Cape Town’s cruise sector is preparing for a strong 2025-2026 season, with expectations of larger vessels, new itineraries, and continued growth in local demand. Traditionally known as a port of call for repositioning voyages, the city has increasingly evolved into a full-fledged homeport, a shift that continues to boost its economic and tourism profile.
The 2024-2025 season concluded on a positive note, recording 83 ship calls, 11 maiden visits, and an estimated R1.32 billion contribution to the regional economy. The upcoming season is set to expand on this performance, featuring visits from prominent vessels such as Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Mariner, Navigator, and Voyager. MSC Opera will operate a series of chartered sailings, including themed itineraries such as the Love Jazz Cruise and the Oppiwater Kunstefees voyage.
Industry representatives note that Cape Town’s emergence as a homeport is reshaping traveller behaviour. Passengers are increasingly choosing to arrive several days before embarkation, combining pre-cruise stays with visits to nearby attractions such as the Winelands, Table Mountain, and the V&A Waterfront. This pattern extends the tourism benefit beyond the terminal and into the wider region.
Cruise operators also report evolving demographic patterns within South Africa’s cruise market. MSC data shows that 65% of bookings are made by women between the ages of 30 and 60, with nearly 40% being repeat customers. NCL-Norwegian indicates a younger passenger profile, averaging in the mid-30s, with strong demand for balcony accommodation.
Company representatives suggest that repeat bookings and cabin preferences reflect a maturing cruise market that values both the onboard and destination experience.
With a broad range of cruise lines deploying ships to the port and travellers extending their stays before and after voyages, Cape Town is expected to further strengthen its position as the leading cruise hub in Africa during the 2026 season.