Cruises to Africa and the Middle East 2026–2027

Africa cruises come in four kinds: long voyages around the coast on luxury ships, South Africa’s local summer season, Morocco as a stop on European routes, and river cruises on the Nile and the Chobe. The Middle East used to add a fifth, winter cruises from Dubai, but that market has stopped for now.

Best time for an Africa cruise

• South Africa and the Indian Ocean islands: the southern summer. MSC’s South Africa season runs from November 2026, and the ship starts back to Europe in early April 2027. Regent’s Cape Town voyages fall in February and March 2027.
• Morocco and the Canary Islands: winter is the season for small ships here. Windstar’s Wind Spirit and Explora V both sail the Canary Islands, Madeira and North Africa in winter 2027–28.
• The Arabian Gulf: the season used to run in winter, but no regular ocean cruises are scheduled there for 2026–27 or 2027–28.

Africa cruise lines compared

• Regent Seven Seas CruisesThe clearest Africa program for US travelers. Seven Seas Navigator sails 25 nights from Lisbon to Cape Town from February 12, 2027, by way of Senegal, The Gambia, Ghana and an overnight in Walvis Bay, Namibia, then 30 nights from Cape Town to Singapore via Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania and the Seychelles.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• MSC CruisesMSC Armonia, about 2,000 guests, sails South Africa in 2026–27, replacing MSC Opera. It arrives in Durban on a 26-night voyage from Italy through the Suez Canal, calling in Jordan, Egypt, the Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and Mozambique.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• SilverseaSilver Dawn's 2027 world cruise includes a two-night overland trip in South Africa with a safari and Victoria Falls.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• Windstar CruisesWind Spirit sails the Canary Islands, Madeira and Morocco in winter 2027–28.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• Explora JourneysExplora V starts winter 2027–28 in the Western Mediterranean and North Africa, then moves to the Canary Islands and Madeira.
  Fares change daily; check current prices

Our pick for a first Africa cruise is Regent’s Lisbon to Cape Town voyage. It covers West Africa, which few ships visit, ends in Cape Town, and the fare on Regent includes shore excursions. Book it if you have nearly a month; otherwise look at a world cruise segment. Our world cruise guide lists the 2027 voyages that round Africa.

Cruise to Africa from the USA

No line sails a round trip from the US to Africa. The ways to get there by sea are:

• A transatlantic crossing that calls in Morocco. Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas sails a 17-night Spain and Morocco crossing from New Orleans in April 2027, and Virgin Voyages sails 14-night Miami to Barcelona crossings via the Canary Islands and Morocco in spring 2027. See our transatlantic cruise guide and the New Orleans cruise port guide.
• A world cruise or a segment of one, joining in Europe or Asia.
• A flight to Lisbon, Cape Town or Durban and a one-way voyage from there.

Morocco cruises

Morocco is the easiest part of Africa to cruise. It appears as one or two port days on Western Mediterranean, Canary Islands and transatlantic routes rather than as a cruise of its own. Our Mediterranean cruise guide covers the lines and ports on those routes.

South Africa cruises

MSC is the line with a South Africa season. MSC Armonia arrives in Durban in November 2026 and starts its voyage back to Europe in early April 2027, the same 26-night route in reverse through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. For US travelers, the more practical choice is a luxury voyage that starts or ends in Cape Town, such as Regent’s in February and March 2027.

Dubai and Middle East cruises: what happened in 2026

Six cruise ships were stranded in the Arabian Gulf from late February 2026, when Iran restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities began with the United States and Israel. They were MSC Euribia, TUI’s Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery, and Cruise Saudi’s Aroya. Iran declared the strait open on April 17, 2026, during a ceasefire.

By September 22, 2026, every line that planned regular Arabian Gulf cruises had cancelled both the 2026–27 and 2027–28 seasons. MSC, TUI, Costa, AIDA, Celestyal and Explora Journeys all moved their ships to Europe, the Caribbean or South America, and Aroya replaced its Gulf cruises with a Mediterranean winter season from Istanbul. Aroya still plans fall Red Sea seasons from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2026 and 2027.

If you are looking for a cruise from Dubai, there is nothing regular to book for the next two winters. A Dubai dhow cruise or marina cruise is a dinner boat trip in the city, not a cruise holiday.

Nile and safari river cruises

• Egypt: Egypt cruises are Nile river trips, not ocean cruises. Viking’s 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids round trip from Cairo is one; AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways have Nile ships too. See our Viking guide.
• Africa safari cruise: AmaWaterways’ 28-guest Zambezi Queen sails the Chobe River in southern Africa, the smallest ship in its fleet.

Africa and Middle East sailings snapshot

Our price snapshot has no Africa or Middle East sailings this month, apart from Atlantic crossings that call in Morocco. The table fills in when the snapshot has them.

Ports of call

• Cape Town, South Africa: the start or end of most long Africa voyages.
• Durban, South Africa: MSC’s base for its South Africa season.
• Walvis Bay, Namibia: an overnight on Regent’s Lisbon to Cape Town route.
• Senegal, The Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo: West Africa calls on the same route.
• Maputo, Mozambique: on Regent’s Cape Town to Singapore voyage.
• Mauritius, Réunion and Madagascar: Indian Ocean calls on MSC Armonia’s voyage to Durban.
• Mahé, Seychelles: on Regent’s Cape Town to Singapore voyage.
• Morocco: port days on Mediterranean, Canary Islands and transatlantic routes.

Africa and Middle East cruise FAQ