Suez Canal, Egypt (Transit) cruises
Suez Canal guide
Bear witness to one of the world’s most impressive feats of maritime engineering, as you relax and indulge in the sumptuous surroundings of your cruise ship. Built in the 19th century, the Suez Canal snakes through 120 miles of vast desert landscapes, past picturesque canal-side cities and villages and within a stone's throw of breath-taking architecture and natural splendour.
Sail through the very heart of the desert and experience the region's unforgettable sights while enjoying the best of onboard life with Cunard.
Top landmarks and sights in the Suez Canal
Stretching between the ports of Said in the north and Suez in the south, the Suez Canal is peppered with all manner of picturesque sights and breathtaking landmarks, from rugged untamed landscapes to impressive man-made structures.
Port Said
A bustling port city at the tip of northern Egypt, Port Said is an intoxicating feast for the senses, with vibrant open-air markets, towering mosques and colourful public gardens. Keep an eye out for the unmistakable checkerboard-painted Port Said Lighthouse, constructed in 1869 and at the time considered one of the most technologically advanced structures of its kind in the world.
Ismailia
As you continue through the canal, you’ll come across the city of Ismailia – founded during the canal’s construction. Enjoy beautiful views from on deck of this lush city, surrounded by emerald greenery and peppered with impressive colonial architecture.
Great Bitter Lake
As the canal widens, you’ll sail into the expansive Great Bitter Lake. Once a vast salt flat, the lake now serves as a passing and repositioning point for ships and boats journeying through the canal, where gently rippling blue waters are flanked on either side by the golden hues of the desert.
Suez Canal Bridge
As you near the port of Suez, you’ll come face-to-face with the impressive Suez Canal Bridge. Also referred to as the Mubarak Peace Bridge or the Egyptian-Japanese Friendship Bridge, this gargantuan feat of engineering was opened in 2001 and links the continents of Asia and Africa, with each of the bridges with two towering pylons positioned in each respective continent.
Suez Canal culture and history
A convergence of continents and cultures, the Suez Canal and surrounding regions that flank its 120-mile long and 24-metre deep waterway are steeped in fascinating history.
The port of Suez has long been an important commercial port, dating back to the 7th century. Through the Middle Ages, the growing spice trade and pilgrimages to Mecca saw it become a thriving hub of commerce. In the 15th century, the port became an important naval base, protecting the Gulf of Suez before the introduction of the Canal in 1869.
A testament to human ingenuity and engineering, this man-made marvel was conceived in the 19th century to forge a vital link between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, facilitating global trade and navigation.
Over the years, the Canal has been a highly sought strategic prize, encapsulated with Prime Minister Disraeli’s famous words to Queen Victoria in 1875, “You have it, Madam”. A key component at the height of the British Empire, the canal opened up new opportunities for trade, allowing ships to save a journey of over 7000 miles navigating around the European and Asian continents.
Suez Canal port facilities
One of Egypt’s largest ports, the port of Suez is found at the northern tip of the Gulf of Suez at the edge of the Red Sea. The southern entrance to the Suez Canal, Suez Port is a bustling trade port where some of the largest ships in the world converge before setting off on their voyage through the Canal.