Cruise Description

22 Night Cruise sailing from Mumbai to Athens aboard Crystal Symphony.

With lots of overnights in port and days at sea, this voyage balances Eastern exploration and onboard relaxation. Starting in Mumbai, sail to Muscat for two days of Omani discovery. Salalah, a startling green oasis surrounded by arid desert landscapes, is next, then two overnights in Jeddah. Two famed destinations follow – Luxor and Petra, followed by Suez, gateway to the Pyramids of Giza. A bucket list Suez Canal Transit will bring you to Athens.

Highlights of this cruise:

Mumbai
Explore Mumbai, the home of Bollywood and the dizzying commercial capital of India. Known as the city of dreams, Mumbai offers exhilarating experiences. Formerly known as Bombay, this city of temples where Mahatma Gandhi once lived, is home to extraordinary UNESCO treasures including the Elephanta and Ellora Caves, Agra Fort, and the Red Fort Complex. Overland journeys may be arranged to the exquisite Taj Mahal and the 2019-inscribed Jaipur Rajasthan, known also as the Pink City and revered for its colonnaded City Palace complex with royal gardens and courtyards.

Salalah
Oman's lush southern gem, where fragrant frankincense trees, pristine beaches, and a fascinating blend of Omani and East African cultures create an enchanting and rejuvenating Arabian getaway. Like a magic carpet spread before the sea, Oman's coastal plain is one of the most fertile areas of Arabia. Famous since antiquity as the source of frankincense, Salalah was already a prosperous town when Marco Polo visited it in the 13th century! Inland rise the forbidding Al-Quara Mountains, and the desolate "Empty Quarter" of central Saudi Arabia.

Jeddah
As the most historic port in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah is packed full of cultural riches. Apart from being the gateway to Mecca, the city is famous for being the burial place of Eve, the mother of humanity. Although the city today buzzes with modernity, the past is very much present, largely thanks to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Old Jeddah where you can stroll the streets lined with beautiful and traditional 19th century architecture.

Safaga
Delve into the world of ancient Egypt in Luxor, a treasure trove of historically significant temples, tombs and monuments located on the east bank of the Nile. On the Red Sea coast, this small city offers beautiful beaches and glorious weather, even snorkeling and diving among the offshore reefs. More intriguingly, it serves as the gateway to Luxor on the west bank of the Nile River, where the Valley of the Kings reveals the elaborate tombs and underground mausoleums of pharaohs such as Tutankhamun and Ramses II.

Aqaba
Carved into a rock facade, Petra is an ancient archeological city and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the southwestern desert of Jordan. Situated at the top of its namesake gulf, Aqaba brings a refreshing release from the rose-colored desert to the north. Its sandy beaches and coral reefs are the most pristine on the Red Sea, and Jordanians hope to preserve them through careful planning. Beyond the modernity of Aqaba itself, the UNESCO treasure of Petra – an ancient rock-carved Nabataean city once lost to the Western world – and the wonders of the Wadi Rum await discovery.

Athens
Experience the vibrant and historic port of Piraeus, Athens' gateway to the Aegean islands and beyond, and find a rich maritime heritage, a bustling local culture, and access to the wonders of Athens. Venture through Greece’s largest port city, Piraeus, as you make your way to the cradle of Western culture and the birthplace of democracy. Athens, among the world's oldest cities with a history spanning 3,400 years, has long been the location of myth and muse, and its ancient heritage is still an incredible source of inspiration. Here, the Acropolis crowns the city as home to the Parthenon and other legendary temples and monuments.