MSC Splendida: 10-night Middle East Cruise from $480/€440 pp (Full Board)

You can spend ten nights onboard MSC Splendida in November and explore a bit of the Middle East for only US$480 (~€448) per person (US$48 (~€45) per night). With departure from Safaga (near Hurghada), you can visit Aqaba in Jordan, Yanbu, Jeddah and Al-Wajh in Saudi Arabia.

Prices include port charges and the cruise itself, but not the gratuities. You will have a full board on the ship: you can use the buffet restaurant the whole day, where you can get different meals and some drinks (coffee, tea, water and juices). You will also have the option to have an à la carte dinner in one of the ship’s many restaurants.

While we cite an inside cabin, you can choose an outside cabin for US$650 (~€607) or a room with a balcony for US$700 (~€654).

The first and last stop on the trip is Aqaba in Jordan, which is very close to Petra. It will also stop in Yanbu twice, before and after Jeddah, where it will spend a night. The last Saudi stop is an iconic city, Al-Wajh.

Here’s the exact itinerary for each day:

1. Safaga, Egypt
2. Aqaba, Jordan
3. Sea
4. Yanbu Al Bahr, Saudi Arabia
5. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
6. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
7. Yanbu Al Bahr, Saudi Arabia
8. Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia
9. Sea
10. Aqaba, Jordan
11. Safaga, Egypt

The Ship

You will be onboard the MSC Splendida, which was built in 2009, is 333 m long and can carry up to 3,247 passengers. The cabins are very comfortable and even have a TV. Throughout the luxuriously decorated 18 decks, you’ll find a variety of services, such as a covered pool, many restaurants, and bars. There are also many opportunities to do sports, and children will also have enough places to entertain themselves. For movie lovers, there’s also a 4D cinema.

Getting to Safaga

You’ll depart from Safaga’s port, which is around 60 kilometres from Hurghada, The Egyptian resort town sees plenty of charter service, but easyJet and recently Wizz Air serves the coastal airport.

The orange carrier flies to Amsterdam, Basel, Berlin, Bristol, Geneva, London (LGW and LTN), Manchester, Milan (Malpensa), Naples and Venice. Wizz Air currently schedules a weekly flight from Budapest.

You can browse flights using our flight search tool.

Hotels are extremely cheap in Hurghada, you can easily find all-inclusive four-five star hotels as low as €50 for two people per night. However, we suggest you read reviews and even in well-rated resorts, you need to tip a lot. To find the best deal, you can use our hotel search box which will redirect you to either Booking.com or to our hotel search tool which compares different prices.

Information & Tips for Egypt

The North African country of Egypt is a favorite travel destination for many. Its location on the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, as well as its great weather, are ideal for vacation! Furthermore, the country offers immense cultural sights to explore.

Best Time to Visit

Regarding weather, the best time to visit is from October to April. Then temperatures are at their most pleasant. However, December and January constitute peak tourist season. Iconic sights like the Pyramids of Giza, the Temples of Luxor, and Abu Simbel can get uncomfortably crowded.

Visa & Entry

Most EU citizens can obtain an Egypt visa on arrival at the Cairo International airport at the bank kiosks before the immigration counters. A Visa will cost for 20€ and is valid for visits up to 30 days.

Finding the Best eSIM Plan

We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Airalo and Maya Mobile. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:

The Best eSIM Plans for Egypt 🇪🇬 Compared

→ All Dealz for Egypt

Cover Picture: IVANSARFATTI.COM