South Africa is set for a record 2025/26 cruise season, with 22 ships scheduled to make 89 calls as Cape Town cements its role as a key turnaround port for global repositioning voyages and Durban anchors the domestic cruise market.

The 2025/26 South African cruise season is shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent years, with 89 scheduled cruise calls between October 2025 and June 2026 by 22 cruise ships from a broad mix of mainstream, premium, and luxury cruise lines. 

The majority of sailings begin or end in Cape Town, the country’s primary cruise port for international cruise departures, while Durban remains the key domestic cruise port. Five roundtrip cruises are scheduled from Cape Town for the coming season, reflecting continued demand for regional itineraries.

MSC Opera will homeport in Durban at the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal, offering 27 cruise departures between November and April. These departures feature a range of itineraries in the Indian Ocean visiting destinations such as Portuguese Island and Pomene in Mozambique. The season concludes with a 26-night repositioning voyage to Genoa in April.

The season in Cape Town begins in October with Mein Schiff 4, which departs on a 19-night repositioning cruise from Cape Town to Dubai. This sets the tone for a season dominated by long-haul repositioning and Indian Ocean voyages. Several ships offer one-way itineraries from Cape Town to the Middle East, including Mein Schiff 4, 5, and 6, AIDAprima, Costa Toscana, and Seven Seas Navigator, with destinations such as Dubai, Doha, and Muscat.

November marks a surge in Indian Ocean cruises, with AIDAstella sailing multiple itineraries between Cape Town and Port Louis, Mauritius. Voyager of the Seas and Azamara Pursuit offer extended sailings to Asia, including Singapore and Madagascar, while luxury brands such as Europa and Regent Seven Seas feature African wildlife and cultural cruises to Mahe and beyond.

In December and January, the focus remains on outbound voyages from Cape Town to Asia and Australia, with ships such as Crystal Symphony, Oceania Sirena, and Queen Anne calling en route to destinations including Mombasa, Mumbai, and Sydney. Several lines use Cape Town as a key turnaround port for repositioning cruises across the Indian Ocean and into Southeast Asia.

February and March bring more complex itineraries, including world cruise segments and multi-country African voyages. Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises ships dominate these months, with sailings to Europe via the west coast of Africa and the Canary Islands on their repositioning return voyages from the Middle East. 

Itineraries include Cape Town to Lisbon, Barcelona, and Trieste, while Azamara Journey and Seven Seas Voyager add depth with cruises to the Seychelles, Madagascar, and the Canary Islands.

By April, the season begins to wind down, though notable sailings include MSC Opera offering short coastal cruises, including Durban to Cape Town voyages, while Queen Mary 2 embarks on historic ocean liner-style crossings to Southampton and New York. Final repositioning voyages to Palma de Mallorca and Genoa take place before the season concludes.

May and June wrap up the season with extended luxury cruises by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Oceania, heading north from Cape Town to ports such as Lisbon, Southampton, and London.

This diverse season highlights Cape Town’s growing role as a strategic embarkation port for global cruise routes, with itineraries spanning Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Australasia.

There are a range of types of cruises departing Cape Town during the 2025/26 season:

Roundtrip cruises:

November 12th, 2025: AIDAstella, 14-nights, Cape Town to Cape Town – This extended roundtrip Southern African exploration visits several ports in South Africa including Port Elizabeth, Durban, East London, and Cape Town, where AIDAstella will stay overnight, before venturing up the Skeleton Coast to Walvis Bay and Luderitz in Namibia.

January 13th, 2026: Seven Seas Voyager, 14 nights, Cape Town to Cape Town – This luxury roundtrip cruise explores Namibia and the South African coastline in depth. After departing Cape Town, the itinerary includes an overnight stay in Walvis Bay, followed by extended port calls in Port Elizabeth, East London, and Durban. The voyage continues to Mossel Bay before returning to Cape Town, where guests disembark after an overnight stay in port.

