VANCOUVER – Emerald Waterways will sail further than it ever has before after announcing its first foray into Africa.

The cruise line will be offering two new Egypt cruise and tour itineraries: the 10-day ‘Cairo and Ancient Egypt River Cruise’ featuring five days on the MS Hamees and four nights in Cairo, and the 15-night ‘Cairo to Amman Tour & Ancient Egypt River Cruise’, sailing to Jordan with stays in Amman, Petra and the Dead Sea. In total, there are seven departures planned for 2019 (beginning in February) and eight for 2020.

While on the 10-day option, guests will spend three days in Cairo, visit the Pyramids, enjoy a home-hosted dinner and cooking demonstration with a local family, and embark on a five-day cruise southbound on the Nile. They’ll also have the option to join daily excursions to see famous sites like the Hathor Temple and Luxor Temple in Dendera, and the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most completely preserved complex in Egypt. This tour is priced from $5,215 per person, double.

The 15-night option adds an additional five days in Jordan to the 10-day itinerary above. Instead of heading home from Cairo, guests will fly to Jordan’s capital city, Amman, for a two-night stay, followed by two nights in Petra with an en-route stop at Mount Nebo, the burial site of John the Baptist, The final day of the journey offers the options to take part in a jeep adventure in Wadi Rum before heading to the Dead Sea for a farewell dinner and overnight stay. This tour is priced from $7,920 per person, double.

To entice guests to book Egypt, Emerald Waterways is offering free roundtrip air to Egypt for the 15-day itinerary, and reduced airfare of $295 per person for the 10-day option. Bookings must be made by Oct. 31, 2018 to receive this promotion.

For clients who wish to cruise Europe’s beloved rivers next year, Emerald is offering two new itineraries: the eight-day ‘Classic Danube’ river cruise, which sails from Nuremberg to Vienna, and the eight-day ‘Lower Danube Waltz’ itinerary, sailing from Vienna to Belgrade with visits to Budapest and Osijek, Croatia in between. Both are highlighted in the company’s full-colour brochure, now available to order on its website in hard copy and downloadable versions.

Clients who book any 2019 European river cruise by Aug. 31, 2018 will receive free or reduced airfare depending on itinerary, as follows:

• Guests booking any balcony suite on a 15-day ‘Splendours of Europe’ sailing will receive roundtrip air for $295 per person; guests booking staterooms will receive roundtrip air for $495.
• Guests booking any eight- to 14-day sailing on the Rhine, Main or Danube river will receive roundtrip air for $495 per person.
• Guests booking any ‘Sensations of Southern France’ will receive roundtrip air for $495 per person plus a complimentary drink package.
• Guests booking any Douro River sailing in Portugal will receive roundtrip air for $795 per person.
• Guests booking any combination sailing of two back-to-back itineraries will fly free roundtrip to Europe.

Emerald Waterways’ European river cruises offer contemporary, deluxe ships, outstanding service and an incredibly inclusive pricing plan. Cruise fares include all transfers; all port charges; all onboard (and some on-shore) meals; unlimited specialty tea and coffee, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; bottled water in the cabins replenished daily; continental breakfast, pre-dinner canapés and after-dinner sweet treats served in the top suites; complimentary Wi-Fi onboard the ship; most shore excursions as well as all onboard and excursion gratuities.

For more information go to emeraldwaterways.ca.