A Mongolia cruise is not possible in the ocean sense, and the reason is simple geography. Mongolia is landlocked, with no coastline and no cruise port, so it never appears on ocean cruise itineraries. Mongolia is deep in the Asian interior with no route to the sea, so there is no river cruise option. It is a land-travel destination reached by air or the Trans-Mongolian railway. This page exists for completeness, and to explain honestly how travelers actually reach the country.
For context, Mongolia is a genuinely rewarding destination for the land traveler, known for the vast steppe, the Gobi Desert, and nomadic culture. But these are experiences for carefully planned overland trips rather than cruising. The realistic way to combine the country with a cruise is as a separate land extension, reached via a China gateway port (such as Tianjin), then overland. For travelers focused on cruising, the established ports of Asia offer the practical options.
Quick Facts
| Region | Asia (listed for completeness) |
| Ocean cruise port | None; Mongolia is landlocked |
| Cruise relevance | None by sea; reached overland as a land trip |
| Realistic access | Land extension via a China gateway port (such as Tianjin), then overland |
| Highlight (for land travel) | The vast steppe, the Gobi Desert, and nomadic culture |
| Currency | Mongolian tugrik |
| Language | Mongolian (limited English) |
| Visa (US/UK/EU) | Visa rules vary by nationality; check before travel |
| Plug types | Type C and E |
| Cruise lines | No ocean lines call; reached only by land |
Best Time to Cruise
Since Mongolia has no cruise port, there is no cruise season to plan around. For a land visit combined with a cruise elsewhere in Asia, the comfortable months depend on the country’s climate and your specific plans.
There is no shoulder-season cruise value to weigh, since no ocean itineraries include Mongolia. The cruise seasons that matter are those of the coastal Asian countries you might pair it with. Browse the latest Asia cruise deals for those sailings.
If you plan to add Mongolia as a land extension, time it to suit both the country’s climate and the cruise you attach it to. For the cruise portion itself, follow the timing advice for whichever coastal region you sail.
Top Cruise Ports
No cruise port (reached overland as a land trip)
Mongolia is landlocked, so it has no cruise port and never features on ocean itineraries. To experience it, travelers arrange a separate overland trip, typically reached via a China gateway port (such as Tianjin), then overland combined with onward air or rail travel.
The genuine attractions, the vast steppe, the Gobi Desert, and nomadic culture, reward the land traveler who plans for them properly. Insider tip: treat Mongolia as a dedicated land extension worth several days in its own right. It cannot be squeezed into an ocean cruise port day, since it has no coast at all.
Which Cruise Lines Sail Here
No ocean cruise lines call at Mongolia, since it is landlocked with no port, so there is no cruise-line lineup to compare. The country simply does not appear on ocean itineraries.
Some specialist operators run land tours and, where geography allows elsewhere in the region, river cruises, but these are entirely separate products from the ocean cruising covered across this site.
If you want to combine an ocean cruise with a visit to Mongolia, choose a sailing to the nearest coastal region and add a land extension. Read our Princess Cruises review, our Celebrity Cruises review, and our Royal Caribbean review for lines that serve the relevant Asian coasts, and use the compare tool to plan.
Shore Excursion Tips
There are no ocean cruise excursions in Mongolia, since no ship calls. The country’s genuine attractions are experienced through a separate, carefully planned overland trip rather than anything connected to a cruise.
If you do make the land trip, Mongolia rewards proper time and planning, ideally arranged through a reputable specialist operator who knows the region and its logistics.
The local language is Mongolian (limited English), and the currency is the Mongolian tugrik. The visa situation is worth checking (Visa rules vary by nationality; check before travel). These matter for the land trip rather than any cruise. For shore visits in Asia’s coastal cruise ports, see our guide to cruise shore excursions.
Sample Itineraries
There is no ocean cruise itinerary that includes Mongolia. The closest approach is an Asia cruise to the nearest coastal region, combined with your own separately arranged overland trip into Mongolia.
Specialist land tours, and river cruises where regional geography allows, are separate products with their own pricing and booking, distinct from the ocean sailings covered here.
For an ocean voyage, plan a cruise to the relevant Asian coast and treat Mongolia as a land add-on. Compare current Asia sailings on the deals page, then arrange the overland portion separately.
Packing & Practical Tips
There is no cruise-specific packing for Mongolia, since you reach it overland. For a land visit combined with an Asia cruise, pack for the country’s climate and terrain, with comfortable walking shoes, layers, and sun protection, plus anything your specialist tour advises.
Mongolia uses the Mongolian tugrik and the Type C and E plug types, so bring a universal adaptor for the land portion. The visa situation is this: Visa rules vary by nationality; check before travel. For the packing list for the cruise portion of your trip, see our cruise packing guide.
The Verdict
The honest verdict on Mongolia is clear: it is not an ocean cruise destination, because it is landlocked with no coastline or cruise port. It is, however, a genuinely rewarding country for the land traveler drawn to the vast steppe, the Gobi Desert, and nomadic culture. We include it here for completeness and to explain honestly how cruisers can actually connect with it, as a land extension rather than a port of call.
Do not look for an ocean cruise that calls at Mongolia, since none exists. If the country appeals, add it as a separate, well-planned overland trip from the nearest coastal region, and choose your ocean cruise for whichever Asian coast you sail. For most cruisers, Mongolia will be a dedicated land journey rather than part of a voyage.
Related Guides (internal links)
- Asia Cruise Guide: the full regional overview
- Read our Princess Cruises review
- Read our Celebrity Cruises review
- Read our Royal Caribbean review
- Cruising China: Shanghai and Beijing
- Cruising Kazakhstan: the Central Asian steppe
- See this week’s Asia cruise deals
- Compare cruise lines side by side
- Plan your route with the Itinerary Planner
Last updated: May 23, 2026. Written by Helena Marsh, Editorial Director.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to cruise Mongolia?
The cruise seasons that matter are those of the coastal Asian countries you might pair it with.
Which cruise lines sail to Mongolia?
Which Cruise Lines Sail Here No ocean cruise lines call at Mongolia, since it is landlocked with no port, so there is no cruise-line lineup to compare.
How much does a Mongolia cruise cost?
A Mongolia cruise varies widely by line, cabin and season, but judge the all-in price โ base fare plus gratuities, drinks, WiFi and excursions โ rather than the headline lead-in fare.
Which cruise ports does Mongolia have?
Mongolia is landlocked, with no coastline and no cruise port, so it never appears on ocean cruise itineraries.