Nile Cruises

[Godders78]

We have a Nile cruise booked this Nov 20. Just wondered if anyone else out there has and if there is any news of go ahead or cancellation 

[Daisi]

November is quite a bit away, you would be best to keep an eye on the cruise line website.  You don't say which line you are sailing on.  Some lines are cancelling 2-3 months in advance, some are only cancelling 1-2 months in advance.

[steamboats]

A German river cruise company doesn´t offer any Nile river cruises until the end of September so far. But actually I haven´t heard much about Egypt.

 

steamboats

[franski]

I was actually on a webinar last week about Egypt - where an Egyptologist talked about Covid, and how it has affected travel in the country.   It sounds as if things are starting to open up there - and they are starting to welcome tourists in (depending, of course, on where you are from...).

 

Fran

[beach bunnie]

I don't know who you're cruising with but all Viking Nile cruises were cancelled for the rest of 2020.  Ours was to be end of December.

[Godders78]

On the Tulip with Discover Egypt. 

 

[Daisi]

I don't think I have ever seen that company mentioned here. Your best bet, if you have a TA is to go through them to find out if they are still running.  If you don't you may have to contact the company.  I would suggest doing so a couple of weeks before you have to put down your final payment, so if they are still going ahead, you will know. 

 

Good luck, and if you do get to go, please come back and let us know how it was.

[franski]

2 hours ago, Godders78 said:

On the Tulip with Discover Egypt. 

 

 You will love the Nile... how long is your sailing??  Are you doing a 3, 4 or 7 night cruise?

 

Fran

[Godders78]

We have 3 days in Cairo, fly to Luxor then a 7 day cruise

[franski]

20 hours ago, Godders78 said:

We have 3 days in Cairo, fly to Luxor then a 7 day cruise

That will be an awesome trip --> hopefully this November, but if not - in the future when it is safe(r) to travel.

 

We did almost the same trip (but our extra days in Cairo were at the end of the 7 night cruise...) in late January this year.  The stops/sights are pretty much the same - whoever you travel with.  Certainly a trip of a lifetime...

 

Here's hoping you can go as planned.... Enjoy!!

 

Fran

[Catboatcouple]

On 7/15/2020 at 2:51 PM, franski said:

 You will love the Nile... how long is your sailing??  Are you doing a 3, 4 or 7 night cruise?

 

Fran

Fran,

Have you sailed the Nile?  This who?  what side of the ship is better to be on?  What would you have done differently?

We are looking at either Vantage or Viking for Oct 2022 and adding both a pre and post trip (Jerusalem and Petra)....total trip is 25 days with Vantage...I think it's shorter than and might only have one....

 

Kate

[franski]

On 11/13/2020 at 1:57 PM, Catboatcouple said:

Fran,

Have you sailed the Nile?  This who?  what side of the ship is better to be on?  What would you have done differently?

We are looking at either Vantage or Viking for Oct 2022 and adding both a pre and post trip (Jerusalem and Petra)....total trip is 25 days with Vantage...I think it's shorter than and might only have one....

 

Kate

Hi Kate -

 

We did sail the Nile.  Our trip was an escorted trip - arranged by a company in Toronto.  We then went on to Israel, and finished in Jordan.  Our trip was 23 days in total.   I don't think any side of the boat is better than another - but then, I don't look at any particular side when I book a river cruise.

 

We had 7 nights on the Nile - and I was very glad we did that.  We sailed round trip Luxor.  Many (? most) do 3 or 4 nights.  While the stops are the same, I think it would be *VERY* busy if you did the cruise one way and had all the excursions jammed into a shorter time frame.  We paid extra to go to Abu Simbel - a great trip. 

 

In Cairo, we saw the usual things (pyramids, museum etc...) - but also went to Garbage City.  It was an amazing excursion - and so worth it.  If it isn't an option with your trip, see if you can arrange it on your own. 

 

In Israel, we did get to Jerusalem and Bethlehem - but it felt a bit scary when we were in Bethlehem.  We returned to Jerusalem a bit earlier than anticipated as there were some demonstrations, and we didn't want to hang around with the tear gas being deployed.

 

In Jordan, Petra is the big draw, of course...  If possible, I would look for a tour that spends 2 nights there.  You need a full day in Petra (it is about 10 km round trip walk to get into the "village" - the Treasury is only about half way in...).  It is best to get there early - so staying right in Petra the night before & after the visit is good.  BTW, you might find the book "Married to a Bedouin" interesting. 

 

We spent a couple of days at the Dead Sea - that is also worth a visit.  We did the mud bath, and salt scrub on the shore.  My skin was wonderful after!!

 

If you have other questions, ask away!!

 

Fran 

[JVilleGal]

I think the Viking Nile trip is going to be a trip for 2023 - January. Need to really check out the weather situation looking for 70’s and not 100’s f .... 

[F19810]

Booked for Nov 2021 and praying that I can go.

Judy

[Tsunami74]

5 hours ago, JVilleGal said:

I think the Viking Nile trip is going to be a trip for 2023 - January. Need to really check out the weather situation looking for 70’s and not 100’s f .... 

We went on an excellent Uniworld Nile trip in January 2018.  Often it was quite cold and windy!  Actually dug my winter coat out of my suitcase.

[JVilleGal]

On 12/26/2020 at 2:54 PM, JVilleGal said:

I think the Viking Nile trip is going to be a trip for 2023 - January. Need to really check out the weather situation looking for 70’s and not 100’s f .... 

We booked and decided on March 2023 on the Viking Ra with both Pre & Post Excursions. Excited but this is 2+ yrs away 😞