Indian Ocean Ports« Back to Port Information
Andaman islands (Port Blair)
The Andaman and Nicobar islands are spread over a 500-mile area in the Bay of Bengal between India and Malaysia. They are inhabited by about 12,000 aboriginal tribesmen. In addition to the sociological aspect, a main attraction of these islands are the coral reefs. Cruise ship passengers come ashore at Port Blair.
Mahé, Seychelles (Port Victoria)
Port Victoria, the cruise port and capital of the Seychelles, lies on Mahé, the largest island in the chain and where you can explore lush tea, coconut and tropical fruit plantations and enjoy great beaches. One of the world’s smallest capitals, Port Victoria is a pretty town with fine colonial Law Courts and a silver clock tower, which was erected in 1903 and modeled on the tower at London’s Vauxhall Bridge.
Mauritius (Port Louis)
Located just off the east coast of Madagascar, Mauritius is a tropical paradise. Approximately 10 million years old, Mauritius is thought to be the peak of an enormous sunken volcanic chain stretching from the Seychelles to Réunion. In fact, volcanic lakes and inactive craters can be found scattered throughout the island. Mauritius also boasts a unique marine environment. Surrounded by one of the largest unbroken coral reefs on the planet, conservationists are now campaigning to protect its white coral sand beaches and fragile ecosystem.
Reunion (Pointe des Gallettes)
Réunion is the largest of the Mascarene Islands, which also include Rodrigues and Mauritius. The archipelago was named Mascarentes in 1512 by the Portuguese navigator, Pedro de Mascarenhas. The French made the decision to settle Réunion in 1642, but no one actually lived here until four years later when the French governor of Fort Dauphin in Madagascar exiled a dozen mutineers to the island. In 1649, the king of France officially took possession of Réunion and renamed the island Colbert Bourbon. After the French Revolution, the island took back its original name. It remains an overseas territory of France.
Sri Lanka (Colombo)
Sri Lanka lies 55 miles north of the equator, just off the southern tip of India. With its unique beauty, warm climate and near-perfect beaches, Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s most adored island destinations. Since the 16th century, the Portuguese, Dutch and British have all left their architectural and cultural marks in Sri Lanka’s capital of Colombo. Yet despite its colonial architecture, Sri Lanka has always remained Oriental in spirit, with colorful bazaars, dancing elephants, graceful women in saris, and many Buddhist shrines and temples.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
For many centuries, traders from Europe, India, the Orient and Arabia were lured to these shores. It was from here that explorer David Livingstone set off on his last expedition into the heart of Africa. Today, as you walk along the winding streets of the old Stone Town, lined with whitewashed-coral rag houses, you can see reminders of this rich history all around you. Among the attractions are the Palace museum, former residence of the Omani Sultans, and the cathedral that now stands on the site of the notorious slave market.Some content provided courtesy of CLIA (Cruise Line International Association)