Southbound Suez Canal Cruise: Know Everything You Need to Know Before You Go!

A Suez Canal cruise is often on people's 'bucket list.' It's an experience that differs from your typical ocean cruise as a Suez Canal transit offers a day of scenic cruising. In this video, I share everything you need to know about a southbound Suez Canal cruise, including the landmarks during the journey and the best places on the ship to view the Suez Canal.
If your Suez Canal cruise is travelling southbound (from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea), your cruise ship will most likely anchor near Port Said overnight to start the transit through the Canal the following morning.
Useful Tips for a Suez Canal Cruise:
1. Find out from the daily planner when the cruise will enter the Suez Canal
2. Get up early to experience the sunrise and the start of the transit
3. Find a good vantage point at the front or back of the ship
4. Spend some time on the open decks, especially when passing under the Mubarak Peace Bridge
5. Listen out for ship announcements
6. Consider booking a balcony cabin (starboard), where you can enjoy some shade
7. Use this guide to look out for the key landmarks on the Suez Canal
8. Keep an eye out for glimpses of local life on the Suez Canal
Complete Suez Canal cruise guide here: cruiselifestyle.co.uk/2022/01...
#suezcanalcruise #cruisethesuezcanal #journeythroughsuezcanal

[@andyhampshire1366]

just watching all these video tips for my Iceland trip

[@WideWorldofTrains]

Very nice tour, I gave it a like

[@everteykman5515]

Just watched your video on the Suez Canal. Watching gave me so many memories as I went through the canal 3 Times. I was born in the Netherlands and the Family migrated too Australia in 1958. At that stage I remember as a young boy getting off the ship at Port Said and Aden which at that time had the English military there. It was something I will never forget!

[@terrie778]

In 2000, we crossed the Suez Canal on a Ferry Boat with a bunch of big trucks on board. 😂 We were heading to El Arish for vacation after a long drive from Ciaro. The Japanese had already started the groundwork for that sky-high bridge!! Nothing was there at the time, but I could understand the need for this kind of crossing. There were lots of trucks needing to cross back & forth, while at the same time watching out for super huge cargo tanker-ships go by had the right-of-passage! As a visitor, it was exciting to see the Suez Canal, but for the locals just another delay before crossing. It was suddenly shocking to see water in the middle of the dessert was surprising out of nowhere! It is why I ❤ travel, it's full of interesting surprises!! I hope to return to Egypt someday for another fun and wonderful learning adventure! 🇪🇬

[@northernrails4462]

Wow! So much interesting information Laura! Also love the music you added! I thought I was back there! ❤️

[@CruiseLifestyle]

It’s a great way to look back at the journey 🥰

[@andyhampshire1366]

hope so .I've just seen Gary bambridge new u tube video 4 things not to buy from a cruise liner including hop on hop off busses .great money saving cruise tips on it

[@angelahorton5745]

Fascinating video Laura, I love your presentation style and all the factual information. We enjoyed our Panama Canal cruise and I expected to see locks on the Suez canal but clearly the water level must be similar at entry and exit. Thank you!

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Thank you Angela, I’m definitely still learning as I go with videos but I feel most comfortable presenting in this way. I’d like to take a Panama Canal cruise to compare the experiences. The locks must be fascinating to watch.

[@yasinmahmoodvisitingteache8849]

really interesting. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andyhampshire1366]

not long to Iceland now I've been on trip adviser to look at a few trips. Amazing the north of Iceland will still be light at the being of July take care Laura kind regards Andy

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Have fun! I’d love to visit Iceland, you will have plenty of daylight hours to enjoy 😉

[@hahabibisisihahabibisisi8846]

Thank you for this video ❤👍

[@CruiseLifestyle]

You're welcome 😊

[@andyhampshire1366]

laura ALWAYS watch cruise tips on u tube your video is great and there's so many tips

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Thank you Andy!

[@andyhampshire1366]

the blue lagoon in Iceland looks very relaxing roll on 4th of july

[@CruiseLifestyle]

How is it after the volcano?

