cruise liner jobs south africa

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Everything You Need to Know about Working On a Cruise Ship

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Life Aboard a Cruise Liner.

Hard working.

Working abroad a cruise liner means long hours.

If you have a love for seeing the world, this is the golden opportunity!

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Life on board is not always smooth sailing. Be motivated!

You will make life-long friends from all around the world.

Find your dream cruise ship job!

We, at GRI, are the dedicated Hiring Partners for the worlds premier Cruise Vessels and we are consistently on the look out for professionals who are committed & passionate and who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career at sea!.

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Shosholoza Ocean Academy

DISCOVER A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES,  BECOME ONE OF OUR MASTERS OF THE SEA

Shosholoza Ocean Academy (SOA) is the premier manning and training agency representing the esteemed MSC Group Cruise Division, encompassing

MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys in Southern Africa. 

Our organisation is dedicated to delivering unparalleled recruitment and training solutions in the field of maritime hospitality. We take pride in offering the youth of South Africa exceptional prospects to embark on rewarding careers onboard MSC Cruises & Explora Journeys, renowned for their world-class standards.

Join us at Shosholoza Ocean Academy and embark on a rewarding journey, tailored for those seeking a remarkable cruise industry career aboard

MSC Cruises or Explora Journeys.

Ignite your hospitality career with one of Shosholoza Ocean Academy's exceptional sponsored training programs. Unveil the potential to embark on future onboard opportunities through our specialised and comprehensive training experience.

MSC CRUISES Vacancies

TRAINING  

Protecting your trust and safety in recruitment.

At Shosholoza Ocean Academy, we prioritise your security and well-being. We want to inform you about fraudulent recruitment practices conducted by unauthorised individuals falsely posing as representatives of MSC Cruises. These scammers often exploit social media platforms, employing deceptive application forms that wrongfully display the MSC Cruises logo and branding.

We want to assure you that all recruitment activities carried out by Shosholoza Ocean Academy follow legitimate channels, strictly adhering to legal procedures, and upholding the integrity of the esteemed MSC Cruises brand. Your safety is our utmost concern. We urge you to exercise caution and promptly report any suspicious activity that you may encounter.

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Crew Life at Sea

Crew Life@Sea is a Leading Recruitment Agency based in Cape Town, South Africa. Specializing in Cruise Ship Jobs, Yachts and River Cruises.

In addition, we offer useful information, advice, insights, and resources to help inspire all job seekers to succeed while working abroad...

Contact Details:

17 Postern Way Edgemead Cape Town South Africa

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How To Apply For Cruise Ship Jobs

We work with a world-wide network of recruiting agencies to select only the most qualified crew, be aware fraudulent cruise employment opportunities.

We have recently been made aware of fraudulent entities around the world claiming to represent Princess Cruises as recruitment partners. We are working closely with our Security department and local police authorities in various countries to prevent individuals from wrongly representing themselves as Princess recruitment partners. We strongly suggest that you only discuss employment opportunities with the agencies/partners listed here. If you have any suspicion about the nature of an ad or website claiming to recruit on behalf of Princess Cruises, please contact the approved Princess agency located nearest your place of residence.

Authorized Recruitment Partners Please contact the recruitment agency that is closest to your permanent residence. The agencies listed below are the only agencies authorized by Princess Cruises to recruit on our behalf, and their activity is monitored by our corporate office.

Princess Cruises is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

International Recruitment Partners

Princess Cruises works with a worldwide network of recruitment partners to select and support our crew. The agencies listed here are the only agencies authorized by Princess Cruises to recruit on our behalf.

Residents of Africa - Apply Now

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Residents of Central & South America -  Apply Now

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Residents of Colombia -  Apply Now

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Residents of Eastern Europe, Western Europe, United Kingdom, Canada & United States -  Apply Now

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Residents of Europe -  Apply Now

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Carnival Support Services India

Residents of Indonesia -  Apply Now

Alpha Magsaysay

Pt Johs Larsen (Deck & Tech)

Residents of Japan -  Apply Now

Middle East

Residents of the Middle East -  Apply Now

Residents of Malaysia -  Apply Now

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Residents of Nepal -  Apply Now

British Gurkha Overseas Services

Philippines

Residents of Philippines -  Apply Now

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Residents of Romania -  Apply Now

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Residents of South Africa -  Apply Now

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South Korea

Residents of South Korea -  Apply Now

Residents of Taiwan -  Apply Now

Residents of Thailand -  Apply Now

Thai Seafarer Recruitment Co Ltd.

