We're looking at several Egypt tour options for November -- yes, I'm an optimist that things will be calm then, and we're hoping to see Egypt while it's less crowded. We're looking at a Smithsonian tour that use the MS Tulip for its Nile cruise. Does anyone out there know anything about this ship?

Gather it was renovated in 2008 -- and with 70 cabins it's big enought that I assume we'd end up in the raft-ups at Luxor and Aswan. Any other information you have about it -- or about traveling with Smithsonian would be appreciated.

Smithsonian sends their study leader along, but otherwise the tour is run by an outside organization. They often use Odysseys (which we really like) but this one is run by Academic Tours Abroad. They sounded knowledgeable when I talked with them but I find little track record online for them.

Many thanks!
Ski

Smithsonian Cruises are always primo...

Lots of good reports since it has been renovated no recent
personal experience but good reviews on cruisecritic.com
Some negatives about grubbing for tips...

My bast experiences have been with Travel Dynamics

they do unsual itineraries For me Egypt Nile Red Sea Petra Jewrusalem it was awesome... $5K best one I have ever had
small upscale ships with professors like Smithsonian but
several years back.

Happy Research,

Still pretty unstable

might monitor travel.state.gov and insuremytrip.com&be safe.

qwo: thanks - in the past when I've tried to do a search on cruisecritic (and when I tried again just now) for MS Tulip (with or without Nile cruise), all I get are cruises in Holland at tulip time! What am I doing wrong?!!

qwovadis

Was the mispelling of Jerusalem accidental?

You might look into Museum Tours in Egypt if you want a GOOD academic tour in Egypt. They are one of the best.
Use this link - http://www.museum-tours.com/

Thanks, Debbie! It looks like an interestingly option - I'll study it closely!!

My husband & I took a Nile cruise as part of an Egyptian tour in January (Yes, we had to be evacuated but that's another story)

The ship we were on was the Ramadis I owned by Movenpick. The accomodations were very nice and the food very good. The tour company was Go Ahead Tours and they did a fabulous job changing our itinerieries (sp?) and getting all of us out of Egypt with less than 24 hour notice.

Check the situation carefully before you go - the Nile cruise was wonderful but it was pretty scary when all of our cellphones, tvs etc.. were jammed and we couldn't communicate with anyone. The Egyptians we met were wonderful and would certainly welcome tourists back.

I'm not sure if this will fit your needs but we were on the Sunboat IV (Abercrombie & Fitch). It was an AMAZING experience and their service was AMAZING. I highly recommend them!