norwegian cruise line cape town

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Cape Town (South Africa)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Africa - Indian Ocean Islands

Local Time 2024-04-30 23:53

Port Cape Town cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Cape Town, South Africa. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Cape Town is a port city in South Africa, which has one of the world’s most beautiful harbours. It is located at Table Bay, has total area approx 400 km2 (155 mi2) and population around 435,000 (metro over 1,74 million). The list of major cruise lines with seasonal homeporting in Cape Town includes MSC, NCL-Norwegian, Azamara, Crystal, Silversea, Hapag-Lloyd. 

Cape Town is South Africa's oldest city, legislative capital, country's 2nd-most populous metro area (following Johannesburg / 9,6+ million) and is best-known for its scenic harbor and the landmarks Cape Point and Table Mountain. Cape Town is Afrika's 10th largest city and one of world's most multicultural cities. In 2014, it was named "World Design Capital" by Icsid (International Council of Societies of Industrial Design).

The city was first developed by VOC (United East India Company, aka Dutch East India Company / 1602-1799) as a supply station for Dutch trade vessels to India, East Africa, and the Far East. On April 6, 1652, here was established South Africa's first permanent European settlement as an outpost (at Castle of Good Hope), which soon became Cape Colony's economic hub. Until Witwatersrand Gold Rush (1886) that resulted in Johannesburg's development, Cape Town was the country's largest town.

Port's cruise ship schedule has vessels booked for docking the whole year-round. The cruise port is also homeport (serving turnarounds/roundtrips) but mainly attractive embarkation and disembarkation port of call for seasonal relocation (RepositionCruises.com) and Around the World voyages. Port Cape Town statistics show steady growth in cruise shipping volumes. In 2012, it handled 6050 passengers, in 2013 - 14754, in 2016 - 29269.

The local economy's main revenues from the cruise industry are crew and passenger ashore spending, cruise line-sponsored shore excursions/tours (staffing), cruise company spending (on vessel supplies and services), as well as in-port spending (ship repairs and maintenance). It was estimated that on relocation cruise itineraries stopping in South African ports, cruise tourists spend an average USD 100 pp on land-based activities, services and goods.

Cape Town City's water crisis began in 2015, resulting in severe water shortage in Western Cape but most notably affecting the city.

• In response to the shortage, the region's agriculture reduced water consumption by 50%. This nationally contributed to job loss of 37,000 in the sector. Around 50,000 people were pushed below the poverty line due to job losses and food-price inflation.
• Despite all water-saving measures, dam levels declined to critically low levels. The city planned its "Day Zero" on April 12, 2018, when most water supply will be shut off.
• When "Day Zero" is declared (dam's water level reaches 13,5%), municipal water supplies will be switched off. The city's residents will rely on a total of 149 points to collect a daily water ration per person (25 liters pp). If this happens, Cape Town will become world's first-ever large city running out of water.

The decreased water usage and strong rains in June 2018 steadily increased dam levels (up to 70% in September 2018) and the city eased water restrictions. In May 2019, Cape Town's total dam storage was 45,9% or combined 411849 megalitres (out of max capacity 898221).

Port Cape Town's cargo and cruise shipping operations are managed by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority). This is Africa's largest port authority company that manages 7 large seaports in South Africa - Cape Town, Durban , Richards Bay ,  East London ,  Mossel Bay ,   Port Elizabeth , and Saldanha .

Cape Town cruise terminal

Cape Town cruise port is located approx 220 km (140 mi) away from Cape Agulhas, direction northwest. Due to its strategical place on the route between the Dutch East Indies and Europe, the port was among the most important in the mid-17th century.

Currently, Cape Town is one of the most interesting cruise ports of call in the world. The basins Victoria and Alfred are visited by smaller cruise ships. These used to be the port's main wharves located in the original harbour of Cape Town. Alfred Basin was the harbour's first section added, followed by the building of the Victoria Basin. Larger cruise ships berth at Duncan Dock. It has several multi-purpose terminals, also repair quay and a dry dock facility.

The driving distance from the cruise port to downtown is ~10 minutes. Africa's second-largest airport - Cape Town International Airport, is located 22 km (14 mi) away from the city center. Other transportation options from and to the cruise port are bus shuttles, metered taxis, car rental services.

The next photo shows the old cruise terminal at "E Berth" (Duncan docks).

