A cruise day in Aqaba is a race against the ship's all-aboard time. The port is the gateway to Petra and Wadi Rum, but both are a long drive away, so the question isn't what to see. It's what you can see and still be back at the gangway with room to spare. This guide sets out the distances, the realistic time budget and what to check when you book.
Short version.
Petra is about two hours by road each way, so a Petra day is roughly eight hours door to door. Wadi Rum is about an hour away and suits a half-day jeep tour. Doing both in one call is possible only if your ship stays late, so ask for a written timetable before you pay. Book a licensed guide with port pick-up and drop-off, and know your all-aboard time (October 2026).
The port in brief
Cruise Mapper lists Aqaba Cruise Terminal at Marsa Zayed as opened in January 2023 and managed by Abu Dhabi Ports Group, with a 700 metre pier and a terminal building with passenger halls, prayer rooms, food outlets and shops. Ships dock at the pier, so there's no tendering. The same page says the port area isn't practical to walk from, and that cruise lines commonly arrange shuttles to a city-centre drop-off. A 2018 Cruise Arabia article describes a very different set-up, with no dedicated terminal and ships docking at commercial quays, so older guides may be out of date. Cruise Mapper's schedule lists calls from October 2026, but we haven't verified individual ship dates.
Time and distance
- Petra:
about 125 km and roughly 2 hours by road each way (CruiseSheet; Cruise Mapper says the same), so about 4 hours of transfers before you've seen anything.
- Wadi Rum:
about 60 km and roughly 1 hour each way.
- Petra on the ground:
a private-tour listing on The Abroad Guide gives about 3 to 4 hours at the site, with pick-up usually between 7 and 9 am. The Siq is about 1 km and the main trail 3.9 km one way to Qasr al-Bint (Cruise Mapper).
- Typical excursion lengths (CruiseSheet):
a Wadi Rum sunset tour is about 195 minutes, a half-day jeep tour about 240 minutes, a full-day jeep tour 360 to 480 minutes, and a Petra one-day tour about 480 minutes.
So a Petra day is about 8 hours, a Wadi Rum half day is about 4 to 5 hours including the transfer, and both together need a long call. If your ship leaves at dusk, you're likely choosing one.
Which excursion fits your call
- Under about 6 hours in port:
Wadi Rum half-day jeep tour, or Aqaba itself.
- About 8 to 10 hours:
Petra, with a buffer.
- 10 hours or more:
Petra and Wadi Rum, but only with a written timetable and a driver who knows the order of the day. Our own port tours for Petra, and Petra and Wadi Rum
are listed on our Aqaba Port Tours page, with port pick-up and drop-off.
What it costs
Prices change by season and group size, so use these as pointers only. One private Petra tour from Aqaba listed on The Abroad Guide is $300 per group of up to four, with a private air-conditioned vehicle, Wi-Fi, bottled water and pick-up from the port or hotel, and no meals or tips. The page has no date and is inconsistent on the length of the drive, so we'd confirm both with any operator. Wadi Rum camel rides, as an add-on, are listed on CruiseSheet at 15 JD for 30 minutes, 20 JD for 60 minutes and 35 JD for 120 minutes. The Wadi Rum visitor entry is 5 JD per person (Beinharim Tours, 2023), though a Jordan Pass covers it (see Is the Jordan Pass worth it?). Whether Petra entry is covered in an operator's price is the most common thing to miss, so ask.
Ship excursion or independent?
CruiseSheet's advice is to book ship-sponsored or reputable tours for Petra and Wadi Rum to ensure a timely return, and to avoid local buses, which it calls unreliable for cruise timing. Both options can work. The real difference is what happens if you run late: ask your cruise line about its policy for independent tours before you book one, and get the operator's cancellation and delay terms in writing. A licensed guide who coordinates with the driver and knows your all-aboard time is the key.
What to check before you book
- Your all-aboard time, and the buffer the operator builds in. Cruise Mapper recommends allowing a return margin for road delays and port procedures.
- Where the driver meets you, and where you're dropped off.
- Whether Petra entry, lunch, water and guide fees are included.
- Whether you need to carry your passport ashore. Cruise Mapper says to check.
- Whether your nationality needs a visa for a day trip. We haven't confirmed the current rule for cruise passengers, so ask your cruise line or the operator before you rely on it.
- The vehicle: air-conditioned, with a driver who knows the route.
If you stay in Aqaba
With a few hours, Cruise Mapper's suggested Old Town and seafront route is about 2.5 km, 35 to 45 minutes on foot, or 2 to 3 hours with stops, passing the souq and Aqaba Castle. The 2018 Cruise Arabia article, written when ships docked elsewhere, says the port gates were about 4 km from the centre and the Mamluk fortress about 20 minutes' walk from the port, which doesn't match Cruise Mapper's advice that walking from the port isn't practical, so use the shuttle or a taxi and agree the fare first (CruiseSheet).
Practical notes
- Money:
the currency is the Jordanian dinar. CruiseSheet says some operators and shops accept US dollars, cards work at hotels and larger restaurants, and you should carry cash for small cafes and souks.
- Sun:
hat, sunscreen and water. Heat can be intense.
- Clothing:
cover shoulders and knees outside beach and resort areas. Our dress guide
covers Petra and Wadi Rum.
- Alcohol:
served in resort bars, but being intoxicated in public is illegal (Cruise Arabia, 2018).
FAQ
How far is Petra from the Aqaba cruise port?
About 125 km, roughly two hours by road each way, so plan for about eight hours for a Petra day.
Can I see Petra and Wadi Rum in one cruise day?
Only if your ship stays late. Wadi Rum is about an hour away and Petra two. Ask the operator for a written timetable and your all-aboard time before booking.
Can I walk from the port into Aqaba?
Cruise Mapper says the port area isn't practical to walk from and that shuttles to a city-centre drop-off are commonly arranged. Check what your line provides.
Is a ship excursion safer than a private tour?
CruiseSheet recommends ship-sponsored or reputable tours for timely returns. Whichever you choose, ask what happens if you're late and get the terms in writing.
Do I need cash?
A little. Cards work at hotels and bigger restaurants, but small cafes and souks want Jordanian dinars.
What should I wear?
Light long layers, a hat, sunscreen and sturdy shoes. Cover shoulders and knees outside beach and resort areas.
Plan your port day
Tell us your ship, call dates and all-aboard time on our contact page
and we'll suggest what fits, or see the Petra
and Wadi Rum
guides.
Last updated: 1 November 2026. Ship schedules, prices and entry rules change, so confirm them before you book.
Sources checked
- Cruise Mapper, Aqaba port page (calls listed from October 2026).
- CruiseSheet, Aqaba port guide (undated).
- The Abroad Guide, Petra one-day tour from Aqaba (undated).
- Cruise Arabia, "Cruise port focus: Aqaba, Jordan" (29 October 2018).
- Beinharim Tours, Wadi Rum camping guide (March 2023).
