Nile Cruises with Bales Worldwide

Here's the second of our luxury Nile cruising under sail blogs today from us here at World of Cruising.

If you prefer something a bit more sedate and up market than the modern day Nile cruise then Bales Worldwide have four Dahabiyyas - the Amber, Musk, Nesma and Zahra - beautifully crafted 19th century style river sailboats that revive the elegant days when aristocrats and sophisticated travellers cruised the Nile. The vessels are fitted out in colonial style with oriental and Egyptian touches and comprise six individually designed cabins, an elegantly furnished lounge and two sun decks to admire the fascinating scenery while relaxing to the sound of the soft billowing sails and the ice chinking in the glass.

8 days  departing November 8   £2095

More Info:  0844 488 1158   www.balesworldwide.com

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Orbital Travel Expands Nile Fleet

The River Nile continues to be an overlooked travel destination this year with so much focus at the moment on all the new river-cruise ships in Europe (and yesterday's announcement of super-model Twiggy as godmother to the new Emerald Waterways - see this link!), but Orbital Travel are determined to remedy that. The luxury travel specialists have just added the five-star MS Royal Esadora to their Nile cruise programme, bringing their array of offerings on the great river to five. The Royal Esadora was launched in March 2006 and completely renovated in 2009. This modern, stylish Nile cruiser also offers funky surroundings and guestrooms with contemporary spacious interiors. Facilities include a large sundeck with bar, large swimming pool and Jacuzzi. There are two restaurants on board, one being a buffet style with international cuisine, and the other being slightly smaller offering an à la carte menu. Royal Esadora has 62 cabins with foursuites with large picture windows and Juliet balconies from which to admire the unfolding scenery. Prices for a 7-night cruise lead in at £659 per person on Full Board and £719 per person on All Inclusive. The cruise includes 7 nights’ accommodation (upper/middle deck cabin), flights, transfers and 12 excursions escorted by a qualified Egyptologist. Orbital Travel also offers four other 5-star Nile cruisers, namely the MS Monica, the Domina Prestige, the HS Nile Vision and the MS Mayfair. More info: call 0333 123 7147 or visit www.orbitaltravel.co.uk. The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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Mövenpick's New Nile Style

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to announce new options for travellers wishing to explore the magical River Nile in Egypt. Adding five new Nile cruisers to its fleet - SS Misr, once the royal yacht of Egypt’s former King Farouk; the boutique luxury sail boat Mövenpick SB Feddya; and the long cruise vessel Mövenpick MS Hamees, as well as the Mövenpick MS Darakum and Mövenpick MS Sunray - the Swiss hotel company is now the largest international operator on Egypt’s River Nile, with a total of eight boats.

The SS Misr is undeniably the fleet’s flagship and is the only internationally managed steamship in Egypt. Built in the United Kingdom nearly 100 years ago, it is a ‘floating time capsule’ from the reign of King Farouk, who converted it to his private yacht in 1938 and used it especially for his birthday celebrations.

On-board facilities include a swimming pool on the sun deck with recreation and bar, reading and play rooms, a large restaurant and lounge, bar, gift shop and a clinic to add to the guests’ care and comfort.

The five new vessels all now fly the Mövenpick flag alongside the existing Mövenpick MS Royal Lotus, Mövenpick MS Royal Lily and Lake Nasser cruiser Mövenpick MS Prince Abbas, to give the company an unrivalled variety for travellers looking for that unique blend of Egyptian warmth and hospitality infused with Swiss service and heritage. 

For more on Nile river-cruising, be sure to contact The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury river-cruise experts.

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Sanctuary Retreats Pioneer 10-Night Nile Cruises

Sanctuary Retreats is delighted to announce the successful completion of the first long cruise down the Nile from Cairo to Aswan for 15 years on board the Sanctuary Sun Boat III, which departed Cairo on August 19 and finished in Aswan ten days later.

For the past 15 years, cruise ships have been unable to sail from Cairo to Aswan. However, this  route has now been re-opened by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and, with their support alongside the Egyptian Government and the Floating River Association, Sanctuary Retreats is the first company to have completed this spectacular journey offering an unprecedented selection of Egypt’s ancient wonders over 10 nights.

