Dallas-Fort Worth travelers who want to take high tea overlooking Victoria Harbour at the Peninsula Hong Kong or chow down on dim sum have a new way to get to the bustling Asian metropolis next spring.
25.09.2024 - 14:45 / matadornetwork.com / Cruises
When most Americans think of cruises, they probably think of island-hopping in the Caribbean or cruising by glaciers in Alaska from afar. That may be appealing for some people, but for others, the idea of being lazy on a ship of thousands of people for a week doesn’t sound like much of a vacation.
But what if instead of doing a major Caribbean cruise, you did something far more adventurous: a major African cruise with wildlife safaris every day?
Most major US cruise lines that offer cruises to Africa make stops around southern Africa, taking advantage of a huge selling point of countries like South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Madagascar: safaris. Africa cruises tend to be longer than those sailing from Miami or Cozumel, but they can be far more exciting, offering the chance to go on a safari drive in Africa almost every day without the need to sleep in the bush, drive long distances, deal with logistics or planning, or even unpack more than once. You’ll visit some of the best countries in the world for safaris without the need to switch hotels or fly between remote destinations.
Here’s what to know about cruises to Africa with the major US cruise lines.
Relatively few of the major cruise lines in the US offer cruises to Africa. Photo: Suzie Dundas
It may be surprising to know that not that many of the major US cruise lines offer dedicated Africa cruises. If you’re keen on a “small ship” cruise or an adventure cruise with a company like Mantis Journeys or Swan Hellenic, you’ll find many more options. But they can be quite pricey, and won’t earn you any points if you’re a member of a major cruise reward program.
Fortunately, a few of the most popular big cruise lines are starting to offer cruises to Africa.
Norwegian Cruise Lines: I went with Norwegian and I’d absolutely do another one, despite some hiccups (more on that below). For the best mix of comfort and price, it’s hard to beat. In 2025, Norwegian has 13 different trips to Africa, leaving primarily from Cape Town, Qatar, and Mauritius. The various trips make stops in places like Seychelles, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, Réunion, Tanzania, Senegal, Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, Madagascar, and more. Prices for 2025 cruises start around $1,900 per person with lots of included perks — but in the weeks before I left for my 12-day southern Africa cruise, I saw rates listed as low at $599 per person. You won’t beat that.
Silver Sea: Silver Sea has 17 Africa cruises in 2025, leaving mostly from Cape Town. It has slightly fewer safari-focused ports of call, but also makes stops in places like Namibia, Seychelles, and Madagascar. Cruises are much smaller than Norwegian’s at around 600-700 guests per cruise, and it tends to be much pricier: the cheapest
Dallas-Fort Worth travelers who want to take high tea overlooking Victoria Harbour at the Peninsula Hong Kong or chow down on dim sum have a new way to get to the bustling Asian metropolis next spring.
Island cruising usually conjures up images of crystal-clear water and bright sunshine in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, and while MSC certainly offers sailings to both these popular destinations, the cruise line is also organizing a very different kind of island voyage.
On the western slope of the Wasatch Range, Salt Lake City is well known for its giant lake and for being a winter playground, with an abundance of chairlifts, backcountry ski runs, snowshoeing trails, and more snowy activities within reach less than an hour from downtown. But locals know that Salt Lake City has just as much outdoor adventure to offer during the warmer months. In fact, from the expansive canyons of the neighboring Wasatch Range to the foothills that form the edge of downtown, Salt Lake City is a hotspot for summer wildflowers.
There are two types of train trip: The long, slow, and often luxurious train journey that takes you through beautiful scenery that you book specifically to spend time on the rails; and the speedy, no-nonsense, cheap train ride you take to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. In the first category, you’ll find grand trips like Australia’s The Ghan, South Africa’s Blue Train, and Britain’s Caledonian Sleeper. In the second, there are trips from London to Brussels in just two hours, from Rome to Venice in four hours, and from Miami to Orlando in three hours. And if you’re a train traveler who belongs to the second category and likes getting places fast without flying, there are plenty of trains in this world that do just that at speeds previously unimaginable on land, including the fastest train in the world and its closest competitors.
This story was first published on February 27, 9:40 AM Mauritius Standard Time, and will be updated as the story develops.
“S cottsdale topped the list of destinations for my sister’s bachelorette,” says Alexis Vazquez. Vazquez wrapped her maid of honor duties last month. Her voice has an edge of relief as she chronicles the logistics of planning her sister Reina’s dream bachelorette in Arizona. “Planning a wedding can be a nightmare, but people underestimate how complicated it is to throw a successful multi-day bachelorette party.”
Germany’s got a big secret: It’s got islands. And not the rocky, desolate, and uninhabited kind, but islands with miles of sandy beaches, picturesque cliffs, peaceful, protected forests, and seaside luxury hotels. The Germans obviously are in the know, and because of their geographical locations, the Dutch and Danes are, too. But nobody else in in the world seems to remember that Germany has a coastline on both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, let alone that this coastline is peppered with dozens of islands. The biggest of all the German islands is Rügen in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, itself a wildly underrated area. While Rügen takes a little effort to get to, the trip is hardly insurmountable, and travelers who want to see Germany away from the big urban centers, internationally known beer festivals, and packed tourist attractions would be remiss to pass on it.
St. Kilda is arguably Scotland’s most storied island destination. The archipelago, inhabited for 4,000 years and evacuated of its last 36 inhabitants in 1930, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home of nearly one million seabirds, including the UK’s largest colony of Atlantic Puffin. While intriguing, the westernmost island in Scotland is, unsurprisingly, a hard place to reach. But it’s not impossible. St. Hilda Sea Adventures is one of a handful of Scottish small-ship cruise lines that can take you there.
If you’re looking for a cruise but don’t like the sound of a mega-ship, river cruises offer more intimate, handcrafted experiences, taking guests to parts of the world inaccessible to larger vessels. There’s a bunch of luxury river cruise companies providing five-star service, dining, and accommodation. One of the better in Europe is Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours. With nearly 40 years of experience, Scenic’s routes range from an architectural journey through the Douro Valley in Portugal to the French vineyards and romantic towns in Budapest. They offer a range of routes, but one of the most popular is the 15-day Romantic Rhine and Moselle itinerary. It explores two of Europe’s most enchanting river valleys, lesser-known historical sites, and includes a classical concert in a UNESCO-listed church in Trier, Germany.
In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan dive into the top travel stories from India this month. They explore Leela Hotels’ move toward an IPO, South Africa’s new visa reforms, and Oyo’s acquisition of Motel 6. The discussion also covers key trends in Indian aviation and how Indian millennials are driving a surge in travel spending.
Sep 22, 2024 • 4 min read
As Europe's main tourist season winds down, cities are putting in place legislation to control overtourism and crack down on badly-behaved visitors alongside landlords who run illegal accommodation.