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| Nile Cruise Information | The greater part of Nile riverboats are privately owned, and there are dozens of packages offering them. Most Americans book their Nile cruise as an air-inclusive package with a tour company. And they're reasonable to do this way as you could book directly through the hotel, but you'd have to work with their office in Egypt, while tour companies have 800-numbers and stateside representatives. The prices hotels quote is almost the same as those offered by tour companies, and the hotels set you with a tour group anyway, so it's not like you get to travel independently. However, since tour companies buy blocks of rooms on hotel-owned boats, and enclose them into larger Egyptian itineraries (and greater part of your tour takes place on the boat), your best option is to choose a boat first, and then see which tour companies charter it. Nine-day trips cost about $2,200 per person (including air) from October to April-you can save as much as a third by going in the summer, but the heat can influence your energy as well as your zeal. Since per-day prices are almost the same, and tour guides differ in quality, the real difference is in chic and a few other key features, like pools and balconies. Perhaps choosing a boat and then a tour company sounds strange, but that's no surprise in this mystifying land.
While tour itineraries sound superb in brochures, most of them drop some of the most exciting places on the Nile. And since many Americans who visit Egypt are well over 50, the slowest end up setting the pace (especially from June through September, when temperatures can approach 120°F, and everyone is tempted to wait in the air-conditioned buses). Escape and you can see who you are.
It is doubtful that you like lungfuls of hydrocarbons, terrible traffic, and air pollution bad enough to sting your eyes, don't spend extra days in Cairo. If you want to see the pyramids at Giza, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel, and the Khan el Khalili bazaar— and that is undoubtedly that you do—rise with the sun. Start in the morning and you will do it all in the time your tour company allots before moving down to the Nile.
Most river cruises load you into unattractive and ship you off to visit the messy botanical garden and the utterly unremarkable Aswan High Dam. Head out to the Tombs of the Nobles. There, you'll find literally hundreds of burial chambers scooped in the hillside. The largest, the Tomb of Sarenput II, is covered in completely preserved relief that depict daily life in ancient southern Egypt.
A Nile cruise is a brilliant way of visiting archeological sights in a country with less than fantastic roads and airline service. Actually some quality travel agents advise cruising as the ideal way of transportation in Egypt. The best time to enjoy a Nile cruise is winter, from December to February, due to the hot desert climate.
The banks of the Nile are bestrewed with ancient monuments and unusual sites, like banana plantations. Excursions to other famed sites, such as the Karnak Temple and the tomb of Nefertiti in the town of Luxor, are catered on most cruises. Other towns that can be touring stops are Aswan, Esna, Kom Ombo and Edfu. Well-informed local guides are recommended to explain the finer points of each site.
A Nile cruise can be quite cheap. For a three-star ship the price can be as little as $70 per person per night while a deluxe cruise can cost a about $130 per person per night, double occupancy. The cruise can last from 3, 4 to 7 nights. Rooms are well-furnished and meals are usually included. Deluxe and luxury cruise boats also provide a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, bar and recreation facilities, and gift shops. Air-conditioning is a must for the American tourist who is not used to the probable one hundred degree heat.
Commonly, meals on a Nile cruise are served at a definite time, with all passengers being served at a single seating. You may try a full range of cuisine from local to international. Some meals, such as lunch and dinner, may be served buffet style. And, naturally, luxury cruise companies employ outstanding chefs to pamper the palette.
A cruise is an exceptional way for the American traveler to experience a unique and different culture since all services are included. For example, you should not worry about where and what to eat. Also the cruise company schedules all the tours to the major ancient sites and caters highly regarded guides who know Egyptian customs. And you do not need local currency for admissions as these have been paid beforehand. If you take a cruise that is the guarantee that you are in safety in a foreign land. Of course, if you chose a reputable cruise company with a good name.
Egypt is an ancient land with mesmerizing monuments and temples that are decorated with mysterious hieroglyphics. The best way to submerge into this exceptional culture is to experience it by cruising the Nile like the regal pharaohs.
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