Anyone sailed the suez canal?

[gordylad]

Celebrity edge is sailing the suez canal in 2023 and I was wondering if this would be a good experience? Any thoughts from cruisers who have done this particular trip appreciated.

[Jim_Iain]

We did it a couple years ago.   We did a B2B Singapore to Abu Dhabi  and Abu Dhabi to Rome.   The Suez was interesting but nothing like the Panama  -  just hours and hours of just sand and no  locks. 

 

It is a bit interesting going through the Gulf of Aden and the pirates zone.    Ships are usually escorted and at night the ships are totally blacked out, all decks closed and security out with binoculars all night and not permitted near windows.   They use to have passenger drills to leave your room and sit in hall ways in case of an attack by pirates.

 

Having said that Sitting outside around the pool at night with no lights for 100's of miles you will see starry skies like you have ever seen before. 

 

The Abu Dhabi to Rome had very sea intensive but our Visit to Petra (private tour) was one of the highlights making it all worth while.

 

 

 

[the penguins]

10 minutes ago, gordylad said:

Celebrity edge is sailing the suez canal in 2023 and I was wondering if this would be a good experience? Any thoughts from cruisers who have done this particular trip appreciated.

A fantastic day, you have to be up early and be on the right side of the ship for the best views. Going North you want a balcony on the port side, going South on the Starboard side. There is nothing to see on the other side.Relax and enjoy

[gordylad]

Rome

Catania Sicily

At Sea

Athens

Suez Canal

Suez Canal

Aqaba Jordan

At Sea x5

Abu Dhabi

Dubai

[jelayne]

1 minute ago, gordylad said:

Rome

Catania Sicily

At Sea

Athens

Suez Canal

Suez Canal

Aqaba Jordan

At Sea x5

Abu Dhabi

Dubai

We are booked on that and there is a pretty active Roll Call.

[the penguins]

1 minute ago, the penguins said:

A fantastic day, you have to be up early and be on the right side of the ship for the best views. Going North you want a balcony on the port side, going South on the Starboard side. There is nothing to see on the other side.Relax and enjoy

 

3 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

We did it a couple years ago.   We did a B2B Singapore to Abu Dhabi  and Abu Dhabi to Rome.   The Suez was interesting but nothing like the Panama  -  just hours and hours of just sand and no  locks. 

 

It is a bit interesting going through the Gulf of Aden and the pirates zone.    Ships are usually escorted and at night the ships are totally blacked out, all decks closed and security out with binoculars all night and not permitted near windows.   They use to have passenger drills to leave your room and sit in hall ways in case of an attack by pirates.

 

Having said that Sitting outside around the pool at night with no lights for 100's of miles you will see starry skies like you have ever seen before. 

 

The Abu Dhabi to Rome had very sea intensive but our Visit to Petra (private tour) was one of the highlights making it all worth while.

 

 

 

We also enjoyed pirate alley with the ship constantly zigzagging. We took on a group of armed "SAS" troops which was interesting as was their departure from the ship. When their transport arrived the squad absailed down the side of the ship and quickly disappeared. 

Petra was a joy, a private excursion through Toursbylocals. We rode in on a horse drawn carriage (2 passengers to a carriage) but we're dropped off 100 yards from the last bend so we got the full experience of arriving on foot through the tiny opening in the rocks. Be sure to pre book your return carriage ride as otherwise you will be waiting in a long line - this is something your private guide will arrange.

A little confused by your description of "endless sand" as we enjoyed numerous villages, watched the local boats crossing the canal at numerous points and the armed patrol cars that accompanied us. 

Yes no locks so totally different to the Panama but interestingly both canals run North/South and not, as many believe, in the case of the Panama East/West

[Coarsegold_Mom]

2 hours ago, the penguins said:

 

We also enjoyed pirate alley with the ship constantly zigzagging. We took on a group of armed "SAS" troops which was interesting as was their departure from the ship. When their transport arrived the squad absailed down the side of the ship and quickly disappeared. 

Petra was a joy, a private excursion through Toursbylocals. We rode in on a horse drawn carriage (2 passengers to a carriage) but we're dropped off 100 yards from the last bend so we got the full experience of arriving on foot through the tiny opening in the rocks. Be sure to pre book your return carriage ride as otherwise you will be waiting in a long line - this is something your private guide will arrange.

A little confused by your description of "endless sand" as we enjoyed numerous villages, watched the local boats crossing the canal at numerous points and the armed patrol cars that accompanied us. 

