Holland America Line’s 2028 world cruise to feature extended Cape Town call

South Africa is set to play a prominent role in Holland America Line’s 2028 Grand World Voyage aboard Volendam, with the itinerary including an extended stay in Cape Town and a broader routing along the continent’s west coast.

The deployment forms part of the cruise line’s newly opened 2028 Grand Voyages programme, which includes a 129-day global circumnavigation aboard Volendam and a 90-day Australia and New Zealand-focused sailing on Zaandam.

Departing Fort Lauderdale on January 4th, 2028, the Grand World Voyage will travel through the Caribbean and South America before reaching Antarctica, followed by scenic cruising through the Chilean Fjords and onward into the South Pacific.

The itinerary then continues through New Zealand, Australia, and Asia before rounding the Cape of Good Hope and sailing along Africa’s west coast en route back across the Atlantic.

Cape Town features as a key port call within the Africa segment, with extended time in port forming part of the voyage’s destination-focused approach.

The itinerary also includes the option of multi-day overland excursions in South Africa, including a safari programme linking Durban, Johannesburg, and the Greater Kruger region before rejoining the ship in Cape Town.

The inclusion of extended stays and inland excursions reflects a broader shift towards more immersive itineraries within long-haul cruise programmes, particularly in regions such as Africa where port calls are increasingly being positioned as gateways to wider travel experiences.

“When we plan a Grand Voyage, we are looking closely at how each part of the itinerary connects and how much time guests will have in each region,” said Paul Grigsby, Vice President, Deployment and Revenue Planning, Holland America Line.

“For 2028, the focus was on building routes that make sense from start to finish, with meaningful time in destinations like Antarctica, New Zealand and the South Pacific, paired with scenic passages that are integral to the journey,” he said.

Across its full duration, the Grand World Voyage will visit 45 ports in 26 countries and territories across six continents, including two equator crossings and a four-day Antarctic experience.

The parallel Grand Australia and New Zealand Voyage, departing San Diego on January 30th, 2028, will focus on the Pacific region, with calls across New Zealand, Australia, and island destinations including Fiji and French Polynesia.

Both itineraries include a shared call at Bora Bora, marking the first time both Grand Voyages feature the destination in the same season.

The Africa component of the Grand World Voyage highlights the continent’s continued integration into global cruise itineraries, particularly within longer, destination-intensive sailings that combine ocean transit with extended regional exploration.

As cruise lines expand their long-haul deployment strategies, the inclusion of ports such as Cape Town alongside overland safari options reflects growing demand for itineraries that extend beyond traditional port calls into broader, land-based travel experiences.