Port Cards
Quick-reference cards for cruise ports across the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea, southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Find your port »Plan Your Day Ashore
A port card is the page you read the night before you go ashore. Each one answers three questions in a couple of lines: where the ship actually ties up or anchors, how far the main sights are from the gangway, and what most passengers end up doing with the day. Below that you will find bookable shore excursions with ratings and durations, so you can compare options without wading through a travel guide.
The cards are grouped into four routes: the Arabian Gulf and Oman, the Red Sea and Egypt, southern Africa, and the islands of the Indian Ocean. Several of these ports sit hours from their headline sight, and the cards say so plainly.
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Viator
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Viator
Viator
ViatorTours, prices and reviews from Viator, a Tripadvisor company — prices are per person, from, and were checked November 1, 2026. Port Cards may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Always allow a generous buffer to be back on board before all-aboard time.
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Tell us your ship, dates, ports and interests. A cruise specialist can arrange private or small-group port days with pier pick-up and a prompt return to your ship.
Request a custom shore plan »Port Cards — FAQ
Do I need a visa for these ports?
Rules differ widely across the Gulf states, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa, Namibia and the island nations, and some ports handle entry for cruise passengers differently from air arrivals. Check with your cruise line well before sailing and carry the documents it asks for on every port day.
What should I wear ashore in the Gulf and Egypt?
Light clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is a sensible default, and it is required for mosque visits. Women are usually asked to cover their hair inside mosques; scarves and robes are often provided at major sites such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
How do long day trips like Petra, Luxor and Cairo work?
From Aqaba, Safaga, Port Said and Alexandria the headline sight is a long drive away, so these trips fill the whole port call and leave little slack. Choose an outing built around the ship’s schedule, and plan the rest of the day around the return drive.
Are these mostly tender ports?
Most of the large ports, including Dubai, Doha, Muscat and Cape Town, have proper cruise berths. Island and small-town stops such as Nosy Be and Khasab are more likely to involve tenders, which add time getting ashore and back.