Egypt with Amawaterways -First time River Cruiser-Advice/Suggestions?

[cloudninecat]

I'm researching a 2026 Egypt river cruise with Amawaterways. We've never done a River Cruise before. We've always done ocean cruising. What would you tell a complete newbie? Have any of you done the tour? What did you like, dislike about it? I know that 2026 isn't out yet but I'm getting a head start as we usually book several years in advance, so I wanted to be ready with my questions/research when the time to book comes. Would you use an agent that the cruise line suggests or try and find one on your own? I usually book my ocean cruises on my own but don't feel comfortable doing that for this cruise. Any advice or insight you can give would be appreciated. TIA. 

[Haqdeluxe]

I've only been in Egypt on work travel but...

I personally wouldn't want to take a river cruise to this part of the world as my first river cruising experience. YMMV!

My recommendation would be a 7/8 day cruise on the Danube or Rhine to see how you like this type of travel. My 2 cents.

[CastleCritic]

Its going to be 2025 before I can give you firsthand knowledge of that particular cruise but.....

 

That's an odd one to pick as your very first cruise because its different in several ways from a European river cruise.  AMA doesn't even run the ships (wings Egypt does, its Egyptian law).  There is a YouTuber (tips for travelers, I think we can mention YouTube channels) who did it.  His only negative was noise near the bow due to how ships dock in Egypt(which again isn't an issue in Europe for a few reasons), other than that it was a stellar review of the ship and the excursions.

 

You can book straight with AMA if you want, of the 6 cruises Ive booked, only the first was booked through a travel agent.  But if you have one you work with by all means ask them to book it.  Theres no real difference in booking that cruise vs a European one you just call them and say "AMALilia March 30, 2026, cabin class A"  which is all the TA is going to do.  Theres no real use for ship credit or similar past alcoholic drinks, all the excursions (except one optional day excursion on that cruise that involves a flight to and from the site which Im told is a must do, and so I will) are already included.

 

For general "Ive never done a river cruise" and again from doing 5 AMA European cruises.

 

The ship is just there to be a hotel and place to eat for the most part

the day will be fairly rigidly scheduled most days.

8am eat

9am leave to go see something

back at 12

1pm eat

3pm leave to go see something

5pm back

7pm eat

(I dont think this one will apply and is rare even in Europe but)

9pm leave to go see something

 

EVERY day for a week.

 

Much like in Europe they will provide a guide for all the excursions who will .take you through everything.  I gather in Egypt that you will have the same guide/egyptologist every day

 

The food choices will be more limited on a river ship, you will have one restaurant to eat at (technically there are two on most AMA ships but the second is a very specific thing you do once a week) and while you wont have a firm seating time, there is one period where the restaurant will be open for each meal.  In Egypt apparently most of the meals are more buffet rather than table service, its just the. way its done in Egypt, in Europe its much more table service with some meals (like Breakfast) having a few self serve options.

 

There will usually be some kind of entertainment, usually a local musician or dancer or similar or just the ships musician playing piano in the lounge. But no actual shows water slides/bumper cars etc. There is a pool though.

 

For Egypt think about time of year, it gets HOT over there, I was originally supposed to go next June, but I was looking at 115 in Luxor.  They actually stop cruising for a few months in the middle of the summer because it just gets to that point.  But the prices will be cheaper in the hot months.  Now Im going in January 2025.

 

AMA has two ships, the AMADhalia which is a ship they rebuilt with Wings Egypt (in 2021 so its still fairly fresh) and the AMALilia which is being built and will come online next spring.  Any reviews you do find will be the older ship at this point.

 

If you've looked at the itinerary you probably already see that the first few days and the last night are in a land hotel in Cairo.

 

Edited August 5, 2023 by CastleCritic

[cloudninecat]

32 minutes ago, CastleCritic said:

Its going to be 2025 before I can give you firsthand knowledge of that particular cruise but.....

 

That's an odd one to pick as your very first cruise because its different in several ways from a European river cruise.  AMA doesn't even run the ships (wings Egypt does, its Egyptian law).  There is a YouTuber (tips for travelers, I think we can mention YouTube channels) who did it.  His only negative was noise near the bow due to how ships dock in Egypt(which again isn't an issue in Europe for a few reasons), other than that it was a stellar review of the ship and the excursions.

