Equinox 10-10-2009 Info For Linky41

[Duane T]

Originally Posted by Linky41

Hi Duane,

We are also from Charlotte and sailing Oct 10th on Equinox. Do you have any comments that might be helpful? We are going to Rome for a few days prior. Do you know anyone that took the ships Caravan in the Sands tour in Egypt? Also, on 2nd day in Alexandria, would it be comfortable to just be on our own and explore a bit of the city? In the other ports we have arranged private guides.

Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Elaine

Cairo - I did not meet anyone who took the Caravan in the Sands tour..we had originally signed up for this because of the Camel Ride but elected for the tombs. You might want to check the Roll Call for 10-10-2009 Equinox to link up with other Passengers planning similar trips. But on our tour (Cairo Pyramids & Tombs), our tour guide provided a pleasant surprise and arranged for us to take a brief Camel Ride at the Giza Pyramids, in addition to seeing the Pyramids/Tombs.

Alexandria - I took the ship's tour (Alexandria Panorama). You'll be required to reclaim your passport and take it with you in Egypt. I saw passengers walking out of the pier and into the city and later spoke to our waiter who did venture out on his own and had some wild tales of the cab ride in the city. Celebrity tours had police escorts for our buses which also acted as traffic escorts to get us through the city. Again, the Cruise Critic Roll call for Equinox 10-10-2009 might allow you to link up with others who want to venture out in Alexandria independently.

Other Bits of Information on Egypt:

1. You're required to reclaim your passport and have it with you when you leave the ship. Celebrity took care of the visas for us for Egypt (and for Israel).

2. If you go on the Celebrity Cruise Tours, they end the tour with a stop at a "Papyrus Institute" which they claim is government run with sales guarantees. Although they said their prices are set, I haggled down prices 20% to 50% on some souvenir boxes and a pendant. At the pier in Alexandria, their are rows of shops before you enter the cruise terminal where alot of the same trinkets found at the "Papyrus Instititue" can be bought by haggling down prices as well. You can get gold pendants with you name in Egyptian hieroglyphics on Celebrity so you may want to pass on the Papyrus Institute.

3. When we went, it was Ramadan, the Muslim Holy month where Muslims fast during the day then have feasts at sunset. This was a very interesting experience that our tour guides/drivers shared with us since at sunset street parities and Mosques are very busy with the evening festivities that run till morning in some venues....then they fast again. I was concerned about our driver as he did not eat or drink all day...but we had no traffic mishaps.

I hope some of this information helps or points you to others who you can link up with.

Have a nice cruise.

[Linky41]

Duane-Thanks a ton- so far on our cc roll call no one has responded for the Caravan tour. Good info about wandering around in Alexandria. Thanks again for the help.

[Duane T]

You're welcome. We also went to Rome 2 days before the cruise. That allowed us to adjust to the timezone change, see Rome, and we got some wine to bring on the ship (they allowed 2 bottles so we got 2 1.5 liters of Italian wines at a local grocery store for a 6-8 Euros).

 

You'll have a great time (weather won't be so hot in October)!

[Class81]

Great Information Duane T.

 

Did you require special documents/visa for Israel?

[Duane T]

Class81,

Celebrity arranged for Israeli custom officials to meet with us on the ship, stamp a special pass that we carried with us when we left Israel on our shore excursions. We were required to return the special vistor pass on the last day in Israel.

 

Also, when we went into Palestinian controlled Bethlehem, we were required to show the Israel Special Vistor pass to Israeli guards who boarded our bus on the way out of Bethlehem back into Israel. Very intersting experience.

[Class81]

Class81,

Celebrity arranged for Israeli custom officials to meet with us on the ship, stamp a special pass that we carried with us when we left Israel on our shore excursions. We were required to return the special vistor pass on the last day in Israel.

 

Also, when we went into Palestinian controlled Bethlehem, we were required to show the Israel Special Vistor pass to Israeli guards who boarded our bus on the way out of Bethlehem back into Israel. Very intersting experience.

Thanks for the information. I'll know what to expect...and be less worried about Celebrity taking our passport.