Anybody done a nile cruise.? NB.

[oldgit]

Thought best to post on this forum as being mainly composed of discerning sophisticated travellers of style and substance.
If ever need low down on a caravanning fortnight in East Anglia or two weeks in some sort of B&B hell near Morecombe will post on Shufflebutt.
Thanks in advance.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Well I have done a cruise on the Nile from Cairo, but only a half day effort.

Most memorable bits were a tremendous buffet and then stepping outside to see a crew member "washing" all the plates and cutlery with a filthy rag and an even greyer bucket of Nile water. And yes it was the same bucket for the lot.

Several of our party were so ill we were on the verge of having an air ambulance! But don't let that put you off, I survived unscathed, if I hadn't seen that bucket I would have loved every minute of it.

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[DIW]

Friends 'did' the Nile trip similar story to other post I'm afraid, my mate was ill (seriously) for 4 days, picked up some sort of bug from the paper money according to the Medic. But don't let that put you off!
Ian

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[boatone]

Yep...done 7 day cruise luxor -aswan and back twice........did have bit dicky tum but didnt die and thought one of best hols ever had....but then I'm more of a sad git than an oldgit......let me know if u want more info....

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[Kevin]

have done a short cruise and it was great for losing weight- no way was i going to eat anything onboard and stuck to bottled water.

fanatstic time though.

kevin



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[BrendanS]

Did you get shot at? Was a bit of a problem several years ago

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[PhilF]

yup, done that, down to abu simbul (bad spelling) from aswan I think.
Best sights in the world, but food was crap, hygene not much better and
was ill for 2 weeks and more after we got back, shame, cause the history is mega. Pyramids are fantastic, but Cairo....... whatever happened to the most civilised place on earth
PhilF


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[longjohnsilver]

Well it's probably worse now than it was 3000 years ago!! Is there anywhere else on the planet that can make the same sad claim?

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[Kevin]

i would have thought most of the sites where UK towns and cities now sit.

kevin

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[Dave2]

Hi Oldgit, I have not done the cruise but I live in the area and know many people who have done it. Most did the Aswan-Abu Simbel cruise with a few out of Luxor. All found it extremely interesting/relaxing with the exception (as most have stated) that you will almost certainly be guaranteed a stomach bug to take home with you. This is standard for all Egypt and is not limited to the cruise boats. Bottled water is essential but limiting yourself to this or what comes out of a bottle/can will not save you from a bad tummy. (Immodium is available in Egypt!) It is a fascinating piece of the world, the history is amazing. At times, you will tear your hair out at the lack of service as the Egyptian culture generally is one of "blase-edness" (sorry, trying to find the right word but made one up instead). There are a few cruise companies to choose from. The Movenpick cruising hotel has a decent reputation. As well as doing Aswan/Abu Simbel, a quick stop in Luxor to view the Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings is worthwhile. I think there are charters direct to Luxor from the UK. Doing that would at least cut out one or two Egyptair domestic sectors! E-mail me if you would like any further local info on Egypt.

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[Dave1258]

Gold Jewellery is cheap to buy there, (should please the swmbo!) a small plastic bag is a must to carry in your pocket to put the currency in, they dont seem to print new money too often and it stained my trousers!
Regards Dave.


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[sailbadthesinner]

been there done it
have to say was dreading it
the history was fascinating
went in march that is about latest i would go otherwise it gets really too hot

the food we had was fine
but did hear some stories
we were on a new boat built in hull
one couple on the plane back had chosen an lovely old boat circa agatha christie death on the nile era. every passanger had dysentry by second day and only 4 of them actually got to see anything other than the bog
take loo roll and wet wipes in your rucsac so you can wash hands
make sure bottled water has a seal entact on it

one old explorer used to drink from puddles outside his home for two weeks before heading of into the unknown to boost his immune system you could try trhat

other than take lots of pens and other cheap stuff to give to kids
old arab saying 'no is the start of negotiations'
so if you mean nothankyou hold you right hand to your heart when you say 'La Shocran' that means you mean no

one fascintaing thing for was the fact that they never used headlights unless passing each other
is there some sort of shortage of this specific car part????

Abu simbal ( spelling gone sorry) is not worth the effort to my mind unless you fly




<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.

 

[PhilF]

gotta disagree re Abu Simbal
Approaching it by boat is a fantastic sight, the mere scale of it all is awe inspiring.
A camel ride is a must, very funny

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[sailbadthesinner]

Re: abu simbal

a few people have said that to me
it think i was a bit ' templed out ' by then and just wanted a day of peace on the boat rather than another really long hard early start
i was not in the best of humours

on another point the most hilarious thing i found was all these elderly people who were carted to the departure gate in carts by staff
then raced around egypt in 90 degrees heat and always beat me to the coach and tutted loudly whenever i was last on

the minute we returned to uk air space they all became enfeebled again and hit the stewardess buttons demanding carts to carry them from the terminal to baggage retreival
these old coots who had been racing through the valley of the kings could suddenly no longer put one foot in front of the other
and as for eating
you should have seen them on the boat. it was like a lion kill on the serengeti
all fangs and growls if you got in their way
made me chuckle

<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.

 

[oldgit]

Re: eek...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now thinking twice about this "adventure",as not into trying out exotic bowel movements for light relief on hols./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif
Really want to go but cripes !!!!.
From my limited research(looking at pictures)think I really want to see middle bit around Thebes.Will be going over Xmas.
The wife is at this moment reading at print out of this thread.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[ChrisE]

I\'ve just come back from a week on Lake Nassar

Not a cruise as such, I spent a week living on a 16ft boat fishing for Nile perch, it is the second time I've been and have the following observations:

0. The quality of cruise liner that went past us when we were fishing varied tremendously from high class to barely seaworthy.
1. Stomach problems are a feature although this time, we stuck to bottled water and were OK (although, interestingly our local guide cadged our Immodium)
2. Keep to the shoulder months of Oct/Nov, March/April. Its too hot in the summer and too windy and cold in the winter.
3. The scenary, sites and sounds are fantastic. The landscape is truly awesome and the wildlife is prolific (everything from crocodiles to pelicans and jackals. Take your sextant as you won't have a better chance of seeing so many of the stars in a cloudless sky.
4. Locals are extremely helpful, I have toured both Aswan and Cairo and have been really impressed how friendly everybody is. Although, I'd agree with the earlier poster about a different level of service than you would expect in the UK (and that's saying something!)
5. Baksheesh rules, you will need a good stack of small change to pay for almost everything from opening doors to giving you loo paper in the airport toilets.
6. I'll be going back in 2006 for a third trip, I'm hooked on the place.

Chris

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[adarcy]

Re: Braver Man...

than me Gunga-Din OG

Well, let's say, I don't know ANYBODY who has been to Egypt without spending half of their time in or tied to the loo. On simple questioning as to whether they were particularly unlucky, they all said "no, everyone else in the hotel/on the boat was the same"

Me, interested in going but I'll wait a decade or so to see if things improve.

Life's too short for that sort of hassle

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