Nile Cruise Luxor Aswan Egypt

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This is probably the most intense river cruise in the world.

So many highlights and historic places are part of this cruise, that only a good guide book will do it justice.

Stops on the way:

Luxor and Karnak
Esna (Isna)
Edfu (Idfu)
Kom Ombo
Aswan (Assuan)
Abu Simbel (optional)

We will therefore just present you with practical tips to make the utmost of this cruise of a lifetime:

Alcohol.

* Welcome in the Arabic republic of Egypt where alcohol is a no-no.
* Alcohol is only available in high end restaurants and bars and is very expensive.
* Spirits on most cruise lines are of local and inferior quality and expensive.
* Both Aswan and Luxor have tax-free shops at the airport where you can buy up to three bottles of spirits/wine on arrival.
Do so before you leave the airport as you cannot go back in. Their selection is good and well priced.
Their downtown stores have a very limited selection, so buy at the airport when you arrive.
* Ice cubes on the ship are often made from "local" water.
Take some ice trays or ice cube bags with you as most refrigerators in the staterooms have a freezer compartment
and use bottled water to fill them.
* Wine is of very mediocre local quality and expensive.
* Beer is of very good quality (Stella beer made by Heineken) and fairly priced.
* Stay away from vendors in the souks who offer you alcohol, you might be drinking spiritus or denatured alcohol .

Health.

* Sanitation standards on most cruise ships are very poor even where almost all ships advertise with French trained chefs or diplomas.
* Only eat well cooked foods and stay away from salads, ice cream etc. Make sure you use a totally dry plate at the buffets.
A wet plate is as dangerous as drinking the water.
* Take anti-diarrhea pills plus Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) Sachets with you.
* Take anti bacterial hand lotion with you and use it often ie. after shaking hands, handling money etc.
* Avoid eating from food stalls, even if it smells soooo good! Choose one of the international chain hotels instead. Or McDonald's.
The one in Aswan is particular good and has a great terrace overlooking the Nile and the spot where most feluccas depart.
Their ice cubes are made of mineral water. The Mac Chicken Arabia is delicious.
Trivia: How to spot a felucca with Americans on board? They all will be wearing bright life vests!
(A Felucca is almost impossible to capsize, even if you want to)
* Bottled water is cheap and plentiful; use it even for brushing your teeth.
* Buy (and drink) plenty of water. You will find it a lot cheaper to buy in the various shops, than buying at your cruise boat.
It is very easy to become dehydrated if you don't.
* Wear comfortable shoes, streets and sidewalks are not in the best of shape.
* The sun is very intense and often the nice Nile breeze will fool you. Avoid sunburn.
* Safety on board: Sprinklers and smoke detectors are installed but in general poorly maintained.
* Egypt is generally a safe and friendly country to travel. Egyptians on the whole are very friendly -
if you are in need of assistance they will generally try to help you as much as they are able.
Egyptian men will make compliments to women; do not take offense if they do this to you.
Men shouldn't be worried, either; if they do this to your partner/daughter, it will be nothing more than a compliment,
and hopefully won't go any further than that.

Shopping and other activities.

* You definitely will get annoyed with the constant haggling of the thousands of street vendors.
If you forget the expression "La Shukran" just politely say "No thank you" and walk away.
Don't get abusive to the trader; he is only trying to feed his family.
Wearing a business like shirt and carrying an Egyptian newspaper can help too!
* Both in Aswan or Luxor a taxi or horse carriage ride (often called an Egyptian Ferrari) should be no more than 10 LE in town.
* It is not unusual for a vendor to start the haggling process six, eight or even ten times higher than the price they would accept.
If you negotiate well: A Galabia a dress often used at the "Egyptian night" should be around 70 LE or 10 Euro max.
An hour trip on a Felucca (sailing boat) about the same (price = per boat, not per person).
A motor boat slightly more but much less fun.
* There is no greater experience than buying your galabia or beach towel while the ship is waiting to enter the locks at Esna.
Vendors will throw you their merchandise four stories up from their rowing boats while you negotiate and
you will throw the monies back in an old Kodak film roll enclosure, only when you have made a deal.
Going from Luxor up the river this will happen late night, which makes it even more exotic.
On the way back it happens in day time with many more vendors on the locks itself.
It is truly one of the highlights of your trip.
Tip: Wash your galabia or towel before using.
Only God or Allah knows how many times it has ended up in the ship's pool or in the Nile before you became the owner!
* One nasty habit of the vendors, especially in case of rides, is that the horse driver or felucca captain, never seem happy,
even after you give them a good tip.
They will try every trick possible to get more money out of you ie. the price negotiated is just for the horse,
British pounds instead of LE, per person instead of per carriage, etc.
Just give him the negotiated price and walk away and don't feel bad.
* Cigarettes. When buying from a street stall you might get a chinese brand instead of the real thing.
If you must, buy them at the duty-free store at the airport.
* Mini-supermarkets: no need to haggle here, sodas and bottled water are sold at a low local price.
No alcoholic beverages can be bought here. Beer is non-alcoholic (Amstel Zero).

Money.

* Just get your Egyptian Pounds (LE) from the many ATM's. You will get the best rate at the lowest cost.
* If you have a safe in your stateroom, make sure it is securely bolted.
* Most cruise ships do not accept credit cards, but do accept Euro's, US$ and English Pounds.
* Watch your belongings even on the cruise ship itself, it's not unusual that money or cell phones are being stolen
even during the meals while you pick up some food at the buffet.