Mumbai to Haifa

Mumbai, with its natural deep harbour on India's west coast, is its most populous city as well as the richest. Comprising seven islands that once were home to communities of fishing colonies, over time, joined to form the city earlier known as Bombay. It is now the commercial and entertainment capital of India. Read more about Mumbai, India

Salalah, which lies in the southern Dhofar region, is the second largest city in Oman, and is known for its glorious history, heritage, rich culture, traditions and wonders of nature. The beautiful beaches are also very popular, with scuba diving and bird watching favourite tourist activities. Not surprisingly, it is known as the ‘Stunning Jewel’ of Oman. Read more about Salalah, Oman

Port Safaga is a town in Egypt on the coast of the Red Sea, in what is now known as the Red Sea Riviera. With its unpolluted atmosphere, black sand-dunes and mineral springs, Safaga City is considered - by important medical researchers - an important therapeutic tourist centre, and has resulted in attracting international tourism. It also serves as an embarkation point for flights to Luxor and the Upper Nile, enabling visitors to explore the wonderful highlights of Egypt that include the Karnak Temple complex and Valley of the Kings at Luxor. Read more about Safaga, Egypt

Port Safaga is a town in Egypt on the coast of the Red Sea, in what is now known as the Red Sea Riviera. With its unpolluted atmosphere, black sand-dunes and mineral springs, Safaga City is considered - by important medical researchers - an important therapeutic tourist centre, and has resulted in attracting international tourism. It also serves as an embarkation point for flights to Luxor and the Upper Nile, enabling visitors to explore the wonderful highlights of Egypt that include the Karnak Temple complex and Valley of the Kings at Luxor. Read more about Safaga, Egypt

Aqaba, in the far south of Jordan, is the country’s only port city and, due to the rich coral reefs in the Gulf, is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world. Cooled by a steady northerly breeze, and ringed by mountains that change in colour with the change of hours, many visitors simply just relax on the sandy beaches. Aqaba is the port for the 3800 year-old ‘hidden city’ of Petra, 100 km to the north. Read more about Aqaba, Jordan

Located in Egypt to the west of the Sinai Peninsula, the Suez Canal, measuring 163 km in length and 300 metres width at its narrowest point, serves as a two-way water transportation route between Europe and Asia. Almost 8 per cent of the total world's shipping is controlled by the Suez Canal. It essentially comprises two parts, north and south of the Great Bitter Lake that acts as a buffer to the canal, protecting it from the effects of tidal currents. Read more about Suez Canal - Transit, Egypt

Ashdod - aka Isdud - is a city on the Mediterranean Sea coast in the South District of Israel, approximately 70 km from Jerusalem and Beer Sheba. It is a major industrial centre and Israel’s largest and busiest cargo port, through which over 100,000 tourists visit annually. It is also one of the most ancient cities in the world, dating back to the Canaanite culture of the 17th century BC, and interestingly is mentioned thirteen times in the Bible. Read more about Ashdod (Jerusalem), Israel

(NOTE: Check that your cruise still visits Haifa due to current safety concerns.) Israel’s third largest city and one of its prettiest, Haifa is situated on the Israeli Mediterranean Coastal Plain, the historic land bridge between Europe, Africa, and Asia. The city is split over three tiers. The lowest is the centre of commerce and industry including the Port of Haifa, the middle level is on the slopes of Mount Carmel consists of older residential neighbourhoods, while the upper level is known for its modern suburbs. Read more about Haifa, Israel