Cruise season sails into SA’s harbours

TWENTY cruise vessels, including the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth, are due to dock in South Africa’s ports over the next six months.

Transnet National Ports Authority spokeswoman Lunga Ngcobo saidthe first liner to dock will be the MSC Sinfonia, which is expected in Durban tomorrow, and will start the country’s six-month cruise season.

Ngcobo said the MSC Sinfonia is the largest and most popular of the ships to head the country’s annual cruise season and is based in Durban.

The distinction of the two largest ships to dock in South Africa’s ports belongs to Cunard Lines’ Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth, both of which will dock in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

Apart from Cunard and MSC, cruise liners from Oceania Cruises, Seven Sea Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Amadea, Compagnie du Ponant and Azamara Club Cruises will dock at South African ports over the next six to seven months.

Ngcobo said passenger facilities had been improved and Transnet National Ports Authority had improved its processes at Durban’s port to ensure quicker and improved embarkation of passengers. “The Port of Durban is set to award its tender for the development a new passenger terminal by February 2017,” she added.

Facilities at Cape Town’s E-berth in Duncan Dock had also been improved and will be operated by V&A Waterfront (Pty) Ltd. – ANA