suez canal cruise

Transit the Suez Canal, Egypt

Description.

Transiting through the Suez Canal is sure to be one of the lifelong memories of your cruise. The thought of a canal linking the Mediterranean and Red Sea extends back in history as far as 2100 B.C. Napoleon Bonaparte, pursuing his dreams of conquest, entertained the notion in 1798. But it was French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps who finally proved that a canal across the Suez was practicable. Work on the canal began in 1858. Eleven years later the opening of the Suez Canal was an international event. The world had acquired a quicker route to Asia-as well as a Verdi opera called Aida. Of course the Suez Canal was a source of immediate controversy. The British wrested control of the canal from Egypt in 1882. Egypt regained control during its revolution of 1952. In 1956, the British, allied with the French and Israelis, nearly took the canal back. The Arab-Israeli Six Day War of 1967 closed the canal until 1973, when another war and intense international negotiations led to its return to Egyptian control. Turbulent history aside, what greater cruising memory can one have than serenely sailing along the sands of the desert aboard a Princess ship?

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Without the waterway linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean this part of the world would be an arid sandy desert inhabited by a few nomads. The Suez Canal slices through 162 km of desert and was inaugurated in 1869 in the presence of Empress Eugenie, then nationalised by Nasser in 1956.

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Useful Tips for your Suez Canal Cruise

A Suez Canal cruise is often on people’s ‘bucket list.’ It’s an experience that differs from your typical ocean cruise as a Suez Canal transit offers a day of scenic cruising. In this post, I share everything you need to know about a southbound Suez Canal cruise , including the landmarks during the journey and the best places on the ship to view the Suez Canal.

The Suez Canal: History and Key Facts

The Suez Canal was opened in 1869 to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It’s one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world for cargo vessels that transport anything and everything between Europe and Asia. Cruise ships are also known to pass through the Suez Canal , most commonly on repositioning cruises during the shoulder seasons.

The Suez Canal passes through Egypt. Construction began from the Mediterranean side where Port Said now stands. The Suez Canal Company was responsible for the construction of the canal between 1859 and 1869 and over this 10-year period an estimated 1.5 million people worked on the project. Political turmoil in Egypt negatively affected the progress of the work, which was ruled by Britain and France.

Conditions for the workers were dangerous and thousands were reported to have died during the construction of the Suez Canal. The British government was not supportive of the project due to the slave labour enforced. Finally, the Suez Canal was completed on 17 November 1869 under French control.

Did you know…? The first ship to enter the Suez Canal was in fact a British Navy ship, HMS Newport. The British captain had navigated the ship to the front of the line under the cover of darkness the night before the official opening. The ship squeezed ahead of the French ship to take the glory.

The Suez Canal is 120 miles long with ships travelling both northbound or southbound. Each day approximately 50 vessels pass through the canal.

Get up Early for the Suez Canal Cruise

If your Suez Canal cruise is travelling southbound (from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea), your cruise ship will most likely anchor near Port Said overnight to start the transit through the Canal the following morning.

I would highly recommend checking your cruise ship’s daily planner for details of the time that the ship is due to enter the Suez Canal .

Set your alarm and get out on an open deck early . This is going to be the busiest day of your cruise with people out on deck watching the ship pass through the canal.

Sunrise on a Suez Canal cruise is special and shouldn’t be missed. Getting up early also means that you can experience the Suez Canal cruise from the very beginning.

Best Viewpoints on a Suez Canal Cruise

One of the best viewing points on a Suez Canal cruise is at the forward or aft of the cruise ship .

If the front viewing points are too busy, try the aft. From here you can see both sides of the Suez Canal and watch the other ships and tugs behind you.

It is also more likely that there will be open deck at the aft so you can enjoy the sunshine and any photographs you take won’t be effected by glass windows.

If your cruise ship has a viewing platform above the Bridge , this could also be a good option.

Suez Canal Landmarks

There are several landmarks dotted along the Suez Canal that you won’t want to miss. In this section, I share the key sights you need to look out for during your Suez Canal cruise.

Watch my video of our Suez Canal cruise transit from Port Said to Port Tewfik (southbound).

Port Said is the fifth largest city in Egypt and was built purely because of the Suez Canal. You can view the city on the starboard side of the ship transiting southbound (port side, northbound).

Directly opposite Port Said is Port Fuad, its twin city. You may see free ferries crossing this point of the canal, which link the two cities.

El Qantara and the Suez Canal Soldier Monument

The next city you will reach is El Qantara, a city that inhabits both sides of the Suez Canal. The city is linked by the Mubarak Peace Bridge .

On the port side , look out for the ferryboat station and a little further on, the soldier monument. The Soldier of Freedom monument is flanked by tanks and commemorates the end of the Suez Crisis.

Suez Canal Bridge

The Mubarak Peace Bridge, also known as the Suez Canal Bridge, opened in 2001 after Egypt received funding from Japan to assist the development of the Sinai Peninsular ( port side ).

The Suez Canal Bridge will only allow ships with a maximum height of 68m, as your cruise ship passes under the bridge, you will feel quite close to it.

Make sure you’re out on the open decks of your cruise ship as you pass underneath the bridge.

Suez Canal Expansion

After passing under the Mubarak Peace Bridge, the Suez Canal splits into two channels . This is to enable traffic to travel southbound and northbound without having to stop to let ships pass.

The southbound route is the original Suez Canal and the northbound route incorporates an expansion that was completed in 2016.

El Ferdan Railway Bridge

The El Ferdan Railway Bridge is the longest swing bridge in the world , with a span of 340m. Unfortunately, it is no longer in use after the Suez Canal expansion cut off the a-joining railway track.

Incredibly this bridge has been built five times since 1918. It has been destroyed in wars, removed and hit by a steamboat!

Suez Canal Authority Monument

On port side , after the El Ferdan Railway Bridge, is a Suez Canal Authority monument depicting a ship and tower. This monument is near the Timsah Lake and the huge ‘Welcome to Egypt’ sign.

Welcome to Egypt

Your Suez Canal cruise takes you through Egypt and as you near Ismailia, you will be greeted with a enormous ‘Welcome to Egypt’ sign on port side .

At this point your cruise has travelled 45 miles of the Suez Canal.

AK-47 Bayonet Monument

A huge monument of an AK-47 bayonet stands out on the barren landscape on the approach to Ismailia. On first look it resembles a space rocket but in fact the monument is depicting an automatic gun, in memory of the casualties of the Battle of Ismailia.

The Battle of Ismailia monument is a concrete structure that was a gift from North Korea. During the Battle of Ismailia, Egypt and North Korea were allies and fought Israel Defence Forces.

Egyptian Armed Forces Theatre

On port side is an open air theatre that may at first be mistaken for a sports stadium. This is the Egyptian Armed Forces Theatre.

Timsah Lake

Close to the ‘Welcome to Egypt’ sign is Timsah Lake on starboard side .

This is a local holiday resort with several hotels and beaches surrounding the lake.

Memorial Defence of the Suez Canal

This granite memorial is dedicated to the defence of the Suez Canal against the Turkish during World War I and stands at 50m.

Look out for it on starboard side .

Half Moon Building

This building can be seen on starboard side after Timsal Lake .

It’s situated by a lake and ahead of the nearby Olympic Village complex.

• Great Bitter Lake

The Suez Canal opens up into a huge saltwater lake called Great Bitter Lake. It’s said to have been given this name because a local sawmill would dump its logs into the lake and the tannic acid gave the water a bitter taste.

The lake is used as a temporary harbour and passing lane for ships using the canal.

Egypt Peace Sign

As your Suez Canal cruise moves into the canal you will see plenty of local life on the banks.

On starboard side , there is an Egypt Peace sign created from stones.

