Nile 2 news
Ken and I are so glad we decided to make this fast five day trip to Egypt to check out a new ship to use for Nile 2 and also some more sightseeing options. Some of you knew I was doing this and emailed me to tell them about what I learned. I thought I would write up a report and post it on LCT easier this way.

We are very enthusiastic about the ship we have found to use for Nile 2. For three days we looked at so many ships my head was spinning. In the last few years there have been some great improvements on the Nile River boats and standards are better than they used to be which is very good news. We have sailed on the Salacia boat we used on the 2010 Nile trip twice. It is a good boat with big cabins and good food and worked well for us on Nile particularly since we had it exclusively. However, since I was going to do NILE 2 and I heard about some newly refurbished boats we felt we had to come and see the boats available personally to make the right decision.

We spent three days inspecting as many boats as we could fit in and we saw most of the top boats on the Nile. We were able to see all the Sonesta boats, A&K boats (Sun Boats) Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, Alexander the Great and other boats and we have selected the Sonesta Star Goddess, it is a standout for many reasons.

Just for those who want to know the most expensive and generally used by Americans are the A&K Sunboat IV which sports the name Abercrombie and Kent on the ship and the Sanctuary Nile Adventurer a refurbished sun boat. A&K and Tauck use these two boats. These are beautiful ships with lovely modern décor but the problem with these two ships is the cabins they are SO small in the 180 ft range. The A&K boat has NO counter space and a small shower, the Nile Adventurer has a better bathroom and a little more counter space and would be my pick of these two. We sailed on the Nile Adventurer and loved the ship but were climbing the walls in that cabin by the end of the third day.

Sonesta Star Goddess versus the Salacia and other boats
We have decided to use the Star Goddess. The main reasons for this decision is that although the Salacia Royal suite cabins are 300 sq. ft with the design of the cabins, the dark interiors and the large furniture they feel much smaller than that. Also the bathrooms really are tiny with absolutely no room and incredibly small showers. The Star Goddess cabins are light and bright with 430 sq. ft. well laid out with good storage and a great bathroom with a full size bathtub/shower combination. Also a separate living area with a balcony two people can actually sit on outside. Great for pictures as you are floating down the Nile. The public areas on the Star Goddess are spacious for the small number of guests. Overall the Salacia and Nile Adventurer had pretty good food but there is no doubt that this ship is even better and our dinner on board the Star Goddess was great. Main course veal with morel mushroom sauce you could cut with a fork. I saw a lot of menus and they looked terrific. Buffet breakfast and lunch and table service at night.

All inclusive basis
We will book the boat on an all inclusive basis with all meals and beverages wines and spirits (excluding imported wines and premium spirits) wireless internet in your cabin, laundry service and tips included. The ship does not normally include all of these amenities so you may question this if you check the internet but we do a special contracted totally inclusive package.

Cabins
All suite cabins feature a combination of light wood floors and light carpeting white walls and furniture of the right size for the room. A bedroom and separate living area. A proper desk is present for computer work and TONS of plugs in the cabin. Voltage 220 be sure you have dual voltage appliances. All cabins have a hair dryer (need to bring your own it is one of those wall mounted units) two light weight robes and slippers. Good storage in the cabin including drawers (absent completely on many Nile boats) double closets, safe and mini bar. Bathroom has full sized bathtub with adjustable shower. Standard toiletries like shampoo, body lotion and small bars of soap are included and replaced as used. King and twins available and twins can be made into a King.

TV Phone and Internet
The 32’ flat screen TV is mounted on a wall unit and pivots between the bedroom and lounge.
Wireless Internet in all the cabins

Food
Egypt is not a place that you visit for a wonderful food experience so you must adjust your expectations, remember it is not Regent. The food quality is improving in Egypt on each trip I take and I saw a lot of menus from the Star Goddess. The food is primarily western style with the exception of their Egyptian night that features a buffet with Egyptian food. Buffet breakfast and lunch and table service at night.

