QE heading to Safaga

[alibabacruisers]

Hi all!  We are on QE heading toward Safaga and we and others had been wondering if we would go and now we know we are.

 

We have, yesterday, had the safety drill for this area for which I had previously read about.

 

As we are going to Luxor for our excursion tomorrow, we watched the shore excursion lady, Lesley, give her talk.  I have read blogs over the years so was a bit more prepared for the journey, but DH had a meltdown and was close to backing out. The long drive, the thought of no toilets, the heat (which he normally loves), and the "long tunnels which are crowded and wont make claustrophobics happy" was all he heard.  We had discussed all of this over the lady year, but he must have been not "hearing" me....

 

I spent half a day trying to calm him and then we went to the shore exc desk and spoke to a nice gentlemen who answered all his questions and showed him a short video from a trip he recently took.  It showed the tunnels but they were bigger than my DH realized and that helped but he still thinks he will wait outside for me.

 

So, we will see how it goes.

 

I would appreciate any advice about your experiences or tips!

 

 

 

 

[Poole Boy]

5 hours ago, alibabacruisers said:

Hi all!  We are on QE heading toward Safaga and we and others had been wondering if we would go and now we know we are.

 

We have, yesterday, had the safety drill for this area for which I had previously read about.

 

As we are going to Luxor for our excursion tomorrow, we watched the shore excursion lady, Lesley, give her talk.  I have read blogs over the years so was a bit more prepared for the journey, but DH had a meltdown and was close to backing out. The long drive, the thought of no toilets, the heat (which he normally loves), and the "long tunnels which are crowded and wont make claustrophobics happy" was all he heard.  We had discussed all of this over the lady year, but he must have been not "hearing" me....

 

I spent half a day trying to calm him and then we went to the shore exc desk and spoke to a nice gentlemen who answered all his questions and showed him a short video from a trip he recently took.  It showed the tunnels but they were bigger than my DH realized and that helped but he still thinks he will wait outside for me.

 

So, we will see how it goes.

 

I would appreciate any advice about your experiences or tips!

 

 

 

 

Yes, it is a long drive, but the coach will have toilets and so do the temples.  Karnack is all outside so no tunnels. Valley of the kings, has tunnels for the main tombs, from the entrance to the tomb, you can see how wide the tunnels are make a decision if you want to go in.

 

PS don't pay for the toilets at the main entrance to valley of the kings, they are free, regardless of what the man collecting money will say, just say you don't have any money you will be let in 

[alibabacruisers]

Thanks for your info, it is helpful.  A good tip about the man trying to charge for the toilets.

[Victoria2]

2 hours ago, Poole Boy said:

Yes, it is a long drive, but the coach will have toilets and so do the temples.  Karnack is all outside so no tunnels. Valley of the kings, has tunnels for the main tombs, from the entrance to the tomb, you can see how wide the tunnels are make a decision if you want to go in.

 

PS don't pay for the toilets at the main entrance to valley of the kings, they are free, regardless of what the man collecting money will say, just say you don't have any money you will be let in 

and getting down to basics, take some toilet tissue with you.

I wasn't too enamoured of the 'quality' or to be fair, state of some of the  'loo accessories' outside main hotels.

You might be lucky bit always a good idea to be prepared.

If not stopping at a hotel, I'd also take some bottled water/cans of soda off the ship with you. We were advised to do this from our tour guide when on a Nile river cruise. Yes cans and bottles will be available at cafes/restaurants but you don't know where they've been stored. I could go into the detail we were given but it's not very pleasant.

[rog747]

Luxor and the V of The K is a must see, but of course security tensions are riding high, but Cunard know what they are doing.

Take hand gel, the paper money is bloody filthy, bottles of water - check the cap is on, a hat, take a pack of hand wipes LOL
If you buy cans of Pop then wipe them, or try to get a cup to drink out of or take some plastic ones with you from the ship (if they still have them round the pool bars)

You will get hassled galore but just a polite 'La Shukran'  (pronounced shook-ran) will be your most used phrase...

You do not have to go down in to any of the Tombs with the long tunnels, they are hot and can be very busy. 

Enjoy it, you may never ever go there again...  Luxor and the Nile is spectacular. 

[alibabacruisers]

We had taken advice of water, hats, sunscreen, toilet paper, some USD, and hand sanitizer.  It was a very long day and the toilet on the tour bus was pretty disgusting, but santized myself thoroughly....lol. The hotel we ate at was nice and helped to break up the trip. The V of K was very hard.  The tomb we went into was steep and hot but thankfully had huge ceiling height and enough room for the walk down and back up.  Many had to take a short break when walking back up. We could not attempt any more with the time constraints and considering the heat strain. But at least we got to see one. Karnak was nicer but our tour guide tried rushing everywhere and was not waiting for everyone before she started the commentary which had most of us rolling our eyes. The Cunard escort acted very professional and attempted to act for our benefit, which we appreciated.

