Cruises to Ancient Civilizations

Variety Cruises will embark on its newest venture, the Ancient Civilizations of Eastern Mediterranean program, in January 2012. Sailing aboard the 49-passenger Panorama cruiser, the program proposes two embarkation ports for guests’ convenience: Larnaca, Cyprus or Port Said, Egypt. The cruise will sail between both ports from January through April 2012. Regular fares begin at $1,690 per person, per week.

Variety Cruises’ eight-day Ancient Civilizations of Eastern Mediterranean cruises will explore Cyprus, Syria, Israel and Egypt, enabling guests to discover the sites of ancient Eastern Mediterranean empires. Cruises from Larnaca to Port Said will sail January 23, 2012 to April 02, 2012. Cruises from Port Said to Larnaca will sail January 30, 2012 to April 09, 2012.

Itinerary for Larnaca departures:
• DAY 1: Larnaca, Cyprus. Embarkation and overnight sail to Syria.
• DAY 2: Latakia, Syria. Optional excursions to Aleppo, once the third economic center of the Ottoman Empire.
• DAY 3: Tartus, Syria. Excursions to Palmyra to discover its ancient temples and other treasures.
• DAY 4: Tartus, Syria. Home of the antique city of Crack de Chevaliers, the greatest and the most famous medieval citadel in the world.
• DAY 5: Limassol, Cyprus. The major tourism city in Cyprus, the city offers a treasure trove of Byzantine art.
• DAY 6: Haifa, Israel. Visit to Nazareth, the Village of Cana, via the Tiberias to Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
• DAY 7: Ashdod, Israel. Excursion to Jerusalem, Israel’s largest city.
• DAY 8: Port Said, Egypt. Disembarkation.

Cruises departing from Port Said follow the same itinerary in reverse order. Additional port charges are $290 per person. Guests traveling in Category A can benefit from a 30% reduction on the third person.

Variety Cruises’ Panorama, a three-mast sail cruiser, hosts up to 49 passengers in 25 cabins. This 54-meter state of the art sail cruiser was renovated in 2009 and offers the highest standard of accommodation, comfort and safety.

For an overview of Variety Cruises, take a look at the PROW'S EDGE CRUISE MAGAZINE VARIETY CRUISES PROFILE

For more information on Variety Cruises’ Ancient Civilizations of Easter Mediterranean program, please visit www.varietycruises.com