Typically, cruises last between 7 and 10 days, but with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), adventurers can embark on journeys up to 21 days long, providing ample opportunities to linger longer on your holiday at sea. Opting for a longer cruise means more than just extended time at sea – it means you’ll benefit from deeper cultural immersion, enhanced relaxation, and uninterrupted luxury.
Here are a few of NCL’s leading longer cruise itineraries ideal for South African travellers, many of which depart from Cape Town or Mauritius.
- Asia: Maldives, Thailand & Seychelles on Norwegian Sky
Prepare for a mix of beach bliss, Buddhist temples, gorgeous mountain scenery, cascading waterfalls, and bucketloads of Asian culture on this 17-day Extraordinary Journey from Port Louis to Singapore.
Departs from: Port Louis, Mauritius
Length: 17 days
Sailing dates: 20 Dec 2024 – 6 Jan 2025
Destinations:
- Port Louis, Mauritius
- Nosy Be, Madagascar
- Port Victoria, Seychelles
- La Digue, Seychelles
- Male, Maldives
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Phuket, Thailand
- Penang, Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Singapore, Singapore
Top 3 shore excursions:
- Nosy Komba – Isle of Lemurs: Mingle with the locals and catch Madagascar’s iconic lemurs bounding around the island.
- Underwater World by Submarine: Hop aboard a submarine for a close-up encounter with the Maldives’ mesmerising marine life.
- Phuket Landmarks: Discover Phuket’s most awe-inspiring landmarks following a panoramic drive through the countryside.
- South Africa: Seychelles, Kenya & Tanzania on Norwegian Dawn
Go beyond South Africa’s borders to explore more of what our wonderful continent has to offer, ending off with stops in the UAE and Qatar.
Departs from: Port Louis, Mauritius
Length: 16 days
Sailing dates: 5 Dec – 21 Dec 2025
Destinations:
- Port Louis, Mauritius
- Pointe des Galets, Reunion
- Nosy Be, Madagascar
- Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Mombasa, Kenya
- La Digue, Seychelles
- Port Victoria, Seychelles
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Doha, Qatar
Top 3 shore excursions:
- Cirque of Salazie: When in Pointe des Galets, visit a vanilla plantation and explore a beautiful cirque before sitting down for lunch and embarking on a shopping spree.
- La Digue Highlights: Head out on a scenic tour of La Digue, coupled with plenty of time spent soaking up the sun on the beach.
- Desert Dunes 4×4 Adventure: Take to Dubai’s towering dunes in a 4×4 for some exhilarating dune-bashing before enjoying refreshments at a Bedouin-style campsite.
- Cape Town Cruise Tour on Norwegian Dawn
Spend a few days exploring our multi-faceted Mother City before heading off on a cruise into the Atlantic Ocean, stopping at multiple ports on your way to Lisbon, Portugal.
Departs from: Cape Town, South Africa
Length: 21 days
Sailing dates: 9 – 30 Mar 2025
Destinations:
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Walvis Bay, Namibia
- Luanda, Angola
- Sao Tome, Sao Tome & Principe
- Abidjan (Cote D’Ivoire), Ivory Coast
- Banjul, Gambia
- Dakar, Senegal
- Santa Maria, Cape Verde
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
- Lisbon, Portugal
Top 3 shore excursions:
- Sandwich Harbour: Explore Namibia’s Sandwich Harbour area in a 4×4 vehicle, with your first stop at Walvis Lagoon, attracting a remarkable variety of seabirds and thousands of pink flamingos.
- Akwaba Abidjan To Bingerville: Dive into two of the Ivory Coast’s most important cities, both with an African heart and colonial heritage reflected in their architecture.
- Makasutu Palm Forest: Experience the natural beauty of the Gambia River during a half-day nature walk through the Makasutu Palm Forest.
- Africa: Namibia, Angola & Ivory Coast on Norwegian Sky
Splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime transatlantic journey, taking you from South Africa to Barcelona, with lots of sun-drenched stops in between.
Departs from: Cape Town, South Africa
Length: 21 days
Sailing dates: 14 May – 4 Jun 2025
Destinations:
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Walvis Bay, Namibia
- Luanda, Angola
- Sao Tome, Sao Tome & Principe
- Abidjan (Cote D’Ivoire), Ivory Coast
- Banjul, Gambia
- Dakar, Senegal
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
- Arrecife (Lanzerote), Canary Islands
- Motril, Spain
- Alicante, Spain
- Barcelona, Spain
Top 3 shore excursions:
- Birding Tour: Admire some of Namibia’s bird species during this tour to the rich feeding grounds of the Walvis Bay Lagoon and salt mine.
- African Art & Lunch: Browse a museum and a gallery with eclectic collections of art and artifacts before tucking in to a delicious Santomean meal.
- Lake Retba & Village Feast: Drive off-road through the sand dunes surrounding Lake Retba (Dakar) in a 4×4 vehicle and feast on traditional Senegalese delicacies at a nearby village.
Ready to embark? Contact your travel agent or visit www.ncl.com to book your cruise today.
Why Cruise with NCL?
- Multiple destinations, one-time unpack: See and do more despite only unpacking once, making travel seamless and convenient.
- All-inclusive luxury: Enjoy a plethora of amenities, with meals, accommodation and entertainment included (minus select shore excursions).
- Something for everyone: Engage in activities and entertainment designed for all ages, ensuring every passenger finds their perfect brand of joy.
- Kids’ clubs: Dedicated areas and programmes for children mean younger explorers can have fun while the adults relax.
- Wellness on water: Take your relaxation experience to new heights by unwinding onboard at NCL’s world-famous Mandara Spa and Salon®.
- Freestyle cruising: NCL’s unique cruising concept provides the ultimate flexibility, letting passengers dine ‘when, where, and with whom’ they prefer, free from the constraints of fixed dining times or locations.
- Free at Sea packages: Enhance your cruising experience with NCL’s exclusive packages, offering free beverages, speciality dining, shore excursion credits, internet access, and reduced rates for additional guests in the same stateroom.
