Cruising, or safaris as they are commonly known in the Maldives is an exciting way to explore the Maldives. There are about ninety safari vessels registered in the country; varying in size and level of comfort.

A cruise may be as long as a week, ten days or two weeks. While most boats have between eight to twelve cabins all are well presented. The cabins in general come with double, twin or triple beds, attached bathrooms with hot and cold water, air-conditioning, and ambient lighting and tasteful interior décor. All vessels have bars and lounges, international telephone connections, and safety systems to include radars, echo sounders and coastal radio systems.

So what do you do on a cruise? Cruise itineraries vary but follow three main routes; South Male’ Atoll, Vaavu Atoll and Meemu, is the southerly cruise, Ari Atoll is a popular cruise out to the west, and North Male’ Atoll, Baa and Lhaviyani to the north. However more and more cruises have been venturing further to the north and south in the last few years.

While some cruises are designed to take you to the most exciting surf breaks, others are tailor-made to suit divers taking them to rarely dived reefs that dot the Maldives along its length and breadth. On dive cruises, the main cruise vessels are accompanied by smaller dive boats that carry the compressor and other dive gear and take divers to dive points once the safari boat is firmly anchored for the day.

Wherever your safari takes you or whatever your activity is, what is most special about a safari is that it lets you see more of Maldives; all safari itineraries include stops at resorts, inhabited islands and uninhabited islands. Cultural performances, barbecues on the beach, and visits to local villages and towns are part of any cruise.