January 20th, 2026: AIDAstella, 14 nights, Cape Town to Cape Town – AIDAstella returns to Cape Town after a two-week circuit that combines South Africa’s eastern seaboard and Namibia’s rugged coastline. The ship visits Port Elizabeth and East London before heading north to Luderitz and Walvis Bay, concluding with an early morning arrival back in Cape Town.

January 21st, 2026: AIDAstella, 14 nights, Cape Town to Cape Town – On this near-identical sister voyage, AIDAstella once again sails roundtrip from Cape Town, calling at Port Elizabeth, East London, Luderitz and Walvis Bay. The ship spends the final night at sea before arriving in Cape Town on February 4th for disembarkation.

April 4th, 2026: MSC Opera, 5 nights, Cape Town to Cape Town – This short Indian Ocean sailing departs Cape Town for a scenic overnight call in Walvis Bay, Namibia, offering passengers a compact getaway before returning to Cape Town on April 9th to wrap up MSC Opera’s South African season out of Cape Town.

Repositioning cruises:

October 21st, 2025: Mein Schiff 4, 19 nights, Cape Town to Dubai
Mein Schiff 4 begins the 2025/26 South African cruise season with a repositioning voyage from Cape Town to Dubai. The itinerary includes coastal South Africa, island calls in Réunion, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, and concludes with port calls in Muscat and an overnight stay in Dubai. Guests can choose between a 19- or 20-night version of the voyage, depending on disembarkation date.

November 1st, 2025: AIDAprima, 20 nights, Cape Town to Dubai
AIDAprima departs Cape Town on a 20-night repositioning cruise that traces the Indian Ocean trade routes. The itinerary features stops in Port Elizabeth, Réunion, and Mauritius before crossing to Muscat and concluding with an overnight stay in Dubai.

November 17th, 2025: Mein Schiff 6, 23 nights, Cape Town to Singapore
This adults-only repositioning cruise sails from Cape Town to Singapore, with calls in Port Elizabeth, Reunion, and Mauritius, followed by an Indian Ocean crossing to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Highlights include overnight stays in Colombo and Singapore, as well as a full day in Kuala Lumpur.

November 26th, 2025: AIDAstella – 14 or 20 nights – Cape Town to Port Louis/Seychelles
This repositioning voyage aboard AIDAstella departs Cape Town on a 14-night journey to Mauritius, visiting South African ports including Port Elizabeth, East London, and Durban. The ship then continues to Saint-Denis, Réunion, before concluding with an overnight stay in Port Louis on December 10th. Guests can extend the voyage to a 20-night cruise that includes a return call to Réunion, followed by stops in La Digue and an overnight finale in Mahé, Seychelles.

December 2nd, 2025: Mein Schiff 5, 16 nights, Cape Town to Dubai 
This repositioning voyage begins in Cape Town and follows the eastern coast of South Africa with port calls in Port Elizabeth and Durban, before crossing the Indian Ocean to Muscat and Dubai. Guests can disembark in Dubai after 16 nights, or extend their journey by two nights to conclude in Doha, Qatar.

December 3rd, 2025: Costa Toscana, 17 nights, Cape Town to Dubai
Costa Toscana departs Cape Town on a northbound repositioning voyage that includes calls in Port Elizabeth, Mauritius, and Muscat before concluding in Dubai. The itinerary combines Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Gulf in a single sailing.

March 10th, 2026: AIDAprima, 18 nights, Cape Town to Gran Canaria
AIDAprima sails north from Cape Town on a transcontinental repositioning cruise to the Canary Islands. Highlights include a call in Walvis Bay, a full day in Cape Verde’s capital Praia, and three stops across the Canary Islands—Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote—before concluding in Gran Canaria.

March 12th, 2026: AIDAstella – 19- or 31-night voyage from Cape Town to Mallorca or Antalya
AIDAstella departs Cape Town on a transcontinental cruise offering two itinerary options. The 19-night voyage ends in Palma de Mallorca, with stops in Namibia, Cape Verde, Tenerife, Gibraltar, and Spain. Guests continuing on the full 31-night sailing will explore further across the Mediterranean, visiting Sicily, Greece (Iraklion, Mykonos, Athens, Rhodes), and Turkey, including an overnight in Istanbul, before concluding in Antalya on April 12th.

