Nile Cruise, Royal Viking

My mother and I have just returned from a week cruise on this boat we could not fault it the staff were polite attentive the cabins and interior were fabulous

The food was wonderful with a lovely selection

We will return again

My intention is not to rate the holiday, although my husband and I had a lovely time. Our guide was brilliant and brought the history of the tombs to life. The boat was good, though a little shabby. The food was also good. The early starts for some of the outings was harder to come to terms with, although you could relax in the afternoons. The main purpose for my review is to answer some questions people might have. We went between Christmas and New Year and even mid-winter, the temperature was at least 18 deg in the day. Clothingwise, take summer stuff for the day but stock up on jumpers at night as it DOES get cold. Wandering around the sights is possible in sandals - you don't really need walking boots. You do not need Egyptian pounds on this all-inclusive holiday. The Egyptians like English (not Scottish/Jersey) pounds but you need small denominations - pound coins, £5 notes etc. Demands for baksheesh can be off-putting but be firm and refuse to buy if you don't want to and people back off. The food is safe to eat on the boat - salads are washed in mineral water and vegetables cooked in purified water. Drink and clean your teeth only in bottled water, avoid buying food on the land and you should avoid King Tut's revenge! Security at the airport and sights is obvious. There are no machine guns on the boats, but armed guards stand at the gangplanks and walk around the tourist spots. Since the two uprisings and the massacre at the tomb, tourism is down which is a shame, as this is Egypt's major industry. I did not feel unsafe at any point on the holiday. The Egyptian people are very friendly. If you are a blonde woman, your partner should expect to be offered several camels or donkeys for you! My suggestion would be to read up a little on ancient Egyptian history before you go. All those gods and pharaohs can become confusing but the sense of thousands of years' worth of history is quite amazing. We didn't go on the optional trip to Abu Simnel but those who did loved it. The sound and light event at Karnak temple was very enjoyable but dress up warmly! All in all, a very enjoyable holiday.