PhuketCruise Port Guide
Your ship either tenders into Patong Bay or ties up at the deep-sea port across the island. Either way, plan the day around a ride: short adventures above Patong, cooking classes, or a full island tour.
Welcome to Phuket
Pro Picks
Island tour · full dayGuided Phuket island tour with transfers
A van tour past Patong, Karon and Kata beaches to the Karon viewpoint, Wat Chalong temple and a cashew factory, with your guide handling the driving. Pickup is from your accommodation, so message the operator with your ship's landing point and time before you book.
From $35.89/ person
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Elephant walk · 1 hrElephant nature walk in the hills above Patong
A small group follows keepers and elephants along hillside trails above Patong, with sea views and a talk on how the animals are cared for. The village is on Hasippee Road, which the listing puts about 15 minutes from Patong Beach; wear closed-toe shoes.
From $36.07/ person
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Cooking class · 4.5–5 hrsThai cooking class with a market tour
Shop a local fresh market for herbs and produce, then cook a set of Thai dishes at a home kitchen in Kata village. Transfers from Patong, Karon and Kata are free, which makes it one of the easier half-days from a Patong tender.
From $54.90/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Phuket in 2 hours
Jet ski
Electric jet ski on Patong Beach
Ride an electric jet ski off Patong Beach for 30 or 60 minutes, or have a driver take you. It starts from a yellow tent at Patong Bus Station and runs 9:00 to 18:00.
From$65.79
Time required30 minutes - 1 hour
ATV ride
ATV ride on Patong Hill
Choose a 30-minute, 1-hour or 90-minute ATV ride through plantations on Patong Hill to lookouts over Patong and Karon beaches. Pickup is included; children ride as passengers only.
From$26.91
Time required30 minutes - 1.5 hours
ATV ride
Jungle ATV ride in Patong
An instructor-led 90-minute ATV ride on muddy jungle tracks in Patong, with a riding lesson first. It's a morning departure, so book it for an early landing.
From$24.65
Time required1.5 hours
Phuket in 4 hours
Cooking class
Bukit Thai cooking class
Cook tom yum, green curry and pad thai at your own station in a group of up to 10, with an English-speaking chef. Pickup is available; tell them your landing point when you book.
From$48.44
Time required3 hours
Zipline
Zipline and ATV park above Patong
Pick zipline only, ATV only or both at Patong Mountain View, with pickup from Patong among 11 pickup points. Not for anyone afraid of heights; ages 4 and up.
From$30.43
Time required30 minutes - 3 hours
Phuket in 7 hours
Cooking class
Kata Thai cooking class with a market tour
A local market walk with your hosts, then a hands-on class in Kata. The market visit comes only with the lunch session, and on Sundays only lunch runs, with a minimum of four.
From$68.57
Time required4 hours
Island tour
Guided Phuket island tour
A van tour of the west-coast beaches, the Karon viewpoint and Wat Chalong temple. Pickup is from your accommodation, so agree a pickup at the landing with the operator first.
From$35.89
Time required1 day
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Phuket.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Phuket?
Cruise ships at Phuket either anchor in Patong Bay and tender passengers to a jetty at the south end of Patong, or dock at the deep-sea port at Ao Makham on the east side, about 20 minutes' drive from Phuket Town. Princess says which one depends on conditions and ship size, and the plan can change, so check your ship's daily program.
Where is the Royal Caribbean cruise port in Phuket?
Royal Caribbean usually lists Phuket as 'Phuket (Deepsea Port)', the cruise pier at Ao Makham about 5 miles from Phuket Town, on its Navigator of the Seas sailings. Princess ships use either the Patong Bay tender or Ao Makham depending on conditions. Celebrity's port page just says 'the Port of Phuket'. Your booking or daily program names the landing for your sailing.
Can you walk to town from the Phuket cruise port?
Only from the Patong tender: tenders land at the south end of Patong Bay, at the edge of the town, and Princess says you step straight into Patong's beachside activity. From the deep-sea port at Ao Makham you can't walk anywhere useful; Phuket Town is about 5 miles away, a 20-minute drive, and ships often run shuttle buses. Patong is about 45 minutes from Ao Makham by taxi.
What to do in Phuket from a cruise ship?
Phuket is worth getting off for, but plan the day around a ride. From Patong you're at the beach and the nightlife strip, and short trips go up the hills behind town: a 1-hour elephant walk (from $36.07) or a 30-minute ATV ride (from $26.91). Further out are the nearly 150-foot marble Big Buddha and Phuket Old Town's Portuguese-style shophouses. See the 2-hour plans.
How do I get around Phuket from the cruise ship?
Most cruise passengers get around Phuket by taxi or with the Grab ride-hailing app; Celebrity notes that buses usually stop running around 6 p.m., so don't rely on one to get back. Taxis wait at the deep-sea port, but fares there are high and negotiable, so agree the price first. Patong is about 45 minutes from the port by taxi.
Beaches
Can you walk to a beach from the Phuket cruise port?
Yes if your ship tenders: the Patong tender jetty is at the south end of Patong Bay, the same bay as Patong Beach, so the sand is a short walk away. If your ship docks at the deep-sea port at Ao Makham, there's no beach within walking distance; Patong Beach is about 45 minutes by taxi.
Sights
How do I see the Big Buddha and Old Town from the cruise ship?
Phuket's Big Buddha, a marble statue nearly 150 feet tall on a hilltop, and Phuket Old Town with its Portuguese-influenced shophouses are both a drive from either landing. The simplest way to see them is the guided island tour with transfers (from $35.89), which stops at the viewpoints and Wat Chalong, or a taxi or Grab car hired for the day. The 7-hour plans include it.
Money and safety
Do I need baht in Phuket, or can I use US dollars?
Plan on Thai baht in Phuket: the baht is Thailand's currency, and Celebrity suggests changing money after you arrive for a better rate. ATMs are easy to find but usually add a service charge, so take out what you need in one go.
Is Phuket safe for cruise passengers?
Phuket is in the lowest US State Department category: Thailand is rated Level 1, 'exercise normal precautions'. The advisory's warnings apply to the Thai–Cambodian border and the far-south provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, all far from Phuket.