South Africa’s ports are getting ready for the cruise season with at least eight cruise lines and over ten passenger vessels of varying sizes set to bring international and domestic tourists to the country’s port cities.
The South African cruise season officially started in October with a number of smaller vessels already having called at South Africa’s ports. They are en route to and from travel hotspots in Africa, Europe, the Far East, the Mediterranean, South America and more.
However MSC Sinfonia, the largest popular cruise ship in the local cruise calendar, arrived in her homeport of Durban in the early hours of Thursday, 19 November. This was her first South African call this season.
Fresh from a 50 million Euro revamp, the vessel has been upgraded with new features and facilities, including lengthening by 24ms and the addition of around 200 extra balcony cabins with capacity for around 500 more passengers.
Meanwhile, RMS St Helena was the first passenger vessel to call this season when she berthed in Cape Town in October.
Ocean Princess, owned by Princess Cruises, has called at the Port of Cape Town followed by calls at East London and Durban. Amadea, owned by Amadea Shipping Co and operated under charter by Phoenix Reisen, has called thus far at Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban and Richards Bay. Holland America Line’s MS Rotterdam also called at Cape Town.
