Port of Safaga, Egypt - Luxor question

[Starboardhome]

Anybody have experience of Cunard excursion to Luxor from port of Safaga? If so, any input would be appreciated. 

[lissie]

2 hours ago, Starboardhome said:

Anybody have experience of Cunard excursion to Luxor from port of Safaga? If so, any input would be appreciated. 

We are booked on it - there is really no practical way to get to Luxor - it’s at least 2 hours maybe more to the town - and the road has issues with security - I wouldn’t risk a non Cunard excursion for this -. We are not impressed with lunch at a fancy hotel May do our own thing at that time depending on where we actually are.

 

no one will hve actual expenses as they haven’t done this route since covid

[roscoe39]

On 9/18/2022 at 3:03 AM, Starboardhome said:

Anybody have experience of Cunard excursion to Luxor from port of Safaga? If so, any input would be appreciated. 

Hi , Ive done two excursions over the years to Luxor from Safaga, one was an overnight , the other was a day trip. The day trip was horrendously long from memory, about 15 hours, its quite a drive through the desert. The security issues are more to do with a money earner for the police rather than actual danger - I find the American media overflow issues in Egypt and the Middle East but I still would not attempt it on your own.

 

Its the most amazing country and peoples on earth, you must go. I would book early to avoid missing out....(as the travel agents say)

Edited September 18, 2022 by roscoe39

[roscoe39]

On 9/18/2022 at 5:27 AM, lissie said:

We are booked on it - there is really no practical way to get to Luxor - it’s at least 2 hours maybe more to the town - and the road has issues with security - I wouldn’t risk a non Cunard excursion for this -. We are not impressed with lunch at a fancy hotel May do our own thing at that time depending on where we actually are.

 

no one will hve actual expenses as they haven’t done this route since covid

Hi lissie, I agree with what you say about the lunch, the last time we did it-  lunch was at the Movenpic which unfortunately was a bit out of town along the conrishe and amongst the other 4 and 5 star hotels and there was little to do in the immediate vicinity. Although we did grab a carriage ride and have a harassing but hilarious drive around town. If memory serves me correctly the bus left without us but I knew where it was going next and we caught it up there .....much to the consternation of the Cunard rep who had not counted the numbers correctly and realised we were missing.....or maybe it was on purpose....I never really worked that out!!

 

If you like I can look up my diaries and give you a run down of what and where the excursions went then if you give me the name of the excursion.

Edited September 18, 2022 by roscoe39

[Starboardhome]

Thank you both for your response - much appreciated.   I was concerned that a 1 day tour, with 6 hours round trip coach journey would be  insufficient to see enough  of Luxor, however,  your  comments are most helpful. Thanks again and best regards. 

[Solent Richard]

On 9/17/2022 at 4:03 PM, Starboardhome said:

Anybody have experience of Cunard excursion to Luxor from port of Safaga? If so, any input would be appreciated. 

Not with Cunard but we took the opportunity to go private and it turned out to be a worthwhile day. We had visited Luxor previously by river cruise but that was before digital photography.

 

As @roscoe39 says, the security issues are more to do with a local police money earner - in as much as you generally set off in a convoy with police escort. 

 

Anyway, I wrote a review of our day on my cruise blog, here is the link if you are interested...

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2013/12/03/one-way-to-do-luxor-from-safaga/

 

There were many passengers who'd arranged a private excursion in of course to those who chose to go with the ship. There is plenty of choice quayside...

 

 

As always the great joy of going private is you can tailor your day and see spectacles that do not always feature on the mass tours...

 

 

 

 

[Starboardhome]

Thank you. Very helpful and full of useful information. Your blog is really impressive and provides an excellent overview of many of the world’s major cruise destinations. I have bookmarked it for future reference and will be sure to visit frequently!

[curious traveler 5]

hi lissie - I've booked the Luxor shore excursion as well. Like you, I wouldn't risk a non-Cunard excursion for this. I'm really looking forward to it - this stop is the sole reason I booked this cruise. Thanks to everyone for the helpful hints! 

 

Any advice about what it's like touring through the tombs? Thanks again for sharing your experiences. 

[roscoe39]

7 hours ago, curious traveler 5 said:

hi lissie - I've booked the Luxor shore excursion as well. Like you, I wouldn't risk a non-Cunard excursion for this. I'm really looking forward to it - this stop is the sole reason I booked this cruise. Thanks to everyone for the helpful hints! 

 

Any advice about what it's like touring through the tombs? Thanks again for sharing your experiences. 

Tit No.1 when you go to the valley of the kings - skip the tomb of  Tutankhamun and make for the other tombs. Most people will line up to see it and the waiting time will be at least an hour or two and you will not have time to do any of the others. There is little left inside the tomb anyway  and by the time you get there even his mummy will be gone.

The other tombs will have few tourists in them and if you strike it lucky you may be the only people inside making for a unique experience.

[lissie]

On 9/19/2022 at 12:32 AM, roscoe39 said:

Hi lissie, I agree with what you say about the lunch, the last time we did it-  lunch was at the Movenpic which unfortunately was a bit out of town along the conrishe and amongst the other 4 and 5 star hotels and there was little to do in the immediate vicinity. Although we did grab a carriage ride and have a harassing but hilarious drive around town. If memory serves me correctly the bus left without us but I knew where it was going next and we caught it up there .....much to the consternation of the Cunard rep who had not counted the numbers correctly and realised we were missing.....or maybe it was on purpose....I never really worked that out!!

 

If you like I can look up my diaries and give you a run down of what and where the excursions went then if you give me the name of the excursion.

Thanks Roscoe! 

