I would like to know if any ship is planning to go back to Egypt as a port-of-call? Obviously, they aren't going now but any future plans if the area is ever stable.

Hi Maryann,<BR><BR>There are cruiselines that are still sailing ot Egypt. See your travel agent.<BR><BR>Paul

Here we go again - Maryann, I guess Paul is telling you that you're an idiot for coming on a forum like Fodors and asking a question of fellow travellers that you MUST go to a travel agent to get an answer. Keep in mind that Paul is a travel agent, so he has the answer, but he's keeping it a secret.

Hi guys, thanks for answering my question-sort of. I had a feeling I would hear from Frick & Frack. There are many more sites I could post this question and probably get an answer, including Egypt.com or whatever their site is named, but I did think I'd get an answer as all kinds of "inside" info. is answered by one or the other. <BR><BR>Again, I'll ask, is Egypt on any ship's itenerary in the near future?

I state the facts. It does not cost you one red cent to consult most travel agents. If you wish to spend hours searching the net you can find out. There are hundreds of cruise lines out there. Or you can wait for someone that has cruised to Egypt recently (slim chance) to report here.<BR><BR>Am I making sense here or what?<BR><BR>Paul

Maryann: since Paul won't or can't give you a quick answer to your question - - I'll give it a shot: Royal Olympic (though I can't say how good a cruise line they are) makes stops at Port Said. <BR><BR>I would love to go to Egypt but I can't see going any where near there for the forseeable future.

maryann - after days and months of research on the net, here are some suggestions. As mary mentioned, the Royal Olympic Voyager does 7 and 10 day sailings from Greece with a stop in Egypt. Three other cruise lines - Paradise, Salamis and Louis can be accessed from www.cruisecyprus.com. There are also several Nile river cruises available.

Just curious, but why would you not go to Egypt? I have two friends who just got back. They had a wonderful time and the people were as friendly as can be.

Maryann: another cruise line for you: Orient. I got their brochure last night in the mail, and they stop in Egypt also.<BR><BR>May: the reason why I would not go to Egypt right now is because of the general tensions in the Middle East right now. Should the U.S. go in to Iraq any time soon (the war rhetoric is heating up) there might be backlashes against Americans. Just my opinion.

Hi- Thanks to all for answering. I think that area will always have some tensions but now or even next year might be too soon. Although you could be in harm's way anywhere, this is a little more than usual<BR><BR>We would like to plan a combo of land and cruising trip to Europe and the whole Med. area and would not like to go so far and not see Egypt. <BR><BR>Thanks for the help on cruise lines. I'll keep my eye out for those.

Another cruise line that goes there is Crystal. We took a Med cruise with them and I've seen brochures on their cruises that go to Egypt and they look mighty tempting!!!!

Well, Paul, let this post be a lesson to you. After all, you said, "Or you can wait for someone that has cruised to Egypt recently (slim chance) to report here." - implying that no one would answer her post and her only recourse was to go ask the almighty TA. Well, you were wrong!<BR>

Why on earth would anyone bother with a travel agent in the year 2002? You can obtain far more information about travel with a minimum of Internet research than wasting time with a hustler steering you to the deal with the highest commission. They call the cruise line just like you do if there are problems. They do nothing you can't do yourself, and discounters are all over the Internet. <BR><BR>Travel agents are dinosaurs. Anyone can do better on the Internet today. Just look at Paul's arrogance. Who wants to deal with that nonsense, on his terms, when you can do it yourself better and cheaper, on your terms, on the Internet?

Mary - I agree 100% with you. Please go over to the travel agent forum and tell those "Pro-TA" posters your sentiments. Thanks.

OK May, when you have a problem with your vacation see how much you can accomplish on your own. Then you will wish you had that arrogant dinosaur.<BR><BR>And I hope you end up with a junk cruise ship and have the worse time of your life. You can go with Peter.<BR><BR>Paul

Yes Mary, only a travel agent can solve the problems that might come up with travel plans. You should be ashamed to think that you, a simple traveller, could possibly call the cruise line yourself, or the airline yourself, or the hotel yourself. Thats what these travel agents are trained to do during their extensive schooling.

I have seen Mediterranean cruise itineraries that include an Alexandria area, Egypt stop. Think carefully about whether or not you want this to be a visit to Egypt or do it as a separate trip.<BR><BR>Most of the ancient sites in Egypt are not near the Mediterranean - the closest would be Cairo/Giza pyramids and I have seen ads for this as an excursion from the cruise ship. However, to spend only the few hours they allot in Cairo/Giza would be to miss most of what people go to Egypt for - not to mention the sites further south along the Upper Nile.<BR><BR>Of course, many people who visit Egypt take a Nile cruise - but that is a totally different thing - river boats with a few hundred passengers at most, and they cruise mostly between Luxor and Aswan (check a map - it is not where a big cruise ship could go).<BR><BR>Now, some of you other posters, feel free to continue sniping at each other. I thought a little diversion with some substance might be amusing.

Maryann as the brawlers above have noted there are a few ships visiting Alexandria,Egypt mainly from other Mediterranean ports of call.A day visit to Alexandria will not satisify your curiosity for Egyptian history.The local history is mainly Roman and there is an excellent(small) Roman museum to visit and while digging for a new building they've discovered a Roman amphiheatre and baths also worth a visit.Worth seeing also is the Catacombs but for Egyptian you need to ,at least,visit Cairo which is a few hours away via train or car and not realistic for a day trip.Why not consider a land trip starting in Cairo with a Nile cruise from Luxor to Asswan and Abu Simbel that cruise would also include the Valleys of the Kings & Queens.Traveling with a small tour group is best in todays climate and very safe.Egypt is must see IMHO,go for it.

You convinced me Paul.<BR><BR>My last cruise was on Celebrity. My excellent agent got me exactly the same fare as I could get directly from the line. Hey it wasn't that much more than a discount broker.<BR><BR>The fare fell three times. I found the lower fares on Celebrity's web site. The agent, for some reason, didn't find them for me. When I asked for the credits it was always a problem. I was told it was difficult for them to write a check to Celebrity for the commission they had to return.<BR><BR>The documents arrived. I was asked to drive to the office to pick them up. Apparently the same delivery service that delivered the documents to them was not reliable enough to deliver them to me.<BR><BR>We had a couple of minor problems on board. I was terrified to walk up to the desk and resolve them. Without an agent what was I to do? The courteous and friendly staff somehow took care of things. I still don't know how they did it without an agent to explain it to them.<BR><BR>I'll bet the Holland America cruise I booked a few weeks ago on my own will be a disaster. I fly 15 times a year and do that myself too. I bet I end up flying to the wrong city and missing my cruise. Yes Paul, it will be no one's fault but my own.<BR><BR>You better get cross trained Paul. Given your constructive response to my post you only confirm my point - travel agents are dinosaurs.

Peter,Paul & Mary......hmmmmmmmm !<BR>Mary have you met Peter? I think you two peas in a pod could be an item.Perhaps you both could get and share the same hobby and ,for that matter, the same shrink.