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“Just myself and 15 year old daughter on a weeks break....”

written by pernicketywitch on 23/03/2006

Good Points
Fantastic food, good overall value

Bad Points
Some of the ports are very remote, particularly Port Sokhna and Safaga.

General Comments
Just myself and 15 year old daughter on a weeks break. Weather was
wonderful 25-30 degrees every day! Loved the cruising experience, my
first, but hooked and would love to try again, perhaps the Caribbean,
when funds permit!

The staff are wonderful. Our housekeeper Daniella from Romania was a
little gem, always chatty and she kept the room immaculate. Made up
like a living area in the day, then after 7 all presented beautifully
for sleeping, complete with the wonderful towel creation...different
every day, and so clever. All the staff pamper you so well. The
entertainment (if you partook) was different every day too, they are
very professional, I was surprised, having endured some of the Spanish
resort efforts! No comparison.
Food was plentiful (24 hour if you could cope!)Loads of variety of
dishes, expertly presented every time. Could not fault the food in any
way. Missing it all already!

Excursions: My only gripe. The guides make a point of telling you how
cheap fuel is in Egypt.50p a gallon and how their cost of living is up
to 75% lower than ours. Then, why their government (or is it the
Thomson's?) can justify charging £68 per person (no reduction under 12)
for the valley of the kings, and the pyramid tour defies belief! Then
they make it very clear that you have to pay them extra for entering the
pyramid, asking for a further £4 pp (incidentally only £2 if purchased
from a small booth 100 yards from the entrance, which I opted for, out
of principal) £10 per person for entering the mummies room at the Cairo
museum (again, savings to be had if purchased at the nearby booth, I
saved £10 for the two of us, as I obtained a student discount for my 15
year old daughter.) I did query with the Travco rep, and expressed my
disgust as being asked for double. She blamed it on the Egyptian
government. There was a fair amount of pressure to be 'herded', not
only in to buying at the higher price, but to keep the pace, which was
fast, not good for those less mobile or the elderly.

Beware: When entering the pyramid. I would strongly recommend those
over a certain age, or those less mobile, not to bother, seriously, the
whole entrance is 3'6 in height, by 2' wide, to say you are doubled up
for 90% the whole time is no exaggeration! Once you get to the end there
is nothing there anyway, just a small 12x12 room with nothing but an empty stone casket and an
Egyptian telling you to "mind your head" and then holding his hand out for a tip (I draw the line at people expecting money for doing nothing!). Overall a must do cruising experience. Would or maybe should have considered the cruise and stay option, as three excursions in a week was gruelling, and would have been lovely to have chilled for a week following them.