 

Oops re the rep - he'd have been in trouble - this is the description we have from Cunard 

 

Safaga > The Temple of Karnak > Buffet lunch at a leading hotel > Drive across the Nile to the Valley of the Kings > Statues of Amenophis III, known as the Colossi of Memnon (photo stop) >  Temple of Luxor (photo stop) > Safaga 

 

 

Local guide, Egyptologists

Buffet lunch with soft drink, mineral water or coffee/tea at a leading hotel

Snack pack

Photo opportunites

[curious traveler 5]

thanks Roscoe - good advice, and yes, I knew that Tut's tomb is mostly empty now. A great portion of the finds in the Valley of the Kings have been moved to the new museum. 

 

I really appreciate everyone's tips and feedback - super helpful!

Edited September 22, 2022 by curious traveler 5
typo

[roscoe39]

19 hours ago, lissie said:

 

 

14 hours ago, curious traveler 5 said:

 

If you or anyone else is interested, I have copied my diary entry over to my blog site from the tour you are looking at url here

 

https://roscoesseafever.blogspot.com/2022/09/diary-entry-egypt-7-april-2008.html

 

it was in 2008 but Im pretty sure not much will have changed...Egypt is a bit like that!

Edited September 23, 2022 by roscoe39

[curious traveler 5]

fantastic post - thanks for sharing. What an adventure. Thanks Roscoe!

[techteach]

@roscoe39 What an adventure you had in Egypt!

[roscoe39]

4 hours ago, techteach said:

@roscoe39 What an adventure you had in Egypt!

you think that was bad, there was always the time we got arrested in port said and spent some time in jail while we were on our own excursion!

 

https://roscoesseafever.blogspot.com/2015/02/blanche-and-muriel-do-egypt-on-their-own.html

 

travelling with me can be....interesting

 

Edited September 24, 2022 by roscoe39

[techteach]

@roscoe39 I read your adventures with a dropped jaw. When does your book come out?

[roscoe39]

8 hours ago, techteach said:

@roscoe39 I read your adventures with a dropped jaw. When does your book come out?

well....as it happens....

 

you might be interested in

 

http://exitviathegiftshop.blogspot.com/

 

which if you flick right back to the beginning is the 2016 world cruise of the QV which was later edited and  published (self) for family when I returned...

[curious traveler 5]

2 hours ago, roscoe39 said:

well....as it happens....

 

you might be interested in

 

http://exitviathegiftshop.blogspot.com/

 

which if you flick right back to the beginning is the 2016 world cruise of the QV which was later edited and  published (self) for family when I returned...

wonderful adventures you've shared - wow. 

 

Quick question - do you have any experience with the wifi on board the Queen Elizabeth? I've been warned that it's "iffy" and to not bother getting the wifi package. If you, or anyone else here, has used the wifi can you share if it's any good and is it worth getting? Thanks!

[roscoe39]

59 minutes ago, curious traveler 5 said:

wonderful adventures you've shared - wow. 

 

Quick question - do you have any experience with the wifi on board the Queen Elizabeth? I've been warned that it's "iffy" and to not bother getting the wifi package. If you, or anyone else here, has used the wifi can you share if it's any good and is it worth getting? Thanks!

sorry can only comment on the QV in recent years..

[curious traveler 5]

1 minute ago, roscoe39 said:

sorry can only comment on the QV in recent years..

was it any good? I'd guess that they have the same kind of service on all the Queens. Thanks again! 

[roscoe39]

1 hour ago, curious traveler 5 said:

was it any good? I'd guess that they have the same kind of service on all the Queens. Thanks again! 

I havnt been on her since South America and covid in 2020 and it has been changed since then. I have never had problems with it in the past and it has usually served my needs. Of course, its all relative with what you are trying to do on it.

[Victoria2]

17 hours ago, techteach said:

@roscoe39 I read your adventures with a dropped jaw. When does your book come out?

Roscoe's 'adventures', land and sea, along with safarigal's blogs [again, any time any place]  are probably the best blogs going and I love reading them both. To be thoroughly recommended.

[Victoria2]

6 hours ago, curious traveler 5 said:

was it any good? I'd guess that they have the same kind of service on all the Queens. Thanks again! 

If the wi fi is the same on all three Queens, then my experience a few weeks ago on QV is that it can be contrary due to various reasons [one day we were without it for a good portion of the day], but the basic package worked for us most of the time. It was certainly worth purchasing one package for the pair of us to use, not at the same time, on our two devices.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Victoria2

[curious traveler 5]

13 hours ago, roscoe39 said:

13 hours ago, roscoe39 said:

I havnt been on her since South America and covid in 2020 and it has been changed since then. I have never had problems with it in the past and it has usually served my needs. Of course, its all relative with what you are trying to do on it.

 

8 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

If the wi fi is the same on all three Queens, then my experience a few weeks ago on QV is that it can be contrary due to various reasons [one day we were without it for a good portion of the day], but the basic package worked for us most of the time. It was certainly worth purchasing one package for the pair of us to use, not at the same time, on our two devices.

thanks much, both! 

 

[lissie]

On 9/26/2022 at 1:47 AM, curious traveler 5 said:

wonderful adventures you've shared - wow. 

 

Quick question - do you have any experience with the wifi on board the Queen Elizabeth? I've been warned that it's "iffy" and to not bother getting the wifi package. If you, or anyone else here, has used the wifi can you share if it's any good and is it worth getting? Thanks!

It was unusable from SF to Cadiz in July/August - as in - you couldn't download your emails unusable!  Forget about loading a website.  Once we got to the Med - and the last week around Spain and Italy - it was useable - slow but OK. 

 

Call my cynical but I suspect that on the   relocation to Australia it will be bad once we leave the Med - maybe OK when we get ot Australia. The middle east is an expensive place to get any sort of connection on roaming and my impression was that Cunard was  paying as little as possible for their connection