(new) Cape Town Cruise Terminal (Waterfront)

In July 2015 was announced an agreement for building a new cruise ship terminal at Port Cape Town, built by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) as the preferred bidder. The project's cost was around USD 14,5 million. The agreement included terminal facility maintenance, operation and transfer of ownership back to TNPA in 20 years after completion.

The plan for a new Waterfront passenger terminal was announced in 2012. The initial issue started when local cruise tourism started to decline after South Africa's Department of Home Affairs banned from docking at Waterfront vessels with LOA length over 200 m / 656 ft.

The Victoria and Alfred / ) V&A Waterfront investment will result in a new cruise ship terminal facility able to accommodate larger vessels. The new terminal facility will also create local jobs, will increase ship calls and strengthen the country's cruise industry as a whole. Until then, cruise ships are required to dock at Port Cape Town as first port of call based on a Directive from the Minister of Home Affairs (Immigration Act 13 of 2011).

South Africa's cruising season is October through April.

• Table Mountain: provides great views of Cape Town from 1076 m above sea level. You can use a cable car or the Platteklip Gorge.
• Robben Island (UNESCO site) is located 12 km away from Cape Town and is accessible via new regularly-scheduled catamaran ferry service (provided by V&A Waterfront). At V&A Waterfront you will find restaurants, boutiques, markets and various entertainment facilities - all surrounded by Table Mountain.
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: discover the stunning beauty of the flora in the Western Cape.
• Boulders Beach (Penguin Colony): discover those marine birds in their natural environment.
• Cape Wine Routes: the region is famous with its wine from world-class. You will have the opportunity to tour the Cape Winelands and taste the wonderful flavors.
• West Coast National Park: discover local species of birds and wildflowers while looking at the ocean.
• Cape Whale Coast: explore South Africa’s natural wonders. Watch whales and charming villages like Gansbaai and Hermanus.
• The Cango Caves: fissures with massive sizes extending to impressive depths.
• Montebello Craft and Design Centre
• St George’s Cathedral and Groote Kerk
• Amy Biehl Memorial

Cape Town tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

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Cape Town - user reviews and comments

Cape Town, South Africa

Cruises that visit or depart from Cape Town sail to other destinations in Africa. The "Mother City of South Africa" is celebrated for its beautiful beaches and award-winning vineyards. For a spectacular view of the cape, take a cable car to the top of the city's landmark, flat-topped Table Mountain. Visit the wine country on a half-day excursion and take in the crisp vintages and the distinct Cape Dutch architecture, or tour the city and see St. George's Cathedral, the Castle of Good Hope, Signal Hill and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.

Driving directions to E-Berth Passenger Terminal - Port of Cape Town from Cape Town International Airport: Travel on the N2 towards Cape Town, please keep in the right hand lanes as far as possible. From Nelson Mandela Boulevard(N2) take the second exit into the city to the first Robot. Turn right at the robot into Christian Barnard Street. Keep left until the last robot. Drive straight until you get to the security booms. Turn left at the stop street into Duncan Road and drive along for +/- 500m until you get to a three way stop (Duncan and Old Duncan Road). Turn right into Old Duncan Road. And immediately left into the entrance gate at E-Berth Passenger Terminal.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Africa Cruises

No trip to Africa on Norwegian Cruise Line is complete without a firsthand opportunity to observe some of the most majestic animals in their natural habitats. On top of this chance to delve into Africa on a safari, there is so much more to do! Purchase handmade, beautiful, locally sourced silver jewelry in Oman, climb Mont Lokobe in Madagascar, or catch some sun at Richard's Bay in South Africa. Cruising Africa with Norwegian Cruise Line also gives guests the chance to explore the beautiful islands off the African coast. Become enamored with fresh scents of vanilla in Port Victoria, enjoy the foliage of the islands, and gaze upon the exotic animals that call this region home. Cruising Africa on Norwegian Cruise Lines truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity! For more information on your future cruise to Africa with Norwegian Cruise Lines, please call one of our expert cruise consultants today at 1-800-377-9383.

Things to Do on an Africa Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line

Reach new heights with a trek up one of Madagascar's iconic mountains. Visit markets full of local crafts and artisan items. Or, simply kick back on the beach and catch some rays when you travel to Africa on Norwegian Cruise Line. Delve deep into the history of humankind at the Point of Human Origins archaeological site in South Africa and let your mind wander with curiosity before you head into the city of Cape Town for a night filled with the ear-pleasing tunes of smooth jazz. Put this all together and there is only one place to find it: Africa, and one way to get there: Norwegian Cruise Line. Explore culture, food and history while doing any of these and many, many more activities while in Africa:

• Dolphin Watching (Muscat, Oman) On Norwegian Cruise Line, guests enjoy the unique opportunity to observe dolphins as they leap out of and swim through the water. Embark on a special tender for a dolphin watching cruise in order to experience something like never before. Watching dolphins is fun for all ages, so bring the family!  

