| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 5th05 | MarMar | 202222 | Hurghada, Egypt, embark on the La Belle de L'Adriatique | 18:00 | |
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. We'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner on board. The rest of the evening is yours to do as you please. |
| 6th06 | MarMar | 202222 | Hurghada, Egypt | | 13:00 |
Once a small fishing village, Hurghada is now a vast beach resort stretching along the pristine Red Sea coast. Optional excursion: Climb aboard a semi-submarine and enjoy the underwater beauty without getting wet! We'll spend the afternoon cruising. Take advantage of the warm weather on the Sun Deck as we pass alongside the Sinai Peninsula, a sacred area for many religions. The land takes its name from Mount Sinai, assumed to be where God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses. At dusk, the earth takes on burnt-red tones and becomes a feast of colors. With this stunning scenery as a backdrop, enjoy a tasting of local pastries and refreshing hibiscus tea. Later, take part in our onboard lecture: The Natural Wonders of the Red Sea. |
| 7th07 | MarMar | 202222 | 'Aqaba, Jordan | 09:00 | |
The resort town of Aqaba, on the Red Sea at the southern end of Jordan, is a popular spot for divers with some of the best coral reefs in the world. Snorkeling and other water sports are popular, and it's easy to hire a boat for a day or half-day, including lunch.Aqaba has become quite a bustling destination, with several large luxury hotels and a large shopping area. There are many jewelry stores selling pearls, gem stones, and gold and silver jewelry. It's worth noting that although it's an international beach resort, Aqaba is quite conservative—certainly much more so than Amman—and North Americans tend to be more comfortable at the private hotel beaches. Join us for a full-day optional excursion in the Wadi Rum desert (lunch included). We'll set out in Jeeps to cross the magnificent desert, also known as the Valley of the Moon. Its vibrant red earth and stunning rock formations make it one of Jordan's most extraordinary sites. Follow the footsteps of T.E. Lawrence and fall in love with the area as he did. Geologists think that Wadi Rum was formed from a strong push from underground, which caused a large fissure in the surface. As a result, the rock formations provide some of the best photo ops found on the planet. Some wind-brushed mountain peaks reach over 6,000 feet. Deep canyons and sand dunes add to the mystique. Large caravans of merchants and wares traveling between the various territories once crossed this desert. Today, a few hundred Bedouins still call the area home. Their hospitality is second to none, and they have adopted a humanistic and green approach to tourism in their homeland. Later, take part in our onboard lecture: Following the Footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia. |
| 8th08 | MarMar | 202222 | 'Aqaba, Jordan | | 20:00 |
The resort town of Aqaba, on the Red Sea at the southern end of Jordan, is a popular spot for divers with some of the best coral reefs in the world. Snorkeling and other water sports are popular, and it's easy to hire a boat for a day or half-day, including lunch.Aqaba has become quite a bustling destination, with several large luxury hotels and a large shopping area. There are many jewelry stores selling pearls, gem stones, and gold and silver jewelry. It's worth noting that although it's an international beach resort, Aqaba is quite conservative—certainly much more so than Amman—and North Americans tend to be more comfortable at the private hotel beaches. Join us for an optional, full-day excursion to Petra (lunch included; approx. 4 hours round trip travel time). Petra is unquestionably one of the greatest marvels ever sculpted by Mother Nature and enhanced by humankind and is considered one of Jordan's national treasures. Carved into the pink and red stone by the Nabataeansan Arab people living in Jordan over 2,000 years agoPetra, meaning 'rock' in Greek, was strategically located at the junction of the silk and spice trade routes. To enter the city, we will follow the 'siq,' a narrow gorge approximately a half-mile in length, delimited by sharp cliffs on either sideending at Al Khazneh, also known as 'The Treasury.' This tomb of a Nabataean has an impressive Hellenistic facade 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. You will also discover the Roman-style Nabataean theater carved into the rock over 2,000 years ago. After we return to the ship, we'll begin to cruise once again. Later, take part in our onboard lecture: Petra, or the Secrets of the Nabataean Kingdom. |
