Day 18: Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt with Holland America
Day 18: Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt with Holland America
Holland America Africa Explorer Cruise – 49 Days from Rotterdam to Cape Town
Date: Tuesday October 14, 2014
Weather Forecast: Sunny; 30 C/86 F
In Port: 7:00 AM to
All Aboard: 5:30 PM
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Location Information:
Sharm El-Sheik is an Egyptian resort town located on the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula. Sharm is especially popular as a tourist destination for Brits, Europeans and Russians wanting to enjoy a warmer climate in the winter months. It is well-known for excellent diving and snorkeling – particularily at Ras Mohamed National Park. Naama Bay is where most of the hotels, restaurants, shopping and various other tourist activities are located – the beach here is perfect for lounging and taking a dip in the warm sea water.
WJs Day:
Today we were in Sharm El-Sheik with Holland America Line ms Rotterdam, and we didn’t have anything planned other than to find a hotel that would allow us a day-pass to use their facilities. Once again, the Egyptian Tourism had dancers and music to welcome ms Rotterdam passengers at the gangway.
At 9:00 AM we boarded the free shuttle from the port into Sharm (a 30-minute ride), where it dropped us off near the beach and Center Mall. We spent about an hour wandering the beach, popping into a couple of hotels and trying to decide where we wanted to hang out for a few hours.
The Iberotel Lido Hotel was the perfect solution to fit our needs – a lovely 76-room boutique hotel right on the ocean in Naama Bay. The General Manager at Iberotel was wonderful and invited us to spend the day enjoying the hotel facilities – a rooftop pool and direct access to the beach and ocean at Naama Bay. All of the staff we encountered at the hotel were especially friendly and helpful – this is the only hotel in Sharm that is directly on the water. So for 4 hours we enjoyed swimming in both the pool and ocean, plus relaxing on the rooftop deck with views as far as Ras Mohamed.
Before taking the free shuttle back to ms Rotterdam, we strolled through the shops and restaurants along Naama Bay – all very quiet in the late-afternoon. Apparently, they come alive as soon as the sun goes down and the temperature slightly cools.
Back on board at 4:30 PM, we made it in time for Happy Hour in the Crow’s Nest (buy one drink and receive the second for $1), and then enjoyed the sail away as the sun was starting to set (around 6:10 PM).
Tonight’s entertainment in the Showroom at Sea was the visual comedy of Yacov Noy.