[@andyhampshire1366]

not sure i heard it closed but we are not going until the 4th of july

[@andyhampshire1366]

Laura we are going in November give u my feed back. and also from Nuuk Greenland and all over Iceland in 24

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Yes please do!

[@andyhampshire1366]

Laura just over a month to go i was watching cruise critic there's some amazing liners out there

[@chriper77]

Great editing and commentary. Music added atmosphere. Fascinating to see the Suez canal from a ship's POV. I took a bus under the canal years ago. It must have felt strange being so close to land on both sides, especially desert.

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Thank you, I appreciate your comment. Going under the canal must have been interesting. You’re right, it was quite strange to be so close to land on either side, a bit like a river cruise but on a massive scale!

[@andyhampshire1366]

also doing Iceland via Stornoway and Belfast with Newmarket in early July

[@andyhampshire1366]

my hearts in Cyprus tonight Laura

[@andyhampshire1366]

two weeks to go laura i no its not great in the middle east at the moment but looking foward to having the nice times in your video

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Have a great time!

[@andyhampshire1366]

laura u do a great video i want to take that to country 68 and 69 in november

[@andyhampshire1366]

Laura be mindful when going on tours always check the distance from port doing excursions yourself does not always pay

[@CruiseLifestyle]

We do, it’s all about research! If places are too far we usually book with the cruise line but try to do as much independently as possible

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura i do recommend staying on the ship at least one port day you can get good discounts and explore the ship and avoid crowds ideal if the port of call is not of interest or you have explored it before

[@andyhampshire1366]

thanks again Laura we are going to Senegal on the 10th of April then in October we are doing Suez and Petra

[@CruiseLifestyle]

We did Petra on this Suez Canal cruise, it was amazing to visit, hope you have a wonderful cruise

[@TheByard]

I spent a year halfway between the town on Suez and The Bitter Lakes constructing a road tunnel under the canal. As you said to watch a ship sailing through the desert is the strangest sight. We would walk out to the canal from our housing camp and watch the ships pass by and a few were cruise ships that would drop off passengers at Suez so they could visit the Pyramids and be picked up again at Alex. We escorted the QR2 up the first leg of the canal as we were on our way to have fish & Chips in Ismailia and then drinks at the Suez Canal Plots club on the banks of the lakes. We also saw the Britania and RN escort ships returning from the Queens Saudia visit, she looked tiny compared to the container ships. There are two roads that run paralle with the canal, we had a special pass to allow us on the road beside the canal, then there was the sweet water canal that's connected to the Nile with its strip of fertile land. Next there's the desert road with lots of old British Army camps, some with NAAFI in white bricks on the gable ends. I liked Egypt so much I worked there for 7 years mostly in Cairo, even spent time as a transport manager working on The Spy Who Loved Me Bond film.

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Wow thank you for sharing your experiences. It sounds like you had an interesting time there and made it your home for a considerable time. Do you stay in touch with anyone you were there with? Do you think you’ll ever go back? I would like to visit Egypt as so far this is the closest we’ve got.

[@TheByard]

I'm 78 now and live in Vietnam, from what I hear Egypt is not now the place I left after completing a difficult section of the Cairo Metro. My daughters keep in touch with school friends they made there at The British Int School where they left a school in the Uk with 30 per class to a class of 10. Their education sored and got them into university, so as a family we all benefitted by a 4 contract on a UK gov aid project. The aid money came back to the UK. The tunneling crews would travel the world and we always bumped into someone we knew. So, it was great fun in that way, and we got paid for it.@@CruiseLifestyle

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi laura booked ice land today from liverpool always like to plan ahead

[@andyhampshire1366]

we have a trip with tui in november starts in cyprus nice video

[@CruiseLifestyle]

It's a really interesting experience, hope you enjoy!

[@mikewoodland4461]

Same here 😂

[@lh7501]

Me too

[@andyhampshire1366]

Laura I've just watched an interesting u tube video 9 things that cruiser's do that can get them denied boarding some obvious others not

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura hope you and ur family have a lovely Christmas and enjoy lots of trips in 2024 I'm off to the eastern Caribbean states with tui on the 14/01/24

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Merry Christmas to you too, have a wonderful cruise in the new year!

