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after two years Cruise lines stopped running through the Suez Canal Due to Middle East conflict, two ships will sail between Mediterranean and the Red Sea in November, with full accommodation for paying passengers.
Greek cruise line Celestial departs from Piraeus and Lavrio serving Athens on 22 and 28 November respectively. They are “positioning” voyages, moving from a summer cruising schedule in the Mediterranean to a winter season in the Gulf.
Initial one week journey continues divine journey It takes in Marmaris in Türkiye as well as Port Said at the northern end of the canal. after transit Suez Canal It will visit the Egyptian ports of Sharm el-Sheikh and Safaga and end in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer, Celestial CruisingSaid: “These will be the first ships in more than two years to actually carry cruise passengers through the Suez Canal.
“We have worked closely with various government officials, and we believe this is a very safe part of the world at this time. At the same time, it is a wonderful opportunity to visit ports that have not been open for the last two years.”
In the past year, cruise ships have transited the Suez Canal, but without passengers. MagicA Saudi ship has set sail with passengers – but it is not a mainstream cruise ship.
Mr Haslett said sailing had proved “extremely popular” – although some cabins were still available, From £828 per person,
“They’ve been on sale for just over seven weeks, and we’re already quite primed for that seven-night stretch,” he said.
One notable omission from the itinerary is Aqaba in Jordan. As of October 2023, it was the port of choice – providing access to the ancient city of Petra as well as the desert landscape of Wadi Rum.
The Celestial executive said: “We will visit Aqaba, but not until next year’s trip. We had to make some adjustments to the itinerary because we have to reach Jeddah within seven days.”
None of the ports of call are on the Foreign Office’s “no-go” list, but the FCDO “advises against all but essential travel to Ismailia Governorate, east of the Suez Canal”.
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