Touring
Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens
I have now been into a lot of tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Each day they open three tombs and you never know which tombs will be opened. It is crowded and always hot and lines to get into the tombs even if you go really early. There are two “extra cost” tombs. King Tut and Ramses Vl. King Tut is okay but everyone simply wants to see this tomb because it is so famous so I will include that. I had never been in Ramses VI before and this is a “must see” in my opinion. The colors and decoration are brilliant and make all the other tombs pale by comparison. So my plan is to pay the extra upfront for everyone and visit Ramses VI and King Tut they are right next door to each other. We will then visit one more tomb the closest regular tomb open so you can see the difference between Ramses VI and the other regular tombs.

Valley of the Queens
Because of time restraints I had never been to the Valley of the Queens and most tours do not go here. MISTAKE – I loved the Valley of the Queens. There are only three tombs to visit, two of them for young boys and one for a mother of one of the boys. They are very close to each other and NO lines. Colorful and even more interesting to me as you see the father escorting the young boy to the God’s I loved these tombs. So they are definitely on the agenda.

Hot Air Ballooning
The hot air balloons fly over the Valley of the Kings and we can arrange for anyone who wants to do this to leave early take the flight and we pick them up to continue the visit to the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. The last group wished they could have done this. Many reviews say it was a highlight of their trip. HOWEVER A WORD OF CAUTION. The safety record is not good and there were so many accidents in 2009 they shut down the whole program for 8 months to try to improve the training of the pilots and put more safety features in place. My tour operator is not happy about their guests doing this flight but will make arrangements for the flight with the local company but not actually “sponsoring or pre-organizing this as part of their package”. They do not want the liability.

I also visited the Nubian and Luxor Museums this time that I have missed in the past as I am not really a “museum” person. However, these are great museums. Small and beautifully laid out it is a pleasure to wander these museums.

Henry Ayoub who will be one of our guides did a lecture series for a US University and I previewed all his material. He has wonderful slide presentations that helps clarify some of the information you are told on tour. Other interesting topics too and he is presently working on a presentation for modern day Egypt. Henry and Hany both our guides are Christians not Moslem’s and for those that are interested they can share some interesting perspectives of the combination of these two faiths in Egypt today. Henry will be giving his presentations when we have some down time on the ship and I think many of you will really enjoy his information.

Special events are confirmed if we have 26 people

After hours tour of the Egyptian Museum
This is really a private opening just for our group but they will not let you say that as if any dignitaries are in town they may also be in the museum but the date is confirmed for just our group and no other group. So the wording now is “After hours opening of the Cairo Museum”

Private Sunset and Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids

Dinner at Antoine Raid’s house is confirmed no matter how many people we have this is an incredible evening.

For those that were on NILE reading this I saw Hossam and Hany. We had Henry with us for the entire time which was a real treat. They all said to say hello to the Nile people and all had their pins! I could not believe how well they remembered everyone’s names and where you were all from. They really enjoyed the Nile group and were just glowing as they discussed their memories.

Okay that is my report and I am currently working on my Egypt web (some done but still a work in progress) for Nile 2 if you want to see any pictures I have some up. Not cleaned up yet just a start. Cabins and Public Spaces.

http://www.bkafrica.com/2012_Sonesta_Star_Goddess_Cabins.htm

http://www.bkafrica.com/2012_Star_Goddess_Public_Spaces.htm

It really sounds like Ngaire has taken a perfect trip and made it even more perfect. For anyone thinking of doing Egypt someday, my recommendation is take advantage of this opportunity. This is a terrific trip and Ngaire is the one to do it with. The guides are terrific and are sooo knowledgeable. You will not be disappointed and be so glad you took advantage of this opportunity.

Wow. Nile was a terrific trip. We had no complaints. It seems that Ngaire has improved upon perfection.

Wow - you've hardly gotten back home and you already have all this info and pictures on your web site.

We really regretted not being able to go on the first trip so we can't wait for NILE2.

