Port Elizabeth cruise calls grow 18% in 2025/26, injecting R110m+ into economy

Cruise passenger arrivals in Nelson Mandela Bay increased by 18% during the 2025/26 season, contributing an estimated R111 million to the local economy.

According to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, 39 cruise ships brought 59,077 passengers to Port Elizabeth during the season, compared with 37 vessels and approximately 50,000 passengers in 2024/25.

Of the 39 calls, 16 included overnight stays, while 23 were day visits, providing additional spending opportunities for local tour operators, attractions, restaurants, transport providers, and other tourism businesses.

The season concluded with the departure of Viking Yi Dun, Viking’s cruise ship dedicated to the Asian market. The vessel’s call highlighted Port Elizabeth’s role on longer international itineraries linking Southern Africa with destinations across Asia and the Indian Ocean.

“We are pleased that the economic impact of the cruise industry continues to increase and we are confident that this trajectory will continue to create job opportunities and strengthen the local economy,” said Babalwa Lobishe, Executive Mayor, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

The latest figures indicate that passenger growth outpaced the increase in ship calls, suggesting larger average passenger volumes per visit and a stronger contribution from the cruise sector to the city’s tourism economy.

Further growth is anticipated during the 2026/27 period, with six cruise calls currently listed for the remainder of 2026 and a significantly larger programme scheduled for 2027.

The November 2026 schedule includes calls by Silver Muse, Mein Schiff 6, Europa 2 and AIDAstella, with itineraries linking Cape Town and Port Elizabeth with destinations including Mumbai, Singapore, Mauritius and Bangkok.

The current 2027 schedule lists 85 cruise itineraries calling at Port Elizabeth, operated by Seven Seas Voyager, Seven Seas Navigator, Volendam, Costa Deliziosa, Arcadia, Viking Sky, Queen Victoria, Silver Dawn, Artania, AIDAstella, Mein Schiff 6, and Europa 2.

Many of the calls form part of extended voyages linking South Africa with the Indian Ocean, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, reinforcing Port Elizabeth’s position as a strategic stop on long-distance repositioning and world cruise routes.

Port Elizabeth will also feature on multiple Indian Ocean itineraries connecting Cape Town with Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore, and Hong Kong, while a number of world cruises will call during voyages between Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America.

The city’s location between Cape Town and Durban makes it a natural inclusion on South African coastal itineraries, while nearby wildlife reserves and cultural attractions provide shore excursion options for both day visitors and passengers whose ships remain overnight.

The increase in overnight calls during 2025/26 is particularly significant because longer stays allow cruise lines to offer a wider range of excursions and give passengers more time to spend in the destination.

With a broader range of ships and itineraries already scheduled, the 2026/27 season is expected to build on the growth recorded during the past year and further increase the cruise industry’s contribution to Nelson Mandela Bay’s tourism economy.