Everything a South African needs to know before setting sail — written from over a decade of real cruise industry experience.
A cruise is a holiday on a ship — but calling it that barely does it justice. Modern cruise ships are essentially floating resorts: multiple restaurants, pools, theatres, spas, gyms, kids' clubs, casinos, and bars, all sailing between destinations while you sleep. You unpack once and wake up somewhere new every day.
What makes cruising exceptional value is how much is included in the fare. Most cruises include your cabin, all meals in the main dining rooms and buffet, onboard entertainment, and use of all ship facilities. The ship is already paid for — you just show up.
The single biggest mistake first-time cruisers make is booking on price alone. The cheapest cabin on the wrong ship for the wrong itinerary will disappoint. The right ship, even at a slightly higher price, will change your life. Here's what to think about.
Larger ships have more facilities and entertainment but can feel busy. Smaller ships feel more personal and access ports larger ships can't. First-timers often do well on a mid-size vessel.
Interior cabins are the most affordable and perfectly comfortable for those who spend little time in their cabin. A balcony transforms the experience — waking up to open ocean is something else entirely.
Think about what excites you — history, beaches, nature, food, cities. Each region offers something different. For South Africans new to cruising, a local departure is the ideal starting point.
MSC offers four tiers: Bella (great value), Fantastica (most popular), Aurea (premium with balcony and spa), and Yacht Club (all-inclusive luxury). We'll match you with the right one.
7-night cruises are the sweet spot for most travellers — enough time to settle in and see multiple destinations. Shorter cruises are great for first-timers. Longer voyages suit experienced cruisers.
Couples, families, solo travellers, and groups all have different needs. The right ship makes the difference. We ask the right questions to make sure the ship suits everyone onboard.
Getting to the terminal is only half the battle. Arriving with the wrong documents, insufficient insurance, or missing paperwork can mean being denied boarding — with no refund. We've seen it happen. Here's what every South African cruiser must have sorted before they leave home.
Pre-Departure Checklist
Once you're onboard, the world of the ship opens up. Here's what you need to know to make the most of every day at sea.
Main dining rooms operate on set sittings (early or late) or anytime dining depending on your experience tier. The buffet is always open. Specialty restaurants require a reservation and an additional fee so book early as they fill up fast.
Every evening the main theatre hosts a show with Broadway-style productions, acrobatics, comedy or music. There are also bars, lounges with live music, a casino and themed parties. The entertainment programme is published daily.
There is no cash on a cruise ship. Everything is charged to your onboard account via your cruise card, the card that also acts as your cabin key and boarding pass. Your account is settled at the end of the voyage.
Most cruise lines add a daily service charge per person to your onboard account, typically between $12–$18 per person per day. This covers your cabin steward waiters and kitchen crew. It is standard and mandatory for South Africans.
Most evenings are smart casual, no shorts or vest tops in the main dining rooms. Some evenings are formal (gala nights) where guests dress up. Pack at least one elegant outfit. Pool areas and buffet are always casual.
Wi-Fi is available on all ships but is sold as a package and can be expensive. Consider purchasing a package in advance for a better rate or embrace being offline. Many guests find disconnecting one of the best parts of cruising.
Port days are the highlight of any cruise — but they require more thought than most first-timers realise. You have a set number of hours ashore, and missing the ship is not a scenario you want to find yourself in. The ship will not wait for you.
Here's how to approach each port with confidence, whether you're booking through the ship or exploring independently.
The golden rule: Know your all-aboard time and be back at least 30 minutes early. Traffic, delays, and long queues at the gangway happen. If you miss the ship, you are responsible for getting to the next port at your own cost. We've seen it happen - it's expensive and stressful.
Cruising is overwhelmingly safe and wonderful but things do sometimes go wrong. We've seen most of them. Click any scenario below for the full picture.
Port changes happen more often than most first-timers expect and they are almost always outside the cruise line's control. Weather windows, political situations, operational requirements, or another ship already berthed can all result in a port being skipped, substituted, or visited in a different order.
This is firmly within the cruise line's contractual rights, and it is not grounds for a refund. The ship will typically compensate with additional onboard credit, extra entertainment, or an alternative port stop. Disappointing? Sometimes. A disaster? Never, if you go in knowing it can happen.
Every cruise ship carries qualified doctors and nurses, and the onboard medical centre can handle most common situations. But treatment is billed at private hospital rates and for anything serious, the cost escalates rapidly. A medical evacuation by helicopter from international waters can cost R500,000 or more before you've even reached a hospital ashore.
This is why cruise-specific travel insurance with full medical evacuation cover is entirely non-negotiable. Standard travel policies frequently exclude maritime medical evacuation, we check every policy we recommend for this gap specifically.
The rules around cancellation depend entirely on who is cancelling and when. If you cancel, the cruise line's standard cancellation policy applies, penalties typically begin 75 days before departure and increase significantly the closer you get. Within 14 days of sailing, you may forfeit the full fare.
If the cruise line cancels or makes a significant change to the itinerary, the picture is different: you are generally entitled to a full refund or the option to transfer to an alternative sailing. Travel insurance covers unexpected cancellations on your side, including illness, bereavement, and certain work situations. We walk through all of this at the time of booking so there are no surprises.
Airlines lose and delay luggage. When your final destination is a cruise ship that sails at a fixed time, a delayed bag at the airport becomes a much bigger problem than it would be on a land holiday. We've had clients board a 14-night Mediterranean cruise with nothing but what was in their hand luggage, it's manageable but it's not how you want to start a holiday.
The solution is almost entirely in the packing. What you put in your carry-on determines how bad a lost bag scenario actually is.
Theft onboard a cruise ship is rare as these are controlled, secure environments with CCTV throughout and a contained passenger population. The vast majority of incidents happen ashore, in busy port areas where pickpockets target tourists. Some ports require more caution than others, and we brief our clients specifically on any ports that warrant extra awareness.
Onboard, the in-room safe is there to be used. It takes thirty seconds and removes almost all risk. Many guests never use it and regret it.
When something goes wrong on a cruise most travellers don't know who to call or what to say.
When you book with Nieuwoudt Smith Travel, that's never your problem. We know exactly who to speak to at the cruise lines, we understand your rights under the booking condition, and we know how to navigate the process. One call to us and we take it from there.
The MSC Voyagers Club is MSC's loyalty programme and it's one of the most generous in the cruise industry. Every cruise you take earns you points and as your points accumulate you move through four status levels, each unlocking a richer set of benefits. Membership is free and joining is straightforward.
You can join before your first cruise and start earning points from day one. Ask Nieuwoudt Smith Travel to register you when we book, it takes less than two minutes.
MSC offers distinct onboard experiences to suit every type of traveller — from relaxed and affordable to the ultimate in luxury. We'll help you choose the one that fits you perfectly.
See The Fleet ›
The questions we get asked most often — answered from real experience, not a brochure.
Everything in this guide comes from over a decade of working inside the cruise industry. If you have a question we haven't covered, ask us directly. There's no such thing as a silly question when it comes to cruising.