Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 is set to cruise from Cape Town as part of her 2026 World Voyage, with the South African port forming a key stop on the ocean liner’s return leg to Europe.

The vessel, the largest ocean liner ever built, and the only one still in regular service, recently arrived in Singapore after completing a six-day sailing from Hong Kong and Vietnam, marking a milestone point in its 108-night global itinerary.

During the ship’s overnight stay on March 27th, more than 900 guests sailing the full world cruise attended a gala event onboard, reflecting the scale and structure of long-duration voyages that combine extended itineraries with onboard programming.

“Queen Mary 2’s 2026 World Voyage continues to deliver extraordinary experiences for our guests,” said Katie McAlister, President, Cunard.

“From historic milestones, such as her first transit through the new Panama Canal locks, to unforgettable moments like the World Voyage Gala in Singapore, every journey perfectly combines Cunard’s rich maritime heritage with modern luxury, offering our guests the opportunity to explore the world in a way only Cunard can provide,” she added.

Following her departure from Singapore, Queen Mary 2 will sail a 57-night return leg to Southampton, with Southern Africa forming the first major regional segment of that itinerary. The initial leg is a 16-night voyage that includes calls at Port Klang in Malaysia and Port Louis in Mauritius before arriving on the South African coast.

Cape Town is positioned as a central highlight of this segment, with the ship scheduled to make an overnight call before departing on April 12th. The call reinforces the city’s continued role as a strategic port of call for long-haul world voyages, particularly those transiting between Asia and Europe via the southern route around Africa.

For Cape Town, visits by vessels such as Queen Mary 2 represent a distinct segment of cruise traffic compared to regional or seasonal deployments. World Cruise calls typically bring higher-yield passengers undertaking extended itineraries, with overnight stays allowing for more in-depth shore programmes and increased local economic impact.

The call also reflects the continued importance of South Africa within global cruise routing, particularly as an alternative to more traditional northern hemisphere transit corridors. For operators such as Cunard, routing via the southern hemisphere allows for extended itineraries that combine multiple regions while avoiding seasonal congestion in other parts of the world.

After departing Cape Town, the Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to continue north along the west coast of Africa, calling at Walvis Bay in Namibia and Dakar in Senegal, before crossing to the Canary Islands and southern Spain.

The voyage will conclude in Southampton on April 30th.

The ship is then expected to resume its regular programme of transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York for the remainder of the year, returning to its core North Atlantic deployment following the completion of its world voyage.