Port Louis (Mauritius) Cruise Port
Port Louis, Mauritius · Africa
Cruise ships dock at Port Louis cruise jetty (Christian Decotter Cruise Terminal, Les Salines), Port Louis.
Plan my port daysDocked port: ships berth alongside the cruise jetty at the Christian Decotter Cruise Terminal (new terminal building opened in 2023) in Les Salines. Caudan Waterfront is about 15 minutes on foot and the city centre 15–20 minutes; most lines run a shuttle, and taxis wait outside the terminal. Larger or extra ships may use nearby commercial quays.
At a glance
Port summary
Port Louis rewards a half day on foot: browse the Caudan Waterfront and the Blue Penny Museum, walk to the Central Market for street food such as dholl puri, see the UNESCO-listed Aapravasi Ghat where indentured labourers landed, then the Natural History Museum with its dodo, the Jummah Mosque and Chinatown, and climb to Fort Adelaide for the view. For the rest of the island you need wheels: a taxi day hire (agree the route and price first) can combine the Pamplemousses botanical garden and L'Aventure du Sucre in the north, or Grand Bassin, the Black River Gorges viewpoint and the Seven Coloured Earth at Chamarel in the south-west. The Metro Express light rail runs from Port Louis to Curepipe for the Trou aux Cerfs crater. Many museums close on Sundays, and traffic out of the city is heavy at rush hour, so leave a generous buffer.
Cruise dock
Port Louis cruise jetty (Christian Decotter Cruise Terminal, Les Salines)
Dedicated cruise jetty at Les Salines, Port Louis Harbour. The jetty itself is not mapped by name in OSM; coordinate is the Nominatim node 'Terminal de croisière Christian Decotter' on Allée Yuri Gagarin. Neighbouring Bulk Sugar Terminal berth and commercial quays are used when several ships call. About 15 min walk to Caudan Waterfront.
Latitude: -20.156022, Longitude: 57.492369
See dock on port map →Getting to Port Louis
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Carry about Rs 2,000–3,000 in small notes for the market, street food, buses and short taxi rides, and use a card for attractions, restaurants and shops. Agree day-tour prices in rupees or dollars up front.
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Typical weather
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Excursions compared
4 comparedSouth-west Mauritius: Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin, Black River Gorges and Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth
≈ 7 h · sold by 3 cruise lines
Cruise line
€140$155
Do it yourself
€71$79
Save ≈ €69Save ≈ $76 (49% off)
There is no practical public transport to this loop, so pre-book a car with driver for the day (about Rs 3,500–4,500 per car, US$80–100; agree stops and the return time in writing) to meet you at the Christian Decotter Cruise Terminal (Les Salines). Drive about 40 minutes to Trou aux Cerfs, then Grand Bassin (25 min), the Black River Gorges viewpoint (15 min) and Chamarel (20 min); the crater, lake and gorge viewpoint are free, and the Seven Coloured Earth Geopark is Rs 800 (cash in rupees or card, 08:30–17:30). Return via the west coast, about 75 minutes to the terminal.
See the DIY plan →
Port Louis heritage walk: Aapravasi Ghat, Chinatown, Central Market and Caudan Waterfront
≈ 5 h · sold by 3 cruise lines
Cruise line
€120$133
Do it yourself
€19$21
Save ≈ €101Save ≈ $112 (84% off)
Walk about 15 minutes from the Christian Decotter Cruise Terminal to Le Caudan Waterfront (or take the ship's shuttle if offered); everything else is on foot within 15–20 minutes. The Blue Penny Museum is Rs 325 (Mon–Sat 09:30–16:00), Aapravasi Ghat is free (Mon–Fri 09:00–16:00, Sat 09:00–12:00), and Place d'Armes, the Central Market and Chinatown cost nothing beyond street food.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
9 plansPort Louis on Foot: Caudan, the Market and Aapravasi Ghat
The capital in a morning, for free: waterfront, a UNESCO site, the bustling market and the old colonial square.
Street Food Crawl: the Market and Chinatown
Dholl puri, alouda, gâteaux piments and dim sum: a cheap, delicious walk through Port Louis's food cultures.
Blue Penny, the Dodo and Fort Adelaide
Port Louis's museums and its best viewpoint: famous stamps, a dodo skeleton and the city from the citadel.
Pamplemousses Garden and L'Aventure du Sucre
Giant water lilies, centuries-old palms and the story of sugar and rum, with a tasting to finish.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Port Louis?
- Your ship docks directly at the Port Louis cruise terminal in Mauritius.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Port Louis?
- Yes. Port Louis is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Port Louis centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Shuttle bus, Taxi, Metro, Local bus, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Port Louis?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Port Louis independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Port Louis and are cards accepted?
- Port Louis uses the Mauritian rupee. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Port Louis cruise terminal.
- 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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