This may have been the most information-packed travel video I have seen on UA-cam. It was not a commercial. It was not a list of complaints. it was exactly what you would say to a friend who was going to take the same trip you just did.
Bingo! Gary is in a higher stratosphere from the rank and file cruise oriented UA-cam content providers. This one is particularly excellent in its minute detail. So detailed that we are NOT GOING!!! Thanks Gary,,,,,,,I think🥸
Spot on. Travelers need to realize that a Nile Cruise is not about the cruise experience, it’s about the sights. Go for the (well defined) adventure. You want comfort, go on a Rhine cruise. You want to see amazing stuff, a 7-night Nile cruise is great!
Exactly - the Nile cruise is the only one I’ve been on - not interested in paying good money to do on a boat what I can do at home - I travel to experience new places and Egypt was certainly a great experience
I went down the Nile in 1967. It was the most amazing experience of my very traveled life. I ran up the stairs into the Large pyramid. I was a skinny, fearless girl, on a trip around the world after graduating from college. A gift. Into the Valley of the Kings, riding a horse, a burto. Sure now is different. like everything. When I was so lucky to be there none of all these restrictions were in place. My friend and I often were INLY people going down the trap door in the desert at Luzor, and in to the tombs. I loved it, still do. I was back in Egypt years later, already quite changed.
I remember going on a school trip to see the most famous one , I think the British museum I think it was the first time it had come to the UK, and everyone or school went to see it .then I remember teacher's teaching me about the writing on the stones and the different symbols and letters off it. And able to write some words using it.
I really enjoy learning the cons of these trips with your videos. The brocures of course never mention the negative aspects. My knowing what to expect in advance eliminates unrealistic expectations.
@@ilovesparky13 only the upset stomach/"the runs" part. Happens a lot in this area. Friend went on a church sponsored trip to "The Holy Land" and that was their only problem too.
@@ilovesparky13He mentioned there was hardly any downtime so it was rather hectic. And the vendors were constantly swarming them. Also the paid toilets were on the grubby side. And they had to go through security in almost all the sites and have their belongings scanned. He also pointed out that because all the river ship companies are required to have Egyptian partners who mostly take care of operations on the Nile, even the luxury lines weren’t quite up to standard. Lastly, he mentioned the Nile is so crowded with ships, there can be several ships docked side by side and it can get pretty noisy at night with all those engines running especially if one is unlucky enough to have a cabin close to where the neighboring ships’ engines are.
Went on Viking last November, the weather was perfect. No problems, met in the arrivals lounge and helped through. Amazing egyptologist Walid. I think Viking must have their own moorings because we never parked side by side. Used dollars for everything- take new notes and lots of ones. The coach drivers etc are happy to break larger notes. Security was excellent and we never felt at risk. It is a muslim country, they arent particularly strict but of course it's good manners to cover up. Medicine for upset tummy was available from reception on the boat, start it straight away, it's quick and effective. The vendors are a hassle and exhausting after a few days but just be firm and keep walking by. We had an amazing time, the sights were astonishing and an organised trip meant little to no anxiety
We have been to Egypt five times over the past twenty five years. The first and last involving cruises. Egypt has changed dramatically and so have the cruises over the years. Wonderful on each occasion but the cruises are not relaxing with very early starts incredible heat , not for the faint hearted. On the last cruise my wife and I both had tummy upsets ( the on board cure looked very much like anti biotics )and were unable to go to Abu Simbel (we had been there twenty years previous and it is still the most impressive man made object I have seen) fortunately a family on the boat escorted our daughter to the site and she was awe struck. i would always recommend Egypt but your wonderful videos let people see the pit falls. Well done.
My wife and I went to Egypt in the late 1990's and it was the best trip I have ever been on in my life since. From reading comments all over the place I'm glad we went when we did, sounds like things have changed. One important think for everyone to know, make sure you don't go during Ramadan. Things like pools at hotels and most restaurants are closed and some activities are cut back. Not sure if this has changed since though. The only thing I got tied of very quickly are the shops and the badgering at all the shops, gets very old very quickly. As for security and safety, never felt threaten in anyway, every Egyptian we met were wonderful people. Though I was at the Pyramids and this guy would not leave me alone trying to sell me something and I swear out of nowhere this solider materialized and began dragging this guy away. It's a must trip for everyone.
Was there in March and it was Ramadan and agree, amazing part of the world! We had a fabulous team on our Aqaba tour and the driver and guide couldn't have coffee or smoke until after 7 pm. It was hilarious when they pulled the bus over a few minutes before 7 and stood out there counting down the last few secs. We were all cheering them on for their first coffee of the day! Not sure about hotels but all the moments were open but if you want a wine or beer, wait until after 7 😀
I think the biggest issue is when one imagines a Nile river cruise you think of Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. You think of a solo luxury ship gently making its way down the nile. Being on the same stretch of river with a dozen other cruise ships definitely ruins that image for me.
@@MrTVintro Wouldn't we all love to travel that way. The idea that I might have to use a bucket as a toilet is the reason I haven't done it. Must have been a budget video I saw. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'm not sure I'd recommend this for everyone, but in 2000 my wife and I stayed at the Windsor Hotel in Cairo. I buttonholed the desk clerk and asked what he could do for me with regard to a Nile Cruise. He advised me to come back in the afternoon. So, the offer was made: Overnight train from Cairo to Aswan, boat trip to Elephant Island, day tour of Aswan Dam, overnight in a 4 star hotel (with towels turned into animals on the bed), next day air flight to Abu Simbel, with tour guide, back to Aswan, onto tour boat loaded completely with French tourists, two Aussies, one American from Spokane and my wife and myself. Down the Nile for four days, visiting every site, Philai, Kom Ombo, Edfu, until we got to Luxor...all tours, guides included. $700USD cash for the both of us! Sure, it was a bit of a risk, but it paid off. In Aswan, we were offered a private tour in Luxor of Nefertari's tomb, Valley of the Queens (three days downstream), for $200pp, but I had checked out the site before, so I declined and hired a taxi in Luxor for 6AM to get us to the ticket office at 7AM when it opened; admission was $25pp. The site didn't open until 9AM, so we bought our driver breakfast and asked that he wait for us. Another couple of bucks got us an extra 20 minutes in the tomb. Major score. After Luxor, a bus ride to Hurghada, and a 3AM ferry to Sharm-el-Sheikh, where we decompressed after two weeks of Egyptian street vendors' pestiferous assailments. Then on to Jordan! Thanks for your great cruising commentaries. I love them!
I took the Nile cruise through Viking last September. As a photographer, I was looking forward to the trip, and did my due diligence to make sure that I got the most out of the experience. I must admit that this was my first cruise ever, and that the idea of having a rigorous itinerary was going to be challenging, as we have always traveled logistically on our own. The first day of our Cairo excursion took us to the Egyptian Museum, and although our Egyptologist was excellent, the time spent there was only about 2 hours. I knew there was so much more to see, so I told him I’ll take a cab back to the hotel. I spent an additional 4 hours there. Unfortunately, all other site tours were of the same duration. For instance, at Karnak, all the tours arrive at about the same time, 9am, and leave around 11:30. Again, I told the guide that I’ll make my own way back (fortunately, the Viking dock in immediately outside the entrance). By noon, I had the place to myself. As I wondered through, I made friends with some of the guards who, for a small gratuity, gave me access to several restricted areas. As far as safety, I’m a 65 year old guy, 5’6” at 150 lbs, carrying thousands of dollars of camera equipment and never felt the least bit worried about being a victim. I would certainly highly recommend the cruise, but more highly recommend breaking away from the tours to explore on your own. Like traveling anywhere, common sense goes a long way and is really invaluable.
Spot on commentary. We had the pleasure of observing a vendor refreshing their produce with a quick rinse in the Nile. Everything cooked and no salad in your falafel.
Mom and I have booked an East Mediterranean trip that stops in Alexandria, Egypt. Imagine my utter delight when a 12 hour excursion to Saqqara, the Giza pyramids, the Sphinx and the Western Plateau was offered. I basically became I school girl and ran around the house. I'm so excited and I definitely now need to add some things to my packing list now that I've seen this video.
Hello and thank you. We were fortunate to have a Nile cruise aboard the Oberoi Zahra as part of our Egypt and Jordan trip through Tauck Tours. Everything you say is spot on. They are very touchy about cameras and security. Just a point, bring a couple of hundred new $20 dollars. I required a physician and the Egyptian doctor required American dollars for his services and medicine plus the tip for the crewman who went to get him.
