On a Nile Cruise with Alison Rice - Tips
Posted On
29.02.08
Tipping is expected and constant demands for tips (baksheesh) when you are off the boat and on some of the lower-priced boats can be a hassle. Some tour guides take care of the tipping for you. Your Travel Counsellor can advise which tour operators offer this. Some cruise ships helpfully suggest an amount to cover tips for your stay on board. Alison Rice, travel writer
Take £1 coins with you for tipping. You can also buy goods in English money. Louise Cussans, Travel Counsellor
Forget fashion, ladies. Pack comfy flats. High heels aren’t great to wear on board and on potholed pavements, and in tombs and temples they become an accident waiting to happen. Alison Rice, travel writer
If you see a special offer on a Nile Cruise that looks too good to miss, but no one has heard of the ship, think twice. It's better to spend more on a well-known cruise line. Nile cruise ships are notorious for hygiene/health problems. Sue Rossiter, Travel Counsellor
Expect fierce sun. It’s hottest in the European summer months. In winter be prepared for chilly dawn starts. Alison Rice, travel writer
Book middle or upper deck and request a cabin away from any possible engine noise and the entertainment areas. Helen Ward Travel Counsellor
A cabin on the highest deck gives you a better view of the riverbanks than from the lower decks. Rachel Varndall, Travel Counsellor
Read up on the history before you go. The sights, sounds and heat make this experience overwhelming and you could miss so much without a basic knowledge of who's who. In Luxor, make sure you see the sound and light show at Karnak Temple. Trish Griffiths, Travel Counsellor
Don’t miss the Luxor bazaars and shopping streets. Helen Ward Travel Counsellor
Some excursions, such as the sound and light shows, are not always included in the price. It often works out cheaper to pay on arrival rather than buy tickets on the boat. Helen Ward Travel Counsellor
Take a felucca ride in Aswan - just avoid drinking the tea if offered. The cups may have been washed in the river. Trish Griffiths, Travel Counsellor
If you have the time, combine a Nile cruise with three nights in Cairo and/or four nights in a Red Sea beach resort such as Hurghada or El Gouna. Helen Ward Travel Counsellor
Some of the content of the magazine refers to flights or prices from the UK. At Travel Counsellors Ireland we can source flights from Ireland and provide full quotes in Euros. Please call me for latest availability and prices.
