Discover Egypt, Viking Premiere Review

Overall Rating

Discover Egypt Tour Guides, Very well informed and Interesting

Tipping System. Lack of Tea/Coffee and no butter at breakfast.
See General comments

We have just returned from a 7 night cruise along the Nile. This was booked months ago as a surprise for my Husbands 50th Birthday.
Firstly the positive: The tours and the scenery were breath taking, we were both a little nervous as we had never done an organised tour but Discover Egypt and our tour guide was faultless. Every day was varied and interesting, with additional tours for those who wanted to go but there was definitely no hard sell for those who did not. My highlight had to be the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, not normally one for history but the feeling you get standing in those tombs that have been there 1000's of years makes you want to see and learn more.
The weather was possibly a little to warm! understatement of the year in fact on an evening visit to the temple in Luxor at 7pm it was still 98 degrees. It was perfect when we were cruising and there was a constant breeze but when in port sandwiched between other ships it was stifling. My advice would be go in the winter months.
The boat itself I would be generous and say it was tired and needed a facelift, however it was very clean and the food although not up to five star standards elsewhere in the world was reasonable and we certainly were never hungry. My one moan about the food is that in the summer months they don't serve butter the reason being is to aid digestion?? and that tea or coffee is not included as part of the meal you pay separately.
Unfortunately while we were on holiday our airline went bust, however Discover Egypt arranged everything for our return flight with no fuss. We were fully informed at all times, we were taken to a hotel once we had checked off the boat and provided with an evening meal and refreshment
Now very sadly the negatives : I was quite taken aback with the method of tipping which is suggested to you by the representatives. The second day of being there we were asked to give one pound per guest per day for the coach driver (we handed over £14.00 as we didn't want to appear mean) then at the end of the holiday although you are told it is not compulsory the suggested rate is £2.00 per person per day for the boat staff, so that was another £28.00 and finally the tipping of your tour advisor who most definitely without question warranted a good tip, so all in all you are looking at nearly £70.00 just for tipping for a weeks holiday.
Then very sadly the most disturbing part of our holiday is that during our stay we had money stolen from our cabin, Yes we were partly to blame because on this day we did not put our cash in the safe it was left in the bottom of our rucksack in the wardrobe. I immediately alerted one of the Discover Egypt representatives who came to the room to go through everywhere to make sure I had not misplaced it, he then said he would report it to reception and possibly the police would be informed which to my mind was the correct procedure but to my horror he returned accompanied and implied I was lying and that it was my fault and "this has never happened before". At no time did I get an apology from Viking management or an assurance that this would be investigated. All Viking were concerned with that the final bill would be covered. So if you are on board be extra careful we paid a high price and had our money stolen don't let it happen to you!