Overnight in Alexandria Egypt

[beejaybee]

I found a RCCL 7-night cruise for 2027 r/t Athens that is in Alexandria from 7am until 9pm the following day. I am totally ignorant as of now as to whether this itinerary will allow time to visit the pyramids and other famed early Egyptian iconic sights. Can any Tugger provide insight?
P.S.- also asking this on Cruise Critic.

 

[samara64]

Well, not enough time to go to Cairo and be back in time. even more then pyramids, I would visit the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum. If you really want to do it, I would hire a taxi for a day trip back and forth. There is lots of companies that do it for tourists.

You may consider the Egyptian culture museum. It is great and not far away from the Pyramids which should be easily accessible.

If you really plan it well, it should work but you need to move fast.

Else you can stay in Alex and enjoy amazing beaches (some private) and some old churches and castles.

In any way, make sure to try Foul, Falafel and Egyptian Tilapia grilled fish. A MUST.

 

[ScoopKona]

I've driven this route. It took me a LOT longer than expected because traffic, crappy rental car, general chaos.

Cairo is hands-down the worst place I've ever driven. Imagine Boston, except 110f. And all the drivers have a three-accident minimum quota per day.

 

[samara64]

I've driven this route. It took me a LOT longer than expected because traffic, crappy rental car, general chaos.

Cairo is hands-down the worst place I've ever driven. Imagine Boston, except 110f. And all the drivers have a three-accident minimum quota per day.

Which road did you take and when was that.

He can take the Alex-Cairo desert freeway, pay the toll and can be there in 3 hours. each way. It will be very close.

I would not recommend driving himself. Just hire a driver with his car.

I was there in 2024.

 

[ScoopKona]

Which road did you take and when was that.

Late 1990s. Not a lot of choices. How I ended up with a car in Egypt for six months is a story in itself. I still wouldn't think about driving in Cairo again.

The only time I "cheated" and did it the easy way was flying to Abu Simbel from Aswan. Saved seven hours of driving and didn't cost all that much more.

 

[samara64]

Late 1990s. Not a lot of choices. How I ended up with a car in Egypt for six months is a story in itself. I still wouldn't think about driving in Cairo again.

Lots of new roads and a high speed train coming in 2027 (red line). This one will take you to the Pyramids in south Cairo (Giza) directly from Alex @ 400 KM/hr. If that is running, you should be good as it is less than 1 hour each way. I saw lots of stations being built in 2024.

High-speed rail in Egypt - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[beejaybee]

Appreciate the tips. Especially hope that the red line high speed train may be operating in August 2027. We aren't averse to using public transportation overseas or domestically. I've been investigating non-ship tours that overnight in Cairo and includes the Giza pyramids. 20 months to plan!

 

[samara64]

Also you can take uber everywhere in Egypt. Very reasonable even it is cheaper then local taxi. Same application.

 

[ScoopKona]

Appreciate the tips. Especially hope that the red line high speed train may be operating in August 2027. We aren't averse to using public transportation overseas or domestically. I've been investigating non-ship tours that overnight in Cairo and includes the Giza pyramids. 20 months to plan!

Being that close, yes, you want to go there and see Cairo. Or even find a way to extend the trip or secure a longer layover and see Luxor as well. I thought the Pyramids were grand. But I thought Luxor was even better.

I was there for six months and pretty-much saw everything there is to see -- from the reefs of the Sinai to Lake Nasser.

 

[samara64]

6 months is a great time to see it all.

Please make sure to reserve the Grand Egyptian Museum tickets online in advance as it is sold out for months. I am sure things will ease up by 8/27.

Also if you want to stay in Alex, make sure to visit the new Alex library in downtown which was build similar to the original library from 4,000 year ago. The kings palace in Montaza on the sea, and tons of small museums for Jewelry and arts.

 

[jorcus]

I was looking at a cruise that had a similar itinerary last fall. The cruise did offer a package to the pyramids, museum and back in the single day, 13 hours overall I think. I decided against it. I don't think my wife would of handled it too well. I did not really want to tackle going that far on or own in a limited time so scrapped the trip idea.

 

[ScoopKona]

I was looking at a cruise that had a similar itinerary last fall. The cruise did offer a package to the pyramids, museum and back in the single day, 13 hours overall I think. I decided against it. I don't think my wife would of handled it too well. I did not really want to tackle going that far on or own in a limited time so scrapped the trip idea.

I had to fly over Libya to get from Tunisia to Cairo -- Libya was even more no-go than it is today.

It was really impressive coming in for a landing and seeing the Pyramids and the Sphinx. I went to the sound and light show many times. Never paid for it because I was an indigent backpacker. But the light show is free to see just being in the area.

A US marine fell to his death from the Great Pyramid while I was there. They don't want people climbing them. But people do it anyway. (I climbed half-way up the little one. There's a chamber where the Italian explorer Belzoni wrote his name in the rock.)

 

[samara64]

A US marine fell to his death from the Great Pyramid while I was there. They don't want people climbing them. But people do it anyway. (I climbed half-way up the little one. There's a chamber where the Italian explorer Belzoni wrote his name in the rock.)

I would never do so as it carries a harsh punishment now. It is way more developed and regulated now.

Also now they opened the automated bus tours that drives around the Pyramids with guides to explain it all. Also there is a nice walkway from the grand museum to the pyramids.

 

[beejaybee]

Thanks, all!
I did confirm the hold on that cruise yesterday! 20 months to go before boarding, so lots of time to research not only Egypt/Alexandria but also options nearby Piraeus aka Athens, where we board the ship. Will be looking for private or small group tours. Getting lazy in my old age so may take ship excursions in the other two ports: Limassol Cyprus and Mykonos Greece. We will probably fly in to allow for a couple of nights before the start of the cruise. On return we need to fly to Reykjavik where we board a Celebrity cruise back to Boston the following day.