East London

East London Port Guide

East London, South Africa Cruise Port Guide

Welcome to South Africa's charming Sunshine Coast, where warm ocean waters meet rich cultural history. Visiting cruise ships operated by lines such as MSC Cruises, Silversea, and Oceania Cruises bring travelers to this unique gateway to the Eastern Cape.

Known for its laid-back coastal atmosphere, pristine beaches, and close proximity to malaria-free safari reserves, this destination offers an authentic African experience for cruise passengers.

In This Guide

Key East London Port Information

Top Attractions & Excursions

The East London Museum is world-renowned for housing the original specimen of the Coelacanth, a prehistoric fish thought extinct for millions of years until its discovery in 1938, located just 10 minutes from the port.

Sun-seekers can head to Nahoon Beach, legendary among surfers and nature lovers for its boardwalks and dunes, situated about 15 minutes away.

For a memorable safari encounter within a port day, Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve offers thrilling big five game drives roughly 40 minutes from the cruise docks.

Last updated on October 21, 2026

Nearby Cities & Attractions

Located approximately 35 kilometers north of the port, Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve is a premier day-trip destination taking around 40 minutes by road for safari tours.

The tranquil coastal village of Cintsa, located about 45 kilometers northeast, is famous for its sweeping uncrowded beaches and lush coastal vegetation.

Additionally, Mpongo Private Game Reserve lies just 30 kilometers northwest of the port area, offering accessible wildlife viewing within a 35-minute drive.

Last updated on October 21, 2026

Port Location

The passenger cruise dock is located inside the commercial harbor along the Buffalo River, approximately 2 to 3 kilometers from the city center.

Because the port area is predominantly industrial with limited walkability, cruise lines and local operators usually provide shuttle buses or organized transport to take guests into town.

While permanent passenger terminal amenities are modest, basic tourist information desks and transport dispatch are made available during cruise ship calls.

Last updated on October 21, 2026

Local Currency

The official local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). Foreign currencies like US Dollars or Euros are generally not accepted for everyday purchases in shops or restaurants.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted across major retail stores, restaurants, and tour operators, though keeping small amounts of cash is useful for craft markets.

ATMs are easily accessible at shopping centers downtown, and currency exchange facilities can be found at local bank branches.

Last updated on October 21, 2026

Safety Considerations

While visiting, passengers should exercise standard urban safety precautions as they would in any major port city.

It is recommended to remain in established tourist zones, avoid carrying large sums of cash or displaying expensive jewelry, and refrain from walking alone after dark.

Taking organized shore excursions or utilizing verified private transport is the safest and most convenient way to explore the area independently.

Last updated on October 21, 2026

Weather & Climate

The region enjoys a warm subtropical climate with mild winters and pleasantly warm summers. During the main cruise season from October through April, average daily temperatures range from 20°C to 28°C (68°F to 82°F).

Rainfall can occur year-round in short showers, so packing light layers, a lightweight rain jacket, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen is recommended.

Last updated on October 21, 2026

Getting Around

Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber are the most reliable options to travel independently around town and to nearby coastal attractions.

Public buses and informal minibus taxis operate in the city but are generally not recommended for international visitors unfamiliar with local routes.

Many passengers opt for pre-arranged city sightseeing tours or an official safari game drive excursion departing directly from the port terminal.

Last updated on October 21, 2026

Shopping

For modern retail shopping, Hemingways Mall and Vincent Park Shopping Centre offer extensive selections of clothing, electronics, and local goods.

Travelers looking for authentic souvenirs will find handcrafted Xhosa beadwork, wooden carvings, and local artwork at artisanal craft markets.

Prices in shopping malls and established shops are fixed, though gentle bargaining is customary at informal craft stalls.

Last updated on October 21, 2026

Shore Excursions & Tours

East London City Tour

Image
★ 4.6 (12)

Explore East London’s city centre historical sites including City hall, the German settler monument, and Hero’s park, while enjoying the esplanade beach front and harbour views. The tour also features visits to the East London museum, Nahoon footprints educational centre, Biko bridge, and a shop selling locally made crafts.

