Seabourn Encore - 11/3/2024

Piraeus (Athens), Greece, offers docking at Piraeus Port with excursions to Athens. Travelers explore Acropolis and Parthenon. Excursions visit Cape Sounion. Local markets sell souvlaki. The peak season, April to October, brings warm weather for city tours. Photography captures ancient ruins and Aegean vistas. Dining onboard includes moussaka, a Greek favorite. Souvenirs, like olive oil, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Hellenic history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the Mediterranean climate, while comfortable shoes enhance historic walks. Piraeus’ cultural gateway offers a vibrant Greek stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of iconic landmarks and scenic coasts, making Piraeus an engaging destination for exploration. (126 words)

Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece, anchors or docks at its central harbor on Mirabello Bay, with tenders for larger ships placing passengers amid tavernas and boutiques. The Venetian port, 65 kilometers east of Heraklion, features promenades and free Wi-Fi spots. Lake Voulismeni, 5-minute walk, circles a sunken crater lined with cafes for people-watching. Archaeological Museum, 10 minutes stroll, displays Minoan artifacts like the Saffron Gatherer fresco. Almiros Beach, 2 kilometers south, offers sandy shores and tavernas serving dakos salad. Excursions visit Knossos Palace, 50 minutes drive, for labyrinth tours and restored murals. Spinalonga Island, 20 minutes by boat, explores Venetian fortress once a leper colony. Kitroplatias Beach, 400 meters east, provides quick dips. Folklore Museum, in town, showcases weaving looms and pottery kilns. Dining options include meze platters at harbor tables. Souvenirs feature olive oil soaps and raki. Peak season May to October; buses 1-2 EUR. Taxis 5-10 EUR short trips.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Ashdod, Israel, docks at the modern port, 3 kilometers from downtown, with shuttles or taxis for 10-minute rides. The city, population 220,000, serves as a gateway to Jerusalem, 90 minutes east, for Western Wall and Old City tours. Local sites include the Ashdod-Yam Citadel, a Crusader fortress. Ad Halom Beach offers swimming. Markets sell za’atar. Peak season April to October; taxis 20-50 ILS. Dining includes hummus at port cafes. Souvenirs feature olive wood carvings.

Suez Canal Transit, Egypt, offers scenic cruising without docking. Travelers view canal locks and desert landscapes from the ship. Excursions include onboard lectures. No facilities exist; provisions are ship-based. The peak season, October to April, brings mild weather for canal cruising. Photography captures engineering marvels and Suez vistas. Dining onboard includes koshari, an Egyptian favorite. Souvenirs, like canal replicas, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover canal history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the arid climate, while binoculars enhance scenery viewing. Suez Canal’s historic allure offers a vibrant Egyptian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of engineering feats and desert vistas, making the Suez Canal an engaging destination for exploration.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Aqaba (Petra), Jordan, docks at Aqaba Port, 2 kilometers from downtown, with shuttles or taxis for 10-minute rides. The port city, population 200,000, serves as a gateway to Petra, 2 hours north, with Nabataean tombs like Al-Khazneh carved into rose-red cliffs. Local sites include the Aqaba Fort, a 14th-century Mamluk structure. Snorkeling at South Beach, 10 minutes south, explores coral reefs. Markets sell za’atar spices. Excursions to Wadi Rum, 1 hour east, offer jeep tours through desert canyons. Peak season October to April; taxis 5-10 JOD. Dining includes sayadiyah (fish rice) at port cafes. Souvenirs feature Bedouin silver jewelry.

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, offers docking at Sharm El Sheikh Port. Travelers explore Naama Bay and Ras Mohammed National Park. Excursions include snorkeling at Tiran Island. Local markets sell koshari. The peak season, October to April, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures coral reefs and Red Sea vistas. Dining onboard includes falafel, an Egyptian favorite. Souvenirs, like papyrus crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Sinai history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the arid climate, while water shoes enhance reef exploration. Sharm El Sheikh’s coastal allure offers a vibrant Egyptian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of marine adventures and desert beauty, making Sharm El Sheikh an engaging destination.

Safaga, Egypt, offers docking at Safaga Port. Travelers explore Luxor’s Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings. Excursions visit Hurghada’s coral reefs. Local markets sell koshari. The peak season, October to April, brings mild weather for historic tours. Photography captures ancient ruins and Red Sea vistas. Dining onboard includes ful medames, an Egyptian favorite. Souvenirs, like papyrus art, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Pharaonic history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the arid climate, while comfortable shoes enhance temple walks. Safaga’s historic allure offers a vibrant Egyptian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of ancient landmarks and coastal beauty, making Safaga an engaging gateway to Egypt’s heritage.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Muscat, Oman, provides docking at Port Sultan Qaboos. Travelers explore the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Muttrah Souq. Excursions visit Nakhal Fort’s desert oasis. Local markets sell frankincense. The peak season, November to March, brings mild weather for sightseeing. Photography captures Islamic architecture and Arabian Sea views. Dining onboard includes shuwa, an Omani dish. Souvenirs, like silver khanjars, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Oman’s maritime history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the arid climate, while comfortable shoes enhance souq walks. Muscat’s blend of tradition and modernity offers a vibrant Omani stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of grand mosques, bustling markets, and desert forts, making Muscat an engaging destination for exploring Oman’s cultural richness and coastal allure.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE, offers docking at Ras Al-Khaimah Port. Travelers explore Al Hamra Village and Dhayah Fort. Excursions include desert dune bashing. Local markets sell luqaimat. The peak season, November to March, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Arabian Gulf vistas and historic forts. Dining onboard includes machboos, an Emirati favorite. Souvenirs, like camel crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover UAE history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the arid climate, while comfortable shoes enhance fort walks. Ras Al-Khaimah’s cultural allure offers a vibrant UAE stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic sites, desert adventures, and coastal charm, making Ras Al-Khaimah an engaging destination for exploration.

Dubai, UAE, offers docking at Port Rashid. Travelers explore Burj Khalifa and Dubai Souk. Excursions visit Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Local markets sell shawarma. The peak season, November to March, brings mild weather for city tours. Photography captures skyscrapers and Persian Gulf vistas. Dining onboard includes kabsa, an Emirati favorite. Souvenirs, like gold crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Bedouin history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the arid climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Dubai’s modern charm offers a vibrant UAE stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of futuristic landmarks and cultural markets, making Dubai an engaging destination for exploration. (126 words)