Shore tours from Alexandria/Port Said

[aussiedisneyfan]

We are considering one of the Golden Princess Egyption criuises next year. Does anyone know if it is possible/practical to visit Giza/Cairo. A friend said he thought they were about 3 hours away which wouldn't allow much sightseeing time.

[Tripmaven]

We did a shore excursion from Alexandria to Cairo in September 2004. We made our own arrangements, but the ship had similar trips. They offered a day trip from Alexandria, which is a very long day and also an overnight since the ship moved from Alexandria to Port Said the next day. They also offered a day trip from Port Said for people who wanted to see Alexandria. The overnight made it a lot easier for many reasons. We also stayed overnight in Cairo.

 

A day trip gives you a chance to see the pyramids at Giza and a bit of Cairo. I am not sure if they were able to see much of the Egyptian museum or other areas of interest in Cairo. We were able to do these things as we had part of the first day and most of the second day with a guide. The ship didn't leave Port Said until midnight for the trip through the Suez canal. We also did the same thing in Safaga, for a trip to Luxor. Some people were off the ship from Alexandria until the ship reached Safaga, allowing four days of inland travel in Egypt.

 

The drive from Alexandria and return to Port Said are about the same time frame of 3 to 31/2 hours in a police caravan which is required by Egyptian law. They usually stop mid way for a break.

 

I think the choices are based on each persons priorities and fatique tolerance. It is a very long day for the day trip and very tiring. It is, however, possible.

[lwnbwlr]

Tripmaven:

 

Did you use a local tour guide for your tour? If so, would you mind telling me who it was, how to contact them and your rating of the tour? We're doing the Alexandria bit on HAL next spring and believe that a private tour is the way to go. Thanks!

[Tripmaven]

I think the best response to your question is to refer you to the thread in this same section on Egypt/India. If you tab down a few sections you will see my name "Tripmaven" and Egypt as the title. The information you are seeking is in that particular answer. Good thing because I lost my own record. There are also a few other agencies mentioned and I would definitely contact them for quotes. There were several independent agencies involved when I was on this trip. Everyone seemed pleased with their experience. Some were more expensive, but they also included more in their trip on occasion. Also, the prices vary based on number of people. My husband and I were solo while others had as many as 10 people in a group. I don't have a current web site for our tour agency. That was one of the down sides for them. They were experiencing a change in email and caused a few miscommunications. We did end up using fax for a couple communications, which can get expense. Champion Tours and DeCastro Tours are mentioned in this section as well as Naggar which is the one we used. Hope this helps.

[slgjhg]

I have been thinking about all of you for several days. Actually wanting to send emails's to all. Just a year ago we were on the Royal and what an experience.

 

I guess for this experience though, what matters is our satisfaction with our private tours. We were completely satisfied plus. We estimate we saved 50 0/0 by using the private company as apossed to the Princess tours. The other large group may have saved even more, based on the personality of the "ring" leader.

 

Best to all, enjoy, it is a fabulous place to tour.

 

Regards,

 

Shannon

[Tripmaven]

This is probably more of a personal reply on this thread...but wanted to say a fond hello and hope you are well. We are getting ready for a b2b on the Diamond Princess in April thru May 2006. We do Auckland/Sydney and then Sydney to San Francisco. We have spend time in Australia and many of the port stops, so the concentration is New Zealand. I have been busy getting some ideas together for NZ. Totally different experience then Egypt. Frankly, a bit easier since there is more time in the country. How are you Shannon? Any trips planned? You are a great planner as I recall. I have friends leaving for Egypt in a couple of weeks. They are going on a land trip with a group of 20 people. I will be anxious to hear an account of their experience. Best to your husband. Carol

[StevenW]

We are considering one of the Golden Princess Egyption criuises next year. Does anyone know if it is possible/practical to visit Giza/Cairo. A friend said he thought they were about 3 hours away which wouldn't allow much sightseeing time.

