India Cruise Ports
India is an incredible country that is of contrasts, from the green regions in the south to the deserts in its centre and from the mountains of the north to its idyllic islands, India offers diversity unlike most other nations.
That perhaps not too surprising as not only is the country the 7th largest in terms of its size but it has the largest population of any single country, with over 1 billion people.
Despite that, the country also offers a diverse range of wildlife including tigers, elephants and leopards and multitudes of cultures amongst its people a wide range of cruise ports of call, including its leading turnaround port of Mumbai.
Cruises To India
Cruise Holidays To India
If you want to visit India on a cruise holiday there are a few different options you can do, but most will involve a repositioning cruise.
The country sits almost centrally along the historic Spice Route, and it is cruise ships sailing that well-trodden path that tend to call into the country.
That will usually see you visit India onboard a journey between the likes of Dubai and Singapore or you can enjoy a cruise between Southern Africa and Asia, usually from Cape Town to Singapore via the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar and Mauritius.
There are also plenty of options to start or end your journey in Mumbai and there are also some local companies offering round trips from there.
India Cruise Guide
We will now take you through all of the leading cruise ports found around the vast coastline of India, which each of these ports accepting international and local cruise lines.Turnaround Ports
There is only one international turnaround in the country and that is the port of Mumbai, on the Arabian Sea in the west of the country.
Formally known as Bombay, the city is one of the most populous in the world but despite all of that, it should be said that its turnaround facilites are basic and its immigration issues are well documented.
Ports of Call
There is a good range of ports to visit around India including some popular holiday resorts and the country’s leading tourist cities.
The city of Kochi, also known by its former name of Cochin, it located in the southwest of India, in the state of Kerala and offers one of the most popular shore excursions in India.
A trip to the Backwaters of Kerala is a must for anybody visiting there but that is not to say that Kochi as little to offer, with ships docking on a man-made island between the tourist area of Jew Town and the main city itself.
Mangalore is a deepwater port that is perhaps better known as a cargo port but if you are lucky enough to visit India on a more luxurious cruise ship, the chances are that you will visit the port.
The city has a long naval history, and visitors can take advantage of the warmer waters of the Arabia Sea by heading to a local beach or you can head around the many sights of interest in the city including many important churches and temples.
On the face of it there is little at the small commercial port of Mormugao and everybody visiting there will need to head out on an excursion of some sort.
What Mormugao does do is act as the gateway to the holiday state of Goa that is famed for its sandy beaches, seaside resorts but there is much more to the state than that including lots of wildlife and historic buildings- especially in its old town home to the impressive Se Cathedral.
Popular Cruise Lines
As a relatively new cruise market, the choice of cruise lines offering chances to visit India is still relatively restricted with the likes of Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas leading the way.
India
Location: South Asia
Capital City: New Delhi
Currency: Rupee
Language: Around 424 languages but English and Hindi widely spoken
Demonym(s): Indian
Top Ports: Mumbai, Kochi
India is one of the biggest countries in the world, the most populous in the world and one of the most diverse in the world, so it is no surprise that so many people want to visit India onboard a cruise ship.
Sadly, it is country that has been slow to adapt when it comes to travel and especially to the cruise market and still only offer basic facilites at a small number of ports.
For those who do head there, there is lots to see and each port offers some thing unique, from the people you meet there to the places you get to visit.
Best Time To Visit
The cruise season for India is during the northern hemisphere winter, between October and March which also puts many of the cruises that visit there in the local monsoon season.
With such a short cruising season and with so few itineraries going there, the best time to visit is when a ship and line you like offer the chance.
India Cruises From The UK
Indian cruises are difficult to do from the United Kingdom but some world cruises do call in there.
India Cruises From Southampton
If a cruise does set sail from the UK and calls into a port in India, the chances are that it would be from the regions 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.
