Vasco Da Gama, 56 Night World Cruise Heraklion to Cairns ex Heraklion to Cairns

57 days | Heraklion • Cyprus • Safaga • Salalah • Oman land program (5 nights in Salalah) • Abu Dhabi •Dubai • Oman • India • Sri Lanka • Singapore • Java • Brunei • Moluccas • Papua New Guinea • Cairns

Highlights
- Experience the historical relics of Egyptian culture up close or relax on the beautiful beaches on the Red Sea
- Let yourself be enchanted by the fascinating mix of tradition and modernity in the United Arab Emirates
- You have the opportunity to see the most famous proof of love in the world with your own eyes: the mausoleum of the Taj Mahal
- Off to the mangrove jungle in Malaysia, where wild monkeys live and mysterious caves can be discovered
- You can travel through the centuries in Singapore - in just a few minutes: Nowhere else are old and new so close together
- It's worth taking a look under the surface: on your way to Cairns, you will have several opportunities to go snorkeling in fabulous areas

30.10. – 04.11.2024 - 5 nights in a hotel | Salalah
All-inclusive accommodation in 5-star hotels and excursions programme

Four wonderful days in Oman lie ahead of you. Nicko have included two half-day excursions in the price of the overland programme to ensure you do not miss out on any of the highlights. There are also opportunities to take part in optional excursions.

To guarantee that all guests have an unforgettable experience in Oman, the excursion groups are kept as small as possible. The timing of the excursions on individual days may thus vary for the different groups. All guests have at least one day for independent exploration in Salalah at their disposal.

Half-day excursion to Salalah (included in price of overland programme)
This excursion will allow you to get to know Salalah better. A visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is on the programme, as is a visit to the “Museum of the Land of Frankincense”. Afterwards you will have free time in the Al Baleed Archaeological Park, where the museum is situated. Now that you have already learnt so much about frankincense, it is high time you bought some – and what better place to do so than the souk in Salalah? So plunge into the colourful hustle and bustle and discover the perfect souvenir – whether it is for yourself or for your loved ones back at home.

Half-day excursion to Taqah & Dhofar (included in price of overland programme)
You start with a visit to the old fishing village of Taqah. A tour of Taqah Castle, the former official residence of the “wali” (governor) of the region, is of course a must. Then you move on to the ancient ruins of the once famous city of Sumhuram (Khor Rohri). In former times, this was an important port on the coast of the Dhofar region, and one of the main trading centres for frankincense. It is thought to have been the key hub for trading in this precious commodity. And so it makes sense that it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your next stop is Ain Razat, a natural spring at the foot of the Al-Qarā Mountains, where you can marvel at the Dhofaris’ traditional irrigation system. Finally you visit a plantation where you can sample delicacies such as coconuts and other exotic fruits.

Half-day excursion to Mughsail and its “blowholes” (bookable on board - additional cost)
Your excursion begins with a visit to Mughsail beach, where pristine white sand contrasts sharply with the deep blue of the ocean. At high tide, the waves break through the natural so-called “blowholes” in the rocks at the far end of the beach. The tour continues along the dramatic road with its hairpin bends and breathtaking cliffs on either side. Here you will also have the opportunity to see the historical frankincense trees in their natural habitat, deep down in the valleys of this arid and rugged landscape. Finally there is a photo stop at the Al Shanfari Mosque. It was named after its architect, a well-to-do businessman. The building’s magnificent architecture makes it an absolute must when you are visiting Salalah.

