South Africa, the nation with a thousand and one faces
As its name suggests, South Africa is located in the extreme south of the African continent. This vast territory, which encircles the state of Lesotho, covers almost 1,220,000 km² and shares borders with Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique and Swaziland. Most of this area is desert, but this aridity has not prevented nature from performing feats in South Africa. The country's contrasting terrain features desert savannahs overlooking fields of cotton and wheat, high peaks and sandy beaches. Numerous species of flora and fauna have made this natural hotchpotch their home, much to the delight of safari and nature walk enthusiasts. Like its terrain, South Africa is a land of contrasts: white, black, Indian, Asian, almost every community in the world is represented here. A source of conflict during apartheid, this difference is now the strength of the country that calls itself the rainbow nation. Discover this multicolored people and its mosaic of cultures on your cruise to South Africa.
Advanced search
cruises
Your search criteria:
Southern Africa
Itinerary : Durban, Pomene, Durban
8 other departures
MSC Armonia
5 d
Inside Stateroom
Durban
1/25/2027
from
US$ 522
Other departures:
30 Nov 2026
07-14 Dec 2026
11-18 Jan 2027
Other departures
Itinerary : Durban, Maputo, Durban
MSC Armonia
5 d
Inside Stateroom
Durban
2/8/2027
from
US$ 522
Itinerary : Durban, Pomene, Durban
1 other departures
MSC Armonia
6 d
Inside Stateroom
Durban
2/14/2027
from
US$ 747
Other departures:
21 Dec 2026
Itinerary : Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Cape Town
MSC Opera
6 d
Ocean view Stateroom
Cape Town
4/4/2026
from
US$ 818
Itinerary : Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Cape Town
MSC Armonia
6 d
Inside Stateroom
Cape Town
3/21/2027
from
US$ 840
Itinerary : Miami, Praia da Vitoria, Punta Delgada, Southampton, Lisbon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, St. Vincent, Cape Town, Elisabeth port, Durban, Island Reunion, Mauritius Island, Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pusan, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Yokohama, Rabaul, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Sydney (Australia), Nukualofa, date, Honolulu, Hilo, Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas, Panama Canal, Aruba, Miami
Queen Elizabeth
114 d
Inside Stateroom
Miami
1/6/2028
from
US$ 18,657
Itinerary : Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Walvis Bay, Cape
Costa Smeralda
20 d
Inside Stateroom
Barcelona
11/14/2026
from
US$ 1,031
Itinerary : Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Walvis Bay, Cape, Elisabeth port, Port Louis, Muscat, Dubai
Costa Smeralda
36 d
Inside Stateroom
Barcelona
11/14/2026
from
US$ 1,681
Itinerary : Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Walvis Bay, Cape, Elisabeth port, Port Louis, Muscat, Dubai
Costa Smeralda
37 d
Inside Stateroom
Barcelona
11/14/2026
from
US$ 1,722
Itinerary : Civitavecchia / Rome, Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Walvis Bay, Cape, Elisabeth port, Port Louis, Muscat, Dubai
Costa Smeralda
40 d
Inside Stateroom
Civitavecchia / Rome
11/11/2026
from
US$ 1,894
Itinerary : Civitavecchia / Rome, Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Malaga, Cadiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Walvis Bay, Cape, Elisabeth port, Port Louis, Muscat, Dubai
Costa Smeralda
39 d
Inside Stateroom
Civitavecchia / Rome
11/11/2026
from
US$ 1,953
Itinerary : Civitavecchia / Rome, Messina, Rhodes, Limassol, Alexandria, Suez Canal, Suez Canal (outing), Sharm El Sheikh, Safaga, Victoria - SC, Port Louis, La possession, Durban
MSC Sinfonia
26 d
Inside Stateroom
Civitavecchia / Rome
10/18/2027
from
US$ 2,629
Itinerary : Venice, Split, Heraklion, Rhodes, Suez Canal, Suez Canal (outing), Aqaba, Sharm El Sheikh, Victoria - SC, Nosy-be, Diego Suarez, Port Louis, La possession, Durban
MSC Armonia
27 d
Inside Stateroom
Venice
11/1/2026
from
US$ 2,731
Itinerary : Venice, Split, Heraklion, Rhodes, Suez Canal, Suez Canal (outing), Aqaba, Sharm El Sheikh, Victoria - SC, Nosy-be, Diego Suarez, Port Louis, La possession, Durban
MSC Armonia
30 d
Inside Stateroom
Venice
11/1/2026
from
US$ 3,448
Itinerary : Southampton, Punta Delgada, Port Canaveral, Miami, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Puerto Quetzal, Manzanillo, Los Angeles, Kona, Honolulu, date, Lautoka, Sydney (Australia), Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Bitung, Manila, Hong Kong, Halong Bay, Chan May, Laem Chabang, Singapore, Port Kelang, Mauritius Island, Island Reunion, Durban, Elisabeth port, Cape Town, St. Vincent, Gran Canaria, Madeira, Southampton
Queen Anne
112 d
Inside Stateroom
Southampton
1/11/2028
from
US$ 18,657
Itinerary : Southampton, Lisbon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, St. Vincent, Cape Town, Elisabeth port, Durban, Island Reunion, Mauritius Island, Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pusan, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Yokohama, Rabaul, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Sydney (Australia), Nukualofa, date, Honolulu, Hilo, Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas, Panama Canal, Aruba, Miami, Port Canaveral, Punta Delgada, Southampton
Queen Elizabeth
114 d
Inside Stateroom
Southampton
