Nile cruises

podmm

We want to go on a Nile cruise next year but are baffled by the huge choice.Also I'm not very adventurous food-wise so can anyone reccomend a reasonable boat with international cuisine.
regards
podmm

lisyloo

All the boats that travel the nile are very good boats and often there is a buffet selection.

Having said that make sure you go to the doctors beforehand.
If they do the job properly then as well as getting the right vaccinations they should advise you what foods to avoid which vitamins/supplements to take to help.

We have been with Thomas Cook and thought they were great although they were one of the most expensive.
To a degree you are going to get what you pay for.

Note that an "Egyptologist" is someone who has a degree of knowledge whereas a "local guide" has little meaning, so read carefully what you are being provided.

If you want the best then look at people like Thomas Cook, Kuoni, Bales, Hayes & Jarvis, and Cox & Kings although these will be at the more expensive end.

All of the boats and a very high standard and the food is a good standard with a lot of buffets to serve yourself (so don't worry about choice of food).

If you go on a cheaper boat you might get more nationalities and a less well educated guide.

podmm

Thank you-very informative

Pollycat

Hi podmm
We've done a Nile cruise twice and loved it both times.
If you've done some research already, you'll be aware that it's nothing like an ocean cruise.

I would recommend that you book the best boat you can afford, at least a 4*.

Food tends to be buffet style and generally International cuisine so you should be fine with the choice.

Do look out for food that may be 'making a reappearance', for example some type of meat that was available at the evening meal, then a dish with meat in sauce on the menu the following lunchtime.
The better the boat, the less likely this is to happen.

If you do get an upset tummy - and believe me YOU WILL at some stage over the cruise regardless of how hardy your digestive system is - do speak to Reception at once. They have excellent medication that really works.

Once you've sat at a table, that tends to become 'yours' and as they seat 6 or 8, if you've spotted somebody that you think may be a pain in the bum, make sure you don't sit at their table for the first meal.

Also, the boats sometimes moor 5 or 6 abreast so you may find yourself having to walk through a number of boats to get to the shore, it's not ideal for someone with walking dificulties.

Do be aware that the cruise can be quite exhausting.
Very early starts for the tours (to avoid the heat of the day) doesn't make for a relaxing holiday.
The temples are stunning, we were actually more impressed with those along the Nile than we were with the pyramids when we visited Cairo.
A good Egyptologist can really make your cruise, we've had an excellent one and a not-so-good one.
The best one was on the cheaper boat.
If you're really interested in Egyptology, you may find you get more out of the cruise if you do a bit of preparatory reading beforehand, so you know your Rameses from your Seti.

After each of our cruises, we spent a further week in Luxor which only added about £100 onto the package price and was great, both for relaxing and seeing different temples that the cruise didn't cover and also for revisiting places closer to Luxor, like the temples of Karnak & Luxor.

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Polly

luxor4t

We have cruised a number of times with Thomson on the Presidential Nile cruises (PNC).
Not the most expensive, certainly not pretentious 'mock ocean liners', but good solid value.
Full board, a good range of included excursions with trained Egyptologists- plus the chance to book extra excursions, entertainment most nights etc etc
Lots of information and reviews on the 'trip advisor' website.