GERMAN company Moltke Promotion has partnered with Cape Town-based tour operator iKapa Tours & Travel to bring two of the world’s largest passenger ships to SA for next year’s Soccer World Cup.

The ships, the MS Noordam and MS Westerdam, will make their way to Cape Town ahead of the tournament in June , before separately heading for Port Elizabeth and Durban for the duration of the tournament.

The ships, which each have about 1100 berths, will provide vitally needed accommodation in three of the host cities.

“We do not see ourselves as competing with local hotels and tour operators, but rather as a supplementary offering aimed at satisfying the large demand,” said Werner von Moltke, MD of Moltke Promotion.

The cruise ships, owned by shipping group Holland America, have been chartered by One Ocean Club, a subsidiary of Moltke Promotions, for the World Cup, while iKapa has been contracted to provide transport for passengers.

“The ships will arrive in Cape Town from Europe before the tournament starts, bringing with them thousand of tourists. The ships will stay in Cape Town for a few days before the MS Noordam heads for Durban and MS Westerdam travels to Port Elizabeth,” said Desmond Windt, business development manager of iKapa...

Full article at BusinessDay.co.za