Cruise Cape Town, powered by Wesgro, has welcomed the Pacific World, the first cruise vessel of the 2026/27 cruise season, to the Cape Town Cruise Terminal.
The arrival of the vessel carrying 1 397 passengers marked the official start of what is anticipated to be another successful cruise season in the Western Cape.
Cape Town opens Cruise Season for 2026/2027
Passengers received a vibrant Western Cape welcome on arrival, with lively local music and entertainment celebrating the start of the season during Tourism Month.
“The cruise sector continues to contribute to tourism growth in the Western Cape. A key driver of this success is the strength of the public-private partnerships that underpin Cruise Cape Town. Through collaboration among government, industry, and private-sector partners, we can attract more cruise calls, grow visitor numbers, and maximise the economic opportunities that flow from the cruise economy. Cruise Cape Town demonstrates what is possible when partners work together with a shared vision to create lasting benefits for businesses and communities across our province.” Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro said.
September is an important month in South Africa, since it heralds the arrival of Spring, and also kicks off the the peak tourism season. The country also celebrates Heritage Day on September 24th.
First Cruise Ship Arrives
The arrival of the Pacific World highlights Cape Town and the Western Cape’s growing appeal as a leading cruise destination and gateway to a Southern African Cruise Itinerary.
The Pacific World operates as part of the Peace Boat fleet, a Japan-based non-governmental organisation that promotes peace, human rights, sustainable development, and international cooperation through global voyages and educational programmes.
Economic Value of Cruising
Cruise tourism continues to play an important role in driving economic growth and creating opportunities across the province.
“The arrival of the Pacific World marks an exciting start to the 2026/27 cruise season and demonstrates the impact of collaboration in growing our visitor economy. Cruise tourism contributes directly to the objectives of the Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs Strategy by driving tourism growth, creating employment opportunities, supporting small businesses and stimulating economic activity across the province. We look forward to building on this momentum throughout the season.” Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, said.
According to the latest available economic impact assessment, the 2024/25 cruise season contributed R1.79 billion to the Western Cape’s GDP-R, supporting businesses, creating jobs, and generating benefits for communities across the tourism value chain. Data for the 2025/26 season will follow shortly.
The impact of cruise tourism is wide-reaching. This is because spending by the typical cruise tourist extends beyond the cruise itself. These tourists are valuable for the greater economy in ports of call.
Andre Blaine, Executive for Marine & Industrial at the V&A Waterfront, which manages the Cape Town Cruise Terminal said, “Every cruise ship arrival creates value that extends far beyond the terminal. Cruise visitors contribute significantly to local businesses, attractions, restaurants, tour operators and accommodation providers, stimulating visitor spend throughout Cape Town and the wider region. We are proud to work alongside our partners to ensure that Cape Town continues to deliver a world-class cruise experience that benefits both visitors and the local economy.”
Collaboration Drives Growth
Cruise Cape Town (powered by Wesgro) is a catalytic public-private partnership dedicated to growing Cape Town and the Western Cape’s cruise economy.
The partnership brings together Wesgro, the Western Cape Government, the City of Cape Town, Cape Town Tourism, Transnet, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the V&A Waterfront, and Kasada Asset Management (owners of the Cape Grace and Pullman Cape Town hotels).
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