Best Africa Cruises for 2025 and 2026

There is nothing like an African cruise to best express your “bucket list”.

Wildlife safaris, ancient wonders of the world, and some of the most fascinating cultural epicenters on the globe, all in one trip. Are you starting to see why a cruise here is so unique?

Africa is a large continent, and there are almost as many ways to cruise as there are wonders to see. Whether you want to visit the tropical islands of the Seychelles in Africa in the Indian Ocean, or prefer the spectacular red sands of Namibia on the Atlantic coast, you can do it on a cruise ship, even on the same itinerary.

And that’s not all! You can book intimate river cruises on the Chobe River in Botswana or the Nile River in Egypt, a rite of passage for many cruise lovers. (We’ve highlighted Viking below for its vast number of cruises, but Lindblad/National Geographic, Uniworld, and Avalon Waterways also offer Nile itineraries.)

Whether you’re looking for a fast-track cruise around South Africa’s highlights or a multi-week adventure around the African continent, you can find a cruise itinerary to suit you. Here are our picks for the best Africa cruises in 2025 and 2026.

Norwegian Cruise Line: 11-13 Night Cruises to South Africa and Madagascar

Norwegian Cruise Line offers some of the most diverse and comprehensive Africa cruises of any major cruise line, with 13 cruises ranging from 11 to 21 nights in 2025 alone.

Among the most popular offerings is the Cape Town to Mauritius route (or vice versa) on Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Dawn. These 11- to 13-night cruises combine the highlights of Cape Town with the wildlife wonders of Madagascar. The latter is one of Africa’s most fascinating safari destinations; 90 percent of the island’s plant and animal species are endemic, including 103 varieties of lemurs. But Madagascar is also a destination that even the most avid safari enthusiasts often skip because flights and lodges are difficult to book, making a cruise the perfect way to get there.

NCL itineraries also include Pointe de Galets, Reunion, a lush beach and rainforest area on the Indian Ocean. Norwegian Dawn’s 12-night itinerary adds a stop in Maputo, Mozambique.

Who should go: The 1,944-passenger Norwegian Sky and 2,290-passenger Norwegian Dawn are among the smallest and oldest ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet. They’re well-suited to cruisers looking for a more intimate experience than you’ll find on larger ships. Africa cruises tend to appeal to cruisers who care more about the destinations they visit than the onboard attractions, but the ships will still keep you entertained with numerous restaurants, bars and lounges, multiple pools and hot tubs, a casino and a theater with nightly shows.

Related: Norwegian’s 9 Cruise Ship Classes, Explained

Azamara: 18 Nights West Africa Trip

Azamara offers an 18-night West African voyage between the Canary Islands and Cape Town. The 704-passenger Azamara Quest calls at ports along the African coast: Dakar, Senegal; Banjul, Gambia; and Luderitz and Walvis Bay, Namibia. The ship also stops at the British-controlled island of St. Helena.

Book excursions to search for Namibia’s elusive wild horses, take a scenic flight over the huge shifting sand dunes of Sossusvlei, speed across the desert in a four-wheel drive vehicle, and explore the waterways and villages of The Gambia.

Azamara also partners with Micato Safaris for pre and post cruise programs in Africa to see the “Big Five” (Cape buffalo, lion, rhino, elephant and leopard). You can book safaris in Chobe National Park in Botswana or Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Who should go: Azamara appeals to affluent, well-traveled cruisers who enjoy smaller ships, a country-house feel, and itineraries that focus on immersion in the destination. (There are no water slides or roller coasters, which is exactly what fans of the line like.) Azamara creates an immersive African experience by focusing on longer port stays; for example, the ship spends two full days in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Plus, the line’s complimentary AzAmazing Evenings program takes cruisers ashore to experience cultural performances in breathtaking locations, like the “Desert Dinner & Fire Spinners and Marimba Band” event in Namibia.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: 16-Night Madagascar Coast Cruise: Cape Town to Port Louis

Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers a 16-night itinerary along the southern coast of South Africa, continuing to Mozambique and Madagascar, concluding in Port Louis, Mauritius. The 750-passenger Seven Seas Splendor departs January 27, 2026 on this itinerary and then reverses the voyage from Port Louis to Cape Town on February 12, 2026.

Along the way, Regent offers some unique shore excursions that set it apart from other lines. Highlights include self-drive safaris in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, from Richards Bay; cultural explorations of Durban, South Africa, with visits to Zulu villages in the Valley of a Thousand Hills; and bird watching in remote Mayotte, in the French Comoros.

Who should go: Regent’s all-inclusive luxury cruises, which include flights, transfers, onboard drinks and meals, gratuities, Wi-Fi and unlimited shore excursions, are equally luxuriously priced. Passengers are mostly affluent professionals and retirees who appreciate the simplicity of an all-inclusive cruise that offers high-quality service.

