Cunard's Queen Mary 2 to dock in Cape Town during her world cruise
The Queen Mary 2 arrived in Durban on Thursday and will be leaving for Cape Town as part of her world cruise.
Image: Durban Tourism
Cape Town is expected to host one of the world’s best-known passenger vessels this weekend, with Cunard’s flagship, the Queen Mary 2, scheduled to dock in the city as part of her 2026 world voyage.
The ship is due to arrive in Table Bay at about 5.30am on Sunday, 12 April, and will remain in port overnight before departing on Monday, 13 April.
Her stop in Cape Town forms part of a 110-night itinerary spanning 30 ports. The vessel arrives from Durban and is set to continue to Southampton in the United Kingdom, where the voyage is scheduled to end on 30 April.
The Queen Mary 2 is often described as the only ocean liner still in active service offering scheduled transatlantic crossings between Europe and North America, distinguishing it from conventional cruise ships designed for port-based itineraries.
Built for long-distance sea travel, the vessel is engineered to operate in rough ocean conditions, particularly on North Atlantic routes.
This year marks two milestones for the ship. In January, she completed her first transit of the Panama Canal. Later this year, she is expected to reach her 450th transatlantic crossing.
The vessel can accommodate up to 2,695 passengers and 1,253 crew members.
Shaun McCarthy, managing director of Whitestar Cruise & Travel, Cunard’s South African representative, said the visit forms part of the ship’s regular calls to South Africa.
“Queen Mary 2 is more than just a cruise ship; she’s a living piece of maritime history,” he said.
“This will be one of several visits she has made to South Africa over the years, but this year seems especially significant.”
Following her departure from Cape Town, the ship will complete the final leg of her world voyage before beginning a series of transatlantic crossings between May and December 2026.