• Guided Wildlife Tour (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) Put on your safari hat for this one! Enter the Kragga Kamma Game Park and get comfortable in one of their off-road vehicles and get ready for the ride of your life. Trained guides take you through a wildlife reserve that will allow you to see zebras, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, elephants and even cheetahs! Don't leave you camera on the ship, your friends will want to see this.  

• Rainforest Hikes (Pointe des Galets, Reunion) Hike your way through the beautiful rainforests of tropical Africa when cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line. If the rainforest isn't enough of a challenge, strap on your climbing shoes and get ready to climb Piton de la Fournaise, an 8,635 foot climbable, active volcano.  

• Mont Lokobe and Lokobe Reserve (Nosy Be, Madagascar) Get up close and personal with animals like chameleons and local species of monkeys at the Lokobe Reserve before you enjoy a traditional meal of Laoka, a dish consisting of rice, a protein and exotic spices. While here, gaze upon the highest peak on the island, Mont Lokobe.  

• Seychelles National Botanical Gardens (Port Victoria, Seychelles) In a city famous for its natural exports of vanilla and coconut oil, you will find a beautifully manicured botanical garden, overflowing with native flowers and plants. Just steps away, you can find souvenirs for your friends back home at the Selwyn-Clarke Market. This is also a great place to stop and grab a sample of Ladob, a staple of the local diet.  

• Robben Island (Cape Town, South Africa) Here at Robben Island, you can find some of the best shopping in South Africa. Just a short ferry ride away from Cape Town, this is where the V&A Waterfront, a tourist hot spot for culture, dining, and shopping, is located. Robben Island is also the home to the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.  

Top 10 Norwegian Cruise Line Africa Cruises

• Norwegian Dawn 21 Night Africa-South Africa (BCN/CPT) Departing From Barcelona, Spain (Nov 2024 - Nov 2025)
• Norwegian Sky 21 Night Africa-South Africa (LIS/CPT) Departing From Lisbon, Portugal (Nov 2024)
• Norwegian Dawn 12 Night Africa-South Africa (CPT/LUI) Departing From Cape Town, South Africa (Nov 2024 - Feb 2026)
• Norwegian Sky 13 Night Africa-South Africa (CPT/LUI) Departing From Cape Town, South Africa (Dec 2024)
• Norwegian Dawn 14 Night Africa-South Africa (LUI/DOH) Departing From Port Louis, Mauritius (Dec 2024 - Jan 2025)
• Norwegian Dawn 14 NIGHT Africa CRUISE Departing From (Dec 2024)
• Norwegian Dawn 14 Night Africa-South Africa (DOH/LUI) Departing From Doha, Qatar (Dec 2024)
• Norwegian Dawn 12 Night Africa-South Africa (LUI/CPT) Departing From Port Louis, Mauritius (Jan 2025 - Mar 2026)
• Norwegian Dawn 12 NIGHT Africa CRUISE Departing From (Jan 2025)
• Norwegian Dawn 17 NIGHT Africa CRUISE Departing From (Feb 2025)

Norwegian Cruise Line Africa Departure Ports

Learn about the various departure ports for your Africa cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Your activity-filled Norwegian Cruise Line Africa cruise could begin in any of the following departure ports:

Discover imaginative architecture, impressive Spanish dishes and beautiful excursions into nature when you cruise to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.

Cape Town, South Africa

See the beautiful sights of Cape Town, South Africa’s most visited city, which offers cruisers natural beauty, plentiful wine, historical significance and a sense of peace.

Doha, Qatar

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Lisbon has deep cultural roots that are exposed through ruins and museum artifacts. Cruise to Lisbon and discover the culture and history of Portugal in its capital city.

Port Louis, Mauritius

Cruise to Port Louis in Mauritius for its natural beauty and stay to explore its fascinating past as a Dutch, French and British colony.

Singapore, Singapore

Southeast Asia’s most modern city, Singapore, also contains a lot of history and treasures from the past, along with a perfect tropical climate – all making Singapore a wonderful destination year round.

