Port of Durban welcomes new cruise liner
The Port of Durban welcomed a new cruise line company to SA this month.
SOUTH Africa has attracted another new cruise line company to its ports, with the maiden voyage of the state-of-the-art Viking Sun cruise liner which sailed into the Port of Durban earlier this month.
The ship, which is operated by Switzerland-based owner Viking Ocean Cruises, was welcomed by Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Deputy Harbour Master: Vessel Traffic Services for the Port of Durban, Captain Justin Adams, who presented a plaque to the ship’s master, Captain Olav Soevdsnes.
Acting Durban Port Manager, Nokuzola Nkowane, said: “Receiving an award-winning cruise ship of Viking Sun’s stature at the Port of Durban is another feather in our cap. This affirms the port and the City of Durban as a cruise destination of choice, as reflected in our nomination once again this year as a finalist in the World Travel Awards category of Africa’s Leading Cruise Port.”
Nkowane said TNPA and the Port of Durban expected to receive more world-class cruise ships at the new Cruise Terminal which is being developed by KwaZulu Cruise Terminal (KCT). The ship’s maiden South African voyage also brings the Western and Eastern Cape’s 2018-19 cruise season to a close.
ALSO READ: Agreement paves way for new Durban Cruise Terminal
Viking Ocean Cruises operates global ocean cruises with a fleet of six ocean ships and river cruises with a fleet of almost 60 Viking Longships.
The company announced back in September 2018 that it would be featuring South Africa heavily on its 128-day World Cruise from Miami to London, which includes 44 port calls in 21 countries on five continents.
Built in 2017, Viking Sun has a length of 227 metres and a beam of 28.8 meters, with a guest capacity of 930.
In global travel magazine Travel and Leisure’s World’s Best Awards – which is the publication’s annual list of all the best airlines, hotels, and cruises in the travel industry – Viking Cruises was named the number one ocean cruise line for ships carrying up to 2 000 guests and was also awarded the World’s Best River Cruise line title.
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