Cape Town Closes Record Cruise Season with 83 Ship Calls
Cape Town has concluded its most successful cruise season to date, welcoming 83 cruise ship visits during the 2024/25 period, including 11 inaugural calls. March stood out as the peak month, with 22 ship arrivals, and the season officially ended with the departure of the Crown Princess on 29 June. The Port of Mossel Bay also contributed to the Western Cape’s growing cruise presence, recording 15 calls over the same period.
The sector contributed an estimated R1.32 billion to the regional economy and supported 2,000 jobs during the 2023/24 season, according to Wesgro. Passenger and crew throughput at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal rose by 16% year-on-year, signalling growing demand. Notably, the Queen Anne’s visit in April continued Cunard’s high-profile engagement with the city. With infrastructure in place and a strong forward-booking pipeline, Cape Town is positioning itself as a key African hub in global cruise itineraries.
Source: Wesgro