Tag Archives: South Africa

Asuka III Arrives in Japan Ahead of Maiden Season

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Asuka III Arrives in Japan Ahead of Maiden Season

The new Asuka III arrived in Japan earlier this week after her long journey from Europe to Asia.

Built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, the new Asuka Cruise ship arrived at the port of Yokohama on June 2, 2025.

The LNG-powered vessel is now getting ready to embark on its inaugural season in late July, kicking off a series of cruises departing from ports in Japan.

Upon being delivered, the Asuka III sailed from Northern Europe in mid-April, embarking on a journey that included technical stops in Africa and Asia.

With no guests onboard, the ship sailed to the Canary Islands, South Africa and Singapore before arriving in the Far East.

In an update on its website, Asuka Cruise highlighted the ship’s rendezvous with the previous Asuka ships.

According to the company, in late April, the ship met at sea with the original Asuka off the Canary Islands.

Currently operated by Phoenix Reisen, the 1991-built vessel, which now sails as the Amadea, sailed for the brand until 2006.

Asuka also arranged a meeting of the new ship with its fleetmate, the Asuka II, which is currently offering a world cruise.

The two vessels sailed alongside near the coast of the island of St. Helena, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic.

To mark the occasion, special ceremonies were held onboard the vessels, with crew and guests taking part in a themed celebration.

According to Asuka III’s Chief Engineer Takaaki Nakano, the ship’s delivery voyage was key to evaluating and testing various systems onboard.

“We inspected the operating conditions of various equipment, striving to provide a comfortable cruise experience for the future passengers of the Asuka III,” he said.

“We did our utmost to deliver the Asuka III safely to Yokohama so that everyone can see its beautiful sight,” he added.

Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban Officially Inaugurated

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The Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban has been officially inaugurated by President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of South Africa’s 2023-24 cruise season.

 The $16 million building was created and funded by MSC Cruises in partnership with the African Armada Consortium and Transnet National Ports Authority, according to a press release.

The 6,000 square-meter cruise terminal with a capacity to handle 4,000 passengers a day will be operated by KwaZulu Cruise Terminal Limited.

Attendees included Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises and Chairman of KwaZulu Cruise Terminal, President Cyril Ramaphosa, His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, government ministers, port officials and leaders from South Africa’s main travel agencies.

 “Nelson Mandela was an incredible statesman and leader who continues to inspire progress around the world and we are honored that the Nelson Mandela Foundation allowed us to use his name for what is the gateway to the Zulu Kingdom,” said Vago.

 “MSC Cruises arrived in South Africa in the early 1990s and since then, thousands of cruise guests have discovered the beauty of the KwaZulu-Natal Province and beyond.  The new Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban will give access to passengers from more than 100 nationalities and they will enjoy the unique experience we offer on board and visits to the beautiful destinations we have developed at Portuguese Island and Pomene in Mozambique.

MSC Splendida birthed at the new terminal.

 “It has been 10 years since the public-private partnership was initially conceived, the first of its kind for the east coast of South Africa.  We were given the privilege together with our black empowerment partner to create new infrastructure that supports the expansion of the South African cruise tourism and the new terminal will be welcomed by all cruise companies from around the world.”   

Ross Volk, managing director of MSC Cruises South Africa, added: “We are fully committed to helping drive the country’s tourism industry and create employment opportunities along the way which has and will continue to have a positive economic impact on the nation.  This will be typified later this week with the start of the local cruise season and the arrival of MSC Splendida, MSC Cruises’ largest and most modern ship to serve the South African market.”

Sir Bob Geldof Makes Appearance on Queen Mary 2

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Sir Bob Geldof made a guest appearance aboard the Queen Mary 2 while cruising from Fremantle, Australia to Cape Town, South Africa, treating guests to an exclusive question and answer session.

 Geldof spoke at the ship’s Royal Court Theatre on Wednesday, sharing stories with guests from his music career as well as his connection with Cunard.

Angus Struthers, senior vice president at Cunard, said: “As one of the world’s most iconic musicians and humanitarian figures, we were delighted to welcome Sir Bob aboard Queen Mary 2 for a unique Q&A.

 “It was an incredible opportunity for our guests to hear from a true trailblazer who has had a profound impact on music and the world at large. We were honoured to have him on board, and it was a truly unforgettable experience for our guests.”

Geldof’s father worked as a chef onboard the Cunard fleet, and Geldof revealed he treasures an original menu card as a memento. He embarked on the ship on April 3 in Durban and the Q&A was titled An Audience With Sir Bob Geldof.

 Sir Bob Geldof said: “It was a pleasure to join guests onboard Queen Mary 2 and share some interesting tales from my time in music and politics. I’ve a personal connection with Cunard, so it was wonderful to rekindle that family tie and experience the delights that make Cunard so unique.”