Emerald Cruises announced its first foray into the African continent with two new Egypt cruise and tour itineraries. With seven departures planned for 2019 and eight for 2020, the river cruise line is offering two tour options: a 10-day Egypt & the Nile River Cruise Tour featuring five days on the MS Hameesand four nights in Cairo, and a 15-day Egypt & The Nile River Cruise Tour that includes a journey to Jordan, featuring stays in Amman, Petra and the Dead Sea.

MS Hamees. Photo courtesy of Emerald Cruises

The 10-day Cairo and Ancient Egypt River Cruise begins with three nights in bustling Cairo, where guests will visit the pyramids, see the remains of Tutankhamun’s tomb at the Egyptian Museum and enjoy a home-hosted dinner and cooking demonstration with a local family. From there, a quick flight to Luxor allows for a visit to the West Bank of the Nile. While sailing, guests can opt to join daily excursions to see sites like the Hathor Temple and Luxor Temple in Dendera; the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most completely preserved complex in Egypt; and the Osiris Temple Complex of Philae. After disembarking, guests will fly to Abu Simbel to visit the World Heritage-listed temples of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari before returning to Aswan for an overnight stay. The journey concludes with a trip to a Nubian village in Aswan before returning to Cairo for a final evening in Egypt. Itineraries start at $3,895 per person, based on double occupancy.

Guests looking for a longer journey can opt for the 15-night Cairo to Amman Tour & Ancient Egypt River Cruise, which adds an additional five days in Jordan to the 10-day itinerary above. Instead of heading home from Cairo, guests fly to the Jordanian capital city of Amman for a two night stay. The city boasts many ancient ruins allowing guests to visit the historic Citadel with the pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules, meet with local students, and enjoy Jordanian delicacies at a home-hosted dinner. Next up is Petra for a two-night stay with an en-route stop at Mount Nebo, the burial site of John the Baptist. In Petra, a city tour unveils the legacy of the Nabataeans, who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. The final day of the journey offers the options to take part in a Jeep adventure in Wadi Rum before heading north to the lowest point on earth – the Dead Sea for a farewell dinner and overnight stay. Itineraries start at $6,195 per person, double.

Guests booking an Egypt journey with Emerald Cruises will cruise aboard the newly refurbished, 142-passenger MS Hamees by Mövenpick. The ship features modern cabins that provide panoramic views of the Nile, as well as either twin or queen-sized bed, private bathroom with bath, hairdryer, and LCD TV. The main restaurant offers international and local selections on the buffet at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while the lounge is perfect for enjoying afternoon tea, cocktails, and evening entertainment. The sun deck is an ideal spot for taking in the views while relaxing with fellow guests. The ship also has a swimming pool on deck.

Emerald Cruises is offering a choice of complimentary, round trip airfare to Egypt or $2,000 savings per couple off the cost of the cruise. Booking must be made by August 31, 2018 to receive this promotion.