SOUTHERN Africa is
growing in popularity as
a destination for luxury
cruise liners with an increase
in sailings reported for 2019.
While the majority of
passengers for these
itineraries are still
international, a local market for
these sailings is developing,
drawn by the convenience and
relative inexpensiveness of
requiring only a local flight to
join a world-class luxury cruise.
Some of these include the
Crystal Serenity’s Perth to Cape
Town sailing during February
and March, which will visit
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth,
Durban and Richards Bay.
Oceania Nautica will visit
Cape Town, Mossel Bay,
Durban, Richards Bay, Maputo,
East London, Port Elizabeth
and Walvis Bay in January.
The 15-day voyage starts from
about R62 000 per person
sharing.
The Seabourn Sojourn will
offer a 12-day South African
and Skeleton Coast Itinerary,
visiting Cape Town, Mossel
Bay, Port Elizabeth, Walvis Bay
and Lüderitz during February.
Veranda suites for this six-star
all-inclusive itinerary start from
R71 500 per person sharing.
Seymour Brugger, marketing
manager: luxury portfolio for
Cruises International, said that
while the increase in luxury
cruise liners’ South African
itineraries was particularly
attractive for international
clientele, Cruises International
had noticed a lot more interest
from South Africans for local
luxury cruise itineraries. “Many
South Africans spend a lot
of money staying in high-end
hotels in Durban or Cape Town
when, for a similar daily price,
they now have the opportunity
to enjoy an all-inclusive
experience on a five- or six-star
ship,” said Seymour.
Melanie Wilding, senior
cruise consultant at XL
Sandown Travel – Cruise
Corner, agreed that most
upmarket cruise departures
visiting South Africa were more
geared to the international
market but suggested that,
if shorter, attractively priced
Southern African itineraries
were introduced more regularly,
there could be potential to
develop the market for these
itineraries locally