| 9th09 | MarMar | 202222 | Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | 12:00 | 18:00 |
The port and town of Sharm-el-Sheikh lies near the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the Straits of Tiran meet the Gulf of Aqaba. With its strategic position, the Sinai posed a desirable target for various rulers over the centuries. In recent times, the last battle for the Sinai was fought between Egypt and Israel from 1967 to 1979, ending with a peace treaty signed in Washington, D.C. Since the withdrawal of the Israelis, more and more Egyptians have settled in the Sinai, taking advantage of the booming tourist trade. However, vast interior regions are still sparsely populated. Many Bedouins have been affected by the advent of the 21st century, which is rapidly changing their age-old customs and nomadic lifestyle. As tourism and hotel projects continue to spring up along the Sinai coast, contact with Bedouins not involved in tourism is becoming increasingly rare. Once their nomadic life kept them on the move with their tents; today many Bedouins cultivate grain, vegetables and dates in addition to catering to the tourists. Sharm-el-Sheikh was initially developed by the Israelis during the Sinai occupation. Na'ama Bay, a short drive from the port, has grown from virtually nothing into a sizeable resort since the early 1980s. Between the two towns, a string of hotels line a once-untouched coastline. Resort hotels offer great opportunities for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. Glass bottom boat trips are available for those preferring to view the exotic marine life of the Red Sea without getting their feet wet. We'll spend the morning cruising. Enjoy this time catching some rays on the Sun Deck or join us for a lecture in the lounge: The History of the Sinai Peninsula. Free excursion(5) : Ras Muhammad National Park. Located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Ras Muhammad National Park contains some of the most outstanding diving sites in the Sharm El-Sheikh resort area. The spectacular coral reef ecosystems and vividly colored fish offer a veritable paradise for snorkeling. In addition to the wonders in the water, the beaches stretch for miles, framed by dramatic cliffs and mangrove clusters. OR Naama Bay, which will introduce you to the colorful riches found within the Red Sea. We'll enjoy a performance of Egyptian dancing and music. |
| 10th10 | MarMar | 202222 | Hurghada, Egypt | 08:00 | |
We'll spend the morning cruising on the Red Sea. Join us for a lecture in the lounge: The Pharaohs of Egypt. Once we arrive in Hurghada, we'll set out on an optional tour of the city and its souk.(2) The major sites we'll visit are the mosque and the Coptic Church. We'll then head to the souk. Souks are the busy, lively markets where the locals go about their everyday lives. The stands overflow with foods, spices, and handicrafts. Then visiting the antique museum to view several works of art from egyptien history including the relics from Tutankhamon's tomb. Tonight is our festive gala evening. |
| 11th11 | MarMar | 202222 | Hurghada, Egypt | | |
We'll leave for a full-day free excursion(5) to Thebes, the ancient capital of the Pharaohs. You'll discover Luxor and the Valley of the Kings (lunch includeddriving time is approximately 9 hours round trip). The Valley of the Kings is one of ancient Egypt's top tourist destinations. Located on the west bank of the River Nile, the isolated valley is dominated by a great pyramid-shaped mountain. The area has been the site of royal burials for almost 4,000 years. More than 63 tombs include Seti I(4) and II; Ramesses III, IV, VII, and IX; Siptah; Tausert-Setnakht; and Merenptah. You'll be able to visit three with your entry ticket. The final resting place for these great pharaohs remains one of the most impressive sites to visit in the world. Farther along, dominating the eastern bank, sits the 59-foot high (18 m) Colossi of Memnonfaceless effigies seated on thrones at the entrance to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. We'll also visit the Karnak Temple Complex. At the heart of this site stands the colossal Precinct of Amun-Re, enclosing a sacred lake that priests used in purification ceremonies before performing rituals in the temple. |
| 12th12 | MarMar | 202222 | Hurghada, Egypt, disembark the La Belle de L'Adriatique | | |
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services. |