AnJ

Going to be there the end of May, any suggestions as to who to go fishing with and what's in?

I like to arrive between 10:30 and 11 am. That ensures I am one of the first to board. The traffic into the port is unpredictable - it could be great or it could be backed up. Just bring a book and your patience.

Thanks for the quick response, what time do they actually start to allow you onboard?

Leaving Sunday on the Summit, I've never left from Bayone, what time would you suggest we arrive at the port for departure?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I was thinking along the lines of the Asus Eee PC. I understand they start at about $200 up to about $400.. As i said, I used my Ipod Touch, it was great for emaill, music and video, but I couldn't upload photos.. But it is small and I also had other apps in it such as money conversions and lists and I was able to carry it around in my pocket so that when I was out and found a place with WiFi I was able to email and get on line.. BTW.. I found that McDonald's in both Egypt and in Jordan have WiFi and not Starbucks...

Seafun You are a Romantic!!

New Salt, The next time I take a trip like this I'm going to get a "netbook" I used an iPod Touch this trip for email and facebook, etc. but it would be nice to have a place to backup photos while traveling.. I agree the Laptops are a little too hefty.

Seafun, they are correct, your review and all made my trip so much more fun, as I went along I kept telling people about your review, etc.. Thank you for all your help..

Just take plenty of memory cards for photos and don't forget the battery chargers and extra batteries. That's the important stuff.... Just now going over my photos and reliving the experience... Fantastic!

TNS - Once we began to fly within the country of Egypt we were able to put two bags below on the plane. Whwn we left Egypt to head to Jordan, we were able to leave a bag behind in Egypt for when we returned. Be aware on the final return to Cairo you'll be staying at hotel very close to the airport..

As far laundry goes, we brought enough for 10 days, and once on the ship we sent it out to the laundry on board. If it goes out in the morning you get it back by evening.. or that's the way it worked with us.. on the next to the last day we sent out a few things again and had them back by evening so that we could pack.. I think the total cost for laundry twice was about $75 US.

On the return trip to the US from Cairo we were able to put our Bag and carry-on below so that we just had things we kept out that might be broken..

You are just going to love this trip!!

TNS

We found out about the hotel a couple of weeks before the trip.. I was dissapointed also, but in the end it was fine an very close to the museum and you can walk along the corniche along the nile. You can't hear anything like road noise or things like that from your rooms and it's very clean.. Right across the street is a mall don't expect it to be like a mall at home, but it's about 7 fls and there's a couple of resturaunts there and a pharmacy.. In Egypt you can buy meds over the counter, so if that's needed, like a zpack or antibiotics, Anitol it's there, also other perscription meds.. on the second fl or the mall three is an Italian resturaunt and also a Lebanese resturaunt.. both very good.. on the top floor there's a McDonalds that has WiiFi, good if you have a laptop or Itouch, and stuff like that.. I got email each day there and kept intouch with home..

They give you enough time at all the sights except, I felt, Abu Simbel, which as I have stated, you do get back to the boat by 1 or 1:30, I wasn't too crazy about that.. If you are going to Jordan, you do have a day and a half back in Cairo so you could take a cab for a few hours back to the Giza to look at the pyramids again, it's about 20 USD for about 3 hrs.. Along those lines, we didn't go to Alexandria and hired a cab for the afternoon to take us to the Bazzar and an area where they make musical insruments about 4 to 5 hrs. it cost 100 Elb or about 25 USD We settled for 90 Elb but I ended up giving him 100 because he parked and walked with us and did the negotiations with the dealers.. Nice guy, I ran into him on two other occasions in Cairo and he was going to take us to Giza for 20 USD..

Really, you booked with GCT, I've travelled with them on two other trips, there's a reason why people keep going back to them, they do do it well.. I'm not saying they are always 100 percent, but it's close enough.. You'll have gripes, we all do but they are small... Don't sweat it, go with an opened mind and you'll have the time of your life............