Gary, I very much enjoy your videos which are really useful but your Nile Cruise seems to have been a bit out of your comfort zone. We havet done the cruise twice and recognise all the points you have made. You certainly do need to keep within the tourist 'bubble' but Nile cruises really need a lot of preliminary research to avoid the problems you encountered. It's a very different world to conventional cruising, but get it right and it is a an unforgettable experience. The secret is to treat it as off a one off experience and not as an extentsion to conventional cruising. Egypt Nile cruises are indeed a unique experience but something that really does need a lot of preliminary research. We did this and had a fantastic time on both occasions. We also took high tea at the Old Cataract Hotel and swam in the pool on an overnight stay. Sublime! Colin B
My husband & I just got back from a month in Egypt. We had a wonderful time. We felt VERY safe (safer than at home, really). Our cruise was on the Amwaj Livingstone which was great (but our cabin was mid-ship on the 3rd floor). Food was great. People are SUPER friendly. Yes, bring lots of US $5s and $1s, they're quite useful. Bring your own TP, usually they hand you some as you go in, but sometimes not! What a wonderful place. I can't wait to go back! Edit: we were also concerned about potentially getting ill, but then relaxed, at fresh fruit (we did wash it in bottled water), had ice at the nicer hotels, ate raw veggies/salad... no issues. I had brought all the medications that we might potentially need, but didn't need a thing.
Thanks for this enlightening video! Watched it before we left on our two -week trip to Egypt. We just returned last week. We did a three day Nile cruise. The food on the cruise was nondescript but OK. It was so hot there were no bugs! We did not get Pharaoh's revenge because our guide said never drink anything with ice and no raw vegetables. Used bottled water for teeth brushing and drinking. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. It felt secure enough and it seemed like an even-keel trip overall in terms of safety. Our guide was exceptional!
We were there about a month ahead of you on an Intrepid trip. Only 10 peeps and the same guide brought us much closer to the people and out of that bubble. Only 1 night on the Nile for us in an open air Felucca. Enjoyed your vid. Thx for sharing.
Egypt is amazing. The ‘aggressive vendors’ are tiring, but overwhelmingly the Egyptian people are wonderful. I left the ‘group bubble’ and wandered away from the beaten path as much as possible and had zero problems. The food was very good, everywhere. Most speak English, but learning a couple basic greetings in Arabic goes a wonderfully long way and brings smiles. Bring lots of $1 and $5 bills (in ‘new’ condition if possible), for lots of small things like tips, donations, a cold drink, access to the toilet, etc. Agreed, the toilets are an experience to be missed (!) Keeping your head down and ignoring everyone is rude - treat them nicely and they will return the politeness.
Gary, recently retired. Have begun to travel the world a bit (we are overseas 3 of the next 8 months). Your videos are excellent and a real boon for those of us wondering what it might be like to do river cruises in Europe and Egypt.
I have a Nile cruise booked for my family in September, sailing from Aswan to Luxor. I did my research but it's great to see more videos talking about the experience, it really helps me prepare better.
Hi please please dont pay entrance fees, and tips up front. When you get there in September the main tour organiser will ask you for about $150 + $100 tips. This is a scam, even the eygption government warns you about this. l paid as a went along entrance fees cost me about $60, and gave good service tips to poeple who deserved it about $30. The over charge goes in the tour managers pocket, the guides, drivers, crew, never see it. Just say l will pay as l go along, they will be fine with it.
@Kevin Brown Thanks for the advice. I will try to not be ripped off. I read that entrance fees are all included for the cruise itinerary, although unlike Gary's full package in this video, I booked the cruise separately and everything else is on my own. It was a very good price though (I did a lot of googling).
Im from the uk, no the warnings about giving tours entrance fees, are in big letters at each site you visit. Signed by the government. When you go to the valley of the kings, your tickets entitles you to enter 3 tombs, but there are over 60. Tuts tomb is extra 300 egyptian, ramesses 100 extra, and seti 1000. Your tour will only give you ticket to enter the valley. If you want to visit them tombs you need to buy extra tickets in the visitors centre. Its the building you enter before going in the valley.
Always enjoy your candor, Gary. Unfortunately, the Sudan situation abruptly escalated whilst you were on your cruise. Egypt, being on the border, was on alert for rapid escalation, which could very well explain the feeling you picked up on. I do love Egypt and can't wait to go back one day!
Great video!! My husband and I visited Egypt in November 2022. You are correct that there is not a lot of down time. But seeing everything is so worth it!! I definitely recommend Abu Simbel and I loved Queen Hatshepsut's temple!! November was a great time to go, sunny and 80 degrees. It does get warmer the farther south you travel. This is a trip you want to take sooner rather than later. We unfortunately had a couple older ladies that couldn't handle all the walking and heat so they missed out on half of the places we went. Awesome experience!!
As a lady I travelled solo all the times I went to Egypt and NEVER did I encounter any problem whatsoever! I love travelling in the local buses and on the trains and found it very exciting and wonderful to be part of the local people,who are very kind and helpful. I suppose some people are just more scared of life than others!
I have been fascinated by Egypt since childhood and I have been thinking of doing a Nile cruise for years. Your videos are so informative and useful to watch for anyone wanting to do any possible cruise. Thank you so much for this channel and all your hard work, Gary ❤
Having done a similar trip in January (with Tauck) I found your video informative and interesting…especially when it comes to the differences between your trip and ours. While we probably somewhat paid more for a once in a lifetime trip than you did, we are glad we did….some examples of the differences….. a big one for you was that the Tauck provided an very high end ship ( no cheesy entertainment though) had a private dock so no rafting with other cruise ships….. we actually stayed at the Old Cataract Hotel one night including dinner in their famous main dining room which was amazing, abu simbel was included with a private charter…no one got sick on our trip and we were assured about the safety of the meals they provided ( including lunch at the RITZ Carlton )……the cruise, while only four nights I believe was augmented by the Marriott hotel overlooking the pyramids in the beginning and ending with the St Regis in Cairo which too was awesome…going in January had less people than in your videos with very. In comfortable weather.
So pleased I went on my own in 1990. No security screening in those days and not so many tourists. Had a lovely trip down the Nile over a week. I was in Egypt for three and half weeks. I had a fantastic time. Too busy for me these days - far too touristic for me today.
Be prepared to take photos using only your phone in Egypt. On almost every occasion in the major temples or museums only phones were allowed but some would allow you to use cameras - at a cost. Depending on the cruise organisation, you might find that your boat is moored quite a way out of town. For instance, in Luxor we were a 10-15 minute taxi ride out of town, surrounded by fields and no passing traffic, so you had to take the first driver you could. In hindsight, if the boat had left from Luxor on the morning we boarded it would have been better because we basically paid for the additional night onboard in a location away from easily accessible attractions or local sites. The drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel is between 3- 4 hours and we left at 3am to get there in the morning to avoid the heat, however one of the checkpoints didn't open until 5 or 6am. It was worth paying the extra (US$100) to see King Tut or Seti tombs in the Valley of the Kings - they will be quieter, less crowded and more colourfully decorated - however even inside those tombs I got hassled by the local employee wanting a gratuity because he showed me some iconography.
Gary, We did a 7 night Viking cruise, and never had ship by ship docking. Maybe we were just fortunate, or maybe Viking has their own dock like in europe.....don't know.....also the ship was very quiet at night. We never heard any engine noise. Great to hear about your trip. I know it was fantastic.
Indeed, if I were to do such a cruise, I would go with Viking. They don't use a Swiss flag ship for their Egyptian cruise, but I can understand the Egyptians probably wouldn't allow it, for the same reason that the USA requires US Flag ships if the entire voyage is from US port to another without going to another country (it's to protect their shipping industry and make sure there are Egyptian ships available in time of war). Viking's cruise on the Mississippi River is on a US Flag ship, as our laws require. 🙂 But I think since Viking owns and operates the ship, you're probably better off with them.🙂
Oh I've been attacked for mentioning river cruise ship by ship docking in European river cruises. Told I'm lying, and my concerns as being mobility impaired. Here ypu commenters she'd light on why they were so rude. They must travel on Viking where there are private docks, and ignore other docks. Thanks for the info!
This is on my bucketlist. after 40+ years of wanting, I am finally going backpacking through Europe for the 1st time in Sept. I DID see the Ramses exhibit in Dallas, TX in the 80s which piqued my interest in all things Egypt. Thanks for all the tips here!
I did a three- night cruise from Aswan to Luxor a couple of years back. It was amazingly good value given I was taking up a cabin alone, it was only about US$300 including all meals and three tours with a guide. I booked it on Viator. The food was always a very nice buffet, and the boat was luxurious with a swimming pool. The cabin was as good as a decent three- star hotel. There were lots of similar boats doing the same trip. Three nights was enough given that I stayed at Aswan and Luxor before and after the cruise so I did my sightseeing there separately.
Gary. You have me worried. My wife and I depart for a Nile cruise in 5 weeks time. Im off to the agent tomorrow (open on a Sunday) to discuss many points you raised. Fingers crossed.
