Elegant Cruises & Tours, a niche cruise line specializing in culturally enriching travel, announced early-booking savings for its new “Monasteries of the Lonely Desert” voyage to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba. The cruises are aboard the 62-passenger Monet, including the inaugural voyage on Dec. 18. According to Tatjana Stanovic, executive vice president of Elegant Cruises & Tours, anyone booking prior to May 31 can elect to deduct $300 per person from the regular published fares, or deduct $350 per person from the price of the Cairo pre/post cruise extension.
The new program takes passengers through the Gulf of Suez to the Red Sea for a 14-day sea and land adventure exploring the ancient world and visiting Egyptian temples and Greco-Roman architecture. The central focus are the desert monasteries of early Christianity, including the Monasteries of St. Anthony & St. Paul, now UNESCO World Heritage Sites; the 4th century Monastery of the Seven Nuns; and St. Catherine’s, the oldest working monastery and home to the one of the world’s largest collections of illuminated manuscripts.
Additional highlights are the ancient cities of Petra and Thebes, the Bedouin village of Wadi Rum made famous by Lawrence of Arabia, the Chapel of the Burning Bush and Ras Mohammed National Park. Key ports of call are Safaga for Luxor and Valley of the Kings; Sharm El Sheik; and Aqaba for Petra, Amman and Jerash. A slate of guest lecturers is planned, beginning with Near East archeologist, scholar and author Dr. William Dever.
Nine Red Sea cruise-tours are planned following the Dec. 18 maiden voyage. Prices begin at $3,512 per person, based on double occupancy, including meals onboard, shore excursions, four-night land portion in Jordan, one overnight in Cairo, all transfers and guest lectures. The cruise-only package featuring the cruise, all meals, lecturer, all shore excursions (exclusive of the land/overnight portions) begin at $2,706 per person, double occupancy. Group and charter rates are available.
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