North African Coast to the Mozambique Channel Cruise

Day 1 - Barcelona

Arrive: Sat 30 November 2024 / Depart: Sat 30 November 2024 at 17:00

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is said to have been founded by the Phoenicians, and was once the rival of the powerful states of Venice and Genoa for control of the Mediterranean trade. Today, it is Spain's second largest city and has long rivaled, even surpassed Madrid in industry and commerce. The medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter and the elegant boulevards combine to make the city one of Europe's most beautiful. Barcelona's active cultural life and heritage brought forth such greats as the architect Antonio Gaudi, the painter Joan Miro, and Pablo Picasso, who spent his formative years here. Other famous native Catalan artists include cellist Pau Casals, surrealist Salvador Dali, and opera singers Montserrat Caballe and Josep Carreras. Barcelona accomplished a long-cherished goal with the opportunity to host the Olympics in 1992. This big event prompted a massive building program and created a focal point of the world's attention.

Day 2 - Palma De Mallorca

Arrive: Sun 01 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 01 December 2024 at 18:00

Spain's Balearic Islands are among Europe's most popular resort destinations. Mallorca is the largest and most developed of these islands. Rome and Carthage battled over this territory and portions of ancient Roman constructions still remain. Founded almost 2,100 years ago, the city of Palma de Mallorca, the island's busy capital city boasts a considerable store of history. Mallorca welcomes its visitors to an island, which can be both exciting and tranquil. The abundant sightseeing and sunshine are yours to enjoy.

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - La Goulette

Arrive: Tue 03 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 03 December 2024 at 18:00

La Goulette, known in Arabic as Halq al-Wadi, is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. The Kasbah fortress was built in 1535 by Charles I of Spain but was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1574

Day 5 - Sousse

Arrive: Wed 04 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 04 December 2024 at 17:00

Sousse or Soussa is a city in Tunisia, capital of the Sousse Governorate. Located 140 km south of the capital Tunis, the city has 271,428 inhabitants. Sousse is in the central-east of the country, on the Gulf of Hammamet, which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 6 - Malta

Arrive: Thu 05 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 05 December 2024 at 18:00

Occupied successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, French and British, Malta has been of strategic importance throughout history. A British Crown Colony until 1964, Malta received the George Cross for its valiant resistance to German occupation in WWII. The island's rich heritage is reflected in the architecture of Valletta, the current capital, and Medina, the capital until 1565. In Valletta the Knights of St. John built such masterpieces as St. John's Co-Cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Masters, along with the fortifications that guard the town's magnificent harbors.

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Chania, Crete

Arrive: Sat 07 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 07 December 2024 at 18:00

Lying along the north coast of Crete is Chania, the second largest city of the island. Chania is bordered by endless stretches of seashore, with inlets and islands of exotic beauty and sandy beaches tucked away at the foot of the island's forbidding mountains. This is a self-sufficient region that is blessed with rich flora and fauna, as well as impressive gorges, holy caves, rivers and lush, green plains blanketed with citrus groves. The city of Chania is comprised of two sections, the old town and the larger modern city. Situated next to the old harbor, the old town is the focal point from which the urban area has developed. Some of the eastern and western parts of the original old Venetian fortifications from the 1500s that surrounded the town have survived and can still be seen.

Day 9 - At Sea

Day 10 - Antalya

Arrive: Mon 09 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 09 December 2024 at 18:00

Surrounded on three sides by snow-capped mountains, Antalya is situated on a vast fertile plain that was known in antiquity as Pamphylia. Here the Toros Mountains, blanketed by green forests, sweep down the rocky headlands to isolated coves of clear turquoise water. The stunning scenery and mild climate have made Antalya a principal resort on the "Turquoise Coast" of Turkey sometimes referred to as the "Turkish Riviera." Full of ancient sites, the area was once part of empires controlled by the Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Seljuks, Cypriots and Ottomans. Many of the Mediterranean world's best-preserved ancient ruins are east of Antalya, the most spectacular of which are Perge and Aspendos. The city itself has much to offer the visitor who wishes not to venture far afield. The Kaleici, the historic quarter, protected from modern development and closed to cars, is a perfect place to discover the city's historic past. The old Roman Harbor is now a yacht marina and the winding streets of the picturesque Old Quarter leads you past quaint wooden houses, cafes, shops and the ruins and monuments of bygone eras.

