Cape Town welcomes the QM2

The QM2 cruise ship has docked in Cape Town for the first time.

The Queen Mary 2 (QM2) sailed into Cape Town earlier this  week for its first visit to the port.

Sister ship to the QE2, the vessel is the largest and most expensive cruise liner ever made.

The boat has 19 decks and can accommodate a maximum of 3,090 passengers.

In order to mark the ship’s first voyage to Cape Town, Nobel Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu was among the people on board when it docked in the South African harbour.

People considering booking flights to Cape Town may now want to consider taking a cruise as part of their holiday.

Some companies have started offering cruises tailored for those heading to the World Cup this summer, while football fans could find themselves staying in a berth on board a ship rather than in a hotel because other vessels are being made available as accommodation.

Last year, the South African transport minister told Reuters that “floating hotels” could be moored up in Durban and Cape Town to help provide fans with additional places to stay during the tournament.

Written by Nicholas Scott