Alexandria Shore Excursion from Cruise Port

Alexandria is Egypt's main Mediterranean port, and cruise ships berth at the passenger terminal in the Western Harbor, close to the city center. Once you have left the ship and cleared the terminal, your guide meets you at the agreed point with a sign bearing your name.

Before setting off, your guide confirms your all-aboard time and plans the day backwards from it, with a comfortable margin for traffic. If your ship arrives late or is cleared slowly, the program is adjusted on the spot.

Your private air-conditioned vehicle is waiting nearby. Keep your ship card and the identification your cruise line asks you to carry with you throughout the day.

The first stop is a short drive from the port. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa were cut into the rock in the 2nd century AD, a multi-level burial complex reached by a spiral staircase around a deep central shaft.

The main tomb is one of the most striking monuments of Roman Egypt. Its carvings mix Egyptian and classical styles, and the reliefs show Egyptian gods such as Anubis in Roman armor. Your guide points out the banquet hall where families shared funeral meals and the long galleries of burial niches.

The catacombs were rediscovered in 1900, reportedly when a donkey fell through the ground. Expect cool, damp air and uneven steps; the lowest level is often flooded and closed.

A few minutes away is Pompey's Pillar, a single column of red Aswan granite about 27 meters tall. Despite its name, it was raised around AD 297 in honor of the emperor Diocletian, as an inscription on its base shows.

The column stands on the site of the Serapeum, the great temple of Serapis and home to a daughter collection of the Library of Alexandria. Around it are two granite sphinxes and the foundations of the temple.

This is a quick, open-air stop, ideal for photographs. If your time ashore is short, your guide may combine it with the catacombs in a single visit.

Next you cross the city to the Eastern Harbor and the Citadel of Qaitbay, the fortress built in the late 15th century by the Mamluk sultan Qaitbay on the site of the Pharos, the ancient lighthouse counted among the Seven Wonders of the World.

Your guide shows you the walls, the courtyard, and the keep, and you can climb to the upper levels for views over the harbor, the fishing boats, and the long sweep of the Corniche. It is one of the most photogenic places in Alexandria.

If your ship stays long enough, this is a good point to stop for a seafood lunch in the nearby Bahari quarter; meals are paid locally unless your quote includes them.

From Qaitbay, your driver follows the Corniche along the curve of the Eastern Harbor, past the old seafront buildings and the cafés of Raml, to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library opened in 2002 in memory of the ancient Library of Alexandria.

On most port days there is time for a photo stop outside the library, with its tilted disc roof and granite wall carved with scripts from around the world. If your all-aboard time allows and the library is open, your guide can arrange a short visit inside; it is usually closed on Fridays.

The Corniche is a good place to see everyday Alexandrian life, with families, fishermen, and couples along the sea wall.

Your driver takes you back to the port with a comfortable margin before your all-aboard time. Your guide accompanies you to the terminal and makes sure you are on your way back to the ship.

If you have shopping in mind, mention it during the day: your guide can suggest a stop for spices, sweets, or souvenirs on the way back, as long as time allows.

Alexandria traffic can be unpredictable, which is why the margin is planned in from the start. If anything changes during the day, your guide will tell you and adjust the program to keep the return time safe.