Yes no locks so totally different to the Panama but interestingly both canals run North/South and not, as many believe, in the case of the Panama East/West

 

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

We did it a couple years ago.   We did a B2B Singapore to Abu Dhabi  and Abu Dhabi to Rome.   The Suez was interesting but nothing like the Panama  -  just hours and hours of just sand and no  locks. 

 

It is a bit interesting going through the Gulf of Aden and the pirates zone.    Ships are usually escorted and at night the ships are totally blacked out, all decks closed and security out with binoculars all night and not permitted near windows.   They use to have passenger drills to leave your room and sit in hall ways in case of an attack by pirates.

 

Having said that Sitting outside around the pool at night with no lights for 100's of miles you will see starry skies like you have ever seen before. 

 

The Abu Dhabi to Rome had very sea intensive but our Visit to Petra (private tour) was one of the highlights making it all worth while.

 

 

 

We just booked this trip last month and super excited. Amazed that the majority if rooms are already full more than a year out. @Jim_Iain and @the penguins I would love info on who you booked excursions with that you liked. 

[crimsonbird]

3 hours ago, gordylad said:

Celebrity edge is sailing the suez canal in 2023 and I was wondering if this would be a good experience? Any thoughts from cruisers who have done this particular trip appreciated.

We sailed on a RCCL ship about 6 years ago.  Started in Rome and ended in Dubai.  Went to Petra in Jordan...Israel, Abu Dhabi...just some highlights.  Watch the movie Laurence of Arabia.  The Suez is a giant ditch...unlike the Panama canal.  Do go.  The sights are marvelous.  

[Searanger]

12 minutes ago, Coarsegold_Mom said:

 

We just booked this trip last month and super excited. Amazed that the majority if rooms are already full more than a year out. @Jim_Iain and @the penguins I would love info on who you booked excursions with that you liked. 

Funny how times have changed. They had a fire sale back in 2019 because of low bookings.  Did the exact same itinerary on the Constellation in Nov/2019 and my port charges cost more then the cruise. Remember paying $599.00 for the cruise and the port charges were just over $600.00.  LOL.  

[Ex-Airbalancer]

We did the cruise in April 2017 on the constellation 

The highlite was Petra , the guide we used https://www.abdullah-privateguide.com

There was a lot of sand , sunset bar with blue lights was nice 😁
Sorry about the picture not being the right way 

Edited July 25, 2022 by Ex-Airbalancer

[jelayne]

1 hour ago, Coarsegold_Mom said:

 

We just booked this trip last month and super excited. Amazed that the majority if rooms are already full more than a year out. @Jim_Iain and @the penguins I would love info on who you booked excursions with that you liked. 

We booked last October when the 4 cruises were first announced.  Come join the Roll Call.

[Coarsegold_Mom]

15 minutes ago, jelayne said:

We booked last October when the 4 cruises were first announced.  Come join the Roll Call.

I joined the roll call when we booked. But it looks like a lot of people have already organized their tours 😮 . We leave next week for Iceland/Ireland but I will start looking into tours when we get back and try to get a small group together for Petra. Yes a very active roll call. I’m jealous of all the people who are doing the 3B2Bs or is it 4?- all the way to Australia! 

[jelayne]

35 minutes ago, Coarsegold_Mom said:

I joined the roll call when we booked. But it looks like a lot of people have already organized their tours 😮 . We leave next week for Iceland/Ireland but I will start looking into tours when we get back and try to get a small group together for Petra. Yes a very active roll call. I’m jealous of all the people who are doing the 3B2Bs or is it 4?- all the way to Australia! 

If you do the whole deal it is 4, we are only doing the first 2.  
The Petra tours are very fluid.  I took over a tour from someone who set it up and then cancelled.  There are 4 or 5 Petra tours and at least 3, maybe 4 have had spots open up and we are still 15 months away. 

[Michidoeme]

We did Rome to Dubai (in 2013 i think).

it was an enjoyable and memorable experience ; pyramids, Valley of Kings or snorkling in Red Sea, Tour to Petra, Suez Canal, Gulf of Aden. Will do it again one of these days.

[sbcs5390]

I was stalking this one a bit - major bucket list for me. Hope you have an amazing time. 

[the penguins]

6 hours ago, Coarsegold_Mom said:

 

We just booked this trip last month and super excited. Amazed that the majority if rooms are already full more than a year out. @Jim_Iain and @the penguins I would love info on who you booked excursions with that you liked. 