Day 11 - Limassol

Arrive: Tue 10 December 2024 at 09:00 / Depart: Tue 10 December 2024 at 18:00

Limassol on Cyprus' south coast is the island's largest seaside resort. It meanders for ten miles along the coast with the Troodos Mountains providing a magnificent backdrop. Sunshine, blue sky and beaches are the criteria that attract scores of vacationers each year. The more adventurous traveler, too, finds worthwhile attractions, such as medieval castles, remote mountain villages, archaeological sites dating back to 7,000 B.C., and inviting cedar forests, orange groves and vineyards. Although the easternmost island of the Mediterranean, eastern culture is augmented by a large dose of European. Rome and Byzantium, the Crusaders and the Venetians, the Turks and the British have all left their traces. Since the Middle Ages, when the Crusaders held Cyprus under Richard the Lionhearted, Limassol has been known to traders for its wine and sugar cane. Today, the island's second largest city is the hub of its wine-making industry and an important commercial center.

Day 12 - At Sea

Day 13 - Alexandria

Arrive: Thu 12 December 2024 at 08:00

Alexander the Great founded this city, but never lived to see it. When he took Egypt from the Persians in 332 BC, he decided to move the capital from Memphis to the Mediterranean. Leaving instructions with his architect, he traveled on to Asia where he died. Egypt passed under the control of his general, Ptolemy I, who made Alexandria a great intellectual center. The city was designed with grand proportions. Its lighthouse, the Pharos, was a beacon to all. The Mouseion, from which our word "museum" derives, incorporated laboratories, observatories and a vast library. With the fall of the Ptolemies, Alexandria slumbered in obscurity until revived as an international seaport. A cosmopolitan, decadent colonial era, captured such works as Lawrence Durrell's Alexandrian Quartet, ended in the 1950's, but the beaches, restaurants and architecture still draw visitors, along with such excavations as Cleopatra's Palace, where this Queen of Egypt shared her love with Mark Anthony.

Day 14 - Alexandria

Depart: Fri 13 December 2024 at 18:00

Alexander the Great founded this city, but never lived to see it. When he took Egypt from the Persians in 332 BC, he decided to move the capital from Memphis to the Mediterranean. Leaving instructions with his architect, he traveled on to Asia where he died. Egypt passed under the control of his general, Ptolemy I, who made Alexandria a great intellectual center. The city was designed with grand proportions. Its lighthouse, the Pharos, was a beacon to all. The Mouseion, from which our word "museum" derives, incorporated laboratories, observatories and a vast library. With the fall of the Ptolemies, Alexandria slumbered in obscurity until revived as an international seaport. A cosmopolitan, decadent colonial era, captured such works as Lawrence Durrell's Alexandrian Quartet, ended in the 1950's, but the beaches, restaurants and architecture still draw visitors, along with such excavations as Cleopatra's Palace, where this Queen of Egypt shared her love with Mark Anthony.

Day 15 - Enter Suez Canal at Port Said

Day 15 - Transit Suez Canal

Day 15 - Exit Suez Canal at Suez

Day 16 - At Sea

Day 17 - Sharm El Sheikh

Arrive: Mon 16 December 2024 at 05:00 / Depart: Mon 16 December 2024 at 18:00

Some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world is found at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Here, on a slender promontory where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Straits of Tiran, Sharm el Sheikh offers access to serene sand beaches, wind-carved cliffs and a wonderland of colorful fish and coral reefs. The area is revered as a place of prophets and miracles, including St. Catherine's Monastery, the most important religious site in Sinai, situated at the base of the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Day 18 - Safaga

Arrive: Tue 17 December 2024 at 06:00 / Depart: Tue 17 December 2024 at 23:00

Located on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea, the port of Safaga is the gateway to some of Egypt's most memorable destinations: Luxor, Karnak and Thebes. Luxor has often been called the world's greatest open-air museum, and the number and preservation of the monuments in the area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. The ancient Egyptians called Luxor "The City" and Homer called it the "City of a Thousand Gates." The troops of Napoleon, coming upon its grandeur, broke into spontaneous applause. The pharaoh's tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and the colossal temples of Luxor and Karnak capture the imagination with splendors that have survived the centuries.

