NCL Extends Its Southern African Itinerary for Another Season and Other New Developments
By Carly Baatjes
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will return to Southern African shores for yet another season in November 2024.
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Port Louis, Mauritius
Following the success of NCL's first season in Southern Africa with the Norwegian Jade during the summer of 2022/23, the NCL Dawn returned for our current season. The cruise line has confirmed that the NCL Dawn will return for the 2024/25 cruise season.
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Highlights include visits to Kenya, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, and South Africa. The popular intensive African voyage from Cape Town will return for a second season, this time sailing for 18 days along Africa’s west coast to Lisbon, Portugal.
Guests can look forward to the following itineraries which are part of NCL’s Extraordinary Journeys:
“We’re thrilled to offer more contemporary cruise options around southern Africa, giving the local market easy access to fantastic regional destinations,” said Kevin Bubolz, Vice President and Managing Director for Continental Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Other innovations for the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet include:
Norwegian Aqua
Norwegian Aqua will set sail in 2025, featuring NCL’s exclusive enclave, The Haven; Ocean Boulevard, the Prima Class’s 4088 square metre long outdoor deck that wraps around the entire ship; and the all-new Aqua Slidecoaster, the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide. Sales for Norwegian Aqua are currently open for transatlantic and Caribbean sailings in 2025.
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Introducing nearly 1,000 new solo staterooms
Since the pandemic, online searches regarding solo travel have risen by 761.15%, according to Google Data. In response to this skyrocketing trend, NCL announced the addition of nearly 1,000 staterooms in 2023, almost doubling its existing solo-focussed accommodation. Along with optimised space, solo travellers will have private keycard access to their cabin, access to a private lounge exclusive to solo guests, and enjoy complimentary coffee, espresso, and snacks available throughout the day.
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Alaskan and Asian cruises in high demand
Alaska and Asia remain firm favourite destinations with the South African market, and the 2024/25 cruise calendar does not disappoint, comprising immersive bucket list-worthy itineraries packed with unique and unforgettable ports and excursions.
“Guests can explore various cruise itineraries for Alaska, setting sail in 2024 and 2025 between April and October. With ports such as Ketchikan (the salmon capital of the world), Juneau, and Skagway, an Alaskan cruise really is a once-in-a-lifetime journey where travellers can experience a melting pot of culture, wildlife, food, and adventures unlike anywhere else in the world,” says Bubolz.
Asian cruises include stops in exotic, far-flung ports such as Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Bali, and the Philippines.
“South African travellers understand the value of visa-free travel in most of the Asian destinations we sail to. We know value-for-money and immersive experiences are also top priorities for the market. Our Asian itineraries transport travellers to many ports they might not otherwise experience in their lifetime, while only unpacking once,” concludes Bubolz.
These are some of the itineraries to look forward to in 2024/2025:
- 9-day Cruise to Alaska, sailing 12 August and 9 September 2024: Departing Seattle and visiting Glacier Bay, Skagway and Juneau.
- 9-day Cruise to Alaska, sailing 21 May 2025: Departing Seattle and visiting Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau.
- 13-day Cruise to Asia, sailing 8 February 2025: Departing Singapore and visiting the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.
- 14-day Cruise to Asia, sailing 6 December 2025 from Taipei (Keelung) and visiting Hong Kong and Thailand.
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According to Reuters, experts predict approximately 35.7 million passengers globally will embark on cruises in 2024 – up 6% from 2019 levels. Prospective cruisers are encouraged to explore deals available as part of NCL’s Free at Sea, which offers guests exclusive savings, such as discounts on speciality dining, excursions, Wi-Fi, 3 rd and 4 th guests free in a cabin, and more.
Wave Season is currently underway, ensuring the best possible bargains across the industry, so there has never been a better time to secure your next cruise.
Don’t delay and book your next holiday on board a floating resort at sea.
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