 

 

 

Thanks for the information. We picked this one to start because we know we would enjoy the destination as it's always fascinated myself and my husband. We don't feel comfortable booking Egypt our own though. We'd much rather have the structure. I don't really think that river cruising itself would be our preferred method of travel for European destinations. It may be the first and last one that we take unless we find another destination that we'd rather book this way. Or we get surprised and fall in love with it. I have seen the video you mentioned it's what actually spurred the interest. We were also looking to add a post excursion to Israel. We already have our 2023, 2024 and 2025 vacations booked which is why we're looking at 2026. I look forward to hearing about your adventure when you return. 

[CastleCritic]

14 minutes ago, cloudninecat said:

Thanks for the information. We picked this one to start because we know we would enjoy the destination as it's always fascinated myself and my husband. We don't feel comfortable booking Egypt our own though. We'd much rather have the structure. I don't really think that river cruising itself would be our preferred method of travel for European destinations. It may be the first and last one that we take unless we find another destination that we'd rather book this way. Or we get surprised and fall in love with it. I have seen the video you mentioned it's what actually spurred the interest. We were also looking to add a post excursion to Israel. We already have our 2023, 2024 and 2025 vacations booked which is why we're looking at 2026. I look forward to hearing about your adventure when you return. 

Sounds good. I don’t think they were having trouble filling the ship as is but they put Egypt on the cover and feature of this years “not Europe” cruise brochure which is what peaked my interest in it. (And my mothers who will go with me). There are definitely some good reasons to do an organized and secured tour in Egypt that don’t exist in Europe. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

I've been researching this myself and AMA is one of the trips on my comparison spreadsheet.  It is unusual in giving you 7 nights on the river ship (most are only 3-4 nts on the water even for 14-nt trips), but that is a double-edged sword because if you don't like the ship you'll be 'enjoying' it for a long time...  

 

I suggest you also look at Scenic.  They are all-inclusive but on this itinerary actually cheaper than AMA:

https://www.scenicusa.com/escorted-tours/egypt---jordan

 

Once you decide which cruise and date you want, email the cruise line to enquire when you will be able to book it.  AMA just opened up their 2025 dates, but I wouldn't wait until this time next year as you can get a jump by contacting them.  I recently did that with AMA (last month, enquiring when they would open their 2025 bookings) and got a reply from a new Travel Agency who is obviously one of their preferred ones.  He was able to book the trip and get me really good discounts.  [My cruise wasn't likely to sell out quickly, but there is only one cabin in the category I wanted so booking ahead of the public release was helpful – Egypt cruises tend to sell out quickly, so this advice applies to you.]

[cloudninecat]

19 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I've been researching this myself and AMA is one of the trips on my comparison spreadsheet.  It is unusual in giving you 7 nights on the river ship (most are only 3-4 nts on the water even for 14-nt trips), but that is a double-edged sword because if you don't like the ship you'll be 'enjoying' it for a long time...  

 

I suggest you also look at Scenic.  They are all-inclusive but on this itinerary actually cheaper than AMA:

https://www.scenicusa.com/escorted-tours/egypt---jordan

 

Once you decide which cruise and date you want, email the cruise line to enquire when you will be able to book it.  AMA just opened up their 2025 dates, but I wouldn't wait until this time next year as you can get a jump by contacting them.  I recently did that with AMA (last month, enquiring when they would open their 2025 bookings) and got a reply from a new Travel Agency who is obviously one of their preferred ones.  He was able to book the trip and get me really good discounts.  [My cruise wasn't likely to sell out quickly, but there is only one cabin in the category I wanted so booking ahead of the public release was helpful – Egypt cruises tend to sell out quickly, so this advice applies to you.]

I already spoke with AMA. They told me that the 2026 itineraries would release in the spring of next year. We're looking for a French Balcony so no worries of it selling out before we call. I'll have a look at that other line. We really were looking toward the longer trip though as this is a once in a lifetime trip and we wanted to get in as much as possible. It's for our 30th anniversary. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 minute ago, cloudninecat said:

I already spoke with AMA. They told me that the 2026 itineraries would release in the spring of next year. We're looking for a French Balcony so no worries of it selling out before we call. I'll have a look at that other line. We really were looking toward the longer trip though as this is a once in a lifetime trip and we wanted to get in as much as possible. It's for our 30th anniversary. 

Scenic's Treasures of Egypt itinerary is 12 nights (1 more than AMA) and includes all the same sites.  Only 4 nights on the Nile boat, but you get 2 nights each in hotels Luxor and Aswan and the trip to Abu Simbel is included (optional at extra cost on AMA).  They also have Egypt in Depth which is 14 nights and still cheaper than AMA.  [I'm looking at high-end cabins on both ships, so the basic cabin cost comparison may come out different.]

