Details are out - booking has begun!

Starting the roll call:

Ngaire & Ken
Leslie & Brad
Nikki & Scott
Ron & Sally Harris
Mike & Val Jackson
Kim & Alice
David
Wendy & Don Warner
Helen & Jerry
Victor & Rosanne
Sue & Ron
Barbara & Alex
Kathy & Al

Ron and Sally Harris
Mike and Val Jackson

We are booked.

Kim and Alice!

Yippee!!

ahhh..... the Pooch crowd is forming!

I just sold out of Deck 4 and we are now down to four cabins left on deck 3.

If you want the link again here are all the details.
http://www.bkafrica.com/2012_Escorted_Egypt_NILE2.htm

Everyone will have a fantastic trip with superior guides!!!

Did someone say pooch? Deal me in!
There will be a few Auburn Tigers on the Nile.

Please add Wendy & Don Warner to the Nile2 Roll Call.

We are already counting the days!

Yeah Wendy and Don's first post welcome to LCT.

David you must know that Ron and Sally are big Auburn fans. While we are drifting down the Nile you three can talk football, the other guys can talk cameras and computers, and we girls will talk Egyptian jewlery.

Sound great.

My husband Jerry and I (Helen) are in!
-----------------
Helen

We're booked too. My husband Ron and I will also be on this incredible trip.

victor and rosanne are going as well

my xmas gift!!

My sister Barbara and her husband Alex are going! We are still in. Anyone cancelling? Flights should be available soon.
---------------
Helen

We're still in!

Ngaire - With flights being available soon, do we need to know anything more than this in order to book flights?

Arrive Cairo anytime on 3/9/2012?
Depart Amman anytime on 3/24/2012?

Yay, Kim and Alice! The itinerary says "Private Sound & Light Show" in Cairo on March 9th. My preliminary search is giving me flights that dont arrive until 7pm , so I am thinking we may have to come in on the 8th unless the show is really late?
------------------
Helen

In most cases people coming direct from the USA do have to come in a day early. We arrive at midnight on March 8 have our air tickets already.

So many come in two or three days early or do some other travel in Europe and can get in earlier in the day. SO officially we are starting on March 9 but if your flight is too late then come in on March 8.

SUNSET private sound and light show before the regular shows begin.

I will shoot out an email to people and let them know this as FF miles with BA are out now but they come out earlier than most other carriers.

oh boy! ok.. I gotta get busy on this... I've been swamped with work and have dropped the ball, I guess, I didn't realize BA had FF tickets available already. This will be my job tomorrow! woo hoo!! I am supposed to have Fri-Sun off, but haven't had full weekend off since we returned from FUN2! This will be the first weekend off.
Thanks for the heads-up Helen and Ngaire.

Agent at BA is telling me that our dates are not yet open for FF tickets? I know Ngaire got her tickets so either agent is wrong or possibly FF tix are already gone? I have lots of DL miles so I can wait for them to open dates and go on the Air France flight I suppose. Or use Amex points for Emirates flight, changing planes in Dubai has some appeal. Anybody have any opinions?
-----------------
Helen

Great excuse to run through Dubai if they allow stopovers! But I would stay there a couple of nights and take in the sights, as well as a dune buggy ride. Fun! Then you'll be over the jet lag, and as I remember you are going to need lots of energy for touring!

Hi Helen

Tomorrow I will send out a letter on Nile 2. BA are DEFIINTELY OUT for the outbound and coach is open for the inbound with we hope buisness opening tomorrow. You can even go the BA FF mile website and see that these dates are in the system. Call another agent. That said the taxes on BA are SO HIGH that other airlines may make more sense.

We are only using BA as we have a FREE COMPANION FF ticket or we would be doing American that has better flights and time with their partners.

I have not TICKETED my BA flight we talked a nice man into holding it for us. We are going to use British Air on the way over but do not get to Cairo until midnight on March 8. Just waiting until just before these expire to see if First Class opens up with a companion ticket we can justify the mileage.