Just a copy paste of the comment I made in your previous video, I made it a few days after the video was out and it may interest some people to learn of a different experience. I was in Egypt for 3 weeks in September 2010. I also took a cruise on the Nile, but one way only from Luxor to Aswan, so it was only 4 days. The main difference in my cruise was that it was on a Dahabiya, a small sailboat (bigger than a Felouque, like the one we see at 9:27 in you video) that had only 6 cabins and a suite, the wind permitted to sail only one day, the rest of the time, we where pulled by a small tugboat. The only motors we heard where small generators a few hours each day to charge batteries for the AC in our cabins. On my cruise, we where only 6 passengers, a couple, two sister and the daughter of one. I was alone. For the excursions on the different sites, the other passengers had all been in Egypt before, so they didn't took the guided tour, I was alone whit the guide, he would start by showing me around and give the explanations on everything and then wait for me near the entrance taking a coffee while I took all the pictures that I wanted. Since it was a smaller boat, we didn't stop at the standard spot where all the bigger boats where stacked one against the other, the staff chose beautiful spots where we where alone, we even had a picnic on a small island one night. If you ever go back on the Nile, I strongly suggest that type of cruise. You can check some of the pictures I took on the cruise flic.kr/p/98vqo3
Thanks for all your tips Gary. Just back from 4 days Cairo, 7 days Nile cruise. Absolutely a must do and work the excursions into your costs it’s why you’re there. Agree with 90% of what you advised. We did Abu Symbol by coach (no flight option) and was still worth every minute on the coach. Only thing I would differ on is the issue of forward cabins. We were assigned the very front cabin upper deck and it was one of only two suites on our boat. Fab cabin, walk in wardrobe, full bath shower, sitting area, dressing table and two windows 😮. The problem of noise was eliminated by going with a line that moored slightly separate to the other lines. We moored with max 1 other boat all week. Their mooring points at each stop where clearly sighned and only used by a few named boats. Trip was on the “Nile Symphony” they have 4 boats working at moment and tour was booked through “Titan”. Hope this over long comment is of some help to some.
On our second last night of our 7 day Luxor - Aswan cruise today. Thanks for the insights Gary! I missed this vid but my husband and I watched and re-watched the previous vid. We went to the Old Cataract thanks to your recommendation and we absolutely loved it!
I've been over 40 times. 272€ for the whole week. No problems. I don't used the guides as I've been so often. A taxi for the whole day is 20€. The water taxi is 15 cents over the nile. When you are accosted just stand exactly between the 2 shops and ask what they want. As that is no man's land. They can't talk to you. Learning Egyptian Arabic will help too.
Would it be impossible to do it on my own? Is going to be my first time and I have never had a guide anywhere in the world. Cruises cost so much. I could save a lot of money by doing and planning everything on my own but is it viable?
Another tip, the tours take you shopping for alabaster, papyrus paper, and such like. When you dock in aswan theres a huge market. Behind the main road, where the ships dock. Nobody hassles you, your free to roam and the prices are 90% cheaper if you haggle.
Excellent video, Gary. If I'm ever blessed enough to do a Nile River cruise, this is the video I will re-watch prior to booking. Thank you again for sharing your experiences and recommendations!!
Thomas Cook, who organised the Nile cruise segment of our Egypt trip for us, advised us against a more expensive cabin. Get the one with the window on the water line, he said, as you won't be spending much time in the cabin!! How right he was. It was quite hectic some days - being woken at 0530 to have breakfast to go on a bus trip to the site to get there before the heat of the day - but it was worth it, and we were very happy with our waterline cabin and slept like logs!
My one and only cruise was a Nile cruise on Oberoi phile. It was over 20 yrs ago when I was 18 and boy how things have changed! I was in visiting my childhood friend and his family who lived in Cairo (his mom still lives there and has a travel agency that she an Egyptian woman has owned for over 20yrs, SEEgypt) so my experience was different from regular tourists. But it was an amazing cruise.
WOW, Gary, this video was very revealing. My friends and I went on a Nile cruise in 2007, and it looks like it was a good time to go. Egypt is amazing, and it is sad that it now has to be so policed. 😔 There were, still, the pushy (and I don't blame them as they have families that need to fed and housed) vendors, but were given instructions on what to do and what not to do. We did have one female traveller who did what she was told not to 🙄 and got the vendor in trouble 😠 The Nile cruise was wonderful. We did the 7 days cruise and 3 days in Cairo. We had to pay for toilet paper then too.
I loved our hot air balloon ride in Luxor. Throughout our trip and on our 7 day cruise we had early mornings to avoid crowds and the worst of the heat eg. 3 hour bus ride to Abel Simbel and we were on site by 8.15am. By 10am the site was busy and by 12pm it was hot. We had an armed guard on our bus trip and at some other sites. We got used to seeing glimpses of his automatic weapon beneath his suit jacket. Who wears a suit in Egypt? He looked out of place but he was a nice chap. My travel Dr was adamant, must use bug spray due to the various mosquito bourne viruses. I had lots of meds for an upset stomach but the locals gave me strong Turkish coffee with lemon. 2 weeks in Egypt was memorable and we added Israel and Jordan, which were fabulous.
We just returned from our ten night Egypt land/cruise with Avalon. Two nights Cairo, Five nights Nile, two nights Cairo, with two additional pre-trip nights we booked. Your videos were sooo helpful. Thank you! I will note that our ship MS Farah, was not fully booked so they moved us from further aft to further midship without us asking. That helped with some noise. We also were only docked front to back once. Other than that, we were very pleased and felt like we got a similar level of service and experiences as you did with AMA Waterways. My one additional warning would be to emphasize the physical nature of the trip - we joked that there wasn’t an OSHA (US occupational safety) regulation Egypt didn’t break! By the way, we used followed your water advice and dietary advice and had zero issues - same with everyone in our group. Again, thank you!
We just booked ours for early ‘25 and they were almost all sold out already. Which is saying something given how far out we are and how expensive of a trip this is.
@@jefflimp561 Wow; we’d better get moving then. We find it so hard to plan trips so far out, but it seems it’s a necessity now with many of the far-away trips on smaller ships.
I really enjoy your videos. ❤ I visited Egypt almost 40 years ago and I think about that experience every day. Such a unique and wonderful place. You got me thinking about going back! 👍
Interesting... our 12 night Egypt Land and River vacation in 2007 was one of the best trips we have ever taken... We never went in and out via the shop areas and vendors weren't allowed to try to sell you anything unless you cross the painted line into the shop area at every location. We did have the security check points and screenings, but that's been the whole world since 2001.
I did a Nile River journey in 1982. There were no thoughts or Discussions on Security, It was an amazing experience. With the Grand Egyptian Museum Opening it will be a lot to see in open place.
Gary - A big 'Thank You' for these videos. My wife and I along with some friends want to do this trip to Egypt but are very cautious to book due to the safety issues and the rigorous itinerary. Your videos on the Nile and this trip answered so many of our questions.
I have done this trip twice, the river cruise experience was exactly as described. We enjoyed it so much. The only thing I noticed was the paying of “back-shish” or tipping. In Australia we are not used to tipping! But as wages are so low, it is the only way for some Egyptians to make a living. So if you ask anyone to do/ get something for you , it is customary to tip this person. Always carry small change for toilets, you may have to pay extra for toilet paper! Also if yo go from Aswan to Abu Simble, be prepared to leave early in the morning and if you are going by bus, it is escorted by armed policemen for the 4 hour trip.
Your tips and review of the AMADahlia is spot on. I was most shocked by Wings vs AMA but still the sights were amazing. Yea, the AMA page has many reviews about the noise in those cabins. I was on 4. Thanks for the great information.
Everything you said was "Spot On". I wish I had brought more US singles than buying Egyptian pounds. We knew in advance not to drink the water. There was enough security that even if most of them were on their cellphones, one would catch trouble before it happened. Vendors can be insistent, but exercise Jedi Mind tricks, "This is not the customer you want." AMA was good but it had a few shortcomings. The people are friendly. The country is one foot in the 21st Century and one foot in 1200BCE. The best thing is the history you will see and the history you will learn. Thanks for spreading the word, Gary.
I did a 4day 3night Nile cruise (Aswan to Luxor) last year. It was really fun. I hooked up with a family from Australia the whole time (family of 5) and we were assigned as one tour group. So glad it was just us! The only down side of the trip was when we docked to see Kom Ombo, our tour guide never showed up and we didn't get enough time to see the place as the ticket office was having computer issues as well. Since we decided we weren't going to wait for our tour guide, we went straight to the ticket office at Kom Ombo. We only had barely 30 min. to see the place instead of the whole hour because of our tour guide not being there and then the ticket office having computer issues. The rest of the time, the tour guides and sightseeing was great!
Please do 1 or 2 videos about casinos onboard cruiseliners. I love playing poker on vacation but it's very hard to get info from the liners websites. Thanks for all the advice you give in your videos so that we don't frack it up due to ignorance. Keep up the good work mate. regards from Sweden.