March 22nd, 2026: Costa Toscana, 18 – 20 nights, Cape Town to Barcelona/Genoa/Marseille
Costa Toscana departs Cape Town for the Mediterranean with a flexible itinerary offering three disembarkation options: Barcelona (18 nights), Genoa (19 nights), or Marseille (20 nights). All versions include a stop in Walvis Bay, followed by scenic calls in the Canary Islands, Cadiz, and Barcelona, with Genoa and Marseille added for extended sailings.

March 29th, 2026: Mein Schiff 5, 19 nights, Cape Town to Palma de Mallorca
This transoceanic repositioning cruise departs Cape Town and sails up the west coast of Africa, with calls in Walvis Bay, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands. The voyage continues through the Strait of Gibraltar with a late-night stay in port, before concluding in Palma de Mallorca.

April 11th, 2026: Mein Schiff 4, 20 nights, Cape Town to Palma de Mallorca
Mein Schiff 4 departs Cape Town on a 20-night transoceanic cruise featuring calls along the west coast of Africa and into the Mediterranean. The itinerary includes Walvis Bay, Cape Verde, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Tangier, before final stops in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.

April 14th, 2026: MSC Opera, 3 or 29 nights, Cape Town to Durban or Genoa
MSC Opera offers two itinerary options departing Cape Town on April 14th. The shorter 3-night cruise sails directly to Durban, while the 29-night repositioning at the end of her season in Durban continues through the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, calling at Reunion, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, Jordan, Egypt, and Greece before concluding in Genoa, Italy.  This repositioning is also offered as a 26-night voyage from Durban on April 17^th, 2026.

June 4th, 2026: Mein Schiff 6, 19 nights, Cape Town to Palma de Mallorca
Mein Schiff 6 closes out the 2025/26 South African cruise season with a 19-night transoceanic sailing from Cape Town. The voyage includes stops in Walvis Bay, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and Cadiz, before arriving in Palma de Mallorca.

World cruise segments and grand voyages:

November 14th, 2025: Voyager of the Seas, 17 nights, Cape Town to Singapore
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas sets sail from Cape Town on a 17-night grand voyage to Singapore. The itinerary begins with a call at Port Elizabeth on South Africa’s Eastern Cape, before crossing the Indian Ocean for back-to-back island stops in the Mascarene Islands—Réunion and Mauritius. Guests then enjoy an extended period at sea before arriving in Singapore, where the cruise concludes with an overnight arrival and disembarkation on December 1st.

November 15th, 2025: Azamara Pursuit, 13 nights, Cape Town to Port Louis
Azamara Pursuit departs Cape Town on a 13-night coastal and Indian Ocean cruise to Mauritius. The itinerary begins with scenic ports along South Africa’s east coast, including Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Richard’s Bay. The ship then sails across the Mozambique Channel for a stop in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, followed by visits to Saint-Denis, Réunion, and finally Port Louis, where the cruise concludes with an overnight arrival on November 27th.

November 21st, 2025: Europa, 16 nights, Cape Town to Mahé
Europa sets sail from Cape Town on a 16-night voyage titled Fascination Africa: Wilderness, Desert and Safari. The itinerary explores Southern and Eastern Africa with port calls in Port Elizabeth and an overnight stay in Durban, followed by visits to Maputo and Bazaruto in Mozambique. After crossing the Mozambique Channel, the ship continues to Nosy Be and Diego Suarez in Madagascar before concluding with an overnight call in Mahé, Seychelles.

November 25th, 2025: Seven Seas Navigator, 19 nights, Cape Town to Doha
Seven Seas Navigator departs Cape Town on an extensive 19-night voyage titled Majestic Safaris & Modern Spires. The itinerary includes calls along South Africa’s coast in Mossel Bay and Richard’s Bay, followed by Maputo in Mozambique. The cruise continues through the Indian Ocean with stops in Mayotte, Nosy Be, and an overnight stay in Mahé, Seychelles. From there, the ship sails north with port calls in Muscat, Fujairah, and Dubai, before concluding in Doha, Qatar.

