The cheapest cruises in South Africa leave from the Nelson Mandela port in Durban, with a four-night trip to Mozambique starting at R5 458, The South African reported.
The publication said the four-night Mozambique cruise is all-inclusive. A cruise price usually covers a place to sleep, meals and outings in one amount.
According to the report, this is one reason cruises have become popular with retired people who want to travel on a budget.
Other trips from Durban include a two-night round trip out to sea from R5 534. A three-night one-way cruise from Durban to Cape Town starts at R5 889 per person.
There is also a four-night cruise from Durban for R8 068 that stops at two ports in Mozambique. These are Pomene and Portuguese Island.
Cape Town has far fewer cheap cruises than Durban, the report said. The cheapest MSC trip from Cape Town is a three-night one-way cruise to Durban, from R6 401 per person.
For travel outside South African waters, the cheapest option from Cape Town is a round trip to Walvis Bay in Namibia. The five-night cruise includes two days in Walvis Bay and starts at R12 235 per person.
A longer MSC Grand Voyages trip leaves Durban on 1 April 2027 and sails one way to Italy. The 26-day cruise stops in Reunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Jordan, Egypt and Greece. It costs R37 441 per person.
The South African said travellers can save up to 30% by booking about one month before a cruise leaves. This is mostly true for people who missed early-bird specials.
Prices also change with the season. The four-night round trip to Pomene costs R5 548 for a November booking. For December, the price rises to R7 668.
The report said first-time travellers should skip extra packages and book a short, cheap cruise first. It said drink packages can be worth it if they include bottled water.
The publication also advised travellers to check where the ship stops and for how long. If a ship stays docked for hours, passengers can explore further than the port.
Two MSC ships operate in South Africa, the Armonia and the Sinfonia. They are about the same size and can carry between 976 and 990 people. Each ship is laid out differently, the report said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The South African. Image: The South African. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.