The ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz are set to welcome an exciting lineup of international cruise vessels as part of the 2026 Passenger Liner Season.
The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) announced that the two ports will benefit from 33 passenger vessel visits, with Walvis Bay receiving 20 passenger vessel calls and Lüderitz 13 calls.
The AIDAstella became the first passenger vessel to arrive in Namibian waters for 2026. The vessel docked in the Port of Lüderitz on 29 January. The Azamara Journey, which is on an 18-day, one-way cruise from Cape Town to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, arrived from Cape Town en route to Saint Helena Island on 5 February. The itinerary began on 3 February 2026 and will conclude on 21 February 2026. Azamara Journey is 181 m in length and can accommodate 781 passengers. It has 11 decks, of which six are equipped with 355 cabins.
Cruise Lines are one of the key volume drivers of the Namibian Ports Authority. Passenger vessels carry thousands of tourists to Namibia’s shores. Each visit yields significant economic benefits for Namibia, with tourists who disembark spending money on shopping, tours, activities and transportation.
“The number of passenger vessels visiting our ports is showing an upwards trajectory. Lüderitz, with its various tourist attractions, is becoming an economic powerhouse, with various stakeholders, including the Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company and the Namibia Tourism Board, working with Namport to grow the tourism sector. This is also encouraging for Namport, which is looking to expand the Port of Luderitz to accommodate more industries," said Elias Mwenyo, the Namport Executive for Commercial Services.
The passenger liner schedule for 2026 issued by Namport further indicates that Europa could call on 10 February, with the Azamara Journey returning for a second time to the Port of Lüderitz on 20 February. Europa, which is 198 m in length and can accommodate 404 passengers, will be on a 16-day, one-way cruise from Port Louis to Cape Town. The itinerary began on 22 January and will conclude on 7 February.
March will be an extremely busy month for the Ports Authority in terms of passenger vessel visits. Seven vessels are scheduled to visit the Port of Walvis Bay, with five vessels scheduled to dock in the Port of Lüderitz.
Ms AidaDiva (4 March), Ms Humburg (13 March), AidaStellla (15 March), Le Bellot (28 March) and SH Diana (29 March) will be making their way to the Port of Lüderitz.
Ten passenger vessel calls are scheduled for the Port of Walvis Bay in April. Mein Schiff 5 and MSC Opera are scheduled to arrive on 1 April, with MS Sirena (3 April), Silver Wind (5 April), MSC Opera (6 and 11 April), Viking Sky (7 April), Mein Schiff 4 (14 April), the Queen Mary 2 (15 April) and MSC Magnifica, due on 30 April.
Sirena is scheduled to visit the Port of Lüderitz on 2 April, with expected calls by Silver Dawn (6 May), Azamara Onward (13 May), Regatta (2 June) and the Zhao Shang Yi Dun on 13 July.
