NCL or Costa...

[Anne76]

For a romantic cruise in september this year? It's our 5th wedding anniversary (and I turn 30 the same month...:eek: )

 

The only thing we really want is to see those pyramids in Egypt:D !

 

Thanks for your help!!!

[wwinfl91]

It looks like both Costa and NCL do cruises in September that go to Cario. NCL's Jewel stays there almost two full days, 7 Am one day until 6 PM the next day. This would give you more time to see both the Pyramids and some other sights. Costa's cruises only stay there one day from 8 AM until 9 PM. We haven't done an NCL cruise but we have been on Costa's Atlantica. We enjoyed the cruise. It was our first exposure to a balcony cabin and although we were a little disappointed they didn't serve more authenic Italian food we enjoyed the cruise. We have heard that Costa's Med cruises serve more european type meals.

 

Good luck on being able to take any of these cruises as they all seem to go to very interesting and historic places. NCL's cruise which starts in Istanbul which is really an interesting place to see and ends in Athens where you don't want to miss seeing the Parthenon. MSC cruises also does a cruise from Genoa that goes to Cario. You might want to check them out also.

 

Have a great next cruise.

[PurpleCow]

Why not do a Nile River cruise? Several group tour agencies offer them.

[bbuchanan]

Costa vs. NCL will be different in Europe over the Caribbean.

 

The majority of Costa's passengers are US in the Caribbean. In Europe, US will represent 10% to 15% of the total. All shipboard announcements will be multi lingual in the order of passenger counts on board. Life boat drills are interesting. Entertainment will differ slightly from that on other lines. Due to language barriers, you probably won't have a comedian!! There will be a higher number of smokers on board.

 

We sailed Costa's Mediterranea last April in the Caribbean and were pleasantly surprised. They surpassed our expectations, but the experience, I think, will be different in Europe.

 

In May of 1996, sailed the Island Princess' Holy Land fourteen night itinerary from Athens to Rome. Great itinerary with several overnights; Turkey, Egypt, Israel and Athens.

 

Maybe it helps to know that the motor coach transfer into Cairo from either the port of Alexandria or Port Siad is approximately three hours. So, if you only have one day, you will spend a total of six hours on a bus.

 

Princess offered an overnight tour option in Cairo. We disembarked in Alexandria, toured the Step Pyramid at Seqarra, the Pyramids and Sphinx at Gaza and then returned to Gaza later that evening for a laser sound and light show before going to a hotel for our evening meal and the night. The Intercontinental on the Nile! The next morning we toured the Antiquities Museum on the floor housing all the discoveries from King Tut's tomb before heading north along the Suez Canal and reboarding the ship in Port Siad.

 

We have fond memories of the trip and never regretted dipping into our children's inheritance :D , taking it. A once in a lifetime opportunity. Don't think cruise ships will go back to Israel in my lifetime.......so glad we did it. Hope this information helps with your decision process!

[CateW]

I've cruised NCL some years ago not Costa - I would view the reviews and take them into consideration before making a decision. It's all subjective anyway but it will give you some idea what to expect.