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Revelations of Suez, Sinai and the Red Sea

Holy Land, Suez Canal & Jordan: Limassol to Jeddah13 Day Expedition Cruise

D2323100312
Dates
10/03/23 - 10/14/23
Ship
SH Diana
Duration
11 Nights
Guests
2 Guest
Price From
$ 8,101
Per Person
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Trip Details
Embark on an epic journey steeped in centuries of history on our Red Sea Discovery cruise on board our 5-star cultural expedition ship. Departing from Cyprus, we’ll call in at the Egyptian port city on the Mediterranean, Port Said, before spending the day sailing through the Suez Canal en route to the Red Sea. You have plenty of time to discover the charms of the Red Sea, from the beauty of diving in its waters, to the intriguing ports of Sharm El-Sheikh, Aqaba and Safaga, perhaps travelling inland to visit ancient sites such as Cairo, Luxor and Petra. Finally we arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s jewel, knowing we’ve seen some of the most colourful places on the Red Sea
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Trip Highlights
Stand at the foot of Mount Sinai where Moses received the ten commandments
Cruise along the Suez Canal, one of the great feats of Victorian engineering
Take a camel ride around Jordan’s lost city of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World
Swim among exuberant coral and colourful fish in the Red Sea’s spectacular dive sites
Wander around the ancient old town of Jeddah and admire the modern Saudi architecture
Itinerary Map
Itinerary
Limassol Day 1

The second largest city in Cyprus, sunny Limassol is located between the ancient sites of Amathous and Kourion. Just like its island home, Limassol has seen many occupations come and go, and the result is delightfully cosmopolitan. The modern waterfront buildings and sleek promenade stand in contrast to the ancient core of the Old Town. Here you’ll find Limassol Castle, best known as the place where Richard the Lionheart (King Richard I) married Berengaria of Navarre after his conquest of the island in 1191. Kolossi Castle is located around 14 kilometres outside the city and was a command post during the Crusades. Take a break from the city’s long and fascinating history and explore the beautiful beaches, bustling restaurants and cafes, or perhaps enjoy the island’s natural beauty on hike along Cape Greco’s stunning coastal trails.

Port Said Day 2-3

Port Said was developed in 1859 around the inauguration of the Suez Canal. The Waterfront Quarter is home to many handsome buildings such as the Suez Canal House and the Military Museum of Port Said. The port is also the perfect jumping off point to explore Cairo, where you can tour the Egyptian Museum which houses some 120,000 artefacts dating back to the pharaohs, including the treasures of Tutankhamun.

Shore Excursion
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The Royal Mummies & Old Cairo
  • Duration: 11 h 30 m
  • Optional
  • Visit the National Museum of Egyptian civilization offering a general overview of all different historical periods that encompass Egypt
  • Visits e the Royal Mummies Hall, designed to look like the inside of a tomb
  • Explore Khan El Khalili market built in 1382 by. The market was considered to be the major center of trade in old times unchanged since the 14th century
Classical Cairo
  • Duration: 12 h 00 m
  • Included
  • This full-day excursion will introduce you to the essential highlights of Cairo
  • Visit the Great Pyramids Considered the most famous of Egypt’s attractions and the only monuments left of the ancient wonders
  • Discover the impressive Egyptian museum
Port Said Horse Carriage ride
  • Duration: 02 h 00 m
  • Included
  • This excursion is ideal to explore the highlights of Port Said city
  • Pass by the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the picturesque Obelisk Memorial, the beautiful Salam Mosque t of port Said military museum
Sakkara & the Pyramids
  • Duration: 13 h 15 m
  • Optional
  • Visist the Sakkara necropolis with the Step Pyramid overlooking Djoser’s mortuary complex
  • Discover the Great Pyramids of Giza Considered the most famous of Egypt’s attractions
  • Enjoy a typical lunch
Cruising Suez Canal Day 4

The 101-mile long Suez Canal was completed in 1869 as an artificial waterway connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas cutting some 7,000 miles off the journey from England to India. Today guests will be treated to one of the world’s most exciting maritime experiences as it seems to glide bizarrely right through the heart of the desert at sea level. The ship sails very slowly through its transit as part of a colossal convoy of vessels giving you plenty of time to take in the view.

