Treasures of the Red Sea

Passengers are welcome to board at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. We’ll enjoy dinner on board this evening. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please.

Join a full-day excursion to Petra (lunch included; approx. 10 hours total, incl. 4 hours round trip). Petra is unquestionably one of the greatest marvels ever erected by Man and Nature and is considered to be one of Jordan’s national treasures. Carved into the pink and red stone by the Nabataeans—an Arab people living in Jordan over 2000 years ago—Petra, meaning “rock” in Greek, was strategically located at the junction of the silk and spice trade routes. To enter the city, follow the “siq”, a narrow gorge approximately one kilometer in length, delimited by sharp cliffs on either side—ending at Al Khazneh, the “Treasury”: The tomb of a Nabataean, this impressive Hellenistic facade was carved directly into the pink stone at the beginning of the 1st century. It is a masterpiece of refinement and symmetry which, on its own, makes a visit to Petra worthwhile. Discover the Roman style Nabataean theater carved into the rock over 2000 years ago.
Enjoy an evening of entertainment onboard. 

Join us for a full-day excursion in the Wadi Rum desert (lunch included). Alongside Petra, it is one of Jordan’s must-see sites. Stop for many photo ops as you make your way by Jeep, allowing you to discover the desert made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. You’ll be dazzled by the spectacular colors of the desert, seeing them change according to the radiance of the sunlight as the day progresses. The Bedouins that inhabit the Wadi Rum are well known for their hospitality: Under their tent, you’ll be invited to enjoy tea and luscious goodies, specialties of their local cuisine.
The ship will cruise to Hurghada overnight.

Leave for a full-day excursion to Thebes, the ancient capital of the Pharaohs: Discover Luxor and the Valley of the Kings (lunch included - driving time is approximately 7 hours round trip). The Valley of the Kings is one of ancient Egypt’s top tourist destinations. Located in a deep valley just 2 km from the edge of the plain, the site contains over sixty tombs. Only the openings dotting the face of the cliff remain as tell-tale signs of the tombs below. This valley is one of the main complexes of the Ancient Theban Necropolis, located on the left bank of the Nile, directly across from the city of Luxor. It was here, in this setting, that the Pharaohs awaited immortality in their sarcophagi. Further along, dominating the eastern bank, the 18-meter-high Colossi of Memnon—faceless effigies sitting on a throne—are the ruins of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. The afternoon will be spent visiting the Karnak Temple Complex. Connected to Luxor by a corridor of ram-headed sphinxes, this grandiose site dedicated to the god Amun, was continuously expanded for 1500 years. At the heart of this site stands the colossal Precinct of Amun-Re, enclosing a sacred lake that was used by priests in a purification ceremony before performing rituals in the temple. An important place of worship, it contains the Great Hypostyle Hall, a spectacular forest of gigantic columns. This historically significant complex is breathtakingly beautiful.

Take advantage of the wide range of onboard activities proposed during your full-day cruise today.

Join an excursion to Cairo, “walking in the footsteps of the Pharaohs” (lunch included; approx. 10 hours total, incl. 4 hours round trip). The Giza pyramid complex is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the “Great Pyramid of Giza” (137m) whose peak is still covered in the original white "casing stones” made of highly polished white limestone, its neighbors, the Pyramid of Khafra and the Pyramid of Menkaure (exterior views only). Not far from this jewel of symmetry, the Sphinx stands guard, arousing the admiration of passersby. Abou al-Hôl, literally the “Father of Terror” in Arabic, was called Sphinx by the Greeks because he resembled the mythical winged monster, who, according to legend, guarded the Greek city of Thebes, asking a riddle to travelers seeking entry into the city, and killing those who were unable to answer. It is thought to represent the Pharaoh Khafra. Then continue on to visit the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, one of the highlights of the day—housing, among other things, the Treasure of Tutankhamun.

The ship will cast off to cross the Suez canal. Measuring 173 km long and only 190 meters wide, this canal allows for the strategic passage from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, without having to make the long journey around the southern tip of Africa. These incredible structures were achieved between 1859 and 1869, under the guidance of Ferdinand de Lesseps, well after Darius, the Persian conqueror of Egypt had completed an initial version of the canal. We’ll continue cruising on the Mediterranean to Ashdod.

Join a full-day excursion to Jerusalem (lunch included; approx. 10 hours total, incl. 4 hours round trip). Jerusalem is one of the holiest and most fascinating cities in the world. The old city is home to over 200 historical monuments, including the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. During this tour, discover the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, Mount Zion, as well as the colorful market where the three main religions—Christianity, Judaism, and Islam—live side by side.

In the morning, join an excursion to Galilee. Famous for its luscious landscapes dotted with rolling hills and valleys, its small picturesque cities and its historic sites, Galilee is the best-kept secret in Israel.

This afternoon, set off on a visit to Acre (Saint John of Acre), headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller during Crusades in the Holy Land. The old city of Acre, a UNESCO world heritage site, is home to many remarkable sites, such as ruins from the Greco-Roman period as well as from the time of the Crusades and the Ottoman Empire. Its fascinating historical heritage where East meets West and the unique ruins of the different cultures make it one of the most important cities of the ancient world.
Return on board and continue cruising to Larnaca. Join us for dinner and an evening of entertainment.

Arrive in Larnaca early in the morning. Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m.