December 2nd, 2025: Oceania Sirena, 24 nights, Cape Town to Singapore
Oceania Sirena departs Cape Town on a 24-night Indian Ocean crossing to Singapore. The voyage includes calls in Mossel Bay, Durban, and Maputo before venturing across the Indian Ocean. Island stops include Réunion, Mauritius, and the Maldives, followed by ports in Sri Lanka (Colombo and Galle), Thailand (Phuket), and Malaysia (Penang and Klang). The cruise concludes in Singapore on December 26th.

December 20th, 2025: Azamara Journey, 15 nights, Cape Town to Port Louis
Azamara Journey departs Cape Town on a festive-season sailing along South Africa’s southern and eastern coastlines, visiting Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Richard’s Bay, and Durban (with an overnight stay). The ship then crosses the Indian Ocean for calls in Madagascar and Réunion, before concluding in Mauritius with an overnight in Port Louis on January 4th, 2026.

December 23rd, 2025: Crystal Symphony, 13 or 26 nights, Cape Town to Mombasa or Mumbai
Crystal Symphony offers two itinerary options departing Cape Town just before Christmas. The 13-night cruise concludes in Mombasa after a journey up Africa’s eastern seaboard with calls in Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Richard’s Bay, Maputo, Ilha de Mozambique, and Zanzibar.

Guests can extend the voyage to 26 nights, continuing to the Seychelles (including Mahé, Praslin and La Digue), the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Goa, and ultimately Mumbai.

January 27th, 2026: Seven Seas Voyager, 16 nights, Cape Town to Port Louis
This luxury voyage sails from Cape Town to Mauritius, showcasing a rich variety of Southern African and Indian Ocean ports. After stops in Port Elizabeth and Maputo, the itinerary includes multiple destinations in Madagascar such as Morondava, Diego Suarez, Tamatave, and two separate visits to Nosy Be, along with a port call in Mayotte. The cruise concludes with an overnight stay in Port Louis.

January 28th, 2026: Arcadia, 26 nights, Cape Town to Sydney
P&O Cruises’ Arcadia sets off from Cape Town on a sweeping journey to Australia. Along the way, guests can explore the diverse cultures and landscapes of Port Elizabeth, Réunion, and Mauritius before an extended Indian Ocean crossing. The voyage continues along Australia’s southern coast with calls in Fremantle, Adelaide, and Melbourne, before culminating in an overnight stay in Sydney Harbour.

January 31st, 2026: Queen Anne, 22 to 45 nights, Cape Town to Singapore / Hong Kong / Sydney
Cunard’s Queen Anne offers a range of itinerary options as she departs Cape Town on January 31st, 2026. Guests can choose between three distinct segments of this extensive voyage: 22-night voyage to Singapore – Visiting Port Elizabeth, Durban, Réunion, Mauritius, Colombo and Kuala Lumpur before concluding in Singapore on February 22nd; 27-night voyage to Hong Kong – Extends the journey beyond Singapore with added calls in Hong Kong via an overnight stay; 45-night voyage to Sydney – The full itinerary includes Southeast Asia, the Philippines and northern Australia, with stops in Manila, Bitung, Darwin, Airlie Beach and Brisbane before arriving in Sydney on March 17th.

February 3rd, 2026: AIDAstella, 14 or 28 nights, Cape Town to Mauritius / Seychelles / Madagascar
AIDAstella’s voyage departing Cape Town on February 3rd, 2026, is available in two distinct formats, giving guests the option to enjoy either a focused Southern Africa and Indian Ocean voyage, or a more immersive regional exploration extending into the Seychelles archipelago and Madagascar. The 14-night itinerary to Mauritius explores South Africa’s eastern coast with calls in Port Elizabeth, East London, and Durban, followed by stops in Maputo, Mozambique; Réunion; and an overnight finale in Port Louis, Mauritius on February 17th. The 28-night itinerary to Mauritius via Seychelles and Madagascar continues on from Port Louis to a second call in Réunion, followed by an Indian Ocean circuit including La Digue and Mahé in the Seychelles, Diego Suarez and Nosy Be in Madagascar, and a final return to Port Louis on March 3rd.