BA does ONE WAY flights for 50% mileage award level that really helps in getting seats instead of waiting for the return date to be in the system.

Taxes for DFW - LHR - Cairo were about $596 each whether you are business or first SAME TAXES. Still a good deal with a free companion ticket.
80,000 miles and $1192 for two people DFW to Cairo business class with miles from a credit card - great deal.

We are going BA over and hope to get AA coming back Amman - Chicago - DFW. We will probably be on game drive when these open --- Oh LINDA a favor please. Asking someone to do your FF tickets is a BIG favor it is never easy.

Whew! $596 in taxes!?! yikes... we'll be using AA miles, but not going to Heathrow!. Can't book the outbound until Monday or Tuesday. But,I'm thinking Iberia to Madrid. Or EgyptAir from JFK. I'm liking the Royal Jordanian Amman to JFK return. Whatever we can get using miles ... we'll see.

I devoted my day to researching and booking for NILE2 and wanted to share some of my finds.

I was able to book a one way United/Lufthansa award through Dulles and Munich to Cairo this morning. We did not have enough UA miles in our accounts, but I was able to transfer our Continental miles instantaneously to United, and also get the remaining miles that we needed by transferring AMEX membership reward points to Continental, and then transfer those over to United.

Later I researched the return since we would really like to take the Royal Jordanian flight from Amman to Chicago and then onwards on AA to New Mexico. I found out that you can book One World partners online with BA (thanks to Peter to pointing out the link for the Points Guy blog who is posting in detail about BA awards.)

Royal Jordanian award seats are available now for booking for the return on 3/24/12. Just like BA opens their award booking earlier than most other airlines, so too apparently does Royal Jordanian. A few weeks from now I will add on the AA flight from Chicago to Albuquerque when that becomes available - there is a charge of $70 for changing the ticket, but I felt that it was worthwhile to lock the flight from Amman in now.

So, those of you who have BA miles can jump on this now - Royal Jordanian also flies to JFK and London. If you don't have enough BA miles, but do have AMEX membership points, those can be transferred instantaneously over to BA.

I must say I feel a bit like I am kiting checks by doing all this transferring, but it worked and we are virtually all set for next year.

Leslie, you are surely a "master" at "kiting" the legal way! Glad you worked it all out!

I am in awe of what you did Leslie....I am so bad at this stuff and get frustrated etc - GOOD JOB!!!!!

Congratulations Leslie.......that is one of the most stressful things there is! But when it's done, it's time to celebrate! Good job....

Sounds wonderful Leslie.

Good job, Leslie!

I don't have enough miles to get us RT in business class. So, for the outbound, we're going coach through Madrid (not a bad flight from Boston) and I think it's a shorter flight to Cairo from Madrid than from London.

I'm hoping to get business class on the Royal Jordanian flight from Amman to JFK when that's loaded. [Edit] I'm using AA miles and they say that 3/24/2012 isn't loaded yet. I guess it is available now only if going through BA.

Got mine!! Gary Leff was not available so he referred me to the Points Pros (Ben) who got us 4 biz class seats Air France via CDG and KLM home via AMS. 120k miles per. Pretty good I think. These guys sure know their stuff, when I tried to get these myself I had way worse flights and it was 240k miles per.
------------------
Helen

Helen do you have email for Ben???

Joanna, his email is request@pointspros.com. His name is Ben Schlappig and with the fees and taxes and his fee ($150 for first pax and $100 for each additional)I got 4 biz class tickets for $900. Amazing.
-----------------
Helen

Thanks so much Helen

Put the AMM-JFK-BOS on hold 5 days ago, but it's for 3/25. There weren't any business class seats available on 3/24 for award travel. I called back every day to check if 3/24 opened up. No luck. So, I ticketed 3/25 just a few minutes ago since the "hold" expires tonight and the agent couldn't extend it. She said it's the last 2 business class seats. Since it's award travel, I can change the date if 3/24 ever opens up. Otherwise, we'll be hanging around Amman for a whole day after everyone else has gone home. :(

BTW, I tried to get the AMM-ORD flight on the 24th, but no biz class available for that route either. Made me wonder if Linda was able to book that for Ngaire.

