Severe weather off South Africa forces Crown Princess to delay Cape Town, divert to Durban

Princess Cruises has confirmed a significant itinerary revision for Crown Princess after the ship encountered severe weather off South Africa while attempting to reach Cape Town. 

The 3,080-passenger vessel is currently sailing a 113-day world cruise and was due to call in Cape Town on June 25th, but was diverted to Durban due to severe weather .

In a letter issued to passengers on June 24th, Princess Cruises announced that the planned stop in Cape Town would be delayed due to dangerous conditions at sea. 

Instead, Crown Princess made an unscheduled call in Durban, where it docked at 7 a.m. and remained until 7 p.m.—an hour longer than the previously scheduled stop in Cape Town.

“We will delay our arrival into Cape Town, South Africa, and will remain on the east coast to allow the worst of the weather to pass through the area,” the letter stated. “While we may still experience some rough seas, this should enable us to avoid the worst of the weather and provide you with the most comfortable cruise.”

The deviation follows two days of holding position along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, as the ship waited for conditions to improve. Crown Princess will now arrive in Cape Town on June 28th at 7 a.m. for an overnight stay, departing at 6 p.m. on June 29th—maintaining the originally planned duration, though several days later.

The delay in reaching Cape Town has also pushed back the ship’s next port of call, Walvis Bay in Namibia. The stop, originally scheduled for June 28th, has been moved to July 1st, with the vessel due to arrive at 9 a.m. and depart at 6 p.m.

“We anticipate further impacts to our onward itinerary and will share these details once confirmed,” wrote Captain Petar Lesic in the letter to guests.

The Crown Princess is one of several international cruise ships to visit South African ports during the 2024/25 season. 

Durban and Cape Town continue to serve as key ports of call for long-haul itineraries repositioning between Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

While itinerary adjustments are not uncommon during extended voyages, weather-related disruptions such as these highlight the operational challenges of cruising around the Cape, which is notorious for its rough seas at this time of year.