239 cruise ships expected to dock in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront

Following an unusual silence because of the Covid-19 pandemic which forced Cape Town and V&A Waterfront to see a few cruise ships, that is about to change this season.

Cape Town and V&A Waterfront are expecting to see many cruise ships arriving in the Mother City and they could be around 239 this season.

Dubbed as Africa’s most loved destination by tourists from all over due to its scenic attractions, Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront are looking forward to a bumper cruise season.

The season will put to use its award-winning R80 million terminal that’s been uncomfortably quiet for the past three years.

The V&A Waterfront and Cape Town were not spared from Covid-19 restrictions like all leisure travel-related sectors which suffered the most under restrictive lockdown regulations.

Looking at the cruise industry, it is definitely aiming to bounce back and for South Africa, specifically Cape Town and Durban, a steady stream of visiting cruise liners boost local economies and drive employment.

Both coastal cities have invested heavily in attracting cruises – in 2019, MSC Cruises embarked on developing a R200 million cruise ship terminal in Durban, while Cape Town’s own R80 million terminal, located at the V&A Waterfront – opened in 2018.

When the ravaging Covid-19 struck, the anticipated buzz of these terminals was abruptly silenced in early 2020, and cruise ships, highlighted as hotbeds of infection after several early outbreaks onboard, were hastily anchored.

“The return of ocean liners to our shores is very heartening news as they bring thousands of visitors to our city,” said Tasso Evangelinos, CEO of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID), in a statement on Thursday.

“The cruise economy complements the hospitality industry in greater Cape Town and the Central City, as these visitors stay in our hotels and guest houses, thereby boosting various economic tourism sectors. We look forward to welcoming the liners and their guests to our shores and our CBD.”

While the South African cruise ship season remained restrained at the end of 2020 into 2021, hopes of a rebound a year ago were slim and dashed due to the detection of the Omicron variant.

This resulted in an international ship, which was meant to kickstart the season sailing from Luderitz in Namibia, being quarantined upon arrival in Cape Town, and MSC Cruises suspended its itinerary.

As per a report by Business Insider SA, at least more than 239 cruise ships are set to arrive in the Mother City just before May 2023, with the first passenger vessel, Hanseatic Spirit, already having arrived in October to signal the start of the season.

As the winner of Africa’s Best Cruise Terminal in 2022 – the Cape Town Cruise Terminal at the V&A Waterfront – stands to benefit the most.