Cruise holidays are growing in popularity with South Africans, with visa backlogs and an increasing interest in cultural experiences indicating a shift in preferences in 2025.
An FC Global PR survey revealed that nearly 70% of South Africans now find the idea of a cruise holiday appealing. This was significantly higher compared with other countries surveyed.
Younger cruisers drive demand
The South African cruise market has shifted towards younger, more affluent travellers.
“Since COVID, we’ve seen the average age of our South African guests drop dramatically. Before, it was mostly a 45-plus crowd, now it’s closer to 35-plus. Today’s bookings are spearheaded by couples and groups of friends looking for something both novel and rewarding, rather than purely family holidays,” said Nirosha Sidat, NCL Country Manager, Africa.
Nearly 90% of South African NCL bookings are for balcony cabins or higher, with inside and ocean-view cabins rarely seeing uptake, marking a shift towards premium spaces.
A shift to new destinations
“While iconic routes to Alaska once dominated wish lists, barriers – like a 470-day wait for a Canadian visitor visa – have all but closed the door for everyone except the most fastidious planners. Suddenly, we’re seeing an interest in different routes and itineraries.”
Northern European destinations are becoming firm favourites, especially for cruisers who have already experienced the Med. This is due to the ease of a single Schengen visa covering multiple countries compared with more complicated North American itineraries.
NCL has also seen an increase in bookings for Asia and the Caribbean.
