Wow, what a great (and very helpful) video! I have just booked an African cruise on the Dawn, and I'm so glad I found your overview before I started planning my excursions. Your positive attitude when things didn't always go as planned set a great example. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
I have never even heard of African cruises. This is actually something my son and I would enjoy, especially if you're able to stop at multiple countries! Hopefully my wife would enjoy it as well.
Here is the list of all excursions we did! Highly recommend booking through NCL for an African itinerary. Reunion - Piton Maido and Shopping Nosy be - Nosy Komba - Isle of Lemurs Richard's Bay - Hluhlwu Game Reserve Port Elizabeth - Addo Elephant Park by Coach MosselBay - Botlierskop Private Game Reserve Cape Town - Cape Town/Table Top Mountain, Stellenbosch with Wine Tasting, Cape Peninsula Debark Tour
Thank you for doing this! I’ve been looking at this sailing for a while now. My biggest concern was be able to do a safari, but glad there are plenty of options.
Hello Allie! Thanks for a wonderful video with the pros and cons! I had not given an African cruise with safari excursions much thought, but thanks to your video, it is now on my consideration list! The thing that is tough about destination embarkation ports is the crazy price of airfare. That requires an additional level of planning and budgeting! Thanks again! 😎😎😎
Our flight was surprisingly affordable - $1,700 for the entire trip to Mauritius with return from Cape Town. I booked through Delta. Many also booked through NCL with their airfare deal - that would have been even cheaper! So it really wasn’t terrible with airfare, but we booked our cruise date with airfare in consideration.
@@Alhubers , thanks for your information. Would like to ask did you do pre cruise stay at Mauritius or post cruise stay at Cape Town? If yes, how many days do you suggest for these two places. I have been thinking of this itinerary as the ports seem interesting
You inspired me!!!! I think I'd actually want to do land-based, so I'm very thankful you mentioned the pros and cons. So happy you got to experience such amazing sites!
We are schedule on this itinerary in early 2025. It looks amazing, except for the embarcation issues, Madagascar cancellation and some of the organization issues with excursion. At least after watching your video, we are warned! Thanks
Just pack your patience! :) You will have a great adventure!! Be flexible and anticipate that cruising in Africa is different than anywhere else. That's part of the fun!
Glad to watch your review, as I'd seen a couple of other videos that were very negative about the Dawn itself. However, I will be going for the excursions more than the ship, and yours look amazing! I agree that , on a continent with which I am not familiar, I tend to book the NCL excursions. It's also much easier to get a refund if the ship is unable to get into port. I think if we are prepared for the heat and the lack of organization, we will have an affordable trip of a lifetime!
I've been studying the NCL African cruise and your video provided a realistic view of the cruise. Please provide comment on your flight to Port Louis (did you book through NCL? Did you visit other cities along the way?). Also, do you have recommendations for staying longer at the disembarkation port? Thanks for the great video!
Hi there! I booked my flight independently. My friend and I flew from ATL to CDG on Delta and CDG to MRU on Air France. It was a miserable long trip! If I had more time, I would spend a few days in Europe before flying to Africa again - or pay for a first class seat :) We stayed at The Westin at Turtle Bay, highly recommend! We were so tired after traveling that we just relaxed at the resort for two days before cruising. Many people stayed longer in Cape Town, but we had to get back to our jobs. Two full days was good enough to see the highlights!
I didn’t need any vaccines for this route from Mauritius to Cape Town! I am vaccinated for yellow fever from my prior trip to Senegal, but this wasn’t needed for entrance into SA. There are likely vaccination requirements for the 21-day voyage with yellow fever, though. I also took malaria medication as well.
We flew into Mauritius two days before the cruise departed - meaning we left the US four days beforehand since it took two days to fly there! It was good to have a few buffer days with logistics and possible delays (or cyclones lol!)
@@allievogs95 they already got rid of the morocco ones for two spainish ports and cancelled cabo verde 😂…im just glad i booked an extra week in cape town to explore that awesome city
Wow, what a great (and very helpful) video! I have just booked an African cruise on the Dawn, and I'm so glad I found your overview before I started planning my excursions. Your positive attitude when things didn't always go as planned set a great example. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
I have never even heard of African cruises. This is actually something my son and I would enjoy, especially if you're able to stop at multiple countries! Hopefully my wife would enjoy it as well.
Wonderful video Allie and Cruise Blog! ☺️ Such a fun and exciting itinerary! 🚢
Such an amazing adventure!
Great video - I couldn’t find your list of NCL tours ..
we are booked Nov 2024 on NCl Dawn ( b2b2b ) on west & east sides Africa
Here is the list of all excursions we did! Highly recommend booking through NCL for an African itinerary.