Day 19 - At Sea

Day 20 - At Sea

Day 21 - At Sea

Day 22 - At Sea

Day 23 - At Sea

Day 24 - Salalah

Arrive: Mon 23 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 23 December 2024 at 17:00

Salalah, Oman's ancient incense capital is an oasis with lush vegetation resulting from seasonal monsoons. The city's roads wind through groves of coconut, papaya and banana trees, and roadside stands sell fresh fruit and coconut water. The tropical atmosphere is a striking contrast to the otherwise arid landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula. Even the Queen of Sheba fell under the spell of the area's treasure far greater than gold, and sent gifts of frankincense to impress Solomon. Today, the beautiful sand beaches, cultural history, archaeology and natural diversity draw visitors to this ancient paradise.

Day 25 - At Sea

Day 26 - At Sea

Day 27 - Crossing the Equator

Day 28 - Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles

Arrive: Fri 27 December 2024 at 12:00

Victoria, on Mahé Island, is the capital city of the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles National Botanical Gardens showcases endemic palms and orchids, as well as giant tortoises and fruit bats. The colorful Sir Selwyn Clarke Market sells spices, fruit, art and souvenirs. Near the Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the imposing La Domus, built in 1934 to house Catholic missionaries.

Day 29 - Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles

Depart: Sat 28 December 2024 at 23:00

Victoria, on Mahé Island, is the capital city of the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles National Botanical Gardens showcases endemic palms and orchids, as well as giant tortoises and fruit bats. The colorful Sir Selwyn Clarke Market sells spices, fruit, art and souvenirs. Near the Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the imposing La Domus, built in 1934 to house Catholic missionaries.

Day 30 - Praslin Islands

Arrive: Sun 29 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 29 December 2024 at 17:00

Known for its glorious tropical beaches and fantastic marine life, Praslin is unique because of its Vallee de Mai World Heritage Site, where the coco de mer grows wild. At seven miles long and nowhere more than 3 1/2 miles wide, it is still the second largest island in the Seychelles.

Day 31 - At Sea

Day 32 - At Sea

Day 33 - At Sea

Day 33 - Zanzibar

Arrive: Wed 01 January 2025 at 08:00

Lying in the warm waters off the coast of Tanzania is the exotic island of Zanzibar. The mere mention of this spot conjures up images of intrigue and mystery. Zanzibar's history is whispered on the tropical breezes that cool the island. They tell of the slave trade which flourished here, and of a building called the ``House of Wonders.' They tell of a time when Christian missionaries lived and worked under difficult conditions.

Day 34 - Zanzibar

Lying in the warm waters off the coast of Tanzania is the exotic island of Zanzibar. The mere mention of this spot conjures up images of intrigue and mystery. Zanzibar's history is whispered on the tropical breezes that cool the island. They tell of the slave trade which flourished here, and of a building called the ``House of Wonders.' They tell of a time when Christian missionaries lived and worked under difficult conditions.

Day 36 - Zanzibar

Depart: Sat 04 January 2025 at 18:00

Lying in the warm waters off the coast of Tanzania is the exotic island of Zanzibar. The mere mention of this spot conjures up images of intrigue and mystery. Zanzibar's history is whispered on the tropical breezes that cool the island. They tell of the slave trade which flourished here, and of a building called the ``House of Wonders.' They tell of a time when Christian missionaries lived and worked under difficult conditions.

Day 37 - Dar Es Salaam

Arrive: Sun 05 January 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 05 January 2025 at 18:00

Dar es Salaam, a major city and commercial port on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast, grew from a fishing village. The open-air Village Museum has re-created the traditional homes of local and other Tanzanian tribes and hosts tribal dancing. It’s part of the National Museum, which offers Tanzanian history exhibits, including the fossils of human ancestors found by anthropologist Louis Leakey.