A trick I’v learned to not get upset stomach in any country is to eat some onion from that country (not imported onions) as soon as you arrive. I don’t know why but it works
We were told in Bali to drink red Fanta! I drink one a day when we are there, at least once a year, and have never had Bali belly. Like you, I don't know why it works, but it does seem to.
I would be concerned about Carbon Monoxide dangers with those ships all rafted off like that, with their generators running. We often carry a small battery operated detector on some trips.
I would like to debunk the issue of health and safety concerning the water in Egypt. I made my first cruse on the Nile back in 2006 and heard the same warning before going there. Even about not even touching the water in the flood. But the water in the Nile is in overall fine. Especially upstream. Downstream in Kairo you can find trash tossed into the water. Sure you should drink bottled water, but I have no problem brushing my teeth with the tapwater or eat vegetables cleaned with the tap water. Same standard as many I-countries. The real issue in Egypt surprisingly few knows about are about the big beach hotell facilities most tourists lives in when visiting Egypt. Like in Hurghada. They do reuse grey/brown water (your pee and poop) from the facility to water the hotell complex's gardens around the swimmingpools and restourants during the nights when the guests are all asleep. And this is done unfiltred. This is an extreme bioazard spreading bacterias and diseases among people. I do understand their goal of saving water, but this need to stop.
3:36, using a Camera Tripod. The issue is that 'amateur' photographers can take phots for free, but professionals must pay a fee. If you attempt to use a tripod you will be assumed to be a professional, and so will be asked to pay a fee. I was caught out attempting to use a monopod.
Yes, a key and good watch out and point. It was interesting as in one temple I was filming just holding my iPhone but someone using a gimbal with there's was told to stop filming...
Both videos are excellent and fair (if not a little kind). I think it’s worth noting that the Luxor/Aswan cruise is an illusion, the distance (and sites), can be covered in a taxi either way between the towns in a matter of hours. I don't know if the 600 mile Aswan to Cairo cruise still exists, but it will be less crowded as are the many sites between Abydos and Cairo. There is a Lake Nasser cruise to various salvaged Nubian Temples (including Abu Simbel), but the generally mediocre standards still apply on both. The prices quoted strike me as somewhat excessive. In recent years the experience has become Benidorm on the Nile. It's worth a trip, but manage your expectations.
I’ve wanted to do this ever since I was child and watched the movie adaptation of “Death on the Nile,” with Peter Ustinov, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis . . . What a cast!
Thank you so much for this thorough review. Been debating about a Nile cruise. You definitely clarified many of my questions. I wonder if I’ll run into Hercule Poirot 😉
I used to study in Egypt and also work as a guide for the Czech tourists coming to visit in the mid 90s. The funny thing is how little has changed on the cruise! Yes, you have wifi, everybody has mobile phones and photos, the food shown looks better (and I was to many 5star ships with the groups), the security is a bit tighter too. But overall, I guess, even the ships look the same and the galabeia parties etc. Funny.
About the vendors at the attractions - you can get rid of them by putting on sun glasses and not taking them off the entire time. No eye contact = no contact. Take it from a blue eyed blonde woman 😅
Having done over 70 cruises and on the Nile the the key question you should have asked is: "How are the kitchens inspected on the river cruise ship". On our river cruise ship the kitchens were inspected by scientists and health inspectors from England every month. The other subject you did not mention was "kick-backs" for the guides. The guides take you to vendors where they receive a "commission" which is probably not the most economic or best place/vendor to purchase goods. The pestering is unrelenting and intrusive. My wife was robbed on a Nile cruise in Luxor. It was an experience.
If you happen to get sick in Egypt, just to go any pharnacy. The pharmacists all speak English and are very helpful and knowledgable. They will advise you of what you need and you can trust them. They are well trained and caring people.
The big mistake that we made on our river cruise was we were prepared for how cold it could get. The heater in the cabin didn’t work at all, and the desert could become incredibly cold very quickly. I agree with every other point that you made.
What would you have done differently if you had asked about the food before the trip? Would you have taken your own food on board??? The same question about the cabin: as far as I understood, all cabins would have been a bad choice because of other parking ships and motor noice.
Great video. What's the best time of year to go? Also, are there any ultra-luxury private cruises for smaller groups so you can avoid those "stacked-up" dock large boats?
Thank you Gary for such an informative video, you are definitely a cut above the rest in your information sharing of the very relevant details that people need to know! You are a real traveller who concentrates on the things that matter for most people I’m sure. I have learned so much from your videos, you have really made a very positive difference to our cruise and travel experiences with your tips. We seem to have very similar tastes and an appreciation of good standards. Thank you, we will keep Egypt in mind but probably a hotel based itinerary I’m not sure I could risk the possible “noise” pollution in particular, we like our rest 😂. Subscribed x 🥰🏴🇬🇧
I did this one years ago so my information is outdated but it was very similar to this video. I was very similarly “bubbled” off and guarded. I was safe and protected though I did notice that in Cairo we were being escorted by a guy in a suit who was armed with some kind of Uzi under his jacket! I didn’t get an upset stomach because I did that same things as this guy did. My brother did and he that local remedy that worked for him. It is very action packed with a lot to do. I skipped a couple sites because I needed some downtime. Glad I did it but wouldn’t go again.
I really want to go to Egypt like most people. It’s been on the top of my bucket list since I was a child. But after seeing all the blogs about the businesses and markets people haggling you. I’m afraid I would get in trouble. Because I would tell someone in a quick heartbeat to get out of my face and not to touch me (put anything on me)I’m not buying your stuff, and that they need back up. I’m interested to know if they put something on you, you just walk away and ignore them. What can they do? Because seriously that doesn’t fly in America 🇺🇸
Yes, avoid salads and use bottled water for even brushing your teeth. I had no health issues in a month in Egypt. There is also hi tech travel clothing that will maximize comfort and cooling so you don't need to resort to shorts and tank tops.
Hi Sir Gary. First time I’m hearing the word Egyptologist. QUESTION? The labeled plates of food was a display to show the menu? Have never seen that. Good to know of good security. Groups of 24 a good size. Didn’t know GI issues were common. Guess water for ice was filtered. Thanks for all the great insights as usual.
Anywhere in the Middle East that is not Israel proper ran by Jews, you can get sick on the food. President Cheese in Israel is better than the exact same stuff in Jordan. In Jordan, it can get you sick, but in Israel, they keep their cheese fresher and get rid of old stuff and don't serve bad cheese. India and Pakistan can have the same issues.
Wow, I’ve did the same on my own with a 5 night cruise and guided tours and the total cost with 5 star hotels in luxor and cairo was around 2500€. Can’t believe people are paying the amount of money you mentioned
My wife and I did a Nile river cruise in Nov 2020. We only had 4 people on our boat and only saw one other boat on the river. Everything was open and there was nobody there. Fantastic trip.
My husband and I did a Nike cruise in 2019. It was so incredibly interesting! A real experience! Before we went we had purchased Egyptian cash and unfortunately our Canadian bank gave us this in large bills. At no time during the cruise were we able exchange these for smaller bills. We had a few Euros in coins and that is all we were able to spend in the markets. Very disappointing for us and the vendors.
This may have been the most information-packed travel video I have seen on UA-cam. It was not a commercial. It was not a list of complaints. it was exactly what you would say to a friend who was going to take the same trip you just did.
Bingo! Gary is in a higher stratosphere from the rank and file cruise oriented UA-cam content providers. This one is particularly excellent in its minute detail. So detailed that we are NOT GOING!!! Thanks Gary,,,,,,,I think🥸
You've just perfectly summed up why I love this Channel and Gary!!
Exceptional…
Spot on. Travelers need to realize that a Nile Cruise is not about the cruise experience, it’s about the sights. Go for the (well defined) adventure. You want comfort, go on a Rhine cruise. You want to see amazing stuff, a 7-night Nile cruise is great!
Exactly - the Nile cruise is the only one I’ve been on - not interested in paying good money to do on a boat what I can do at home - I travel to experience new places and Egypt was certainly a great experience
I went down the Nile in 1967. It was the most amazing experience of my very traveled life. I ran up the stairs into the Large pyramid. I was a skinny, fearless girl, on a trip around the world after graduating from college. A gift. Into the Valley of the Kings, riding a horse, a burto. Sure now is different. like everything. When I was so lucky to be there none of all these restrictions were in place. My friend and I often were INLY people going down the trap door in the desert at Luzor, and in to the tombs. I loved it, still do. I was back in Egypt years later, already quite changed.
I remember going on a school trip to see the most famous one , I think the British museum I think it was the first time it had come to the UK, and everyone or school went to see it .then I remember teacher's teaching me about the writing on the stones and the different symbols and letters off it. And able to write some words using it.
That’s a lot time ago! Were the mummies living pharaohs then?
I really enjoy learning the cons of these trips with your videos. The brocures of course never mention the negative aspects. My knowing what to expect in advance eliminates unrealistic expectations.
