Classical temples, majestic camels, and delicious Middle Eastern cuisine inspire and indulge all senses during this remarkable cruise from Red Sea ports in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to Greek architecture throughout the eastern Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Explore King Tut’s Tomb, Luxor’s Museum and the Karnak Temple—the largest temple complex in the world—during an overnight port stay in Safaga. Ride camels on a desert tour to an authentic Bedouin meal outside Hurghada, Egypt. Transit the 120-mile-long Suez Canal, one of the most vital trade waterways in the world. Wander the ruins of the Palace of Knossos on Crete and discover the origin of the Greek minotaur legend. Stand before the Parthenon above Athens. Sip rare Cypriot wines produced in a centuries-old monastery outside Panagia, then dine on local sweet pastries and fresh lemonade. Stroll Old Jerusalem’s worn flagstone paths to centuries-old sanctuaries that have echoed prayers in dozens of languages for millennia.

Jeddah is considered the commercial center of Saudi Arabia with a vibrant blend of modernity and history. Enjoy the modern landmarks of the city, stroll along the waterfront corniche, admire the world’s tallest fountain and walk the streets of Al Balad, Jeddah’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Hijazi-style old town.
 

Over 2,500 years ago, Yanbu was the staging point on the incense and spices trading route from Yemen to Egypt to the Mediterranean. It is also the gateway to Alulu with its red-sand desert landscapes, Nabatean monuments like UNESCO site Hegra, and is considered the SCUBA capital of Saudi Arabia with its beautiful Red Sea coastline.

Located on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea, the city of Safaga is a charming beach resort and gateway to Luxor – known as the “world’s greatest open air museum”. Luxor is home to the Valley of the Kings, and features one of the most impressive collections of temples and tombs in the world. Windstar offers a two-day excursion to the land of the pharaohs.

Located on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea, the city of Safaga is a charming beach resort and gateway to Luxor – known as the “world’s greatest open air museum”. Luxor is home to the Valley of the Kings, and features one of the most impressive collections of temples and tombs in the world. Windstar offers a two-day excursion to the land of the pharaohs.

This classic Red Sea resort glitters like you would expect a “sheik’s peninsula” to glitter, from the shiny brass lamps in the Old Town souk to the sleek private yachts that try (but fail) to eclipse our all-suite Star Plus yacht. Watersports are big here and the snorkeling is outstanding. For many, though, the main attraction is a humble bush at St. Catherine Monastery, located on the spot where Moses was said to have received the Ten Commandments.

Jordan’s only port and considered the playground for the rich and famous of the Middle East with its vast beautiful beaches, opulent resorts, and lively nightlife. Aqaba is also the gateway to Petra, that legendary UNESCO city carved into the cliffs of the desert where ornate buildings form a city which once was a trading center of the world. There is nothing like emerging from a narrow gorge to see the towering pink façade of the famous Treasury.

Your choices here are a symphony of contrasts. Take a thrilling 4x4 ride across undulating desert dunes. Go snorkeling or diving in some of the finest underwater gardens in the world. Or . . . how about a submarine adventure under the Red Sea. This beautiful oasis by the sea has it all.

Known as a place where people come to unwind, Ain Sokhna’s name means “Hot Springs” and refers to the nearby springs considered to have healing powers. Nearby are Egypt’s oldest monasteries, St. Anthony and St. Paul, and the Suez Canal. The soft sandy shores and transparent beauty of the Red Sea here make Ain Sokhna a diver’s paradise and other water sports are also popular here.

The Suez Canal is a bit like Moses’ parting of the Red Sea in reverse, as your yacht passes between Asia and Africa along a thin ribbon of blue. The Egypt side is green, nourished by the Nile River more than 100 miles away. The Sinai side is mostly desert bursting with history. This historic crossing is too expensive to lure many cruise ships. Star Legend gives you a rare and intimate opportunity to experience what few are able to do.

