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Close-up view of a pink salt pond bordered by white crystalline salt deposits and rough yellow earth, stretching toward the horizon under clear blue sky.

Walvis Bay, Namibia

Cruises to Walvis Bay, Namibia

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Things to do in Walvis Bay

There’s desert… and then there’s Walvis Bay. This sunbaked port town is where you’ve got salt flats that look like the moon’s evil twin, sand dunes that go toe-to-toe with skyscrapers and a bird sanctuary so renowned it should have a diplomatic title (spoiler: it's a Ramsar site). Toss in Germanic colonial architecture, fresh oysters and some of the best marine life-watching on the continent, and Walvis Bay cruises might just be your new favorite.

Explore things to do in Walvis Bay
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  • Historic German colonial-style building in Swakopmund with green and yellow trim, white picket fencing, a tall tower and multiple windows, all set beneath a bright blue sky.

    Try fresh oysters harvested from chilly Atlantic waters, then chase it with a local lager in Swakopmund’s old-world beer halls.

  • View of a sandy residential street in Swakopmund leading to the ocean, with tall palm trees, modern houses and gentle waves visible beneath a blue sky with soft clouds.

    Gawk at the colonial throwback that is Swakopmund’s downtown core, a whole neighborhood that feels like it came out of a Bavarian snow globe (minus the snow).

  • Group of pink flamingos feeding along the edge of a shallow lagoon, with vivid golden sand dunes stretching across the background under clear sky.

    Visit Walvis Bay Lagoon, home to flamingos, pelicans and migratory species in dazzling numbers.

  • A scattered collection of multicolored wool yarn piles on a sunlit floor, featuring shades of green, yellow, blue, red and purple illuminated by slanted beams of light.

    Drop by the Karakulia Weavery to watch artisans turn Karakul wool into rugs you can justify purchasing because they’ll ‘really tie the room together.’

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Shore excursions to explore in Walvis Bay

Dive into curated excursions that showcase just how much Namibia likes to keep you guessing: ancient desert ecosystems, seal-packed lagoons, defunct diamond camps and dune rides worthy of Mad Max.

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  • A line of pink flamingos wading through shallow reflective water at the base of massive orange sand dunes, with subtle ripples and wet earth in the foreground under soft, overcast light.

    Sandwich Harbour

    Ride a 4x4 through the Kuiseb River Delta and over undulating dunes. When conditions allow, you’ll reach Sandwich Harbour Lagoon — a tidal haven bursting with flamingos and fed by freshwater seeping under the sand. Enjoy snacks as you scan the landscape for migratory birds and dunes the height of apartment buildings.

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  • A woman in a bright purple dress and a child walk with another person toward a small rural village in Namibia, featuring simple wooden and metal homes surrounded by dry grassland and rocky hills.

    Go Local: The 'Real' Namibia

    This isn't your typical sightseeing trip. This is an invitation to get real with the residents of Mondesa Township. Learn how the Owambo, Damara and Herero communities have made a home just outside Swakopmund, and explore the traditions, flavors and challenges of everyday life. Taste mahango porridge, hear local music and walk away with something better than a souvenir: a real cultural connection.

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  • Coastal promenade bordered by tall palm trees beside a stone seawall with green-blue lagoon waves and a partly cloudy sky.

    The Best of Walvis Bay: Lagoon Cruise & 4X4 Dunes Adventure

    Start your day kicking up sand in a 4x4 as you traverse the soaring dunes of Sandwich Harbour. Then trade wheels for waves and hop on a boat for a 2.5-hour lagoon cruise. Along the way, you might catch dolphins playing tag with the boat and Cape fur seals serving lounging like celebrities. Expect pelicans, petrels, cormorants and more flamingos than seems statistically reasonable.

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  • Large group of Cape fur seals resting and interacting on a sandy beach beside blue ocean waves, with several pups and adults scattered across the shoreline.

    Pelican Point Kayaking Adventure

    Hop in a kayak and say hello to 50,000 Cape fur seals (give or take). Cruise to Pelican Point by boat, then paddle your way past a century-old lighthouse, friendly dolphins and birds with complicated names. After your paddle, take a 4x4 drive back along the lagoon, because Namibia doesn’t believe in doing anything halfway.

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  • Aerial view of Namibia’s Sossusvlei dunes showing sweeping orange sand ridges, deep shadows and pale salt flats creating striking patterns across the desert landscape.

    Soaring over Sossusvlei

    This isn’t just a flight; this is a two-hour-and-ten-minute airborne epic over 400 miles of unfiltered Namibian glory. You’ll soar above ancient vulture breeding grounds, past giant rust-red dunes, over diamond ghost towns and down the Skeleton Coast. Watch the earth shift from apricot sand to salt mine whites to shipwreck-strewn beaches. It’s like someone cranked Namibia’s cinematic settings to 11.

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  • Expansive view of the Namib Desert showing sweeping orange sand dunes with sharp ridgelines and shifting shadows beneath a bright blue sky.

    The Living Namib Desert

    Think nothing lives here? Think again. Join a desert whisperer (aka your guide) to discover critters like the sidewinder adder, palmetto gecko and chameleons living their best lives in the dunes. Your guide will ‘read the bushman paper’ (aka track animals like a desert Sherlock), share weird desert biology facts and maybe even catch some of the living marvels themselves so you can get a closer look before returning them safely to their sandy stomping grounds. End the day with bubbly and snacks next to the Atlantic.

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Explore all Walvis Bay shore excursions

Explore itineraries with cruises to Walvis Bay

Pulling into Walvis Bay can feel like landing on another planet. The cruise port places you within a quick transfer of Swakopmund and the out-of-this-world Namib Desert. You’ll be greeted by scenes of salt pans, flamingo-packed lagoons and dunes that stand too tall for something made out of sand. The nearby town has food markets with fresh oysters and craft vendors selling woven treasures. Whether you’re quad biking Dune 7 or just soaking in the contrast between ocean and sand, the launch point is an otherworldly part of select world cruise itineraries.

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Aerial shot of Table Mountain Cape Town South Africa

33-Day World Cruise Segment - Cape Town to London (Dover)

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Perth, Australia

47-Day World Cruise - Perth to London

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Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

59-Day World Cruise Liner - Auckland to London (Dover)

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Discover Walvis Bay on your next cruise

There’s nowhere else on Earth quite like Walvis Bay. This Namibian stunner blends surreal landscapes with German-meets-African culture, wildlife encounters with high-adrenaline excursions. Princess Cruises® brings it all into reach, pairing immersive excursions with luxury at sea and making it easy to slip from desert silence to spa treatment without missing a beat.

Cruises to Walvis Bay
Upward view of Christuskirche in Windhoek, showing its sandstone walls, white trim, arched entrance and tall red-roofed steeple set against a clear blue sky.

Step into Windhoek’s storied past as Christuskirche rises in warm stone and bright morning light.

View of Walvis Bay salt flats featuring layered pink evaporation ponds separated by earthen ridges, with pale blue water and desert sand in the foreground beneath a clear sky.

See nature turn pink across vast coastal salt flats.

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A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

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Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


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Cruises to Walvis Bay FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

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