 

If you are not pressed for time, this is also a good opportunity to add a post-cruise excursion to Jordan for Petra.  Both AMA and Scenic offer this [Scenic actually has several itineraries combining Egypt and Jordan from 19-22 nights] 

[CDNPolar]

I will say this about river cruising in Egypt.  There may be exceptions to this but the cruise lines - in my understanding - don't own their Egypt river ships, they lease them.  There are over 400 river ships on the Nile.

 

We went with Uniworld on the Nile this past spring.  This is our first time on Uniworld.  We have always done Viking, but we went with Uniworld this time and our understanding was the Uniworld was at least Viking standard if not above.  

 

I was suitably disappointed in the ship.  Don't get me wrong it was not like ending up in a Super 8 motel after booking the Ritz Carlton, but it was not to the standard that I expected.  

 

The other River Cruises we have done with Viking in Europe - and just about to depart on another - top this ship 100 times.  

 

When you are at port, on a river ship you are often if not always docked next to many other river ships.  We had to a couple of times walk through the lobby of 3 or 4 other ships to get to ours.  None of these ships were any better than the one we were on.

 

Final statement.... Do the trip.  This was a trip of a lifetime to us and we are happy we did the river cruise.  The food was excellent, the Egyptologist / guide was amazing.

 

BUT, don't base the experience you will have on the ship as basis to do or not do any other river cruise.

[cloudninecat]

5 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

 

Final statement.... Do the trip.  This was a trip of a lifetime to us and we are happy we did the river cruise.  The food was excellent, the Egyptologist / guide was amazing.

 

BUT, don't base the experience you will have on the ship as basis to do or not do any other river cruise.

Thanks! That's the only reason we're considering it. Otherwise, we would be sticking with our ocean cruises, which we love. I'm not sure river cruising would be for us. It's the ocean that normal draws me and the ports are the icing. This is a special circumstance. Egypt has always been a fascination for both of us. It's some place I've always wanted to go but never thought I could. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

[CDNPolar]

Just now, cloudninecat said:

Thanks! That's the only reason we're considering it. Otherwise, we would be sticking with our ocean cruises, which we love. I'm not sure river cruising would be for us. It's the ocean that normal draws me and the ports are the icing. This is a special circumstance. Egypt has always been a fascination for both of us. It's some place I've always wanted to go but never thought I could. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

 

We will never regret our Uniworld Egypt trip.  It was brilliant to have the ship to return to each night.  We had friends do a more land based tour on busses between cities and hotels each day... not for us.

 

I get why you like Ocean, but don't discount River without trying a river cruise in Europe.  The ships are stunning - Viking is our experience - and in our opinion you get deeper into the culture of the country than you will on Ocean.

 

We are about to embark on Passage to Eastern Europe that starts in Romania, then to Serbia, then Croatia, then Bulgaria and ending in Hungary.

 

This cruise goes to many countries, but our favourite river cruise to date was Portugal's Rivers of Gold.  Such an amazing trip.

 

Take a look at our video of this trip:  

 

 

Also here is the link to our Egypt video:  

 

 

[cloudninecat]

Oh wow, thanks for the videos. I'm sure I'll love watching those when I get a few moments. I'm not totally blowing off river cruising. It was already on my bucket list of things to try, just not high up. We'll see how it goes. It's not as much about the ship as how we enjoy the atmosphere and pace of it. We're sort of foodies as well. We don't get to go out much at home, so we love to try new cuisines when we're on vacation. Even if that's just street food. Though I hear you should stay away from that in Egypt. 

[CDNPolar]

8 minutes ago, cloudninecat said:

Oh wow, thanks for the videos. I'm sure I'll love watching those when I get a few moments. I'm not totally blowing off river cruising. It was already on my bucket list of things to try, just not high up. We'll see how it goes. It's not as much about the ship as how we enjoy the atmosphere and pace of it. We're sort of foodies as well. We don't get to go out much at home, so we love to try new cuisines when we're on vacation. Even if that's just street food. Though I hear you should stay away from that in Egypt. 

 

The tour company that hosted us for Uniworld in Egypt met us at the airport.  On the bus to our first night in the hotel, we were warned very strongly, NOT to eat or drink outside of the hotel or off the ship.  Only water provided in bottles by the hotel or ship and never food on the street.  Their claim was hygiene was not there at all and that western stomachs were very weak in comparison.