Well at least you are ticketed, Kim. Always feels more committed once I have a plane ticket.
----------------
Helen

Leslie, I'm so excited to be able to ask you to add Al and Kathy to the roll call! :D

:woh: :woh: :woh: :woh: :woh: :woh:

Yeah! Adding you!

Thanks, Leslie!

Kim and Alice, we feel exactly the same way! We can't wait to see you again!!!!!

Just spent ninety minutes on the phone with United this afternoon. Lufthansa canceled our Munich to Cairo flight - it took A LOT of persistence to get them rebook us from Dulles to Frankfurt in First and then on to Cairo rather than their proposed routing from Munich to Frankfurt to Cairo with a 35 minute layover in Munich.

Major victory! First on Lufthansa to Frankfurt! :banana:

GOOD job!!!!!!!!!! It is PITA for sure

Fabulous Leslie persistence can pay off that is for sure.

Way to go, Leslie!!!!

good job Leslie!

I'm continuing to try to get our departure from Amman switched from 3/25 to 3/24. When I called last week to see if any seats had opened up on the 24th from AMM to JFK, I learned that not only was there still no availability for that, but American Eagle's schedule changed and the last JFK to BOS flight on 3/25 departs too early for us to make the connection. So, we are now going AMM - LHR on Royal Jordanian connecting to American's LHR to BOS, still on 3/25. I'll keep checking for something on 3/24 to open up, though.

Well, after what happened with our return flights (see post above), I decided to check on our outbound flights. Sure enough, Iberia has discontinued their Boston to Madrid flight on Wednesdays (or whatever day it was we had booked). So, we are now booked AA from Boston to London, then BA London to Cairo. The flight gets into Cairo late, which was why I liked the Iberia itinerary better. But, oh well. I think we'll have friends on that flight, maybe???

We have a looooong layover at LHR, but maybe we can get to the V&A museum. Missed that one on our 1 and only trip to London several years ago.

Economy class going to Cairo and business class on the way home from Amman. Hoping for a good tail wind going east!!

Well at least you found out about it in time to get something else you can live with. We are booked with Air France and KLM via Delta FF so I check that periodically just because Delta is notorious for changing flights around, usually dumping our seat assignments in the process. Did you happen to see the article in National Geographic Traveler? Someone sent me the magazine. The writer was virtually the only tourist at the pyramids and other sights. So glad we are still going.But hopeful that our boat is nicer than the one the Russian bunch had!
--------------------
Helen

Kim - I've taken your late BA flight to Cairo. Economy was fine. No complaints from my long legs. :) And we were in our hotel, having a glass of that yummy (NOT) Egyptian wine on our balcony within the hour. I think you will be fine. You are going to love this trip.

Oh Kim, hope it all works out. Dang, We sure go through a lot of stress getting from point A to point B.

Yes, Marcie! It's tough to coordinate and was stressful, and it could be again if the airlines keep changing schedules. But, hey! for "free" award tickets, I'll deal with it!

Betty, thanks for the reassurance we'll survive coach. Not enough miles for business class the whole way. Sipping wine on the balcony... lovely.

I am reading scary news about Cairo again this morning. I am just hoping, hoping, hoping that it all settles before your trip. That is truly the trip of a lifetime.

Saw the news too, Pam. I checked the State Dept website and so far no travel advisory so fingers crossed. Is the area where all the trouble is near the tourist sites? My sister is coming with us and I told her that maybe it is analogous to people could certainly go to Disneyland even if there were riots in South Central LA. Hope that is true?
---------------
Helen

We were on the go so much that where we were barely registered. I know the problem isn't close to Giza, but I am uncertain about the Museum.

