Thoughts on Egypt, Israel

[travel grammy]

Any thoughts on the safety factor of this area of the world. I also notice the trip I'm looking at (Rome to Athens) stops in Syria several days after Israel. According to my research you cannot enter Syria if you have an Israeli stamp on your passport. Does anyone have any information? Thank you.

[Paulchili]

Any thoughts on the safety factor of this area of the world. I also notice the trip I'm looking at (Rome to Athens) stops in Syria several days after Israel. According to my research you cannot enter Syria if you have an Israeli stamp on your passport. Does anyone have any information? Thank you.

 

 

travel grammy,

Welcome to CC.

This is discussed extensively in another thread - consider doing a search (using your "search this forum" button on upper right side above posts on Oceania's home page here) on Syria, etc.

Israel does not put any stamps in your passport, so that will not be a problem. Cruise ships (and Israel) know how to handle this.

Enjoy your cruise.

PS If you cannot find it (it's good exercise for newbies to use the search button), here is the link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1247348&highlight=syria

[White Cat]

Hi,

Just returned from Oct. 4 cruise that included Syria, Egypt and Israel. About 400 of us chose to remain on board during the Syrian stop due to changes in a requirement for a Syrian visa for Americans. Ship staff indicated that Oceania did not plan to stop in Syria again, but I do not know if this was talk on board or a Corporate decision.

 

As indicated, this topic on Israeli stamps is heavily covered. For our trip, nothing was stamped in the passports and we used landing cards which were turned in upon leaving Israel. Security in Egypt was heavy, but everyone enjoyed the visit if not the long escorted bus ride to Cairo.

 

We were on back-to-backs and started in Istanbul where, unfortunately, there was just a terrorist bombing. This seems to be the nature of things so enjoy your cruise and the opportunity to see some amazing sights as the world may not change anytime soon.

[travel grammy]

Thank you for the link, Paul. All my questions were answered there.

[winegirl]

I'd love to visit Egypt sometime, but it's been futile convincing my Jewish spouse. He says he'd feel like he has a target on his head. Hopefully the climate may change over there, but I'm not expecting it in my lifetime.

[Paulchili]

I'd love to visit Egypt sometime, but it's been futile convincing my Jewish spouse. He says he'd feel like he has a target on his head. Hopefully the climate may change over there, but I'm not expecting it in my lifetime.

 

It's definitely more in his imagination than a reality.

I am sure many thousands of Jewish people visit Egypt annually without a problem.

One can encounter those types of problems anywhere (London, Madrid, Mumbai bombings come to mind). If I kept that frame of mind, I would never travel anywhere - fortunately, I do not.

Egypt is well worth visiting!

PS I would not hold out for "the climate changing there" anytime soon - maybe JMO.

[raffeer]

I spent a summer there just prior to the '72 war (Yom Kippur War). In those days you had to register at the police station so you could get your passport back (taken at hotel registration). The form one filled out asked for your religion. I told them I was Amish.

Shortly thereafter I shared a cab with an American gentleman; there were VERY few Yanks in there at the time. In conversation he proudly told me he was the only Jewish tourist in Egypt. I advised him he was wrong.

I figure my ancestors helped build the pyramids. I'm entitled to see their work.

It is an incredible country. There is so much history to see.

[zula]

Hi,

 

I'm a European that has visited Egypt several times (cruises on the nile, Cairo, Alexandria, Taba,...), I'm not muslim. No one ever asked me about my religion. They still have kopt Christians living in Cairo (they own a lot of the properties). I can say that there are always a lot of army/security people around hotels, monuments,... But tourism is big in Egypt and everyone is just trying to make a living. It is a wunderful (but poor) country, definitely worth a visit. I think that as long as you keep your religion private, you will have no problem.

[zula]

Hi,

 

I forgot to mention something, the first time I took a cruise on the nile I was struck by the image of churches (cross on the tower being very visible) being so near to a mosque in some of the villages we passed with the boat. I even took some pictures to show a familymember who lived in a Muslim country where this was not done. Also in Aswan they had a new big church build which can be seen from far. I know these are not jewish symbols but I think as long as you keep your faith private you should be OK.

Regards,

Sonja

[LAexNY]

We just returned from the Ancient Legacies cruise.

We did not disembark in Syria and I would guess a majority of passengers did not. Coincidentally, there was a vicious thunder and lightning storm that day.

We did spend two days in Egypt, including overnight at the Pyramids. We found the country extremely dirty, although the sights were excellent. Although we were very careful and stayed at a five star hotel, we each came down with travelers' diarrhea and E coli infections. In fact, Ms. LAexNY was treated with IV antibiotics by the ship's doctor and received excellent care.

We were never asked our religion. We had a private guide and at our request we visited the synagogue in Alexandria which was very impressive. It is well-maintained and protected. It is used once a year when many former Egyptian Jews return to Egypt for worship. I believe there is an agreement between the Egyptian and Israeli governments which allows for this.

[rheasue38]

Hi!

We were also on the Oct. 4th cruise! Yes, Egypt is a dirty country but the sights are amazing!! It is definitely worth the trip! In Egypt, we took two ship's tours. One of the tours included lunch. We were taken to the Meredien for lunch. We were so impressed with this beautiful hotel and felt well after we had eaten!

As a Jew and an American, I felt uncomfortable visiting Syria. It was so strange that the heavens opened up with terrible rain during the Syrian tours and that the sun came out as soon as the tours ended! I have a feeling that there was a message there!

Rhea

[LHT28]

Although we were very careful and stayed at a five star hotel, we each came down with travelers' diarrhea and E coli infections. In fact, Ms. LAexNY was treated with IV antibiotics by the ship's doctor and received excellent care.

.

I hope you are both doing better now ...it can take a while to get over E-coli infections

 

Say HI to Laura for us

Lyn & Mike

[Paulchili]

As a Jew and an American, I felt uncomfortable visiting Syria. It was so strange that the heavens opened up with terrible rain during the Syrian tours and that the sun came out as soon as the tours ended! I have a feeling that there was a message there!

Rhea

 

Maybe, maybe not. It depends on how religious you are ;).

When we were in Syria we took a ship's tour to Damascus and it was an amazing tour. One of the most surprising things was that most people on the streets smiled at us and greeted us (often in English), even though we were obviously an American/English group - no apparent animosity. Expecting to be uncomfortable - instead I felt welcomed.

[Queenk2]

We stopped in both Isreal and Egypt on our cruise last summer. Indeed Cairo is a filthy city, however we really enjoyed our overnight stay at the Oberoi.The pyramids were worth the dirt! We also overnighted in Isreal.When disembarked the ship, our tour[private], had a security escort into Cairo and frankly we never felt unsafe.Go and enjoy, you will not be disappointed.