MAJOR BOOST FOR CRUISE TOURISM AS QUEEN MARY 2 DOCKS IN DURBAN

By: Ethekwini Municipality

As a highlight of the bumper 2025/26 cruise season, Durban welcomed the iconic ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, which docked at the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal on 9 April, bringing around 4 500 international visitors to the City.

As one of the largest and most distinguished ocean liners in the world, Queen Mary 2 offers an unmatched luxury experience rooted in British heritage and elegance. The vessel is currently on a 109-day "Full World Voyage" that began in Southampton in January.

Docking in the City presented a unique opportunity to cast the spotlight on Durban's vibrant heritage, world-class port facilities, and renowned hospitality.

Visitors were warmly welcomed with a range of performances, which included a performance by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. Passengers were guided on City tours to explore key tourism attractions such as uShaka Marine World, the beach promenade, Ithala Game Reserve, and the Phezulu Safari Park among others.

The Queen Mary 2, which departures at 10pm tonight, brought around 4 500 international visitors to the City, with its passenger capacity ranging between 2 640 and 3 271 guests, supported by a crew of around 1 250 people.

The arrival further underscores Durban’s growing stature as a premier cruise destination. Since the development of the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in 2021, the City has experienced a steady increase in international cruise traffic, contributing to the recovery and expansion of international tourism.

The 2025/26 cruise season has already demonstrated strong momentum, having commenced earlier than usual in September last year, an indication of increasing global confidence in Durban as a port of call.

Between December 2025 and 9 April 2026, Durban has welcomed 27 cruise vessels, with additional arrivals expected before the end of the season. The forward outlook remains positive, with confirmed cruise liners scheduled to arrive in Durban through to 2028. This further positions eThekwini for sustained growth and increased economic impact.

This continued growth is also attributed to Durban Tourism’s focused Cruise Tourism Strategy in collaboration with key strategic partners like MSC Cruises and the KZN Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTAFA). The interventions include the participation in the annual Sea Trade Cruise Global in Miami, a strategic platform to strengthen relationships with global cruise line executives, showcase Durban’s cruise offerings, and position the City as a competitive destination within international cruise itineraries.

A Durban Tourism delegation, in partnership with KZNTAFA, will once again participate in the Sea Trade Cruise Global 2026 in Miami to cultivate business for cruise tourism.

Participation in the event has already yielded positive results with new cruise liners docking in Durban. The success was further reinforced by the return of the Queen Mary 2 to Durban and the introduction of the Queen Anne cruise liner to the City in recent seasons. This reflects the confidence of leading global cruise operators in Durban’s offerings. The destination continues to attract high-value international travellers from key markets including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Europe.

The City is proud to showcase its hospitality and attractions to the thousands of international tourists who arrived on Queen Mary 2, further strengthening Durban’s reputation as a gateway to Africa’s cruise tourism.

The City yesterday welcomed 4500 international visitors arriving aboard the iconic Queen Mary 2 at the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal. Durban Tourism was on the ground ensuring a warm, visible and well-coordinated welcome. Tour operators played a key role in dispersing visitors to local tourism offerings and experiences such as Ushaka Marine World and Phezulu Safari Park amongst others.