Azamara features Cape Town itinerary among 2025 ‘slowcation’ cruises

Azamara has spotlighted a selection of extended voyages for 2025 and 2026 in response to growing demand for longer, more immersive travel experiences, a trend known as ‘slowcations’. 

Among the featured itineraries is an 18-night sailing from Gran Canaria to Cape Town, calling at ports along the West African coast.

Departing December 2nd, 2025, the West Africa Cruise: Senegal, St. Helena & Walvis Bay itinerary aboard Azamara Journey features port calls in a range of remote and exotic locations. 

The sailing includes port calls at Dakar (Senegal), Banjul (Gambia), Jamestown (St. Helena), Walvis Bay (Namibia, overnight), and Lüderitz (Namibia), before concluding in Cape Town, South Africa. Four sea days are also included in the itinerary.

Azamara’s West African itinerary features sea days and extended port calls

According to Azamara, the itinerary is designed to allow for deeper exploration, with longer port stays and regional experiences. In Namibia, guests will have the opportunity to visit a desert watering hole for wildlife viewing, while in Senegal, the itinerary includes a visit to Noflaye’s Turtle Village.

The West Africa cruise is one of five itineraries highlighted by the cruise line as part of its slowcation offering. 

Other voyages include:

A 14-night Japan Intensive Cruise from Kobe to Tokyo, departing April 10th, 2026, with calls at nine Japanese ports and Busan, South Korea.

A 10-night Italy Intensive Cruise from Nice to Venice, departing May 2nd, 2026, featuring an overnight in Livorno and visits to several Italian coastal cities as well as Kotor, Montenegro.

A 16-night Alaska and Canadian Rockies Cruisetour, starting June 16th, 2026, combining a six-night land tour through Banff and the Canadian Rockies with a cruise from Vancouver to Whittier.

A 16-night sailing from Montréal to Reykjavík, departing August 26th, 2026, visiting ports in Canada, Greenland, and Iceland, including Saguenay, Nuuk, Qaqortoq and Grundarfjördur.

Azamara said the itineraries are aimed at travellers seeking more time to connect with local culture and landscapes. Many of the cruises include overnight dockings and optional shore excursions designed to provide context and depth to the destinations visited.

Azamara has long promoted extended port stays and country-intensive voyages as part of its Destination Immersion programme, but the new focus on slow travel reflects broader shifts in traveller preferences. 

The slowcation concept encourages guests to explore at a more measured pace, often with fewer but longer stops.

Fares for the Cape Town sailing start at US$3,679 per person (double occupancy), according to Azamara.

Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com.

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