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The best Africa cruises get you to the continent in style. At the same time, they ensure a sense of place by calling at a plethora of fascinating destinations. Destinations you might otherwise never get the chance to visit.
Thanks to a coastline that takes in the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the coral-rich shallows of the Indian Ocean, and the Roman coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Africa is a continent with the most varied cruise options around.
Voyage from Alexandria in the north to Cape Town in the south. Or from Mombasa in the east to Freetown in the west. How incredible would it be to circumnavigate Africa by cruise ship?
If the very thought gives you goosebumps, check out my round up of the top Africa cruise deals. Taking bookings right now, they come from the world’s top cruise lines.
Should you like the idea of forgoing the airport stress-fest for a much more demur experience all round, Cruise Critic details the pros and cons of major sailings to Africa and beyond based on real life reviews.
Where do Africa cruises depart from?
In the time of the packet boats you’d never have to wait long for a boat to Africa. These small ships delivered the post before air mail was a thing (and hung on until the 1970s),
That said, the inauguration of the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1869 had already limited through trade. It’s opening meant ships no longer had to go around the west coast of Africa to reach the Indian Ocean or Australia.
Sailings still depart from port’s in the UK and Europe including Southampton. However, Cape Town is increasingly becoming the centre of Africa’s cruise itineraries. That’s great news, since it’s one of the world’s finest cities, with plenty to see and do whatever your interests.
It’s normally possible to find cruise sailings from Fort Lauderdale on the US east coast too. And an increasing number begin in Dubai and Mumbai, before exploring the ports of Madagascar and east Africa.
South Africa cruises from the UK and Europe
While Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 may be cruise royalty, her itinerary as one of the best luxury Africa cruises leaves a lot to desired, with hardly any time in Africa itself.
On rare occasions when she sails between Cape Town and Southampton, the ship’s only other port of call in Africa is Walvis Bay, Namibia. It’s a port city which struggled to ignite my enthusiasm despite a pretty cool museum.
On top of that, there’s just one further potential to explore dry land, Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Get you there in style she might, but you’re not going to see much along the way. Why not plump for the front end of an airplane and be there in a sixteenth of the time instead? (In which case CheapOAir is the site for you.)
That’s unless you’ve opted for Queen Mary 2‘s world cruise, which should also take in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and Durban. Both South African cities are destinations I believe deserve a lot more love than they currently get.
Azamara cruises, meanwhile, makes a much more interesting journey along the west coast of Africa. As long as you’re happy with the start and end points of Cape Town and Lisbon (and why wouldn’t you be?), this sailing provides a much more insightful three weeks on and off the high seas.
Exact itineraries change from year to year. You’ll almost certainly dock at Walvis Bay and Tenerife, but also a pick of Luanda in Angola and Takoradi (close to the Ghanaian capital, Accra). Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire), Banjul (The Gambia), Saint Helena and the honorary African isle of Madeira (part of Portugal) complete potential itineraries.
If this sounds all a bit too much, you could instead join Fred Olsen Cruise Line. Its sailings connect Southampton or Liverpool with the islands of Cabo Verde. Located off the west coast of Africa, ships go via the Moroccan coast and Canary Islands.
Don’t forget you can get a lot more detail on all these departures with Cruise Critic.
Africa cruises from Florida, USA
Although not as common, you can find departures for Africa cruises from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) in Florida, USA too.
One of the most eclectic sailings I can find is the 45-day one-way voyage on Holland America Line.
Rather than sailing along the west coast of Africa, these sailings pass through the Strait of Gibraltar and crosses the Mediterranean Sea. Stopping off at various north African ports along the way, this route enables cruise-goers to travel through the Suez Canal.
Start as you mean to go on amid the reefs of Sharm el Sheikh on the Red Sea, before taking in the crystalline waters of the Seychelles and Zanzibar.
But the adventure doesn’t end there, with this sailing also taking in little visited Mayotte, and Nosy Be before coming to rest in Cape Town.
And in case you didn’t know, Nosy Be is one of Madagascar’s foremost destinations, incorporating French-era heritage and the lemurs so many make the journey to see.
Regional South Africa cruises
Of course, you don’t have to jump on a cruise ship on a completely different continent to enjoy the best Africa cruises.
Several cruise lines also operate regional South Africa cruises, some of which also take in neighbouring countries such as Namibia and Mozambique.
For instance, Norwegian Cruise Line starts and ends some of its sailings in Cape Town. On route, you’ll have the chance to explore Walvis Bay and Bavarian-style Luderitz in Namibia. You’ll get to round the Cape of Good Hope, with its views of Table Mountain, to Durban.
It also makes a stop at Port Elizabeth (where shore excursions make this one of several Africa cruises with safari options), and Mossel Bay, whose harbour was integral to European colonisation of southern Africa.
If Walvis Bay doesn’t interest you, you could instead opt to sail with Azamara, who take in the Mozambican capital of Maputo as well as East London (the South African city, not the eastern extent of the British capital), and Richard’s Bay from Cape Town.
Most sailings take advantage of the best time to visit South Africa – the southern hemisphere’s summer – when seas are calmest.
What should you pack for a cruise?
Many first timers worry about what to wear on a cruise. For the most part everyday leisurewear is perfectly acceptable.
For onshore cruise excursions on Africa’s sometimes seen-better-days pavements, a comfortable pair of closed trainers or walking shoes is a good idea.
Some cruise-goers like to dress up for dinner, and if you’re celebrating a special occasion you might want to take something slightly more upmarket.
But for the most part, the need for a dinner jacket or a cocktail dress has been consigned to the history books.
This printable cruise packing list is the place to head for anyone looking for a little more guidance.
What visas will you need for an Africa cruise?
Pick a cruise like those offered onboard Azamara ships, and you might think you’re going to spend a significant amount of time pre-trip at various embassies.
However, for nations as varied as Egypt, Ghana and Namibia, visas or other formalities for short onshore excursions are normally organised on your behalf by the cruise staff.
The exact goings-on for your own Africa cruise should be made clear on or near booking, but make sure you understand exactly who’s responsible for visas before departure.
You’ll also want to consider whether you’ll need a visa for the departure or arrival port – most travellers are able to enter South Africa for tourist purposes without one.
The best Africa cruises sailing soon
Totalling somewhere in the region of 25,000 miles (40,000 km), the coast of Africa has no end of potential sights and destinations. The best Africa cruises are put together with itineraries that make the most of these delights. So if you’ve ever fancied heading out on a cruise, make it one to Africa!
