Mossel Bay celebrated the port’s brand-new Cruise Reception Facility with the arrival SH Diana, the first cruise ship of the season. The new terminal is an investment of approximately $1.15 million USD by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), and marks the beginning of a new chapter for cruise tourism in the Garden Route region. 

A Record-Setting Season Ahead

According to Mossel Bay Mayor Dirk Kotzé, the facility’s opening positions the town for its busiest cruise season yet.
Last year, Mossel Bay welcomed more than 13,000 cruise passengers to its shores. With the new terminal now operational, authorities are already expecting 23 cruise ship calls, a clear sign of the region’s rising profile as an popular Southern African destination.

“This is a historic day for Mossel Bay,” Mayor Kotzé said. “The arrival of the SH Diana signals not only the start of the 2025/26 season, but the beginning of a new chapter for tourism and our local economy.”

The Cruise Reception Facility is designed to utilize the experience and support growing demand from international lines sailing along the South African coast. Mayor Kotzé highlighted several benefits:

• Strengthens Mossel Bay’s position as South Africa’s No.1 summer tourism destination

• Expands capacity to welcome more visitors, boosting restaurants, shops, tours, accommodations, and small businesses

• Supports job creation—especially for youth, guides, artisans, and local entrepreneurs

• Enhances the guest experience, encouraging repeat tourism and global visibility

   

“This is more than infrastructure,” the mayor said. “It is a direct investment into the future of our town, our economy, and our people.”