Shore excursions from Port Said to Cairo
 

We are planning a cruise with Windstar for next fall that stops in Port Said Egypt for 2 days.
All of their shore excursions to Cairo say that the tour buses will have an armed escort to Cairo.
I am wondering why the cruise line thinks this is necessary.
Does anyone have any insight into this?

Thank you,
molly23

I don't think it has anything to do with the cruise line. My understanding is that all organized tour groups have a guard along for the ride. Perhaps not the case with small, private tours (at least not the various ones that we did), but certainly common/expected for larger groups.

Think of it as just part of the experience! ;)

Hi Grcxx3

molly23:

Enjoy the ride with the guard(s). I always wanted to have a Police escort, without being in trouble :)

This guarding the tourist stems from the 1997 incidence at Queen Hatshepshut's Temple in 1997.

The amount of guarding has been reduced over the year but the guard for long rides is still there.

Hi Percy!!! :)

Peace of mind-Better safe than sorry. also helps tourism-my family was glad when I arrived home safely-right before the printer bomb. I NEVER felt unsafe or threatened in Egypt/Jordan

My husband and I were on a cruise which stopped in Port Said in Oct. We hired a private guide and a driver in advance to take us to Cairo. We had to wait for a good hour before leaving as we had to go in a carvan led front and back by the tourism police. Traffic was stopped as we went through. When we were on the outskirts of Cairo the police escort left us.

We spent the night in Cairo and the next day we were picked up by our driver and guide to go to Alexandria. There wasn't any escort.

I think the reason they're doing this is because of the incident in 1997. Egypt relies heavily on tourism.

Yes I agree with the above,,it's just to make sure everything is going well + to make it easy for tourists.

Visited Egypt 24 times, 3 of thesis from port Said, as private tours, all security not from cruises it's from Egyptian government, and local travel agencies paid for that service, our guide tolled me that at my last trip