We are a couple in our early 50s and we wondered if we would be the youngest people there. Luckily there were 2-3 other couples around our age. This is NOT a tour for people with limited mobility, walkers or wheelchairs -- there are lots of stairs and steps, and lots of cobblestones and uneven pavement. We did have a couple of older folks on our trip that ended up skipping a port or two to give themselves a break. A couple of people used canes, and they did just fine.
You also might check the weather and typical temperatures not just for Cairo, but for Luxor, which is some distance to the south. We knew Cairo would be in the mid-90s, but we didn't think to check the weather further south were we had three days in a row that were 114 degrees. Traveling a few weeks later would have been a little cooler.
A word about dress.... don't both bringing nice/formal clothing. It's not needed at all. While Viking says you can wear whatever you want to go ashore, this is a conservative country. NONE of the local women wore shorts, sundresses, halter tops, short dresses and skirts, etc. So if you don't want to stick out like a "dumb tourist' plan to cover shoulders, legs, and cleavage. Men can wear shorts, though it is less common. A head scarf for ladies isn't required, but I liked having one -- it helped with the heat and dust, and made me feel more respectful at religious sites.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
We did not purchase Viking's airfare. Rather, we booked on our own and traveled to Cairo a couple of days early. There was definitely a lack of communication for those traveling on their own. We did not have any information other than the name of the hotel -- nothing on whether anything was going on check-in day, nothing on what meals were or were not included. We ended up asking the concierge at the hotel and he was able to connect us to the Viking reps. It all worked out, but it didn't give us some anxiety not having any information about where/when to meet the group on day one.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food was really great -- the Chef was charming, and ALWAYS available. I'm not sure I've met such a personable chef. There is one dining room on the ship -- it is an older vessel, and the dining room is on the lower floor, so there really is no view. It does seem like the newer ships have dining rooms on higher levels, so you can enjoy the scenery while in the dining room.
As for drinks, included at meals are one white wine and one red. They were both just fine. I think there were three beers available, and all were lagers. We are beer people, and something other than a lager would have been nice. We drank a lot of Sakara (the local beer). We did not buy the upcharge drink package. We just bought extras when we felt like it, and that was fine. Egypt is not a "drinking" country as it is predominantly Muslim, so drinking just wasn't a focus.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We enjoyed the top deck and pool, though on our trip it was too hot to stay up there for very long (some days were 115 degrees). With milder temperatures, we would have been up there all the time. There really isn't much else on this ship other than a small spa with two treadmills and a bike.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We enjoyed the local musicians and dancers on the three nights that included some kind of local show. The whole crew seemed into it as well. Lots of fun. Otherwise, there was a pianist that was pleasant and unobtrusive.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Other than Egypt itself, absolutely the highlight of our trip was the fantastic crew. Unbelievably they knew all our names by the second day. Our two guides, Heba and Salwa, were just incredible, and really captivated us with their knowledge and insights. Across the board, the staff was just amazing and we had so much fun with them.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
This is an older ship, but it was spotless. Some people complained about the bathrooms, which are spotless, but outdated. It seemed like all the bathrooms had tubs, which was not so easy for the less mobile passengers.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We loved the size of our cabin. The location, just a few steps from the coffee station, was ideal. It was kept spotless.
Ship tip
There is no onboard shop (other than jewelry) so if you forgot toiletries, tylenol, etc -- you will want to pick those up in Cairo before you board. There are really no opportunities to purchase items like that once you are on the boat.
I didn't think they were River cruises in Egypt, I don't know why I thought that given there are rivers in Egypt. When I think of Egypt, I think of deserts. A river cruise in Egypt is definitely a bucket list item, thank you
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