As your cruise reaches the end of the canal, you will pass the city of Suez.

This is the gateway to the Gulf of Suez.

Port Tawfik Mosque

The final landmark to look out for is a grand mosque, situated on starboard side . This huge building stands on the edge of the Suez Canal next to Port Tawfik.

It’s ornately decorated domed roof, called a qubba, sits between its two minarets.

Things to look out for on a Suez Canal cruise

Apart from the landmarks you will see during the transit, it’s worth looking out for daily life on the canal and its banks.

It’s highly likely that your cruise ship will be followed by tug boats . This is to ensure that the ship doesn’t get stuck on a bank like the Ever Given cargo ship did in March 2021.

You will also see other ships taking the canal transit with you.

Fishermen work in the Suez Canal and can get quite close to the ships. They seem to be used to the traffic although are probably more used to seeing huge cargo vessels than cruise ships!

Wild dogs can be spotted roaming on the banks, in search of food.

Once you get to the point where you can see the northbound canal section the ships may appear to be sailing through the desert . It’s quite a spectacle!

Is it safe to take a Suez Canal cruise?

It is safe to cruise through the Suez Canal and many cruise ships do it during repositioning cruises every year.

You are likely to see plenty of security lookout posts on the Suez Canal banks during the transit.

Our cruise ship was followed by an armed vehicle for the first half of the journey but we didn’t notice it until another passenger pointed it out.

Your Suez Canal cruise will likely need to cruise through the Gulf of Aden, which has had pirate activity in the past but your ship will take the necessary precautions, like armed guards, close some open decks and do a pirate drill.

You can learn more in my post about how cruise ships prepare for pirates .

Suez Canal Cruises 2022

Suez Canal cruises are starting to return in 2022, with a small choice of options from:

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• P&O Cruises for 2023 cruises
• Princess Cruises for 2023/24 cruises
• Holland America for 2024 cruises

Do you need a balcony cabin for a Suez Canal cruise?

If you’re booking a Suez Canal cruise, a balcony cabin is a good idea. It will enable you to enjoy the views from the comfort of your cabin and offers some shade from the midday sun.

We spent the first half of the transit on the open decks and then watched the rest from our cabin balcony.

It has been know for there to be flies so keep your balcony cabin door shut.

Is a port or starboard cabin best for a Suez Canal cruise?

Whichever side of the ship you book a cabin, there will be scenery to enjoy. If you are taking a southbound transit from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, starboard has the most landmarks .

Port side is the Sinai Desert Peninsular and is far more barren. It does have the Welcome to Egypt sign.

Starboard side has more of the landmarks, including the Port Tawfik Mosque and Defence of the Suez Canal memorial.

How long does it take for a cruise ship to go through the Suez Canal?

A full transit through the Suez Canal on a cruise takes around 12 hours. If the ship enters the canal at around 6.00am, you will be able to enjoy a day of scenic cruising and leave the Suez Canal, late afternoon.

Useful Tips for a Suez Canal Cruise

• Find out from the daily planner when the cruise will enter the Suez Canal
• Get up early to experience the sunrise and the start of the transit
• Find a good vantage point at the front or back of the ship
• Spend some time on the open decks, especially when passing under the Mubarak Peace Bridge
• Listen out for ship announcements
• Consider booking a balcony cabin (starboard), where you can enjoy some shade
• Use this guide to look out for the key landmarks on the Suez Canal
• Keep an eye out for glimpses of local life on the Suez Canal

Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food. Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!

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Suez Canal Cruises, Egypt

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Transit the Suez Canal

Bordered by Port Said in the north at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea and Port Suez in the south at the mouth of the Red Sea, the Suez Canal flows 193 kilometers (120 miles) through the Isthmus of Suez, across saline lakes known as the Bitter Lakes. Built under the guidance of French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, the canal took 10 years to construct, opening in 1869. It's noteworthy for its narrow width—which means that large ships need to travel single file and wait for each other to pass—and the fact that it has no locks, so water flows through from one sea to the other. When the Suez Canal opened, it eliminated the need for ships to sail around Africa to reach South Asia: It reduced the journey by 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles).

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Suez Canal (Egypt)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Africa - Indian Ocean Islands

Local Time 2024-04-28 19:18

Port Suez Canal cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Suez Canal, Egypt. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Suez Canal is a man-made, sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting Mediterranean Sea to Red Sea. After 10 years of construction, Suez Canal was officially opened on November 17, 1869. It allows passenger and cargo vessels to travel between South Asia and Europe without navigating around Africa, this way reducing the sea cruise distance by around 7,000 km (4,300 mi).

The canal extends from Port Said 's northern terminus to Port Tewfik's southern terminus (at Port Suez). Canal's length is 193 km (120 mi), including its southern and northern access channels. World's other large canal waterway is Panama Canal - connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.

In 2012, a total of 17225 ships traversed Suez Canal (47 vessels per day). The single-lane waterway features passing locations in Great Bitter Lake and Ballah Bypass. It doesn't contain any locks system as seawater is flowing through it freely. In general, north of Bitter Lakes, the canal flows south in summer and north in winter. The current changes south of the lakes, with the tide at Suez.

Suez Canal's (El Suweis/Suez Port's) locode is EGSUZ.

The Suez Canal is owned and maintained by the SCA (Suez Canal Authority) of Egypt. It may be used (under the Convention of Constantinople) "in time of war as in time of peace, by every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag".

Construction was launched in August 2014 to expand and widen Ballah Bypass for 22 miles (35 km) to speed canal's transit time. The expansion was expected to double the Suez Canal capacity from 49 to 97 vessels per day. At a cost of US$8.4 billion, the project was funded via interest-bearing investment certificates issued to Egyptian individuals and entities. On August 6, 2015 the "New Suez Canal" was officially opened. On February 24, 2016, the SCA opened the new side channel at the northern side of Suez Canal's east extension.

Suez Canal Area Development Project

On August 5, 2014, was officially launched the "Suez Canal Area Development Project" that aims to increase waterway's importance for international shipping trade, as well as to develop its three largest cities - Port Suez, Port Said and Ismailia.

The project involved building a new city, an industrial zone (SCZone / "Suez Canal Economic Zone"), fish farms, 7 tunnels (connecting Sinai with Ismailia and Port Said), improving the existing seaports (and transforming their cities into major trading centers), digging a new canal (2nd second shipping lane parallel to Suez Canal) to double the shipping capacity by allowing vessels to navigate both directions simultaneously. The second lane will decrease waiting hours from 18 to 11 hours and increase the cana;'s capacity from 49 to 97 vessels a day. Some parts of the old Suez Canal were dredged (deepened and widened). The Egyptian Armed Forces participated in the project by digging the new canal and tunnels, and also protecting the location from terrorists.

On November 8, 2017, Suez Canal Authority, SCZone and DP World ( Dubai -based corporation) signed a partnership agreement to develop an integrated industrial-residential zone at Sokhna . A joint venture company was established between SCZone and DP World (51 to 49). The new Sokhna Economic Zone (SEZ) is managed by DP World. Construction works started in 2018-Q1. SEZ covers a total area of 95 km2 (37 mi2) and includes an industrial area, residential zone (sized 20 km2 / 8 mi2). Development of Port Sokhna increased its capacity and linked it to the industrial zone. Zone's facilities serve smaller-sized industries (medical, electronics, communications, construction materials, textiles, auto parts, food processing, petrochemicals), logistics, service facilities. The residential zone (capacity 0,5 million people) houses coastal villas, residential units, shopping centers, nightclubs, entertainment facilities, mosques, schools, hospitals, green spaces.

