Sri Lanka Cruise Ports
The island nation of Sri Lanka sits just off of the southern coast of India and whilst there are lots of similarities to its giant neighbour, it also has a unique history and culture of its own.
Its largest city, and executive and judicial capital city, is Colombo, which is also the main cruise port in the country with many cruise lines giving guests the chance to visit all that is on offer in Colombo.
There is more to the country however away from historic building and parklands of its capital as the island’s beaches and areas of natural beauty attract visitors from across the globe.
Wildlife safaris are a major draw for tourists and cruisers alike who can visit a few national parks in the south of the island from the port of Hambantota.
Cruises To Sri Lanka
Cruise Holidays To Sri Lanka
The cruise industry has been slow to adapt to the popularity of the region and it has been until relatively recently difficult to visit the country on an cruise ship without needing to cruise the world, but thankfully things have now changed thanks in part to the popularity of Spire Route itineraries and the emergence of Singapore and Dubai as leading cruise ports in the region.
Sri Lanka Cruise Guide
Sri Lanka may not have a huge variety of cruise ports but thankfully each offer something different from the others including a huge sprawling city with a central port to a remote out of the way port surrounded by nature.
Turnaround Ports
The capital city of Colombo is the countries leading port and whilst few cruise ships start or end their journeys in Sri Lanka, the ones that do, do so in Colombo.
The city also acts as a great port of call where you dock close to the city centre and within easy reach of its many attractions including the famous Lotus Tower.
Ports of Call
The port of Hambantota sits on the south coast of Sri Lanka, and it is a port that has little, to nothing, to offer cruisers, so if you are booked on an itinerary calling in there, you will need to book an excursion or grab one from the numerous sellers at the port gate.
Thankfully, it does offer some incredible experiences to do whilst on excursion including visiting a nearby national park for a Safari.
Popular Cruise Lines
Although the number of cruise lines calling into the country is impressive, it is still far behind many other countries but the likes of Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard and P&O Cruises leads the way.
Sri Lanka
The country is found in the Indian Ocean, to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal, to the southeast of the Arabian Sea, due west of Thailand and east of Somalia in Africa.
It will be perhaps no surprise that most ships calling in there are either sailing the Spice Route, between Europe, the Middle East and Asia or sailing across the Indian Ocean from southern Africa.
It is also a popular stopping off location for ships on adventures sailing around the globe or sailing between Europe and Australia.
Sri Lanka, formally known as Ceylon, has had a long and tumultuous history with a number of colonial powers fighting over the riches on offer there.
It is famed for its spices and for its tea which are sent around the world but are well worth experiencing for yourself when visiting there.
Its role in the historic Spice Route brought many changes to the country and its capital city is now a mix of Portuguese and British influence, but of course the local history and culture has survived and can be seen throughout.
In the modern era, the country has proven to be popular for those wanting Indian Ocean beach holidays as well as those wanting to experience the stunning natural beauty of Sri Lanka and the incredible wildlife found there.
On my own visit to the country, I was fortunate enough to enjoy a stop in Hambantota, where I went on a safari of the beautiful Yala National Park, which is something I would recommend everybody who can do, to do so.
Colombo has also developed a burgeoning tourist trade of its own helped by its most iconic attraction, the Lotus Tower.
Best Time To Visit
The main cruising season in Sri Lanka is relatively short and takes place from October to March, which also largely coexists with the regions monsoon season.
With only a limited number of cruise ships visiting the country and most only doing so a few times a year, the best time to visit is really when a ship or line you want to sail with is going there.
Sri Lanka Cruises From The UK
Whilst it is possible to visit Sri Lanka on a cruise directly from the United Kingdom, you will need plenty of time and money to do so.
That is because the cruisers visiting there will either be on World Cruises or on partial World Cruises between the UK and either Singapore or Sydney.
Sri Lanka Cruises From Southampton
If you would like to take one of the cruises sailing between these shores and Sri Lanka, the widest range of options is from England’s leading cruise port of Southampton.
Here at CruiseHols.co.uk we bring you all of the information you will ever need to choose the right cruise destination for you and your family.
Our destination guides include everything from ports to attractions and excursion to the positives and negatives of the destination.