Whole-day jeep expedition into the desert (bookable on board - additional cost)
Your first stop is the “Wadi Dawkah” (UNESCO World Heritage site) that is also know as “Frankincense Wadi” and home to the largest collection of naturally growing frankincense trees in the region. Your guide will explain the process of frankincense extraction to you, as well as the uses of frankincense in the past and in the modern world. From here the tour continues to the “Lost City of Ubar”, another UNESCO World Heritage site. This legendary ancient kingdom is supposed to have existed here in the Rub’ al-Khali desert, in what must surely be one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. According to legend, the desert swallowed up Ubar. In the truest sense of the word, it sank without a trace – to become the legendary “Atlantis of the Sands”. Once completely buried, the town was rediscovered by satellite. The visit gives you a broad insight into the valuable work carried out by a research team under the leadership of the explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes in 1992. You then continue to the “Empty Quarter” to experience the world’s “largest sand desert” and to enjoy the sunset from the top of the sand dunes. After sundown, you drive to the local desert camp for a simple evening meal (no alcohol in the camp), before returning to your hotel in the evening.

Please note: As this excursion by jeep takes you off road, it is not suitable for guests with restricted mobility or back problems.

In its own unique way, VASCO DA GAMA combines the Portuguese explorer tradition with the demands of today’s cruise guests: a wide range of different bars and restaurants in an exclusive setting, lots of public space with a modern interior and tasteful design elements. On board, you'll find a full range of equipment for spa, fitness and your personal leisure activities. You won’t find any other comparable cruise ship of this size on the market offering such good value for money. The personal atmosphere on board due to the manageable number of guests is key to the sense of well-being. In the very spirit of Portuguese hospitality, our friendly crew remains committed to your welfare.

In today's cruise ship market, our ship is regarded as small due to the fact that we have limited passenger capacity. The beautiful teak-wood decks exude classic charm, working in perfect harmony with the ship’s elegant and modern appearance. At 219 metres long and with a volume of 55,820 GRT, the ship provides its guests with all the space they need to thrive, spread across nine passenger decks. On board, you'll feel this spaciousness, for example, in the cabins and suites (16 to 102 sqm in size), five bars and lounges in different designs, five restaurants, an elegant spa area with sauna and steam bath, a large fitness centre, sports areas on the outside decks as well as two pools, one of which has a sliding glass roof. And in our “Hollywood's” show theatre over two decks, our on-board theatre company provides you with top-class evening entertainment. Bom espetáculo!

Our total of 550 crew members have just one goal: to make you feel comfortable! On top of the generous room-to-passenger ratio and our range of on-board facilities, the ample crew-to-guest ratio means you can find your own personal way to relax on board the ship. Whether you prefer to read a good book with a cool drink under the glass dome in our viewing lounge, the “Dome”, or would like to expend some of your energy in the outdoor sports areas, VASCO DA GAMA has the full range of options to choose from. For families, our children's area over two decks and our special family cabins provide the ideal basis for an enjoyable holiday together – on family-friendly terms. We also have an attractive programme for singles: we have a cabin allocation for all dates with a single supplement of just 15%. Our chefs are, of course, able to meet all common dietary requirements. The ship also has some cabins for disabled guests and has a dialysis unit.

nicko cruises Schiffsreisen GmbH is one of the most dynamic cruise providers in Germany. In recent years, the company has evolved from a leading river cruise provider with more than 30 years of experience into a well-known provider of small ships with destination-oriented ocean routes. With its fleet, which is as modern as it is comfortable, nicko cruises travels the world’s oceans as well as all domestic waterways and coastal sections that are in demand for tourists. In 2023, the programme includes not only 22 river ships, but also the classic ocean-going vessel VASCO DA GAMA.

With its "time to discover" philosophy, nicko cruises focuses on cruise schedules that are rich in discovery and on intensive travel experiences in the product fields river and ocean. The product features of so-called “slow cruising”, such as small ships and long anchorage times, are combined with emotional moments at nicko cruises. During the cruises, guests always have plenty of time for exploring. Thanks to the large variety of products, everyone will find just the right trip at nicko cruises, individually tailored to their needs. The ships in the fleet are all in the 4 to 5-star category according to German land hotel trade standards. Attractive inland excursions and the varied culinary offers on board round off the travel experience. nicko cruises Schiffsreisen GmbH has its company headquarters in Stuttgart, where it employs roughly 110 highly motivated members of staff.