7 reasons to go on a Red Sea cruise this winter

This January, in cooperation with the cruise company MSC Cruises, we have prepared a novelty for you in the Riviera Tour travel agency - a cruise through the most beautiful places of the Red Sea, which you can take with us including a Czech delegate in the price. And because we know that Saudi Arabia in particular, but also the other countries on the route, represent for us, Czech landlubbers, places previously seen mainly in travel documentaries, we bring you today this article containing 7 reasons why you should not miss our special winter cruise this year on the MSC Orchestra.

1. A completely different world

At the end of 2019, Saudi Arabia began issuing tourist visas for the first time in its history. This opened up a previously inaccessible country, the 13th largest in the world in terms of area, with an extraordinary history and natural beauty, to travellers. Two years later, MSC Cruises is one of the first major cruise companies to launch cruises to the country, with visits to renowned destinations in surrounding countries. This is the second destination to explore the mysteries of Islamic culture for travellers on the shipping giants after the Persian Gulf cruises. Moreover, in the Red Sea region, this culture is linked to the heritage of ancient Egypt, Israel and the desert Bedouins, which gives it a specific mysterious character. If you want a glimpse beneath the veil of this part of the world, our winter cruise is definitely something for you.

2. Medina - the City of the Prophet

The first stop on our journey after sailing from Egypt's Safaga will be the Saudi Arabian port of Jidda. This fast-growing modern city is located less than 60 kilometres as the crow flies from Mecca, Islam's most important site. However, non-Muslims are forbidden entry, which is why we offer you the opportunity to go on a trip with Riviera Tour to Medina, which, along with Mecca and Jerusalem, is one of the religion's three holiest sites.

And it won't be just any trip - our means of transport will be the more than 450 km long luxury high-speed railway line, which the Saudis opened in 2018 and on which trains race through the desert landscape at speeds of up to 300 km/h. But back to the medina. In 622, the prophet Mohammed arrived here and the city gradually became the first ever community to embrace Islam. The Muslim year also dates from the same year. In the city, we take a panoramic bus tour around Mount Ohud, the scene of one of the most important battles in Islamic history, in which Muslim armies led by the Prophet Muhammad met the armies of Mecca. We will then see the Prophet's Mosque from the bus, as well as the Al-Ghamamh Mosque. Afterwards, we will be treated to an exhibition of the architecture of the Prophet's Mosque to help us understand its long and remarkable history, and lunch with a tasting of the local cuisine. The sightseeing tour will continue past the Hijjah Railway Museum and we will also stop briefly in front of the Quba Mosque, which is believed to be the oldest mosque ever. We will then take the high-speed train back to Jeddah, where we will board the bus to take us back to the ship.

And of course, we don't forget about those who won't be joining us on our trip to the Medina - our second delegate will give them a sightseeing tour of the Jidda port and its surroundings.

3. Discover the rock city of Petra, one of the current seven wonders of the world

Our next stop will be the port of Aqaba, from which the Riviera Tour delegate and interested guests will embark on a day trip to the world-famous rock city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was voted one of the Seven Wonders of the World in an unofficial vote in 2007. The city was carved out of the rock by the Nabataean Arabs, who artfully channeled the surrounding waters into the inhospitable rocks to create an artificial oasis. Since then it has served as their capital, inaccessible to outsiders and hidden from the eyes of the outside world for two millennia. That all changed in 1812 when Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, disguised as an Arab, penetrated the city. Our tour will take you through the natural canyon of the Siq, at the end of which Petra unfolds into its full beauty. With our guide, we will then see the great amphitheatre and the royal tombs. After the tour we will head to a nearby hotel where a delicious lunch will be waiting for us. We'll return to MSC Orchestra after a scenic journey in an air-conditioned bus through the Jordanian desert;

4. Relax on the beach in Sharm ash-Sheikh

The third stop of our trip is the Egyptian resort Sharm ash-Sheikh near the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. In addition to its beautiful sandy beaches with crystal blue waters, it is also known as one of the locations considered by some biblical scholars to be Israel's crossing point through the parted waters of the sea, due to the shallow waters of the nearby Strait of Tiran. This day will be dedicated to rest and activities by the sea, as we will be gathering our strength for the next day, which will bring one of the main highlights of the whole cruise.

5. Explore the Egyptian pyramids up close

Anyone who spends their holiday in the port of El Sokhna and doesn't visit the pyramids of Giza is as if they're not in Egypt. That's why we again offer you the opportunity to take a day trip with a Riviera Tour delegate to Cairo, one of the largest cities in the world with a population of 20 million. In the morning, we board a bus that will take us on a nearly 2 and a half hour drive through the Egyptian desert. We will then arrive at the famous Giza plain where the three famous pyramids of the pharaohs Khufu, Rachef and Menkaura are located. During your stay at this site you will have the opportunity to visit the famous Valley of the Temples and the world famous Sphinx, the largest statue ever made from a single piece of stone. After the tour, we'll head to the fascinating Egyptian Museum, which houses, among other things, a vast collection of artifacts from the treasure of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. After the museum tour, we'll head to the Egyptian Bazaar or the Papyrus Institute for lunch and souvenirs. We then take a bus back across the desert to MSC Orchestra.

6. Two days of relaxation on board a luxury ship

During the voyage, we will have two full days of cruising on our ship MSC Orchestra, which you can use to relax by the ship's swimming pools, visit the ship's spa with saunas, massages and a large gym, sample cocktails in the bars or enjoy world-class cuisine in the ship's restaurants and buffets. After a full day of doing nothing, we will be treated to a spectacular Broadway-style theatre in the evening at the bow of the ship and animated dance and entertainment programmes throughout the ship. So don't worry, you definitely won't be bored during these two days.

7. The Red Sea: an important transport route, but also a unique natural feature

The last reason is paradoxically the most important reason for us. The Red Sea, on which we will be sailing the whole time, is the inner sea of the Indian Ocean and is located in the narrow space between the Arabian Peninsula and the African continent. It is 2 250 km long and up to 355 km wide, with a maximum depth of 2 211 m. It has a very high salinity due to high evaporation, minimal rainfall and limited freshwater inflow from surrounding rivers - in some places it is as high as 42 per millilitre, which is 42 grams of salt per litre of seawater (the average salinity of the world ocean is 35 per millilitre). The Red Sea is one of the most northerly coral seas on the planet, making it an inviting dive site, as you can see when diving in Sharm el-Sheikh. In addition, the Suez Canal makes it one of the most important transport areas on the planet, with the majority of shipping between Europe, North America and countries in South and East Asia and the Pacific currently travelling through it;

These are our 7 reasons to go on a Red Sea cruise this winter. If you're interested in our offers, click this link to find out more. We look forward to seeing you in January!