South Africa: Cape Town and the Western Cape observed its most successful cruise season till date. It is setting new records for cruise-liner visits, passenger arrivals and economic impact.
Reportedly, amount of R1.79 billion was injected into the Western Cape Economy over the 2024-25 Cruise Season. The Western Cape Cruise Liner Industry Report was presented recently. It was commissioned by the Cruise Cape Town, which is powered by Wesgro.
This report highlighted:
- R1.79 billion investment to the GDP-R of the Western Cape (up from R1.32 billion in 2023-24)
- 18% growth in cruise-line calls between Sept 2024 and June 2025
- Around 127,000 passengers were welcomed (+16%)
- R1.99 billion was recorded as total expenditure (+32%)
- Approx. 2,345 jobs were supported across the eco-system
However, beyond Cape Town, town such as Mossel Bay, Hermanus, and Saldanha Bay received direct benefits. These places recorded visit of 26 ships that generated R47.5 million in local spending, that boosted small businesses and created jobs.
Notably, MS The World cruise docked in Cape Town this week. It is the largest privately-owned residential cruise vessel, which is operated by the company ResidenSea.
The officials thanked the Cruise Cape Town partners for their contribution to the success. Also, 70+ vessels were already scheduled for the coming year. With this they concluded that the future of cruise tourism in the Western Cape is brighter than ever.
How MS The World is different from others?
MS The World is considered as the largest private residential yacht on Earth. It is owned and operated by the ResidenSea. The ship functions as a condominium at sea, with 165 luxury homes that the residents own. It holds a global itinerary and amenities that are found on a private yacht or an exclusive country club.
The ship is moving a community with world-class facilities, which includes multiple restaurants, a golf simulator, a tennis court and various other leisure and enrichment services. People travelling in MS The World are residents here. They own their homes, and are creating a true community at sea.
Considering the Global Itinerary, this ship is sailing on a continuous and customised route across the globe by visiting rarely accessed ports.
Luxurious amenities feature six restaurants, a full-size tennis court, an onboard golf simulator with a resident pro, swimming pools, a spa, a fitness center and a library.
Unlike other traditional cruises, it offers luxury homes instead of small cabins, to residents with combined units for larger spaces. The cruise provides an intimate atmosphere with an average of 150-200 residents and guests on board at any time to remain private and serene.
This ship fostered a strong sense of community among its residents, considering friendships, partnerships and even life partners forming through the network onboard.
According to ResidenSea, MS The World has recently gone through refurbishment to enhance its luxury while maintaining its strong commitment to sustainability. Here, residents enjoy a lifestyle of continuous travel, luxury and enrichment with access to expert lectures and private performances.