Nile Cruises
in Egypt 3 Night/4 Day Nile Cruises 4 Night/5 Day Nile Cruises Radamis Cruises and other Nile cruise and tour packages What to know about a Nile Cruise |
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A
typical Luxury Nile Cruise boat is a floating, 5-star hotel, providing
most of the amenities of a normal 5-star hotel, including a relaxing sun deck
and swimming pool. All your meals are included, though beverages and bottled
water are extra. There is a large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic
beverages available at the bar, creations of innovative bar tenders. You will
have your own en-suite, air-conditioned cabin (we book upper deck cabins
wherever possible), and full use of all the boats facilities (restaurants,
ships, sun deck, swimming pool, etc)
We use several different 5 star cruise boats on the Nile, and we will inform you
exactly which boat we will use at the time of reservation, as the boats shuttle
back and forth on the Nile between Aswan and Luxor, with regular breaks for
cleaning and maintenance. However, we regularly inspect to ensure they are of
the same 5-star deluxe standard.
We send our own Egyptologist guides on board with you. This means that you do
the sightseeing tours either with your own private guide or with one of our
small groups and a guide that you know, rather than joining one of the large
parties with the rest of the people on the boat. Our guide is also at your
service during the cruise to help with any problems with your cabin, dietary
requirements at mealtimes, or just to sit and talk about Egypt with you,
answering any questions you may have
3
Night/4 Day Nile Cruises
4 Night/5
Day Nile Cruises
7Night/8 Day Nile
Cruises
Radamis
Cruises and other Nile cruise and tour packages
Nile cruises in Egypt on Ms Kontiki and Darakum - 3nights/4Day and 4nights/5day
Nile cruises in Egypt on HS Moondance - 3nights/4day and 4nights/5day
Food on Board
Accommodation aboard the cruise boats is on full board basis. All meals are
included and are in an open buffet style, some days there are many varieties,
depending of the type and quality of the cruise boat; these meals are
served with a fixed timetable.
Tea and coffee is available, while on the move, every
day at 5:00 pm. Other drinks are offered in the bar area.
Entertainment
Discotheque,
Belly Dance Show, Captain's Welcome Cocktail Party, fancy Galabia Party and
Nubian Folkloric Show
Every day there is a full entertainment program, which
differs from one boat to the other. On most cruise trips that I have conducted,
the first day is usually a cocktail party, run by the boat, where they offer
free drinks and introduce the staff on board. This party is also called “the
manager’s party”, where the manager introduces his crew to the guests on
board; don’t forget to wear formal clothes during this party!
Another night there is a “Galabia party” or long
dress party, where you will be encouraged to get Egyptian outfits and wear the
local Galabia. During such parties, some games are conducted; the tour guides on
board run the party, which offers much fun!! To buy a Galabia will cost you
around 50 LE, but if you do not wish to buy one, you can hire one from the
bazaar shop located on board.
Another night will have a Nubian show, where you will
see Nubian dancers and singers in their local outfit.
The last evening’s entertainment is usually has: a
belly dancing show, a juggler’s show, and local singers and bands.
There are many bazaars outside the Temples that you
will be visit during your cruise. Don’t forget to haggle hard!
Dress Code:
During the daytime, while enjoying the tours, you can wear whatever you like,
though due to the extreme heat it is recommended you wear lightweight clothes. While
relaxing on board you may wear shorts and swimming costumes, if you wish.
Breakfast and lunch can be taken dressed like this, but for dinner, please
wear smarter clothes!
How to pay your Extras:
All extras such as drink, laundry, and telephones bills, should be settled on
the last day of your cruise at check out time. Payment can be made
with credit cards, traveller’s cheque, or cash. Make sure you have enough
cash, just in case your card is not working properly.
Please note: Many cruise boats do not accept personal
cheques or money orders!
Tipping:
Don’t forget to leave tips for the cruise staff, not
less than $3 PER PERSON PER DAY!
These tips should be given to the boat, place them in a
an envelope and hand it to the reception. After all the groups have checked
out, the cruise manager, together with the accountant and the
reception, will open all the envelopes and distribute the money to all of the
crew. This way each person will get his fair share.
Please Note: this does not include tips to your Tour
Guide, this is separate, and it is entirely up to you to decide the size of tip that you will give to
him/her.
Taxes & Gratuities:
12% Service Charge, 5% Sales Tax and 2% City Tax.
Check-In/Out:
Check-in 12:00 p.m.
Check-out 08:00 a.m.
Clothing:
During the daytime, while enjoying the tours, you can wear whatever you like,
though due to the extreme heat it is recommended you wear lightweight clothes. While
relaxing on board you may wear shorts and swimming costumes, if you wish. But
beware of too much exposure to the sun! Apply plenty of high factor sun block!
§
You should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol especially if you have
equilibrium problems. You are not just putting yourself at peril, but also the
other guests and staff too.
§
People with equilibrium problems should not spend too much time on deck
at night, on a fast moving ship; it is dangerous in case you fall over.
§
Smoking in bed is dangerous; the mattresses are very flammable!
§
People who tend to sleep walk should never take a cabin with a balcony,
an inside cabin with a window would be far safer.
§
Make sure that you know where the muster stations are, in case you have
to abandon ship.
§
If you get sick whilst on board, some cruise boats have a resident doctor
on board. If not, they have doctors assigned in each town that can be called on
in case of emergency.
§
If you need some more heath and safety tips, please read my health page
to know more about health and safety on board a Nile cruise.
Useful tips:
§
For practical
reasons on the Nile, the cruise may be subject to slight alterations at short
notice while you are in Egypt.
§
Most sailing is
done during the day, but during some periods some sailing may be required after
dark
§
At busy periods
the boat may be required to wait for a short time to get through the lock on the
Nile at Esna
§
When moored,
several cruise boats may be required to moor alongside each other. This can
restrict views and require clients to cross several boats to reach the shore.
Assistance will be provided if required.
§
Esna lock is
closing for annual maintenance twice per year first time from 01st.
June until 15th, June, second time from 01st, December
until 15th December, therefore all the Nile Cruise stop behind the
lock and use a car to transfer you from Esna to Luxor to make the sightseeing in
Luxor
§
When
first checking in on the cruise boat, it is advisable to leave your valuables in
a safety deposit box. This will be available either in the reception, or a
private safe in your cabin.
§
If you
wish to buy any items from the shops on board, the opportunity for shopping is
generally limited due to the small size of these shops. But on the other hand
you will get plenty of time to check what you are buying, and haggle over the
price!
§
To call
home, most of the cruise boats offer telephone facilities on board, but the
quality is not as good as onshore.
§
I would
recommend visiting a bank, to change your money, before cruising, as most of the
cruise boats do not offer this facility and you will not get access to
onshore banks while you are cruising.