Sharm El Sheikh Day 5

Sharm El Sheikh is a bustling resort town renowned for its reliable weather tucked between the desert of Sinai and the Red Sea. Sharm’s clear waters filled with colorful fish and coral, such as at the site at Ras Mohammed, make it the ideal place for snorkeling. Make time to visit the 6th-century St Catherine’s Monastery and see the Chapel of the Burning Bush, the very spot at the foot of Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

Shore Excursion
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Sharm El Sheikh City Highlights
  • Duration: 04 h 15 m
  • Included
  • Visist the El Mustafa Mosque, designed by Egyptian architect Fouad Tawfik Hafez, the building is a mixture of Ottoman and Mamluk architecture
  • Discover how different religions are present stopping at the Heavenly Cathedral, a Coptic cathedral
  • Enjoy some free time for shopping
Desert Safari Adventure
  • Duration: 05 h 00 m
  • Optional
  • Explore the mangrove forest of Nabak National Park, discover the make-up of this unique ecosystem
  • Continue with the drive to Kharayza valley, a mountain area
  • Discover the Bedouin lifestyle and hosptality at Wadi Mandar
Red Sea Snorkeling
  • Duration: 04 h 30 m
  • Optional
  • Discover the exotic marine world the Red Sea is famous for
  • Enjout the cruise north of Na’ama Bay before starting your snorkelling
  • Admire a unique underwater world
Aqaba Day 6

Jordan’s only port city is the perfect gateway to the lost city of Petra, where you’ll pick your way through narrow stone passageways to discover half built, half carved architectural treasures. Take a camel ride around the magnificent 2,000-year-old structures fashioned from the salmon-pink sandstone, perhaps the best way to experience one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Aqaba is also renowned as a diving destination with notable sites including the Yamanieh coral reef in the Aqaba Marine Park

Shore Excursion
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Magnificent Petra
  • Duration: 10 h 00 m
  • Optional
  • Visit one of the most famous UNESCO world heritage site
  • Marvel yourself as you exit the gorge, suddenly you have in front of you a natural square dominated by Petra’s most famous monument
  • Follow your guide farther into the site and discover other impressive structures carved out of the rose-colored stone
Wadi Rum Desert Discovery
  • Duration: 05 h 00 m
  • Optional
  • Enjoy the experience of a morning drive in the Wadi Rum desert
  • In Wadi Rum region, its captivating and mystical beauty will astound you. Black, wind-sculpted hills stand like sentinels upon pale sands
  • Stop at "Valley of the Moon." where the legend of Lawrence of Arabia was born
Discover Aqaba
  • Duration: 03 h 00 m
  • Included
  • Visit the Crusader Fort that was used and renovated during many historical dynasties from the Mamluks themselves to Ottomans
  • Pass by the house of Sharif Hussein bin Ali, great grandfather of King Abdullah II
  • Take a walk trough the market
Safaga Day 7-8

The small Red Sea port of Safaga is a popular holiday spot. Here, both diving, surfing and kite-surfing are world-renowned. Inland visitors can try out camel riding or go on a jeep safari. The town is also well placed to head to the fascinating Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple in Luxor. Dating from around 2050 BC and dedicated to the gods of Amun, Mut and Khonsu, the vast 200-acre complex of temples at Karnak contain the largest religious buildings anywhere in the world.

Shore Excursion
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Red Sea Snorkeling
  • Duration: 04 h 30 m
  • Optional
Karnak & the Valley of the Kings
  • Duration: 13 h 00 m
  • Included
  • Visit the incredible temple of Karnak, developed over more than 1,000 years
  • Explore the Valley of the King and visit three different tombs
  • Admire Hatshepsut temple on the west back of Luxor. The temple consists of three levels each of which has a colonnade at its far end
Bedouins of Egypt
  • Duration: 04 h 30 m
  • Optional
  • Experience the drive through the Arabian desert
  • Meet the Bedouin villagers, and share details about their lifestyle, their customs and religion, and their culture
  • Enjoy their famous aromatic tea as well as some delicious wood-fired flat bread, a Bedouin staple
Relax at the Beach
  • Duration: 04 h 00 m
  • Optional
  • Relax in one of the Abu Soma Bay Resort exclusive resorts surrounded by turquoise blue waters, white-sand beaches
Alternative Luxor
  • Duration: 13 h 00 m
  • Optional
  • Visit the Luxor Museum, and its amazing collection of ancient artifacts
  • Explore the Valley of the Queens located on the west bank of luxor , this burial sites was mainly for the Queens of Egypt
  • Discover the temple of Habu, Built by Ramses III, the temple is among the most interesting of the funerary chapels on the West Bank
Day at sea Day 9