I thought the optional tours are a little expensive, especially for the economy of Egypt, but they do a nice job.. Jordan was another story, I thought everything in Jordan was fantastic, and it's a much richer country and more educated than Egypt.. We only did Jarash in Jordan, not the Wadi Rum tour, wich I was dissapointed about missing, but the guide had advised us that it was a very rushed tour and we might not like it.. instead we opted, about 10 of us to go to little Petra and it was the perfect way to end this long and wonderful trip..

Our GCT group encompassed a vast array of ages, from two different college kids up to people in their 80s.. Most had been on multiple trips with GCT or OAT and were VIP members.. a very well traveled and educated group.. We also had couples in their 30"s and quite a number in their 50's.. and everyone was very nice... we made great friends as we always do on GCT.

If you are traveling with GCT I would do the post trip to Jordan with them.. We stayed at the Crown Plaza Hotel right at the gate of Petra and it's a very nice hotel.. That part of the trip, Jordan, was much more layed back and we enjoyed it tremendously.. As far as going on the baloon ride again, you might be able to find it cheaper, but I would stick with GCT. You have to get up very early in the morning to do it and they will have an early breakfast on the boat, drive you by bus to the boats that take you to the other side of the Nile and bring you to the Baloons.. They then reverse it when done.. I think it is worth the extra money not to get all hassled about how to get there and get back and getting up and stuff like that.. My own personal opinion.. As far as changing money, as i said, the bank in the hotel is open 24hrs per day and you really don't have to get all excited about changing money.. just be shure to bring enough small US bills.. As someone said, the only time you must have Egyptian money is for government entrances.. and if you are traveling with GCT, most of your admissions are paid for.... Don't sweat it, it's a great trip and it's all taken care of for you...

2Travelers; You can tip in USD, but for the bathroom attendents, we used 2 Elbs. about 50 cents.. as far as the doorman, if he gets you a cab, 2 Elbs. $1 for guy delivering yoour luggage.. You'ds do it just like home, but remember the prices are lower.. Now in Jordan it's a whole other story, Jordanian money is worth more than ours, even more than the Euro, and we used USD for everything never changed money in Jordan, just convert or ask for prices in USd. You even get change in USD which I've never had done before.. One USD is worth about .64 JD, like in 60 cents so, 1 JD is $1.40 USD.. if you can understand my logic..

tns, Yes, the ship was full, about 140 pass. you are broken into three groups right from the time of your arrival in Egypt.. We were in the Green bus, which were all of the people doing the post trip to Jordan.. We had friends on the Red bus and had also made contact with people on the yellow... Each group has their own Tour Director and leave for sights and trips sepperatly.. If you are traveling with GCT, don't be concerned about the numbers of people.. They know how to work out the logistics..

Yesterday i mentioned to bring lots of $1 in our hotel in Cairo there were two banks in the lobby that were open 24 hrs.. and you can get 1 ELB (Egyption pounds) coins or bills to use as tips for doorman or toilets etc... 1 Elb. is about 26 cents US.

Hi AnJ - Also - Abu Simbel. How was the bus ride? We are going there, but we were disappointed that we would be on a bus most of the day. What time did you leave and what time did you get back.

 

We went to Abu Simbel by air, left at about 5:30 am and returned to the boat by 1:00 pm. Wonderful site but felt a bit rushed. It was great but not my fav.. I heard a rumor that GCT is going to try to bus down, leave at 4:30 am spend the day, see the evening light show and sleep over and bus back the next day... As I say, I heard that rumor.. the buses did leave at 4:30 am in a caravan.

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Did you go to the home of a local for dinner and if you did, did you bring the host something?

 

Went to a home hosted dinner, about 20 people per family.. People brought little souveniers from their home city.. the host proudly displayed the ones from previous visitors all around the living room.. Things like baseballs with team logos, little lady liberty, peanuts from Ga. stuff like that.

