Small Ship Cruises in South Western Asia

Ships making long voyages between the Mediterranean and via Suez to and from Southeast and East Asia will make intermediate calls at Indian and/or Sri Lankan ports. On India’s West Coast, Mumbai (Bombay) reveals a heavy dose of modern urban life in a teeming city, air access to Agra and the Taj Mahal; Goa has its Indian-Portuguese-Catholic culture and popular beach scene; and Kochi (Cochin), layers of influence by the Chinese, Jews, Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch, British and Indian occupiers and traders. Chennai (Madras) located on the East Coast is well known for its temples, museums, British influences, and beaches offering a respite from the heat and humidity. Colombo, on most Indian Ocean passages, is Sri Lanka’s cosmopolitan capital with frenetic street life and open air markets, and trip up to nearby Kandy, the former capital, a religious pilgrimage site. Very few small ships venture into the Gulf States.