Looking for a cruise to include Istanbul, Isreal, Egypt and Jordan... does such a thing exist?

[ctlyf]

We are hoping to book an eastern Mediterranean cruise (or two if needed), ideally for the fall of 2024. Because of the travel involved, and the likelihood that this may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we would like to see the bucket list places. Istanbul, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Ideally, if we can make a stop at Rhodes as well, that would be great. For all my searching, I've only found cruises that include 3 of the 4, with very few going to Jordan. I'm hoping someone on this board has knowledge or experience with trying to plan something like this. TIA

[marazul]

I have seen some Seabourn itineraries that would do it.

[cruisemom42]

There are no ports on the Mediterranean for Jordan. To reach Jordan via cruise ship, you have to transit the Suez Canal. So in all likelihood you won't find cruises that include Jordan if you are searching for Med cruises. 

 

There are some longer, repositioning cruises that may do all of these ports. (Basically an Eastern Med cruise with a Middle East section tacked on....). Some online travel agencies specializing in cruises have search tools that let you put in specific destinations. Using such a tool, I found a cruise on Oceania (20 days) that starts in Istanbul (with an overnight), visits Ephesus, Rhodes, Cyprus, Haifa Israel (overnight), Port Said (for Cairo and the pyramids), Suez canal cruising, Aqaba (for Petra, Jordan), Safaga (overnight for Luxor and Valley of the Kings), Jeddah, Muscat (Oman) and ending in Dubai with another overnight. 

 

It looks like an excellent itinerary for what you want. Not cheap though, and there is only one date for 2023, in late November. They offer it again in late fall of 2024; however, it's two days shorter and does not include Rhodes or Ephesus. (Big losses, in my opinion.) 

 

Another, much cheaper option is a 28-day itinerary on Holland America covers much the same ground plus starting in Rome. You get a third day in Israel but no Jordan and no Luxor (ship does not go through the canal) but hits all of the other ports at a lesser cost of Oceania. And you end in Athens. That itinerary is offered in late Sept 2024. (Both Rome and Athens would be bucket list places for many....)

[JHLH821]

Oceania offers several itineraries in 2024. 

 

The Port of Aqaba in Jordan has sea access.  These are either 18 or 28 day itineraries in Nov 2024 that begin in Istanbul and end in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.  Also a 28 day November 2024 trip that begins in Barcelona and ends in Dubai.

 

Trips concentrate mostly on Middle Eastern countries- the Barcelona itinerary includes several Mediterranean ports: Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Nice, Rome, Sorrento, Sicily, Cyprus, Kavala

 

Sounds like an amazing trip to plan.

 

 

[John Bull]

Some years ago we sailed from Istanbul with Royal Caribbean to Haifa and Ashdod in Israel, Alexandria (for Cairo) in Egypt, Athens & back to Istanbul.

 

As cruisemom posted, to get from the Med. to the Red Sea and Jordan's only port, Aqaba, you need to go thro the Suez Canal.

For most cruises it's too time-consuming and expensive to transit the canal both ways, so you'd need a cruise which starts in a Med port and ends in the Red Sea or Middle East (as JHLH's suggestion) or vice-versa

That could be a leg of a Round the World cruise - they're sold in segments of 2 to 3 weeks as well as to folk circumnavigating the globe.

 

Best to talk to a cruise specialist travel agent 

 

But do bear in mind that occasionally ports are missed by cruise ships for a variety of reasons - weather, political or industrial unrest, mechanical issues etc - and as a general rule if you are particularly anxious  to visit somewhere in particular, a cruise isn't the most reliable way.

 

JB 🙂

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by John Bull

[ctlyf]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Everything you've said about needing to go through Suez Canal makes sense. Given my husband's lack of vacation days, it sounds like we'll need to cover Jordan in a different trip. There's no way he is able to take a 20+ day cruise. I'd say we'll save it for retirement, but I worry about missing the opportunity to at least get to some of the ports. If COVID taught me anything, it's that things can change so quickly.

 

Thanks again!

[Hlitner]

I took a look and the best bet would be the October 24, 2024, thirty-two day sailing of the Seabourn Encore.  But that assumes you have both the time and the budget (Seabourn is a relatively expensive luxury line).  We are Seabourn fans and would take this cruise in a heartbeat.  One issue I noticed is that it is in Istanbul on a Sunday which means that the Covered (Grand) Bazaar is closed.  

 

Funny thing about this cruise is I only spotted it trying to help with this thread.  Now it has our interest :).  It is actually a good price (for Seabourn) and the itinerary would be fun.

 

Hank

[butterfly4108]

On 2/19/2023 at 3:47 PM, ctlyf said:

We are hoping to book an eastern Mediterranean cruise (or two if needed), ideally for the fall of 2024. Because of the travel involved, and the likelihood that this may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we would like to see the bucket list places. Istanbul, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Ideally, if we can make a stop at Rhodes as well, that would be great. For all my searching, I've only found cruises that include 3 of the 4, with very few going to Jordan. I'm hoping someone on this board has knowledge or experience with trying to plan something like this. TIA

NCL - November 2023, 19 days.  Includes all you asked for with the exception of Rhodes...so they'll probably have the same come up for 2024 under Extraordinary Journeys. They usually do but they release them later in the year.  I believe we were only able to book ours about a year out.  The intinerary was very similar last year as well so it seems this may be a normal route in November for them.  Good Luck!!

[Markanddonna]

I didn't see a 19 day journey on NCL, but there is 14 day on the NCL Sky that disembarks in Israel. Personally, at that time of year, Rhodes is much better than Santorini and a stop there would be better.

You could take a trip over to Jordan to see Petra from Israel and then leave from Jordan. That itinerary is pretty ideal and on one of NCL's older, smaller ships.

[ctlyf]

An update on case anyone is interested. Just finalizing things but it looks like we're taking NCL Getaway from Athens to Tel-Aviv in Sept-Oct 2024. Port stops include Istanbul, Kudadasi, Alexandria, Port Said and Jerusalem. The plan is to stay an extra day or two in Tel-Aviv and will take a day trip to Petra. Missing out on Rhodes, but hopefully there will be an opportunity for that another time. 

 

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

[cruisemom42]

Sounds like a wonderful trip -- enjoy!!

 

Rhodes is included on a number of Med cruises, so fingers crossed you'll get there another time.