Genoa is often made famous for the
fact that it is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus (1447)
and composer Niccola Paganini (1784) and it is from here that we
set sail at 16h00 on our incredible journey down through the Suez
Canal to Durban, on the East Coast of Africa. Our journey first
takes us overnight to the Italian port town of Naples, the largest
and most prosperous city in Southern Italy. It sits on the coast on
the northern edge of the Bay of Naples, one of the most beautiful bays
in Italy. Its harbor is the most important port in Southern Italy. We
will arrive here around mid day and set sail in the early evening
towards Port Said.
Naples
to Port
Said: Days 2-5
Port Said is a city on the Mediterranean
coast of Egypt at the top of the Suez Canal. It was founded in 1859 by
Said Pasha to house men working on the Suez Canal. Port Said is
also an important harbour both for exports of Egyptian products like
cotton and rice, but also a fuelling station for ships that pass
through the Suez Canal. Port Said also thrives on being a duty-free
port, as well as a summer resort for Egyptians.
Port
Said to Suez to Aqaba: Days 5-7
We
depart Port Said around 08h00 and head down towards Suez. After
heading down the Suez Canal, we will head up to the Jordanian town of
Aqaba. Aqaba's reef is well known
for its variety of coral and fish. Common species are branch coral,
fungia and montipora, and the rare archelia, a black, tree-like specimen
found at great depths. Aqaba's
long history dates back to pre-biblical times, when it was known as Ayla.
According to the Bible's Old Testament, King Solomon built a navel base at
Ezion Geber, just 3 kilometers from where the modern town of Aqaba stands
today.
Aqaba
to Safaga: Days 7-8
We
depart Aqaba at around 19hoo and head down the Red Sea to the incredible bustling
Egyptian port town of Safaga. For many years, Safaga was a merchant port,
but today boasts a wide azure bay, long sandy beaches and pretty islands.
It is also a favourite sports destination, especially among windsurfers,
and was the host of the 1993 Red Sea World Windsurfing
Championships.
Safaga
to Port Victoria: Days 8-14
We
leave Safaga at about 19h00 and head out for almost 6 days around the tip
of Somalia and into the warm Indian Ocean as we sail south towards Port
Victoria. Port
Victoria, the largest town of Seychelles and one of the smallest capital
cities of the world, arriving at 09h00. The local markets offer tourists
interesting souvenirs, from sea shell and mother of pearl jewelry, to
beautiful batik textiles, basket ware, tablemates, Rafia and palm
work as well as local paintings
Port
Victoria to Mauritius: Days 14-17
After
leaving Port Victoria, we set sail once more for a few days as we head
down toward the famous islands of Mauritius. is an island nation off the
coast of Africa in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers east
of Madagascar and about 3,943 kilometers southwest of India. Mauritius is
part of an archipelago that formed in a series of undersea volcanic
eruptions, as the African plate drifted over the Réunion hotspot.
Mauritius and Rodriguez were formed 8-10 million years ago. They are no
longer volcanically active, and the hotspot now rests under Réunion. The
island of Mauritius itself is formed around a central plateau, with its
highest peak in the southwest, Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire at 828
metres. Around the plateau, the original crater can still be distinguished
from several mountains.
Mauritius
to Reunion: Days 17-18
We
leave Mauritius at around 18h00 and set sail for one of the other
islands of the archipelago, Reunion, an island located in the Indian
Ocean east of Madagascar, about 200 km southwest of Mauritius. As
one of the 26 regions of France, As part of France, Réunion is part
of the European Union.
Reunion
to Durban: Days 19-22
One
more setting sail for the south, we head out for our few final days as
the ship once again arrives to the port city of Durban, on the warm east coast of South Africa,
in the Province of Natal.
Priced
from R17850 per person sharing
Prices exclude
port and baggage charges (about R400), mandatory travel insurance,
transport to/from ports, gratuities, drinks, shore excursions,
babysitting and any items of a personal nature.
Less 10% if
booked and deposit paid 6 months prior to departure
