opinion on cruise ship and hotel in egypt
Nov 11th, 2001, 10:46 AM
#1
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opinion on cruise ship and hotel in egypt
we are thinking of booking oberoi mena house hotel in cairo for our stay and using a cruise ship called champillion for nile cruise. does anyone have any experience of using any of those? the other ships which have been recommended are oberoi phillae and sonesta. any insight on any of these will be greatly appreciated<BR>ipsych
Nov 11th, 2001, 12:16 PM
#2
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Ipsych,<BR><BR>The Mena House is wonderful. The view of the pyrimids is great, especially at sunset; grounds are lovely; service is perfect. The older section has more charm; the newer section is less expensive. The main formal restaurant has wonderful Egyptian foods. <BR><BR>We cruised on the Oberoi Phallae (April, 2000). It was recently remodeled. Two cabins had been transformed into one cabin which means more room, queen bed, sitting area, and TWO bathrooms. Each has two large windows for viewing. It had about 25 cabins, one lounge and one restaurant. Good food, especially breakfasts. Great viewing of the Nile on top of the ship, where there are chairs and tiny, tiny, tiny pool (hardly worth mentioning).<BR><BR>Happy travels!!<BR><BR>Karen
Nov 13th, 2001, 05:06 AM
#4
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Sounds like we might have been on the same tour 1 year later than Karen (above). If you read hotel reviews on this site you get mixed comments on Mena House. We loved it - after a 12 hour flight and a terrifying ride through Cairo traffic, it was a wonderful spot - gardens, pyramid view. Cruised for 4 nites on one of the 2 Oberoi boats. Service was great - especially the chilled face towels handed out after shore excursions in the hot sun. There does not appear to be a huge amount of difference among the many cruise ships (we read everything on multiple BB, books, before we went). Egypt is magic. I am sorry to see its tourist industry suffering so in the past months and I am glad we went when we did!
Nov 18th, 2001, 09:35 AM
#5
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We also cruised on the Oberoi Phallae. (Dec 2000) I really enjoyed it. I did not have the room that used to be two rooms though. But being a cruise ship I expected the rooms to be small. Sonesta Moon goddess also looked fabulous.<BR><BR>In my opinion the Mena house is too far out. We enjoyed the Marriott. There's a brand new hotel in town that's supposed to be great---a luxury big name which is escaping me right now. <BR><BR>Have a great time!
Nov 18th, 2001, 08:19 PM
#6
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Stay at the Mena while you are doing Giza and Memphis. Then move into central Cairo. I had a garden room w/ a balcony and when I pulled aside that curtain in the light of morning and stepped out to see that pyramid..just there....standing....well it was amazing!!! We used the Sonesta Moon Goddess as the OP was in dry dock or something....I was a single and had a huge cabin. It was bigger than a state room on a liner......and most certaily the largest cabin I've had on a river cruise. Also we had our own balconies which was just super and I sat out there lots and watched the shores of the Nile slip by!!!
Nov 20th, 2001, 05:27 AM
#7
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Cannot advise on particular company but I did travel around Egypt solo. It does not pay to scrimp here by the best that money can buy I and you will be comfortable. I slummed it in $3-$25 hotels and learned the hard way. Ok it is fun to tell people I had a balcony at $3 a night but higher price hotels in Egypt are money well spent. ENJOY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, WONDERFUL HISTORY, WONDERFUL PEOPLE
Nov 29th, 2001, 11:39 AM
#8
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Just found this website with reviews from almost all over the world, incl. Egypt & Nile cruisers <BR>http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/frames.htm
Nov 30th, 2001, 05:40 AM
#10
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dear myriam and andy,<BR>thank you for your helpful tips. we have finally booked with mena house and the cruise with sonesta. oberoi cruise dates did not suit our itinerary. feel we got a good bargain due to lack of tourists in egypt.<BR>regards<BR>ipsych
Dec 7th, 2001, 11:51 PM
#11
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we too are thinking of booking menaa house but wish to insure we have a balcony room with a view of the pyramid.does any one who stayed there have a room no. or name. we are going in feb.2002 for 1 month with our 2 girls aged 7&9.<BR>at the moment i am having trouble getting across red sea to sinai,after afew days cruise,for some diving in sharm el sheikh.(with out flying)any recommendation for a dive club in this area. any insights or tips into the above would be much appreciated<BR>graham
