General filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in excerpt
Search in content
Source
Filter by Release categories
Accessible Tourism
Africa Tourism
Africa Travel
Agriculture
AI
Association News
Aviation
Awards
Business Travel
Climate
Conservation
Corporate
Culture
Ecotourism
Events
Female Travel
Food and Dining
Food and Drink
Hacks
Hospitality and Travel
Hotelier
Industry Insights
Insurance
Leadership
Leisure Travel and Tourism
Cruising
LGBTQ+
Lifestyle and Entertainment
Luxury Travel
MICE
Press releases
Responsible Tourism
South Africa
South Africa Travel
Sport
Sustainable Travel
Tax
Tech
Tips
Trade News
Travel and Tourism
Travel News
Travel Tips
Trends
Women

Cruising into the New Year: What’s new in cruises for 2025

Cruising continues to grow as a go-to travel choice for South Africans, delivering luxury and unmatched value for money – and with new ships, experiences, and itineraries debuting in 2025, there’s never been a better time to plan a holiday at sea.

Sue Garrett, GM Supply, Pricing and Marketing at Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa, attributes this growth to the all-inclusive value and accessibility of cruising.

“Local cruises, particularly MSC’s Durban- and Cape Town-based options, remain incredibly popular for first-time cruisers or those on a budget, due to their affordability, ease and convenience, after all, it’s a great way to avoid a long-haul flight as well as the costs of travel visas!”, says Garrett.

According to Garrett, cruises proved popular with both couples and families in 2024.

“On international cruises, our split was 65% couples, 28% families, 5% solo travellers, and 2% groups,” says Garrett. “We saw very similar figures on domestic cruises, with couples making up 62% of cruisers followed by families (29%), solo travellers (6%) and groups (3%). Interestingly, our average length of cruise was 10 days, with cruisers really embracing time on the ocean!”

Read on, because Garrett has the inside scoop for those looking to ‘seas the day’ in 2025!

What’s new in cruises for 2025?

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

  • More at Sea Package (debuting January 2025): NCL is simplifying its offerings with the all-new ‘More at Sea’ package, which replaces their ‘Free at Sea’ programme.
    • Premium drinks: Guests can now enjoy an expanded selection of beverages, including over 100 specialty cocktails.
    • Specialty restaurants: Indulge in more meals at specialty restaurants.
    • Improved internet access: Make the most of additional minutes and faster Wi-Fi.

“NCL’s new ‘More at Sea’ package does exactly what it says: it delivers more value than ever before. It also simplifies the experience for guests, making it easier for them to relax and enjoy their cruise,” says Garrett.

  • Norwegian Aqua Launch (March 2025): The cutting-edge Norwegian Aqua will feature:
    • The world’s first Aqua Slidecoaster, an exhilarating mash-up of a waterslide and rollercoaster.
    • Expanded family-friendly zones with recreational activities.
    • NCL’s first-ever upmarket Thai specialty restaurant, Sukhothai, and first plant-based eatery, Planterie, debuting on board.

MSC Cruises

  • South African favourites: South Africans love MSC’s themed cruises, and they’re back with a bang in 2025!
    • Super Sokkie Cruise (21–24 February 2025): Who doesn’t adore that ‘local is lekker’ vibe, complete with energetic sokkie music and dancing?
    • Bhangra Boat (28 February – 3 March 2025): Bollywood-themed festivities promising world-class entertainment.
    • Jazz Cruise (16–22 March 2025): Coinciding with the inaugural Namib Desert International Jazz Festival, this voyage is a must for jazz fans and desert adventurers.

Costa Cruises

  • Cape Town cruises: For the first time, Costa Cruises will offer departures directly from Cape Town, making it easier for South Africans to embark on exciting global itineraries with this respected cruise line. For example, Cape Town to Genoa (20 days) departs 18 March 2025, with stops in Walvis Bay, Tenerife, Tangier, and Corsica.

Royal Caribbean International

  • Debut of Star of the Seas (August 2025): The second ship in the Icon Class, Star of the Seas will feature:
    • Category 6 Waterpark and Crown’s Edge aerial adventure.
    • New Broadway hit, Back to the Future: The Musical.
    • Eight unique ‘neighbourhoods’.
  • Allure of the Seas refurbishments (April 2025): This $100 million upgrade introduces:
    • The Lime & Coconut Bar and Perfect Storm water slides.
    • Redesigned spaces for kids/teens, including Social298 and Splashaway Bay.

Princess Cruises

  • Star Princess Launch (October 2025): Marking the second Sphere Class ship, Star Princess will have:
    • Eco-friendly LNG propulsion systems.
    • The Dome – the first at-sea geodesic dome.
    • Expanded non-smoking casino areas.

Emerging cruise trends for 2025

  1. Digital detox cruises: Wi-Fi may be improving across fleets, but 2025 will see an increase in cruises designed to help travellers disconnect and unwind.
  2. Culinary-focused voyages: Food-themed cruises are big right now. Expect ships to offer more local ingredients, specialty menus, special guest celebrity chefs, and cooking workshops.
  3. Women-only cruises: These cruises, like Uniworld River Cruises’ women-only cruise, have a strict ‘no boys allowed’ policy – designed for women, by women.
  4. Workations cruises: When you can work from anywhere, why not work at sea? Just check on your chosen cruise line/ship’s Wi-Fi quality and cost (if applicable) before booking!
  5. River cruising: Smaller and often more personal, river cruises are also on the rise.

“2025 is an excellent time to hop aboard the cruising trend. First-time cruisers can start small with affordable, local cruises, while seasoned at-sea holidaymakers can look forward to various upgrades, along with longer, multi-continent itineraries. As the industry continues its climb, travellers can rest assured there’s a cruise itinerary out there to float everyone’s boat!” Garrett concludes.

FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP SOUTH AFRICA 

Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) SA is part of Flight Centre Travel Group, an Australia-based international travel company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, with a market cap of AU$3.57 billion and a current share price of AU$16.10 as of 9 January 2025. FCTG with three leading brands: Flight Centre, Corporate Traveller and FCM, of which Corporate Traveller and FCM are proud level 1 BBBEE Contributors. FCTG SA is wholly owned and has been recognised as one of Deloitte’s Best Companies to Work for in South Africa for over a decade.

Media Contact

Celine Patterson, Big Ambitions

celine@bigambitions.co.za

Upcoming Articles

Media Downloads

Share Article

Get daily news updates to your inbox!

Subscribe to receives daily updates!

Trending now

SATSA Vice Chairperson Appointed to SANParks Board

SATSA, the voice of inbound tourism, is delighted to announce that its Vice Chairperson,[...]

Essence of Africa 2025 unveils high impact content programme led by explorer Riaan Manser

18 September 2025 – Essence of Africa, Africa’s meetings-driven international buyer’s forum, today announced[...]

The ‘R500‑a‑day Challenge’: Weekend micro‑adventures near you

The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association’s (SATSA) newly released adventure tourism research, based on[...]

Envoyage Reveals Vietnam as Icons 2026 Destination in Partnership with Intrepid Travel

Envoyage has announced Vietnam as the host destination for Icons 2026, unveiling the news[...]