18 Night Cruise sailing from Dubai to Rome aboard Seabourn Odyssey.

Seabourn Odyssey is the first in a new-class of ships for Seabourn that will accommodating just 450 guests in 225 luxury suites.

Although, at 32,000 GRT, Seabourn Odyssey is more than triple the size of Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend, she was the smallest new ship being built by any major cruise line, and her guest capacity is just twice that of the smaller sisters, creating the highest space-per-guest ratio in the industry. Seabourn Odyssey was built by the Italian company T. Mariotti S.p.A., located in Genoa, Italy and named in Venice in June of 2009.

On that occasion, the guests on board for the maiden voyage were all honored as the ship's godparents, and a plaque with their names was permanently mounted on a wall inside the ship.

Seabourn Odyssey was designed by the same architectural team, Petr Yran and Bjorn Storbraaten, who designed the original Seabourn ships. Seabourn Odyssey's 225 ocean-view suites are divided into 13 categories, with interior measurements from 295 to over 1,200 square feet. Ninety percent have private verandas, which add from 65 to over 350 square feet of additional private living space.

Highlights in accommodations are the exceptional Wintergarden Suites, which have a private glassed-in Solarium with a soaking tub and a lunging bed. This suite also features a veranda that is bowed out, giving wonderful views long the side of the ship. The Signature Suites, located all the way forward on Deck 7, have over 900 square feet of inside space and a spectacular wrap-around veranda of 353 square feet. In addition to more larger suites, Seabourn Odyssey's additional size is utilized to create more open deck space, and a variety of public rooms and dining venues.

Highlights of this cruise:

Dubai
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.

Salalah
Salalah, Oman's ancient incense capital is an oasis with lush vegetation resulting from seasonal monsoons. The city's roads wind through groves of coconut, papaya and banana trees, and roadside stands sell fresh fruit and coconut water. The tropical atmosphere is a striking contrast to the otherwise arid landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula. Even the Queen of Sheba fell under the spell of the area's treasure far greater than gold, and sent gifts of frankincense to impress Solomon. Today, the beautiful sand beaches, cultural history, archaeology and natural diversity draw visitors to this ancient paradise.

Safaga
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.

Sharm el Sheikh
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.

Ashdod
The largest port in Israel, Ashdod is a gateway to Jerusalem, the 5,000-year-old walled city that is considered sacred to more than a third of the people on Earth. Numerous sites exist nearby, including the Jewish sacred Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre said to be the site of Calvary and to contain a piece of the true cross.

Meander along the seaside promenade, or dip your toes in the Dead Sea waters, long known for their health benefits. Visit the Bar-Gera Museum to view a collection of art by artists who were either banned or persecuted by the Nazis and other fascist governments. The Yad Vashem Memorial Museum is dedicated to the six million Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust.

Rome
Originally built by Emperor Trajan who had a villa here, Civitavecchia has flourished as a major port for Rome since the 13th century. Today it is an important ferry terminal and for many travelers the gateway to the Eternal City, Rome. The Renaissance fortifications that surround the harbor area were begun by Bramante and completed by Michelangelo in 1535.