Cape Town Marks Record-Breaking 2024-25 Cruise Season

As the 2024-25 cruise season wraps up, Cape Town is celebrating a record-setting year that highlights its rising prominence as a premier cruise destination.

The city hosted 83 cruise ship calls, 11 of which were first-time visits. March stood out with 22 vessel arrivals—the highest number ever recorded in a single month. Meanwhile, Mossel Bay also experienced an active season, welcoming 15 ship calls to its port.

Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro, emphasized that the figures reflect more than just growth—they point to sustained momentum in the region’s tourism ambitions. “These figures underscore Cape Town and the Western Cape’s growing stature as a leading cruise destination on the African continent. In working towards greater impact and long-term benefits for destinations, Cruise Cape Town is a catalytic project that significantly nurtures the cruise economy in the area,” said Stander.

The Cape Town Cruise Terminal reported a 16% year-on-year increase in passengers and crew, marking continued upward trends in visitor numbers. The season officially concluded with the departure of the Crown Princess on June 29.

David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, which manages the terminal, noted: “Our world-class infrastructure, combined with Cape Town’s breathtaking landscapes and rich tapestry of experiences, positions us as a must-visit stop on any global cruise itinerary.”

A highlight of the season came on April 10 with the arrival of Queen Anne, the newest vessel from Cunard, on her maiden visit to South African waters.

Dr. Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, stressed the economic importance of cruise tourism. “Cruise tourism dovetails neatly with our Growth for Jobs Strategy. With 2,000 jobs supported and over a billion rand injected into the economy in the previous season, the cruise industry is achieving our vision for a thriving, inclusive and resilient Western Cape.”