Glad you found them interesting. Yes, it is finding those things that are not spoken about that I always enjoy seeking out!
What cons? I didn’t see any negatives in this video.
@@ilovesparky13 only the upset stomach/"the runs" part. Happens a lot in this area. Friend went on a church sponsored trip to "The Holy Land" and that was their only problem too.
@@ilovesparky13He mentioned there was hardly any downtime so it was rather hectic. And the vendors were constantly swarming them. Also the paid toilets were on the grubby side. And they had to go through security in almost all the sites and have their belongings scanned. He also pointed out that because all the river ship companies are required to have Egyptian partners who mostly take care of operations on the Nile, even the luxury lines weren’t quite up to standard. Lastly, he mentioned the Nile is so crowded with ships, there can be several ships docked side by side and it can get pretty noisy at night with all those engines running especially if one is unlucky enough to have a cabin close to where the neighboring ships’ engines are.
Went on Viking last November, the weather was perfect. No problems, met in the arrivals lounge and helped through. Amazing egyptologist Walid. I think Viking must have their own moorings because we never parked side by side. Used dollars for everything- take new notes and lots of ones. The coach drivers etc are happy to break larger notes. Security was excellent and we never felt at risk. It is a muslim country, they arent particularly strict but of course it's good manners to cover up. Medicine for upset tummy was available from reception on the boat, start it straight away, it's quick and effective. The vendors are a hassle and exhausting after a few days but just be firm and keep walking by. We had an amazing time, the sights were astonishing and an organised trip meant little to no anxiety
We have been to Egypt five times over the past twenty five years. The first and last involving cruises. Egypt has changed dramatically and so have the cruises over the years. Wonderful on each occasion but the cruises are not relaxing with very early starts incredible heat , not for the faint hearted. On the last cruise my wife and I both had tummy upsets ( the on board cure looked very much like anti biotics )and were unable to go to Abu Simbel (we had been there twenty years previous and it is still the most impressive man made object I have seen) fortunately a family on the boat escorted our daughter to the site and she was awe struck. i would always recommend Egypt but your wonderful videos let people see the pit falls. Well done.
My wife and I went to Egypt in the late 1990's and it was the best trip I have ever been on in my life since. From reading comments all over the place I'm glad we went when we did, sounds like things have changed. One important think for everyone to know, make sure you don't go during Ramadan. Things like pools at hotels and most restaurants are closed and some activities are cut back. Not sure if this has changed since though. The only thing I got tied of very quickly are the shops and the badgering at all the shops, gets very old very quickly. As for security and safety, never felt threaten in anyway, every Egyptian we met were wonderful people. Though I was at the Pyramids and this guy would not leave me alone trying to sell me something and I swear out of nowhere this solider materialized and began dragging this guy away. It's a must trip for everyone.
Was there in March and it was Ramadan and agree, amazing part of the world!
We had a fabulous team on our Aqaba tour and the driver and guide couldn't have coffee or smoke until after 7 pm. It was hilarious when they pulled the bus over a few minutes before 7 and stood out there counting down the last few secs. We were all cheering them on for their first coffee of the day! Not sure about hotels but all the moments were open but if you want a wine or beer, wait until after 7 😀
I think the biggest issue is when one imagines a Nile river cruise you think of Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. You think of a solo luxury ship gently making its way down the nile. Being on the same stretch of river with a dozen other cruise ships definitely ruins that image for me.
@@MrTVintro Wouldn't we all love to travel that way. The idea that I might have to use a bucket as a toilet is the reason I haven't done it. Must have been a budget video I saw. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'm not sure I'd recommend this for everyone, but in 2000 my wife and I stayed at the Windsor Hotel in Cairo. I buttonholed the desk clerk and asked what he could do for me with regard to a Nile Cruise. He advised me to come back in the afternoon. So, the offer was made: Overnight train from Cairo to Aswan, boat trip to Elephant Island, day tour of Aswan Dam, overnight in a 4 star hotel (with towels turned into animals on the bed), next day air flight to Abu Simbel, with tour guide, back to Aswan, onto tour boat loaded completely with French tourists, two Aussies, one American from Spokane and my wife and myself. Down the Nile for four days, visiting every site, Philai, Kom Ombo, Edfu, until we got to Luxor...all tours, guides included. $700USD cash for the both of us! Sure, it was a bit of a risk, but it paid off. In Aswan, we were offered a private tour in Luxor of Nefertari's tomb, Valley of the Queens (three days downstream), for $200pp, but I had checked out the site before, so I declined and hired a taxi in Luxor for 6AM to get us to the ticket office at 7AM when it opened; admission was $25pp. The site didn't open until 9AM, so we bought our driver breakfast and asked that he wait for us. Another couple of bucks got us an extra 20 minutes in the tomb. Major score. After Luxor, a bus ride to Hurghada, and a 3AM ferry to Sharm-el-Sheikh, where we decompressed after two weeks of Egyptian street vendors' pestiferous assailments. Then on to Jordan! Thanks for your great cruising commentaries. I love them!
I took the Nile cruise through Viking last September. As a photographer, I was looking forward to the trip, and did my due diligence to make sure that I got the most out of the experience. I must admit that this was my first cruise ever, and that the idea of having a rigorous itinerary was going to be challenging, as we have always traveled logistically on our own. The first day of our Cairo excursion took us to the Egyptian Museum, and although our Egyptologist was excellent, the time spent there was only about 2 hours. I knew there was so much more to see, so I told him I’ll take a cab back to the hotel. I spent an additional 4 hours there. Unfortunately, all other site tours were of the same duration. For instance, at Karnak, all the tours arrive at about the same time, 9am, and leave around 11:30. Again, I told the guide that I’ll make my own way back (fortunately, the Viking dock in immediately outside the entrance). By noon, I had the place to myself. As I wondered through, I made friends with some of the guards who, for a small gratuity, gave me access to several restricted areas. As far as safety, I’m a 65 year old guy, 5’6” at 150 lbs, carrying thousands of dollars of camera equipment and never felt the least bit worried about being a victim. I would certainly highly recommend the cruise, but more highly recommend breaking away from the tours to explore on your own. Like traveling anywhere, common sense goes a long way and is really invaluable.
“Highly recommend breaking away from the tours” ….our friends did that and got mugged.
Spot on commentary. We had the pleasure of observing a vendor refreshing their produce with a quick rinse in the Nile. Everything cooked and no salad in your falafel.
Mom and I have booked an East Mediterranean trip that stops in Alexandria, Egypt. Imagine my utter delight when a 12 hour excursion to Saqqara, the Giza pyramids, the Sphinx and the Western Plateau was offered. I basically became I school girl and ran around the house. I'm so excited and I definitely now need to add some things to my packing list now that I've seen this video.
Hello and thank you. We were fortunate to have a Nile cruise aboard the Oberoi Zahra as part of our Egypt and Jordan trip through Tauck Tours. Everything you say is spot on. They are very touchy about cameras and security. Just a point, bring a couple of hundred new $20 dollars. I required a physician and the Egyptian doctor required American dollars for his services and medicine plus the tip for the crewman who went to get him.
Gary, I very much enjoy your videos which are really useful but your Nile Cruise seems to have been a bit out of your comfort zone. We havet done the cruise twice and recognise all the points you have made. You certainly do need to keep within the tourist 'bubble' but Nile cruises really need a lot of preliminary research to avoid the problems you encountered. It's a very different world to conventional cruising, but get it right and it is a an unforgettable experience. The secret is to treat it as off a one off experience and not as an extentsion to conventional cruising. Egypt Nile cruises are indeed a unique experience but something that really does need a lot of preliminary research. We did this and had a fantastic time on both occasions. We also took high tea at the Old Cataract Hotel and swam in the pool on an overnight stay. Sublime!
Colin B
OMG.... your BEST report.... EVER! I have seen this report 3x since I will not be able to see it in this lifetime!
My husband & I just got back from a month in Egypt. We had a wonderful time. We felt VERY safe (safer than at home, really). Our cruise was on the Amwaj Livingstone which was great (but our cabin was mid-ship on the 3rd floor). Food was great. People are SUPER friendly. Yes, bring lots of US $5s and $1s, they're quite useful. Bring your own TP, usually they hand you some as you go in, but sometimes not! What a wonderful place. I can't wait to go back! Edit: we were also concerned about potentially getting ill, but then relaxed, at fresh fruit (we did wash it in bottled water), had ice at the nicer hotels, ate raw veggies/salad... no issues. I had brought all the medications that we might potentially need, but didn't need a thing.
Thanks for this enlightening video! Watched it before we left on our two -week trip to Egypt. We just returned last week. We did a three day Nile cruise. The food on the cruise was nondescript but OK. It was so hot there were no bugs! We did not get Pharaoh's revenge because our guide said never drink anything with ice and no raw vegetables. Used bottled water for teeth brushing and drinking. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. It felt secure enough and it seemed like an even-keel trip overall in terms of safety. Our guide was exceptional!