All Medical Staff

All countries

Apply online for a medical role with Princess Cruises.

Your application will be processed internally and referred to the appropriate recruitment partner.

Additional Trusted Recruitment Partners

• Caribbean Cruise Careers
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• Excite Recruitment
• Pro Sea Staff
• Zest Recruitment

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Cruise Line Job Opportunities for South Africans

Working on a luxurious cruise ship means that you can do it from anywhere in the world, even in South Africa, where top recruiters and concessionaires on constantly on the lookout for hard working, dedicated South African cruise ship workers.

Well, then cruise ship life might just be for you!

No matter where in South Africa you live, you can easily apply for a cruise ship job. The main ports where you will depart from are Durban and Cape Town, with some of the largest cruise liners in the world berthing here. East London, Port Elizabeth and Richard's Bay along the east coast of South Africa also provide ports of call for cruise liners.

Durban Harbor has a well equipped cruise ship terminal for passengers, namely the N-Berth on the T-jetty. This is busiest during the summer months between November and May each year, with one cruise ship based there as a "resident." There can be as many as 3 cruise ships in the port at any one time.

Cruise Companies Departing from South Africa

MSC Starlight is one of the main cruise lines in South Africa, based in Johannesburg with itineraries throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. Their fleet includes the MSC Sinfonia and the MSC Melody boasting a crew of around 700 and 530 respectively. You can easily be part of this crew and sail off into the sunset.

Oceania Cruises ship the Nautica departs from Cape Town on various month-long journeys along the African coast, eventually reaching destinations in Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Seaborne Quest departs for various length cruises leaving Cape Town, heading East where stops include Singapore, the Maldives, and Mumbai, India.

Silversea offers two smaller cruise ships, the Silver Wind and Silver Whisper, both offering local cruises to Richard's Bay and international cruises to Spain and Mauritius.

Princess Cruises operates the Ocean Princess out of Cape Town traveling to London and Paris.

Holland America 's Amsterdam cruise liner offers a 24 day grand world voyage departing from Cape Town, visiting The U.S.A and Caribbean Islands.

Cruise Ships Visiting South Africa

South Africa is a popular cruise ship destination amongst the small and large liners. Some of the main lines visiting the South African harbors, in addition to the ones above, include:

• SeaDream Yacht Club - SeaDream 1
• Holland America - HAL Prinsendam
• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises - MS Hanseatic
• Cunard - Queen Mary 2
• Seaborne - Seaborne Spirit

Aside from the large, luxury liners, many smaller cruise ships operate out of South Africa with harbor and coastal cruises all along the east and west coasts of the country. What an amazing way to explore the beauty of Southern Africa!

Interested to learn more? Just become a CruiseJobFinder member and you will gain access to all the hiring agents and concessionaire companies - and much more. As a subscriber you will also get detailed company info about cruise lines and recruitment agencies around the world, plus interviews with recruitment agency directors and experienced cruise ship employees, who give valuable advice about getting cruise ship jobs.

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Charting your Course to Success

Allow Portside Consulting to help you start or advance your career at Sea.

Work & Explore  

At Portside Consulting, we understand that securing a role at sea can be a daunting task, but with our expertise and guidance, we can help chart your course to success in the cruise industry. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience working with cruise lines, which enables us to provide comprehensive services to candidates seeking employment at sea.

We can assist you in identifying suitable job opportunities that match your skills, experience, and interests. Our network of contacts allows us to connect you with the right people and increase your chances of securing employment in the cruise industry. Our team of experts can also help you prepare your resume, cover letter, and provide guidance on how to present yourself effectively during interviews. Once you have successfully completed your interview, Portside Consulting will continue to guide you with obtaining all the documentation required to work onboard.

You will have a designated consultant assisting you along the way.