February 3rd, 2026: Azamara Journey, 18 nights, Cape Town to Gran Canaria
Azamara Journey sets sail from Cape Town on a unique transcontinental voyage tracing the West African coast. This 18-night itinerary includes scenic calls in Walvis Bay (Namibia), followed by multiple stops in the Canary Islands, such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria, offering a blend of African landscapes and European island culture. The cruise concludes in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, on 21 February 2026.

February 4th, 2026: AIDAstella – 14 or 20 nights – Cape Town to Mauritius/Seychelles
AIDAstella offers a flexible itinerary departing Cape Town, with two disembarkation options: 14-night cruise to Mauritius visiting Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, and Maputo, before crossing the Indian Ocean to Réunionand concluding in Port Louis on 18 February; 20-night extended itinerary to Seychelles visiting Réunion, and the Seychelles, with calls at La Digue and an overnight stay in Mahé, arriving for disembarkation on 24 February.

February 7th, 2026: Europa – 24 nights – Cape Town to Gran Canaria
This luxurious voyage aboard Europa traces Africa’s wild west coast over 24 nights. Departing from Cape Town, the itinerary explores seldom-visited ports including Lüderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia, Lobito in Angola, and remote islands like Annobón and Príncipe. The cruise continues north to Dakar, Senegal, and the Cape Verde islands before concluding in Gran Canaria on 3 March 2026.

February 28th, 2026: Seven Seas Voyager – 23 nights – Cape Town to Lisbon
This extensive West African exploration sails from Cape Town to Lisbon over 23 nights aboard Seven Seas Voyager. After departing South Africa, the itinerary includes Walvis Bay in Namibia and continues up the west coast of Africa with calls in São Tomé and Príncipe, Togo, Ghana, and Gambia. The voyage also includes stops in Cape Verde and two ports in the Canary Islands before concluding in Lisbon on 23 March 2026.

March 18th, 2026: Costa Deliziosa – Four Grand Voyages from Cape Town
Costa Cruises offers four Mediterranean-bound segments aboard Costa Deliziosa, all beginning in Cape Town on March 18th. These flexible itineraries combine Atlantic crossings with European port exploration: 17-night voyage to Barcelona (arrives April 4th): Includes Walvis Bay, Mindelo, and Gran Canaria; 18-night voyage to Marseille (arrives April 5th): Adds a final call in the French port of Marseille; 19-night voyage to Savona (arrives April 6th): Extends the itinerary via Barcelona and Marseille to Italy’s Ligurian coast; 24-night voyage to Trieste (arrives April 11th): Continues into the Adriatic with additional stops in Rome, Corfu, and Bari.

March 31st, 2026: Oceania Sirena – 24-nights – Cape Town to Lisbon
Oceania Cruises’ Sirena embarks on a 24-night cross-continental journey from Cape Town to Lisbon, tracing the west coast of Africa with calls in 11 countries. The itinerary includes ports in Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Senegal, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and Morocco before concluding in Portugal, offering a rare combination of Atlantic island outposts and cultural capitals. 

April 13th, 2026: Queen Mary 2 – 17-night or 25-night – Cape Town to Southampton/New York
Sailing aboard Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2, this 17-night transcontinental journey departs Cape Town and traces the west coast of Africa and Europe, concluding in Southampton. Key ports include Walvis Bay, Dakar, Tenerife, and Cádiz, offering a blend of desert landscapes, Atlantic islands, and historic European cities.

Passengers can also book the itinerary as a 25-night cruise concluding in New York, extending beyond Southampton to continue across the Atlantic, adding calls in Le Havre (gateway to Paris) before culminating in New York City. It’s a rare opportunity to experience a grand ocean crossing that spans Africa, Europe, and North America aboard one of the world’s most iconic ocean liners.

