CURRENCY: Egyptian pound or LE is divided into 100 piastres, or ersh, or 1,000 milliemes.

LANGUAGE:  “Hello” is “is salām ‘alaykum.” The response is “wa ‘alaykum is salām.”

“Welcome,” is “ahlan wa sahlan.” The response is “ahlan beek.” An informal response is “ahlan.

“Goodbye,” is “ma’is salāma” or “bai.”

VISA: Cruise passengers see operator as they may be dealing with any relative requirement.

Jordan.

CURRENCY: The Jordanian dinar is pegged to the US dollar which is accepted in many places. The dinar is divided into 10 dirhams, 100 qirsh or 1000 fulus.

VISA: You’ll need a visa to enter Jordan. You can buy a single entry visa valid for 1 month on arrival. Cruise passengers see operator as they may be dealing with any relative requirement.

CURRENCY: The Israeli new shekel or sheqel is also legal tender in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It is divided into 100 agorot.

VISA: Cruise passengers see operator as they may be dealing with any relative requirement.

In December 1971, the UAE became a federation of six emirates, the seventh joined the year after. Abu Dhabi City is the capital.

1. Abu Dhabi
2. Dubai
3. Sharjah
4. Ajman
5. Umm Al-Quwain
6. Fujairah
7. Ras Al Khaimah

CURRENCY is UAE dirham (AED or Dhs) which is divided into 100 fils and is pegged against the US $ (US$ 1: AED3.6725)

PHRASES 

• Hello. Marhaba.
• How are you? Kaeefhalak.
• Good morning. Sabah el khair.
• Good evening. Massa el khair.
• Greetings. TaHiat.
• Goodbye. MaAaes-Salama.
• Excuse me. MaAzera.
• Sorry. Asef.

VISA: Cruise passengers see operator as they may be dealing with any relative requirement.

CURRENCY Qatari Riyal is the currency. The currency code is QAR. You might be able to use other currencies like Dirham and Pounds but the change will be local.

PHRASES Doha Arabic

Good Morning: Sabah al khair
Good Evening: Sabah al noor
How are you?: Shlonik?
Hi or Hello: Salam alay kum

VISA Cruisers obtain a visa waiver upon arrival in Qatar. Check with your operator.

CURRENCY: Omani Rial is the currency of Oman. It is divided into 1000 baisa. The Omani rial is the world’s 3rd highest valued currency. U.S. dollars and sterling can be easily exchanged at banks and with money changers (maybe better rate from money changers)

PHRASES Arabic is the official language across the peninsula, but English is widely used and on many signs.

VISA Visas are required by all nationals except those of the Gulf States. The Visa stamps are normally done on the ship and without charge

CURRENCY: The Saudi riyal or SAR; is the currency of Saudi Arabia. Notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 riyals, or coins for 1 or 2 SAR. Subdivided into 100 halalas = 1 SAR. Cards, digital and contactless payments are widely accepted.

VISA: Cruise passengers see operator as they may be dealing with any relative requirement.

CURRENCY – Bahrain dinar, which is divided into 1000 fils. USD is accepted widely.

• Salaam a’laykum- Formal hello
• Wa’ laykum Salaam- Formal response to hello
• Salaam- Hello
• Marhaba- Hello
• Halla- Casual hello
• Halla Walla- Casual response to hello
• Maa Salaama- Goodbye
• Ee- Yes
• La- No

VISA – At the time of writing, cruise passengers will get a visa upon arrival to Bahrain and a landing card for a stay no longer than 24 hrs

The cruise for foodies and culture. From the big bustling city with more millionaires than any other city in the world, Mumbai, down through the beaches of Goa, to the food capital of God’s Own Country, Kerala. But you need a visa even if not going ashore!

CURRENCY Indian rupe.

VISA sadly immigration into India is far from easy. You must have the CORRECT visa, with the correct number of allowed entries. You will do face to face with officials on board the ship. E-Visa is only valid for those staying on board and disembarking a cruise in Cochin, Goa and Mangalore as long as their ship has not visited another port in India. Otherwise, all passengers on ocean-going ships that are visiting India must have a full Tourist visa – even if they do not intend to go ashore. And must have a correct number of entries.

PHRASES (language changes by region)

• Hello! or Goodbye = NA-MA-SKAR or NA-MA-STE
• Good,  Okay, Oh, really?  = ACH-HA
• please = KRIPAYA
• Thank you = DHAN-YA-VAD or SHU-KHRI-YA

A big city, crazy railway station. Advice is to see the slums by small tour and be discrete with photo taking. Don’t expect anyone to know where anything is. If you need your mobile phone mended, take it with you, kids in the back streets who may never have been to school will re-build the circuit board!

IN BRIEF – This is a new port in Panambur, 10 km from the town. There is normally a shuttle or taxi and tux-tuks from the port entrance. If you need your mobile phone mended, take it with you.

IN BRIEF – Go from the port into Cochin and find the very cosmopolitan cafes modern, ancient fishing, traditional mime dance, and our favourite the Malabar Hotel which is a converted British bank, very classy.