 2025/26 season to see expanded deployment

Cruise operations will resume in October 2025, with a diverse lineup of cruise ships homeporting or repositioning from Cape Town to destinations across the Indian Ocean, Middle East, and Europe.

The first call of the season is scheduled for October 21st, when Mein Schiff 4 departs on a 19-night sailing to Dubai for her 2025/26 Arabian Gulf season. 

November will bring a strong influx of cruise activity, including calls by AIDAprima, also on her way to the Arabian Gulf, Voyager of the Seas, Azamara Pursuit, and Europa, all operating varied itineraries to Singapore, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.

Oceania Sirena will return in early December with a 24-night sailing to Singapore via Mauritius and the Maldives, while Costa Toscana begins her Middle East voyage to Dubai on December 3rd for her 2025/26 season in Dubai.

Azamara Journey, Crystal Symphony, and other lines will also operate itineraries throughout the month.

By January, cruise activity in Cape Town will peak with a mix of luxury, expedition, and repositioning sailings. Seven Seas Voyager, AIDAstella, Arcadia, Queen Anne, and Queen Mary 2 are among the vessels confirmed, with destinations including Port Louis, Sydney, Hong Kong, and New York.

The busy schedule continues into February and March with long-haul voyages to Europe and the Canary Islands, and will conclude in April and May 2026 with return transits to the Mediterranean and beyond.

AIDAprima in Dubai

Norwegian Sun

Costa Toscana

Queen Anne in Cape Town, South Africa

2025/26 season highlights:

November 2nd: AIDAprima to Abu Dhabi
One of the largest ships scheduled to call this season, AIDAprima will operate a 21-night sailing to Abu Dhabi via Mauritius. The ship’s presence reflects the growing German cruise market’s interest in Africa and the Indian Ocean, with AIDA continuing to prioritise Cape Town as a key departure port.

December 3rd: Costa Toscana to Dubai
The largest and newest ship to sail from Cape Town during the 2025/26 season, Costa Toscana will offer a 17-night repositioning voyage to Dubai. As Costa Cruises’ flagship and one of the most modern vessels in the global fleet, her visit underscores Cape Town’s increasing appeal to high-capacity, next-generation ships.

January 31st: Queen Anne to Sydney, Hong Kong, and Singapore
Cunard Line’s newest vessel, Queen Anne, will depart Cape Town on a series of segment voyages that form part of her inaugural world cruise. The call marks a significant moment for the port, as Cunard continues its long-standing tradition of world voyages incorporating South Africa.

March 10th–18th: AIDAprima and Costa ships to Gran Canaria, Savona, and Marseille
In mid-March, a cluster of repositioning departures by AIDAprima and Costa ships will see Cape Town connected to key European homeports. These sailings cater to both long-haul repositioning guests and German and European source markets, offering access to southern Europe via Namibia and the Atlantic islands.

April 13th: Queen Mary 2 to Southampton and New York
The world’s most famous ocean liner returns to Cape Town on her annual world cruise. Queen Mary 2’s April sailing will take guests to Southampton and on to New York, offering one of the season’s most iconic transatlantic itineraries. Her visit remains a highlight for shipwatchers and ocean liner enthusiasts alike.

May 9th–31st: Final sailings by Norwegian Sun and Seven Seas Mariner
Norwegian Sun and Seven Seas Mariner are both scheduled to depart Cape Town for the final time before being retired or reassigned from their current fleets. These voyages mark the end of an era for two ships that have made repeated calls in the region, closing out the 2025/26 season with long-haul sailings to Southampton, Lisbon and Miami.

With more than 50 confirmed itineraries across the upcoming season, Cape Town is set to remain a central hub for both repositioning voyages and regional cruise tourism.