Going on a Nile cruise next month. Any dos and don'ts?

[maltaseagull]

The only extra excursions on a nile Cruise are to Cairo or Abbu Simble, as I remember it, every thing else in the way of Temples, Valley of the Kings etc. and every thing you would want to see comes included. We had Graduates from Cairo University to walk us round, they are great.
I don't think Balloon flights had been invented when I went in 2008. There are no Crocs in the Nile, the only thing that would get you is eating and drinking any thing that had not been heat treated or comes with a sealed cap when you are off the boat.
They will take you too the Temples in the middle of the night, that's getting you up at 6.30 and off at 8.00 to avoid the Mid day heat, which doesn't sound like a good move,as you are on Holiday. But it is, you can sleep by the pool on the Boat all afternoon.
I think it's a Holiday you really appreciate if you have any interest at all in Egyptian History.
Writing this I want to go back again.

View attachment 40996

I knew I would get one useful reply

Thanks

 

[chimneys]

I don't think Balloon flights had been invented when I went in 2008.

What, all of 5 years ago?!

"The Egyptian company whose hot air balloon crashed killing 19 tourists has defended its safety record despite revelations of previous accidents dating back to the 1990s, and one as recently as 2011.

Sky Cruise, which operates four balloons in Luxor, was inspected by Egypt's civil aviation authority on Feb 15, its manager, Khaled Hatata, said yesterday.

The company suffered its first recorded incident in 1996, when it was known as Balloons Over Egypt. On that occasion a balloon was blown off course and landed in the desert. The vehicles sent to pick up the eight passengers became bogged down in the sand before they reached them.

It had suffered more accidents since, though no deaths. Two years ago, a Sky Cruise balloon, identical to the one that crashed on Tuesday, was filmed ditching in the Nile, hitting a boat.

"This is the first time an incident of this scale has occurred in Egypt," Hatata said. "I do not know the cause of the accident but if I had known of any defect I would not allow it to fly."

He said there had been a fire extinguisher on board and showed the flight inspection docket, the balloon's safety certificate valid till October this year, and the company licence, which expires on March 26 and was in the process of being renewed.

The accident on Tuesday is the worst recorded tourist balloon disaster. Witnesses said the flight was coming in to land after a dawn tour over the Nile and the Valley of the Kings near Luxor when it got into difficulties.

"The ground crew said they were pulling the tether rope down and were surprised to see smoke coming out of the balloon," Hatata said. "The pilot was on fire and jumped out of the balloon, which then started to rise again."

One theory is that the tow rope dislodged a gas pipe.

The company, the first to start offering balloon rides in Luxor in 1989, worked with Thomas Cook and was founded by a British company in partnership with a local businessman. That businessman bought out the company in 2003, when it changed its name to Sky Cruise."

 

[Man of Harveys]

Don't go to a restaurant in Cairo which guidebooks rave about as "offering authentic Egyptian specialities", tuck in, have your photo taken with the chefs afterwards, then succumb to sodding DYSENTRY which in turn leads to you having to have a man stick something in your bottom (a needle missus) to stop you from pooing so much in 48 hours that you end up having to be pushed around the hotel in a WHEELCHAIR because you're so weak.

I can't remember the name of the restaurant though, which is unfortunate.

 

[chimneys]

Don't go to a restaurant in Cairo which guidebooks rave about as "offering authentic Egyptian specialities", tuck in, have your photo taken with the chefs afterwards, then succumb to sodding DYSENTRY which in turn leads to you having to have a man stick something in your bottom (a needle missus) to stop you from pooing so much in 48 hours that you end up having to be pushed around the hotel in a WHEELCHAIR because you're so weak.

I can't remember the name of the restaurant though, which is unfortunate.

El Abd Dabs?!

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Don't fall in the Nile.

They have crocs.

They bite.

There is also a nasty parasitic worm in the Nile which can burrow into your skin and give you a disease called Bilharzia which some of the natives get by swimming. Remember seeing it on some David Attenborough program – not very nice

 

[Dave the OAP]

There is also a nasty parasitic worm in the Nile which can burrow into your skin and give you a disease called Bilharzia which some of the natives get by swimming. Remember seeing it on some David Attenborough program – not very nice

From living in south Africa, bilharzia only was prevalent in standing water, not flowing

 

[Willy Dangle]

DO: stay at home DONT: go

 

[skipper734]

What, all of 5 years ago?!



