Azamara makes Cape Town call amid growing interest in South African cruise market

Azamara Cruises is returning to South Africa for the 2025/26 cruise season, with Azamara Pursuit departing this week from Cape Town bound for Singapore.

The 29-night voyage includes calls in Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Richard’s Bay, as well as Madagascar, Reunion, and Mauritius. The cruise includes a shorter 13-day cruise that concludes in Mauritius.

Azamara is one of several international lines calling in South African waters this season as the country emerges as a major global cruise destination. Mid-sized, destination-focused cruise brands are increasingly incorporating South African ports into longer international itineraries. 

Azamara Pursuit’s call follows a period of rising cruise activity in Cape Town, including scheduled calls from luxury and expedition operators, as well as larger vessels making repositioning voyages between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

“Cape Town’s inclusion in Azamara’s global itineraries marks another milestone for South Africa’s positioning as a world-class cruise destination,” said Thaybz Khan, Head of Commercial at Cruises International. 

The company, which represents several premium cruise brands in Southern Africa, is using the call as an opportunity to engage travel partners and showcase the type of small-ship product increasingly present in the region’s cruise mix.

Khan said the arrival of Azamara Pursuit is also part of a wider trend of international operators evaluating the South African market for more regular deployment. “When global brands include our ports in their voyages, South Africa is being connected to the global tourism economy,” she said.

“We are building bridges between South African travel partners and international brands, with some foreign travellers discovering our continent’s beauty for the first time,” she added.

While the current visit is a single scheduled call, Cruises International confirmed that early discussions are under way regarding the possibility of a future return. 

“While details remain in discussion, and not entirely confirmed, the momentum signals growing interest from international cruise brands in South Africa’s expanding luxury travel landscape and we are so ready for it,” Khan said.

Cruises International said the ship visit will provide local agents, tourism partners and stakeholders an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the brand as discussions continue around potential future deployments.