Petra we did through Toursbylocals. It's a long drive but absolutely worth it.

Abu Dhabi: the Mosque is a big attraction we went twice, the outside by night and a tour inside during the day. Yes it's spectacular but we preferred the one in Oman.

Personally the tour of the Falcon Hospital was amazing, the love and attention lavished on these birds is unique. Afterwards ask your tour company to  make a ten minute stop at the Saluki Dog Centre ( like huge long haired greyhounds) wonderful dogs and puppies. It's a 2 minute drive from the Falcons. pictures to follow later today.

 

[JeanieC,Aston]

Hi

Keep your eye open for this,one of many memorials to the numerous wars fought over the canal.

Also watch when you sail past the by-pass,ships parked in the by-pass to let north bound ships through look like they are sailing in the desert.

 

A ship in the by-pass.

Edited July 25, 2022 by JeanieC,Aston

[Jim_Iain]

For Petra we joined a tour arranged by a CC member.   She eventually had 3 small bus loads and was a great day.   After Petra the tour operator had arranged a special lunch for us     There is a Culinary College in Petra overlooking the town.    They hosted us for a wonderful lunch.   We were the first group they had ever done this for and was so much fun.

 

The students are training for jobs in the Culinary field and we had about 1 wait person for each 2 guests.    Impeccable service and very engaging staff.

[the penguins]

5 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

For Petra we joined a tour arranged by a CC member.   She eventually had 3 small bus loads and was a great day.   After Petra the tour operator had arranged a special lunch for us     There is a Culinary College in Petra overlooking the town.    They hosted us for a wonderful lunch.   We were the first group they had ever done this for and was so much fun.

 

The students are training for jobs in the Culinary field and we had about 1 wait person for each 2 guests.    Impeccable service and very engaging staff.

If your trip was 2017 on Constellation our friends John and Sue were on the same excursion as they too had the culinary College experience. 

[the penguins]

9 hours ago, the penguins said:

Petra we did through Toursbylocals. It's a long drive but absolutely worth it.

Abu Dhabi: the Mosque is a big attraction we went twice, the outside by night and a tour inside during the day. Yes it's spectacular but we preferred the one in Oman.

Personally the tour of the Falcon Hospital was amazing, the love and attention lavished on these birds is unique. Afterwards ask your tour company to  make a ten minute stop at the Saluki Dog Centre ( like huge long haired greyhounds) wonderful dogs and puppies. It's a 2 minute drive from the Falcons. pictures to follow later today.

 

[the penguins]

Just now, the penguins said:

Pics got a bit mixed  - last 2 are also from the ship in the canal 

[Izzywiz]

We have sailed both the Panama and Suez Canal and enjoyed both in their own way. We found that passing through the locks on the Panama Canal was a very memorable experience but I much preferred the journey along the Suez Canal because it was possible to see the life of the ordinary Egyptian people. 
We were up very early to see sunrise over the desert and we positioned ourselves on an aft deck to spent most of the day out there. It was very chilly in the early morning though so wrap up in warm clothes. The first time was at the end of November and the second time was early December 

[sbcs5390]

1 hour ago, Izzywiz said:

It was very chilly in the early morning though so wrap up in warm clothes.

What would you say the temperature range was on a usual day?

[Ipeeinthepools]

22 hours ago, gordylad said:

Celebrity edge is sailing the suez canal in 2023 and I was wondering if this would be a good experience? Any thoughts from cruisers who have done this particular trip appreciated.

 

In addition to all of great sites along the Suez Canal that have been pointed out by other cruisers, they did not recognize another key benefit of sailing on the Edge in 2023. If you sail on this Edge repo cruise, you get to sail with me.  😃  Everyone knows that priceless.  We will be on the first two legs going from Rome to Singapore.

[ccotting]

21 hours ago, the penguins said:

A fantastic day, you have to be up early and be on the right side of the ship for the best views. Going North you want a balcony on the port side, going South on the Starboard side. There is nothing to see on the other side.Relax and enjoy

This is the origin of the word 'posh': port out starboard home and has to do with which side is shaded in the days of British travel to India and no air conditioning. Posh cabins were the coolest.  As you can tell the direction above gives you the sunshine but it gives you the views.  We really enjoyed our suez cruise. It was harder to get detailed information about the suez transit than it is for the panama, but really helpful to do a bit of studying in advance.  There should be some information on the loudspeaker and hopefully that is connected to the tv if you stay in your room and watch.  For transits like this we prefer full aft so we can see both sides.