Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is set to return to South African shores later this year with exciting itineraries connecting travellers to and from the Mother City.
Of course, if you want to escape the SA cold, you can treat yourself to an international cruise. Here is everything you need to know about upcoming South African and international trips.
2025/26 Cruise Season
NCL has curated a selection of exotic and port-intensive Africa sailings for both Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Sky. The cruises will feature multiple destinations, including Cape Town, Mauritius, and Qatar as well as a 20-day sailing from Cape Town to Lisbon in 2025, Portugal and a 21-day sailing from Cape Town to Barcelona, Spain in 2026.
Due to popular demand for more open-jaw voyages starting and ending in Cape Town and Port Louis in Mauritius, NCL is offering four 12-day sailings calling at popular ports such as Antsiranana and Nosy Be in Madagascar, as well as an overnight stay in Richard’s Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. Here, guests can opt to explore the local wildlife through a safari tour, learn about South African history, or enjoy a relaxing afternoon at Aklantstrand Beach.
Here are some of the cruises to expect from the end of 2024 through to 2026 that depart from Cape Town:
Cruise: South Africa & Madagascar
Sail date: December 2024, on Norwegian Sky
More details here: Click Here
Madagascar & Mozambique
Sail date: January 2025, on Norwegian Dawn
More details here: Click Here
Africa: Namibia, Cape Verde, Angola & Ivory Coast, from Cape Town to Barcelona.
Sail date: May 2025, on Norwegian Sky.
More details: Click Here
Africa: Canary Islands, Namibia & Senegal, from Cape Town to Lisbon.
Sail date: March 2026, on Norwegian Dawn
More details: Click Here
South Africa & Madagascar
Sail dates: November 2024, November 2025 and February 2026, on Norwegian Dawn
More details: Click Here
Canary Islands, Namibia & Senegal
Sail date: March 2026, on Norwegian Dawn
More details: Click Here
South Africa to the World
NCL offers tailored itineraries that depart from Asia and Europe, providing South Africans with an opportunity to experience bucket-list destinations while enjoying all the perks of a luxurious cruise. These include a Mediterranean exploration, where you can enjoy the region’s highlights in seven days on a Western Mediterranean cruise, with more port time and fewer sea days. South Africans can also embark on a longer adventure and opt for a Grand Mediterranean cruise from Rome, Athens, or Barcelona, encompassing Italy, Croatia, and Spain.
You can visit iconic ports from Rome to Cannes, savouring Italy’s traditional flavours and landmarks, or appreciate a sun-soaked lifestyle from the beach to bar in the Greek Isles. There are also Europe’s must-visit spots, including England, Paris, and Ireland.
For those who want to discover Asian destinations, some of which boast favourable exchange rates and no-visa or visa-on-arrival options, the continent is also easily accessible thanks to various airlines with an extensive route network. These cruises showcase some beloved destinations while also offering guests the NCL hospitality on board their various ships.
Popular Mediterranean cruises include:
Greek Isles: Santorini, Rhodes & Mykonos from Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Sail dates: July 2024 – August 2024 on Norwegian Viva
More details: Click Here
Mediterranean: Italy, France & Greece from Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Sail dates: August 2024 – October 2024, on Norwegian Viva
More details: Click Here
To browse Norwegian’s full list of Mediterranean cruises, visit: Click Here
Popular Northern Europe cruises:
Northern Europe: Iceland, Norway & Belgium from London (Southampton), United Kingdom
Sail dates: August 2025-June 2025, on Norwegian Prima
More details: Click Here
Baltic: England, Germany & Belgium from Paris (Le Havre), France
Sail date: May 2025, on Norwegian Dawn
More details: Click Here
British Isles: Ireland & Scotland from London (Southampton), United KingdomSail date: July 2025 – August 2025, on Norwegian Dawn
More details: Click Here
To browse Norwegian’s full list of Northern Europe’s cruises, Click Here
Asia cruises:
Asia: Osaka, Jeju & Mt. Fuji from Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan
Sail date: March 2025, on Norwegian Spirit
More details: Click Here
Japan: Kobe, Jeju, Nagoya & Sapporo from Seoul (Incheon), South Korea
Sail dates: August 2025, on Norwegian Spirit
More details: Click Here
To browse Norwegian’s full list of Asia cruises, Click Here
