Everything You Should Know About Muscat Port
Muscat is the capital of Oman and has a population of about 3.1 million. It is a progressive, optimistic city that is well-loved by its citizens. It is truly an amazing place and a destination in itself. It is simply the pearl of the Middle East. The people are friendly and willing to show off their great country. You will find that this city is developing. High-rise buildings are slowly being built but still maintain their Arab characteristics.
Even the most functional buildings need to reflect traditions like domes or Arabic windows. It is an incredibly clean, safe, and quiet city. You will find that there is no noise on the streets. One can spend a day in this busy city without feeling like they are in a city of 3.1 million people. Sultan Qaboos is responsible for all the changes that have taken place here in recent decades. Call him what you want, he is the Sultan, Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs and so on.
When he came to power in 1970, he started the “Omani Renaissance”, also known as the Age of Enlightenment. He transformed this medieval country into a thriving global economy. Oman is a country worth following. It is changing rapidly but has not lost its charm or traditions. It is one of those places that will be eclipsed by tourism in about 20 years. So enjoy Muscat and Oman in all its glory while you still can. Read our complete Muscat Port Cruise Guide for all the details.
Muscat Cruise Port – Quick Facts
– Cruise ships dock in Muscat.
– Walking inside the port is strictly prohibited.
– The cruise port is about 1.2 miles from the city center (Muttrah).
– There are hop-on hop-off buses.
– There are plenty of official taxis available for tours or excursions.
Oman Tourist Information
Official currency – Riyal
US dollars accepted – often accepted
Credit cards – widely accepted
Muscat Cruise Port
From the higher rooftops, you can see the docks of the cruise ships in the artificial port. Oman tries to make the experience as comfortable as possible for cruise guests coming to this destination. Walking is not allowed inside the port, so there is a shuttle service to Muttrah, one of the most attractive areas in Muscat, right in front of the port.
Taxi prices for cruise ships in Muscat
These are the taxi prices displayed at the port. Taxis do not have meters so negotiation is required before getting in. Please note that they recommend that taxis are around 10 Omani Riyals per hour for the first 3 hours and 7 Omani Riyals per hour for the rest of the time.
Muscat Cruise Terminal
The Muscat Cruise Terminal building is directly on the sidewalk and has shops, internet access, and security facilities.
Cruise Port Guide Muscat – Oman: Mooring at Port Sultan Qaboos
In Muscat, cruise ships usually dock at Port Sultan Qaboos, at Piers 4 and 5. This is the official port of Muscat and is located opposite Mutrah. The terminal does not offer tourist information or maps, but there is a station building that is not always open. The cruise terminal is wheelchair accessible.
Walking is prohibited in the port, so a shuttle bus is available on board. This shuttle usually goes to the Port Gate and Muttrah Souq. It is wise not to get off at the Port Gate, as you will usually only find taxis waiting there and nothing else. If you choose to get off at Muttrah Souq, you are entering one of the three most interesting areas of the city.
Muscat is located between the mountains and the sea. It consists of a long string of suburbs that stretches for 60 kilometers. Muscat is sometimes called the “Three Cities”. This refers to these three areas:
– Muttrah. This is where the cruise bus will take you. It is about 2 kilometers/1.2 miles from the port. You will find the famous Muscat Corniche, Muttrah Souq, Bait Al Barandah Museum, and Incense Burner here.
– Roy. This neighborhood is about 6 kilometers/3.5 miles from your cruise port. You can think of it as the “downtown” of Muscat.
Old Muscat is approximately 7 km/4.5 miles from your cruise port. When visiting Muscat, you can’t miss this place. Here, you will find places like Jalali Fort, Milani Fort, Al Alam Royal Palace, and Beit Zubair Museum.
Transportation in Muscat
The facilities in Muscat are very good. However, the city is huge, so you will need some form of transportation. Find out about your options below.
Public Bus System
Amman has a public bus service. You will find white/green buses and red buses, although you will rarely see them, so you may prefer to avoid this mode of transport in Muscat.
Taxis in Muscat
Official taxis in Oman are white and orange. They do not have taxi meters, so you should negotiate a price before getting in a taxi. Most taxi drivers accept USD or EUR.
Taxis for sightseeing tours in the Muscat area cost 10 RON per hour for the first 3 hours and 7 RON per hour for the rest. If there are more than four passengers, the minibus fare is twice the terminal taxi fare.
One-way flights in Oman can be very expensive. For example, a round trip from the port to another neighborhood might cost $15, or a round trip from the port to the Grand Mosque might cost around $40 or 17 RON.
To the left is a picture of a sign at the port showing taxi prices. This will give you a good idea of how much it should cost, but in real life, it is rare to get a price because you will find it on the sign. Expect to pay around $15 for a 15-minute taxi ride. Prices are reasonable; for example, a taxi to Al Qurum is $15 one way and a taxi to the Grand Mosque is $40 one way.
Hop-on Hop-off Bus
Muscat offers a hop-on, hop-off bus. This red double-decker bus will be waiting for you at the Muttrah Corniche, usually at the same spot where the cruise ship buses drop you off. Sometimes, these buses also come to the terminal, but it depends on what arrangements your cruise company has made for them.
Hop-on hop-off buses are expensive compared to other places, but Muscat is so popular that the hop-on, hop-off bus is a very good option for practical reasons alone. They change their facilities occasionally, so be sure to check with them about their shuttle service.
Destination and distance from cruise port
In the city:
Muttrah (including Corniche, Souk, Incense Burner, Brand Museum)
2 km/1.2 mi south of the port (where the shuttle drops you off)
Ruwi
6 km/3.5 mi southwest of the port
Old Muscat (including Bait Al Zubair Museum, Royal Palace, Al Jalali Fort, Al Mirani Fort)
7 km/4.5 mi southeast of the port
Al-Bustan Palace is 12 km/7.5 mi south of the port
The Grand Mosque is 25 km/15.5 mi west of the port
Out of the city:
Nakhal Fort is 110 km/68 mi southwest of the port
Ain Thawra is 110 km/68 mi southwest of the port
Nizwa is 180 km/112 mi southwest of the port
Jibrin Castle 205 km/205 mi southwest of the port km/127 mi
FAQs about Muscat as a cruise destination
– Can taxis drive on the sidewalks?
No, they are not allowed to do so unless they have a special permit from the port authority. Taxis are available at the shuttle stops.
– Are there maps at the terminal?
No, there aren’t, but you can get one in town for around $8.
– Do taxis accept Euros or US dollars?
Yes, in most cases, they do, but they’ll give you the remaining amount in Riyals.
– Do the shops in the market accept Euros or US dollars?
Yes, they often do, but they’ll also give you the remaining amount in Riyals.
– Is Muscat safe?
Yes, Oman is one of the safest countries in the world.
-Is Muscat clean?
Yes, it’s almost as clean as Singapore.
– Where can I ride a camel in Muscat?
It’s impossible. It’s not just an attraction in Muscat.
-Is there a dress code for entering the Grand Mosque of Amman?
Yes, there is a very strict policy. Men must cover their arms and cannot wear shorts, and women should fully cover their arms, legs, and hair.
– Are photos allowed in the Grand Mosque?
Yes, you can even use a flash.
– Where is the nearest car rental office?
The nearest car rental office is in Ruwi. You need to take a taxi to get there, which costs about $15. There you will find a street with various car rental offices.
