PatriciaF

25 minutes ago, nursiepooh said:

Thank you for the diary

we leave December 27, spending two nights in Munich then to Cario on the 30th

Ms Antares

this is great information 

Have a wonderful trip.  Our guide Amal, prefers the Antares to the Ra.  The staterooms are bigger, the public areas are bigger, and the crew is happier.

37 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

I have wanted to see Abu Simbal since I was in elementary school. How much do they charge for the tour?

I think we paid $389 per person

1 hour ago, Little Rascal said:

Darn!  We go in March 2020. I signed up for all the excursions except for Hot Air Balloon. ( I’ve done that before) Coptic tour, Light show and the market and dinner tour. Has anyone taken any of these except for balloon ride?  I am guessing I can add them while on board if I want right?  We had signed up for the light show but had heard it was not that great and we will be on the Abu Simbal tour that day so that’s a long day by itself. Any thoughts?  

We did the market and dinner tour..it was okay..but we were adjusted to the time as we had been in Jerusalem before arriving in Egypt.  Light show we didn’t do..most of the ship did go.  Good reviews by the people we talked to that went.  We do the Coptic tour tomorrow.  The only chance to add was before the dinner on the second night..everything paid for but the balloon that night.  Paid aboard ship for the balloon.  We didn’t leave for the airport until 730 am for Abu Simbel..butconcerned about the long day and the mixed reviews too.

@Little Rascal @Pamella271 The lab visits at the new not yet open Grand Egyptian Museum end in December  to help ensure everything is ready to go on 10/10/2020 the guaranteed opening date.

Next 4 days.

Note hotel departures on Friday range from 1100 pm to 415 am (Jordan)

3 more dailies

Laundry price list in Egyptian Pounds...approximately 16 to 1 USD

Now in Luxor on the Antares

  Beautiful, clean, ship.  While I do prefer the Scandinavian look, this ship is beautiful.  Our guide was do excited that that her favorite head chef was back on board.  We are in cabin 309.  See pictures. There is a minibar in the room and all beverages will be replenished every day 

4 hours ago, Little Rascal said:

Thank you Patricia.  Were you on the pre trip?  I noticed only one dinner was included.  Did you find any memorable restaurants?  So, tennis shoes or hiking type shoe for the Pyramids?  I really appreciate you providing these tips and the daily schedule.

 

Post #13 has the schedule for Jerusalem.  We came in 2 days early.  We ate at one local restaurant that specialized in soup in a walking area of mostly restaurants by Jaffe Rd, a cafe in Mamilla Mall, and the cafe at the King David.  

Two very busy days...unbelievable sights.  Wear closed toed shoes for the day at the pyramids..lots of walking, sand (not white beach sand, but large brown sand), and lots of people.

Below are the Viking Daily for the second full day in Cairo and departure day.

1 hour ago, Little Rascal said:

Looks wonderful!  Thanks for sharing with us. Did you buy your visa prior to arrival or did you buy it at the airport?  

We used the official Egypt Visa site for our visa.

Everyone in our group had their visa before arrival..10 Americans and 2 Australians

Up at 530 am for our flight to Cairo.  Luggage out by 615 am.  Dining room open for breakfast at 615 for us.  On the bus a little after 7.  Through security,  luggage drop, immigration and at the shopping area by 920.  Boarding at 1040, late take off.  But through airport and in our room by 230.  Below are pictures of our view, the room, and the Viking Daily for today and tomorrow. 

joined our VIKING group on Thursday.  Attached is the itinerary.  There are two long busy days with a half day free on the last full day.  Note on the second day, the Viking material says two to 3 miles of walking.  People in our group that had step trackers measured closer to 5 miles, lots of steps, and irregular surfaces.  Be prepared.  Our guide was excellent very knowledgeable and passionate about Israel and its history.

On Thanksgiving we went to Masada. Ein Gedi, and a quick stop at a beach at the Dead Sea.  Masada is amazing.  The rest was okay.  While the high in Jerusalem was 66, it was 85 in the Dead sea area.

Pictures of 3 Arches Hotel

@gnome12 thanks for the clarification.  
 

Are you going on this cruise too?

The Yum Ka Hotel as our driver from the airport called it is an interesting place.  Built in 1933 designed by the same architect as the Empire State Building has interesting architecture, good breakfast buffet, with cooked to order eggs and omelets.  We are doing an independent tour to Masada and the Dead Sea tomorrow.  Checking into the King David tomorrow.

Sitting in the family room awaiting our car service to LAX for our flight to Tel Aviv.  We are arriving two days early and staying across the street from the Hotel King David at the YMCA Three Arches Hotel--then moving across the street Thanksgiving Day.

If you have questions you would like answered, please let me know so I can make sure I get the info for you.

We are sailing with Viking but have enjoyed reading your trip report.  Similar but not identical itineraries.  We leave for the pre trip to Jerusalem 11/25..can’t wait.

@dogs4fun Thank you.  Will the taxi drivers take a credit card?

My travel agent assured me if we booked our own airfare, Viking would pick us up at the Tel Aviv Airport--which is true if you are flying in the same day as scheduled, but not before.

Any suggestions for a transfer?  Our flight doesn't land until 1100 PM or so.

Thanks!

On 8/14/2019 at 8:05 AM, zitsky said:

 

Do you take anything?  Meclizine, benadryl, etc?

I take one bonine before bedtime.  Although the pharmacist says that the generate meclizine is the something--it is not to me.  Puts me to sleep and I stay asleep--all 24 hours it is suppose to be effective.

On 5/31/2019 at 1:21 PM, CEV426 said:

Dear Viking Representative...

Can you confirm whether the Antares is owned and staffed by Viking?    I would expect everything to be the same as on other Viking vessels except for perhaps the decor.   And there is no Silver Spirits package available on the Egypt ships?

I'm not a Viking Representative--but I believe that the vast majority of the staff on board is Egyptian--from reading the reviews--just like Viking China.

On 10/5/2017 at 4:56 PM, Coffeeluvr05 said:

Suite breakfast in Sabatini's provides complimentary lattes and cappuccinos, etc. CC breakfast does not offer complimentary lattes and cappuccinos if that is what you are asking.

We received complimentary lattes and cappuccinos in CC dining for breakfast on our last Princess cruise--February 2019, Sapphire Princess.  

@meh56  I'm not Steve but live by LGB and try to fly out of there if possible but sometimes have to fly out of LAX.

SW shares its terminal, Terminal 1, with other airlines.  It has recently been remodeled and is nicer and has a better layout than it used to have.  It can be really busy in the morning during the work week but less so on the weekend.

It is the first terminal at LAX as you enter, which can be a blessing, because our last trip up there we were flying out of the Bradley International Terminal, which is at the middle--and it took 20 minutes to get from the entrance of the airport to the terminal!

There will be no free hotel shuttle at LAX for hotels in San Pedro--too far away.  You could spend the night at a hotel near LAX, but if you need wheel chair assistance, etc., you should probably just take Execucar to San Pedro and get reservations either at the Doubletree San Pedro or the Crowne Plaza San Pedro.

Pat