Our East Mediterranean cruise visited an impressive list of ports, but we were mostly required to be back on board at the early time of 4.30pm. Moreover the itinerary with Monday & Tuesday stops in Israel was changed to Friday and the Sabbath, when the country is as closed as on Christmas Day in the UK. We thus felt obliged to book an all day coach tour : Jerusalem & Bethlehem with lunch (£125), and join 27 other coach loads of P&O passengers.
In Egypt Port Said was deleted in favour of a 2 night stopover in Alexandria. This suited us perfectly! We organised our own excursion to Al Alamein on the first day, and spent the 2nd day exploring Alexandria.
The sea was very turbulent on several days, pitching uncomfortably and causing sea sickness. A seemingly ample stock of aspirin in the ship's shop had sold out by the end of the cruise!The sea was very turbulent on several days, pitching uncomfortably and causing sea sickness. A seemingly ample stock of aspirin in the ship's shop had sold out by the end of the cruise!