​​ Data Protection Policy

At Portside, we take data protection very seriously, and we are committed to complying with the Data Protection Act (POPI) in South Africa. This act is designed to protect individuals’ personal information by regulating how it is collected, processed, stored, and used.

We only collect and process data for specific and lawful purposes.

When we collect personal information, we do so for a specific purpose that is clearly stated to the individual. We only process that data for that purpose, and we do not use it for any other purpose without the individual’s consent.

We ensure that personal information is accurate and up-to-date.

We take steps to ensure that the personal information we collect and process is accurate and up-to-date. If an individual’s personal information changes, we will update our records accordingly.

We keep personal information secure.

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to keep personal information secure. This includes using encryption and access controls to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure.

We limit the retention of personal information.

We only keep personal information for as long as is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected. Once that purpose has been fulfilled, we securely delete or destroy the information.

We respect individuals’ rights.

Individuals have certain rights under the Data Protection Act, including the right to access their personal information, to have it corrected or deleted, and to object to its processing. We respect these rights and have processes in place to ensure that individuals can exercise them.

We train our employees.

All of our employees are trained on the Data Protection Act and the importance of protecting personal information. They understand their responsibilities and are committed to complying with the act.

By following these steps, we believe that we are fully compliant with the Data Protection Act in South Africa. We take our obligations seriously and are committed to protecting personal information and respecting individuals’ rights. If you have any questions or concerns about how we handle personal information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Want To Work On Cruise Liners?

Our team of experts has years of experience working in the cruise   industry, don't hesitate to contact us with any queries.

Apply Here ​​​​​​

Recruitment Process

We would like to emphasize an important point regarding the recruitment process at Portside Consulting. We want to assure you that we strictly adhere to ethical business practices, and as such, we want to make it clear that no agency fees will be charged at any stage of the recruitment process.

At Portside Consulting, we believe in maintaining transparency and fostering a positive relationship with our applicants. Therefore, we want to emphasize the following:

Ethical Standards

We pride ourselves on upholding the highest ethical standards in the industry. Our primary goal is to facilitate a fair and merit-based recruitment process that benefits both candidates and our esteemed cruise line partners.

No Agency Fees

We want to assure you that we will never charge any fees for our recruitment services. Our commitment is to connect qualified candidates with exciting opportunities onboard cruise ships, without any financial obligations on your part.

Beware of Scams

It has come to our attention that fraudulent individuals or organizations may attempt to deceive job seekers by falsely claiming to represent Portside Consulting and requesting fees for recruitment purposes. Please be aware that we have no affiliation with such practices, and any communication or request for payment should be treated as suspicious and promptly reported to us.

We are dedicated to providing a seamless and professional experience for all applicants, and your trust is of utmost importance to us. Should you encounter any concerns or receive any solicitations that contradict our policy, please inform us immediately so that we can take appropriate action.

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Gourmet Recruitment International (GRI) is a specialist hospitality cruise ship recruitment agency based in South Africa, since November 1999. We have agency resources in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

As a recruitment specialist our management team has collectively gained many years of hospitality and recruitment experience and skills in all levels and facets of the industry.

We are committed to establishing a long-term relationship with each client, which allows us to gain a thorough understanding of the clients business practices, procedures and environment.

We demonstrate the same level of commitment to our candidates, thereby providing us with a thorough understanding of their skills, abilities, past achievements and future ambitions.

S election and Interview Process

Our recruitment strategy is focused not only on the client, but also the candidate, thus ensuring the best possible match for both parties.

Before we commence a recruitment exercise, we invest considerable time obtaining as much knowledge as possible about the position, the competencies and skills necessary to meet the requirements of the vacancy. We also develop a thorough understanding of the clients organization; its structure, working environment as this serves as a dual benefit, which will allow GRI to select the most suitable position for our candidates, which meet their needs, values, aspirations and provide career satisfaction. For the client, they will receive the best possible candidate, to become an integral part of their organisation.