[@andyhampshire1366]

thank you Laura I've just had this rotten flu thankfully its going before xmas and holiday ,I've just been watching 5 excursions mistakes that cruise passengers make by Gary Banbridge good video@@CruiseLifestyle

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura they for obvious reason taken our Israel stop off but we have an extra stop off in Egypt near Cairo

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Totally understand, not a bad exchange

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura just watching the top ten things to do in Iceland hard to believe its on a earth quake plate and a volcano but 4th July cant come soon enough kind regards Andy

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Are you going to try and see all 10?

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura booked my 2024 xmas cruise to panama canal from tui in Woking ,got back pay today

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Very cool!

[@lynnharwood5301]

off to Senegal tomorrow Laura and November the cannel u do a lovely video

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Thank you, have a great time in Senegal

[@andyhampshire1366]

@@CruiseLifestyle thank you back safe we have booked a cruise to iceland next year and suez is booked for november

[@CruiseLifestyle]

@@andyhampshire1366 I’d love to visit Iceland on a cruise

[@andyhampshire1366]

@@CruiseLifestyle Iceland cruise 4th July 24 with Newmarket holidays 1323 pounds that includes drinks food and tips from Liverpool out side cabin calls Belfast Stornoway and 5 stops in Iceland including the capitol Reykjavik

[@andyhampshire1366]

thank you Laura I've just found the cruise rota its fly to Dubai then Qatar Bahrain Abu Dhabi its with msc on 15th November

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura we have decided to do the rui Dubai in February tui had a nice rui holiday to gran caneria in June next year along with our Iceland cruise on the 5th of July this year that's us busy

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura tui are doing a November cruise to Abu Dhabi UAE and Dubai in November LOOKS GOOD 2500 for both of us

[@CruiseLifestyle]

That’s not bad, weather should be bearable in November too!

[@andyhampshire1366]

have booked 3 tours on the Caribbean cruise on the 14th of January 8 days not enough

[@CruiseLifestyle]

What tours have you booked?

[@andyhampshire1366]

im looking foward to the midnight sun in iceland

[@andyhampshire1366]

im looking at a nile cruise laura have you done it

[@pumpkin462]

Celebrity edge we’ll be 2023

[@CruiseLifestyle]

You will love it, sailing through the Suez Canal is fascinating

[@davidlaw689]

And I'll be on it. Great video that has me pumped for October

[@CruiseLifestyle]

We’ve just got off Celebrity Edge on Saturday, wonderful ship and it will have just got out of dry dock for you I’m guessing?

[@davidlaw689]

@@CruiseLifestyle That's right! The Edge's first cruise after it's 2 week refurb. We are looking forward to it.

[@CruiseLifestyle]

@@davidlaw689 I’m sure it will be even nicer after having a refresh - jealous, and such a great itinerary too.

[@andyhampshire1366]

we would have been at the airport today Laura never mind at least the eastern Caribbean states will be good get xmas over then 14 jan all being well were off

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Something to look forward to after Christmas. You must be very disappointed to have had your cruise cancelled.

[@andyhampshire1366]

well its nearly Iceland time some of the excursions are over hundred and sixty each ive gone for Belfast and lewis @ ease godafus waterfall golden circle tour and Reykjavik @ease that's about 800 sail on 4th july from liverpool with ambassador

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Excursions can be very pricey, we usually try and do things independently to keep the cost down

[@andyhampshire1366]

or any port Iceland should be nice

[@andyhampshire1366]

sorry Laura I've been working nights but I've booked panoramic saint Vincent rum and sun in saint Georges and diamond botanical garden mineral bath and waterfall we fly to bridge town on the 14th of January hope your well by the way

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Our last Caribbean cruise was around that time. Good time to go, there is the odd shower but the rains stops quickly so it’s not an issue.

