alreadythere1

1 minute ago, travelordie said:

We are currently travelling and will be until we board our ship.  Therefore, applying to the Egyptian Embassy was not an option.  I contacted Azamara to ask about visas for Egypt and received this response:

"No visa is required for Canadian residents if they arrive onboard and have booked a shore excursion and return onboard before vessel departure. The exemption will be submitted via our agency and subject to antitreaties approvals. If you have not booked a shore excursion, you cannot leave the vessel, unless you have obtained a visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate abroad before arriving at the airport/onboard the ship."
 

 

Enjoy your travels.  As mentioned, we would like to hear the experience of cruisers from December 2023 moving forward. 

15 minutes ago, travelordie said:

We'll be on a cruise visiting Egypt at the end of October.  Why would you apply for a $150 pp visa from the Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa when you can apply for an Egyptian e-visa online for $25 pp?  Note that Canadians must apply before October 1st for the e-visa.

My apologies, I should of been clearer in my question.  Our cruise is November 2024.  We are looking for cruisers experiences with Visa's from December 2023 forward (outside of e-visas, as they will expire by then).  Did you require a Visa from the Embassy or were you able to acquire a "72-hour Transit Visa" in Egypt.  If so, what was your experience?  Don't want to be spending $300 on travel visas that are not necessary and sending our passports away if not necessary.

Will someone of the cruisers out to Egypt after October 1st, please post their experience into Egypt.  Do all Canadians need a travel visa costing $150 per person from the Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa/Montreal or did they apply for a "72-hour Transit Visa" on arrival.  If they could apply for the transit visa on arrival was it a long drawn out process.  Any and all of your actual experiences would be greatly appreciated!  Enjoy your cruise!

Sounds good! Personally I would do the Arab Baths last and return to your ship totally relaxed; the afternoon session is 2-4 p.m. http://malaga.hammamalandalus.com/en/prices

 

My itinerary would be Castle - Alcazaba - Roman Ruins - Cathedral - Picasso Museum - Tapas - Arab Baths. If you are short of time just take photos of the Roman Ruins from the street - you can clearly see everything without actually walking in; immediately behind you when facing the ruins you will see the rear entrance of the famous tapas bar 'Bar El Pimpi' that should not be missed.

Thank you so much! Your assistance has been greatly appreciated!

Apart from major stores everything is open on Sundays, and yes, sadly Flamenco Shows all take place at night BUT some Tapas bars have live music so you may well still hear some Flamenco. I would suggest you do the Castle first then down into the old town centre for the Picasso Museum and Tapas (the museum is surrounded by good Tapas Bars including one of our favouites 'El Gallo' immediately facing the entrance to the museum); the beach would be my final calling place as, to me, it is the least interesting part of Malaga and you may find that you enjoy your Tapas bars too much for much time sunbathing lol. To get to the castle take the shuttle from the cruise terminal then when you get off at the Plaza Marina look for the bus stand showing no. 35 for the bus up to the castle. After touring the castle either take another bus back down the hill to the old centre or walk a couple of hundred meters downhill from the castle and call in at the Parador Hotel that has stunning views over the city and where taxis are usually parked (worth going into the hotel for a coffee before getting a taxi as it is a very pleasant place and, in the event that there are no cabs available at the hotel, the staff will call you one as long as you have a drink). It is only a short walk from the old city to the beach and not long to walk back from the beach to the cruise terminal.

 

Have you seen my other thread that includes other suggestions? http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2268599

 

Hope this helps - let me know if I can be of any more assistance.

Thank you Campolady for the detailed reply, you really are an invaluable promoter of the city of Malaga!

Might have a change in itinerary....The ship is in port from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We thought we would take your advise and try the Arab Baths, The Castle, Cathederal, Picasso Museum, Alcazaba, Roman Ruins and of course tapas. Would it be best to do the Baths first thing in the morning? I will await your trusty opinion on which way to do this.

You are the Best!

You are in luck, December is the one month of the year when everything - including shops and tourist attractions - is open on Sundays in the run up to Christmas and Three Kings. Normal hours apply. Hopefully the Christmas lights will have been switched on by the time you are in port - Malagas festive lights are famous throughout Spain; once they have been officially switched on they are lit around 5.30 p.m. each day so you would just have time to see the best of them in the Avenida Larios area before having to be back on board your cruise ship.

 

We love the Picasso Museum (and the little Tapas Bar immediately facing its main entrance LOL!) so it is somewhere we visit very regularly. To be honest, I have never heard of free entry after 2.30 on a Sunday but do know it is free all day on the last Sunday of every month. I will try to find out about other Sundays for you. This link will give you a little information http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/picassomuseum.htm

 

Hope this helps.

Hi there, I really appreciate all that you have written about Malaga.

We arrive on Sunday, May 7th and I understand that a lot of things will be closed. We really just want to see Malaga on our own, no tours. Our ship is in port from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. I would loved of seen a Flamenco demonstration but I don't think this will be possible. We plan on going to the Picasso Museum and the Castle, try some tapa restaurants and hit the beach. Any other suggestions or in what order we should do this? Transportation suggestions would be appreciated as well. Thank you kindly!