PRE-Recruitment Process:

• Marketing and Advertising Campaign and Awareness Programme
• Process and selective screening of candidates
• Personal Interview and Testing
• Short-Listing of prospective candidates and communication of “regret” policy
• Reference and Security Clearances
• Recruitment administration and Co-ordination Preparation of final interview schedules, including accommodation and facilities requirements;
• Co-ordination and facilitation of final offers

POST-Recruitment Process:

• Facilitation of Employment Contracts & Conditions of Employment
• Assistance of US Visa Application
• Assistance of additional Visa requirements
• Facilitation of Medical and Safety at Sea Certification

Contact Us:

Email: [email protected] Samantha Hurley – Owner / Recruitment Manager Email: [email protected] Michelle Haigh – Group Administrator Email: [email protected]

• HOW DOES IT WORK?

Simply Follow Our Simple Step By Step Process To Succeed And Land A Cruise Ship Job.

Getting a cruise ship job can be much easier than you think. Many people don’t know the correct steps to take which makes them take far longer than they need to with less success and more rejection. All you need to do is hit the button below.

Here’s How We Help You Land A Cruise Ship Job. Details Of The Program How Does It Work?

• Complete the quiz to see if you qualify for our coaching program.
• Pay a once off fee of R379 ZAR which is fully refundable.
• Submit your CV, and tell us what jobs you want to apply for. 

One of our cruise job experts will:

• Evaluate your CV, skills, and work experience, before suggesting areas for improvement.
• Tell you what your chances are of getting a cruise job, and what you can do to increase them.
• Provide you with information about the types of jobs you are best suited for you.
• Tell you where to send your CV and how to apply for jobs, to improve your chances of success.
• Answer your questions and much more.
• You will receive a personalized report and video from our team packed with recommendations and advice.
• Download your personalized assessment report.
• Ask any questions to the team.

Who We are!

Cruise Job Coaching was founded by cruise job expert and veteran Jared Koning. Jared is considered to be one of the best cruise job experts in South Africa

Previously working on cruise ships for four years for MSC Cruises. Princess Cruises. Carnival Cruises and offered jobs with Disney and NCL cruises. 

Key experience:

• Worked on cruise ships for four years.
• Recruited for a number of cruise companies.
• Author of ‘How to get a cruise job’ downloaded 27000 times. 
• Founder of Cruise Ship Academy. South Africa’s biggest cruise job blog website with 13000 monthly visitors. 
• Coached 400+ applicants over five years with 77% success rate of applicants getting cruise interviews and cruise jobs.

95% Of All Applicants That Apply For Cruise Jobs Will Never Get A Cruise Job Without The Right Help

Sadly 95% of all applicants will never get a cruise ship job. It’s not their fault, they just just haven’t been taught the right way of getting a cruise ship job. It doesn’t have to be this way for you though. 

We can show and coach you to landing a cruise ship job just by following our proven and tested coaching program to help you land a cruise ship job the easy way. Let us help you improve your chances of starting your dream job

Save Yourself Weeks And Months Of Costly Trial & Error By Using Our Step By Step Program.

Getting a cruise ship job can be much easier than you think. Many people simply don’t know the correct steps to take which makes them take far longer than they need to. We’ve done all the hard work for you, so all you need to do is follow our step-by-step coaching program and you’ll land a cruise ship job in no time. You won’t just save time either. 

Are you ready to start traveling the world and making $$$? Then click on the button below let us help you make 2023 a success by working on a cruise ship. 

Testimonials

Thank you for guiding me. I just landed an interview with Disney Cruises.

Just started working for MSC. Thank you to the team for the help.

Deeply impressed with Cruise Job Coaching, you guys rock i'm joining Carnival Vista on Monday.

Thoroughly enjoyed the program. Just landed a job with Parkwest onboard.

Highly recommend Cruise Job Coaching, i just finished the program and amped to get a cruise job.

Great program full of snippets of good info to land a cruise job 🙂

Frequently Asked Questions

Cruise ship recruiters only hire a handful of positions each year and there is significant demand from applicants to get a job on a cruise ship. We help you to stand out from the crowd, by giving you the advice and formula how to land a cruise job interview with a recruiter. Our program has a 77% success rate of applicants landing a cruise ship interview with a recruiter in under 90 days, we will prepare you and work with you to pass any interview. 