See more East London tours on Viator

Visiting East London Cruise Deals

LOWEST PRICE EVER
141 Night Fort Lauderdale to Greenwich cruise
December 28, 2027
141 Night Viking World Cruise
CruiseScore™ (5.00/5)
Viking Vesta
S M L XL
Fort Lauderdale → Cozumel → Cartagena, Colombia → Colon → Puntarenas → Cabo San Lucas → Ensenada → Los Angeles → Hilo → Honolulu → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Bay of Islands → Auckland → Tauranga → Napier → Wellington → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Zanzibar → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Paris → London → Greenwich
$61,495
$436 per day
Inside
LOWEST PRICE EVER
124 Night Los Angeles to Greenwich cruise
January 14, 2028
Viking Vesta
S M L XL
Los Angeles → Hilo → Honolulu → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Bay of Islands → Auckland → Tauranga → Napier → Wellington → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Zanzibar → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Paris → London → Greenwich
$56,495
$456 per day
Inside
141 Night Fort Lauderdale to Greenwich cruise
December 21, 2028
141 Night Viking World Cruise
CruiseScore™ (5.00/5)
Viking Vesta
S M L XL
Fort Lauderdale → Cozumel → Cartagena, Colombia → Colon → Puntarenas → Cabo San Lucas → Ensenada → Los Angeles → Honolulu → Nawiliwili → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Bay of Islands → Auckland → Tauranga → Napier → Wellington → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Zanzibar → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Honfleur → London → Greenwich
$64,749
$459 per day
Inside
LOWEST PRICE EVER
169 Night Fort Lauderdale to Stockholm cruise
December 28, 2027
169 Night Viking World Voyage III
CruiseScore™ (5.00/5)
Viking Vesta
S M L XL
Fort Lauderdale → Cozumel → Cartagena, Colombia → Colon → Puntarenas → Cabo San Lucas → Ensenada → Los Angeles → Hilo → Honolulu → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Bay of Islands → Auckland → Tauranga → Napier → Wellington → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Zanzibar → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Paris → London → Greenwich → London → Dun Laoghaire → Holyhead → Liverpool → Belfast → Ullapool → Kirkwall → Edinburgh → Aberdeen → Lerwick → Bergen → Eidfjord → Stavanger → Oslo → Aalborg → Copenhagen → Berlin → Ronne → Gdansk → Tallinn → Stockholm
$77,995
$462 per day
Inside
LOWEST PRICE EVER
152 Night Los Angeles to Stockholm cruise
January 14, 2028
152 Night Viking World Voyage IV
CruiseScore™ (5.00/5)
Viking Vesta
S M L XL
Los Angeles → Hilo → Honolulu → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Bay of Islands → Auckland → Tauranga → Napier → Wellington → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Zanzibar → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Paris → London → Greenwich → London → Dun Laoghaire → Holyhead → Liverpool → Belfast → Ullapool → Kirkwall → Edinburgh → Aberdeen → Lerwick → Bergen → Eidfjord → Stavanger → Oslo → Aalborg → Copenhagen → Berlin → Ronne → Gdansk → Tallinn → Stockholm
$70,995
$467 per day
Inside

Upcoming Cruises to East London Cruise Deals

LOWEST PRICE EVER
141 Night Fort Lauderdale to Greenwich cruise
December 28, 2027
141 Night Viking World Cruise
CruiseScore™ (5.00/5)
Viking Vesta
S M L XL
Fort Lauderdale → Cozumel → Cartagena, Colombia → Colon → Puntarenas → Cabo San Lucas → Ensenada → Los Angeles → Hilo → Honolulu → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Bay of Islands → Auckland → Tauranga → Napier → Wellington → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Zanzibar → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Paris → London → Greenwich
$61,495
$436 per day
Inside
LOWEST PRICE EVER
124 Night Los Angeles to Greenwich cruise
January 14, 2028
Viking Vesta
S M L XL
Los Angeles → Hilo → Honolulu → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Bay of Islands → Auckland → Tauranga → Napier → Wellington → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Zanzibar → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Paris → London → Greenwich
$56,495
$456 per day
Inside
LOWEST PRICE EVER
169 Night Fort Lauderdale to Stockholm cruise
December 28, 2027
169 Night Viking World Voyage III
CruiseScore™ (5.00/5)
Viking Vesta
S M L XL
Fort Lauderdale → Cozumel → Cartagena, Colombia → Colon → Puntarenas → Cabo San Lucas → Ensenada → Los Angeles → Hilo → Honolulu → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Bay of Islands → Auckland → Tauranga → Napier → Wellington → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Zanzibar → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Paris → London → Greenwich → London → Dun Laoghaire → Holyhead → Liverpool → Belfast → Ullapool → Kirkwall → Edinburgh → Aberdeen → Lerwick → Bergen → Eidfjord → Stavanger → Oslo → Aalborg → Copenhagen → Berlin → Ronne → Gdansk → Tallinn → Stockholm
$77,995
$462 per day
Inside
LOWEST PRICE EVER
124 Night Los Angeles to Greenwich cruise
January 8, 2027
Viking Sky
S M L XL
Los Angeles → Honolulu → Kona → Bora Bora → Papeete → Moorea → Wellington → Napier → Tauranga → Auckland → Sydney, Australia → Brisbane → Airlie Beach → Cairns → Thursday Island → Darwin → Komodo Island → Bali → Semarang → Jakarta → Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Colombo → Male → Mahe → Mombasa → Nosy Be → Maputo → Richards Bay → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Cape Town → Luderitz → Walvis Bay → Luanda → Lagos → Tema → Takoradi → Dakar → Mindelo → Tenerife → Agadir → Casablanca → Cadiz → Lisbon → Porto → A Coruna → Paris → London → Greenwich
$59,999
$484 per day
Inside
PRICE RISING
15 Night Mauritius to Cape Town cruise
January 17, 2027
Regent Seven Seas Seven Seas Voyager
S M L XL
Mauritius → Reunion → Diego Suarez → Nosy Be → Mayotte → Durban → East London → Port Elizabeth → Mosselbay → Cape Town
$12,342
$823 per day
Suite

Ships in Port Schedule

Map of East London port area
East London port location
© OpenStreetMap · © ESA WorldCover 2021

No ships scheduled in port today.

Other Cruise Ports in South Africa

Cape TownDurbanMosselbayPort ElizabethRichards Bay

Monthly Pricing - Cruises visiting East London

Prices are around steady throughout the year. Overall cruises that visit East London are somewhat expensive compared to other itineraries. Take a look at the illustration below for the average cost per day by month.

Jan
$474
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
$459

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