Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
Most cruises in the region are passing through on repositioning or world cruises. Many cruises can be joined at an Egyptian or Mediterranean port and will sail through Red Sea along the coast of Arabia, calling at Salalah or Muscat in Oman, or modern Dubai in the Persian Gulf, then down the west coast of India to bustling Mumbai. From Mumbai cruises continue south to the canals & lagoons of Cochin, the beaches of Goa to Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka India East
After exploring the temples, tea plantations and Elephant Orphanage of Sri Lanka, some cruises continue round the coast of India to Madras and its Dravidian temples. Others sail southeast across the Indian Ocean to the west coast of Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore and may call at the Andaman Islands (great snorkelling) on the way.
Maldives and Seychelles
In the Southern Indian Ocean a few cruises will sail from India out to the 2000 coral islands of the Maldives and back again. Many are world voyages on their way to South Africa and will call at the Maldives and Seychelles on the way. Most cruises to the Seychelles will depart from or return to East African ports like Mombasa and visit Madagascar and perhaps Mauritius or Reunion en route.
WHEN TO CRUISE?
The Northern winter ( November to April) is the main cruising season in this region. The weather will depend on how close to the equator you are but this is the dry season so it should be sunny and warm to hot.