About the Port
Cape Town unfolds beneath the flat-topped bulk of Table Mountain, its harbor framing a city that blends colonial history, coastal drama, and vineyard country within easy reach of one another. The waterfront makes a natural starting point, with the cableway climbing to sweeping mountain views on clear days and Robben Island, reached by boat, offering a sober look at the nation's path to democracy. Nearby, the Constantia valley holds some of the country's oldest wine estates.
Beyond the city, the road to the Cape of Good Hope threads along Chapman's Peak Drive above dramatic cliffs, ending near a colony of African penguins at Simon's Town. As the oldest city in South Africa, Cape Town rewards a slower pace, and travelers who linger find its old streets, museums, and markets within walking distance of the central harbor.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Cape Town.
Ride the Table Mountain Cableway
A rotating cable car climbs to the flat summit in about five minutes, revealing the city, harbor, and coastline together on clear days; go early and check weather, as wind can close it.
Tour Robben Island's Prison
A short ferry from the waterfront reaches the island where Nelson Mandela was held, with tours led by former political prisoners; book ahead, as sailings depend on sea conditions and fill quickly.
Drive Chapman's Peak to the Penguins
The cliffside route above Hout Bay leads toward Cape Point, ending with a boardwalk stroll among the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Cape Town
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2026 | Silversea | Silver Muse | 20 | $7,350 | |
| Oct 23, 2026 | Swan Hellenic | SH Diana | 20 | $8,800 | |
| Nov 10, 2026 | Silversea | Silver Muse | 22 | $7,450 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Holland America | Volendam | 130 | $28,009 | |
| Jan 8, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Sky | 153 | $69,999 | |
| Jan 8, 2027 | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Sky | 125 | $54,999 | |
| Jan 10, 2027 | Cunard | Queen Victoria | 112 | $19,539 | |
| Jan 10, 2027 | Cunard | Queen Victoria | 110 | $17,209 | |
| Jan 14, 2027 | Oceania | Oceania Sirena | 24 | $9,399 | |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Regent | Seven Seas Voyager | 15 | $13,299 | |
| Jan 19, 2027 | Cunard | Queen Victoria | 101 | $18,279 | |
| Feb 1, 2027 | Regent | Seven Seas Voyager | 15 | $14,149 | |
| Feb 1, 2027 | Regent | Seven Seas Voyager | 61 | $45,299 | |
| Feb 5, 2027 | Cunard | Queen Victoria | 84 | $13,409 | |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Oceania | Oceania Sirena | 24 | $9,149 | |
| Feb 10, 2027 | Holland America | Volendam | 40 | $9,099 | |
| Feb 24, 2027 | Cunard | Queen Victoria | 67 | $11,829 | |
| Feb 24, 2027 | Cunard | Queen Victoria | 65 | $13,019 | |
| Mar 9, 2027 | Regent | Seven Seas Navigator | 28 | $13,249 | |
| Mar 9, 2027 | Swan Hellenic | SH Diana | 20 | $12,025 |
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