 

 

Some of my traveling companions were wondering if you were able to order cartouches on the ship and then have them delivered, or - should they purchase them in Cairo?

 

My wife ordered 3 gold cartouches on the ship, (one for her and one each daughter and daughter-in-law) ready in 2 days... Bargin very hard... As a matter of fact, bargin real hard every place you go!

 

As others have said, bring lots and lots of $1's.

 

The high's of the trip for me were, the first sight of the pyramids, the balloon ride over the valley of the kings, and Petra. Jordan is a complete contradiction to Egypt, it's less crowded, much much cleaner, no pushy venders, and MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE. At times while in the hidden city of Petra, you can be all alone just walking in the desert.

 

In Cairo we stayed at the Ramses Hilton, in town, not as nice as the Marriott, but OK. The boat ride was great, used the GCT River Anuket. Clean a well maintained.. In Petra we stayed at the Crown Plaza Petra, it's right at the gate of the hidden city.

 

Speaking of Petra, be prepard to walk and walk and walk... it's about a mile and change into the Siq before you get to the treasury and about another mile and change to the resturaunt... But wonderful every inch of the way.. And you still have to walk out.

 

That's about it for now, will answer any other questions you guys may have later.. Still trying to get used to the change in time..

Got back last night from my GCT trip to Egypt and Jordan... Only one word... FANTASTIC!

We felt secure at all times and would recommend it to anyone. If there are any questions about specifics of the GCT trip please feel free to ask..

Seafun, Thank you and Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all.. Will write when I return.

TNS, I'll let you know, we leave one week from today, actually by this time next week we should be in the air heading to Cario!!

tns, I'm not quite shure I understand what you mean, I checked the site and everyone seems to have stayed at the Marriott and went on the Anuket... I have read some very bad reviews of the Ramses Hilton on Trip Advisor and have noticed that on the GCT site it now states Marriott or similar... I don't think the Hilton is similar, but who knows... I guess I'll see in a week..

Leaving in 9 days for a three week trip to Egypt and Jordan with GCT. Haven't begun to pack yet and it's getting close.. The problem is Xmas is getting in the way.. We got one change from GCT, we're not staying at the Marriott, been switched to the Hilton.. I do hope it's alright. A bit of a letdown after ther hype of the Marriott..

In all fairness to Joseph, here we are disecting the English language while poor Joseph is trying to find a place to stay and enjoy all the Tri-State area has to offer. The only thing to say is, BE SHURE THAT YOU ARE NEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. New York, New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx; just be close enough to a train or subway.

Interesting, I guess you guys never used th GW bridge every day for work before E-Z Pass, they used to sell commutation books.. Also Metro North sells a monthly commutation pass I think they now call it a Metro Card.. I guess my age is showing.

Commute or Commutation may refer to:

Commuting, the process of travelling between a place of residence and a place of work.

Zone;

I'm not quite understanding your disparaging reference to the use of the word??

Joseph; Don't stay in New Jersey if you wish to visit New York!!!! There must be Hotels in Manhattan that are close in price to this hotel in Bergan! First off what you'd pay in transportation and commutation would make it much more expensive than staying in NYC... Heaven only knows how you'd get back and forth and how long it would take.. If you are looking to visit the City for a few days, stay there, it's clean, it's safe and very easy to get around, either by Bus, Subway, Taxi or walking. Everyone in New York walks. Enjoy New York, and Enjoy your cruise!. I live on the other side of the Hudson and there are days when the traffic is soooo bad that you think you'll never get home.. I say again, if you are looking to VISIT New York, STAY in New York.

BlueHerons, is correct, the Grey Line Double decker bus is the best value in NYC. On and off all day for one price and it covers all the most important sites, 42nd St, Macy's, Ground Zero, Central Park, South St, Chinatown, Little Italy, Etc, Etc.... I think they even have a two day pass. You'll get more info on NYC with that trip alone than a Native has.. Have fun, it's a beautiful, clean and very safe City, actually it's the safest big city in the US.