On May 5, 2019, was inaugurated Ismailia tunnel (10-lane highway under Suez Canal connecting to Port Said East Port), which significantly improved connectivity between SCCT (Suez Canal Container Terminal) and Greater Cairo's industrial zones. Ismailia tunnel has per-hour vehicle capacity 2000 (in each direction). Both tunnel entrances are equipped with 10 scanners (each) processing vehicles and trailers with max capacity 250 units per hour. Six (of the 10) lanes are for trucks and trailers only.

Port Said's Suez Canal Container Terminal is managed by APM Terminals and serves mainly transshipment cargo via boxships between Southeast Asia and Mediterranean-Europe. Terminal's current annual capacity (as of 2019) is 5,4 million TEU-containers.

On August 9, 2019, through New Suez Canal transited one of world's largest container ships - MSC Gulsun, en-route from China to Northwestern Europe. The 23756 TEU-vessel has length 400 m, width 61 m, draught 16 m and GT tonnage 232,000 tons.

For FY2019, Suez Canal Authority reported revenues of USD 5,8 billion (1,3% increase over 2018 / USD 5,7 B). The waterway was transited by 18880 ships with total NT 1,2 billion tons (5/9% increase over 2018). Increased volumes (4,9%) were also reported for cargoes - 1031 million tons (983 M tons in 2018).

New Suez Canal (2023)

The new canal has total length 72 km (45 mi). The project involves dry digging (35 km / 22 mi) and dredging (37 km / 23 mi).

• Construction works were initially scheduled to complete in 3 years, but Egypt's President ordered to be completed in 1 year.
• The projected annual revenue from the doubled Suez Canal is ~USD 12,5 billion (from the previous USD 5B).
• The new canal project's total cost is ~USD 1,7B. The project is domestic as no foreign investors were allowed.

For the period December 2020 through May 31, 2021, SCA-Suez Canal Authority reduced by 48% the transition tolls for VLCCs and ULCCs (Very-Large- and Ultra-Large Container Carriers) with DWT-deadweight tonnage 250,000+ tons. Transit fees for cruise ships were also halved if the vessels dock for min 48 hours in at least 2 Egyptian ports.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Canal's revenues in FY 2019-2020 (fiscal year) decreased to USD 5,72 billion (USD 5,75 B in FY-2018-2019).

Suez Canal's expansion is currently planned for completion in July 2023. The project for adding a second lane/channel (started in July 2021) was accelerated after the boxship Ever Given (2018-built, IMO 9811000, capacity 20,000 TEUs, owned by Evergreen Marine ) ran aground (due to high winds) and blocked the waterway for 6 days (March 23-29, 2021).

On September 17, 2022, SCA issued new resolutions increasing the transit tolls in 2023 by 15% for all ship types, excluding only dry-bulk carriers and cruise ships (tolls increased just 10%). Tolls' increase was due to the current oil and gas shipping market changes, with daily charter rates (increasing over 2021) +88% for crude oil tankers and +11% for LNG tankers.

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Suez Canal - user reviews and comments

Repositioning Cruises

Ships, Itineraries, Sailng Dates, Prices

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Suez Canal Cruises

See here the list of all of Suez Canal transit cruises 2024-2025-2026 ships schedule, lines, and transition itineraries (ports of call). Most Suez cruises offer cheap deals on one-way transit itineraries between Europe (Mediterranean) and Asia (Dubai, India, Singapore, or even China). Some transits are part of World Cruises, transiting Suez Canal.

Repositioning cruise ships through Suez Canal provides a range from “affordable luxury” to really cheap big-sized ship travel deals. Not to forget this is a unique opportunity to enjoy cruising to exotic destinations at some of the market’s best rates.

Suez Canal transition cruises

Passing through the Suez Canal is a unique experience related not only to cruising but also to the Africa-Asia region itself. The Egypt Nile cruise deals may be booked separately (they are optional) offering the not necessarily cheap, but always so much exotic Alexandria and Cairo tours and excursions.

The Egyptian resorts on the Red Sea offer a unique chance to sample so many things in this ancient region. You can perfectly combine visiting the Pharaoh’s mysterious kingdom, enjoying the beautiful shores, the amazing coral reef and marine life with luxury ship amenities and stylish experiences on board.

The diving holidays in the Red Sea are also very popular though optional Red Sea vacation deals. Know that snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, glass-bottom boats, and even submarine trips are at their very best in the Suez Canal region. And, of course, the numerous archaeological sites, museums, the desert safaris. Not to forget the great night-life in major coastal towns.

The “Egyptian Riviera” – Red Sea resorts and diving tours

This information could be of some help to you only if you consider the option of staying in some of the great resorts in the Red Sea region. These are the main destination points for touring the Egypt Coast at the Red Sea:

• from Cairo (Ain EL- Soukhna)
• from Safaga (Hurghada, El Gouna, Sahl Hashish, Giftun Island), Marsa Alam (has an airport).

Best Red Sea diving tours are operated in the following areas:

• the Northeastern Coast (El Gouna, Hurghada, Safaga)
• the Sinai Peninsular (Sharm el Sheik, Dahab, Nuweiba)
• the Southeastern Coast (El Quseir, Marsa Alam, Hamata).

Best for Red Sea diving trips is the coastal area between  El Gouna and Safaga. The reason is this area perfectly combines the region’s amazing reefs and wrecks with the convenient proximity to Egypt’s most famous historical sites for touring – Luxor and Cairo.

Suez Canal facts

Suez Canal is an artificial waterway in Egypt, which is sea-level and connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas. In November 1869 Suez Canal was available for sailing after ten-year construction works. The Canal allows vessel transport between Asia and Europe without around Africa navigation.

• Port Said is northern terminus; Port Tawfiq is the southern terminus at the Suez city; Ismailia lies on the west bank of Suez Canal, 3 km from the half-way point.
• After first built, the canal was long 164 km, 8 m deep. After plenty of enlargements, as of 2010, it is long 193.30 km, 24 m deep, 205 m wide.
• Suez Canal consists of a northern access channel (22 km), the canal itself (162.25 km), and a southern access channel (9 km).
• The Canal acts for a single lane that has passing places in Great Bitter Lake and “Ballah By-Pass”. There are no locks and seawater freely flows through the canal. Generally, north of Bitter Lakes the canal flows south in summer and north in winter. South of lakes the current changes with the tide at Suez.

The canal is maintained and owned by SCA  (Suez Canal Authority of Egypt) and is under international treaty. It may be used in peace and war times, by every vessel of war or of commercial ships without flag distinction. Learn more at Wikipedia .

Suez Canal cargo ship transits

On February 24, 2016, a new Suez Canal shipping lane was inaugurated by the canal’s authority. The new line is parallel to Port Said and effectively lowers canal transition times. It allows vessels to sail in both directions and increases the containership traffic.

In 2015, the canal was expanded at the cost of USD 8,5 billion. However, the low crude oil price now allows cargo ships to avoid paying the costly Suez Canal transition prices (USD 465,000 on average) by taking the long way around South Africa instead.

Between October 2015 and February 2016, a total of 115 westbound cargo vessels loaded with goods from Asia to Northern Europe or the USA took the around Africa route instead of transiting the canal. Statistics show that the South African route saves USD 235,000 on average per voyage. The Suez Canal Authority reported for 2015 an increased number of passing ships (17483 vessels, or 2% increase). The report also revealed decreased bulk cargoes (5,7%) and container cargo ships (3,1%). To compete with the falling oil prices, the Suez Canal needed to cut transition prices by roughly 50%.

The South African shipping route has a big environmental impact. It was calculated that the route’s increased fuel consumption results in additional 6800 tons of CO2 on average per voyage.

Cargo ship cruises through Suez Canal, transit routes

• 1. cargo cruise from Singapore to Barcelona – visits Piraeus (for Athens), Naples and Genoa.
• 2. cruise from Malaysia (Tanjung Pelepas port departure) to Trieste, Italy – visits Port Said, Piraeus, and Rijeka (Croatia)
• 3. cruise from China (Shanghai port departure) to Hamburg, Germany – visits China (Ning-bo, and Yantian) and Felixstowe (UK)
• 4. cruise from India (Mundra port departure) to Southampton UK – visits Salalah, Djibouti, Jeddah, Malta, and Tangier.

Suez Canal cruises from Asia to Europe

Choose a Freighter Cruise from AU$4600 for 23 days through the Suez Canal. This option includes a voyage by freighter from Asian port to Europe. You can return back to Asia on the same vessels. Note that cabins continuing to Sydney or Melbourne from Europe are booked usually six months in advance.

Felixstowe Freighter Voyage via the Suez from Asia to Europe offers all year-round weekly departures via Suez Canal in either direction. The tariff from AU$4600 pp includes meals and port fees. For booking or inquiries call: 02 8270 4899.

Onboard facilities include open deck area, passenger lift, TV/VCR room, passenger lounge, self-service laundry, indoor pool and sauna, fitness room (with table tennis, exercise bicycle, rowing machine).

Special requirements imposed for yellow fever injection and travel insurance which are compulsory. Passengers have to possess a valid passport (at least six months of validation).

Suez Canal cruises from Australia to Europe

Choose a Freighter Cruise from AU$5730 pp for 48 days through the Suez Canal. This option includes a voyage by freighter from the Australian port to Europe. The Round-trip duration is 91 days for AU$10,180 pp. For each voyage, four cabins are available (one single, two double bed, one twin bed) but there are only four cruises per year, so book early. Visit Genoa, Italy, and Chennai, India with Freighter Expeditions. For booking or inquiries call: 02 8270 4899.

All cabins are carpeted, with air conditioning, small refrigerator, wardrobe, desk, and chair. Facilities include an elevator, small fitness room plus sauna, outside pool, and onboard steward.

Special requirements imposed for yellow fever injection and travel insurance which are compulsory. Passengers have to possess a valid passport (at least six months of validation). A visa required for Sri Lanka, India, and Egypt. The ship only takes up to 79 years of age. On container ships accepted for carriage are only travelers of good physical and mental health. Container ships don’t provide a medical officer or doctor onboard, only basic first aid treatment is available.

Suez Canal cruises 2024-2025 transition schedule

IMPORTANT : Due to instability in the Red Sea region (Houthi rebels attacks from Yemen), all major cruise companies canceled their scheduled transition itineraries through the Canal.

In January 2024, Egypt’s revenues from the waterway decreased by ~40% (over Jan 2023) due to ship diversions (mainly cargo/container ships).

You can share/like/rate our Suez Canal cruises review via the social buttons. Follow us on the main social networks for the latest updates (more transition dates to be announced soon). Happy vacations, and best luck with the ship relocation deals – to enjoy the magical combination of Egypt, Red Sea, and the Mediterranean at more reasonable prices!

Cruise Lines

• Holland America
• Marella (Thomson UK)
• NCL Norwegian
• P&O (Australia, UK)
• Royal Caribbean
• Viking Ocean

Destinations, Ports

• Vancouver BC
• Panama Canal cruises
• Transatlantic cruises
• Suez Canal cruises

Copyright © 2012 - 2024 Repositioning Cruises

Alex Getting Lost

Adventures, please

Cruise Through the Suez Canal: Here’s What it’s Like to Sail Through the Egyptian Desert

A cruise through the Suez Canal was a surreal experience unlike any other.

*This site contains affiliate links, where I earn a small commission from purchases you make, at no cost to you.

Our ship spent all Summer and the beginnings of Autumn in the Adriatic Sea, ambling out of Venice weekly to drop in to Dubrovnik , Zadar, Corfu and Bari . By October, although the density of the crowds was gradually reducing, the weather was still warm and dry- and I’d been loving every minute of exploring the winding alleyways of Mediterranean old towns and the canals of Venice away from the frantic pace of the high season.

Our last day in Dubrovnik was practically ghostly. I wandered down the old paved streets accompanied only by the odd cat- and even my favourite coffee shop had closed for the season. The empty streets signalled that clearly it was time that we said goodbye for winter, too.

That’s the weird thing about living on a cruise ship; you get to know each port as if it’s a second home, mapping out your favourite locations and finding the best shortcuts back to the mothership. And then just when you get comfortable, it’s time to move on.

Preparing to cruise through the Suez Canal

Just before we officially left European waters, extra security arrived on board and the fire hoses were rolled out as protection against any pirates we might come across once we made it to the Red Sea. No guns on board means you have to get creative, and those fire hoses are highly-powered pieces of equipment. It might seem rather dramatic, and the likelihood of a cruise ship being hijacked by Somali pirates (or any pirates for that matter) is low. But it’s good to be prepared for every eventuality, you know!?

The atmosphere on a ship changes once you start a trans-cruise, relocating for a new season somewhere new. There’s masses more work for every department, with new parties and shows and events for the guests, but each port en route to your new destination is a one-off. Meaning that everyone wants to get outside and explore as much as is possible, even with only a couple of hours to spare.

That brilliant day in Santorini: October in Santorini

We stopped in Santorini , then Crete. Our final European port was an unexpected two hours late at night in Limassol, Cyprus. I ventured up to Deck 5 at the bow of the ship to make use of the last of my free European data and say farewell to European soil- even though I could only look at the lights of the port, mountains silhouetted gently in the far distance. After a day in Haifa, Israel – during which we mostly crammed as much shawarma and pistachio-covered baklava in to our mouths as possible- it was onwards to the coast of North Africa and the next step of our journey to the Indian Ocean.

This all sounds like a gallant exploration on a galleon into uncharted territory. But in the name of keeping things in perspective, we’re talking about a cruise liner with a massive smiley face painted on the front. No wooden mermaids on the bow of the ship here, no siree.

How does a cruise through the Suez Canal work?

We had our first glimpse of Port Said, the Egyptian port at the Mediterranean entrance to the canal, in the late afternoon. And then, we just sat there. For hours and hours and hours, waiting for our turn to start the cruise through the Suez Canal. Because if you thought you could freely sail on in then you are very much mistaken my friends!

Navigating any canal takes a significant amount of planning and preparation. There are strict timetables to adhere to so that the whole operation runs like absolute CLOCKWORK. The route of the Suez Canal includes the two Bitter Lakes, where each ship’s positions in the convoy can be changed if need be. And to protect the banks of the canal from big waves, all ships have to travel incredibly slowly.

All vessels travelling along the Suez Canal have to enter in convoy and at their scheduled times. There are two Southbound convoys per day, and one Northbound convoy, and it takes around 11-16 hours to complete the journey. Ships are permitted to enter the canal one at a time, but split into different categories- so the exact time of entry is dependent on whether the ship is a passenger ship, a tanker, a war ship etc. It’s all a bit technical, but also a bit crazy to be thinking you’re travelling in convoy with a few warships for company.

Still. We work on a cruise liner, not a warship. A scorching hot day turned to a clear, warm night, and we had a blast hanging out under the stars drinking intriguing cocktails after work.

By the time we woke up the following morning our cruise through the Suez Canal would have officially begun.

What is the Suez Canal?

The Suez Canal was officially opened in 1869, stretching just over 100 miles through Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea- enabling ships to travel quickly from Europe to India and the Far East. It was a vital (and still is a vital) trade route, and whilst it’s been a huge success the canal has also at times been a huge source of conflict. ( Suez Crisis, anyone? )

Unlike the Panama Canal which uses several locks to raise ships up to Gatun Lake and then back down the other side of the isthmus of Panama, the Suez Canal is completely flat. Ferdinand de Lesseps, who ran the successful Suez Canal project, was brought in to help Panama’s equivalent waterway, and awkwardly almost ended up in jail thanks to his severe mismanagement of the rather more complex situation in Central America.

How awkward, Ferdinand!

Good morning, Suez!

If you’re a crew member on a ship, you’ll already know this: it is highly unlikely that you’ll have a window in your cabin. The solution to the problem of not knowing whether it’s even day or night is to switch on your television and tune in to the live cameras of the upper decks, which is of course exactly what I did the second I opened my eyes in the morning.

It was clear that we were travelling incredibly slowly, and that the water surrounding us was almost completely still, but other than that the world upstairs looked like nothing but fog. I couldn’t feel even a slight swaying movement; the last time I’d felt a ship this still was in the fjords of Norway . Obviously I went up to investigate as soon as I could drag myself upright.

Using all of my body weight to heave the door to Deck 5 open, I was immediately hit with a wall of intense dry heat and simultaneously blinded by the brightness of the fog. What an assault on the senses. A few crew members were there already, milling around in near silence and taking everything in.

Although when I say ‘everything’ I mean, ‘almost nothing.’ I could barely see a thing. At. All.

I could only make out the edges of the waterway with some severe squinting. Travelling at a rate of about 16km per hour gave us a feeling of skimming very slowly over glass, with barely a ripple visible in the water below us.

Enjoying the nothing

Knowing that the crew would be well and truly up for a glimpse of the Suez Canal, posters had been put up all over the crew areas in the days leading up to the journey, emblazoned with the title- “ENJOYING THE NOTHING.” Unlike myself, plenty of crew members had completed a cruise through the Suez Canal before. They knew exactly what to expect. Hot chocolate and coffee was carted up to Deck 5, along with trays of pastries for everyone to enjoy while we enjoyed the ‘nothing’ going past.

I sipped on a hot chocolate whilst drifting occasionally from port to starboard, waiting for the fog to lift. It was pretty difficult to look for too long in the same direction because the light was so ragingly bright. And not only was there the blinding desert light to contend with, but something much much worse.

Thousands and thousands of flies.

I have never in my life witnessed so many flies in one space. Massive black flies gathered on almost every available surface, including some of my colleagues. Some of us continuously swatted them away. Others admitted defeat and let the flies settle for a bit until it all got too irritating.

The only thing I could have told you about the Suez Canal at that point, is that it’s home to a sizeable fly population. Because that’s basically all I could see anyway.

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Sights Along the Suez Canal

Gradually the sandy fog began to withdraw from its ship-smothering task (although the flies soldiered on with us).

On either side of the ship were the sandy canal banks, with patches of rushes here and there. It felt at first as if we were in the middle of a desert, although in reality we weren’t that far from civilisation. There was a twitter of birdsong every now and then- although I couldn’t spy the birds anywhere. The atmosphere was eerie but weirdly peaceful, especially with a mug of hot chocolate in hand.

(I’m not sure exactly why we were drinking steaming hot mugs of hot chocolate in such intense heat, but I was loving every second so it’s definitely not a bad idea in the slightest)

I made out ‘Welcome to Egypt’ written in large letters on the ground next to a military-looking building. Guard towers stood solitary amongst sand dunes, and in the distance were the smudged silhouettes of palm trees- two dimensional like the paintings of ancient Egypt.

Where we were heading: Hiking Adventures in the Indian Ocean

We passed underneath the Al Salam Bridge, a road bridge crossing the canal’s divide between Africa and Asia, and began to see more and more military buildings and soldiers milling around. At the disused El Ferdan Railway Bridge, men in camouflage uniforms stood and waved as our ship sailed by, and one ran alongside until he reached the end of the path he was on, calling out to everyone on board.

Not only could we make out the square silhouette of what looked like a cargo ship in the distance ahead, but the waters around us were dotted with tiny fishing boats from which more men flung their piles of nets overboard or cast their fishing lines outwards. As we passed some of them turned to wave up at us, waving back to them.

Surely they don’t wave to every single one of the ships that traverse the Suez Canal daily, but thanks to the gigantic smiling face painted on our bow we were probably a bit more interesting than your average MSC container ship. Also, probably a bit more likely to wave back; I’m not gonna lie, I was weirdly enthusiastic about the whole waving thing.

The Saltwater Lakes

Back to those fishing boats and the two seas that the canal connects.

Although the canal runs through the two Bitter Lakes, these were once completely dry basins, so it’s a completely man-made situation. There is no freshwater in this bad boy, oh no no no- this is a saltwater canal, filled entirely by the sea.

Not only did the construction of the Suez Canal make it quicker and easier for mankind to travel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, but it’s also made it quicker and easier for marine life to do the same. Very quickly, (compared to the normal pace of migration), species have begun to migrate from one sea to another, colonising their new found homes when it becomes clear that they can survive here.

For an idea of how the Panama Canal works: A Trip to the Panama Canal

This phenomena- the migration of species as a result of a human construction- is known as Lessepsian Migration- which is pretty darn tooting’ interesting if you ask me. De Lesseps strikes again!! Evidently he didn’t just play a part in the enabling of trade, but he had a butterfly effect on just about everything else in the area, too.

The Red Sea is far saltier and far less nutrient-rich than the Mediterranean, meaning that generally Red Sea species are far stronger. The cheeky little so-and-sos. So far there have been around 300 recorded Red Sea species which have managed to thrive in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is having a drastic impact on other species in the area. And now that the canal has been expanded and deepened in parts- to allow more traffic through, in the name of money money money – there is massive concern about the further effects it’ll have on the ecosystem here.

Boarding the ship in the Suez Canal

Ships never stop on a cruise through the Suez Canal- there’s no port to dock in- so although I spent a day sailing through Egypt, I’ve still never set foot on Egyptian soil.

But. People are allowed to board the ship as it sails through the canal.

It goes without saying that a pilot has to come on board. Every single port in the world has a pilot who knows the area well and comes on board ships making making their way into port. A little pilot boat speeds up alongside the ship, and then the pilot hops across from the tiny boat to the massive ship. Which seems heart-stoppingly terrifying to me, but these pilots are well-trained guys. In the case of the Suez Canal, there are a grand total of four pilots who come on board at different intervals of the length of the canal.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t just the pilots who clambered into our cruise ship home.

When I strolled in to crew mess after a rehearsal, an area had been commandeered to set up a makeshift market. A collection of Egyptian men had laid out all kinds of souvenirs on the dinner tables underneath a wall-mounted television. Strip-lighting illuminated the whole strange bazaar which had materialised in the middle of our ship’s crew, tucking into their midday meal. Incense, papyrus manuscript replicas, tiny statues of ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses, beaded jewellery, paintings of the Nile, engraved pots and plenty of phone cases and selfie sticks were laid out for all to peruse.

It reminded me of when the book fair used to arrive in the school hall, except this was way more exciting.

The Great Bitter Lake and the Yellow Fleet

By the time we reached the Great Bitter Lake, the sky was bright blue and the heat was even more intense. Unfortunately I still had to squint as every time I went back downstairs I forgot to get my sunglasses. It was painful but brilliant.

We could see more and more roads and the odd city, with blocks of apartments, statues and the silhouettes of mosques punctuating the skyline.

The Great Bitter Lake is the larger of the two lakes on the Suez Canal, and it blew my mind to discover that in the 1960s a convoy of container ships became trapped in the very same place. And I don’t mean ‘delayed for a short while.’ These fifteen ships- all with crews of different nationalities- were imprisoned here for eight whole years.

Eight years is a pretty long time to be sitting ducks in the middle of a war zone. Let’s face it.

The whole sorry shebang came about in 1967 when Israel and Egypt got into a fight. Israel managed to occupy the Sinai peninsula (which is the part of Egypt to the east of the Suez Canal.) The ships had already begun their journey North when Egypt-not wanting Israel to gain access or control- decided to close the Suez Canal completely. The convoy was blockaded in to the Great Bitter Lake while for six days planes swooped overhead, dropping bombs on their opposing sides.

More ship-tales: Journey to Jamaica

Although the ‘Six Day War’ only technically lasted for six days, tensions remained high and nobody really knew what to do about the canal. After a few months, Egypt opened an air corridor between Cairo and Athens, allowing the ships to rotate their crews every four months. The ships had to be maintained so that when the Suez Canal reopened, they were ready to sail home. The fine desert sand which gradually built up on the ships gave them a yellowish tinge, leading to the nickname ‘The Yellow Fleet.’

The merchant seamen of the Yellow Fleet did a great job of making the best out of a bad situation. They formed the Great Bitter Lakes Association, held their own Olympic Games complete with lifeboat races, and created their own postage stamps for the makeshift country. The crews shared their cargos to ensure no-one went hungry, and regularly visited each others’ ships for social visits. The Swedish ship had a pool, church services were held on one of the German ships, and one of the Bulgarian ships showed movies on board.

Even today, life on a ship has its faults. But one of the best things about it is the sense of community, for sure. The seamen of the Yellow Fleet did an amazing job of creating this despite the unfortunate circumstances they found themselves in.

Leaving the Suez Canal

Eventually we reached the city of Suez and the twin minarets of the Al Badr mosque.

Suddenly the consistent straight path that we’d been on opened up into the Gulf of Suez. We made it out of the canal! I mean, we were obviously going to make it out of the canal all along. But it was still a cool feeling. Dotted across the sea in all directions were ships of all shapes and sizes, plenty of whom we’d just been travelling in convoy with.

The sun was just starting to set, burning the sky orange. The foghorn blared and we pushed on, towards Jordan.

Want to hear about more from cruise ship life and the big wide world?

Logistical Statisticals

• I was able to cruise through the Suez Canal as I was a crew member on the AidaBlu. If you’re a passenger looking to book a cruise through the Suez Canal, the best idea is to find a repositioning cruise. This will either be a ship changing its route from the Mediterranean to an Asian or African itinerary (normally around October/November) or vice versa, in Springtime.
• It’s normal for Egyptian vendors to come on board ships on this route, and on my ship- which is German- they all accepted Euros. I would guess the same goes for whatever currency your ship operates in.
• Don’t forget the flies.

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8 thoughts on “Cruise Through the Suez Canal: Here’s What it’s Like to Sail Through the Egyptian Desert”

Wow that must be such a cool and once-in-a-lifetime adventure! I never knew it’s even possible to do a cruise through the Suez canal. Would so love to do it one day 🙂

It looks like an adventure there! Thanks for sharing all the information it’s so useful!

That must have been a great adventure. I cruise the Nile in Egibt for a week and it was surreal as well. 🙂

OK the flies would be annoying but everything else about this sounds and looks great. Such a unique area to pass through and a big change as you make your way from Europe. The pirates though! That’s one thing I didn’t ever think about which is a little bit of a scary thought

Thanks for sharing your experience! This was one of the few routes I haven’t done as a crew member so it was great to vicariously live through your post and pictures!

What an interesting and cool experience! Although there isn’t a lot to see it seems pretty and relaxing. I’m sure those flies got annoying quick though. I’ve been to the Panama Canal and know it’s quite the production to go through booking a time slot ages before. I’d love to experience this one day!

What an enjoyable read!

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Port schedule

Suez Canal cruise ship port calendar shows all scheduled arrival and departure dates in a timetable format. The cruise calendar displays the ship’s estimated time of arrival including related information such as how crowded is the port, as well as the ship’s next port-of-call.

The following timetable provides valuable information and keeps track of the future cruise ship arrivals from all major cruise lines. In order to find out more about the cruise ship itineraries such as ports, dates, and arrival/departure times just follow the ship’s link.

• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 02 May 2024 - 17:00
• ms Europa 408 passengers 04 May 2024 - 00:00
• Azamara Onward 781 passengers 08 May 2024 - 23:00
• Seven Seas Navigator 557 passengers 09 May 2024 - 00:00
• Serenade Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 19 May 2024 - 00:00
• Azamara Journey 781 passengers 24 May 2024 - 23:00
• Coral Princess 2.400 passengers 25 May 2024 - 17:00
• Oceania Insignia 803 passengers 26 May 2024 - 00:00
• Oceania Riviera 1.447 passengers 26 May 2024 - 00:00
• Seabourn Sojourn 540 passengers 28 May 2024 - 06:00
• Mein Schiff 5 2.700 passengers 04 Jun 2024 - 04:00
• Silver Moon 691 passengers 07 Jun 2024 - 04:00
• Silver Moon 691 passengers 09 Jun 2024 - 07:00
• Star Clipper 170 passengers 16 Jun 2024 - 00:00
• Star Clipper 170 passengers 20 Jun 2024 - 00:00
• Mein Schiff 4 2.700 passengers 15 Oct 2024 - 03:30
• ms Europa 2 516 passengers 21 Oct 2024 - 00:00
• Viking Venus 930 passengers 26 Oct 2024 - 00:00
• Viking Venus 930 passengers 27 Oct 2024 - 00:00
• Anthem of the Seas 4.825 passengers 29 Oct 2024 - 00:00
• MSC Opera 2.570 passengers 03 May 2024 - 17:00
• Azamara Onward 781 passengers 09 May 2024 - 18:00
• Serenade Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 20 May 2024 - 00:00
• Azamara Journey 781 passengers 25 May 2024 - 18:00
• Coral Princess 2.400 passengers 26 May 2024 - 17:00
• Oceania Insignia 803 passengers 27 May 2024 - 00:00
• Mein Schiff 5 2.700 passengers 04 Jun 2024 - 17:00
• Silver Moon 691 passengers 07 Jun 2024 - 18:00
• Mein Schiff 4 2.700 passengers 15 Oct 2024 - 17:00
• Anthem of the Seas 4.825 passengers 30 Oct 2024 - 00:00
• Celestyal Journey 1.512 passengers 30 Oct 2024 - 00:00

11 Around-The-World Cruises For An Epic Getaway

"Sailing around the world" sounds so romantic, doesn't it? You're sailing to remote islands with like-minded people while chasing sunsets on a distant horizon. Sure, you can just board a plane to, say, New Zealand, but there's something so pure and patient about maritime journeys. Cruises are like floating resorts, which ease their way over the waves. It's the definition of "slow travel." 

Amazingly, in the modern world of jet-setting travel, round-the-world cruises do exist. Voyagers visit dozens of ports over the course of their odyssey, each with its own landscape, climate, and personality. There are lots of ways travelers can experience "the trip of a lifetime," but this kind of circumnavigation outmatches just about all of them -- and in style. However, there are a few things to consider before investigating such cruises. First, what does it actually mean to sail "around the world?"

Many companies use this phrase — and sail thousands of nautical miles — but only around a single ocean or hemisphere. Even when ships do sail a distance equivalent to the equator (or more), they rarely return to their precise port of origin. Also, these epic  cruise vacations can be pricey ; the kind of dream that merits cashing in a 401K, and the time commitment is also substantial, meaning months on the water. But for diehard cruisers, crisscrossing the planet could easily be worth the time and money, and if this sounds like you, these 11 cruise lines are scheduled to sail around the world.

Read more: The Prettiest Waters Around The World

Viking: World Cruise

For 138 days, passengers frog-hop through the Caribbean, pass through the Panama Canal, make their way to the islands of Polynesia, and skirt Australia, Asia, and Europe before finally dropping their anchor in London. On Viking's World Cruise, you can step ashore in 28 different nations and pick from 57 guided tours. Viking has been a prolific, respected cruise line since its founding in 1997, and this three-quarter circumnavigation sets sail in December 2024, so there's still time to book.

Ships are equipped with spas, luxury dining options, and cabin beds that can be separated or combined, among many other touches. Long before stepping aboard, the Viking website has a virtual 360-degree tour, acquainting future travelers with the ship's staterooms. Viking has thoughtfully put together a reading list to help travelers get a deeper understanding of the countries they will visit, which is especially helpful in little-understood destinations like Moorea and Indonesia. The ship also has a sizable library onboard for further research. This, plus its sophisticated tours and dining options that reflect the culture of each port, may explain Viking's moniker, "the thinking person's cruise." Quality does come at a price, with full passage starting at $59,995.

Ambassador: Grand Round The World Cruise

The Ambiance sets off from London, crosses the Atlantic, passes through Panama, and hits Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America before pinging back to the United Kingdom. Not only do you cross all the major oceans, but you actually cross the Atlantic three times. Most of these destinations are warm-weather ports, including Sydney at the height of summer. Sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats are recommended on this largely equatorial route.

Ambassador is new to the cruise scene, having been established in the United Kingdom in 2021, and Ambiance is its flagship vessel. Passengers will spend their 120-night voyage in extreme comfort, traveling to 24 countries and 34 ports of call, with top-notch dining, live entertainment, and about 35,000 nautical miles in between. If you can live without a porthole, opting for an  inside cabin on the cruise , then passage starts at the budget-friendly price of $8,500 per person, making this Ambassador cruise one of the most economical on this list. You can also add on drink packages and arrange tours in advance or onboard through an agent or the Ambassador app. You can also explore the ship before you travel, thanks to a 360-degree virtual tour. The 2024 voyage sets sail on June 6.

Regent: World Cruise

The 2026 Regent World Cruise starts in Miami and ends in Miami, which makes it convenient to coordinate, especially if you're already based in the United States. Regent Seven Seas Cruises was founded in 1992 and is a respected brand in the industry.

The ship, the Seven Seas Mariner, also lives up to its name with a formidable 154-night itinerary: the Panama Canal, points along Central America, a dozen Pacific islands, Australia, South Asia, East Africa, and two Atlantic islands before returning to Florida. The Mariner arrives in many well-trod ports like Cape Town and Acapulco, but the route also includes locations that most travelers would have trouble pinpointing on a map: Lautoka, Abidjan, and Male are all names cruisers will become familiar with. To really explore these places, Regent organizes a whopping 431 free shore excursions across six continents, 77 ports, and 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Sailing nearly 40,000 nautical miles with world-class spas, dining, and entertainment aboard doesn't come cheap. While you'll need to contact Regent to request specific prices, passengers can expect to pay nearly $100,000 for passage. Regent's World Cruise is considered a luxury-level experience with first-class airfare, gratuities, and 24-hour room service included. If this is your tax bracket, just wait until you see the suites.

Royal Caribbean: Ultimate World Cruise

Royal Caribbean has been taking tourists to far-flung destinations since the late 1960s, and it's now one of the most recognizable cruise companies in the world, so naturally Royal Caribbean would host a round-the-world voyage. But even for seasoned travelers, the Ultimate World Cruise is pretty, well, ultimate. Royal Caribbean's world cruise lasts 274 nights and arrives in no fewer than 60 countries. In other words, you'll spend nine months at sea and personally visit more than a quarter of the sovereign nations on Earth. The saga starts and ends in Miami, where the Royal Caribbean is headquartered, which should make arrangements easy.

The biggest bragging right of all: This cruise touches on every single continent, including Elephant Island and Paradise Bay in Antarctica. You'll find yourself in both Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, plus ports you've never even heard of. That said, unless your soul is fueled by pure wanderlust, this itinerary may sound like a lot of cruising, which may explain why Royal Caribbean has divided the journey into four segments. Cruisers don't have to commit to the entire itinerary; they can easily pick from the quarter that most interests them. 

By the time you read this, a segment may be the only option left, as the next Ultimate World Cruise departs in December of 2023. The segments are significantly more affordable as well. An interior stateroom for the full cruise costs at least $60,000 per person, while a segment starts at $12,500.

Cunard: Full World Voyage

When the Queen Mary 2 departs from New York City on January 3, 2024, it won't return to this same harbor for 123 nights. The itinerary isn't exactly "around the world," but rather a crossing of the Eastern Hemisphere — twice. Passengers traverse the Atlantic to the United Kingdom, then ease their way down the eastern coast of Africa before beelining for Australia. The ship boomerangs back, with many stops in Asia, a shortcut through the Suez Canal, and a tour of the Mediterranean before heading back to the U.S.

The voyage comes at the heels of Cunard's 100th anniversary, making it the second-oldest company on the list. The Queen Mary 2 has been Cunard's flagship vessel since 2004, and the company has mastered hospitality over the past century, with exceptional dining, luxury suites, and Broadway-quality performances by the Royal Court Theatre. Cunard also takes pride in its children's facilities, encouraging families to travel together, as well as the great English tradition of afternoon tea. Most of the budget cabins on the Queen Mary 2 were already booked at the time of this writing, but cabins with balconies are still available, starting at the not-ludicrous price of $16,899 per person. 

Oceania: Around The World In 180 Days

When Junes Verne wrote his novel "Around the World in Eighty Days," his Victorian goal was to travel as quickly as possible. Oceania is now advertising the opposite: This journey takes passengers the long way from Los Angeles to New York City, across the Pacific, around Australia, along the coasts of East Asia, and then up through the Middle East, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and even Greenland. The itinerary doesn't spend much time in the "global south," so you'll have to visit Africa and South America another time.

The Miami-based Oceania was founded in 2002 and specializes in long-haul cruises, so they know their system well. This cruise may be especially appealing to foodies. The company takes particular pride in its onboard meals as well as in-country Culinary Discovery Tours. Passengers can also take advantage of The Aquamar Spa & Vitality Center, which can orchestrate a special dietary regimen.

Oceania exudes "small-ship luxury" and caps its total number of passengers at 1,250. Everything about the ship is more intimate than found on its larger cousins, from the live entertainment to the duty-free boutiques. If you like a small-town feel, 180 days should be just enough time to meet all your shipmates. If you can't summon the time or (at least) $47,599 by January 2024, the next ship departs in January 2025.

Princess: 111-Day World Cruise

This Princess cruise is another true circumnavigation, starting in Los Angeles and bearing west until the ship arrives back at its original dock. The 111-day cruise starts on January 18, 2024, and includes all three major oceans, both the Suez and Panama Canals, plus 47 ports along the way. The itinerary is light on Asian and African ports and skips South America altogether, but you can still enjoy visits to Australia, the Middle East, and numerous destinations around Europe.

Princess is a hallowed name in the cruise industry. Not only have its ships been sailing the world since the 1960s, but Princess is still one of the most profitable cruise companies in the world. Passengers can expect onboard enrichment programs, award-winning live performances, and rejuvenating treatments at the Lotus Spa. Each port will also bring its own offerings of special excursions, from river rafting to art tours. 

With its dependable quality of service and nearly four-month itinerary, it's remarkable that base bookings start at only $15,498. Better yet, if you want to circle the globe with the whole family, this Princess itinerary is a family-friendly cruise and offers youth programming, which is not always the case. If you miss this one, no worries. Three more, of varying lengths, are slated for January 2025.

Holland America Line: Grand World Voyage

Fort Lauderdale is the beginning and end point for the Zuiderdam, which spends 128 days making a complete circle around the globe. Holland America's Grand World Voyage is true to its name. Passengers travel across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, making port on five continents. Most of its destinations are clustered around Asia and the Mediterranean, and it skips over Australia. But the Voyage is a rare opportunity to sail up the Amazon River, with visits to inland Brazilian cities most travelers would never think to visit.

Holland America began as a shipping and passenger line in the mid-19th Century, and its history of cruising is nearly as old as the concept. The flagship Zuiderdam is a luxury vessel with a swimming pool and sizable theater. It also boasts several diverse dining areas, including the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, the Italian-themed Canaletto, and the à la carte Lido Market. There's Billboard Onboard, a special room for trivia nights and karaoke, as well as World Stage, a presentation space with a wraparound LED screen. Bookings start at the more expensive rate of $22,499 for an inside cabin, and the 2024 voyage will set sail on January 3, 2024, but you can expect additional Grand World Voyages to be slated in the coming years.

Azamara: World Voyage

Formerly part of the Royal Caribbean fleet, Azamara is now an independent company taking its own journeys. The 2025 World Voyage begins in San Diego and sails westward, across the Pacific, to Australia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, before passengers disembark in Barcelona. The World Voyage doesn't quite girdle the globe, stopping just short of the Atlantic Ocean, and the only stop in Africa is Giza. But this 155-night expedition should satisfy almost any traveler, especially with its 40 countries and 22 overnights.

Unlike many world cruises, Azamara has divided its full itinerary into segments with clear geographic themes, such as "South Pacific Jewels" and "Mediterranean Icons." These titles can help turn experiences into coherent narratives. For example, "Ancient Pathways" draws a historic and economic line between Mumbai and Athens, along with all ports in between. These themes are coupled with thoughtful excursions, which are often scheduled around local holidays and festivals. The World Voyage for 2024 appears to be sold out, but the 2025 edition sets sail on January 5. Passage starts at a princely $39,999.

Freighter Cruises

Some of us want to keep it simple. No need for late-night show-stoppers, cocktail parties with hundreds of strangers, or daring bets at the roulette wheel. "Freighter cruises" have gone by many names over the years, such as "banana boats" and "cargo cruises," but passengers have hitched rides on commercial ships since the dawn of seafaring. These accommodations come in many forms, and you do have to share your vessel with stacks of massive shipping containers; still, you can expect a comfortable cabin and regular meals, along with friendly and respectful crewmembers from around the world. For travelers with a Jack London streak, the freighter cruise feels raw and adventurous.

The Freighter Travel Club was founded in 1958, and companies like Maris Freighter Cruises and Voyage en Cargo have booked passengers on commercial vessels for years. Maris has arranged round-the-world itineraries in the past, and multi-week journeys are common, as enormous loads are floated from one nation to the next. The pandemic took its toll on this niche industry, and most of these journeys do not precisely travel around the world. But when they're in operation, freighter cruises usually cost a little over $100 per day, and savvy travelers have flexibility in their bookings.

Miray Cruises: Life At Sea

Sure, cruising is fun, but what if you want to turn your ship into a semi-permanent address? Life at Sea Cruises promises three years of luxury seafaring, with stops in 140 countries across all seven continents. By the time you're done with these 382 ports, you'll have more photos to sort through and stories to share than most people will amass in a lifetime.

That sounds life-changing, but we'll have to see whether it's too good to be true. Life at Sea is a brand-new enterprise from Miray Cruises, and the maiden voyage has been fraught with delays. However, at the time of this writing, Life at Sea should get underway by the end of 2023, and most full-voyage passengers should already be sailing by 2024. If all goes well, there are four scheduled embarkation options for travelers who want to hop aboard later on, and more will likely be scheduled.

One of the problems has been the ship itself. For a while, the purchase of the ship was in limbo, pushing back the original sail date. However, the MV Lara now seems ready to sail. The medium-sized vessel has space for 1,266 passengers, with a range of cozy cabins, a wellness center, and a pool deck, among many other amenities. Travelers committed to living at sea for three years should get a lot out of their floating home. Life at Sea is a dreamy concept, so let's hope for calm waters once it finally sets sail. 

Read the original article on Explore .

Rescue teams save listing cargo ship from sinking in Suez Canal

Crew of 12 safe on Tanzania-flag vessel Labatros

A general cargo ship has been saved from sinking in the Suez Canal, the waterway’s authority says.

Video footage released by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) showed the 3,000-dwt Tanzania-flag Labatros listing heavily to starboard near Port Said, northern Egypt on Tuesday.

The SCA said its rescue teams headed to the vessel and prevented a “complete sinking”.

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Suez Canal Cruises

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Award-Winning Suez Canal Cruises

Built in 1869, the Suez Canal was an engineering feat that shaved 4,300 miles off the route for sailors traveling between Asia and Europe. Before the canal was built, they had to sail around the entire continent of Africa. On a Suez Canal cruise, you’ll see firsthand the incredible waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via Egypt.

You don’t have to fly into Egypt in order to witness this man-made marvel. Instead, sail through the Suez Canal on a cruise that visits Greece and the Middle East. As you cruise, you’ll enjoy views of the Sinai Peninsula and the Nile Delta from a unique vantage point.

Please Note: While we don't currently sail to Suez Canal, you can still discover the beauty of the region on one of our cruises to Asia . Browse our luxury cruises to Asia below.

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Experience a victorian-era engineering marvel on a suez canal cruise.

Here are some of the things to most look forward to during your cruise to the Suez Canal.

Suez Canal Scenery

One of the best parts of a Suez Canal cruise is the scenery you can see while sailing along the sea-level waterway. To the west of the Suez Canal is the Nile Delta, awash in foliage, while to the east you’ll see the arid landscape of the Sinai Peninsula.

Three Continents in One Cruise

On one of our cruises that sails from Greece to Dubai through the Suez Canal, you’ll cruise through three continents: Dubai in Asia; the Suez Canal in Africa; and Greece in Europe.

Featured Suez Canal Cruise Ports

On our cruise through the Suez Canal, you’ll cruise through three continents: Dubai in Asia; the Suez Canal in Africa; and Greece in Europe.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Aqaba, Jordan

Athens, Greece

Katakalon, Greece

Muscat, Oman

Rome, Italy

Catania, Sicily

Popular Shore Excursions in the Suez Canal

On a Suez Canal cruise, your day sailing through the canal is the adventure. Step out onto the cruise ship deck or your own private veranda to watch the scenery of Egypt pass you by. The ship doesn’t stop during your time in the Suez Canal, but you can opt for shore excursions at the ports before or after your journey.

Our Award-Winning Cruise Ships in the Suez Canal

Helpful tips before you go.

You’ll cruise to the Suez Canal on an itinerary that includes Dubai, Greece, and the Suez Canal, or the Arabian Sea and the Suez Canal, in either April or November. Choose a cruise that departs from Dubai and sails to Rome (via the port of Civitavecchia) or Athens (via the port of Piraeus), or an itinerary that travels the reverse route.

When deciding what to pack for a cruise to the Suez Canal, keep in mind you’ll be visiting both desert and Mediterranean climate zones during your trip. Pack clothing in fabrics that will breathe easily in both humid and dry heat. You’ll also want to bring light and airy layers that keep your arms and legs covered, since you’ll be traveling through countries where modesty is expected when it comes to clothing. Still, don’t forget your bathing suit, since your time in Greece and Italy may include some blissful beaches.

When deciding on cruise ship accommodations, consider upgrading to a sunset veranda stateroom on the aft of the ship. This will give you the opportunity to look at the scenery on both sides of the ship from the comfort of your own private balcony as you sail through the Suez Canal. Plus, you’ll enjoy some excellent sunset views when leaving other ports of call.

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