Here's an interesting press release from Costa Cruises this week, with news of new destinations:
Two Costa ships to depart weekly from Sharm El Sheikh in a first for the cruise industry
Costa Marina and
Costa Allegra have new departures from Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, visiting Cairo, the
Negev Desert (Israel) and
Petra (Jordan) for the first time in an exclusive winter 2010/2011 itinerary.
Costa Cruises is offering new one-week cruises in the Red Sea departing from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for the entire 2010/2011 winter season. The Red Sea, along with the Far East, the Arab Emirates and the Indian Ocean, will become yet another destination where Costa offers a regular cruise service.
Costa Marina (25,600 gross tonnage and a capacity of 1,000 guests) and
Allegra (28,400 gross tonnage and a capacity of 1,000 guests) will depart from November 25, 2010, to February 17, 2011 and November 29, 2010, to March 21, 2011, respectively. The unique itineraries include Egypt, Israel and Jordan, and call at Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt),
Eilat (Israel),
Aqaba (Jordan),
Luxor-Safaga (Egypt) and Cairo-Sokhna (Egypt).
Both ships will call weekly in Sharm el Sheikh, making a total of 38 calls and transporting a total of 60,000 passengers over the winter months.
The itineraries of
Marina and
Allegra combine both relaxation and culture from one shore of the Red Sea to the other. Passengers on the Red Sea voyages can expect to experience incredibly beautiful sea vistas and cultural and archaeological treasures.
From Eilat, guests can take Costa excursions to a natural oasis in the Negev Desert , the fortress of
Masada or the incredible landscapes of the Dead Sea . At Aqaba, guests can visit the pink city of Petra, carved into the mountains. In Safaga there is the option to enjoy excursions to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, visit the tombs of the Pharaohs, observe the natural wonders of
Hurghada and visit the crystalline waters of the island of Mahamya. From Sokhna, excursions visit the grand pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.
With spectacular architecture,
Costa Marina and
Allegra are ideal for Red Sea cruises, as the beautiful panoramic circular glass wall of the stern allows for breathtaking sea views. Onboard, guests can enjoy a myriad of facilities including restaurants, bars, wellness and fitness centres, treatment rooms and saunas, swimming pools, outdoor jogging tracks, theatres, casinos, discotheques, shopping centres and internet access points.
For more information or to book, go to www.costacruises.co.uk or call 0845 351 0552, or try the specialist cruise travel agents of
The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 7766.