Fine dining enthusiasts will appreciate the many dining options on board, including Chartreuse for fine French cuisine and Prime 7 with a steakhouse menu. Other onboard entertainment includes the sybaritic Serene Spa and a pool deck, as well as bocce, a putting green and golf nets to enhance a day at sea.

Related: Top 9 Luxury Cruise Lines for Elegance and Exclusivity

Oceania Cruises: 14-night Cape Town to Cape Town cruise

If you prefer a more in-depth exploration of southern Africa, Oceania Cruises’ Cape Town to Cape Town cruise from January 19 to February 2, 2026 explores the coast of South Africa on an unusual round-trip itinerary, first exploring the east coast to Richards Bay, then heading to the island of Madagascar, then returning to the mainland and stopping in Maputo, Mozambique, before returning to Cape Town.

Highlights include Durban, with its golden beaches and charming Indian Market, and Port Elizabeth on South Africa’s southern coast, an area nicknamed the “Garden Route” for its verdant foliage. Port Elizabeth is also a popular migration route for southern right whales, which you may spot, along with pods of dolphins, as you cruise.

Oceania also offers longer itineraries from Cape Town to Lisbon, Portugal, and Cape Town to Barcelona (as well as Lisbon and Barcelona to Cape Town cruises) of 25 and 26 nights. Ports include the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast and Ghana. Along the way, you’ll stop at Walvis Bay on the west coast of Namibia, with its iconic red sand dunes; here, you’ll have the chance to see flamingos, pelicans and thousands of other migratory birds.

Who should go: Oceania Cruises offers an upscale cruising experience with a residential feel similar to staying in an elegant estate. The intimate 670-passenger Nautica features a relatively uncrowded environment, with a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than you’ll find on a mass-produced vessel. Onboard, guests can indulge in a variety of fine dining restaurants offering gourmet cuisine and elegant accommodations.

Viking: 11-Night Cruise to the Pharaohs and Pyramids

Not all African cruises are ocean cruises. A trip down the Nile River is a bucket list item for many travelers, and Viking offers one of the easiest options to book with seven ships sailing its Pharaohs & Pyramids cruises. In 2025 and 2026, sailings will depart almost daily during the high season from October to March, although there are no sailings from the second half of June to the end of July.

Round-trip Cairo cruises are incredibly exclusive, with ships carrying just 82 passengers on board. The itinerary begins with several days in Cairo, where guests can visit the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, museums and souks before sailing down the Nile. Your ship will stop for several days in Luxor, Egypt, home to the Valley of the Kings; spend a day in Qena, Egypt, to see the Dendera Temple complex; and call at the ports of Esna, Aswan, Kom Ombo and Edfu, Egypt.

Who should go: The adults-only cruise line Viking caters to travelers who appreciate a relaxed onboard experience that focuses on learning about a destination through lectures by hosts, in this case Egyptologists, and shore excursions. The cruise line’s passengers tend to be retirement age or older.

Viking fans love the understated, Scandinavian-inspired decor and prices that include wine and beer with lunch and dinner, gratuities and a free shore excursion per port. The ships don’t have an onboard casino or entertainment venues beyond the main lounge area, but a shaded pool and sundeck offer a relaxing outdoor spot to watch the river scenery.

Related: 10 River Cruises to Book This Year

AmaWaterways: 9-Night Cruise to Discover Africa

If you love the equivalent of a travel buffet and appreciate having a little bit of everything on your plate, then AmaWaterways’ Discover Africa cruise itinerary is truly unique and for you. (AmaWaterways also offers Nile cruises.) For this voyage, guests begin with two full days of sightseeing and three nights in a luxury hotel in Cape Town before flying to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and transferring to the Chobe River, where they board the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen for a four-night cruise through Botswana’s wildlife areas, including bush safaris.

Then, return to Victoria Falls to see the thundering waterfall and explore the area by both steam train and small sailboat during your two-night stay. Your adventure ends with a flight to Johannesburg, where you can continue your adventure independently or with a post-cruise extension or fly home.

Who should go: AmaWaterways attracts active guests who appreciate the multiple excursion options included in each port and the company’s focus on both wellness and exceptional culinary offerings. The line’s African river cruises use a chartered vessel, so you won’t find its Wellness Host leading fitness classes or a kitchen vetted by the prestigious culinary organization La Chaine des Rotisseurs. However, Zambezi Queen offers unique activities like fishing and bird watching, as well as dining that AmaWaterways calls “five-star home cooking.” A local mother-and-son team from a nearby village prepare all meals for an authentic taste of the region.

Zambezi Queen also has a plunge pool on the sundeck, so you can enjoy the African views while you take a dip. All rooms have balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows, so you’re never far from a safari view.

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