TUI Cruises’ newest ship, Mein Schiff Flow, will sail from in Cape Town in late 2026 as part of an 18-night repositioning voyage to the Middle East, adding another high-profile international line to the city’s growing cruise calendar.

The voyage forms part of the German operator’s wider expansion, which will see two ships deployed to the Arabian Gulf for the 2026/27 winter season.

While the Middle East remains the primary focus of the deployment, Cape Town will serve as the key pivot point between the ship’s Mediterranean summer season and its new role in the Gulf.

The call continues a pattern of major cruise brands using South African ports as transition hubs between seasonal regions, reflecting the country’s strategic location and steadily improving cruise infrastructure.

Mein Schiff Flow, currently under construction at the Monfalcone shipyard near Trieste, Italy, will enter service in July 2026.

After a summer sailing programme in the Western Mediterranean and a series of itineraries along Iberia and North Africa, the vessel will sail south to Cape Town to begin its long-haul repositioning voyage to Doha.

Shore excursions promoted for the voyage highlight the appeal of the Western Cape’s diverse landscapes and established tourism offering. These include vineyard experiences in the Franschhoek valley and wildlife excursions further east, such as safaris in Lalibela and Kariega reserves.

For South African tourism stakeholders, the visit represents another opportunity to showcase the country’s cultural and nature-based attractions to a primarily European passenger base.

Vinyards outside Cape Town

South Africa game safari

Boulder’s Beach in Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa

From Cape Town, Mein Schiff Flow will follow the traditional repositioning route northwards along the continent’s east coast before crossing to Oman.

Shore excursions in Oman include access to Wadi Shab’s hiking and swimming routes and cultural landmarks such as Nizwa’s 17th-century Jabreen Castle and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, before the ship continues onward to Doha.

For Cape Town, the visit reinforces its role as a seasonal link between southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The city has seen consistent growth in repositioning traffic over the past three years, with multiple lines incorporating South African ports into wider global deployment patterns.

The presence of a newbuild operating its inaugural year adds further weight to that trend, mirroring recent calls in South Africa by MSC Euribia and MSC Virtuosa, the largest cruise ship ever to visit the country.

TUI Cruises has described demand for Middle East cruises as strong and broadening, with the region offering steady weather, expanding port capacity and a growing mix of cultural and nature-led excursions.

The decision to base two ships there for winter 2026/27 marks the line’s largest commitment to the region to date and the repositioning makes South Africa an important part of the ship’s first operational year.

As international brands continue to refine their global networks, calls like these indicate that South African ports are increasingly viewed as reliable, high-interest stops on repositioning routes linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.