• Cruises are a popular way to tour the Red Sea coast of Egypt.coast of the red sea image by Olga Khoroshunova from Fotolia.com
  
  The Red Sea has been as important to Egypt as the Nile; it is an important trading route, it connects Africa to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Tours of the Red Sea area are usually done via cruises and often include Luxor, on the Nile River, which is easily accessed from sea ports, Hurgada, a major port town, and Sharm el Sheikh, which is an international resort area on the Sinai Peninsula.
  
  

Variety Cruises -- Kings & Pharaohs

• The five-night Kings & Pharaohs cruise travels from the Suez Canal, on the Red Sea around the tip of the Sinai Peninsula to Aqaba, Jordan. The cruise is on a yacht with 22 cabins, all with large windows, air-conditioning and private bathrooms. Stops on the trip include the port town of Hurgada, with a two-day overland trip to Luxor, the resort town for Sharm el Sheikh, with an excursion to St. Catherine's Monastery and Aqaba, Jordan, with a trip to Petra. Optional tour extensions with longer stays in either Aqaba or Cairo are available for an additional fee. The cruise rate includes all accommodations, all meals and a full-time tour escort.
  
  

Thomson Cruises -- Red Sea Magic

• The Red Sea Magic cruise is an eight-day event traveling round trip through the Red Sea from Sharm el Sheikh. The cruise is on a large ship, with 627 cabins, three restaurants, five bars, a casino, two swimming pools, cinema, spa and fitness center. The tour begins by traveling to Aqaba with optional shore excursions to Petra and the Dead Sea. It is followed by Port Sokhna with day trips to Cairo and finally Safaga with day trips to Luxor and Hurgada. Additional sightseeing trips, such as glass bottom boat tours and tours of local markets are available. Optional pre- or post-tour extensions are available at Thomson's hotels or rental villas. Included in the rate are all accommodations, meals, on-board entertainment, tips and port taxes.
  
  

Euro River Cruises -- Monasteries of the Lonely Desert

• This 12-day cruise's focus is on the many historic monasteries that are near the Red Sea in Egypt. Highlights of the trip include the Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul, a day trip to Luxor, the Monasteries of St. Catherine and the Seven Nuns, Petra, Amman and the Crusader's castle of Kerak. The cruise is held on a small ship, with 31 cabins, all on the outside. The ship has a restaurant, lounge, sundeck and Jacuzzi. The cruise rate includes all accommodations, all excursions, most meals and tour guides. Optional trip extensions are available and include full-day excursions to the pyramids at Giza, with an English speaking Egyptologist.