Reviews

• Second trip on Royal Viking - Fantastic.

  I have had to email to say what a fantastic time I have had in Egypt. The staff on the Viking Royal are all fantastic and Mr Saleh Mohamed is a wonderful General Manager who no problem is to small for him to solve. The attention to detail is second to none and my only regret is that we had to come home. Mr Hussein Abbas our Discover Egypt tour guide is a true gentleman who knows his history, what a wonderful man and it was a real privilege to have him as our tour guide.I really cannot wait to return for my third visit and am hoping to return to do the cruise which starts at Cairo. Anyhow just wanted to thank every one at Discover Egypt for a fantastic holiday. Michele – Suffolk.22 April 2013

• Marvellous trip!

  Hello It's a few weeks since we returned from travelling with you at Easter on the Royal Viking. I just wanted to write and say thank-you to you and your staff for the marvellous trip. Our guide was Mohammed who was absolutely superb - knowledgeable and fun and taking great care of us - we felt safe at all times, even on the journey to Abu Simbel. We found our boat to be exceptionally clean with friendly, kind staff for whom nothing was too much trouble. Once we got acclimatised we realised how clever the itinerary was; giving us plenty of rest-time as well as exploring. We came at the recommendation of our aunt, and have now recommended your cruise to friends who asked about our experience. With best wishes and thanks Faith and Ashley

• Cairo and Royal Viking

  I just wanted to say that we had a great time on holiday in Egypt with your company. The local reps were fantastic and it was amazing from start to finish. Both your Cairo man and the man on the cruise from Luxor were to notch. Thanks Martin and family 28 Dec 12 - 05 Jan 13.

• A very special holiday

  We have recently returned from a wonderful cruise on the Royal Viking (22 October 2012). We would just like to say how much we enjoyed it and how very well organised it all was. We had a superb guide in Hussein who was very knowledgeable, amusing and a lovely man. We could not find fault with anything – our cabin was lovely, cleanliness and hygiene throughout the boat was superb and the food was excellent and varied. I would like to make mention of my Coeliac condition and how everyone in the kitchen went out of their way to make sure I had the dishes that were suitable for me. The chef even went out of his way to bake me bread rolls twice during the trip with the flour that had been flown out especially. I was very touched at how much trouble you had all gone to. Thank you so much. We met some lovely people on board some of whom we will keep in touch with. We have talked about our holiday to lots of our friends and family and have highly recommended you. Thank you for a very special holiday and one we won’t forget in a hurry. Archie and Rachael – Derbyshire.

• Well done to all on board

  Just come back from wonderful 7 night Nile cruise on the Royal Viking (12 - 19 Nov 2012) We were looked after so well. Well done to all on board, and behind the scenes The staff were excellent, lovely food, very clean, nice cabin, and a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide Ahmed. Just wished we could have stayed longer! Phil and Jane Dorset

• Fabulous, interesting and fun!

  My daughter and I have just returned from a holiday we had aboard the Royal Viking on 24/09/2012. It was a fabulous interesting and fun holiday. I most impressed by the organization by Discover Egypt and would like to give a special thanks to our Guide Mohammed Alaa who spoke English fluently and had a great sense of humour and was very knowledgeable, also the General Manger and Chef who were always on hand guiding their staff and making sure that the boat was clean and effiently run. The staff, the boat, the itinerary and the food were of an extremely high standard. One day we had a trip around the boat and saw the kitchens and engine rooms and was blown away by the hygiene procedures (no one was ill which is amazing as I was told everyone gets problems!!) even the engine room was gleaming with no signs of oil or rust!! I would thoroughly recommend Discover Egypt and the Royal Viking to anyone contemplating a Nile Cruise. Well done.Angela and Vanessa (Poole, Dorset)

• Royal Viking- amazing experience

  I have just returned from a weeks Nile Cruise on the Royal Viking and would like to thank everyone involved in making the holiday the most amazing experience I have ever had. The boat exceeded all my expectations - the rooms were so spacious, comfortable and spotless. The whole hygiene regime for the entire boat was incredible. The food was delicious.The crew on the boat all went out of their way to help you and they were all so friendly. everything was perfect. Thank you to you all. Fiona (Colchester) 24.09.12.10.12