We were there about a month ahead of you on an Intrepid trip. Only 10 peeps and the same guide brought us much closer to the people and out of that bubble. Only 1 night on the Nile for us in an open air Felucca. Enjoyed your vid. Thx for sharing.
Egypt is amazing. The ‘aggressive vendors’ are tiring, but overwhelmingly the Egyptian people are wonderful. I left the ‘group bubble’ and wandered away from the beaten path as much as possible and had zero problems. The food was very good, everywhere. Most speak English, but learning a couple basic greetings in Arabic goes a wonderfully long way and brings smiles. Bring lots of $1 and $5 bills (in ‘new’ condition if possible), for lots of small things like tips, donations, a cold drink, access to the toilet, etc. Agreed, the toilets are an experience to be missed (!) Keeping your head down and ignoring everyone is rude - treat them nicely and they will return the politeness.
Gary, recently retired. Have begun to travel the world a bit (we are overseas 3 of the next 8 months). Your videos are excellent and a real boon for those of us wondering what it might be like to do river cruises in Europe and Egypt.
I have a Nile cruise booked for my family in September, sailing from Aswan to Luxor. I did my research but it's great to see more videos talking about the experience, it really helps me prepare better.
Hi please please dont pay entrance fees, and tips up front. When you get there in September the main tour organiser will ask you for about $150 + $100 tips. This is a scam, even the eygption government warns you about this. l paid as a went along entrance fees cost me about $60, and gave good service tips to poeple who deserved it about $30. The over charge goes in the tour managers pocket, the guides, drivers, crew, never see it. Just say l will pay as l go along, they will be fine with it.
@Kevin Brown Thanks for the advice. I will try to not be ripped off. I read that entrance fees are all included for the cruise itinerary, although unlike Gary's full package in this video, I booked the cruise separately and everything else is on my own. It was a very good price though (I did a lot of googling).
Have a lovely time, its really good. But very intensive, be aware abu simbel is 3 hours on the coach each way.
What country are you traveling from? Did your country have warnings about traveling to Egypt?
Im from the uk, no the warnings about giving tours entrance fees, are in big letters at each site you visit. Signed by the government. When you go to the valley of the kings, your tickets entitles you to enter 3 tombs, but there are over 60. Tuts tomb is extra 300 egyptian, ramesses 100 extra, and seti 1000. Your tour will only give you ticket to enter the valley. If you want to visit them tombs you need to buy extra tickets in the visitors centre. Its the building you enter before going in the valley.
Always enjoy your candor, Gary. Unfortunately, the Sudan situation abruptly escalated whilst you were on your cruise. Egypt, being on the border, was on alert for rapid escalation, which could very well explain the feeling you picked up on. I do love Egypt and can't wait to go back one day!
Great video!! My husband and I visited Egypt in November 2022. You are correct that there is not a lot of down time. But seeing everything is so worth it!! I definitely recommend Abu Simbel and I loved Queen Hatshepsut's temple!! November was a great time to go, sunny and 80 degrees. It does get warmer the farther south you travel. This is a trip you want to take sooner rather than later. We unfortunately had a couple older ladies that couldn't handle all the walking and heat so they missed out on half of the places we went. Awesome experience!!
As a lady I travelled solo all the times I went to Egypt and NEVER did I encounter any problem whatsoever! I love travelling in the local buses and on the trains and found it very exciting and wonderful to be part of the local people,who are very kind and helpful. I suppose some people are just more scared of life than others!
'Templed-out': love that expression, and often use it in the Far East.
Good video.
I have been fascinated by Egypt since childhood and I have been thinking of doing a Nile cruise for years. Your videos are so informative and useful to watch for anyone wanting to do any possible cruise. Thank you so much for this channel and all your hard work, Gary ❤
Having done a similar trip in January (with Tauck) I found your video informative and interesting…especially when it comes to the differences between your trip and ours. While we probably somewhat paid more for a once in a lifetime trip than you did, we are glad we did….some examples of the differences….. a big one for you was that the Tauck provided an very high end ship ( no cheesy entertainment though) had a private dock so no rafting with other cruise ships….. we actually stayed at the Old Cataract Hotel one night including dinner in their famous main dining room which was amazing, abu simbel was included with a private charter…no one got sick on our trip and we were assured about the safety of the meals they provided ( including lunch at the RITZ Carlton )……the cruise, while only four nights I believe was augmented by the Marriott hotel overlooking the pyramids in the beginning and ending with the St Regis in Cairo which too was awesome…going in January had less people than in your videos with very. In comfortable weather.
I will likely never, ever get on a cruise, let alone a Nile one. But love watching these anyhow.
So pleased I went on my own in 1990. No security screening in those days and not so many tourists. Had a lovely trip down the Nile over a week. I was in Egypt for three and half weeks. I had a fantastic time. Too busy for me these days - far too touristic for me today.
Be prepared to take photos using only your phone in Egypt. On almost every occasion in the major temples or museums only phones were allowed but some would allow you to use cameras - at a cost. Depending on the cruise organisation, you might find that your boat is moored quite a way out of town. For instance, in Luxor we were a 10-15 minute taxi ride out of town, surrounded by fields and no passing traffic, so you had to take the first driver you could. In hindsight, if the boat had left from Luxor on the morning we boarded it would have been better because we basically paid for the additional night onboard in a location away from easily accessible attractions or local sites.
The drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel is between 3- 4 hours and we left at 3am to get there in the morning to avoid the heat, however one of the checkpoints didn't open until 5 or 6am.
It was worth paying the extra (US$100) to see King Tut or Seti tombs in the Valley of the Kings - they will be quieter, less crowded and more colourfully decorated - however even inside those tombs I got hassled by the local employee wanting a gratuity because he showed me some iconography.
Thanks for these insights and tips. Great point on the phone versus camera watch out!!!
Gary, We did a 7 night Viking cruise, and never had ship by ship docking. Maybe we were just fortunate, or maybe Viking has their own dock like in europe.....don't know.....also the ship was very quiet at night. We never heard any engine noise. Great to hear about your trip. I know it was fantastic.
Indeed, if I were to do such a cruise, I would go with Viking. They don't use a Swiss flag ship for their Egyptian cruise, but I can understand the Egyptians probably wouldn't allow it, for the same reason that the USA requires US Flag ships if the entire voyage is from US port to another without going to another country (it's to protect their shipping industry and make sure there are Egyptian ships available in time of war). Viking's cruise on the Mississippi River is on a US Flag ship, as our laws require. 🙂
But I think since Viking owns and operates the ship, you're probably better off with them.🙂
Oh I've been attacked for mentioning river cruise ship by ship docking in European river cruises. Told I'm lying, and my concerns as being mobility impaired. Here ypu commenters she'd light on why they were so rude. They must travel on Viking where there are private docks, and ignore other docks. Thanks for the info!
@@joywebster2678 We've been on 3 Viking river cruises--2 in Europe. They definitely dock side by side--In Budapest there were 4 together.
This is on my bucketlist. after 40+ years of wanting, I am finally going backpacking through Europe for the 1st time in Sept. I DID see the Ramses exhibit in Dallas, TX in the 80s which piqued my interest in all things Egypt. Thanks for all the tips here!
I did a three- night cruise from Aswan to Luxor a couple of years back. It was amazingly good value given I was taking up a cabin alone, it was only about US$300 including all meals and three tours with a guide. I booked it on Viator. The food was always a very nice buffet, and the boat was luxurious with a swimming pool. The cabin was as good as a decent three- star hotel. There were lots of similar boats doing the same trip. Three nights was enough given that I stayed at Aswan and Luxor before and after the cruise so I did my sightseeing there separately.
Gary. You have me worried. My wife and I depart for a Nile cruise in 5 weeks time. Im off to the agent tomorrow (open on a Sunday) to discuss many points you raised. Fingers crossed.
Just a copy paste of the comment I made in your previous video, I made it a few days after the video was out and it may interest some people to learn of a different experience.
I was in Egypt for 3 weeks in September 2010. I also took a cruise on the Nile, but one way only from Luxor to Aswan, so it was only 4 days. The main difference in my cruise was that it was on a Dahabiya, a small sailboat (bigger than a Felouque, like the one we see at 9:27 in you video) that had only 6 cabins and a suite, the wind permitted to sail only one day, the rest of the time, we where pulled by a small tugboat. The only motors we heard where small generators a few hours each day to charge batteries for the AC in our cabins. On my cruise, we where only 6 passengers, a couple, two sister and the daughter of one. I was alone. For the excursions on the different sites, the other passengers had all been in Egypt before, so they didn't took the guided tour, I was alone whit the guide, he would start by showing me around and give the explanations on everything and then wait for me near the entrance taking a coffee while I took all the pictures that I wanted.
Since it was a smaller boat, we didn't stop at the standard spot where all the bigger boats where stacked one against the other, the staff chose beautiful spots where we where alone, we even had a picnic on a small island one night. If you ever go back on the Nile, I strongly suggest that type of cruise.