[@andyhampshire1366]

sorry Laura I've been doing a shed load of nights at Woking so i couldn't reply off today

[@andyhampshire1366]

two cruises to come but booked the riu hotel in gran canaria September 2024 my forth canary island

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Grand Canaria will be nice in September

[@Jppapa2018]

See my subscription s,,,best presentation ❤

[@andyhampshire1366]

and dubai

[@andyhampshire1366]

thanks for y reply Laura its November my mistake starts in Cyprus then Alayna turkey Haifa Israel Suez canal then finish in Jorden on a tiu cruise

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Sounds like a nice itinerary, we did the Suez Canal in the same direction so hopefully it helps.

[@andyhampshire1366]

have just booked iceland midnight sun via belfast and stornaway still got suez in november as well

[@CruiseLifestyle]

@@andyhampshire1366 Iceland is definitely on my list! Midnight sun will be an interesting experience. Definitely pack a sleep mask if you have a balcony!

[@andyhampshire1366]

its port sokna Laura Cairo is a very intense city so was advised to be careful especially near the pyramids

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Be careful

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi laura just got back from the eastern Caribbean states most all take us dollars even Guadeloupe made use of all inclusive bars and restaurant all the gift shops take card off to Iceland in June ship tui voyager is cash less

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Yes, we used US dollars for the Caribbean, we took some local currency for Barbados. Iceland will be lovely in June.

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura there's a programme on bbc 2 tonight why ships crash it mentions the ever given

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Ah yes, didn’t watch it but have watched a previous one about it. Very interesting.

[@andyhampshire1366]

regrettably but understandable cruise has all but been cancelled however we are going to Barbados st Vincent Tobago Grenada Guadeloupe st Lucia in January Guadeloupe is French but its 5 new countries t seems a nice cruise i will let u no how it went regards Andy

[@CruiseLifestyle]

That is a shame but totally understandable. We loved visiting Barbados and St Lucia and January is a great time to go.

[@andyhampshire1366]

there's always another time this cruise a get 5 new countries' and French Guadeloupe in ok laura its not the excitement of Suez but in time maybe thanks for your replys

[@andyhampshire1366]

lucky didn't pay deposit for November tui doing riu Dubai in February for 2900 all inclusive for two for a week

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Nice!

[@andyhampshire1366]

its the riu dubai pity its only a week

[@andyhampshire1366]

laura on u tube watch i ran rings around the latest cruise rip offs you can to .is the title -+

[@andyhampshire1366]

Laura just seen a u tube video of the 7 worst cruise port scams by Gary bambridge ideal so many scams

[@andyhampshire1366]

laura be carful in the states and the Caribbean for taxi and shop scams better to shop around and avoid so called freebees and big discounts try shopping in town on port days

[@andyhampshire1366]

another bad accident a few weeks ago in America with a container ship Laura

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Yes it has affected cruise ship visits for the time being.

[@andyhampshire1366]

hi Laura do look what P AND 0 has done to there drinks and alcohol policy seems to squeeze money out of people

[@CruiseLifestyle]

It’s a shame as on our last P&O cruise we took a bottle of spirits to have in our cabin.

[@andyhampshire1366]

Laura I'm off to Dubai in 24

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Nice, we would like to go back to Dubai when it’s not Ramadan! Didn’t realise until after we booked.

[@mim3097]

​@CruiseLifestyle we are non Muslim and will be there during Ramadan next year. Any particular reason you would like to visit outside Ramadan?

[@CruiseLifestyle]

@@mim3097 we visited in May when it was very hot and during Ramadan you cannot drink water in public. We managed it and some places were still open where you could get a drink in a concealed space but we’d like to return maybe during the winter when temperatures are better and there are less restrictions.

[@mim3097]

@@CruiseLifestyle Good to know. We'll be spending two days there at the end of March before boarding our cruise. Hopefully the heat isn't as bad.

[@greenstripeypaint]

Got 2 minutes in but had to turn the music down - then I couldn't hear your voice - so I gave up. Shame. It could have been good. Why do people have insistent music so loud? It adds nothing.

[@CruiseLifestyle]

Sorry you didn’t like my video.

[@victorkhalil1050]

Your background music so loud could not finish ur video

[@CruiseLifestyle]

That’s a shame