Stop in Alexandria
Dec 14th, 2010, 06:11 PM
#21
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If your ship calls in Alexandria for two nights, then it does not stop in Port Said, which is more than 100 miles away. They are distinctly different ports. Many ships stop in Alex because it is more convenient to Cairo. So do your checking and call Debbie. Good luck.
Dec 15th, 2010, 11:54 AM
#23
jacketwatch:
I just e-mailed you information from a lady who just did the two day tour with Debbie a few months ago..
and she too was coming off a cruise ship , like you will be.
I just e-mailed you information from a lady who just did the two day tour with Debbie a few months ago..
and she too was coming off a cruise ship , like you will be.
Dec 16th, 2010, 01:23 PM
#26
Thanks ira !
There is no law you have to like everyplace you visited .
I liked both Cairo and Alexandria
Merry Christmas
There is no law you have to like everyplace you visited .
I liked both Cairo and Alexandria
Merry Christmas
Dec 21st, 2010, 01:03 PM
#27
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I checked the cruise itenary. the ship docks at Alexandria for 2 days. So, it appears Port Said is not in the equation.
There are lots to see in both Alexandria and Cairo (and Nile and ASswan etc) that in 2 days, you won't even get a glimpse.
The question I would post is this:
(1) Is it worth a 3 to 5 hour bus / train ride to Cairo to see the Pyramid? (The Spinx is there too) and / or the Cairo museum? And can you better spent those 3 to 5 hours? (each way)
(2) Is there anything along the way that is worth seeing while on the bus/train ride between Alexandira and Cairo?
(3) Would the night train an option? since you can't see much in the dark anyway.
(4) Is there enough to see in Alexandria for 2 days? (the answer is yes)
(5) Are you going to go back to Egypt and see the pyamid if you miss it this time around?
I guess if you go to Egypt and din't go to Giza, it;s a sahem. Just like going to Rome and not seeing the Coliseum or the Vatican.
Tough choices, my friend, tough choices. Maybe looking at another cruise itenary that stops at both Port Said and Alexandria?
There are lots to see in both Alexandria and Cairo (and Nile and ASswan etc) that in 2 days, you won't even get a glimpse.
The question I would post is this:
(1) Is it worth a 3 to 5 hour bus / train ride to Cairo to see the Pyramid? (The Spinx is there too) and / or the Cairo museum? And can you better spent those 3 to 5 hours? (each way)
(2) Is there anything along the way that is worth seeing while on the bus/train ride between Alexandira and Cairo?
(3) Would the night train an option? since you can't see much in the dark anyway.
(4) Is there enough to see in Alexandria for 2 days? (the answer is yes)
(5) Are you going to go back to Egypt and see the pyamid if you miss it this time around?
I guess if you go to Egypt and din't go to Giza, it;s a sahem. Just like going to Rome and not seeing the Coliseum or the Vatican.
Tough choices, my friend, tough choices. Maybe looking at another cruise itenary that stops at both Port Said and Alexandria?
Dec 29th, 2010, 03:59 PM
#28
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Just came back from the Med cruise with 2 days in Alexandria Nov28-29, 2010). Having spent 15 years in Saudi Arabia and having my husband also work in Egypt, we forgot how Alexandria and Cairo were.
Both cities were filty, polluted, noisy, dirty, trashy and a challenge. Wandered the souk in Alexandria as well as the side streets and Corniche by myself and it was safe and very easy to get around but solicited and hounded by taxi drivers wanting me to take their taxi. Then when my husand and I did, agreed on a price and destination multiple times before getting in the cab, the price and destination changed when we insisted on going to our destination. Very unpleasant. jk
Both cities were filty, polluted, noisy, dirty, trashy and a challenge. Wandered the souk in Alexandria as well as the side streets and Corniche by myself and it was safe and very easy to get around but solicited and hounded by taxi drivers wanting me to take their taxi. Then when my husand and I did, agreed on a price and destination multiple times before getting in the cab, the price and destination changed when we insisted on going to our destination. Very unpleasant. jk
Dec 30th, 2010, 01:16 AM
#29
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Thanks for the info. We will no doubt do a private tour which should have the fees all ready fixed. Thats the great thing about travel in that you learn to appreciate what you have at home.
Jan 1st, 2011, 05:16 PM
#32
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Male sure your private tour guide knows all the good "pit" stops. With a minimum of 3 to 4 hour of car ride from Alexandria to Giza, if someone needs to take a leak, you have to be prepared. The potty at the destination is not necessary clean. The potty at the Cairo museum and the Pyramid are sub-standard but passable (at least for men anyway). So, be prepared ...
Mar 25th, 2011, 03:40 AM
#34
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We were in Alexandria on an overnight on the Equinox and used Ramses Tour to get to the Pyramids and Sphinx. It is a long ride and coming back the traffic was unbelievable.. Although I'm delighted that we did go to Giza I would NEVER, EVER go back..In all our years of traveling, cruising and land trips I've never, ever seen such dirty and filthy cities in my life. The second day in Alexandria we opted not to tour and went outside the gate to the "bazaar".. Our cruise did go to Ashod and Haifa and the difference was astounding..two days is not enough (also used a private tour) and stayed overnight in a hotel as did many of the other passengers. Oh yes, my husband met a couple who had reservations in Cairo they thought...they were booked and the poor couples didn't get back to the ship until 3:00 a.m. no rooms available.
Mar 25th, 2011, 05:42 PM
#35
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Hello PM. Some day we hope to see the pyramids, perhaps on a land tour. As for the conditions in Cairo and Giza, well we've seen Delhi too, six times in fact as my wife is from India and has relatives there and its pretty raw too so for a few days I think we can tolerate Giza/Cairo. Who did you sue for tours in Ashdod and Haifa? Cheers, Larry
Mar 26th, 2011, 04:53 AM
#36
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We used http://www.guidedtoursisrael.com/ they had come recommended from Ramses in Alexandria.. Guided Tours was a pleasure to deal with as we had many complications. The preferred hotel that many of the cruisers choose to stay overnight was The Harmony, but it was booked... so we ended up at the Dan overlooking the Old City.We had a room with a balcony overlooking the city and of course there was the famous Israeli buffet breakfast included.
Mar 26th, 2011, 07:15 AM
#38
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We had a "bucket list" of three things we wanted to see in Jerusaleum.. The Chagall Windows, Yad Vashem and the Wailing Wall (we wanted a Jewish tour)..At the time we didn't realize we were both ill and didn't get a chance to see much of Haifa, but I wish we had.. What our driver did show us was a big statue of Evlis and an restaurant named after him.. There was so much to see in Haifa and I'm sorry that we missed it, but the high tech buildings along the road . I would recommend staying in Jerusaleum... as somebody said there is so much night life plus there is a a new light show. In the end it made sense to go back to Haifa to the ship after touring the Jerusaleum area and it was a wise move was staying overnight
Mar 26th, 2011, 03:12 PM
#40
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I t seems that an overnight for the Ashdod stop is a good idea. I looked at the map and it looks like Bethlehem is about 20+ mi. from Haifa and the road looks straight so I am wondering if an overnight there is needed. What do you think? Thanks, Larry