Exaggeration is a term for a figure of speech.[SUP][1][/SUP] It means the describing of something and making it more than it really is. The verb is to exaggerate.
An example of exaggeration would be: “I was walking along when suddenly this enormous dog walked along. It was as big as an elephant”. The dog may have been big, but it was certainly not as big as that. Another example of exaggeration would be: “I caught a fish as big as my house.”
Overstatement is another word that means almost the same thing. The opposite of overstatement is understatement.
A hyperbole (IPA:[haı'pɝ.bə.li]) is a type of exaggeration that is used in literature. It is a figure of speech. The opposite of hyperbole is hypobole, which is an understatement.
People exaggerate things because they have strong feelings about something. People may exaggerate to make people listen to what they say. They may do it to emphasizesomething. They may also exaggerate just to sound funny:

 

[Official Old Man]

Egypt last year on a world cruise. Taken to see the pyramids and sphinx and very disappointed. Very dirty country. But glad we went as it's a must see wonder of the world. People trying to sell you something everywhere you walk. Had armed guard with our coach and armed police in open truck as escort to the coach. Personally, done the tourist thing and would never return.

 

[yxee]

Don't drink the water.

 

[graham moseleys gloves]

cruising down the nile was great. went 2 yrs ago. trip to pyramids is a must see and normally all your other tours are thrown in and these are very good especially the luxor temples! be ready to get up very early for trips as gets very hot by midday. didnt bother with abbu simble as it was a 2am start for coach trip through dessert for only a few hours. you will get pestered to hell by the locals as soon as you get off your boat and they try every little trick for money. your tour guides are very good but when its 40 degrees the last thing you want is to stand to long listening to history stuff...but thats just me. enjoy

 

[Bwian]

Take your own food then you'll reduce your chances of getting the which won't go away until you return home. Take vinyl gloves for when handling money.

Enjoy yourselves.

 

[drew]

Why is the apostrophe in the wrong place? The singular spelling is don't so surely to make it plural you just add an 's'?

 

[Creaky]

It's a great holiday - we've done the cruise twice - once with Viking and once with the Co-op.

We never felt threatened any of the time were there - spent a lot of time walking around both Luxor and Aswan - we got very tired on the first trip because we went on all the included tours as well as the optional one to Abu Simbel - if you decide on that tour I would suggest you choose the option to fly - it costs more than going by coach but cuts out an awfully long coach ride.

Most of the tours start early in the morning to avoid the heat - following a late night the day before can be a bit taxing.

The Viking cruise was very much a "Butlins" style one on board with themed evenings which can be fun if you drop all your inhibitions and join in. The Co-op one was a bit more sedate.

You may find that you will be moored up in Luxor and Aswan alongside other boats which keep their engines running all night.

Make sure you take plenty of sun block with you and insect repellant

Oh and it's a good idea to have some US dollars in low denominations, (preferably $1), very useful for tips.

 

[screamadelica]

I need advice from the much traveled members of NSC as to which excursions to pay for and those to avoid (No balloon flights!)

Your input will be appreciated.

And I do know the apostrophe is in the wrong place thanks

Do not eat or drink anything,friend came back with mushrooms growing in her stomach got them from the wet salad,6 months off work and nearly died

 

[maltaseagull]

Why is the apostrophe in the wrong place? The singular spelling is don't so surely to make it plural you just add an 's'?

You are absolutely correct ! It's a good thing I wasn't able to edit

 

[maltaseagull]

Thanks for all the contributions.

So if I don't eat or drink anything, speak to natives, go in a balloon,swim in anything other than disinfectant, take sunblock and insect repellant and take US dollars I should be ok.

Let me know if I missed anything

Oops and wear my Brighton shirt with El Abd on the back.

 

[1901Phil]

Have been 3 times. Read up about Egyptology before you go.
Some of the paintings in tombs and temples are fascinating.
Always wash your hands before eating and use hand gel if provided on your boat.
The light show at Karnak temple is worth going to.
Haggle with street vendors

 

[wunt be druv]

From my own experiences of Egypt,don't go.Full stop.

 

[Bwian]

From my own experiences of Egypt,don't go.Full stop.

My advice too. Been once, never again. Glad I got to see the Pyramids but in hindsight I wish I'd gone to Cyprus and gone on a day trip to Pyramids from there. Having said that, many people love the place and go back year after year.