Travel blog

Sail Local in 2024 – Sea Escapes Close to Home

Looking for affordable local cruises in South Africa? Flight Centre offers incredible cruises from NCL, MSC, and more, with sailings from Durban and Cape Town.

2min read

Published 21 December 2023

Flight Centre

Looking for affordable local cruises in South Africa? Flight Centre offers incredible cruises from NCL, MSC, and more, with sailings from Durban and Cape Town.

South Africa’s stunning 2500km coastline hugs the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. While many locals have driven along sections of this beautiful shore, few have experienced it all from a cruise ship. Hopping aboard a local cruise along the Southern African coast is the perfect way to admire dramatic cliffs, secluded bays, historic ports, marine reserves, and abundant wildlife.

Luckily, South Africans no longer need to travel abroad to enjoy a world-class cruise. Leading cruise lines, like Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and MSC Cruises, offer exciting itineraries departing from Durban and Cape Town, making local cruises more accessible and affordable than ever.

Here are the local cruises to look forward to in the upcoming 2023/24 cruise season:

New to Our Waters: Contemporary Cruising from Cape Town and Mauritius

NCL has focused heavily on the South African cruise market in recent years. The family-friendly cruise line returns in 2023, having successfully concluded its inaugural season’s sailing from Cape Town.

NCL will operate the Norwegian Dawn from Cape Town and Port Louis, Mauritius, during the 2023/2024 season. These contemporary cruises explore South Africa’s eastern and western coastline, with scenic day cruising along remote shorelines.

Enquire about these exciting cruises:

13 February 2024: 12-day itinerary from Mauritius to Réunion, Madagascar and Mozambique.
February & March 2024: 12-day roundtrips to Mossel Bay, Durban, Namibia.
March 2024: 21-day itinerary from Cape Town to Barcelona via West Africa.

Dine at 10+ venues, savouring everything from French cuisine to meaty meals at a Brazilian steakhouse on board Norwegian Dawn. Enjoy nightlife, award-winning Broadway shows, waterslides, sports courts, and more.

Cruise expectations vs reality

A Returning Favourite: Sailings from Durban and Cape Town

South African cruisers appreciate MSC’s diverse itineraries and family-friendly ships. MSC Splendida joins the local fleet in November 2023, taking cruising to the next level.

Key MSC Cruises:

3 April: 3-night cruise from Cape Town to Durban.
9 & 23 February: 3-night cruise from Durban to Portuguese Island.
5 & 19 February: 4-night cruise from Durban to Pomene.
26 March: West Coast Wonder 4-night cruise from Cape Town to Walvis Bay.

Cruises not to be missed:

January, February & March 2024: 4 nights to Pomene or Walvis Bay.
April 2024: 3 nights from Cape Town to Durban.

MSC Splendida offers an exclusive Yacht Club, multiple dining venues, pools, and endless entertainment. With great deals from Flight Centre, there’s never been a better time to cruise locally!

Benefits of Cruising from South Africa

Flight Centre Travel Experts love local cruising for many reasons:

Cruising locally allows you to explore the coastline while avoiding long flights abroad.
Drive to the port and enjoy visa-free travel.

Affordable shore excursions.
Visit multiple destinations and only unpack once.
Cruising appeals to all generations, making it perfect for family and multigenerational holidays. Kids enjoy supervised activities while the adults relax. Furthermore, night-time entertainment, dining, and casinos appeal to couples and groups.
You get a value-for-money holiday! Sharing a cabin reduces costs, with many ‘kids sail free’ deals available.
Cruise packages from Flight Centre can include flights, hotels, transfers, and tailored shore excursions.