This Week In Cruise we have an Italian cruise line offering their first cruises from Egypt, a luxury line offering boutique shore excursions and a discovery cruise specialist oddly enough adding chauffeur driven transfers.
- - -
MSC Cruises have announced plans to sail in the Red Sea next winter, with the MSC Armonia heading to Sharm el-Sheikh for the season. The 1,500 passenger ship will head to Egypt in November, where it will base itself until April, and will offer cruises to Safaga, Egypt; Eliat, Israel; Aqaba, Jordan and Sokhna Port, Egypt.
The Italian cruise line, best known for their Mediterranean cuisine, Italian entertainment and multi-national and multi-lingual passengers, will no doubt be popular for people looking for some Red Sea winter sun. Though be warned, their entertainment may include:
...but not as good.
- - -
Crystal Cruises have decided to add 100, yes 100, boutique Crystal Adventures to their shore excursions programme. With Crystal Cruises offering 6* luxury, elegant surroundings and a decent glass of fizz on sail away, my hopes are pretty high for what could be on offer.
Some may be disappointed though, as these boutique excursions are less along the lines of shopping in St. Tropez and more along the lines of surfing at the Quiksilver surf academy in Biarritz or driving a WW2 tank in Dorset — any pesky caravan enthusiasts best watch out, as this could be fun!
- - -
Voyages of Discovery have upped their game for those booking their higher grades of cabins. The cruise line you would usually associated with rambling around ruins, sitting through lectures and learning about ancient cultures, are adding a bit of luxury to their cruise experience with a free chauffeur service to the airport or port on selected cabins.
The added luxury will no doubt be a hit, though for some reason I feel a little disappointed that their transfers aren't being provided on old route master buses, with the staff resembling the cast of Zulu instead.
- - -
So, with this week in cruise bringing us warmer winter, easier transfers and mildly over the top shore excursions, I can't wait to see what next week has on offer. Let's just hope it's nothing to do with the Olympics, especially as it's less than 50 days, until 50 days before the games begin.
Written by Stephen Adam
© Iglucruise