Nile Cruise

I’ve mentioned taking a “Dahabiyyah Nile Cruise” before on the blog but thought I’d bring it to your attention once again as it is such an evocative and romantic way to cruise the Nile.

Imagine being able to view the wonderful scenery of the banks of the River Nile in such a tranquil and traditional way.  Let me tell you a little about the Hadeel:

The Dahabiyya Hadeel is a small traditional canvas sailed vessel launched in October 2007 and comprising 8 beautiful cabins, each with its own en suite facilities and furnished to an exceptional standard.

A crew of 14 ensures that passengers benefit from a very high standard of service and the utmost consideration. The intimate restaurant with only four tables offers an exceptional dining area where both international and Egyptian cuisine is served. This vessel ensures a serenely calming and relaxing sailing experience in comfortable colonial style surroundings.

The spacious and partially shaded top deck provides the perfect spot to soak in the Jacuzzi or to recline on a comfortable sun lounger whilst observing the wonderful scenic views along the banks of the river Nile.

All 8 cabins are spacious and furnished to a very high standard and offer private en suite bathrooms.  The main dining area consists of only four tables offering an intimate
setting for serving a variety of Egyptian and international cuisines.

Facilities include a jacuzzi, sun deck, lounge, bar and dining room and there is a wonderful and comprehensive excursion programme included.

At the time of writing we can book you a fabulous Nile Cruise on the Dahabiyya Hadeed from just £1649 per person sharing a double or twin cabin.  The cost includes international and domestic flights flying from Heathrow to Cairo and onwards to Luxor after a night’s stay in Cairo at the 5 star Le Meridien Heliopolis.  The cruise is on a full board basis although, because of licensing restrictions, alcoholic beverages are not available on board the Hadeel, however, clients are welcome to bring their own and the Hadeel will provide ice and mixers without charge.

To check availability on the Hadeel please call either myself, Colin, or Barbara on Freephone 0808 1089 100.

Tags: dahabiyyahhadeel, dahabiyya nile cruise, nile cruise,

One of the things you’ll see a lot of when your enjoying your Nile Cruise are “hieroglyphics” when your visiting the various sites, tombs and temples. 

Your Egyptologist is on hand to explain to you as much as possible but you might be interested in “Hieroglyphs Correspondence Course” prior to your cruise.  In which case let me direct you towards Charlotte Booth’s 10 class correspondence course. 

You will receive the lessons by email or Royal Mail, you’ll complete the exercises and return them to Charlotte and you can receive advice by telephone, email or post.

For further details you should contact Charlotte at charlotte_booth@yahoo.com

Tags: hieroglyphicscorrespondence course, nile cruise, egyptology

I read the following question from a reader on a national daily newspaper:

“My husband and I are planning a Nile cruise for our 40th wedding anniversary. However, I hear that people doing these cruises always get stomach bugs. If we pay more and get on a bigger and better boat, should we be ok?”

As its’ something we often get asked I thought I’d reply…

The fact is that if you book through a reputable operator and sail on a recommended ship then you are lowering the odds considerably. All of the ships that we recommend are vessels that have excellent histories of cleanliness and excellent standards.

Meals are well cooked and prepared and the kitchens are often subject to unannounced spot-checks from the various companies executive chefs. I have been behind the scenes on the El Fostate recently and the kitchens were spotless.

In our FREE Nile Cruise Guide we mention various ways that you can reduce the risk of tummy bugs and how, if you are unfortunate enough to get one, the quickest and most efficient way you can get rid of it.

Please take a look at our “Tips and Hints” section to learn more.

The Ancient Egyptians For Dummies” /> Thats’ for me!!

I’ve bought loads of the “Dummies” books. Mostly to learn how to do various things on my pc. They’re great value and have really taught me so much.

So I was intrigued to see this title, “The Ancient Egyptians For Dummies“. I wasnt’ sure what I’d make of it. But I’d highly recommend it as a great read before you take your Nile Cruise and a great companion to take with you.

It follows the standard “Dummies” approach with over three hundred and fifty pages which provide a wealth of information. It’s a book you can dip in and out of, and, as you journey down the Nile, you can come back to the ship and read up on what you’ve just seen.

