PORT OF DURBAN SUCCESSFULLY CLOSES A BUMPER CRUISE SEASON

With the 2023/24 cruise season officially closed in Durban, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and eThekwini Municipality have witnessed another economic milestone with an influx of cruise tourists flocking to the port city.

The 2023/24 cruise season proved to be a success as the Port of Durban exceeded its planned vessel calls by nearly 50% from the planned 33 vessels. This accentuates Transnet’s potential to contribute to economic development by showcasing South Africa’s attractive destinations to cruise tourists.

The port kicked-off the season in November 2023 with Vasco De Gama which sailed to grace the Durban shores on her maiden voyage, followed by MSC Splendida, MSC Virtuosa, Queen Mary 2, SH Diana and Bolette, among many vessels that called to the port during the cruise season.

“The cruise season is one that we look forward to as the Port of Durban because it allows us to showcase our port as a ‘People’s Port’ and provide a scenic gateway to tourism in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). We pride ourselves in always providing reliable and efficient infrastructure that can handle passenger vessels of any size,” said Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi, TNPA Acting Port Manager at the Port of Durban.

The closure of the cruise season also saw the largest floating book fair, “MV Logo’s Hope” docking at the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal, offering locals an experience of a lifetime with a selection of over 5 000 books at affordable prices.

Opening the Port of Durban to tourists and local members of the communities remains strategically aligned to TNPA’s People Ports concept, which entails TNPA’s commitment to integrate the port with the port city and communities, through port access for leisure activities whilst remaining in compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.