The emirate of Dubai is home to around 1.8 million inhabitants. The majority of the population lives in the city. Dubai is known for its modern and futuristic projects. From skyscrapers on manmade islands, to amusement parks, there is hardly anything that does not exist in this city. Dubai offers endless beautiful beaches, excellent water sports, desert safaris and an almost immeasurable range of shopping facilities.

Jeddah is located south of the Red Sea and forms the gateway to Mecca. A city tour is undoubtedly advisable.

Sharm El Sheikh is located south of the Sinai highlands at the Red Sea. The city is one of the most popular and most expensive resorts in Egypt. Sharm El Sheikh is a popular destination for divers because it offers many beautiful coral reefs. However, the center offers a wide selection of restaurants, markets and casinos.

Petra, voted as one of the 'New Seven Wonders of the World' is the great Ancient City located in the south of Jordan. It is one of the world's most famous and treasured UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To get to it, your cruise will stop at Aqaba, Jordan's only sea port. Located in the Gulf of Akaba, Aqaba is also very popular with divers for its beautiful coral reefs. The town's relaxed atmosphere and comfortable climate make it perfect for the Jordanians to get away to.

Stretching along a desert strip between the sea and the mountains, Safaga is a port town in Egypt that sits on the coast of the Red Sea. Although historically a merchant port, the seaside town also has a small tourism industry. The many coral reefs in the area, especially off the city of Hurghada just 53 kilometres south, make the region a popular destination for scuba divers and snorkelers. To accommodate these visiting divers, the town offers vacancies in several hotels, bungalows and rest houses.

The Suez Canal is a man-made waterway in Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, cutting through dunes and deserts of the region. The construction of the canal shortens the journey from the North Atlantic to northern Indian Oceans and vice versa by about 7,000 kilometres. Passage through the canal does not require a locking system as the seawater from both sources sits at about the same level. Cruising through the Suez Canal offers spectacular views around every bend.

Sokhna is located about 120 kilometers east of the Egyptian capital of Cairo. The town was built a few years ago at the end of the Red Sea near the Suez Canal.