Masterpieces Of Petra - Athens To Dubai Cruise

Day 1 - Athens

Arrive: Mon 07 December 2026 / Depart: Mon 07 December 2026 at 17:00

Piraeus is the gateway to the ancient city of Athens, known as the “Cradle of Western Civilization” because of its immense impact on cultural and political achievements throughout the world. Due mainly to tourism and the 2004 Olympics, Greece has redeveloped many sites in Athens. A historian’s delight, Athens is home to such magnificent wonders as: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the atmospheric winding streets of the Plaka, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Temple of Athena Nike, and the Archaeological Museum with the world’s finest collection of ancient artifacts.

Day 2 - Mediterranean sea cruising

Day 3 - Mediterranean sea cruising

Day 4 - Suez Canal Transit

Day 5 - Sharm El Sheikh

Arrive: Fri 11 December 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 11 December 2026 at 19:00

Located on the Sinai peninsula, Sharm el Sheikh has been the site of pivotal religious events. At the foot of Mount Horeb lies the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine, said to be the Mount Sinai of the Old Testament and the place where the prophet Moses encountered the Burning Bush and received the Ten Commandments. Pilgrims have been traveling to this site since the 5th century, and each day hundreds of visitors come to pay their respects. Sharm El Sheikh is also the diving and snorkeling mecca of the Red Sea region.

Day 6 - Aqaba

Arrive: Sat 12 December 2026 at 07:00

Aqaba, in southwestern Jordan, is the only seaport of Jordan. It is also our gateway to Petra, which dates back to perhaps 7000 BC and was one of the earliest known farming communities in the Middle East. The town was built out of solid red rock and features intricate carvings. It was once the capital of the flourishing Nabataean civilization that stretched from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Enter the site through a half-mile long chasm and come face-to-face with the magnificent Treasury, Petra’s ancient masterpiece.

Day 7 - Aqaba

Depart: Sun 13 December 2026 at 20:00

Aqaba, in southwestern Jordan, is the only seaport of Jordan. It is also our gateway to Petra, which dates back to perhaps 7000 BC and was one of the earliest known farming communities in the Middle East. The town was built out of solid red rock and features intricate carvings. It was once the capital of the flourishing Nabataean civilization that stretched from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Enter the site through a half-mile long chasm and come face-to-face with the magnificent Treasury, Petra’s ancient masterpiece.

Day 8 - Luxor

Arrive: Mon 14 December 2026 at 08:00

Cross the Nile to the famed Valley of the Kings and the magnificent tomb of Tutankhamen and the huge mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. In the evening, witness the fabulous sound and light show at Karnak. Take a jeep safari into the desert to a Bedouin settlement for sweet tea and flatbread and enjoy the dramatic beauty of the sunset over the sands. Buy lovely hand-painted papyrus copies of tomb paintings, mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes, alabaster trinkets, jewelry, and replicas of ancient artifacts. Enjoy sizzling lamb dishes, falafel, and myriad other Middle Eastern and Egyptian specialties.

Day 9 - Luxor

Depart: Tue 15 December 2026 at 22:00

Cross the Nile to the famed Valley of the Kings and the magnificent tomb of Tutankhamen and the huge mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. In the evening, witness the fabulous sound and light show at Karnak. Take a jeep safari into the desert to a Bedouin settlement for sweet tea and flatbread and enjoy the dramatic beauty of the sunset over the sands. Buy lovely hand-painted papyrus copies of tomb paintings, mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes, alabaster trinkets, jewelry, and replicas of ancient artifacts. Enjoy sizzling lamb dishes, falafel, and myriad other Middle Eastern and Egyptian specialties.

Day 10 - Red Sea Cruising

Day 11 - Jeddah

Arrive: Thu 17 December 2026 at 08:00

Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea, is a modern commercial hub and gateway for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities Mecca and Medina. Resort hotels, beaches and outdoor sculptures line the Corniche, a seafront promenade anchored by the iconic King Fahd’s Fountain. The city’s Al-Balad historic district dates to the 7th century and retains traditional homes built from coral.

Day 12 - Jeddah

Depart: Fri 18 December 2026 at 18:00

Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea, is a modern commercial hub and gateway for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities Mecca and Medina. Resort hotels, beaches and outdoor sculptures line the Corniche, a seafront promenade anchored by the iconic King Fahd’s Fountain. The city’s Al-Balad historic district dates to the 7th century and retains traditional homes built from coral.

Day 13 - Red Sea Cruising

Day 14 - Cruising the Gulf of Aden

Day 15 - Arabian Sea Cruising

Day 16 - Arabian Sea Cruising

Day 17 - Gulf of Oman cruising

Day 18 - Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Oman

Arrive: Thu 24 December 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 24 December 2026 at 18:00

Muscat is the capital of Oman, a sovereign country. Muscat has been important since the 6th century BC, when Persians controlled the port. It was under Portuguese domination from 1508 to 1650, and subsequently the Iranians gained control of the city. Muscat became the capital of independent Muscat and Oman in 1741- the country’s name was changed to just Oman in 1970. Muscat offers a number of exciting excursions including dolphin watching and off-road desert adventures.

Day 19 - Cruising the Gulf of Oman

Day 20 - Abu Dhabi

Arrive: Sat 26 December 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 26 December 2026 at 20:00

The discovery of oil in 1958 transformed this rural backwater into a modern metropolis with the highest per-capita income in the world. Today, Abu Dhabi boasts extraordinary sky scrapers, shopping malls, top quality hotels, tree-lined boulevards and picturesque gardens, while still maintaining a subtle Arabian mystique. Sail the lovely Gulf waters and numerous islands surrounding the city in a traditional dhow; tour heritage Village, a living museum where artisans ply their traditional crafts; or shop the central souk area for gold and Bedouin silver jewelry.

Day 21 - Sir Bani Yas Island

Arrive: Sun 27 December 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 27 December 2026 at 19:00

Sir Bani Yas Island is part of the Al Gharbia region of the United Arab Emirates. It's dominated by the Arabian Wildlife Park, with its roaming giraffes, cheetahs and gazelles. Multiple archaeological sites across the island include the ruins of an ancient Christian monastery. Salt dome hills define the island’s desert interior. The coast features beaches, sea kayak routes and a shipwreck

Day 22 - Dubai

Arrive: Mon 28 December 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 28 December 2026

Located in the northeast United Arab Emirates, bustling Dubai attracts visitors with its international facilities and exotic, yet cosmopolitan lifestyle. Known as the Hong Kong of Arabia, Dubai’s modern duty-free shopping malls and traditional souks offer some of the best bargains in the world on such luxury items as gold jewelry and designer creations. For a more historic outing, visitors can explore the museum at Al Fahidi Fort or venture out into the Old Quarter of Bastakia.