New State Dept. Security Alert:

From the U. S. State Department:

The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling to or living in Egypt to the continuing possibility of sporadic unrest. A series of elections for the lower and upper houses of parliament is scheduled to take place from November 2011 through March 2012. Political rallies and demonstrations are likely to occur in the period leading up to and following the elections. In the past nine months, demonstrations have degenerated on occasion into violent clashes between police and protesters, in some instances resulting in deaths, injuries, and extensive property damage. U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and to be vigilant regarding their personal security. The security situation in most tourist centers, including Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea Resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh, continues to be calm. ...

The U.S. Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all demonstrations in Egypt, as even peaceful ones can quickly become violent and a foreigner could become a target of harassment or worse. Should security forces block off the area around the U.S. Embassy during demonstrations, U.S. citizens should not attempt to come to the U.S. Embassy during that time. U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and to carry identification and, if moving about alone, a cell phone or other means of communication that works in Egypt.

When my parents got caught in it all in Jan/Feb, they were just ending their trip. Their last couple of days were in Cairo and the pyramids were closed, so they couldn't go there. They had to view them from a roof top.

I'm getting concerned for the first time as final payment is due in a couple of weeks.

Hard to believe, my sister was just in Cairo 10 days ago on a post-cruise trip from the Voyager, which included a visit to Luxor. She loved it, noticed nothing, and all was calm and normal in the city then. I would be looking to see what happens after the elections that are coming up. And of course, we know that K&D would never put anyone in harm's way.

I am concerned also because final payment is almost due. I think if the trip is not cancelled then I will assume it is as safe as anyplace in this world and go. Of course if the trip is cancelled because it is in fact not safe there then I am sure we would be refunded. So only real concern at this point is having a plan B trip in mind so I dont have to stay home :eek:
------------------
Helen

Kim and Helen, if worse comes to worst and the trip gets canceled, there is always FUN3!

Made final payment on Friday, so did my sister. Is everyone still in?
------------
Helen

Hi Helen

Yes no one has cancelled all have paid in full we are a GO!!

Can't wait!!

Neither can we!!!!

Yayy!! We have had some worries but all reviews on CC say essentially the same thing, everyone felt "perfectly safe".
------------------
Helen

Does anyone know if an Iphone 3G works in Egypt and Jordan?

Sorry, no idea re: Iphone but FWIW my Blackberry world phone has worked everywhere in the world exc Antarctica
---------------
Helen

The iPhone worked just fine on Nile 1, so I would expect it to on your trip.
Just watch out for the high per minute charges! I think it was $2.50 per minute or there abouts!
You will have a wonderful time!

Doug

Thank you Doug! Does that charge include texting and accessing internet?

The charge I referred to was what your phone company would charge for voice calls. I don't know about texting since I rarely use it.
Internet will depend on what wifi you get locally from the boat and hotels. Beware of using your home phone company's plan for data it can break the bank in no time.
Frankly, I turned off all data on my iPhone. I did leave voice on in case someone needed to phone me. I used my computer for anything related to data when I knew I had a wifi signal.

Have fun. You'll have a great time. Happy New Year!

Doug

To add to Doug's comment. I did get a charge when I texted using WI FI. Doug is right. Turn off the phone's internet and do not respond to any text messages or emails unless you have WI FI. We have AT&T.

Thanks, you both answered my questions!

Interesting perspective on travel to Egypt from Peter Greenberg:
http://www.petergreenberg.com/2012/01/10/the-travel-detective-blogs-is-it-safe-to-travel-to-egypt/

I can't wait!

Thanks, Kim! I cant wait either. Peter G is the second travel writer (other one was in Nat'l Geographic Traveler)I saw saying right after "unrest" is the time to visit anyplace because no one is there and the locals are happy to see you.
----------------
Helen

I was wondering if anyone has a good recommendation for travel power adapters for a netbook, iPhone (3G), camera and eBook. I have searched the web and find several conflicting reviews, I sure don't want to blow any up! Also, if anyone knows of an adapter/plug for high power devices such as straight irons and curling irons that would also be appreciated. As you can probably guess I am getting my packing list together! Curious if anyone from NILE 1 can give me some tips regarding charging electronics and storing pictures, it would be greatly appreciated!

