Red Sea & Arabia – Athens to Dubai

About this cruise

Clear the calendar from September 5, 2027. This one's 21 nights from Piraeus (Athens), and the route visits Rhodes, Limassol and Alexandria, with additional stops along the Middle East & Arabian Gulf. By the time you're a week in, you'll have completely stopped checking your phone. You wind up in Dubai, so it's worth planning a night or two there. The itinerary clusters several port calls together. Fast-paced for a few days, then the sea days hit and you can catch your breath. Crossing 8 borders through the Middle East & Arabian Gulf: Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. You'll notice the culture shift at every stop. You get around 11 hours in each port, which is enough for an excursion, lunch, and some wandering around on your own. When you're not ashore, Norwegian Sun takes the food seriously, with 13 restaurants to choose from. 5 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. One of the underrated parts of a longer cruise: you actually get to know people. The couple from dinner, the group at trivia, the bartender who remembers your drink. Suits retirees, remote workers, or anyone who doesn't need to be anywhere else for a while. Pro tip: fly in the day before. Piraeus (Athens) has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. A September sailing dodges the peak crowds while the weather is still cooperating. Well timed. Hard to ask for much more than that, honestly.