“We have loads of families, as most modern ships cater for children more than adults, with a variety of onboard activities to keep children busy. And we also have many honeymooners. It’s more the luxury cruises – which generally involve smaller ships and longer itineraries that are more expensive – that appeal to the older traveller,” she says.
Turner says cruising is proving to be the first choice of holiday for virgin travellers in South Africa. Apprehension and cost are the reasons for this.
“We are finding that local cruises are very popular with people who have never cruised before. Cruising allows them to experience travelling in familiar surroundings before they embark on an international journey. Local cruises also depart from Durban and Cape Town, which means that they do not have to fly, but can drive to the point of departure. Local cruises are also great for families as two children who share with two paying adults often get to cruise for free, so it’s very cost-effective,” she says.
Turner says the cruising industry grew from at least R340-million in 2010 to R431-million in 2015, a year-on-year increase of almost 5%. This was based only on sales booked through travel agents and did not include those who booked directly with cruise operators.
She attributes the growth of the industry to convenience and cost-effectiveness, as well as the fact that South Africans are continuously on the lookout for all-inclusive travel options.
“You get to see five different places on one cruise and only unpack once. It is also a much more cost-effective way to travel. With cruising, all the meals and selected drinks (coffees and teas) are included. Shore excursion and drinks are payable on board, as well as any additional personal spending, but what most cruise liners have done is bundle drinks packages so that the South African market can pre-book and pay in rands, meaning they don’t incur any other costs for drinks when they get on board,” says Turner.
A local cruise lasts three to four nights on average, while an international cruise is about seven nights. Turner says the most popular cruises for South Africans are local voyages with MSC Cruises. Popular international cruises are Mediterranean, Dubai and Caribbean voyages.
