Namibia Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call

Namibia cruises at a glance

Waterways Cruise lists 36 upcoming sailings on 18 ships from 10 cruise lines visiting Namibia, calling at 2 places. Cruises visit Namibia as a port of call and do not start or end here. More Africa cruises.

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About Namibia

Namibia is Africa for the traveler who wants silence, scale, and self-reliance. It offers the world's oldest desert, the Atlantic's fog-soaked Skeleton Coast, a world-class wildlife reserve in Etosha, and a culture layered with San, Nama, Herero, German, and South African influences. There is no traditional river cruising here; the cruise story is expedition-style and coastal, centered on Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, with extraordinary overland extensions into dunes and game reserves. For the American traveler, Namibia rewards patience and an open schedule, but it punishes rushed checklists.

Typical routes

• Cape Town to Walvis Bay — the classic West Coast expedition route, tracing the Benguela Current through South African and Namibian waters.
• Walvis Bay to Lüderitz & the Skeleton Coast — a focused Namibia loop emphasizing desert, wildlife, history, and colonial-era towns.

Ports overview

Namibia has no river cruising; its cruise story is coastal. The only regularly visited deep-water port is Walvis Bay, with Lüderitz as a smaller, characterful alternative. Expedition and luxury ships use Walvis Bay as the pivot for Atlantic itineraries between Cape Town and the Skeleton Coast, combining wildlife safaris with Zodiac landings and desert excursions.

Cruise season

May–October (dry season) is best for wildlife and clear skies; coastal cruises often run September–May when seas are calmer; year-round fog makes the Skeleton Coast moody.