Crossing the Suez Canal: Egypt, Jordan & Israel Cruise from Aqaba

A private transfer will bring you to the Harmony V, your floating home for the majority of this exciting 7-night trip. Embarkation is at 4 p.m., so if you arrive early, you might want to spend time exploring the port city of Aqaba with its rich history, having been inhabited since 4000 BC. One of the top attractions is Aqaba Castle, a fortress built in the 12th-century by Crusaders. Once onboard, enjoy a welcome drink and introductions to the crew and your fellow passengers. Then, we’ll depart for Sharm el-Sheikh, an Egyptian city at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, overnighting at sea.

Arriving at Sharm El Sheikh this morning, you’ll have the opportunity to join an optional snorkelling excursion or an optional visit to St. Catherine’s Monastery. Believed to have been in use since the 4th-century, it displays an extensive collection of old bibles and codices, considered the world’s second-most important collection, surpassed only by the Vatican archives. If you choose to snorkel, you’ll be in one of the best regions to do it, with exceptional coral reefs, spinner dolphins, dugongs, and colourful fish. Once back on board, the ship will sail on to Hurghada, overnighting in port.

The land portion of your journey, included in your trip, brings you to Luxor for a 2-day, 1-night excursion, overnighting at a deluxe hotel. You’ll transfer by bus in the morning to this remarkable ancient city on the east bank of the Nile River. It sits on the site of the pharaohs’ capital of Thebes during the height of their peak, from the 16th- to 11th-centuries BC, surrounding two huge ancient monuments that still survive: Karnak and Luxor temples. After settling into your hotel, you can join us for the optional tour to explore both of these magnificent landmarks.

This morning, an optional excursion can bring you to explore the Valley of the Kings, where for nearly 500 years during Egypt’s New Kingdom (1539 through 1075 BC), rock-cut tombs were excavated for powerful nobles and pharaohs. It was a royal burial ground for famous names like Tutankhamun, Ramses II, queens, high priests, and other elites. Witness the temple dedicated to the only ever female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which have stood here in the Theban Necropolis since 1350 BC. Afterward, return to the ship in Hurghada, overnighting at sea.

We’ll continue cruising toward Suez, providing time for you to take advantage of the ship’s facilities and learn more about the destinations and history behind them from the onboard expert Egyptologist. You might want to enjoy time to unwind, soaking up the views, before arriving in Suez late in the afternoon, overnighting in port. This is the perfect day for a break amid all the exploring, which will continue tomorrow. Take advantage of the vessel’s open areas with loungers for sunbathing or the lavish interior lounge with a stylish bar for sipping drinks and socializing.

One of the highlights of your cruise is the optional excursion to Cairo. An all-day tour, you really won’t want to miss this one. You’ll visit Giza, the site of some of the world’s most famous remarkable ancient monuments in this bucket-list destination that so many dream of exploring. It includes the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest and largest of the pyramids, along with the Great Sphinx, the complex of ancient Egyptian royal mortuary and sacred structures, and several other temples and vast pyramids. The ship will join the Canal Convoy at 9:30 p.m., so you’ll make your return to reboard by 9 p.m.

You’ll spend an entire day on Harmony V, with plenty of things to do while you’re onboard. You might head to the lounge area of the Upper Deck to relax while taking in the passing scenery, find a cozy spot to dig into a good book, or mingle with your fellow passengers. With the trip soon coming to an end, this is the perfect time to exchange photos and perhaps contact information. The vessel will exit the canal in Port Said this afternoon and spend the night at sea as she makes her way to Tel Aviv in Israel.

Enjoy breakfast and take time for goodbyes to new friends made and the crew who you’ve probably gotten to know quite well by now. After this thrilling week discovering some of the world’s most legendary ancient treasures, your trip comes to an end with disembarkation and transfer to the airport. If you’d like to explore Tel Aviv, contact our travel experts who can help with the arrangements. Otherwise, we wish you a safe journey and hope to see you again on another unforgettable adventure.