1/18/2028
from
US$ 18,885
Itinerary : Hamburg, Southampton, Punta Delgada, Port Canaveral, Miami, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Puerto Quetzal, Manzanillo, Los Angeles, Kona, Honolulu, date, Lautoka, Sydney (Australia), Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Bitung, Manila, Hong Kong, Halong Bay, Chan May, Laem Chabang, Singapore, Port Kelang, Mauritius Island, Island Reunion, Durban, Elisabeth port, Cape Town, St. Vincent, Gran Canaria, Madeira, Southampton, Hamburg
Queen Anne
116 d
Inside Stateroom
Hamburg
1/9/2028
from
US$ 19,233
Itinerary : Southampton, New York, Aruba, Panama Canal, Acajutla, Puerto Vallarta, Los Angeles, Hilo, Honolulu, date, Lautoka, noumea, Sydney (Australia), Airlie Beach, Townsville, Cairns, Bitung, Puerto Princesa, Manila, Hong Kong, Chan May, Nha trang, Phu My, Singapore, Mauritius Island, Island Reunion, Durban, Elisabeth port, Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Dakar, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Madeira, Southampton
Queen Victoria
110 d
Inside Stateroom
Southampton
1/10/2027
from
US$ 24,584
Itinerary : Dubai, Port Louis, Elisabeth port, Cape
Costa Smeralda
15 d
Inside Stateroom
Dubai
3/14/2027
from
US$ 837
Itinerary : Dubai, Port Louis, Elisabeth port, Cape
Costa Smeralda
16 d
Inside Stateroom
Dubai
3/13/2027
from
US$ 890
Itinerary : Cape, Walvis Bay, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Gibraltar (Strait), Barcelona
Costa Smeralda
19 d
Inside Stateroom
Cape
3/28/2027
from
US$ 1,028
Itinerary : Cape, Walvis Bay, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Gibraltar (Strait), Barcelona, Genoa
Costa Smeralda
20 d
Inside Stateroom
Cape
3/28/2027
from
US$ 1,071
Itinerary : Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Walvis Bay, Cape, Elisabeth port, Port Louis, Muscat, Dubai
Costa Smeralda
32 d
Inside Stateroom
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
11/19/2026
from
US$ 1,453
Itinerary : Dubai, Port Louis, Elisabeth port, Cape, Walvis Bay, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Costa Smeralda
29 d
Inside Stateroom
Dubai
3/14/2027
from
US$ 1,455
Itinerary : Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Walvis Bay, Cape, Elisabeth port, Port Louis, Muscat, Dubai
Costa Smeralda
31 d
Inside Stateroom
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
11/19/2026
from
US$ 1,478
Cape Town is the first port of call on a cruise to South Africa. This city, dominated by Table Mountain, attracts visitors with its rich and varied architectural heritage. Take a stroll between Strand Street and the southern part of the mountain, and you'll appreciate an architectural mosaic that blends Victorian and Georgian austerity with Cape Dutch fantasy and contemporary design. It's also here, among the markets, mosques and alleys, that you can best appreciate South Africa's cultural melting pot. Local colors are sometimes adorned with Asian touches, and European influences are never far away. Before getting back on board your cruise ship, head for Stellenbosch, Paarl or Franschhoek and their wineries, where you can sample the country's finest wines while taking in the mountain scenery.
A cruise to South Africa also includes Durban, the country's third-largest city. Take advantage of your stopover in Durban to visit Ushaka Marine World, an amusement park housing Africa's largest aquarium. If you're feeling a bit adventurous, head for The Valley of the 1000 Hills for a hike through dense forest or caves. If you're interested in history and culture, head for the nearby traditional villages to learn about Zulu culture. If you spend enough time on land, head for the Blue Lagoon for a spot of fishing or simply to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Most cruise lines also include Port Elizabeth in their itineraries. This windswept seaside resort offers ideal conditions for surfing or simply enjoying the sea on the beaches of Wildside and Horizon Bay. Art lovers and the curious will leave the beaches for a while to visit the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum to admire paintings and other masterpieces by local and British contemporary artists. At the Humewood Museum, you can learn more about South Africa's marine ecosystem. Its ocenarium reveals the marine species endemic to the region. To round off your cruise, take the time to sample local specialties such as biltong, a dish made from strips of dried meat, on the terrace of one of the town's restaurants.
South Africa's climate varies from region to region, but around Cape Town, where most South African cruise calls take place, the climate is a mixture of Mediterranean and temperate. Between September and April, temperatures are fairly high and rainfall minimal. The best time to cruise South Africa is spring, from April to June, but that doesn't mean you should avoid the other seasons. The scenery is simply the best, and temperatures are just right - neither too cold nor too hot - for this time of year. A cruise to South Africa is possible all year round. As the country lies in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. So, if you'd like to escape the winter and its pristine landscape for a while, plan your cruise for the beginning of the year or between November and December. At this time of year, the sun is often out during your stopovers.
+ 1 (786) 8400111