Sally

Sally, from what I understand, most things are made for both electric currents now. I know my Droid, tablet and straight iron are both currents. (not sure about an iphone) You can usually find out if it an item is adaptable by looking in the manual if you still have it.
My blowdryer has a switch to change from current to current.
What you might need is one of those collections of plug adapters so you can plug it in ;)

Here is a set of those at Staples for $12.99

Thanks Karen, I'm still trying to figure out if my Nook, iPhone and Acer Netbook are made for both currents because I can't find it in the manuals(I'm assuming they are but will try to find out online), but having difficulty finding a 3 prong international adapter for my netbook. I found one, but it is an entire cord that is rather pricey. Still looking.

Sally, I googled and found these answers:


"The Nook has a switchable power supply. You will need an adapter, though, to fit the outlet and it should work fine. You will, not, however, be able to order books in Europe. "

"Can I charge my iphone overseas?
Yes, you only need an adapter. The white box on the iphone wall charger has a built-in converter. You can read the very fine print on the box: 100-240V - Europe is 220V so you are fine. "

And for your Acer netbook:

"All netbooks today will accept "dual" voltages (European and U.S.). The power supply for my netbook (Acer) has a grounded plug (the one with the round pin in addition to the two flat blades).
My plug adapter is narrow and fits over the blades with clearance for the grounding pin (which doesn't connect to anything).
check for the Input Voltage ratings on the Charger / Power Supply for your Netbook (the ratings will probably be listed in VERY fine print - use a magnifying glass if necessary).

If the ratings state 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz then all you'll need is an inexpensive Plug Adapter (the style for continental Europe has two round pins). If the ratings are as stated above, you will NOT need a Voltage Converter. "

Here are some cheap 3 prong adapters, maybe one of them will work for you.

Karen you are such a sweetheart for taking the time and researching this for me! I have come to the same conclusion and found that my netbook has 110-250v capability so all I will need is a plug. Thanks again!!

For anyone flying Royal Jordanian at the end of the trip - today I was able to get British Air to assign us seats - something they claimed they couldn't do when I booked the tickets.

Karen, I got my 3 prong wall plug adapter for only about $3.00 (from Amazon.com if anyone else is looking for one), big savings from the $50 cord PC World recommended. If it wasn't for you I may not have found it even with all my web searches - again thank you!

Good deal, Sally! Hopefully you are all set to go now!

We are getting so close to this trip!! Getting vaccines tomorrow! (yikes)

Just a little over a month!

What vaccines are you getting, Kim? I got all the hep vaccines before we went to Africa, is there something else? My sister keeps asking me if she should get shots.
-----------------
Helen

Helen - I'm expecting it will be typhoid and hepatitis A at least. Not sure what else. Alice is going for hers in Boston today. I think she needs the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis also. I'm getting my in Annapolis tomorrow. I'll let you know what we end up getting.

This is from B&K website:
The CDC recommends that all international travelers ensure that their tetanus, immune globulin (hepatitis), and polio vaccines are up-to-date. Take a look at their website www.cdc.org for more detailed information. No vaccinations are REQUIRED for travel to Egypt just recommended.

Thanks, Kim. Think I am good to go. My sister says she started the hep A and C series. Is polio making a comeback in the world??? Can not wait for this trip to begin.

We are not going on to Jordan ( not enuf vacay time to do that too) but our flight home leaves at 1 am. Does anyone know what time we can expect to be back in Cairo at the end of the Nile trip?
----------------
Helen

I've been searching the board to find NILE 1 "sand mail" reports and can't seem to find them. Anyone know where it is? I've looked in 2010 Escorted Trips, Sea Mail and Long Voyages with no luck. Thanks in advance.

Sally

Helen, the flight from Luxor to Cairo is in the morning and takes about an hour, so I imagine you will be in Cairo by mid-day. Those going to Jordan will change flights for Amman in Cairo.