Photo Gallery for Norwegian Cruise Line Africa Cruises

View our photo gallery of Africa cruising images for Norwegian Cruise Line. Of course, this is only a small sample of the wonders waiting for you on a Norwegian Cruise Line Africa cruise vacation from The Cruise Web.

Dolphin Watching in Muscat

Seychelles Aerial View

Safari in Port Elizabeth

Chameleon in Madagascar

Volcano in Reunion

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South Africa

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Cape Town, South Africa

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Cape Town is both the legislative capital of South Africa and one of its most vibrant cities. Make your way to the top of Table Mountain for panoramic views of the surrounding city and harbour. Visit Robben Island to see the former site of the notorious former prison that held Nelson Mandela. Explore the manicured lawns and beautiful forest in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Then stop by the V&A Waterfront for some shopping and entertainment.

Cape Town Cruise Image Gallery

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What you NEED TO KNOW

Featured Cape Town CRUISE ITINERARIES

Norwegian Cruise Line Concludes Inaugural Season from Cape Town

• January 28, 2023

Norwegian Cruise Line celebrated the completion of its inaugural season sailing from Cape Town, South Africa, according to a press release.

On December 21, 2022, the Norwegian Jade became the first ship in the cruise line’s fleet to homeport from the South African port, offering 12-day voyages along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. The voyages include an overnight stay in Cape Town, South Africa and visits to Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and Richard’s Bay, South Africa; and Luderitz and Walvis Bay, Namibia.

“As part of our Guest First philosophy we are focused on enhancing our destination offerings, providing our guests with more immersive itineraries that are designed to create memories of a lifetime,” said Gary Anslow, head of UK business at Norwegian Cruise Line.

“Our new Africa voyages are a testament to that, combining bucket-list locations such as Cape Town and Mauritius with hidden gems like Pomene and Maputo in Mozambique or Fort Dauphin in Madagascar. With an average of almost 12 hours in each port, allowing more time to fully experience these unforgettable destinations, the new voyages are already amongst our fastest-selling cruises for 2024 and are attracting guests from almost 60 countries worldwide.”

Additionally, the cruise line has recently announced the deployment of the Norwegian Dawn to the region in the winter of 2024. Homeporting from Cape Town, South Africa and Port Louis, Mauritius, the ship will offer a series of Extraordinary Journey sailings between January and March 2024.

On February 1 and March 8, 2024, the Norwegian Dawn will complete 12-day roundtrip voyages through South Africa and Namibia with calls to Mossel Bay and Durban in South Africa, and Luderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia. This will be followed by a more extensive itinerary departing on March 20 sailing from Cape Town, South Africa to Barcelona, Spain.

Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said: “Cruise tourism generates R300 million in economic impact for the Western Cape and supports thousands of jobs in the province. Positioning Cape Town as a homeport for international cruising and a gateway to Africa is a key growth opportunity for our region, and we welcome NCL’s commitment to sailing from Cape Town.”

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This Norwegian Cruise sailing takes you on a bucket list adventure: What it's like aboard

F or Kylie Herd, an Australian passenger on Norwegian Dawn’s Feb. 25 southern Africa itinerary, cruising has been the best way to check places off her bucket list.

“I just go with whatever cruise line has the itinerary that I want to do at the time that I’m available. It tends to be Norwegian, and when I saw that Norwegian had all these African cruises, I just thought, ‘I’m going to spend summer in Africa,’ because it’s an amazing itinerary,” she told USA TODAY.

When it comes to cruising, most Americans probably think of bopping around the Caribbean or checking out the wilds of Alaska if they’re feeling especially adventurous, but that’s really just scratching the surface. Cruise lines are increasingly offering diverse itineraries including expedition cruises to remote parts of the globe and introductory sailings to help travelers explore countries and regions they might never visit otherwise.

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Madagascar was the real draw for months of consecutive cruises on the Dawn for Herd.

“I’ve been trying to go to Madagascar for years. I always wanted to go there way before the movies ever came out. It’s one of those places that’s really difficult to get to,” she said. “When I saw Madagascar on a cruise itinerary I was like, ‘I have to do it.’ ”

Although the Feb. 25 sailing had to skip Madagascar for logistical reasons after a delay departing Mauritius, Herd said that she was able to visit the country earlier on her trip and that it was a real highlight.

Norwegian’s Africa itineraries had various changes and missed ports throughout the season. Passenger contracts give cruise lines some leeway to alter itineraries on short notice for reasons including weather or conditions on the ground that prevent ships from reaching or being accommodated safely in a scheduled port. Such changes can be especially common in regions prone to political unrest or that lack sophisticated port facilities.

