India & the Indian Ocean
As with all cruise routes, it is hard to group them. Unlike land borders, we cruisers tend to think in cruise routes – I guess that makes us seafarers.
There are three common ways for cruisers to discover the Indian Ocean.
- When travelling around the coast of Africa the first island, and it is huge, is Madagascar.
- Going out to sea from the ocean side of Madagascar, one finds La Reunion, as the French did, and Mauritius as the English did. Seychelles.
- Staying on the African coast one would sail into Arabia, then cross from there to find the west coast of India, which sees the island of Sri Lanka which the Portuguese discovers in 1504.
There are other islands, but listed here are the ones with used cruise ports.
Cruise Ports for Islands in the Indian Ocean
To follow
CURRENCY: Sri Lankan Rupee is divided into 100 cents. ₨ is generally used, but the official currency code “LKR” is used to distinguish it from Indian and other rupees.
VISA: The ETA is initially limited to 30 days validity from the date of arrival although it may be extended for up to six (06) months. You can apply online or use the assistance of iVisa service.
Sri Lanka has ruled out shipbreaking as an industry going against the trend in the region. Its neighbour, India, scraps over 50% of doomed cruise ships.
LANGUAGE: Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages of Sri Lanka.
| Thank you (very much) | Bohoma istouti |
| Welcome | Paiḷaigaænaīmae |
| Goodbye | Ayubowan |
TRAVEL ADVICE: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka
The nine districts in Sri Lanka that have existed since the 19th century. However, they were only given legal status in 1987 when the constitution established provincial councils.
Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon and had Portuguese influence from around 1500, though its rich history goes back as far back as 500,000 years. It is now the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. It is an island just off southern India in the Indian Ocean, separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. It lies southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea. Cruise routes to India and South Africa might stop here, just as a world cruise might. The Seven Seas Marina normally has it on its route around March.
The busiest cruise port in Sri Lanka , Colombo is the Captial of the Western state.
Galle was fortified by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century.
Hambantota
Trincomalee
CURRENCY: Rupee, the same name as used in India and other Indian Ocean countries, but they each have their own Rupee. The Mauritian rupee is the currency of Mauritius. One rupee is subdivided into 100 cents. Visa, MasterCard, Diners and American Express debit and credit cards and the US Dollar are widely accepted in most places. 2021 there are nearly 60 rupees to a GB pound.
VISA: None. Passports stamped on entry allow 60 days stay.
LANGUAGE: English. There is a local french creole used. Like Bonzour for hello.
TRAVEL ADVICE: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mauritius
WARNINGS: Drug possession carries a severe penalty.
Trincomalee
The official flag is the French flag, the unofficial flag, or the local flag uses the colours other Indian Ocean islands use.
CURRENCY: Euro. VISA and other cards are widely accepted.
LANGUAGE: French.
VISA: Reunion is part of the EU. British Citizen passport, you don’t need a visa to enter Réunion for stays of up to three months.
TRAVEL ADVICE: Controlled by what is said in Paris, France. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/reunion
Crime levels are low, and it is relatively trouble free.
Trincomalee
Note the colours that repeat in most Indian Ocean Islands.
CURRENCY: Anything goes except in local markets, local bars and nightclubs where local currency is king. They have their own Rupee, SCR or Seychelles Rupee. Also called roupi and roupie in French. One rupee is subdivided into 100 cents. Visa, MasterCard, Diners and American Express debit and credit cards and the US Dollar are widely accepted in most places. (2021 17.5 rupees is roughly equivalent to 1 GB Pound)
VISA: No visa required.
LANGUAGE: local Seychellois Creole language and French, as well as English in commercial places.
TRAVEL ADVICE: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/seychelles
WARNINGS: Most travel is trouble-free, but there is a problem with drugs in Seychelles, in particular heroin. Crime levels have risen as a result, and certain areas are avoided at night.
Curieuse Island
Desroches Island
La Digue
Mahe
Strictly Human Raises Questions About Humanity and Identity
Dwight Ritter doesn’t walk so much as fight his way forward.His stride is wide, mechanical, his hips compensating for what his knees can no longer do. Every step is effort. Every step is victory.
A Post Re-fit Splendida is off on a Summer Adventure Across the Mediterranean Sea
A Post Re-fit Splendida is off on a Summer Adventure Across the Mediterranean Sea There’s something special about cruising the Mediterranean in summer. The sunshine, historic ports, sea views, late sunsets, and waking up in a new country almost every morning — it’s one of the best ways to experience Europe. And for Summer 2026, […]
Inside the Estrella Galicia Brewery Tour in A Coruña, Spain
Inside the Estrella Galicia Brewery Tour in A Coruña, Spain A Doris Visits Guide 🍺 If you love beer, local culture, and discovering unique experiences while travelling, then the Estrella Galicia Brewery Tour in A Coruña is absolutely worth adding to your Spain itinerary. Located in the heart of Galicia in northern Spain, this isn’t […]
Why Everyone Loves the ABC Islands
Why Everyone Loves the ABC Islands A Doris Visits Guide 🌴 Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao aren’t just Caribbean islands — they’re three completely different experiences wrapped into one unforgettable adventure. If you’ve ever dreamed of turquoise water, colourful streets, warm sunshine, and laid-back island life, the ABC Islands deliver all of that — and more. […]
The Good Ship Murder and Cruise Ship Crime Investigators: Spot the Similarities
The Good Ship Murder has sailed into its third series – and not a week goes by without someone asking me, “Be honest… did they
We predicted this a year ago – Ryan Air are now fully digital – don’t turn up with a paper printed boarding pass
We predicted this a year ago – Ryan Air are now fully digital – don’t turn up with a paper printed boarding pass because it will not work.
Celebrity Solstice in Asia 2026
The Celebrity Solstice immediately struck Elaine and Lindsey as a ship designed to impress at first glance
Chocolate Cake Day – on board ship
Chocolate Cake Day – on board ship is an event not to be missed. The Black Forest Cake was my favourite hands down…. some films don’t need an index. #cake #cakeday #chocolatecake
Praslin Island
400 miles off the coast of Mozambique, forming a channel in the Indian ocean.
CURRENCY: Euro. US dollars and GBP are easily changed at banks. Or local cash from ATM.
VISA: You can buy a 30, 60 or 90-day tourist visa on arrival at the airport in cash using US$, Euros, or Malagasy Ariary
LANGUAGE: Malagasy is the common language, but French is spoken among the educated population.
TRAVEL ADVICE: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/madagascar
Diego Suarez
Fort Dauphin
Ile Sainte Marie
Nosy Be
Tamatave
It’s complicated. The archipelago of four islands is now split. In a vote on independence, Mayotte voted to be a French territory and use the Euro. The other three islands are the Union of Comoros. Not only does that make money different but travel regulations become complicated when France shuts down as it did with COVID.
CURRENCY: The Comorian franc (KMF) is pegged to the euro at an effective rate of about 492 KMF to 1 EUR. One franc is divided into 100 centimes, but you won’t find a centime – they’ve never been issued.
VISA: Visas are available at your points of entry.
LANGUAGE: Official languages are Comorian, French and Arabic.
TRAVEL ADVICE: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/comoros
Moroni is the port for Comoros which is in the Mozambique Channel. It is the capital of the Union of Comoros. Comoros is a volcanic archipelago off Africa’s east coast.
Moroni is the port for Comoros which is in the Mozambique Channel. It is a French terretory, unlike the other three islands. The four islands of Comoros form the volcanic archipelago off Africa’s east coast.
