Alexandria/Cairo Excursions--which one?
 

I have signed up for the Cairo, Pyramids and Tombs excursion on my Nov. RC cruise. It includes a trip to tombs in Memphis and seeing the Ramses III statue. However, it does not include the Cairo Archaelogical Museum, which I've heard is amazing. Any advice out there on whether I should change to the Cairo museum excursion?

Depends on your interests. If you think this might be your only opportunity to see the sights Cairo and environs have, it might be worthwhile to include the Cairo Museum - it does have amazing stuff. On the other hand, there are wonderful Egyptian exhibits in a lot of large city museums in the USA and London, etc. with similar items and better lighting. If the Rames II colossus is important to you, I would keep the excursion you have booked. I have been lucky enough to be stopping in Egypt for the 4th time in October. My 3rd visit to the Pyramids in Giza were as awesome as the first time. I did the tour you are doing in May as I hadn't been to Sakkara or Memphis before. Memphis is a garden setting and very small - half hour will do it.

Thanks, Charli, for your informative answer. How was the Sakkara (graveyard)--dark, uneven walking? One of our group is on the weak side as far as walking. We did see some of the Egyptian exhibits at the British Museum some years ago, but we have not caught the Tutenkamen exhibit at any of its stops. 'Definitely don't want to miss the Giza sights.

Something jumped out from your post "dark, uneven walking". Don't know about the dark part - I assume you are going to sights in the daylilght - but uneven surfaces is what there is everywhere in Egypt I have been - and I was only at usual tourist type places. Stone paving (as opposed to asphalt) is the norm and tour bus parking or even drop-off is often quite a distance from the actual site. Egypt is far from being disability-friendly. How weak is weak?

Charp45, There is a paving stone walkway to the nobleman's tomb and we parked nearby (1st bus there). Then moved to the big parking lot which is uneven gravel. The walk to the rest of Sakkara sights is just gravel, not even really pathways, hard packed but with small stones that roll under your shoes. Not a place I would wear sandals - but I wouldn't wear them at the Giza Pyramids either. You can do quite a bit of walking to see it all. I am thinking that since you haven't seem the King Tut exhibit, you might want to rethink doing the Museum and the Giza pyramids. The walking conditions at the pyramids is much like that at Sakkara. Don't expect the exhibits at the Museum to be as well lit and clean as those in the British Museum. They are building a new one but I can't remember when it opens. Tough decision but aren't we lucky to have the opportunity see these wonderful things!