 

We got back around 930 and were so tired, but glad we did it and now had a few sea days to recuperate.

Edited November 8, 2023 by alibabacruisers

[exlondoner]

20 minutes ago, alibabacruisers said:

We had taken advice of water, hats, sunscreen, toilet paper, some USD, and hand sanitizer.  It was a very long day and the toilet on the tour bus was pretty disgusting, but santized myself thoroughly....lol. The hotel we ate at was nice and helped to break up the trip. The V of K was very hard.  The tomb we went into was steep and hot but thankfully had huge ceiling height and enough room for the walk down and back up.  Many had to take a short break when walking back up. We could not attempt any more with the time constraints and considering the heat strain. But at least we got to see one. Karnak was nicer but our tour guide tried rushing everywhere and was not waiting for everyone before she started the commentary which had most of us rolling our eyes. The Cunard escort acted very professional and attempted to act for our benefit, which we appreciated.

 

We got back around 930 and were so tired, but glad we did it and now had a few sea days to recuperate.

I’m glad you thought it worth it. To me, it sounds more like an endurance test than a holiday, but then I’m a complete wimp. 😀 Was your husband OK?

[rog747]

20 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I’m glad you thought it worth it. To me, it sounds more like an endurance test than a holiday, but then I’m a complete wimp. 😀 Was your husband OK?

Egypt is an endurance test but the sights and sounds are worth it .  A Nile cruise on a good ship is holiday boot camp but you will treasure the memories - 

[exlondoner]

4 minutes ago, rog747 said:

Egypt is an endurance test but the sights and sounds are worth it .  A Nile cruise on a good ship is holiday boot camp but you will treasure the memories - 

I have never yet encountered an endurance test that was worth it. A Nile cruise will certainly never provide treasured memories because I don’t do aeroplanes, for they are far too much of an endurance test. 

[Victoria2]

5 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I have never yet encountered an endurance test that was worth it. A Nile cruise will certainly never provide treasured memories because I don’t do aeroplanes, for they are far too much of an endurance test. 

Certainty the return flight can be an endurance test when some of the passengers have a gippy tummy or Ramesses Revenge!

 

[WoorimBeachLady]

On Cunard day tours from Safaga. - “Hurghada on your own” was not the best. We did manage to get a taxi to a very dirty resort and swim in the Red Sea. Would not recommend.

[rog747]

11 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I have never yet encountered an endurance test that was worth it. A Nile cruise will certainly never provide treasured memories because I don’t do aeroplanes, for they are far too much of an endurance test. 

Well in the 1930's to get to Egypt on a Thomas Cook Nile cruise you would have taken the Night Ferry train from Victoria, then the CIWL Orient Express to Venice or Istanbul then a ship to Alexandria then the night train to Cairo or Luxor to join your Nile Vessel LOL -- those were the days 

[exlondoner]

2 minutes ago, rog747 said:

Well in the 1930's to get to Egypt on a Thomas Cook Nile cruise you would have taken the Night Ferry train from Victoria, then the CIWL Orient Express to Venice or Istanbul then a ship to Alexandria then the night train to Cairo or Luxor to join your Nile Vessel LOL -- those were the days 

Or a flying boat that actually landed on the Nile.

[rog747]

Just now, exlondoner said:

Or a flying boat that actually landed on the Nile.

Indeed, fabulous - Imperial Airways, and direct from Poole Harbour or Southampton LOL  - but you don't fly >? 😞  

[exlondoner]

1 minute ago, rog747 said:

Indeed, fabulous - Imperial Airways, and direct from Poole Harbour or Southampton LOL  - but you don't fly >? 😞  

No. The flight isn’t so bad. It’s the months of sleepless nights worrying about it beforehand. Just not worth it.

[alibabacruisers]

6 hours ago, exlondoner said:

I’m glad you thought it worth it. To me, it sounds more like an endurance test than a holiday, but then I’m a complete wimp. 😀 Was your husband OK?

Yes, he was ok.  Initially I went in alone, but half down on a rest platform I turned and looked up to see how far I had come amd there he was! He had come just inside the entrance and felt it was not as bad as he had anticipated.  I was very proud of him.

 

I have heard that it is better to do a land tour to Cairo but I will table that for now.