May 9th, 2026: Seven Seas Mariner – 23-night or 35-night – Cape Town to Lisbon/Miami
Embark on an elegant voyage aboard the all-suite Seven Seas Mariner, departing Cape Town for an in-depth exploration of West Africa’s ports and Atlantic isles. This 23-night cruise includes stops in Namibia, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and Madeira before concluding in Lisbon.

Guests can also extend the journey to a 35-night sailing, continuing from Lisbon across the Atlantic to the Azores, Bermuda, and the Bahamas, before finishing in Miami. It’s a luxurious odyssey that links the continents of Africa, Europe, and North America, offering both cultural depth and scenic variety.

May 10th, 2026: Norwegian Sun – 22-nights – Cape Town to Southampton
This epic sailing aboard Norwegian Sun departs Cape Town and travels north along Africa’s Atlantic coast before crossing to Europe. En route to Southampton, guests will visit Namibia, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and northern Spain. Combining rich African cultures, equatorial island stops, and Iberian charm, this voyage offers a rare mix of remote and iconic ports — all culminating in England’s maritime gateway.

May 11th, 2026: Azamara Onward – 17-nights – Cape Town to Gran Canaria
Sailing aboard Azamara Onward, this 17-night journey crosses the Atlantic in slow, exploratory style. After departing Cape Town, the ship visits the Namibian ports of Lüderitz and Walvis Bay before continuing to the remote island of Saint Helena, once Napoleon’s place of exile. The final leg of the journey weaves through the Cape Verde archipelago and concludes in Gran Canaria, offering a distinctive route that blends African desert outposts, Atlantic isles, and colonial heritage along rarely travelled sea lanes.

May 31st, 2026: Oceania Regatta – 24-night – Cape Town to Lisbon
This extended voyage aboard Oceania Regatta traces the west coast of Africa, weaving through seldom-visited ports before reaching the Iberian Peninsula. Departing from Cape Town, the itinerary includes the remote ports of Lüderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia, followed by a series of culturally rich West African calls—from the lush islands of São Tomé and Príncipe to vibrant cities like Lomé, Takoradi, Abidjan, Banjul, and Dakar. The journey continues northward to the volcanic landscapes of Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, before wrapping up with stops in Agadir, Morocco, and a final arrival in Lisbon on June 24th. It’s an ideal cruise for travellers seeking immersive cultural experiences across Africa’s Atlantic rim.

June 1st, 2026: Crown Princess – 33-nights – Cape Town to London (Dover)
Set sail on a sweeping 33-night journey aboard Crown Princess, tracing an extraordinary path from the tip of Africa to Northern Europe. Departing Cape Town, this world cruise segment sails up the Atlantic coast with calls in Walvis Bay and Mindelo, before reaching the sun-soaked Canary Islands and the storied city of Casablanca.

From there, the itinerary explores the cultural capitals of Western and Northern Europe, including La Coruña, Le Havre (gateway to Paris), Zeebrugge for Bruges, and IJmuiden for Amsterdam. It then ventures into the Baltic, stopping in Gdynia, Visby, Helsinki, Tallinn, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. The voyage concludes in the historic port of Dover on July 4th—offering a rich mix of African landscapes, Mediterranean heritage, and Scandinavian charm.

June 11th, 2026: Seven Seas Navigator – 24-nights – Cape Town to Barcelona
Embark on a richly layered voyage aboard Seven Seas Navigator, cruising north from Cape Town to Barcelona across remote Atlantic outposts and vibrant West African ports with the Mediterranean’s colourful coastlines. Key stops include Namibia’s Walvis Bay, the lush island of Principe, and cultural centres such as Lomé, Takoradi, and Abidjan. In the final stretch, passengers will explore the historic cities of Dakar, Mindelo, and Arrecife, as well as Morocco’s Agadir—before concluding the journey in Barcelona on July 5th.