Cape Town’s cruise numbers swell

Cape Town has recorded a rise in the number of travellers boarding cruise ships from Cape Town harbour compared with last year’s season.

This is according to Dr Mike Masiapato, Commissioner for the South African Border Management Authority. Masiapato said that nationally South Africa saw a 24% increase in travellers this Easter period compared with 2023, with 222 391 more people on the move. Cruise travel reflects this trend.

Shifting cruise routes

The Cruise Cape Town team at Wesgro said: “One of the reasons for the uptick is the war in the Middle East. Ships that would normally make use of the Red Sea have now needed to reroute and, as a result, ships have been calling into Cape Town and other South African ports.”

Data provided by Wesgro reveals a nearly 20% increase in departing cruise passengers for the 2023/2024 season. The number jumped from 67 938 in the previous season (from 29 domestic cruises calling and 46 international calls), to
80 257 passengers this year (from six local cruises calling and 53 international ship calls) visiting the port this season.

Not just a layover

While rerouting plays a role, Wesgro added that Cape Town was growing in popularity as a cruise destination because of its international appeal.

Henuti Purshotam from Cruises International agreed that there was a lot more interest in cruising than in previous years.

“The appeal of Cape Town's rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and attractions is what draws more and more international tourists to our region. It has that same appeal to cruise passengers, and it’s no wonder that more and more international cruise lines are coming to our shores and at the same time offering an embarkation point for South Africans to other international destinations.”

She mentions that established cruise lines have already incorporated Cape Town into their world cruises, while others, like Azamara (in the Cruises International portfolio), offer specifically designed itineraries from Europe to South Africa. This caters for the South African market's desire for shorter voyages (12-15 nights) on international brands.

“We have also seen cruise lines coming to South Africa and adding Cape Town as a port of call or increasing the frequency of their visits to South Africa, which would result in more passengers arriving/departing from the port. Investments that have been made in port infrastructure also make Cape Town a more attractive port of call for cruise ships,” she said.

Wesgro recorded that the 2022/2023 season had welcomed a diverse range of passengers, with visitors from Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and Africa boarding cruises from Cape Town.