Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean offers cruising along the coasts of Arabia, India, Sri Lanka and on to Singapore or exploring the coral atolls of the Maldives and Seychelles. The size of the region and the vast distances cruised make for more relaxed cruising with many days at sea. Geographically diverse from desert to mountains and tropical rainforest, the area also offers guaranteed sunshine and great beaches. 

Arabia and India
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 best time to cruise the Indian Ocean depends on the specific destinations, but generally, the most favorable months are April to October when the weather is warm, and the seas are calmer.



• Seychelles, Maldives, and Mauritius: The best time is April to June and September to November, when temperatures are pleasant, and there’s less humidity and rain. The wet season (December to March) brings higher humidity and the risk of tropical storms.
• Madagascar and East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique): The dry season from June to October is ideal for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities, while the wet season (November to March) can bring heavy rains and rougher seas.
• Sri Lanka and the Indian Coast: The best time to cruise is from December to April, avoiding the monsoon season, which affects different coasts at different times of the year.

For the smoothest sailing and best sightseeing experiences, consider planning your cruise in the shoulder seasons of April-May and September-November, when the weather is pleasant, and there are fewer crowds.