Reunion - Piton Maido and Shopping
Nosy be - Nosy Komba - Isle of Lemurs
Richard's Bay - Hluhlwu Game Reserve
Port Elizabeth - Addo Elephant Park by Coach
MosselBay - Botlierskop Private Game Reserve
Cape Town - Cape Town/Table Top Mountain, Stellenbosch with Wine Tasting, Cape Peninsula Debark Tour
Thank you for doing this! I’ve been looking at this sailing for a while now. My biggest concern was be able to do a safari, but glad there are plenty of options.
Lots of safari options! I am so glad I did this cruise and crossed it off my bucket-list.
Amazing video Allie & Cruise Blog! The best girls trip ever! Yes, I’m still emotional about it. 😭❤️
The best cruise ever!! ❤
I'm not sure why this cruise does not stop off at the Durban cruise port. So much more to do than at Richards Bay.
Hello Allie! Thanks for a wonderful video with the pros and cons! I had not given an African cruise with safari excursions much thought, but thanks to your video, it is now on my consideration list! The thing that is tough about destination embarkation ports is the crazy price of airfare. That requires an additional level of planning and budgeting! Thanks again! 😎😎😎
Our flight was surprisingly affordable - $1,700 for the entire trip to Mauritius with return from Cape Town. I booked through Delta. Many also booked through NCL with their airfare deal - that would have been even cheaper! So it really wasn’t terrible with airfare, but we booked our cruise date with airfare in consideration.
@@Alhubers , thanks for your information. Would like to ask did you do pre cruise stay at Mauritius or post cruise stay at Cape Town? If yes, how many days do you suggest for these two places. I have been thinking of this itinerary as the ports seem interesting
Awesome video. Sounds very interesting. Something I may do in the future.
Great video! I never knew this was even possible.
It is an amazing itinerary!
You inspired me!!!! I think I'd actually want to do land-based, so I'm very thankful you mentioned the pros and cons. So happy you got to experience such amazing sites!
SO glad to hear!! Regardless of which you choose, an African Safari is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime trip!!
We are schedule on this itinerary in early 2025. It looks amazing, except for the embarcation issues, Madagascar cancellation and some of the organization issues with excursion. At least after watching your video, we are warned! Thanks
Just pack your patience! :) You will have a great adventure!! Be flexible and anticipate that cruising in Africa is different than anywhere else. That's part of the fun!
Glad to watch your review, as I'd seen a couple of other videos that were very negative about the Dawn itself. However, I will be going for the excursions more than the ship, and yours look amazing! I agree that , on a continent with which I am not familiar, I tend to book the NCL excursions. It's also much easier to get a refund if the ship is unable to get into port. I think if we are prepared for the heat and the lack of organization, we will have an affordable trip of a lifetime!
I've been studying the NCL African cruise and your video provided a realistic view of the cruise. Please provide comment on your flight to Port Louis (did you book through NCL? Did you visit other cities along the way?). Also, do you have recommendations for staying longer at the disembarkation port? Thanks for the great video!
Hi there! I booked my flight independently. My friend and I flew from ATL to CDG on Delta and CDG to MRU on Air France. It was a miserable long trip! If I had more time, I would spend a few days in Europe before flying to Africa again - or pay for a first class seat :) We stayed at The Westin at Turtle Bay, highly recommend! We were so tired after traveling that we just relaxed at the resort for two days before cruising. Many people stayed longer in Cape Town, but we had to get back to our jobs. Two full days was good enough to see the highlights!
Which vaccines did you need? We canceled the 21 day up the western coast because of an issue with yellow fever?
I didn’t need any vaccines for this route from Mauritius to Cape Town! I am vaccinated for yellow fever from my prior trip to Senegal, but this wasn’t needed for entrance into SA. There are likely vaccination requirements for the 21-day voyage with yellow fever, though. I also took malaria medication as well.
OMG thank you for sharing so much valuable information about my future dream cruise.
How many days did you fly in beforehand for the cruise?
We flew into Mauritius two days before the cruise departed - meaning we left the US four days beforehand since it took two days to fly there! It was good to have a few buffer days with logistics and possible delays (or cyclones lol!)
🦒🦓🐘 😍😍
Hluhluwe is a Zulu word pronounced Shlu-shlu-we...😂😅
I knew I butchered it - lol!!
Oh god im on a 21 day cruise from cape town to Barcelona on the Dawn next week …figures crossed 🤞
Crossing my fingers for you! Hope you are able to make all of your ports!
@@allievogs95 they already got rid of the morocco ones for two spainish ports and cancelled cabo verde 😂…im just glad i booked an extra week in cape town to explore that awesome city