An African Cruise on The Norwegian Daybreak

An African Cruise on the Norwegian Daybreak

Cruising holidays in South Africa have change into extraordinarily widespread in recent times. Whereas different varieties of holidays are primarily in regards to the vacation spot, cruises are as a lot in regards to the journey too. They provide a blissful escape from the hustle and bustle of each day life along with your meals, transport and leisure taken care of, and require you to unpack simply as soon as whereas your floating lodge takes you to a number of cities and nations.

Our cruising choices in South Africa have been beforehand restricted primarily to Mozambique and Namibia. These choices just lately elevated with the introduction of reasonably priced Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) sailings between Cape City and Mauritius. The cruise line made its South African debut final yr with the Norwegian Jade’s 12-day journeys across the coast of South Africa and Namibia. This yr, it returned with the Norwegian Daybreak and quite a lot of itineraries masking a mixture of Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, Madagascar, Namibia and South Africa.

Port Louis Harbour, Mauritius

I had been on 3 cruises earlier than—Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises with Royal Caribbean and a Mozambican cruise with MSC—and liked them. So, when the chance arose to expertise a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise between Mauritius and Cape City, I couldn’t resist.

My husband, my son and I boarded the ship in Port Louis, Mauritius, after spending 3 idyllic days on the island. The environment on the ship was energetic as we ready to set off on our journey, with lots of our fellow travellers – who have been predominantly from the US, United Kingdom and Australia – heading to South Africa for the primary time.

Reunion Island

Our first port of name was Reunion Island, which had been on my bucket record for some time. There, we drove previous beautiful vistas and landscapes en path to Piton de la Fournaise, one of many world’s most energetic volcanoes, which erupts a number of occasions a yr. A standard Creole lunch ensued earlier than we bid au revoir to Reunion and returned to our ship.

Logistical points resulted in our voyage being shortened by 2 days, which meant that Madagascar was faraway from our itinerary, and we spent 3 days at sea earlier than arriving in Richards Bay.

Dawn in Richards Bay from my balcony

Our port tour in Richards Bay led us to Isimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage web site, the place lots of our companions had their first style of a safari, and ended on the stunning seashores of Cape Vidal, the place the snorkelers amongst us had a ball.

Addo Elephant Nationwide Park

Gqeberha was subsequent on our route, and we headed to Addo Elephant Nationwide Park the place we noticed herds of elephants, together with different wildlife.

Our penultimate cease was Mossel Bay, the place we rubbed shoulders with residents of The World, the most important non-public residential yacht on Earth, who have been additionally docked there. For our tour, we selected to do a panoramic tour of the coastal city, whereas others opted for one more safari in a close-by sport reserve.

Norwegian Daybreak docked in Cape City

Ten days flew by and our journey culminated in Cape City, the place all kinds of port excursions have been obtainable to introduce the Mom Metropolis to the passengers. The ship docked in a single day within the Cape City harbour, giving them time to find the town’s many wonders earlier than disembarking the next morning. Desk Mountain, Boulders Seashore and Cape Level have been among the many hottest selections. Having visited most of Cape City’s principal sights earlier than, we opted for a tour of historic Stellenbosch.

The Norwegian Daybreak is among the fleet’s older and smaller ships, with a capability of 2340 passengers and 1032 crew, however this meant that the environment on the ship was extra communal, and we started recognising and chatting to fellow company quickly sufficient.

Our balcony cabin

We stayed in an en-suite balcony cabin, the place my son had a pull-out couch mattress. Rooms and household suites have been obtainable for bigger households too. I liked sitting on the balcony captivated by the repeatedly altering scenes earlier than me – as day turned to nighttime, as sea views modified to harbour views, as ports, cities and nations altered and because the hues of the ocean remodeled. It by no means ceased to fascinate me.

Venetian Eating Room

Meals! Regardless of how onerous you attempt, the temptation shall be too nice to withstand, and gaining a number of additional kilograms shall be inevitable. We have been spoilt for alternative with over a dozen eating places providing a great deal of tantalising meal choices, together with Italian, French, Mexican and Brazilian delicacies. One of many highlights was Teppanyaki, a Japanese restaurant, the place the meals is served with a beneficiant facet of hilarious leisure.

A few of the meals wee loved

Norwegian Cruise Line is understood for its freestyle idea the place company aren’t restricted to strict eating occasions, tables, or costume codes, not like many different cruise strains. We liked the liberty of having the ability to eat every time we preferred, wherever we preferred, dressed as casually as we preferred. A lot of our fellow cruisers declared that they have been loyal to Norwegian for that reason, whereas others liked how they catered for solo travellers.

Pool deck

Sea days have been removed from mundane. We’d be issued with the Freestyle Day by day, a e-newsletter that might assist us to plan our time meticulously. It will include info on the port to be visited, the climate forecast, in addition to a schedule of leisure and occasions deliberate for the next day, inter alia.

The ship has a number of sporting amenities, a jogging observe, swimming swimming pools, and around-the-clock actions consisting of workshops, quiz exhibits, artwork auctions, dwell leisure and rather more. Nightly exhibits throughout our cruise included a comic, a magic present and expert acrobats. In between actions, I managed to get gloriously pampered on the Mandara Spa. For many who most popular to loosen up on the poolside or soak within the sizzling tubs, these have been potentialities too.

Video Arcade

Whereas the adults are in any other case occupied, the youngsters are catered for with the Splash Academy Youth Centre and the Entourage Teen Membership. My son loved the Video Arcade.

Kiddies pool

The Norwegian Daybreak shall be present process a considerable refurbishment later this yr, whereafter it’s going to return to South Africa in December 2024. If the comfort of getting all of your fundamental necessities taken care of—whereas attending to discover a number of locations and solely unpacking as soon as—appeals to you, then go forward and e book your cabin. I fall extra in love with this mode of journey each time I expertise it.

For extra info and to e book your cruise, go to Norwegian Cruise Line.

See some snippets from our cruise beneath.