And here is a link to the posts from NILE 1:

http://www.luxurycruisetalk.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=19;t=000331;p=1

Sally, It's actually called:
"Desert Mail from NILE"

Go to Sea Mail, then select "Show all topics" on the top of the page. Then go to page 2.

Here's the link:

http://www.luxurycruisetalk.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=19;t=000331

Thanks, Leslie. Was trying to decide if we needed our hotel room since flight is middle of the night but sounds like it would be better than the airport for 10 hours.
----------------
Helen

Yes, use the hotel room. The airport is no place to spend 10 hours.

Just got back from doctor. Got shots for Hep A, Typhoid and IPV (Polio). Alice got those plus Tdap.

Is anyone else flying out of Atlanta on March 7, connecting to Air France in Paris to Cairo?

We are flying March 7 AF LAX and connecting at CDG to AF flight 524 arrive Cairo on Mar 8, Is that your flight, Sally or are you a day ahead of us?
Pam, I guess there are not too many airports where 10 hours is appealing, so we will go to the hotel and hang out.
Kim, I guess at this point we need only worry about getting eaten by crocodiles!
--------------
Helen

We are flying March 7th from Huntsville to Atlanta then Paris. Leaving Paris on AF Flight 508 at 1:35pm on March 8th arriving in Cairo at 7pm (arriving March 8th).

We arrive CDG at 2:40 so we will just miss you, Sally. We dont get to Cairo until 10pm on the 8th.Its a really long "day" for us starting from the West Coast.
------------------
Helen

We're also on AF 508 on the 8th.....looking forward to meeting you!

Do you all know if you will be able to report from onboard and elsewhere? Honestly, we homebound wannabe's are hoping there will be lots of sea/land/desert mail from all points!

Since the original NILE'rs were able to, I suspect we will be able to also. BUT I for one will certainly not give Andi (or Anne or Diane some other favs)any competition for witty and informative prose. I will, however, try to send something!
----------------
Helen

News is news, Helen, I am not witty either, but we don't need that or clever, just some stuff about what you are doing! I don't know that I will ever do this trip, and I want to enjoy it from the ones who have the energy to do so!

Hey, never met, you, but will never forget your welcome to us (from the other side of the glass partition) when we were arriving at the airport after your Antarctica Explorer II cruise in Ushuia, and we were the next group to get on. You and your friends waving to tell us what was to come on the ship! You were on your way to BA, I guess

Kathy - I'm glad someone else is on our flight so we can both enjoy our VIP service in Cairo! We have a 2 hour layover in Paris so we are hoping our flight from Atlanta is on time and the lines through security are short. If we have time we will be in the Skymile Lounge before our flight.

Sally

Olivia, I was so excited to almost, sorta, meet some LCT'ers!! How much of a big shot, world traveller did I feel, running into friends at the Ushuia airport, LOL!?
Sally, you should have lots of time. You will likely land at 2E and depart from 2F so only 10 minutes to make your way to the next gate. No security, since non-Schengen flight to non-Schengen flight
.----------------
Helen

Thank you Helen for the info, makes me feel better!

Uh Oh:

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo released the following statement to NBC News:


"Egyptian authorities have confirmed to us that two tourists, who they say are American citizens, have been kidnapped in Sinai. We are trying to confirm their citizenship and in the meantime are working closely with the Egyptian authorities to do everything possible to ensure the tourists' safety."

Updated at 7:10 a.m. ET: CAIRO -- Two American tourists and their guide have been kidnapped near a popular Red Sea resort in Egypt, South Sinai's chief of police confirmed to NBC News Friday.
------------------
Helen

Just read that this morning.

Understand the 2 women tourist have now been freed.

Yes, they have been, phew. Just starting to seem a bit out of control there. My husband is getting quite sketchy about this trip.
----------------
Helen

If you have to be kidnapped by someone it sounds like these Egyptians would be ones you would want them to be:) I don't know why but I had a smile on my face as I read this - is that weird?