 

70 of us on the ship and the tour together and two of us got sick only.

 

Our friend on second last day on the ship had to have doctor come to the ship she was so bad, and me the very careful one, got sick on the final day in the hotel in Cairo the day of the Pyramids.  I was so bad had to have doctor come to the hotel.  We were flying home next day but doc assured me the meds he was giving me would put me in shape to fly and they did.

 

Typical anti-diarrhea medication we use in North America will not work for Egypt stomach bugs.  Immodium (Loperamide) did nothing.  Nothing at all.

 

Yes, be careful.

 

Once you see the state of the streets and the food available, you will likely decide not to indulge anyway.

 

Not the cleanest cities I have ever been to - in fact they are the dirtiest cities I have traveled to yet.

[cloudninecat]

Very well done videos. Thanks so much. I enjoyed them very much. 

[CastleCritic]

Not the first Ive heard of "needing the Egyptian cure" for stomach issues, I think somewhere on the AMA site they even list the price for buying it from reception.

 

Obviously its something that is purchasable outside of Egypt but is it just unobtainable or requires a prescription.

Edited August 6, 2023 by CastleCritic

[CDNPolar]

19 hours ago, CastleCritic said:

Not the first Ive heard of "needing the Egyptian cure" for stomach issues, I think somewhere on the AMA site they even list the price for buying it from reception.

 

Obviously its something that is purchasable outside of Egypt but is it just unobtainable or requires a prescription.

 

My doctor visit - all done in the hotel room - included an IV with anti-spasmodics and then three prescription pills.

 

The main anti-biotic was Ciprofloxacin and then one other - cannot remember the name - and also pill based anti-spasmodics.

 

The prescription pills were 7-10 day duration and less than $5.00 CDN for all three.  No English on the boxes of pills except the drug name.

 

The doctor visit was $200 USD arranged by the hotel.

 

I asked the Doctor if he has many hotel calls, and his response was that this was his business.  This was all he did - hotel calls for tourists.

 

For future travel like this I will meet with my GP at home in advance and see if there are any recommended prescriptions I can take with me to be prepared.  I had no idea that Immodium would not work.

 

I have friends in Australia that do crazy travel to very remote areas where hygiene is not always first thought, and they carry a range of drugs with them to combat bugs that they might pick up.

Edited August 7, 2023 by CDNPolar

[CDNPolar]

Found the prescription:

 

Was prescribed Streptoquin, Ciprofloxacin, and Visceralgine by the Doctor at the hotel.

 

Within 24 hours I was ok to fly home.  Not out of the woods, but ok to fly.

[vino100]

On 8/5/2023 at 12:13 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

I've been researching this myself and AMA is one of the trips on my comparison spreadsheet.  It is unusual in giving you 7 nights on the river ship (most are only 3-4 nts on the water even for 14-nt trips), but that is a double-edged sword because if you don't like the ship you'll be 'enjoying' it for a long time...  

 

I suggest you also look at Scenic.  They are all-inclusive but on this itinerary actually cheaper than AMA:

https://www.scenicusa.com/escorted-tours/egypt---jordan

 

Once you decide which cruise and date you want, email the cruise line to enquire when you will be able to book it.  AMA just opened up their 2025 dates, but I wouldn't wait until this time next year as you can get a jump by contacting them.  I recently did that with AMA (last month, enquiring when they would open their 2025 bookings) and got a reply from a new Travel Agency who is obviously one of their preferred ones.  He was able to book the trip and get me really good discounts.  [My cruise wasn't likely to sell out quickly, but there is only one cabin in the category I wanted so booking ahead of the public release was helpful – Egypt cruises tend to sell out quickly, so this advice applies to you.]

Did you consider Uniworld? I’m looking at this itinerary also. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

2 minutes ago, vino100 said:

Did you consider Uniworld? I’m looking at this itinerary also. 

Can't stand their décor.  Started with their French ships ["it looks like Marie Antoinette exploded in my bedroom!"], but their Egypt ship and even their new Douro ship are just too over-the-top in their own ways. 

[vino100]

Yes, their decor is unique. Lol

[Host Jazzbeau]

For Egypt, I am considering a cruise that uses King Farouk's royal yacht (converted into a cruise ship).  It is somewhat over-the-top, but at least it's authentic!

[CDNPolar]

Uniworld is over the top....

[CDNPolar]

Our Bathroom

[CDNPolar]

The dining room was VERY dark....

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

6 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

Our Bathroom

This is making me dizzy!!!