Port Blair Cruise Port
Port Blair, India · Asia
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Port Blair — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysTender to Haddo Jetty in the Andaman Islands; Cellular Jail, Ross Island ruins, Corbyn's Cove Beach and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.
At a glance
Port summary
Port Blair (officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram by the Indian government in September 2024 — both names are still in everyday use) is the capital of India's Andaman & Nicobar Islands and one of the more remote cruise calls on the Bay-of-Bengal side of the country, sitting 1,300 km east of Chennai. Most cruise ships ANCHOR in Port Blair harbour and TENDER passengers to Haddo Jetty on the western side of the harbour; smaller expedition vessels can berth alongside at the Haddo cargo wharf when the cruise berth is open. Aberdeen Bazaar and the Cellular Jail (the headline cruise-day sight) are 3 km east of Haddo Jetty across the central peninsula — a 10-min taxi ride or 30-min walk through the bazaar streets. Foreigners no longer need a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for South Andaman since 2018, but ID checks still happen on the Ross Island ferry pier. The cruise day splits naturally into three options: a city heritage half-day (Cellular Jail, Aberdeen Bazaar, the Anthropological and Samudrika museums), a Ross Island ferry trip (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island — abandoned British headquarters reclaimed by jungle) or a longer beach/nature day (Corbyn's Cove, Chidiya Tapu sunset point or the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor). Currency is the Indian rupee; ATMs are available in central Port Blair but cards are accepted at fewer places than mainland India and small island businesses are firmly cash-only. Uber and Ola do NOT operate in the Andamans — pre-paid taxis from Haddo Jetty or arranged through the IP&T tourism welcome desk are the cruise-day mode. Cell coverage is patchy and only Indian SIMs work; foreign roaming is unreliable. Cruise passengers must show their boarding card and passport at every jetty.
Cruise dock
Haddo Jetty — Cruise Tender Landing
OSM-confirmed Haddo Jetty (node 4709210191, amenity=ferry_terminal) on the western side of Port Blair harbour. The cruise tender landing for ships anchoring in the bay; smaller expedition vessels (under 200 m) can berth alongside at the Haddo cargo wharf when the cruise berth is open. Aberdeen Bazaar and the Cellular Jail are 3 km east via Marine Hill Road; the Samudrika Marine Museum is a 5-min walk along NH-4.
Latitude: 11.683533, Longitude: 92.719536
See dock on port map →Getting to Port Blair
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Bring ₹2000-3000 in small notes from a mainland Indian port — ATMs in Aberdeen Bazaar can run out of cash on cruise days and foreign-card surcharges add up. Cards work only at the larger hotels and the Cellular Jail counter.
Build your perfect day in Port Blair
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the India & Sri Lanka collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Port Blair cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedPort Blair city highlights: Cellular Jail and Corbyn's Cove
≈ 4 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€60$67
Do it yourself
€16$18
Save ≈ €44Save ≈ $49 (73% off)
Cruise ships berth at Haddo Wharf, about 3–4 km from the town centre. Auto-rickshaws and taxis wait at the wharf gate; an auto to the Cellular Jail is roughly ₹120–150 (€2) and to Corbyn's Cove a similar fare. Cellular Jail entry is about ₹30 (€1) plus a small camera fee; Corbyn's Cove and Aberdeen Bazaar are free to wander. Carry rupees in cash — card acceptance is patchy and autos are cash-only.
See the DIY plan →
Ross Island colonial ruins and penal-colony heritage
≈ 4 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€70$78
Do it yourself
€17$19
Save ≈ €53Save ≈ $59 (76% off)
Boats to Ross Island leave from the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex (Aberdeen Jetty) beside Marina Park, about 3–4 km from Haddo Wharf (auto ~₹120, €2). Tickets are sold as a combined Ross + North Bay 'two-island' boat at roughly ₹870 (€11) per adult; you cannot currently buy a Ross-only seat, so you ride the same circuit but spend your time ashore on Ross. Crossing is ~20 min; boats run 8:30 AM–2:00 PM with the last circuit back by 4:00 PM. Forest-department island entry is about ₹50 (€1). Bring your passport — photo ID is checked at boarding.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
10 plansCellular Jail & Corbyn's Cove Classic
The Andamans' most powerful history lesson, softened with a beach breeze — Port Blair's essential half day.
Ross Island Heritage Walk
The jungle-swallowed colonial capital where the British Raj crumbles into banyan roots and deer trails.
North Bay Coral Island
The Andamans' easiest reef day — snorkel, glass-bottom boat and the lighthouse from the ₹20 note.
The Grand Port Blair Day
Cellular Jail, Ross Island and the waterfront — Port Blair's full story in one long, rewarding day.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Port Blair?
- Port Blair is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Port Blair?
- Walking into Port Blair from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Port Blair centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, Taxi, Ferry, Tuk-tuk, On foot, Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Port Blair?
- Plan for at least 5 hours ashore to see Port Blair independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Port Blair and are cards accepted?
- Port Blair uses the Indian Rupee. 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 Port Blair 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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