The Eugenie was proudly named to evoke an historic event in Egypt 's recent past: the grand opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, attended by the crown heads of Europe including the Empress Eugenie of France. The completion of the Suez Canal marked Egypt 's passage into modernity, and a new era of international trade and interaction. Likewise the Eugenie, the first ship to sail Lake Nasser , launched a new era of tourism, offering travelers fresh vistas of Egypt 's natural beauty and archeological treasures. Lake Nasser extended the boundaries of Egypt 's tourist possibilities, while the Eugenie reminds us of this ancient country's endless capacity for renewal.
|