maryann ns Posted July 25, 2009 #1 Share Posted July 25, 2009 My cruise will have a day long stop in Alexandria and I want to see the Great Pyramids and visit the Archaeological Museum in Cairo. I would rather avoid the big bus of a ship's tour. However, I am nervous about booking a private tour. It would be very expensive and inconvenient to miss the boat. Our next stop is Athens. Has anyone ever heard of a private tour operator not getting its passengers back to the ship on time? How much time should be allowed for the drive from Cairo to the dock in Alexandria? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted July 25, 2009 #2 Share Posted July 25, 2009 It is EXTREMELY rare for someone on a private tour to miss the ship. These agencies depend on cruise ship passengers for their livelihood, and we all know that bad reviews are more likely to be posted than good ones. They know how much time to allow to get you back to your ship safely and are much more familiar with specific traffic patterns, etc. than anyone posting here could be. If you are very nervous, you might tell them that you MUST be back on board ship an hour before your ship's deadline. (For example, if your ship sails at 7:00 pm, passengers usually are requested to be on board an hour before sailing at 6:00 pm, so you tell your guide you must be back by 5:00 pm.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercedMike Posted July 25, 2009 #3 Share Posted July 25, 2009 There are many many reviews of private tours on this board. I have not seen a single report of anybody getting back late. The private tour operators know that getting back to the ship on time is passenger's first concern and are very careful about it. Check out our review and pics at http://www.elite.net/~thehalls/holyland2.html Have a GREAT cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted July 26, 2009 #4 Share Posted July 26, 2009 If you book a private tour there is always a chance that it will get back to late. We have known people who have missed the ship. You should pad the time that you will make it back to the ship to account for unforseen problems. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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