• Dealing with your company has been a pleasure

  Just a quick e-mail to say Thank you! People are very quick to complain, but are never as quick to tell people when something is good! We have just arrived back from our Nile cruise on the Royal Viking and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The crew were extremely professional and the boat was spotless. We had a really good time. The tours and additional trips were well organised. Our guide for the duration was a chap called Ismail and being part of his group (known as The Family) was so enjoyable. His knowledge was endless and his explanations of the temples etc was brilliant. He kept us all entertained! It was a packed itinerary with some early starts, but was worth every minute. Dealing with you and your company has been a pleasure and we would be glad to receive any info re other tours you offer Thank you once again Sheila - Preston.

• We enjoyed the whole experience

  We are just back from our Nile cruise on the Royal Viking (cruise dates 23- 30 July 2012 [Luxor/Aswan], and I thought I would drop you a note to let you know how much we enjoyed the whole experience. The crew and guide were without exception helpful, attentive, informative and generous with their time, and we would recommend Discover Egypt [and the Royal Viking] to anyone contemplating a holiday break in Egypt. Best Wishes - Dennis & Susan - Hampshire.

• Royal Viking recommended

  My partner and I have just returned from a week on a Royal Viking cruise on the Nile. We found the attention to organisation, hygiene, and general cleanliness on board was most impressive. In addition, the successive range of choices at each meal was very unexpected and with excellent quality to match. Staff went out of their way to make everyone feel at home in a quiet and efficient way.

• Discover Egypt and Royal Viking is a marriage made in heaven

  How fantastic you did it again! Full Marks for the Nile Cruise . Discover Egypt and Royal Viking is a marriage made in heaven . The boat is beautiful, we had a top deck cabin beautifully furnished with wood panelling, a huge bed ,flat screen TV ( English channels) mini-bar fridge and a Juliette balcony. The bathrooms are lovely too with a very good shower and also wood panelling. The staff on the boat were friendly and helpful. The level of cleanliness was astounding throughout the boat .Those passengers who did the boat tour also saw the kitchens and reported them to be state of the art with all systems designed to avoid stomach upsets only mineral water is used and UV lights kill anything that should not be there. Also as an additional precaution ice cream was not available and in the summer butter is not provided. There are antiseptic hand gel dispensers throughout the boat including the entrance to the restaurant. Out of the 64 cabins only 50% were occupied so we had a fairly small group and everyone got on well so we had a sort of house party atmosphere .The fancy dress party night was hilarious with everyone in Arab dress. The food on the boat was very good with plenty of choice and nicely presented. We had 3 meals per day plus afternoon tea when sailing. Drinks, wine, beer etc were modestly priced (£2.50 for a 500cl bottle beer, £15 for a bottle of wine). Tipping was done at the end of the trip so no there was no hassle on that. What made the cruise exceptional was the Discover Egypt tour guides. Our group of 30 had Sherry a lady with a Masters in Egyptology. Her historical knowledge was vast ,she could read hieroglyphics and had an infectious enthusiasm for her subject. She brought the historical sights to life so much that the Egyptian Gods and kings seemed to come out of the walls to accompany us. This trip is not just about the history as we saw plenty of the real Egypt in the small towns that we visited, The horse carriage ride at Edfu is particularly good for this .We visited a Nubian camel farm too and that was an great insight into the rural life in the Nile Valley. Easter is the end of their season and the weather was getting hot - over 40 degrees by the time we left, this necessitated some early starts. 7am for the Valley of the Kings, necessary because doing the valley in the heat of the day would be impossible. Abu Simbel is a 3 hour drive across the desert towards the Sudan border and we left the boat at 4am for the coach trip to see it. Please tell your clients that this is a must see. It is awe inspiring and should not be missed. Just a word about the street traders and various hustlers. Suggest to clients to have plenty of small denomination notes. NOTHING comes free in Egypt. If someone gives you directions or if you take their photo they will want money. Egypt is cheap and the street traders expect hard haggling Their starting price is usually 5 or 6 times the actual price. Haggle hard as they will never sell at a loss and walking away brings the price crashing down. This was a superb trip and we have made some good friends on it . Graham and Heather