Day 38 - At Sea

Day 39 - Mamoudzou

Day 40 - Nosy Be, Madagascar

Arrive: Wed 08 January 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 08 January 2025 at 17:00

Madagascar is a world apart. And Nosy Be, which means “large island”, is apart from that. The islands have unique wildlife and cultural traditions long separated from the African mainland. Some 90 percent of the plants and animals in Madagascar are endemic. Nosy Be’s port, Andoany, was formerly called Hell-ville, but is not really that bad. The major attractions for many visitors are the clear waters and prolific coral reefs surrounding the island. There are shops in the town selling the many essential oils, of ylang-ylang, vanilla, black pepper and other plants, that originally attracted the attention of the wider world. Outside town, near the village of Mahatsinjo, there is an immense banyan tree planted by a Malagasy queen in 1836. It is still sacred, and the current queen makes a pilgrimage to sacrifice at the tree annually. The Lokobe Natural Reserve is the place to see the endemic forest and the endearing lemurs that are the iconic wildlife species of Madagascar, along with crater lakes, waterfalls and other types of wildlife. At Lemurlandia, lemurs are captive, and the park also offers up-close access to vanilla orchids, ylang-ylang, cacao trees and other specialty plants. The island also has a distillery that flavors local rum with essential oils of all flavors.

Day 41 - At Sea

Day 42 - Ilha de Mocambique

Day 43 - At Sea

Day 44 - At Sea

Day 45 - Maputo

Arrive: Mon 13 January 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 13 January 2025 at 18:00

The interests of the Portuguese in Africa were the earliest of any European power. And the independence of Africa’s Lusophone colonies was invariably the most bitterly disputed during the revolutions of the mid-20th century. As elsewhere, the departing colonials took much of the value and the skills with them when they fled. Maputo has been slowly rebuilding itself into a city worthy of its setting along the Indian Ocean coast, and you will be among only a few travelers to see the architectural treasures of its past and the spirit of its future.

Day 46 - At Sea

Day 47 - Durban

Arrive: Wed 15 January 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 15 January 2025 at 23:00

At its founding in 1835, the city was named in honor of the then Governor of the Cape, Sir Benjamin D'Urban. Sugar cane transformed Durban into a vital port city, and its attractive parks and meticulously groomed gardens continue to testify to the land's richness. Today, the city sprawls along the coast, its golden beaches hugging the ice-blue Indian Ocean.

Day 48 - At Sea

Day 49 - East London

Arrive: Fri 17 January 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 17 January 2025 at 18:00

East London was established in the Eastern Cape as a military base by the British in 1836. In the town itself, the East London Museum offers very rare displays including a reconstruction of the extinct dodo bird along with the only dodo egg known to exist, the exotic coelacanth fish thought to have been extinct for millennia, then discovered in the Indian Ocean, and a slab of sandstone discovered at nearby Nahoon Point containing the footprints of a prehistoric hominid child dating from over 200,000 years ago. Ranging further afield, visitors can visit the Xhosa homeland for a game drive on the Inkwenkwesi Game Reserve or the Mpongo Private Game Reserve.

Day 50 - Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Arrive: Sat 18 January 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 18 January 2025 at 17:00

Port Elizabeth is one of South Africa’s largest cities, (second in area and fifth in population), stretching 16 miles along the bay named “Algoa” by the Portuguese. The name indicated that it was from here their trading ships departed for the Goa coast of India on the favorable monsoon winds. Today it is renowned as a playground on the Indian Ocean coast, the breezes attracting surfers and yachtsmen to sport in the warm seas. The 2010 FIFA World Cup was held here, and spread even further its reputation as a world-class beach resort.

Day 51 - Mossel Bay

Arrive: Sun 19 January 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 19 January 2025 at 18:00

South Africa’s Garden Route is among the world’s most attractive destinations, and Mossel Bay will welcome Seabourn guests to the heart of it. Those interested in wildlife will be thrilled with a visit to the Botlierskop Private Game Reserve for the chance to spot a rare white rhino and interact with huge, gentle African elephants at a feeding. The Diaz Museum Complex is named for Bartolomeu Diaz, the Portuguese explorer who was the first European to set foot in South Africa right here. It contains historical displays including the famous Post Office Tree that served as the message station for early sailors, a maritime museum and an aquarium. Another option is to travel along the coast to the famous seaside resort community at Knysna Heads and up into the arid, scenic Outeniqua Mountains.

Day 52 - At Sea

Day 53 - Cape Town

Arrive: Tue 21 January 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Tue 21 January 2025

Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain and flanked by Devil's Peak and Lion's Head, Cape Town is known by South Africans simply as 'the Cape,' an acknowledgment of its uniqueness and its status as the Mother City. The first area to be settled by Europeans in the 17th century, it is today a major seaport and the legislative capital of South Africa. The feeling here is not African but cosmopolitan, and a sense of history remains.