18 Night Cruise sailing from Athens to Dubai aboard Seabourn Legend.

Seabourn acquired its third intimate ship in 1996. Seabourn Legend, like its sisters, was built in Bremerhaven, Germany at the Schichau Seebeckwerft shipyard.

Originally launched as Royal Viking Queen for the prestigious Royal Viking Line, Seabourn Legend was re-christened by Linn Brynestad, Seabourn founder Atle Brynestad's wife.

Along with their all-suite accommodations and renowned personalized service, Seabourn's ships also garner consistent acclaim for the award-winning dining on board. Under the expert guidance of celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, Seabourn ships deliver superb cuisine that rivals the finest restaurants anywhere. From French fries to foie gras, every dish receives the expert attention of highly skilled and imaginative chefs. The finest ingredients are selected with care, perfectly prepared to your order, and served with pride. The Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in an open-seating style that invites guests to dine where, when and with whom they choose.

The Veranda Cafe is a more casual, indoor/outdoor venue serving lavish buffets for breakfast and luncheon. In the evening, the Veranda Cafe becomes Restaurant 2, alternately serving innovative tasting menus and regionally-themed dinners with table service. The Sky Grill, at the popular alfresco Sky Bar, hosts occasional themed luncheons, and dinners of grilled specialties under the stars. Festive Deck Barbecue dinners and signature Caviar in the Surf beach parties are highlights on many cruises. And guests are welcome to order from The Restaurant menu and have their dinners served, course by course, in their suites if they wish. There is never an extra charge for any dining on Seabourn.

Highlights of this cruise:

Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Piraeus has been the port for Athens since 482 BC. The busy harbor is filled with ferries and cruise ships making their way to the Greek Islands and other Mediterranean cities. The busy metropolis of Athens and its treasure trove of antiquities lie just a few miles from the port. Even as the reality of the modern city took hold, with its high-rise apartments, crowded sidewalks and bustling traffic, the beauty of the Acropolis, the outstanding museums, charming cafes, sidewalk markets and startling views come together in a cultural mosaic for all to enjoy.

Hurghada, Egypt, Africa
Founded only in the 20th century as a fishing village, Hurghada has grown into the largest resort community along the Red Sea coast. Visitors are attracted by the clement weather, the beaches and the prolific sea-life that thrives in the clear waters and coral reefs offshore.

Aqaba (for Petra), Jordan
Aqaba is a sleepy fishing village with a long and historic past. At various times, the port was a stopover on ancient caravan routes, a garrison for Roman troops and meeting place for pilgrims en route to Mecca. Recent excavations have revealed a third-century church, one of the worlds oldest. In medieval times, Aqaba was an important part of Palestine before being absorbed into the Ottoman Empire, a time when Lawrence of Arabia figured in local history. Today Aqaba is important as Jordan's only deep water port and the jumping-off point for excursions to Petra, the country's premier historical attraction.

Sharm el Sheik, Egypt
Some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world is found at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Here, on a slender promontory where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Straits of Tiran, Sharm el Sheikh offers access to serene sand beaches, wind-carved cliffs and a wonderland of colorful fish and coral reefs. The area is revered as a place of prophets and miracles, including St. Catherine's Monastery, the most important religious site in Sinai, situated at the base of the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Safaga, Egypt
Located on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea, the port of Safaga is the gateway to some of Egypt's most memorable destinations: Luxor, Karnak and Thebes. Luxor has often been called the world's greatest open-air museum, and the number and preservation of the monuments in the area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world. The ancient Egyptians called Luxor "The City" and Homer called it the "City of a Thousand Gates." The troops of Napoleon, coming upon its grandeur, broke into spontaneous applause. The pharaoh's tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and the colossal temples of Luxor and Karnak capture the imagination with splendors that have survived the centuries.

Khasab, Oman
With a rugged coastline slashed by narrow fjords, Oman's Musandam Peninsula is often called the ""Norway of Arabia."" Separated from the rest of the Sultanate of Oman by the United Arab Emirates, the peninsula is a rocky headland jutting into the Strait of Hormuz, forming one of the most strategic shipping lanes in the world. Along the scenic east coast, native dhows ply the waters where spinner and bottlenose dolphins are often seen. Ancient towns such as Khasab, the capital of the region, and Bukha offer centuries-old forts and a compelling glimpse into the essence of Arabia.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, and the traditional trading routes from Asia and the Far East to Europe and further afield are even more significant today than they were hundreds of years ago. Nestled at the very heart of the Islamic world, the country is unique in its embrace of the Western world. Here you can see the contrasts of the nomadic Bedouin people, and the opulence and splendor of the Sheiks, set against a backdrop of Western lifestyles.