Home > Travel Destinations > Africa > Crossroads of Empires

Crossroads of Empires

Next Steps Please notify me when itinerary is available Read testimonials

Summary

Our ambitious and unique Mediterranean Sea and Suez Canal luxury adventure cruise begins in Crete before tracing the Turquoise Coast of Turkey to the far eastern Mediterranean—a land of fascinating history. Behold Syria’s Krac de Chevaliers and in Lebanon, wander among the ancient Greco-Roman cities of Byblos and Baalbek. A special highlight of this voyage is a daylight transit of the Suez Canal. Explore Egypt’s Monastery of St. Catherine on the Sinai Peninsula before disembarking in Aqaba for an overland excursion to the rose-red city of Petra.

This is a Trip Preview. The details of this expedition are still being finalized. Check back soon for more information.

Dates

October 29 – November 14, 2011

Activities

Archaeology, Culture, Photography, Sightseeing

Reports From The Field

Crossroads of Empires: Jordan to Crete
We sailed into Beirut at dawn, the first cruise ship to enter the harbor since the war in July 2006. It was to be a day of extraordinary experiences: the vast Roman remains at Baalbek, in the very heart of Hizbollah territory; the Phoenecian relics of Byblos; and a city tour like no other around Beirut. We witnessed the flower-garlanded graves of murdered Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and his bodyguards; the bomb crater outside the St. George Hotel; ruined buildings and the reborn city center with its elegant shops, cafes, and restaurants.