Cici Cao
- Jul 19
- 6 min read

Two Day Guide in CAPE TOWN, South Africa! (Cruise Edition)

Updated: Jul 21

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

Geography: Port city on South Africa’s SouthWest coast
Population: Approx. 5 Million
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR); Currency Converter
Cruise Port: Google Map Location
Tender Port: No
Best Time to Visit: January to March

We arrived at Cape Town, South Africa on the Norwegian Cruise Line (Dawn) on February 13 & 14, 2024. The airport was quite small but got through customs pretty fast. We got there around 10:30AM and hopped on the prepaid NCL bus to the cruise port. I would definitely recommend grabbing an Uber instead of buying the cruise transport as the wait for the entire bus to be filled was quite long. Uber is super affordable, safe, and really convenient in Cape Town. Most folks there speak English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa. Oh, and there are Myciti buses that can take you from the airport to the town center, but we didn't explore that option since we had a lot of luggage with us. The traffic from the airport to the cruise port was pretty bad though so make sure to leave ample time to make it within your required check-in time.

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

The cruise port area offers complimentary WIFI, as do most of the shops along the waterfront. Additionally, there are a few restaurants available if you prefer to stay within the port. It's important to be aware that many stores only accept card payments, so it's advisable to have a credit card without foreign transaction fees. For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy card not only waives foreign transaction fees but also provides rewards for all purchases, which can be redeemed for FREE hotel stays and airfare in the future. I plan to write a dedicated blog post on this topic in the future.

As Uber cannot access the cruise port area, you will have to walk approximately 5 minutes to reach the port entrance. You can call an Uber from there. The waterfront is a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal, or you can opt for a 5-minute Uber ride (costing around $2) to get there.

At the waterfront area, you'll encounter the Time Out Market (offering superb fusion cuisine, a must-try), Watershed (primarily for souvenirs), Alfred Mall (compact yet housing a fantastic bakery/coffee shop), and Victoria Mall (spacious with a food court and waterfront restaurants. If you're seeking ambiance, opt to dine here, but for food enthusiasts, Time Out Market is the more obvious choice). If you have a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus, there's a stop conveniently located outside the Aquarium.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

Please be aware that certain beaches in the area may be too cold for swimming, while those on the South side are consistently suitable for swimming. Llandudno boasts stunning beaches, but it is a private neighborhood with numerous celebrity residences. Additionally, take note of the flag colors on the beach, as there have been numerous shark attacks in the past. As a precaution, shark spotters are now in place to warn swimmers of potential risks at specific times.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

As we arrived early on the 13th and the cruise is scheduled to depart late afternoon on the 14th, I will outline our activities for the two days in Cape Town:

Day 1

While we had planned to participate in a complimentary walking tour of the Bo-Kaap neighborhood, we missed the 2PM departure time. If you opt for this tour, it typically lasts about 1.5 hours, and it's customary to tip the tour guides, with a suggested amount of R200-400 per person. The meeting point is at Motherland Cafe in St. George's Mall, but it's advisable to confirm with the tour guide. You can reach the meeting point from the cruise port by Uber (7 minutes) or on foot (26 minutes). The following day, we managed to capture a photo of the Bo-Kaap neighborhood from our tour bus.

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

If you have time for only one activity, I highly recommend visiting Table Mountain. We bought tickets in advance to avoid potential queues, especially on days when cruise ships are in port. Although you may skip the line for the tickets, there'll definitely be a line for the cable cars. You will need to take an elevator downstairs to join the queue for the cable cars, where you will be directed to the left or right side as there are only two cars, each accommodating around 60 people. The wait time on the day we visited was approximately 30 minutes.

It's advisable to plan your visit for late afternoon to catch the sunset and benefit from lower prices. Sunset times vary depending on the season, so be sure to check the website before your visit. The website also provides information on wait times.

Once aboard the cable car, position yourself near the sides for better views. The car rotates 360 degrees once it ascends, so there's no need to worry about your initial position. If you can't secure a side spot on the way up, try to line up early for the descent to ensure a good vantage point. You can spend around 2 hours exploring the various hiking trails and possibly spotting wildlife. If time is limited, simply walk around the cable car area for stunning views and quick photo opportunities in just 15-20 minutes. For the adventurous, there's an option to join professional mountain climbing activities. If you stay for the sunset, be aware that there may not be available cable cars for the descent, requiring a hike down. While it's possible to walk up the mountain, the steep road is often busy with cars. We opted for an Uber ride up and down, which proved to be a convenient choice. Restrooms and dining options are available at both the base and the summit of the mountain.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

Day 2

This day is considered a half day for us because our ship departs at 5 PM. We decided that returning around 3 PM would be the most suitable and secure option. Therefore, we chose to go on a half day tour to visit the penguins at Boulders Beach, primarily because we believed this might be our only opportunity to see penguins during the entire cruise. In terms of cost, this choice was more practical as hiring a car to get there would take an hour, making it more expensive if we were to go independently.

There were approximately 10 people in a compact van for this tour. The admission fee of 190z was not part of the package. Payment can be made by credit card or cash (preferably exact change) to the guide on site. A short 5-minute walk from the parking area to the entrance is required, but the guide will have your ticket ready so there's no need to queue (another advantage of joining a tour). Additionally, they managed to bring us there ahead of the crowd, which was nice.

Upon entering, you will encounter three passages to choose from. Our recommendation is to begin with the one directly ahead, followed by the path to the right (both situated within the park). The right-hand passage will take you past small plastic nesting holes for the penguins, but sightings are unlikely outside of May-June. While this route offers a different perspective of the penguins, it is farther away. For the best close-up pictures, opt for the straight path where most visitors gather. The final trail leads outside the entrance to a public walkway leading to the beach area. To access the rear entrance and explore further inside, an additional fee is required (but it's included in your entrance fee already, so just show your ticket). During this visit, there were only a few penguins in the water or near the beach; however, you can traverse a narrow passage under the rock to the opposite side of the beach. It was quite nice to witness Rock Hyrax or “dassie” (a close relative of an elephant) coexisting harmoniously with the penguins. If you complete the tour early, the guide may ask you to wait at an ice cream shop, offering a variety of delicious flavors.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

During my time in Cape Town, I felt secure in the waterfront and cruise port vicinity, as well as during the excursions we went on. However, we refrained from fully exploring other parts of Cape Town on our own due to their perceived lack of development. I recommend remaining vigilant and avoiding ostentatious attire. Remember to pack protective sun accessories and bottled water and most importantly, have fun!

Here are some other suggested tours that we didn't have time to do: