Most travelers don’t really consider the Red Sea when they think about cruises. It’s an obscure area of the world, and it’s relatively rare for itineraries to stop there. But that doesn’t mean that you should write it off. There’s a lot of really interesting things to experience on a Red Sea cruise. It also doesn’t hurt that the Red Sea is located near some other very interesting stops.
Nearby stops
Most Red Sea-related itineraries take a slow pace so that you can get a taste of multiple countries in the region surrounding the Red Sea. Because it separates two different continents, the Red Sea offers the opportunity to get a lot of culture in one itinerary. Sailing through the Red Sea itself gives access to Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Eritrea, and Yemen, and other countries can be visited by traveling just a bit further inland. Longer itineraries that incorporate the Red Sea also might cross the Arabian Sea, and countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan can then be visited. A visit to the Red Sea can also be part of a tour around Africa.
The beauty of the Red Sea
The land surrounding the Red Sea isn’t the only thing that makes it a cool cruise destination. The body of water itself is a perfect spot for scenic cruising and fun water activities. Those who are into snorkeling will love swimming around in the many shallow areas that are filled with diverse types of coral. Scuba diving is also very popular on the Red Sea. There’s a variety of different marine animals that can be spotted there including more than 1000 different fish species. Finally, anyone looking to visit the Red Sea will be excited by the fact that the water is pretty much always at a comfortable temperature. In the winter, it reaches a low of 66 degrees, and it’s far warmer in the summer. You can basically always count on the water feeling nice in the Red Sea.
An example itinerary
A few different cruise lines sail to the Red Sea. To give you an idea of what you can expect on a Red Sea itinerary, take a look at MSC’s current line up. Their Red Sea cruises focus on the nearby countries of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, giving guests a real taste of the Middle East. Two full days are spent sailing across the Red Sea.
The Red Sea is a world class cruise destination. If you want to try something new, we highly suggest considering visiting it!