Safaga Port (Luxor, Egypt) inaugurated the summer cruise season by welcoming on April 7 the first call of MSC Cruises' ship MSC Virtuosa within the framework of the scheduled new series of 2022 itineraries that the line provides for its guests via “Grand Voyages“.
The transcontinental long cruises give the passengers the chance to see half of the world in just one single journey that lasts for a period ranging between 16-24 nights and passes by a lot of ports from Asia in the East to Western Europe.
The Port is characterized by its location, being close to Luxor, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh, which provides the passengers with various excursions to choose from either to visit Luxor's ancient sites or to enjoy the sunshine over the beaches of Hurghada, Safaga, or Sharm El Sheikh.
Ancient Egyptians called Safaga "Weset", ancient Greeks called it "Thebes". During the 18th and 19th dynasties, the city reached its height and its population soared to ~1 million.
Safaga as a seaport was founded in the 3rd century BC under the name Philotera. Current-day Safaga is a major therapeutic tourism destination for international customers. The local tourism industry specializes mainly in Red Sea scuba diving.