When your ship docks in the cosmopolitan western India city that was known as Bombay until 1995, arranging Mumbai shore excursions is a best bet for getting to know the city’s must-see sights, marvelous markets, and Mughal history.

If you’re an early riser and think the low-key sounds and sights of an awakening city are its finest hour, book guided Mumbai shore excursions that take you through the early morning, still-tranquil city streets. Pass newspaper sorters dealing with papers in seven different languages. Walk to the city’s major flower market, bursting with color and the sweet aroma of fresh flowers. View the eye-popping array of produce, bread, and more at the various markets. See the freshest fish at the Sassoon Docks and watch as the lively auction begins. Watch the chaotic action at the Dhobi Ghat, India’s open-air laundry, where you’ll see an amazing amalgam of men and machines work to wash, dry, hang, and fold close to half a million pieces of laundry each day.

To get a feel for the city’s more robust and bustling daytime action during your India cruise, schedule Mumbai shore excursions to explore the city’s popular local markets, including the Chor Bazaar, better known as “Thieves Market,” and one of the largest flea market in India. Visit Crawford Market, with its 50-foot high skylight, and you’ll see incredible varieties of fresh fruit and vegetables, mountains of spices, perfume, household goods, international sweets and biscuits, and even pets.

From your Mumbai cruise, see the city’s most important sights, including the famous landmark, Gateway of India, in comfort and style on a motor coach excursion. Drive along Marine Drive, a seaside promenade and marvel at the Naiman Point skyscrapers, and Malabar Hill, the city’s toniest neighborhood. See the railway station fashioned after London’s Pancras Station and head to the magnificent Oberoi hotel for refreshments.

Among the most popular things to do in Mumbai from a cruise is a guided boat excursion of mystery, intrigue, and discovery to the caves of Elephanta Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once on the island, walk up 120 steps get to the entrance of the magnificent cave temples. The temples, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, are hewn directly out of the cave’s rock and were thought to be carved between the 5th and 8th centuries. At the entrance to the first cave (Great Cave), you’re sure to be enthralled by Trimurti, a powerful sculpture depicting the three faces of Shiva: creator, protector, and destroyer.