Even so, Herd said she understood why passengers who missed out would be frustrated, but she encouraged her fellow travelers to keep an eye on the positive. “I understand the disappointment. I was disappointed, too, but we’re still having a great time.”

The Feb. 25 cruise still stopped at Reunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean, which has an active volcano, as well as ports in South Africa where travelers could spot local wildlife.

Safari from a cruise

Norwegian Dawn stopped at four ports in South Africa, three of which offered safari experiences as shore excursions.

▶ From Richard’s Bay, passengers could visit the iSimangasilo Wetland Park , home to elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, zebras and other classic African big game. The park is about an hour and a half drive from the port, and Norwegian’s shore excursion included two game drives, snorkeling and a traditional South African braai, or barbecue.

Just as cruise itineraries can sometimes be subject to last-minute changes, safaris are at the whim of wild animals. Sightings are not guaranteed, but patience and vigilance are often rewarded.

▶ In Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Norwegian Dawn’s passengers could visit Addo Elephant National Park, also about an hour and a half drive from the port.

As the name suggests, Addo is home to a huge and docile population of more than 600 elephants. These animals often congregate around watering holes accessible from well-worn safari tracks.

Even after a strong rainfall the night before the excursion, which allowed elephants to retreat into the bush and temporarily lessen their reliance on overtaxed wells, dozens of the creatures greeted visitors coming from the ship for two-hour game drives.

▶ In Mossel Bay, passengers could also access private game reserves, which often have a higher concentration of wildlife roaming free but can include animals that are not directly indigenous to the area.

Cape Town and the winelands

There’s more to Africa than safaris, and Cape Town is an especially good place to experience metropolitan life and other kinds of outdoor activities on the continent.

South Africa’s legislative capital offers excellent hiking, a great foodie culture, beautiful (if slightly chilly) Atlantic beaches, penguins and more.

For travelers willing to explore beyond the city, South Africa’s wine country is close at hand in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and many vineyards offer tastings and meal experiences. One Norwegian excursion took passengers to the Blaauwklippen wine estate in Stellenbosch, which is best known for its Zinfandel.

Is an Africa cruise worth it?

From a financial standpoint, a cruise around Africa can be an excellent way to explore. For American travelers, however, flights to and from the ship are often more expensive than the cruise itself.

For example, a 13-day Norwegian itinerary that begins in Cape Town on Dec. 7 and ends in Mauritius on Dec. 20 has prices that start at $899 per person for an inside stateroom, but flights can be well over $1,000 round trip. The current cheapest itinerary from Detroit, for example, is a 42-hour slog on multiple airlines via Montreal and Dubai to Cape Town. The return trip is a bit shorter, at 31 hours, also via Dubai and Montreal. That routing would cost $1,694 per person in economy as of March 18, according to Google Flights.

Logistically speaking, though, it can be much easier to book a cruise and rely on the line’s shore excursions to expand one's horizons than to coordinate one's own safari.

“With multiple diverse ports of call within one coastal continental area, our Africa voyages provide our guests the opportunity to explore lush rainforests or volcanoes, experience captivating wildlife tours, learn about the rich culture on the South African coastline, indulge in Cape Town’s incredible wine regions, and so much more,” Brian Gilroy, vice president of revenue management and itinerary planning for Norwegian Cruise Line, said in a statement to USA TODAY.

The one thing to keep in mind is that the African cruise market is less mature than the Caribbean – at many ports, there just aren’t comparable facilities to handle big ships. That doesn’t mean the cruises can’t or don’t happen, just that sometimes the operation is a little less fluid than the well-oiled Miami machine.

“Our 11- and 12-day cruises start and end in either Cape Town, South Africa, or Port Louis, Mauritius, and include an overnight stay in one of those magnificent cities, giving our guests the chance to fully explore what these regions offer. The variety of adventures our guests can experience in these destinations are endless, which makes for a truly unforgettable cruise experience," Gilroy said.

Travelers may be more likely to encounter a hiccup on their Africa cruise, but that’s all part of traveling to a new and exciting place. A missed port or an extra sea day can be a great time time to take stock, focus on the highlights, enjoy the experience of unlocking a new destination, and maybe take another sip of the wine your onboard sommelier recommended.

Just take a page out of Herd the Australian’s book. Despite some schedule changes, she said, “I’ve loved every single thing.”

The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Norwegian. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This Norwegian Cruise sailing takes you on a bucket list adventure: What it's like aboard