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RCI 12 day Mediterranean Egypt cruise begin in Rome

RCI 12 day Mediterranean Egypt cruise begin in Rome

Old Aug 21st, 2010, 01:15 PM
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RCI 12 day Mediterranean Egypt cruise begin in Rome

We don't want to make mistakes on our 25th anniversary cruise. Is there a best way to see the highlights of Rome with only 3 days before the cruise? Our cruise will also stop in Messina, Sicily and Naples. Any suggestions on the best way to see the best of Athens and Rhodes? We have been told that sometimes the cruise land tours are not always the best way to go. For 2 full days in Egypt we know we will need a tour group and wonder if anyone has any suggestions for that also? Thanks for any suggestions/recommendations. This is a June 2011 cruise.
Just an FYI..this is not our first cruise. We have been on Celebrity (Alaska) and NCL(Baltic) in the past and enjoyed both experiences.
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Old Aug 21st, 2010, 02:52 PM
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You really should go to to cruisecritic.com and sign up if you haven't already. You can then go to the rollcall section for your particular cruise. You can meet fellow passengers on line and usually get together with some for private tours. We do this everytime and have never been disappointed. We had particularly great tours in Rome and Athens with private companies and the cost is much cheaper as you are sharing with others but don't have the crowd of the ships tours and much better service.
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Old Aug 21st, 2010, 03:33 PM
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Thank you wrldtrvlr05..I have signed up to begin the process
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Old Aug 21st, 2010, 04:09 PM
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We almost never take the tours offered by the cruise ship. We often find that the hop on/off buses are best to get a quick overview of the city if it is you first visit. Ride the loop completely the firs time so that you can judge which sites you want to see in more detail. The local TI can also be a great source of info especially for local walking tours. But that should be researched ahead of time so that you make efficient use of your time.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 06:05 AM
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Many on Cruise Critic for Egypt have planned overnight tours..and frankly there is safety in numbers with private tours.. Just even on this site so many problems with pickpockets in Italy.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 08:49 AM
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ParrotMom, how high is the Pyramid Laser & Light show is on your to-see list? How about Nile River Cruise? We will be seeing the Pyramid during the day.

Since time is limited, we opyted for Alexandria National Museum and the Catacombs of Kom El Shugafa instead of the laser show and river cruise.

The laser and light show will mean overnight at Cairo and miss most of Alexandria. After Laser show, go to hotel, morning Nile River cruise, back to the Pyramids, onwards to Alexandria.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 09:01 AM
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Eschew .... you can miss the Sound and Light show at the Pyramids ,( since you will already be seeing the Pyramids during the day).

however, what do you mean by Nile cruise....

Is this a short cruise on the Nile River from Cairo ?

Is this is a cruise boat ( ?) or a feluca.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 09:05 AM
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Hi ParrotMom
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 11:13 AM
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I am considering a Ramses 1 day tour picking us up at the Alexandrai port taking us to the pyramids, Sphinx and a felucca 1 hour boat ride on the Nile. Any comments/recommendations?
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 11:39 AM
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I assume that the Ramses 1 day tour is from the cruise ship when it docks in Alexandria.

Yes you can do the Pyramids and Sphinx and do the felucca ride, just remember that you have at least six hours of travel,

to get from Alexandria to Cairo and back
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 08:50 PM
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to wrldtrvlr05 ...I signed up at cruisecritic.com but do not know if I am looking in the correct place since I am unable to locate the rollcall section.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 09:18 PM
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sandiegoca; it takes a bit to get there. After logging on
to cruisecritic; scroll til you see c c message boards;
scroll down 6 sections to: Roll calls members only.
Click on the cruise line name; then click on the ship
you will be on.
hope this helps.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 09:38 PM
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sandiego - I don't know the date of your cruise exactly but here is a link to Mariner of the Seas June 4/11
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1200977

If thats not it browse through the rest of the cruise dates as there is another one later in June. If you can't find it just tell me your date and I will get the link for you.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 09:40 PM
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Sorry should have reminded you to sign in first or you can't get to the rollcall.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2010, 09:43 PM
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thank you to all...found it now and have been able to get connected.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2010, 09:08 AM
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Percy, Thanks for the info on the laser and light show. The comments on the Africa and Mid East forum are all saying the light and laser show is not as big a deal as I have originally thought.

I don't believe the Nile River cruise is not on a felucca. It is an early morning "breakfast" cruise up the Nile River, and we were suppose to get off some place near some Pyramid and then a bus will pick us up and then travel on to Alexandria to meet up with the ship, driving past the Fortress and other scenic drives etc.

For now, my inclination is to stick with what I have. I also wanted to see the Alexandria Library and the Light house. So, if I take in the laser and light show and the morning river cruise, I won't have much time in Alexandria.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2010, 02:57 PM
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Eschew

Okay I see now what you mean by the Nile cruise.

There are large boats docked in Cairo that will take you for a Nile cruise and you can see the sights of Cairo on either side.

Now if I have it straight you are planning to do the Sound and Light show the night BEFORE the early morning breakfast cruise.

The Alexandria Library is something to see.

By Lighthouse ...I assume you mean Qaitbey Citadel, this is a nice place to visit also.

Have a good time
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Old Aug 23rd, 2010, 03:32 PM
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Thanks Percy. It appears that we will skip the laser light show and the breakfast on the Nile at this point and stick to our original plans.

The light House was burnt down long time ago and Qiatbey Citadel was built in its place. For whatever reason, people keep calling itthe light house. I don't know if there is enough time in Alexandria to do all the things that we wanted.
The problem with me is that I can spend a whole day in a museum or the Library and it is just not in the cards. With about 10 hours total, I think I will miss at least a couple places.

Here is a question for you, if you can only pick 1 of the 2 options below, which one would you pick?
(1) Qaitbey Citadel and the Alexnadria Library
(2) Alexandria Museum and the Catacombs.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2010, 07:45 PM
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You know with 10 hours total you can do all four places.

Have you thought about Montazah Palace and grounds....very lovely place.

I guess they still call it the Lighthouse because the Qaitbey Citadel was built from recycled stones from the lighthouse !!

Riding along the Alexandria Corniche ( Along the Mediterranean Sea) , you will see the Qaitbey Fort and the Library.

Let me put it this way:

If you had a horseshoe and you layed it in front of you with the curved part toward you....then

on the left upper point is Qaitbey Fort and on the right upper point is the Library.

The Bay area ( inside the horseshoe is water with many little boats in it.

The sight and view is terrific.

When you are at Qaitbey Fort...you can look across the water toward the Library and vice versa.

I would really try to see the Montazah Palace !!
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Old Aug 25th, 2010, 08:54 AM
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Thanks Percy, I will have to look it up now. So little time left, so much things to get done. At least my passport is renewed (at least 6 months expiry date left from date of departure), and bought Euros for spending money as I don't like using credit card when out of the country.

Here is another question for you. All those places that I have listed plus the Montazah Palace, which ones are closest to the dock and are within walking or a cheap cab ride? If we do not have a local guide, would cab driversspea k sufficeint English to get us anywhere?
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