Elegant Cruises Introduces Red Sea Program

Elegant Cruises & Tours, a niche cruise line specializing in culturally enriching travel to Europe, introduced a new cruise-tour program for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba aboard the 62-passenger Monet.

The maiden voyage for "Monasteries of the Lonely Desert" will depart Cairo on Dec. 18, 2008 and cruises through the Gulf of Suez to the Red Sea for a 14-day vacation.

Key port calls for the Monet are Safaga (for Luxor and Valley of the Kings), Sharm El Sheikh and Aqaba (for Petra, Amman and Jerash).

Land portions include a full-day excursion to the ancient Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul. Other highlights include Jeep tours of Wadi Rum, the Bedouin village that served as a base for Lawrence of Arabia; the Monastery of the Seven Nuns; St. Catherine's Monastery; the Church of the Prophet Moses; the Karnak Temple Complex at Luxor; the crusader castle of Kerak; the Greco-Roman site of Jerash; plus Amman's Gold Market and bazaars.

Following the maiden voyage, nine Red Sea cruise-tours are planned between Jan. 1 and Feb. 16, 2009.

Prices begin at $3,512 per person, double occupancy, including the cruise, all meals onboard, shore excursions, four nights land in Jordan, one overnight in Cairo, all transfers, and guest lecturers.

The cruise-only package featuring the cruise, meals, lecturer, all shore excursions (exclusive of the land/overnight portions) begin at $2,706 per person. Group and charter fares are also available.

For more information, call 800-683-6767 or visit www.elegantcruises.com.

Elegant Cruise Details 2008 Cruising Schedule

Elegant Cruise & Tours Inc., of Port Washington, N.Y., announced the 2008 program for the 106-passenger Andrea.



The Andrea specializes in expedition-style cruising to lesser-known ports of call.

The company was founded 20 years ago by Capt. Mato Stanovic, who serves as president. In January and February, the Andrea will offer a series of voyages through Antarctica. The itineraries include a 20-day journey that explores Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. In March, the Andrea embarks on a repositioning voyage from South America to Europe.

The 2008 European cruise itineraries range from seven days to 15 days.

Of special note are two cruises hosted by Stanovic -- April 5 to 17 to the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, Sicily and Malta; and July 1 to 9 roundtrip from Venice to Croatia's Dalmatian Coast.

New for 2008 is cruise in the Gulf of Bothnia. This July 13 to 26 cruise visits Lapland, the Artic Circle, Stockholm, Tallinn and St. Petersburg. The ship then offers a variety of cruises to the Mediterranean, the Azores, the Channel Isles and the Celtic Sea, the British Isles, the Adriatic.