 

 

Hi aussiedisneyfan

 

I've just read your Aug2005 post, as I'm considering booking the Grand Princess cruise to Egypt etc in Nov2006.

 

Personally I found the best source of info on shore tours was the Princess website www.princess.com which details the day & overnight trips available. (All of which are escorted by police I might add).

 

Given the terrorism events/threats in Egypt referred to on the Aus govt website, personally I wouldn't consider any independant travel in Egypt.

 

I'd love to hear more about your plans.

[slgjhg]

Steve,

 

When our ship, Royal Princess visited Alexandria/Port Said we had no more than left the port than a bombing occurred in a Red Sea resort. These terrorists threats and incidents have occurred for many years. This is not new. When my husband and I first visited Egypt in 1997, the massicure of the German tourists had occurred in November of the previous year.

 

Wheather you are with a Princess tour or not, you will be in a militairy convey across the desert. ALL convoys have Militairy coverage. We (in our independent tour) were in exactly the same procession as the Princess buses.

 

Good luck with your trip, it is a wonderous country.

 

Regards,

 

Shannon

[cbw]

Steve,

 

When our ship, Royal Princess visited Alexandria/Port Said we had no more than left the port than a bombing occurred in a Red Sea resort. These terrorists threats and incidents have occurred for many years. This is not new. When my husband and I first visited Egypt in 1997, the massicure of the German tourists had occurred in November of the previous year.

 

Wheather you are with a Princess tour or not, you will be in a militairy convey across the desert. ALL convoys have Militairy coverage. We (in our independent tour) were in exactly the same procession as the Princess buses.

 

Good luck with your trip, it is a wonderous country.

 

Regards,

 

Shannon

Thank you so much for your energy and love of travel. We would like to know which independent tour company you used for the ovenight in Egypt. thanks

Lorraine and Chuck

Philadelphia,Pa.

[joybelles9]

Have returned fromPrincess sept 5 sailing did overnight in egypt withtemo tours Highly recommended contact is teymour info@temotours.com we saw pyramids at giza step pyramids rameses statues at memphis sound and light show buffet nile dinner cruise overnight le meridians hotel & breakfast spent over 2 hours in museum mummies room and tuts treasure room mosque khan khali bazaar and fort in alexandria total cost including all entrance fees $230pp there were 6 in the air con van had a great time

in haifia /ashod we used sharona at genesis 2000 we took lunches from ship 1st day and from hotel second day and ate on board saved lots of time for sightseeing

In israel we used sharona at genesis 2000 great firm highly recommended this was our best guide for the whole trip genesis4@netvision.net.il guide shargra 5 of us cost pp $320pp included churches of annunciation both coptic and catholic marys well in nazareth mt olives garden gethsemane old city tour church of holy seplechre and tomb variuos ruins wailing wall another church overnight prima royale and breakfast masada ein gedi dead sea float quarum caves included all entrance fees and hotel

higly reccomend both firms they were great and wish we could do it all over again

[Hlitner]

couple of thoughts on Egypt. Although we love to cruise (more than 50 cruises), the way to see Egypt is not on a crusie. Last October we spent two weeks traveling throughout Egypt (on our own..although we did hire private cars/drivers and guides) and explored from Alexandria all the way South to Abu Simbal. I would also add that we found the Egyptian people to be helpful and friendly, and we never felt any danger. In fact, it sometimes seemed like the entire country was dedicated to making sure tourists are secure. Getting back to the cruise port, if you are going into Alexandria it really is worth taking an excursion (either cruise line or private) to Cairo and Giza. Its not every day that you can actually climb (you can only go up a few feet towards the entrance) on the Great Pyramid, which is last remaining Anicent 7 Wonders of the World. The reason I recommend a land visit to Egypt is that the most interesting part of Egypt is in the Luxor area (Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Valley of the Artisans, etc) which is just not accessible in a one-day port stop.

 

Hank