Uniworld River Tosca - Mini-Review

[bobby1119]

We just returned from Uniworld's Splendors of Egypt and the Nile.

 

The entire tour - from meet/greet at Cairo International to the return transfer 13 days later to Cairo International - was virtually flawless.

 

Our rooms at the Cairo Marriott at both the beginning and at the end of the Nile portion of the tour were comfortable, quiet, well air-conditioned and faced the Nile. The elevators in the Zamalek tower are under renovation, so there are long delays. Ask for a room in the Gezira tower.

 

The included buffet breakfast was good. We had dinner twice in Egyptian Nights, which was excellent, and two really wonderful late lunches, after touring, in the main dining room. The sampling of Egyptian dips (Meze) was fabulous. As we extended our time in Cairo by one day for additional sight-seeing, we were able to venture out locally to Abu-el-Sid for dinner, an authentic Egyptian restaurant within walking distance from the hotel. The food was excellent, and there were many locals eating there - always a good sign (make reservations).

 

The Egypt Air flights to and from Luxor, where we boarded Tosca, featured current model jets and professional crews. The flights to and from Abu Simbel from Aswan on the optional half-day excursion, however, were on Air Mephis, an airline with a dubious safety record (see link). This is the single aspect of the trip that fell far short of Uniworld's impressive standard of excellence. Uniworld should be paying attention to this issue. http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/memphis.htm

 

The River Tosca is a fine vessel. Our stateroom on Pyramid Deck was spacious, luxurious, tastefully appointed and meticulously serviced by the wonderful attendants. The marble bathroom rivaled those of 5 star European hotels in size, features and amenities. The public rooms were tastefully appointed. Although small in scale, the restaurant and the main lounge/bar had the feel of public rooms in a small Relais and Chateaux hotel, very clubby and choice. The topside teak deck with its canopied beds, sumptuous loungers and canopy-covered area, not to mention a pool and combined wading area, drew the attention of passengers on other riverboats when they moored alongside Tosca. A few very minor finishing issues, which originally caused Uniworld to remove the vessel from service for a while, still remain and are being addressed.

 

The dining room featured excellent buffets at breakfast and lunch and a limited menu, Continental in style, for dinner. The food, overall, was excellent, particularly the lunch buffet which featured many Egyptian specialties. The salads, fruits and vegetables were always fine and caused no problems. Wine was available for purchase. The Maitre D' reserved the same table for two for us for each meal.

 

The crew was, for lack of any other word, sweet. The service was provided with a refreshing degree of politeness, enthusiasm and willingness to please not seen on mass-market cruiseships.

 

Our tour guide - Abdu - who was with us for every step of the tour, including the inter-Egypt flights, the visits to the temples, museums and excavations, etc., was knowledgeable and passionate. As an Egyptologist, he made the history of this amazing ancient culture even more captivating and compelling.

 

This was arguably one of my best trips ever. While the primary purpose of this trip - to see the splendors of Egypt - was accomplished, an added benefit was a most positive introduction to the river cruise experience.

 

Well-done, Uniworld!

[MVPinBoynton]

It sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for posting. I do want to try Uniworld one of these days. A Nile cruise is a wonderful thing. You might want to post your review on the Africa board, since it is the main board for Nile cruises. Here is a link. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

[Tinkindling]

I'd just like to echo the statements of the original poster in this thread. We were very satisfied with the Tosca, particularly with the stateroom and bathroom, which was extremely large and well-finished.

 

Uniworld did not put us on Air Memphis when we flew from Abu Simbel to Aswan.

 

And finally, the Abu el Sid restaurant was fantastic, and I would like to concur that you do need reservations.

[2easypilot]

We just returned from Uniworld's Splendors of Egypt and the Nile.

 

The entire tour - from meet/greet at Cairo International to the return transfer 13 days later to Cairo International - was virtually flawless.

 

Our rooms at the Cairo Marriott at both the beginning and at the end of the Nile portion of the tour were comfortable, quiet, well air-conditioned and faced the Nile. The elevators in the Zamalek tower are under renovation, so there are long delays. Ask for a room in the Gezira tower.

 

The included buffet breakfast was good. We had dinner twice in Egyptian Nights, which was excellent, and two really wonderful late lunches, after touring, in the main dining room. The sampling of Egyptian dips (Meze) was fabulous. As we extended our time in Cairo by one day for additional sight-seeing, we were able to venture out locally to Abu-el-Sid for dinner, an authentic Egyptian restaurant within walking distance from the hotel. The food was excellent, and there were many locals eating there - always a good sign (make reservations).

 

The Egypt Air flights to and from Luxor, where we boarded Tosca, featured current model jets and professional crews. The flights to and from Abu Simbel from Aswan on the optional half-day excursion, however, were on Air Mephis, an airline with a dubious safety record (see link). This is the single aspect of the trip that fell far short of Uniworld's impressive standard of excellence. Uniworld should be paying attention to this issue. http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/memphis.htm

 

The River Tosca is a fine vessel. Our stateroom on Pyramid Deck was spacious, luxurious, tastefully appointed and meticulously serviced by the wonderful attendants. The marble bathroom rivaled those of 5 star European hotels in size, features and amenities. The public rooms were tastefully appointed. Although small in scale, the restaurant and the main lounge/bar had the feel of public rooms in a small Relais and Chateaux hotel, very clubby and choice. The topside teak deck with its canopied beds, sumptuous loungers and canopy-covered area, not to mention a pool and combined wading area, drew the attention of passengers on other riverboats when they moored alongside Tosca. A few very minor finishing issues, which originally caused Uniworld to remove the vessel from service for a while, still remain and are being addressed.

 

The dining room featured excellent buffets at breakfast and lunch and a limited menu, Continental in style, for dinner. The food, overall, was excellent, particularly the lunch buffet which featured many Egyptian specialties. The salads, fruits and vegetables were always fine and caused no problems. Wine was available for purchase. The Maitre D' reserved the same table for two for us for each meal.

 

The crew was, for lack of any other word, sweet. The service was provided with a refreshing degree of politeness, enthusiasm and willingness to please not seen on mass-market cruiseships.

 

Our tour guide - Abdu - who was with us for every step of the tour, including the inter-Egypt flights, the visits to the temples, museums and excavations, etc., was knowledgeable and passionate. As an Egyptologist, he made the history of this amazing ancient culture even more captivating and compelling.

 

This was arguably one of my best trips ever. While the primary purpose of this trip - to see the splendors of Egypt - was accomplished, an added benefit was a most positive introduction to the river cruise experience.

 

Well-done, Uniworld!

 

Has the repair work been accompished that was discuused in previous reviews.

[waldgreen]

For those of you who did the Splendors of the Nile Tosca trip- did you have any time to spend at the Marriott? Also, I have an extra day before and 2 extra days after and am thinking of getting a tour guide for at least one of those days to see things not included in the Uniworld tour. Can you tell me if the places you went to were only the ones listed: Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque, Egyptian Museum (did you have enough time there?), Sphinx, Giza day and Sound and Light show? I don't want to duplicate anything. THANKS!