We're not on NILE 2, but will be calling in Egypt 3 times on the Voyager's Dubai - Athens cruise nest month. Here is something I posted on Cruise Critic February 17thon the roll-call thread for that cruise:

Good news from Egypt

Two of my wife's cousins just returned from a tour of Egypt, and reported they were never fearful, never felt threatened or in danger. They said the Egyptian people they spoke with were very pleased to see them, mainly because the economy there is so dependent on tourism, but also because they were friendly people. They were in Tahrir Square and had no problems, no confrontations of any kind (they were in a small tour group with a guide). Many people spoke understandable English.

Ordinary Egyptians they spoke with do believe the American government is responsible for much of the problems we (America) are having in the middle east, but apparently they also see that most Americans don't support for example the unwarranted invasion of Iraq or the invasion of Iran they believe is coming. One of them told us of a conversation with an inn-keeper who very forcefully but politely made the point that Iran is within its sovereign rights to have any type of nuclear capability it can afford and build. He wanted to know what right other nations have to tell Iran or any independent nation what they can or can’t do in their own country?

The biggest negative the travelers reported is the filth and lack of sanitation they saw everywhere in the country; the mix or camels, donkeys, other animals, people, cars and trucks, etc., the trash and garbage everywhere, and the total lack of traffic controls, lights, etc. It just boggled their minds! The only clean, orderly places they found were the upscale hotels they stayed in until the last night, when the Egypt-Air flight they were on got cancelled - too few booked passengers - and they had to find a place to stay at the last minute and ended up in a somewhat rudimentary bed and breakfast. It worked out fine, but the situation was a bit disconcerting as it unfolded. Apparently the tour conveniently "dissolved" before the plane delay became real. (ADDED: no worry about that in this company!)

All's well that ends well. But this first-hand report from someone we know very well does calm the reservations we had had, particularly about touring from the ship overnight to Luxor.

ENJOY!

PS: We love everything about our Briggs and Riley luggage too, Ngaire. We had the ultra-valet garment bag absolutely torn apart by an airline, sent it off to them, and back it came a few weeks later, all better, except that you could tell they used some of the same panels because they had faint marks on them, one of which I remembered. Its very lightweight too! Our's is olive, which stands out in airline baggage areas as you don't see a lot of it. We picked up a gym bag that folds down flat onto itself and fits into the outside front sleeve of the 26" & 28" roller bags - handy to get all those purchases home!