Ngaire is lovable, extemely competent, workaholic - her clients all benefit :banana: :banana: :angel2: :angel2:

Joanna, you are so right!

What a wonderful trip Nile was for us, we had a blast... All I can say as a former Sonesta employee back in the 90's I heard people rave about the Nile Goddess and the Nile Goddess 2. I am not sure if the Star Goddess was in service at that time, but according to Ngaires reports its sounds like one of the best ships out there...

FV

oh, oh. Beware bucket list!

Cheers! Ray & Penny

The first Nile trip was unbelievable so I can only imagine what a wonderful trip Nile 2 will be like for everyone. I have never been on a trip before with such excellent guides as Henry and Hany. Ngaire and Ken take care of everyone's needs and more. This is a trip that should not be missed.

Any single cabins? If not, what single supplement?

THe mozart would be the obvious choice for a single cabin and we do not have pricing yet. I will put you on the list and let you know when I have pricing.

Thanks for the update. It sounds wonderful.

Please put us on the list when you get the pricing.

Well this trip is FINALLY available and details are on this website address. i have contacted all those on the waitlist.

http://www.bkafrica.com/2012_Escorted_Egypt_NILE2.htm

Ngaire

Can you explain the difference in the Egyptian portion of the Ist-Luxor trip 10/11 to this one. Wont the 10/11 trip include going down the Nile and going to the places you mentioned

Most likely Ngaire can explain this better, but I'll take a stab at it. We started in Cairo, but but I notice the difference being that we flew to Aswan and stayed at the Movenpick Aswan for a couple/few days going to Abu Simbel before we boarded the ship. We boarded the cruise ship in Aswan and got off in Luxor, and toured Luxor for a couple of days. We didn't stay in a hotel in Luxor, but stayed on the ship. We only had about 4 or 5 days going from Aswan to Luxor on the Nile.

Nile2 appears to start in Luxor and then goes to Aswan and back to Luxor, where the ship serves as your hotel. I loved Nile1 but this sounds even better. The Movenpick in Aswan was just ok by our standards--pretty views though, but you'll have them from your ship, which should also be more convenient than the hotel.

Posting from an iPhone so forgive the errors

A seven day cruise rather than a four day cruise plus a 430 sq ft cabin with balcony so a more luxurious ship. The ship is not all inclusive but our group will be all inclusive including beverages, tips, laundry and even internet (that was very expensive on Nile). Plus more added events with the private opening of the Egyptian museum and the special cost tombs at the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Nile was great this is just Nile with some more improvements. Only one change of accommodation without the stay at the Movenpick in Aswan and the additional unpacking. One less day in Cairo and one more day on the Nile.

Jordan has changed a ton as after the first trip I changed a many things. Should be far superior this time. Last time was my first land trip to Jordan so I learned a lot. It will be more days more sights and a flight instead of a long bus ride.

You have really outdone yourself on this Nile trip planning, Ngaire! Wish I was going even with the problems there....you are awesome...hope the trip flies!

Have you heard from Henry or Hany our fabulous tour guides?

No word from Hany or Henry the internet is down so I am not anticipating any news from them yet.
I am sure they are safe Cairo is HUGE and the demonstrations are located in a small area. If you stay home you would be okay.

However, this is wrecking Egypt's fragile economy and will create havoc for the tourist industry which is their livelihood. After things settle down the situation remains to be seen. The long term effect for many Egyptians and particuarly those in the tourist industry may be quite serious.

Just makes me sick, Ngaire. No comment here about the political thing, but for those who want to go there, Egypt TA's have always been so sensitive to security concerns. Of course now is not the time to worry about that, as no one can get there. It just takes so long for everything to get back to normal after something like this, as in Luxor in the past. I would never have guessed that these events would have taken place, ever ever in Egypt. We, of course, are neither in that place, nor that culture. May the oppossing sides come together for the benefit of themselves (and the rest of the world) and find peace among themselves and move forward.