Making the most of Sharm El Sheikh
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Sharm’s redeveloped marina serves private yachts and sailboats, with a cruise terminal for cruise ships and scheduled ferries to Hurghada and Aqaba. The port is 7 km south of Sharm El Sheikh’s city centre. Taxis are available, but negotiate firmly over whether the price is per person or cab and whether it is in Egyptian dollars or USD. Other "charges" may appear at journey’s end, so stay firm.
The Arabic name Sharm el Sheikh means Bay of the Sheik in English.
Information on festivals and events in Sharm El Sheikh while you are in port.
A Sharm el Sheikh holiday on the Red Sea Riviera is an exciting, fun-filled stay at one of Egypt’s most popular beach destinations. At Sinai’s tip, just 20 km from famous Ras Mohamed Park, it is a paradise for snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as a bustling coastal town with activities, nightlife and excellent dining.
Na'ama Bay, meaning "pleasant" in Hebrew, is probably the best-known of the bays and has the greatest concentration of hotels.
Important: many companies offer generally reliable excursions into Egypt. However, your ship will wait for late customers only when they have booked the ship's excursions. Carry a cell phone and the ship's telephone number just in case.
Getting around
Egyptian public transport is generally quite good, with buses, minibuses and collective service taxis making travel in or between towns easy enough.
At the foot of Mount Moses, St. Catherine's Monastery was built on Emperor Justinian’s orders between 527 and 565. It surrounds what is believed to be Moses' Burning Bush, with a chapel built atop it, and is a spectacular natural setting for priceless art including Arab mosaics, Greek and Russian icons and Western oil paintings. Note that the church itself closes at noon.
Taxis are commonly Peugeot saloons carrying up to seven passengers. They can be taken individually or shared with other travelers. In-town fares are fixed in the main Red Sea towns, but intercity prices must be agreed in advance. Private taxi companies also offer air conditioned sedans with drivers for people who want to be pampered.
Every tour bus has armed security, and police escorts are often close to the bus caravan.
Nearby places
The desert is ferociously blazing, deeply silent and apparently empty: majestic and imposing in its simplicity. The sea is crystalline, with a million blue hues, fertile and healthy marine life, unpolluted and a triumph of nature. A holiday here is incomplete without visiting the desert, whether a natural location, unexpected hidden historical sites scattered across this crossroads of civilisations that has been the Red Sea for centuries, or the sea’s natural marvels. From Sharm el Sheik, excursions reach many outstanding sights.
Food and shopping
Once inside the Old Market, you find shop after shop along narrow streets and alleyways, mostly selling Sinai and Egypt-related souvenirs. It is also the home of local fish stores, where a fish and seafood meal can be enjoyed at its best and most simply.
In Old Sharm, explore dozens of alleys and pedestrian streets for an endless choice of strongly local restaurants and eateries. Fresh fish and good value are available, with many outlets offering a popular, simple atmosphere and others being more pretentious. Local restaurants rarely serve alcohol, but they do serve great, tasty local food.
Money
All souvenir shops happily accept US dollars and the Euro.
Staying connected
Arab is the listed language.
Internet facilities certainly exist, but use arab keyboards!
Because Sahara is Arabic for desert, avoid the phrase “the Sahara desert”.
Opening Hours and
Egypt’s National Holidays.