Getting a cruise ship job can be tough, each cruise line company has very strict criteria on the amount of staff they allowed to hire and there’s high demand from applicants, career seekers that want to work on a cruise ship. Most recruiters averagely getting thousands of applications for only a few select roles. 

We help you get in-front of these recruiters by helping you tailor make a CV that stands out, give you insights through years of experience of what recruiters are looking for in each applicant. We give you the hidden and secret formula in helping 400+ applicants get interviews with recruiters, and jobs on cruise ships. 

Our coaching program is designed to help serious applicants that want to have a career on a ship. If you follow our written, verbal instructions we will help you land a cruise job interview in under 90 days, or we will gladly refund you the small fee we charge. 

Our team of ex cruise ship staff and recruiters will take the time to review your your details, CV and work experience, before sending you a detailed assessment report on what to do to get a cruise job. Naturally, we pay our team for their time and advice so we charge a small once off minimal fee. 

Our Rock-Solid 100% Money-Back Guarantee

When you join us at Cruise Job Coaching, you can invest with confidence because you’ll always be covered by our money back guarantee. 

If you follow all of our written instructions and make the changes and not get an interview with a cruise recruiter, we will refund every cent.

T/C do apply. 

Quick Links

Copyright. all rights resolved 2022-2023.

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• Africa - Indian Ocean Islands Cruise Ports

Cape Town (South Africa)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Africa - Indian Ocean Islands

Local Time 2024-06-10 11:34

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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If it’s on the water, we can book it for you. Flight Centre offers a huge range of cruises, from ocean and river cruises to adventurous expedition voyages and special themed voyages. Some of the most popular lines we offer are MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International and Cunard. Booking a cruise can be complicated, with a huge variety of cabin choices, itineraries and inclusions, so it’s a good idea to work with an experienced travel expert – like us! We’ll also find the best cruise deals that save you money.

South Africans can explore local cruises along the African coast, or international cruises to destinations like the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Yes, there are various cruises that offer affordable packages, especially for off-season travel.

Absolutely! A cruise perfect for a group holiday or to celebrate that important milestone. We have a specialist team of group travel experts who can help. We may also be able to organise extras like a special dinner or bottle of champagne on arrival. Get in touch with a group travel expert here .

Yes, most cruise lines will be able to cater to your specific needs to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable holiday. For dietary requirements, many ships have multiple restaurants with different menus that may meet your needs, or your travel expert can request accommodations ahead of time. Accessible cabins are available on most ships and need to be booked in advance. We can also work with you to assess deck plans and accessibility options to find the right ship to suit you.

It couldn’t be easier to book online through the Flight Centre website. Simply use the search function and filters on the page above and you’ll find a whole range of cruises that meet your search criteria. You can book directly online, or enquire if you’d prefer to speak to a travel expert about your cruise holiday. If you’d prefer to talk to someone straight away, give us a call on 0877 40 50 00.

Cruises are great value because almost everything is included in the one price. Your cruise fare will include accommodation, all meals, onboard facilities like swimming pools and fitness centres, plus entertainment. A few things can incur extra charges, like specialty restaurants, drinks, spa treatments and some activities. Specific inclusions may vary based on the cruise line, stateroom selection and package booked.

A valid passport is essential, and visas may be required depending on the cruise itinerary. For all international cruises, including regional cruises departing from South Africa to destinations such as to Mozambique, Namibia or Mauritius, you need a passport with at least two blank pages and a minimum of six months validity from when you arrive back.  

South African passport holders require a visa for a great number of countries globally. Although certain visa exemptions do apply, these may vary depending on current visas in place and the duration of your stay.    For up-to-date and accurate information on which countries South African citizens require visas for, please check (insert travelnews link). Alternatively, contact the relevant embassy directly.

Once onboard, you'll receive a daily schedule of activities. Usually, the schedule for the following day will be left in your cabin by staff when they clean the room. Many modern cruise ships also have onboard digital screens that will display the day’s events or a mobile app you can download to keep track. Take a look at the individual Cruise Ship pages on our website or visit the cruise line’s site to see what you can expect.

Our Help Centre has a host of FAQs about travel requirements, booking your cruise and plenty more information you need before you set sail.

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

For 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.

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]