• Fabulous Holiday

  We would just like to say what a fabulous holiday we had on the Royal Viking on the Nile Cruise from Luxor to the dam and back 5 March 2012. The staff, the boat, the food, the cabins etc., were of an extremely high standard and we could not fault our 7 days. The staff were so courteous and helpful to our every needs. Our guide Imera was excellent, the trips were great, especially the trip to Abul Simbul, although a 3.am start was worth every minute we spent at the temples. Your staff who met us at the airports on arrival and departures was also excellent, especially our flight back, Luxor Cairo Heathrow - no problems. We hope to do Lake Nasser in the future and will not hesitate to use Discover Egypt again John and Naomi

• One of the best holidays I've had

  I had a terrific holiday in every respect. The organisation by Discover Egypt was excellent, as was the local guide, Amira. The boat, Royal Viking, was very well appointed, and the crew, who matched the passengers on a one to one basis in terms of numbers, were all very helpful and friendly. There was a nice mix of visits and free time, and I managed to fit in a massage by the resident masseuse.... .. all in all, one of the best holidays I've had, and Diane was of the same opinion. Thank you again for all your help.

• Most memorable holiday

  My wife and I spent 6th to 13th Feb 2012 on the Royal Viking and would like you to know that it was the most memorable holiday we have ever had in our 44 years of marriage. It was a truly unforgetable experience and one we will never forget. We would just like you to know that it was such a pleasure to be treated so well by your staff and we would have no hesitation in recommending your company to anyone at all. Thank you so much for for providing such an adventure, we can't thank you enough.

• Holiday of a lifetime

  Dear Caroline, We returned from our 14 night trip with Discover Egypt last Monday and I wanted to contact you to say how much we enjoyed the holiday. Egypt was fabulous and the organisation provided by Discover Egypt was faultless. From start to finish we were treated as five star guests and everything from transfers to excursions was excellent. The food, the service, the staff: wonderful. The Egyptologists were excellent - they brought the visits to life and we felt privileged to have such experts with us. (perhaps they could have offered us brief talks in the evenings before the outings as that would have added even more to the quality of the experience, instead of, or as an alternative to, the evening entertainment). The Steigenberger Nile Palace was a very good hotel, especially with the Nile view - whereas the Mena House palace in Cairo was incredible. The best hotel I have ever stayed in with pyramid view, superb service and attention to detail. Wonderful. Many people we encountered encouraged us to spread the word on our return about how safe and inviting Egypt is - and this we are certainly doing. This was the holiday of a lifetime and far exceeded our highest expectations. Thank you for your part in the excellent service provided by Discover Egypt. Andrew

• Holiday of a Lifetime

  We have just returned from our holiday in Egypt starting 16th January 2013. We flew to Luxor where we met out guide Yasser rep it was just a short journey to the boat Viking Princess. We then went on to have a holiday of a life time. it was a beautiful and interesting journey just sailing down the Nile with a view of the shores. We also had fascinating visits to the different temples all very different and Yasser our guide chose the most interesting parts to help our understanding of their building and design. Other outstanding sights included standing on the Aswan Dam with a view of Lake Nasser and the Nile, and the journey through the desert to Abu Simbel with the rising sun and a view of the mirage. The sail in the Fulucca was beautiful and an optional extra the bird watching trip enabled us to see numerous birds at close quarters including kingfishers and three different types of herons. We had lots of fun on the boat, the company was great and there was a variety of entertainment. The staff on the boat were exceptional in their care and enthusiasm. The restaurant food and service was excellent. We then flew to Cairo (for 3 nights) staying at the lovely Mercure Cairo Le Sphinx with a view of the pyramids from our room. At all times we were well cared for by the reps on the transfers. We had a fascinating day visiting the pyramids and another visiting the Museum where our very knowledgeable guide chose the most interesting exhibits to visit . We also really enjoyed visiting the Citadel and Mosque. We flew back to Luxor for 4 nights staying at Sofitel Karnak. The views of the Nile again were exceptional. We had a lovely room and balcony. We made the most of the facilities at the hotel swimming in the large heated pool, playing squash and tennis and using the Jacuzzi. Again the service was excellent. Sue and Chris - Cheshire.