Skip to main content
Africa Cruise Elephants
Africa Cruise Elephants.

Africa Cruises

Bring Out Your Wild Side

Africa & the Middle East are filled with fascinating history, vibrantculture, and breathtaking scenery—from wildlife safaris to iconiccoastlines. With NCL, explore destinations from the bustling city ofCape Town to the famous Caudan Waterfront in Mauritius, alongwith open-air safaris and world-class vineyards. Visit bucket-listdestinations like South Africa, Namibia, Egypt, and Madagascar,with extended sailings to the Seychelles and the Middle East.

Panorama of the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt The mysteries of Egypt beckon.
Details of the ornamentation of the Samburu people in the Samburu National Park in Kenya, Africa Africa,Kenya.
The most beautiful beach of Seychelles - Anse Source D'Argent Africa, Seychelles.
Aerial view of Cape Town, South Africa on a sunny afternoon. Photo taken from a helicopter during air tour of Cape Town Visit Cape Town, the vibrant capital of South Africa.
Predator´s love. Lioness and cub in the Kruger NP, South Africa Africa, lions.

Time for the Desert

New places. New cultures. New memories to be made. We've expanded our Africa sailings to include the cities, deserts, and islands of the Middle East and Egypt - with departures from Doha, Qatar and Dubai, UAE. Explore remarkable destinations like Abu Dhabi, the Seychelles, Madagascar, Reunion, Bahrain and more. Off-road through sand dunes, take in the sites and scents of Port Victoria's National Botanical Gardens, enjoy a beach day in Zanzibar and swim in Nosy Be's volcanic lakes. For a truly life-changing journey, depart from Lisbon, Barcelona, or Singapore and discover multiple continents at once.

Safaga Ancient Ruins

Cruisetours: Vacations with Norwegian Go Far Beyond Our Ships

Discover even more of Africa & the Middle East with NCLCruisetours, featuring immersive multi-day landexplorations before or after your cruise. These ship-to-shorevacation packages include a cruise plus a 3–4 day landtour with hotel stays, meals, transportation, and guidedexcursions. Explore top destinations across Africa and theMiddle East, from Cape Town—a vibrant city surrounded bywildlife, beaches, and vineyards—to Dubai, one of thefastest-growing cities in the world, and the cultural charm ofDoha. Our Africa & Middle East Cruisetour options continueto expand, so be sure to explore them all.

NCL Dubai Cruise Camels Skyline

Featured Itineraries

Journey through Africa on an unforgettable adventure, starting in one amazing city and often ending in another. Explore southeast Africa when you depart from Cape Town and sail to Namibia, the Ivory Coast and on to Europe. Or depart from Athens and discover the Middle East with visits to Qatar, Egypt and Dubai. With such a varied and expansive region, you’ll be sure to find an African cruise that suits your desires. Some of our popular itineraries are listed below – feel free to explore them all.

Read More on Our Travel Blog

Discover insider tips, destination highlights, and personal stories that bring the Norwegian experience to life.

Giraffe and plains zebra in Kruger national park, South Africa ; Specie Giraffa camelopardalis and Equus quagga burchellii

7 Unexpected Things You Can Do on a South Africa Cruise

What's your ideal vacation? Do you enjoy sunbathing on the beach? Does the thought of getting up close and personal with the local wildlife get your heart pounding? Perhaps you're a foodie who loves to explore the culinary delights of the local culture. Whatever your pleasure, you'll find it in South Africa. 

NCL Cabo San Lucas Humpback Whale

8 Great Destinations For Whale Watching

There are many locations around the world where whale watching is possible, and the migration patterns of the whales luckily coincide with the migration pattern of our fleet of Norwegian cruise ships. That means there are plenty of options for whale watching shore excursions on Norwegian cruises around the world.

How to Prepare for a Family Cruise

How to Prepare for a Family Cruise

Cruises can be a hassle‑free way to travel with children but preparing for a family cruise comes with its own set of questions. From what to pack to what’s included onboard, family cruise planning can feel overwhelming at first — especially when you’re cruising with kids. With the right family cruise preparation, though, the process is easier than you might expect.

Here’s everything you need to know before you sail so you can spend less time figuring things out and more time enjoying your vacation.