The chapters cover the geography and a broad and full history of ancient Egypt, royal women, food and entertainment, disease and medicine, religion, mumification, art and hieroglyphics, temples and tombs.

There is a mass of information and the book is well written and easy to read. It’s available in good bookshops or can be ordered online at Amazon.

I would really recommend it as a “one-stop” introduction to Ancient Egypt and I’m sure it will make your Nile Cruise even more informative and enjoyable.

Just received my latest copy of “Ancient Egypt Magazine” (August/September issue) and read that there is a major new exhibition at the World Museum in Liverpool, about 25 miles from our offices. The new display will show some one thousand five hundred objects from its Egyptian collection.

It says that one of its’ great resources, the unique, vividly coloured belt of the last great Pharaoh, Ramses III, is going on display for the first time since the Second World War.

It sounds like an extensive exhibition and I’ll make sure that I pop down over the next few weeks. You can find more about “Ancient Egypt Magazine” at their website and also more about the exhibition in Liverpool at www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Day Three of my “Essential Websites” recommendations.

Yesterday I recommended Sue Bayfield’s “Reflections In The Nile” as a “must-visit” resource for you.

Today I’m going to mention, for the second time on the blog” a fabulous treasure-trove of wonderful resources for you. Its’ the “Eternal Egypt” website that Sue writes for periodically. (Which, by the way, shows how much her writing is valued by such a top authority).

The “Eternal Egypt” website describes itself like this:-

…Welcome to Eternal Egypt, which brings to light over five thousand years of Egyptian civilization. Eternal Egypt is a living record of a land rich in art and history, people and places, myths and religions. The stories of Eternal Egypt are told using the latest interactive technologies, high-resolution imagery, animations, virtual environments, remote cameras, three-dimensional models and more.

There are many ways to begin your journey through Eternal Egypt. The guided tour is a quick way to experience the best that the site has to offer. You can also begin with one of the cultural highlights below, or make your own discoveries using one of the many other ways to explore…

Please pop over and explore this wonderful resource. It will really put you in the mood for your forthcoming Nile Cruise.

Carrying on my recommendations for excellent sites and resources to prepare you for your forthcoming Nile Cruise I’d like to highly recommend Sue Bayfield’s wonderful journal “Reflection In The Nile“.

I’ve recommended Sue’s site before and cannot recommend it highly enough. If you are looking for a real “feel” for Egypt then Sue has it. Sue is a true lover of Egypt and I love her writing, knowledge and enthusiasm. If you havent’ visited Egypt before reading Sue’s journal will make you want to go, if you’ve been before then Sue’s writing will make you want to go back again.

Highly recommended!!

Over the next week or so I want to point you in the direction of a number of excellent websites and resources that will give you a real “insight” into Ancient Egypt and prepare you for some of the sights and sounds you will experience on your Nile Cruise.

The first is a brilliant magazine called “Ancient Egypt Magazine” that you can subscribe to or buy a single copy to get a feel for what the magazine consists of.

Here are the details of what’s in the current issue:

From our Egypt CorrespondentAyman Wahby Taher, with the latest news from around Egypt – new discoveries and reports from Middle Egypt, Luxor and Cairo.

More News from Egypt
A report from AE’s Editors with yet more news from Luxor and from the Western Desert Oases.

The Domain of the Cat-Goddess, Bastet
Daniela Rosenow looks at the substantial remains in and around the Great Temple of Bubastis, sacred to Bastet, in the Delta city that still bears her name, Tell Basta.

The Gardeners of Amun
AE looks at a new exhibition featuring the burial equipment of families of gardeners from Thebes.

The Amarna Project
Barry Kemp in the fourth of a series of articles on the city, looks at Amarna as a workshop.

Tutankhamun and the World of the Pharoahs
A photo. report by Nacho Ares and María Belci on the Vienna exhibition.

Pharaonic Renaissance
Igor Uranic looks at an exhibition on Late Period art in Zagreb and Budapest.

Servant of the Deep
Paul Boughton discovers a ushabti figure that survived the sinking of the Titanic.

Per Mesut: for younger readers
In this edition, Hilary Wilson looks at stools and chairs.

You can get your copy bu visiting their website at Ancient Egypt Magazine.