Aqaba Cruise Port
Aqaba, Jordan · Middle East
Cruise ships dock at Aqaba Main Port - Cruise Berth, Aqaba.
Plan my port daysCompact Red Sea cruise port at the edge of downtown Aqaba; full-day excursions reach Petra or Wadi Rum.
At a glance
Port summary
Aqaba is one of the most independent-traveller-friendly Middle Eastern cruise ports. The city is walkable from the berth, but the headline sites (Petra, Wadi Rum) are 1-2 hours inland and need a prebooked driver to do them safely on a port day.
Cruise dock
Aqaba Main Port - Cruise Berth
The main cruise berth in Aqaba, on the waterfront just south of downtown. The Mamluk fort, Great Arab Revolt Plaza and souk are a flat 10-minute walk away. Some cruise calls are redirected to berths in the southern industrial port; confirm berth assignment before disembarkation.
Latitude: 29.516808, Longitude: 34.996247
See dock on port map →Getting to Aqaba
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards are fine for hotels and bigger restaurants, but carry JOD in small notes for taxis, the souk, Petra/Wadi Rum entry, and tips.
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Inside the Red Sea & Egypt collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Aqaba cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedPetra, the Rose-Red City — full-day from Aqaba
≈ 9 h · sold by 7 cruise lines
Cruise line
€300$336
Do it yourself
€202$227
Save ≈ €98Save ≈ $110 (33% off)
Aqaba's cruise terminal sits ~10 min from the city; Petra is ~125 km / 2 hours north on the Desert Highway, so a pre-arranged private taxi or driver round-trip with wait (~120 JOD / €155 per vehicle, split among your group) is the realistic option — there is no convenient public service that fits a ship day. The driver waits at the Petra visitor centre while you walk the Siq to the Treasury and back (~4 km round-trip on foot, or add a club car for 25 JOD). Critical cost note: cruise passengers NOT staying a night in Jordan pay the 90 JOD (~€115) day-visitor entry, not the 50 JOD accommodated rate — there is no Jordan Pass shortcut for day-trippers.
See the DIY plan →
Wadi Rum 4x4 jeep safari and Bedouin desert
≈ 6 h · sold by 6 cruise lines
Cruise line
€150$168
Do it yourself
€93$104
Save ≈ €57Save ≈ $64 (38% off)
Wadi Rum is ~70 km / 1 hour from Aqaba port; take a taxi round-trip (~60–70 JOD / €80 per vehicle with wait, split among your group) to the Wadi Rum visitor centre. Everyone pays the 5 JOD (~€6) protected-area entry there, then books a half-day 4x4 with a Bedouin driver on the spot or in advance (~45–60 JOD per jeep, shared). Bring cash — there are no card facilities or ATMs inside the protected area, and the nearest cash points are back in Aqaba. The visitor-centre restaurant handles lunch.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
10 plansPetra in a Day, the Independent Way
The rose-red city is 125 km inland, the ticket is JD 90 for cruise passengers, and a prebooked driver beats the ship coach on both price and freedom — if you respect the clock.
Wadi Rum: Lawrence's Desert by 4x4
An hour inland, a JD 5 gate fee and a Bedouin jeep turn the desert of Lawrence of Arabia and half a dozen sci-fi films into the most achievable big day out of Aqaba.
Aqaba for Nothing
A 16th-century fort, the 130-metre flag of the Arab Revolt, the walls of one of Islam's earliest planned cities and a working souk — a whole morning ten minutes from the gangway, and barely a dinar spent.
Aqaba on a Plate: Souk, Spices and Sayadieh
Za'atar by the scoop, dates and knafeh, Red Sea fish the way the fishermen eat it, and a coffee ground with cardamom while you wait — a graze through the market ten minutes from the ship.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Aqaba?
- Your ship docks directly at the Aqaba cruise terminal in Jordan.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Aqaba?
- Yes. Aqaba is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Aqaba centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Other transport, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Aqaba?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Aqaba independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Aqaba and are cards accepted?
- Aqaba uses the Jordanian Dinar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Aqaba cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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