You can check some of the pictures I took on the cruise flic.kr/p/98vqo3
Thanks for all your tips Gary. Just back from 4 days Cairo, 7 days Nile cruise. Absolutely a must do and work the excursions into your costs it’s why you’re there. Agree with 90% of what you advised. We did Abu Symbol by coach (no flight option) and was still worth every minute on the coach. Only thing I would differ on is the issue of forward cabins. We were assigned the very front cabin upper deck and it was one of only two suites on our boat. Fab cabin, walk in wardrobe, full bath shower, sitting area, dressing table and two windows 😮. The problem of noise was eliminated by going with a line that moored slightly separate to the other lines. We moored with max 1 other boat all week. Their mooring points at each stop where clearly sighned and only used by a few named boats. Trip was on the “Nile Symphony” they have 4 boats working at moment and tour was booked through “Titan”. Hope this over long comment is of some help to some.
On our second last night of our 7 day Luxor - Aswan cruise today. Thanks for the insights Gary! I missed this vid but my husband and I watched and re-watched the previous vid. We went to the Old Cataract thanks to your recommendation and we absolutely loved it!
Thank you for your review of your trip. You always provide thoughtful videos, Gary, and they're very appreciated!
I've been over 40 times. 272€ for the whole week. No problems. I don't used the guides as I've been so often. A taxi for the whole day is 20€. The water taxi is 15 cents over the nile. When you are accosted just stand exactly between the 2 shops and ask what they want. As that is no man's land. They can't talk to you. Learning Egyptian Arabic will help too.
Would it be impossible to do it on my own? Is going to be my first time and I have never had a guide anywhere in the world. Cruises cost so much. I could save a lot of money by doing and planning everything on my own but is it viable?
Thanks for this video! I’ve definitely missed my window for visiting Egypt.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another tip, the tours take you shopping for alabaster, papyrus paper, and such like. When you dock in aswan theres a huge market. Behind the main road, where the ships dock. Nobody hassles you, your free to roam and the prices are 90% cheaper if you haggle.
I got 3 alabaster pyramids hand made, for $10. They were heavy, added 5kg to my suitcase
Excellent video, Gary. If I'm ever blessed enough to do a Nile River cruise, this is the video I will re-watch prior to booking. Thank you again for sharing your experiences and recommendations!!
Thomas Cook, who organised the Nile cruise segment of our Egypt trip for us, advised us against a more expensive cabin. Get the one with the window on the water line, he said, as you won't be spending much time in the cabin!! How right he was. It was quite hectic some days - being woken at 0530 to have breakfast to go on a bus trip to the site to get there before the heat of the day - but it was worth it, and we were very happy with our waterline cabin and slept like logs!
My one and only cruise was a Nile cruise on Oberoi phile. It was over 20 yrs ago when I was 18 and boy how things have changed! I was in visiting my childhood friend and his family who lived in Cairo (his mom still lives there and has a travel agency that she an Egyptian woman has owned for over 20yrs, SEEgypt) so my experience was different from regular tourists. But it was an amazing cruise.
WOW, Gary, this video was very revealing.
My friends and I went on a Nile cruise in 2007, and it looks like it was a good time to go.
Egypt is amazing, and it is sad that it now has to be so policed. 😔
There were, still, the pushy (and I don't blame them as they have families that need to fed and housed) vendors, but were given instructions on what to do and what not to do.
We did have one female traveller who did what she was told not to 🙄 and got the vendor in trouble 😠
The Nile cruise was wonderful. We did the 7 days cruise and 3 days in Cairo. We had to pay for toilet paper then too.
Thx Gary. Always frank and informative. We are booked in ‘25 and these tips are very helpful. Thx.
I loved our hot air balloon ride in Luxor. Throughout our trip and on our 7 day cruise we had early mornings to avoid crowds and the worst of the heat eg. 3 hour bus ride to Abel Simbel and we were on site by 8.15am. By 10am the site was busy and by 12pm it was hot. We had an armed guard on our bus trip and at some other sites. We got used to seeing glimpses of his automatic weapon beneath his suit jacket. Who wears a suit in Egypt? He looked out of place but he was a nice chap. My travel Dr was adamant, must use bug spray due to the various mosquito bourne viruses. I had lots of meds for an upset stomach but the locals gave me strong Turkish coffee with lemon. 2 weeks in Egypt was memorable and we added Israel and Jordan, which were fabulous.
We just returned from our ten night Egypt land/cruise with Avalon. Two nights Cairo, Five nights Nile, two nights Cairo, with two additional pre-trip nights we booked. Your videos were sooo helpful. Thank you! I will note that our ship MS Farah, was not fully booked so they moved us from further aft to further midship without us asking. That helped with some noise. We also were only docked front to back once. Other than that, we were very pleased and felt like we got a similar level of service and experiences as you did with AMA Waterways. My one additional warning would be to emphasize the physical nature of the trip - we joked that there wasn’t an OSHA (US occupational safety) regulation Egypt didn’t break! By the way, we used followed your water advice and dietary advice and had zero issues - same with everyone in our group. Again, thank you!
Great to hear you had a great time, and I am delighted that the video helped too. Yes, I agree with your Health & Safety point....!!!!!!
Thank you; my husband and I are considering a Nile River Cruise for 2025 and your information is very helpful and comprehensive.
We just booked ours for early ‘25 and they were almost all sold out already. Which is saying something given how far out we are and how expensive of a trip this is.
@@jefflimp561 Wow; we’d better get moving then. We find it so hard to plan trips so far out, but it seems it’s a necessity now with many of the far-away trips on smaller ships.
@@CruisingWithDeeI did a ton of research and ended up booking with Viking. Good luck!
@@jefflimp561 We are leaning toward Viking as well; had a very good experience with them on a Danube cruise last Fall And thank you!
Karnac temple at night is a must see, upset stomach is the least of worries, Hep A is a real possibility that can set you back for weeks
I really enjoy your videos. ❤ I visited Egypt almost 40 years ago and I think about that experience every day. Such a unique and wonderful place. You got me thinking about going back! 👍
Loved cruising the Nile. Our boat was smaller but comfortable and the sight are overwhelmingly stunning.
this is on my bucket list for sure. thanks again for another informative video.
Interesting... our 12 night Egypt Land and River vacation in 2007 was one of the best trips we have ever taken... We never went in and out via the shop areas and vendors weren't allowed to try to sell you anything unless you cross the painted line into the shop area at every location. We did have the security check points and screenings, but that's been the whole world since 2001.
I did a Nile River journey in 1982. There were no thoughts or Discussions on Security, It was an amazing experience. With the Grand Egyptian Museum Opening it will be a lot to see in open place.
Gary - A big 'Thank You' for these videos. My wife and I along with some friends want to do this trip to Egypt but are very cautious to book due to the safety issues and the rigorous itinerary. Your videos on the Nile and this trip answered so many of our questions.
I have done this trip twice, the river cruise experience was exactly as described. We enjoyed it so much. The only thing I noticed was the paying of “back-shish” or tipping. In Australia we are not used to tipping! But as wages are so low, it is the only way for some Egyptians to make a living. So if you ask anyone to do/ get something for you , it is customary to tip this person. Always carry small change for toilets, you may have to pay extra for toilet paper! Also if yo go from Aswan to Abu Simble, be prepared to leave early in the morning and if you are going by bus, it is escorted by armed policemen for the 4 hour trip.
BAKSHEESH
Excellent video. I'm going on a Gate 1 trip almost just like yours next March. Your comments were extremely helpful. Thank you.
Your tips and review of the AMADahlia is spot on. I was most shocked by Wings vs AMA but still the sights were amazing. Yea, the AMA page has many reviews about the noise in those cabins. I was on 4. Thanks for the great information.
Everything you said was "Spot On". I wish I had brought more US singles than buying Egyptian pounds. We knew in advance not to drink the water. There was enough security that even if most of them were on their cellphones, one would catch trouble before it happened. Vendors can be insistent, but exercise Jedi Mind tricks, "This is not the customer you want." AMA was good but it had a few shortcomings. The people are friendly. The country is one foot in the 21st Century and one foot in 1200BCE. The best thing is the history you will see and the history you will learn. Thanks for spreading the word, Gary.
I did a 4day 3night Nile cruise (Aswan to Luxor) last year. It was really fun. I hooked up with a family from Australia the whole time (family of 5) and we were assigned as one tour group. So glad it was just us! The only down side of the trip was when we docked to see Kom Ombo, our tour guide never showed up and we didn't get enough time to see the place as the ticket office was having computer issues as well. Since we decided we weren't going to wait for our tour guide, we went straight to the ticket office at Kom Ombo. We only had barely 30 min. to see the place instead of the whole hour because of our tour guide not being there and then the ticket office having computer issues. The rest of the time, the tour guides and sightseeing was great!
