MSC Cruises will offer an enriched seven-night itinerary in the Red Sea with MSC Splendida for the winter 2022/2023 season. There will be 33 shore excursions available, including the addition of Cairo and choice to embark in Sokhna Port or Safaga in Egypt, or Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
MSC Splendida’s seven-night sailings call at Sokhna Port, Safaga for Hurghada and Luxor; Aqaba for Petra, Jordan; Jeddah for AlUla, Saudi Arabia; and Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
An extended 13-hour stay in Sokhna Port allows for trips to the Great Pyramid of Giza.
A selection of shore excursions is available at each port. Highlights include the following:
There are five shore excursions from Sokhna Port for Cairo. Passengers can visit the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Citadel of Saladin, madrasas, hammams, fountains and bazaars.
There are 13 shore excursions from Safaga for Hurghada and Luxor. The port of Safaga is just down the coastline from the resort town of Hurghada, known for its beach life. Passengers can also visit the Luxor and Karnak temples, or head to the Valley of the Kings.
There are eight shore excursions from Aqaba for Petra, the ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage site in the middle of the Jordanian desert. After laying hidden for centuries, it was rediscovered in 1812. Hewn out of solid rock by Nabatean Arabs more than 2,000 years ago, it served as their capital city and featured a sophisticated water conduit system that turned the city into an artificial oasis.
Three shore excursions are available from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second largest city. A “City of Culture and History” tour offers a journey through centuries of local traditions.
From the port, passengers can visit Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Saudi Arabia, which features over 100 monuments. The ancient city of AlUla is situated in a desert in the Hijaz Mountains, where pilgrims, travelers and permanent settlers have gathered over the centuries. Surrounded by an ancient oasis, AlUla is dominated by a citadel dating back to the 10th century and has about 900 brick houses, 400 shops and a maze of alleyways and squares.
Four shore excursions are available from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Passengers can snorkel at Iona Coral Reef and explore the sunken wreck of the British ship Iona. They can also head to the Baridi Island Getaway relaxation and fun.
For more information, visit www.msccruises.com.
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