Red Sea Cruise

Categories Winter & Spring Cruises Small Ship Cruises Cruises Red Sea Cruises

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Relax aboard the 62-passenger m/s Monet as you cruise the calm, scenic waters of the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, a world apart from the frenzied activities aboard large cruise ships as you explore some of the earliest and most remote Christian monasteries and convents in the world, St. Catherine's, Seven Nuns, St. Paul's and St. Anthony's, and learn about their ascetic founders, the pilgrims who journeyed there, and the medieval crusaders who defended them.

You will have the chance to marvel at the wealth of monuments in Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes, the tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and the magnificent Temple of Karnak.

Included is a visit to the Ras Mohammed National Marine Park, as well as the friendly hospitality of the Bedouins at a festive dinner under the stars and a journey down the celebrated Siq, the narrow gorge that leads to Petra, "the rose-red city half as old as time."

A highlight is a jeep safari through magical desert landscapes and towering rock cliffs to Wadi Rum, the Bedouin oasis where Lawrence of Arabia gained fame in the early 20th century.

Itinerary

Arrive in Cairo, and transfer to centrally located deluxe hotel for overnight accommodations.

Following breakfast, enjoy an orientation tour of Cairo before transferring to Ein El Sokhna on the Gulf of Suez and embarkation of the M.S. Monet. This evening, the captain invites you aboard at his welcome reception and dinner

A full-day excursion is planned to the Monasteries of St. Anthony & St. Paul, located in the Arab Desert between the Nile to the Red Sea. Among the oldest monasteries in Egypt, they honor two saints who are considered founders of the monastic way of life. Shortly after St. Anthony's death in 356, his followers established a monastery approximately one mile from the cave where he lived. Today, St. Anthony is a self-sufficient village with gardens, a mill, bakery and five churches. The Monastery of St. Paul, slightly further west on Gabal al-Alaa al-Qibliya Mountain is located on the site of the cave where St. Paul is said to have lived. Probably founded in the fifth century, it was destroyed several times before its reconstruction in 1701. Return to the MS Monet, which departs Ein El Sokhna just before dinner.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as we cruise south through the Gulf of Suez into the Red Sea. The Monet arrives at Safaga in the late afternoon.

Disembark this morning for the great temples at Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes. Travel into the mountains and across the arid desert, watching as the land become green in the flood plain of the Nile. Following lunch, visit the magnificent Karnak Temple complex, completed under Ramses II and dedicated to the Egyptian sun god. Walk along the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes into the Great Court. A ceremonial path once lined with sphinxes leads to the Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II to serve as the ritual center of the most important festival in Thebes. Tonight have dinner and spend the night at a deluxe hotel near the site.

Cross to the west bank of the Nile to visit one of the world's most important archaeological sites, the Necropolis at Luxor. See the Valley of the Kings, where some 65 tombs including Tutankhamen's have been excavated. You will also explore the Valley of the Queens, which includes the tomb of Nefertiti and the Temple of Hatshepsut. With your expert guide, also visit the Colossi of Memnon. Return to Safaga late in the afternoon and board the MS Monet, which departs during the dinner hour for Sharm El Sheikh, on the southern tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula

After breakfast, disembark for an excursion to The Monastery of the Seven Nuns, located at the desert oasis of Wadi Feiran. Joshua is said to have defeated the Amalekites at this spot, while Moses and Aaron watched from the top of nearby Jhabel Tehuna. The monastery, actually a convent, was established in the fourth century, although there was a Christian community here even earlier. Visit the monastery and the Church of the Prophet Moses, and enjoy the palm-shaded oasis.

St. Catherine's Monastery has been a major pilgrimage site since the sixth century, when the Emperor Justinian had a structure built around what was thought to be Moses' Burning Bush. A great granite fortress, the Monastery has withstood attacks over the centuries and protected the artistic treasures within: precious mosaics, icons, oil paintings and a major collection of illuminated manuscripts. See the Library, Gallery of Icons, and the Chapel of the Burning Bush. This evening, we visit a traditional Bedouin camp to learn about their pastoral way of life. Feast on Arabian specialties and enjoy a demonstration of belly dancing, before returning to the ship for the night.

This morning, travel by motor coach to Ras Mohammed National Marine Park. A beautiful, natural area that is considered the jewel of the Red Sea, it attracts thousands of visitors annually for its excellent reef diving and snorkeling. There is also much to enjoy without getting your feet wet, from the beaches, surrounding desert and the majestic mangrove forest that protects indigenous wildlife. There will be opportunities for swimming, snorkeling and beachcombing before returning to the ship for lunch. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the resort atmosphere of Sharm El Sheikh. This evening, join the captain and crew for the farewell cocktail party and dinner as the Monet heads north for Aqaba.

Disembark and travel by motor coach to Wadi Rum for a jeep excursion. In addition to its spectacular desert scenery, Wadi Rum is a Bedouin village where the British officer known as Lawrence of Arabia based his operations during the Arab Revolt in the early 20th century. Then continue on to your deluxe hotel in Petra for check-in, dinner on your own and overnight accommodations.

We enter the ancient city of Petra on horseback. Built from 800 B.C. to 100 A.D., Petra was a fortified, self-governing city until it was conquered by the Romans. As shipping displaced caravan routes the city declined, but over 800 fascinating monuments remain from earlier times in this "rose-red city half as old as time". Explore the Roman Theater, the Royal Tombs, the Courthouse, Roman Street and Triumphal Arch. Have lunch at the Basin Restaurant inside Petra, and more time at this site, which many consider the most impressive in the region. Return to your hotel for dinner on your own.

Drive north this morning along one of the world's oldest trade routes, where you will first visit the crusader castle of Kerak. Continue your journey to Madaba, the "City of Mosaics". See the famed mosaics at St. George's Church and the Church of the Apostles. As you get closer to Amman, stop at the Byzantine Church of Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Holy Land. Arrive in Amman late this afternoon for check-in at a deluxe hotel and dinner on your own.

Tour Amman, stopping to explore the Roman ruins of the Citadel Hill and the second-century Roman theater. Take some time to walk through the bazaars and the Gold Market, with the balance of the day at leisure before your farewell dinner.

Transfer to airport after breakfast.

Notes