Please do 1 or 2 videos about casinos onboard cruiseliners. I love playing poker on vacation but it's very hard to get info from the liners websites. Thanks for all the advice you give in your videos so that we don't frack it up due to ignorance. Keep up the good work mate. regards from Sweden.
A trick I’v learned to not get upset stomach in any country is to eat some onion from that country (not imported onions) as soon as you arrive. I don’t know why but it works
We were told in Bali to drink red Fanta! I drink one a day when we are there, at least once a year, and have never had Bali belly. Like you, I don't know why it works, but it does seem to.
You have an excellent, articulate delivery of a wide range of info. Thank you.
You are the best cruise youtuber I've come across. Excellent work
I would be concerned about Carbon Monoxide dangers with those ships all rafted off like that, with their generators running. We often carry a small battery operated detector on some trips.
I would like to debunk the issue of health and safety concerning the water in Egypt. I made my first cruse on the Nile back in 2006 and heard the same warning before going there. Even about not even touching the water in the flood. But the water in the Nile is in overall fine. Especially upstream. Downstream in Kairo you can find trash tossed into the water. Sure you should drink bottled water, but I have no problem brushing my teeth with the tapwater or eat vegetables cleaned with the tap water. Same standard as many I-countries.
The real issue in Egypt surprisingly few knows about are about the big beach hotell facilities most tourists lives in when visiting Egypt. Like in Hurghada. They do reuse grey/brown water (your pee and poop) from the facility to water the hotell complex's gardens around the swimmingpools and restourants during the nights when the guests are all asleep. And this is done unfiltred. This is an extreme bioazard spreading bacterias and diseases among people. I do understand their goal of saving water, but this need to stop.
There is schistosomiasis in the Nile, so it's not quite harmless.
3:36, using a Camera Tripod. The issue is that 'amateur' photographers can take phots for free, but professionals must pay a fee. If you attempt to use a tripod you will be assumed to be a professional, and so will be asked to pay a fee. I was caught out attempting to use a monopod.
Yes, a key and good watch out and point. It was interesting as in one temple I was filming just holding my iPhone but someone using a gimbal with there's was told to stop filming...
Both videos are excellent and fair (if not a little kind). I think it’s worth noting that the Luxor/Aswan cruise is an illusion, the distance (and sites), can be covered in a taxi either way between the towns in a matter of hours. I don't know if the 600 mile Aswan to Cairo cruise still exists, but it will be less crowded as are the many sites between Abydos and Cairo. There is a Lake Nasser cruise to various salvaged Nubian Temples (including Abu Simbel), but the generally mediocre standards still apply on both. The prices quoted strike me as somewhat excessive. In recent years the experience has become Benidorm on the Nile. It's worth a trip, but manage your expectations.
I’ve wanted to do this ever since I was child and watched the movie adaptation of “Death on the Nile,” with Peter Ustinov, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis . . . What a cast!
If only the cruises were still like that!
such a fab movie. it was also my inspiration !
I LOVED our cruise and stayed on the beaten path, I never went down a side street!!
Great info and you are very good telling what do do or NOT..Great work!!
Thank you so much for this thorough review. Been debating about a Nile cruise. You definitely clarified many of my questions. I wonder if I’ll run into Hercule Poirot 😉
I used to study in Egypt and also work as a guide for the Czech tourists coming to visit in the mid 90s. The funny thing is how little has changed on the cruise! Yes, you have wifi, everybody has mobile phones and photos, the food shown looks better (and I was to many 5star ships with the groups), the security is a bit tighter too. But overall, I guess, even the ships look the same and the galabeia parties etc. Funny.
Always want to go to Egypt. I definitely enjoyed your video. Have a happy Father’s Day.
About the vendors at the attractions - you can get rid of them by putting on sun glasses and not taking them off the entire time. No eye contact = no contact. Take it from a blue eyed blonde woman 😅
Looks amazing, love Egyptian history 👍
Limited downtime. Sounds awesome. I can relax at home.
Having done over 70 cruises and on the Nile the the key question you should have asked is: "How are the kitchens inspected on the river cruise ship". On our river cruise ship the kitchens were inspected by scientists and health inspectors from England every month. The other subject you did not mention was "kick-backs" for the guides. The guides take you to vendors where they receive a "commission" which is probably not the most economic or best place/vendor to purchase goods. The pestering is unrelenting and intrusive. My wife was robbed on a Nile cruise in Luxor. It was an experience.
Great video. Since I was little I have been in awe of Egypt and always wanted to see it in the flesh but it looks like such a mission now.
Security in Egypt is impressive! Thanks for this tour! 😀
If you happen to get sick in Egypt, just to go any pharnacy. The pharmacists all speak English and are very helpful and knowledgable. They will advise you of what you need and you can trust them. They are well trained and caring people.
I used the pharmacy and they were extremely helpful.
On my list! Thank you for such an informative video!!
The help this video has provided me is invaluable! Thanks a million.
Glad it helped!
The big mistake that we made on our river cruise was we were prepared for how cold it could get. The heater in the cabin didn’t work at all, and the desert could become incredibly cold very quickly. I agree with every other point that you made.
What would you have done differently if you had asked about the food before the trip? Would you have taken your own food on board??? The same question about the cabin: as far as I understood, all cabins would have been a bad choice because of other parking ships and motor noice.
Very informative and well done video. Thanks!
I still think this trip looked amazing, but FYI - if I ever do a Nile cruise, I’ll be approaching you for a tonne of help in the process, haha!
Great video. What's the best time of year to go? Also, are there any ultra-luxury private cruises for smaller groups so you can avoid those "stacked-up" dock large boats?
Excellent vid... and trust folks, Egypt is place where you want to be in a bubble... lots of nasty surprises for the unprepared and unassisted...
Thank you Gary for such an informative video, you are definitely a cut above the rest in your information sharing of the very relevant details that people need to know! You are a real traveller who concentrates on the things that matter for most people I’m sure. I have learned so much from your videos, you have really made a very positive difference to our cruise and travel experiences with your tips. We seem to have very similar tastes and an appreciation of good standards. Thank you, we will keep Egypt in mind but probably a hotel based itinerary I’m not sure I could risk the possible “noise” pollution in particular, we like our rest 😂. Subscribed x 🥰🏴🇬🇧
Thanks for watching and great to hear your thoughts!!!
I still don't get it. Is it better to stay at the back or midship because of the engines?
I did this one years ago so my information is outdated but it was very similar to this video. I was very similarly “bubbled” off and guarded. I was safe and protected though I did notice that in Cairo we were being escorted by a guy in a suit who was armed with some kind of Uzi under his jacket!
I didn’t get an upset stomach because I did that same things as this guy did. My brother did and he that local remedy that worked for him. It is very action packed with a lot to do. I skipped a couple sites because I needed some downtime. Glad I did it but wouldn’t go again.
I really want to go to Egypt like most people. It’s been on the top of my bucket list since I was a child. But after seeing all the blogs about the businesses and markets people haggling you. I’m afraid I would get in trouble. Because I would tell someone in a quick heartbeat to get out of my face and not to touch me (put anything on me)I’m not buying your stuff, and that they need back up. I’m interested to know if they put something on you, you just walk away and ignore them. What can they do? Because seriously that doesn’t fly in America 🇺🇸
Yes, avoid salads and use bottled water for even brushing your teeth. I had no health issues in a month in Egypt. There is also hi tech travel clothing that will maximize comfort and cooling so you don't need to resort to shorts and tank tops.
Hi Sir Gary. First time I’m hearing the word Egyptologist. QUESTION? The labeled plates of food was a display to show the menu? Have never seen that. Good to know of good security. Groups of 24 a good size. Didn’t know GI issues were common. Guess water for ice was filtered. Thanks for all the great insights as usual.
Anywhere in the Middle East that is not Israel proper ran by Jews, you can get sick on the food. President Cheese in Israel is better than the exact same stuff in Jordan. In Jordan, it can get you sick, but in Israel, they keep their cheese fresher and get rid of old stuff and don't serve bad cheese. India and Pakistan can have the same issues.
Wow, I’ve did the same on my own with a 5 night cruise and guided tours and the total cost with 5 star hotels in luxor and cairo was around 2500€. Can’t believe people are paying the amount of money you mentioned
Can you do this cruise using a rollator walker?
My wife and I did a Nile river cruise in Nov 2020. We only had 4 people on our boat and only saw one other boat on the river. Everything was open and there was nobody there. Fantastic trip.
New Cairo City is so amazing and you gotta stay at the New St Regis Hotel.
My husband and I did a Nike cruise in 2019. It was so incredibly interesting! A real experience! Before we went we had purchased Egyptian cash and unfortunately our Canadian bank gave us this in large bills. At no time during the cruise were we able exchange these for smaller bills. We had a few Euros in coins and that is all we were able to spend in the markets. Very disappointing for us and the vendors.