Egypt cruise on the nile - how to take spending money?

ally18

Hi,

I am fortunate to be going on a 12 night cruise on the nile in May and having not been abroad for some time, wondered what the best way of taking money abroad was? In the past, I have stuck to tc.

I have heard of the debit cards but have no idea whether or not I will be able to access cash machines.

Has anyone been or have any knowledge/experience of this destination as well? Will have 3 nights in Cairo and then remainder on board ship.

Thanks for your help.

Pollycat

We did a 7 day cruise from Luxor to Aswan and back, then 1 week in Luxor.

We put drinks onto our bill on the boat and then settled it by credit card.

We took cash, not t/c.

I wouldn't rely on being able to access cash machines whilst on the cruise.
In my experience, you'll leave the boat and either walk or be transferred by bus to the sites, then back to the boat.

ally18

Many thanks for that.

moonrakerz

Pollycat wrote: »

I wouldn't rely on being able to access cash machines whilst on the cruise.

Cash machines are reasonably easy to find in both Luxor (especially) and Aswan. Just ask your courier/guide on the boat where the nearest one is located.

ally18

Oh right, thanks.

Enterprise_1701C

When we were on a Nile cruise last November we had ample opportunity to go onshore on our own, but probably would not have had time to find a cashpoint except in Luxor. We used to nip off the boat of an evening to get water for about a third of the price onboard, picked up a few beers for at least half the price (not entirely legal, but shops by the river seem to run a bit of a black market in it, and it was the identical beer to the one onboard).

We took travellers cheques, could cash them onboard.

Don't forget to allow plenty for the tips - they expect more than we were willing to give to the centralised tip share, but we gave extra to those that deserved it.

Kuromei

we did something similar on our honeymoon last year - 3 days cairo and then 7 day luxor cruise

we took cash and no tc! we did find that we spent more in Cairo than budgeted for, but there was a cash machine in the hotel so no probs at all!!

also the ship will accept credit/debit card to settle bills and pay for excursions

Pollycat

moonrakerz wrote: »

Cash machines are reasonably easy to find in both Luxor (especially) and Aswan. Just ask your courier/guide on the boat where the nearest one is located.

ally18 wrote: »

Hi,

I am fortunate to be going on a 12 night cruise on the nile in May and having not been abroad for some time, wondered what the best way of taking money abroad was? In the past, I have stuck to tc.

I have heard of the debit cards but have no idea whether or not I will be able to access cash machines.

Has anyone been or have any knowledge/experience of this destination as well? Will have 3 nights in Cairo and then remainder on board ship.

Thanks for your help.

Luxor and Aswan are at the ends of the usual Nile cruise.

My advice was based on the points in between, I'm not sure there would be easy access to cash machines at Edfu or Kom Ombo.

I personally wouldn't want to be concerned about finding a cash machine whilst sightseeing, and although I'm comfortable wandering about in a foreign place not everybody is - and certainly not in Egypt.

The OP says she is going on a 12 night cruise which sounds like it's not the usual Luxor - Aswan - Luxor route.

moonrakerz

Pollycat wrote: »

Luxor and Aswan are at the ends of the usual Nile cruise.

My advice was based on the points in between, I'm not sure there would be easy access to cash machines at Edfu or Kom Ombo.

The OP says she is going on a 12 night cruise which sounds like it's not the usual Luxor - Aswan - Luxor route.

The short cruises start/finish at either Luxor or Aswan.
The 7 day cruises go Luxor - Aswan - Luxor.
I don't think there is such a thing as a 12 day cruise, a 12 day trip is probably a package which includes a 7 day cruise.
If you cannot manage to last more than a couple of days without a cash machine, then you might be better staying at home.
You don't actually need much cash anyway - I can't think of anything you would want to buy in Edfu or Kom Ombo anyway.

ally18

Doesn't look like I will be going anyway now!