Cape Town Cruise Season 2026/27: Private Shore Tours with a Local Guide

Jaco van Straten

Sep 22

3 min read

Updated: Oct 6

Cape Town’s 2026/27 cruise ship season is officially underway. The season opened with the arrival of Pacific World at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal on 17 September 2026, bringing around 1,400 passengers to experience the Mother City.

It’s always exciting to witness a cruise ship entering Table Bay against the backdrop of Table Mountain. For visitors disembarking from a sea voyage, Cape Town offers an extraordinary welcome – and a private tour is the optimal way to make the most of a limited day ashore.

Cruise ships coming to Cape Town

Published schedules for the new season include ships operated by several well-known international cruise companies.

During November 2026, Cape Town is expected to welcome:

Silver Muse — Silversea Cruises
Mein Schiff 6 — TUI Cruises
Europa 2 — Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
AIDAstella — AIDA Cruises

The wider 2026/27 season is also expected to include:

Amera — Phoenix Reisen
AIDAsol — AIDA Cruises
Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Navigator — Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Oceania Sirena — Oceania Cruises
MSC Armonia — MSC Cruises
Volendam — Holland America Line
Costa Deliziosa — Costa Cruises
Arcadia — P&O Cruises
Viking Sky — Viking
Borealis — Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Queen Victoria — Cunard
Silver Dawn — Silversea Cruises
Artania — Phoenix Reisen

MSC Cruises will bring MSC Armonia to South Africa for the first time this season. It is scheduled to operate several cruises from Cape Town in March 2027, including voyages to Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Cruise schedules can change, so passengers should always confirm their ship’s arrival and departure times before planning a shore excursion.

The World cruise ship docked at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town

Arriving at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal

Cruise ships berth at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal, V&A Waterfront. The terminal provides a convenient gateway to the city and is only a short drive from many of Cape Town’s best-known attractions.

I collect my guests directly from the cruise terminal in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. Because the tour is private, the day can be planned around your interests and your ship’s departure time. I also allow enough time for the return journey so that you can relax and enjoy Cape Town without worrying about getting back to the ship.

Victoria Wharf shopping centre at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town

Discover the V&A Waterfront

The V&A Waterfront is much more than a working harbour. It’s one of Cape Town’s most enjoyable destinations, combining magnificent views, restaurants, shops, museums, public art and entertainment in a lively waterfront setting.

Historic Clock Tower beside the harbour at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town

From here, visitors can see Table Mountain, watch boats moving through the harbour, enjoy excellent South African food or visit attractions such as the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and The Two Oceans Aquarium. Just behind the aquarium is a dedicated Seal Landing platform, where a wild colony of Cape fur seals sunbathe when they want a break from playing in the harbour. The Waterfront is also the departure point for ferries to Robben Island.

All in all, it’s a wonderful place to spend time before returning to your ship, especially when the afternoon light settles over the harbour and Table Mountain.

V&A Waterfront harbour at sunset in Cape Town

Private Cape Town shore excursions

Depending on the time available, your private Cape Town shore excursion can include:

Table Mountain and its panoramic views
Bo-Kaap’s colourful, historic streets
The city centre and Company’s Garden
Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles
Chapman’s Peak Drive
Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
African penguins at Boulders Beach
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Constantia or the Cape Winelands
Local art galleries, food experiences and hidden neighbourhoods

Every cruise arrival is different. Some guests wish to see Cape Point, while others prefer a relaxed city tour, wine tasting or a day focused on cuisine, culture and local life. I’m happy to design the route according to the time you have available.

Wonderful days with cruise visitors

I have thoroughly enjoyed times spent with cruise guests from around the world. Meeting people at the terminal, hearing tales of their recent voyage and introducing them to Cape Town is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.

A private tour gives us time to talk, stop for photographs and adjust the day as we go. My guests don’t simply move between attractions. They experience Cape Town with someone who lives here, has a deep love and understanding of the city, and relishes sharing its stories.

Many of my favourite touring days have begun with a friendly welcome at the cruise terminal and ended with happy guests returning to their ship after discovering far more of Cape Town than they expected.