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_new...rican-egyptian-kidnappers-were-very-nice

Sally

Thanks for that, Sally. It does reassure that the offical policy does seem to be take care of tourists.
----------------
Helen

My sister and brother-in-law (Mike and Val), who are travelling with us on NILE2 ask me to post and ask if anyone is on their flight from London to Cairo on March 8th,

Egypt Air MS778
Leaves London at 2:00
Arrives Cairo at 8:45pm

K&D told us docs are on the way - yeah!

Anyone got docs yet? We get home from Idaho ski trip tomorrow night.

None here in So Cal.
-------------
Helen

Home now. No evidence of attempted doc delivery.

Got my documents today!

Our tickets have arrived and everything looks great! We are looking forward to meeting everyone. This is going to be a GREAT trip. We are arriving in Cairo at 7:00pm on Egypt Air 798 from Vienna (code share Austrian Airlines 7141). See you soon!

Oh Boy, cant wait to go home and see if I got mine!!!
--------------
Helen

yay for you all

Bummer, no docs for us yet.
---------
Helen

From our documents, I interpret that baggage weight restrictions for our domestic Egypt Air travel is 44 lbs (total)/person checked luggage and 17 lbs/person for carry-on. I was wondering if everyone else is under the same impression.

Sally

Don't have our docs yet, but that luggage restriction is typical for any economy flight so it would be applicable on the domestic flights in Egypt and probably the flight to Jordan too.

No docs for me either but I understood that it is 44# per bag and we can bring 2 bags?? Not sure where I got that info.
------------------
Helen

I think it is 44# for both bags, not 44# per bag, and yes it applies to our flight to Jordan. It is my understanding they do not a have bag no. restriction only a weight restriction for the total number of bags you carry. This is the policy of Egypt Air, which we are on for all domestic flights. We plan to get clarification on this.

Sally, do your docs say that? I thought that generally the wt limits are per piece, altho I do not travel in coach much nor do I generally check that much luggage so I often dont give the limits a second thought. But my sister who is coming along on this trip DOES travel with quite a bit of luggage and is gonna FREAK OUT if it is 44 total over 2 bags.
------------------
Helen

In one of the pamphlets it says "We urge travelers to adhere to the lower baggage limit (two pieces weighing up to 44lbs total, plus one carry-on bag) because that amount of baggage will be accepted on all scheduled flights." It also says "If you have large suitcases, or extra bags, it may be possible to store them along the way. Please ask you tour consultant for more information."

The packing list Ngaire posted for the 2010 trip is practically identical to what I have in mind to pack and should easily come in under the 44 lb. limit. Alice and I will each take less than what's on Ngaire's list and will only have a backpack and carry-on each. Maybe Ngaire will have follow-on thoughts, but here's her post from 2010:

Got my docs!!! Yay. I saw that reference, Sally. But I also see our intra-Egypt flights are all on Air Egypt and per their website for domestic flights baggage limit is 1 piece/50lbs.
Will give my sister the news. So excited now!!!!
------------------
Helen

Thank you Helen, I wasn't sure I was reading it right!

I guess I was looking at some old paperwork but somewhere along the line in the past year, my flights changed and in fact we are on Flt AF 508 leaving CDG arr CAI at 7pm. See Sally and Kathy on that one.
-----------------
Helen

HONESTLY everyone you wont need much in the way of clothing and remember FREE LAUNDRY on the ship so you can arrive with things dirty get them cleaned. Before leaving for Amman or home you can do another round of laundry FREE.

Do not bring ANYTHING that is dry clean only. Light clothes - day time wear can be repeated constantly.

You will NOT need anything dressy at all.

Ngaire

Until they hit you with the mother lode of the monogrammed clothing that you can't possibly find anywhere else. i lost count of the number of embroidered shirts that Mark couldn't leave behind.

Docs arrived last night!

Yayy, Kim! See/meet you in Cairo. WooHoo!!!
----------------
Helen

I just can't wait until we have the chance to read more Nile talk when you all start your trip!