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Yanbu Day 10-11

Yanbu, a picturesque Red Sea port city, is renowned for its pristine beaches and remarkable dive sites. The Corniche waterfront promenade is famous for its tree-lined walkways and stunning views of the Red Sea, while the Old Town is home to several traditional buildings, including mosques, souks, and hammams. Inland, the old city of Medina, stands as the cradle of Islamic culture and civilization, second in holiness only to Mecca. In this historic city, the Prophet Muhammad lived and taught during the 7th century. The breathtaking 10-minareted Prophet's Mosque, which houses the Prophet's tomb, is a significant site.

Shore Excursion
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Cultural Yanbu
  • Duration: 03 h 30 m
  • Included
  • Visit Yanbu AlNakhl the archaeological and heritage sites that embrace a group of ancient buildings and shrines
  • Walk in the oldest part of the town
  • Spend some time in the Souk to take home some souvenirs of this magic place
Madinah Sightseeing
  • Duration: 11 h 30 m
  • Optional
  • Visit Madinah, the second holiest city in the Arab world after Makkah
  • Stop at Mount Uhud, the place where Muslim forces led by the Prophet Muhammad battled troops from Makkah
  • Discover the Prophet's Mosque, with its amazing massive architecture and beautifully arranged lights
Yanbu, Ras Al Baradi Beach Day 11

Ras Al Baradi Beach is located in Yanbu. This peculiar location has a unique beauty of white sand beaches, a moderate climate throughout the year, and a deep sea full of surprises where you can experience breathtaking nature.

Jeddah Day 12

Jeddah is a beguiling mix of old and new, from the floating Al Rahma Mosque built directly on the azure waters to the New Jeddah Corniche, a waterfront boardwalk spanning 30 kilometres and bustling with restaurants, cafes and sculptures. Al Balad, Jeddah’s old town, is UNESCO listed and dates back to the 7th century. It offers beautiful buildings and an ancient souk. Admire the mighty Jeddah Tower which will be the world’s first kilometre-high building once it’s completed.

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Rates Include
Regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (ONLY available for Antarctica cruises starting or ending in Ushuaia, Arctic cruises starting and ending in Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq)
Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
All meals onboard
Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
24-hour room service
Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
Standard WiFi
Onboard gratuities & port taxes
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Itinerary Map

We are providing a list of sample excursions that Swan Hellenic may offer on this itinerary, which are subject to change. We constantly update our shore excursion program with exclusive and genuine experiences, so please do not hesitate to review your excursion program choice closer to your departure date.

We invite all guests to visit swanhellenic.com for the most updated information.

09:00 AM – 05:30 PM (EST)

+1 (800) 537 6777
ARRANGE A CALLBACK
Stateroom
Number of Guests
Oceanview D4
20 m2 Sleeps 2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Price From
$ 0
Oceanview M4
20 m2 Sleeps 2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony D5
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony M5
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony D6
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 6, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Junior Suite
35 m2 Sleeps 2
SH Diana’s Junior Suite features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area, walk-in closet, luxurious ensuite bathroom, and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Suite
44 m2 Sleeps 2
Our Suites feature a Super King Size bed and separate living room with a soothing flame-effect fireplace, a luxurious ensuite bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a 6 sq. m. private balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Premium Suite
47 m2 Sleeps 2
SH Diana’s Premium Suites feature a Super King Size bed, separate living room with homely flame-effect fireplace, luxurious ensuite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.
Price From
$ 0

We are providing a list of sample excursions that Swan Hellenic may offer on this itinerary, which are subject to change. We constantly update our shore excursion program with exclusive and genuine experiences, so please do not hesitate to review your excursion program choice closer to your departure date.

We invite all guests to visit swanhellenic.com for the most updated information.

09:00 AM – 05:30 PM (EST)

+1 (800) 537 6777
ARRANGE A CALLBACK