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Queen Anne’s Durban Call Highlights South Africa’s Strategic Role in Luxury Cruise Routes Queen Anne’s Durban Call Highlights South Africa’s Strategic Role in Luxury Cruise Routes

In a significant moment for the Southern African cruise industry, Cunard’s newest flagship, Queen Anne, made a prominent stop at Durban on Wednesday, marking the final South African port on her current World Cruise before venturing into the Indian Ocean. This visit underscores Durban’s increasing stature as a pivotal gateway for luxury cruise itineraries connecting Africa with the broader Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific regions.

Queen Anne’s Durban docking follows earlier calls at Cape Town and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), reiterating the ship’s growing presence along South Africa’s coastline. Notably, this is her second stop in both Durban and Cape Town since her inaugural South African visits in April last year, reflecting Cunard’s commitment to expanding luxury cruise offerings in the region.

Launched in 2024, Queen Anne is a standout in the contemporary luxury cruise market, boasting a passenger capacity of nearly 3,000 and a crew complement of 1,225. The vessel combines classic world cruising prestige with modern onboard sophistication, appealing to discerning travellers seeking both comfort and an extensive itinerary. Her current journey from Durban charts an eastward course across the Indian Ocean, linking Southern Africa to island paradises such as Réunion and Mauritius, before continuing to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. This route exemplifies Durban’s growing importance as a strategic embarkation and transit hub on eastbound global cruise corridors.

Reflecting on this milestone, Shaun McCarthy, managing director at Whitestar Cruise & Travel, Cunard’s South African representative, emphasized the unique opportunity this presents for African travellers: “It really is an exciting time for sea travel, and an opportunity for South Africans to experience her unique blend of sophistication and contemporary comfort, with value that exceeds expectations for luxury cruising.”

The local economic impact of such visits is significant. The eThekwini municipality highlighted Queen Anne’s arrival as a symbol of Durban’s “growing role as a premier destination in international cruising,” noting the substantial benefits to local tourism and hospitality industries. This aligns with broader regional ambitions to position South African ports as key nodes in high-end cruise itineraries, attracting affluent passengers and encouraging increased spending within local economies.

Queen Anne’s Durban call is part of a broader Cunard South African season, with the iconic Queen Mary 2 scheduled to call at Durban on April 6th, followed by Gqeberha and Cape Town visits, continuing her World Voyage program. This sustained presence of Cunard’s fleet in South African waters reinforces the country’s standing on the luxury cruise map, while Durban’s strategic location facilitates seamless connections between Atlantic and Indian Ocean cruise routes.

Cunard’s Cape Town departure program, from which Queen Anne embarked on January 31st, 2026, offers three distinct voyage lengths tailored to regional and international clientele. Each itinerary includes South African ports before crossing the Indian Ocean, enabling passengers to enjoy an extended, intercontinental cruise experience without committing to the full world voyage. These options range from 22 to 45 nights, traversing key destinations such as Réunion, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and beyond.

For instance, the 22-night voyage from Cape Town to Singapore includes calls at Port Elizabeth and Durban before heading to Saint-Denis (Réunion), Port Louis (Mauritius), Colombo, and Klang (Kuala Lumpur), wrapping up in Singapore on February 21st. Longer itineraries extend towards Hong Kong and Sydney, amplifying the appeal for travellers seeking diverse cultural and scenic experiences across continents.

As Africa’s cruise industry continues to evolve, Queen Anne’s engagement with South African ports highlights the continent’s potential to tap into the lucrative luxury cruise market. Durban’s expanding role, supported by enhanced port infrastructure and growing regional tourism appeal, positions it as a critical player in the global cruise ecosystem. Industry stakeholders should view these developments as a call to action to strengthen partnerships, improve services, and innovate offerings that meet the expectations of a dynamic and affluent cruise clientele.