EGYPT PORTS AND CITIES
EGYPT PORTS AND CITIES
| Port Said | Safaga | Sharm El Sheikh | Sokhna |
| Suez |
Port Said
Cruise to Port Said, Guarding the Northern Entrance to the Suez Canal and Discover the Wonders of Cairo
The first thing that'll strike you about Egypt's capital, Cairo is the chaos - fast-moving traffic, beeping car horns, calls to prayer, haggling merchants. Everything's a blur, albeit an exciting one. The other thing you'll notice is the fusion of old with new. Traditional bazaars hung with copper-beaten lamps rub shoulders with glitzy, neon-lit shopping malls. There's nowhere like it. Behold the magic of The Pyramids. Set at the edge of the city, where Cairo merges into desert sands, these colossal man-made mountains will leave you with one question - how on earth did they build them? Delve into Cairo's magnificent museum and marvel at age-old treasures like those plucked from Tutankhamun's tomb. Get ready to haggle as you dive into the exotic bazaars that are shoe-horned into the city's labyrinthine streets
Safaga
Egypt Cruise to Safaga, Gateway to Luxor's Lavish Tombs, Temples and Palaces of the Pharaohs
Cruising to Egypts Red Sea cruise port Safaga is an understated start to a day, which will forever live in your memory. For this quiet and otherwise unremarkable port town is your entry into upper Egypt and the very heart of the countrys existence - the Nile. This great river will also take you to some of Egypt's most fascinating antiquities. You can explore the lavish tombs, temples and palaces of the pharaohs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, Karnak and Luxor (once Ancient Thebes). The huge and magnificent Karnak Temple complex is awe-inspiring. The rich detail in the wall paintings of the tombs depicts the unworldly lives of the Pharaohs and will take your breath away. The spectacular sound and light show at the Karnak Temple is rightly legendary, however, it is held at night and only available to passengers who opt for the overland tours. Safaga is also close to the Egyptian beach resort of Hurghada and the clear waters along this coastline are rated among the worlds best sites for diving.
Sharm El Sheikh
Egypt Cruise to Sharm El Sheikh, the Jewel in the Red Sea's Crown
A fast-developing Egyptian beach resort, Sharm el Sheikh has become a popular Red Sea cruise call, too. On the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Straits of Tiran, the sheltered waters are simply crystal clear and just asking to be swum, snorkelled or dived in from the pristine, sandy beaches. There are a variety of glass-bottomed and other boat trips on offer, too. Even better for snorkellers and divers is the Marine National Park, the first in the Red Sea, at nearby Ras Mohammed. Here there are coral reefs and gardens which attract just the most beautiful exotic fish. Other visitors will want to visit St Catherines Monastery in the foothills of Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Founded in the 6th Century, it is the oldest Christian monastery in the world.
Sokhna
Egyptian Cruise to Sokhna, Gateway to Cairo and all it's Senses Tingling Treasures
Like Port Said, a cruise to Port Sokhna is your key to Cairo. Nowhere on earth launches an all-out assault on the senses quite like Cairo. It's big, it's bustling and it's filled to bursting with age-old treasures from the times of the pharaohs. Prepare to be caught up in an exotic whirlwind of sights, sounds and all-round chaos. Clap eyes on the mighty Sphinx and point your camera at those famous pyramids. Come face-to-face with mummies in the Cairo Museum, not to mention artefacts taken from the tomb of boy king Tutankhamun. Snap up spices, silver and hand-woven rugs in the exotic Egyptian bazaars that vie for your attention - and your pounds - in the old city
Suez
Egyptian Cruise Through the Heat of the Desert to Suez
Lying at the Red Sea end of the Suez Canal, the busy Egyptian port of Suez can also be your starting point for exciting trips to Cairo and the Pyramids at Giza. If your ship goes through the Canal, be out on deck throughout the transit, as it is one of the world's most fascinating maritime experiences, creating the bizarre impression that you are sailing right through the dry heart of the desert. The present, 101-mile-long Canal took 15 years to build, was completed in 1869 and shaved a mere 7,000 miles off the journey from England to India. It is the second to cross the Isthmus of Suez – the first was constructed in the 5th century BC and was in use until the 8th century. Even if your ship is just calling at Suez, it is well worth strolling along the Corniche to watch the huge ships lined up to transit the Canal on their way to the other side of the world.