Heraklion is the birthplace of El Greco, Nobel Prize winning poet Odysseas Elytis, and Nikos Kazantzakis. The major site of Crete’s biggest city is Knossos Palace, the Minoan-era castle unearthed by British archaeologist Arthur Evans. But the first site you will see is the Koules Venetian Fortress built in the early 1500s on the harbor walls, it houses restored interior and exterior reliefs of the Lion of St. Mark. A typical feature of Heraklion’s city center is the number of Venetian and Turkish fountains, the most notable being the Morosini Fountain, built to supply Heraklion with 1,000 barrels of water a day.

With 3,000 years of history, you can’t turn around in Athens without encountering the past. The Acropolis, a UNESCO site, the Plaka, and the Acropolis Museum are must-sees. But leave time if you can to climb Pnyx Hill for photos of the Parthenon at sunset, to buy your own set of Greek komboloi (worry beads), and to explore the metro stations that serve as mini-museums for the relics that are constantly being unearthed. 

Wake this morning to the postcard-like scene of Mykonos, the classic Greek isle dotted with hundreds of whitewashed churches and thatch-roofed windmills, in a harbor bobbing with fishing boats and luxurious private yachts. An optional  tour including a scenic ferry ride takes you back to the 6th   century B.C. to the tiny island of Delos, a UNESCO site and the mythical birthplace of Apollo.

Heraklion is the birthplace of El Greco, Nobel Prize winning poet Odysseas Elytis, and Nikos Kazantzakis. The major site of Crete’s biggest city is Knossos Palace, the Minoan-era castle unearthed by British archaeologist Arthur Evans. But the first site you will see is the Koules Venetian Fortress built in the early 1500s on the harbor walls, it houses restored interior and exterior reliefs of the Lion of St. Mark. A typical feature of Heraklion’s city center is the number of Venetian and Turkish fountains, the most notable being the Morosini Fountain, built to supply Heraklion with 1,000 barrels of water a day.

This gracious oasis, known as the “Island of Roses,” was home to the legendary Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today it is a yachting paradise, whose shores are lined with sparkling beaches and lush green mountainsides. A scenic drive leads you through quaint villages and lemon groves to the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, standing guard over the picturesque town or to the Old City of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Limassol is known for several historic buildings like the Limassol Castle, Built in 1000 A.D. and used as a prison from 1790 to 1940 with a collection of artifacts covering 400 to 1879 A.D. Sites to see include the Archaeological Museum of Limassol, which exhibits artifacts from the Neolithic to the Roman period and the Folk Art Museum with a Cypriot Folk Art collection that awarded the museum the Europa Nostra prize in 1989.

Ashdod is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Visit the Korin Maman Museum, which has a permanent archaeology exhibition called “Philistian World,” Climb to Giv’at Yonah, the highest point of the city at 492 feet, with a city lighthouse atop and named after the prophet Jonah, believed to be buried there.  Ashdod is your gateway to Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.

The major seaport of Haifa has many fascinating sites like Elijah’s Cave, a pilgrimage site for believers, the Stella Maris Church and Monastery, located near the Cave, Muhraka, now a Carmelite monastery on the site where Elijah the Prophet defeated the prophets of Baal, and the Bahai Shrine, a lovely gold-domed shrine where the remains of Said Ali Muhammad, one of the two founders of the Bahai religion are buried. Three gardens of note are The Remembrance Garden, Gan Ha’em, situated in the Carmel Center, and the Sculpture Garden, where 22 bronze statues overlook the striking bay area and landscape. Here is your gateway to Petra with an overnight tour.

The major seaport of Haifa has many fascinating sites like Elijah’s Cave, a pilgrimage site for believers, the Stella Maris Church and Monastery, located near the Cave, Muhraka, now a Carmelite monastery on the site where Elijah the Prophet defeated the prophets of Baal, and the Bahai Shrine, a lovely gold-domed shrine where the remains of Said Ali Muhammad, one of the two founders of the Bahai religion are buried. Three gardens of note are The Remembrance Garden, Gan Ha’em, situated in the Carmel Center, and the Sculpture Garden, where 22 bronze statues overlook the striking bay area and landscape. Here is your gateway to Petra with an overnight tour.