Are Cruise Ships Allowed in South Africa?

By Anna Duncan

If you’re planning a cruise to South Africa, you might be wondering whether cruise ships are allowed to dock in the country. Here’s everything you need to know about the rules and regulations surrounding cruise ship travel in South Africa.

Current Situation

Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise ships are not allowed to dock in South Africa. This is part of a broader ban on international travel to the country, which has been put in place to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Pre-Pandemic Rules

Before the pandemic, cruise ships were allowed to dock at several ports around South Africa. The most popular ports for cruise ships were Cape Town and Durban. In Cape Town, cruise ships would typically dock at the V&A Waterfront, while in Durban they would dock at the Port of Durban.

Requirements for Cruise Ships

To be allowed into South African waters, all international vessels (including cruise ships) must comply with certain requirements. These include:

  • Having a valid maritime safety certificate
  • Having a valid marine pollution prevention certificate
  • Having a valid ship sanitation control exemption certificate
  • Providing advance notice of arrival to South African authorities
  • Completing any necessary customs and immigration formalities

The Future of Cruise Ship Travel in South Africa

It’s unclear when exactly cruise ships will be able to return to South Africa. The government has not yet announced when international travel restrictions will be lifted. However, once these restrictions are eased, it’s likely that cruise ship travel will resume as normal.

Conclusion:

In summary, currently due to COVID-19 pandemic, cruise ships are not allowed to dock in South Africa. Before the pandemic, cruise ships were allowed to dock at several ports around South Africa such as Cape Town and Durban.

However, to be allowed into South African waters, all international vessels (including cruise ships) must comply with certain requirements. Once the travel restrictions are lifted it’s likely that cruise ship travel will resume as normal.