Dates for 10 night cruises in 2013 are April 6 and 20 on Sanctuary Sun Boat III, May 24 and July 2 on Sanctuary Sun Boat IV and May 10 and September 10 on board Sanctuary Nile Adventurer. All Sanctuary Retreats boats offer the very best in intimate and luxurious Nile cruising.

With 18 cabins, Sun Boat III is a smaller than average 5-star boat in 1930s colonial style with unique personalised service. The boutique Sun Boat IV has 40 luxury cabins and is furnished in a contemporary style with an art deco influence, while the elegant Nile Adventurer has just 32 beautifully designed cabins offering a relaxed cruising experience.

Prices start from $3,440 per person for the 10-night cruises on a full board basis with all sightseeing, entrance fees and guidance from world class Egyptologists included. Flights and transfers not included.

Early Booking Offer

All new bookings for the 10-night cruise made before January 31 can take advantage of a complimentary private transfer on arrival, complimentary re-cruise check-in with one additional night half board on board prior to the departure and an upgrade to an upper category deck, subject to availability.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's river-cruise specialists.

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Egypt In Style - With Savings!

Bales Worldwide is offering some great late-summer savers on their Egypt and Nile River voyages, for select departures in August and September.

Their 11-day Egypt’s Summer Special itinerary, including scheduled flights and accommodation and sightseeing encompassing Giza, a full Nile cruise on board Movenpick Royal Lily or Movenpick Royal Lotus (3 nights) and Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Red Sea and El Gouna (5 nights). The trip includes an English-speaking guide during the cruise and in Cairo, private air-conditioned vehicle for transfers, a sightseeing itinerary (including entrance fees) and modern first class hotels throughout. Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing on a mixed board basis, including all applicable UK and overseas airport taxes and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change.

Or try The Nostalgic Nile from just £1,845 per person (a saving of up to £450pp). This eight-day itinerary includes scheduled flights and accommodation on a traditional ‘dahabiyya,’ with English-speaking guides on board who will also take care of tipping, private air-conditioned vehicle for transfers and sightseeing itinerary (including entrance fees). Prices are per person based on two adults travelling on a mixed board basis (including seven breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners), including all applicable UK and overseas airport taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change, based  on a September 8 departure.

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Nile & Yangtze Savings With Bales Worldwide

Bales Worldwide is offering their eight-day Nostalgic Nile itinerary, which includes scheduled flights and accommodation on The Amber, a traditional ‘dahabiyya’ sailing vessel, at big savings this autumn.

The wonderful trip includes English-speaking guides on board, who also take care of tipping, private air-conditioned vehicle for transfers, a sightseeing itinerary (including entrance fees), and the exclusive ‘dahabiyya’ cruise. 

The new prices are for solo travellers, based on one adult travelling on a mixed board basis (including seven breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners). The price also includes all applicable UK and overseas airport taxes and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change. Prices are based on departures on September 1 and 15.

Yangtze Splendour from £2,995pp, saving up to £150pp

The splendid 15-day Yangtze Splendour itinerary, including scheduled flights and accommodation and sightseeing encompassing Beijing, Xian, Chongquing, Shanghai and the Li River, is also being offered by Bales at new reduced rates. 

There is also the option to extend the holiday and add two extra nights in Hong Kong. Again, the trip includes English-speaking guide, a sightseeing itinerary and modern medium class hotels throughout. Prices are for solo travellers, based on one adult travelling on a mixed board basis, and include all applicable UK and overseas airport taxes and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change. Price also based on a September 22 departure date.

For more information, contact The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's experts in luxury river-cruising, on 0800 008 6677.

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Free Business Upgrade With Bales Nile Voyages

Book an 8-day Nostalgic Nile tour, Cultural Morocco tour or a tailor-made tour with flights to Egypt or Morocco by May 31 and Bales Worldwide will upgrade economy bmi flights to business class for FREE. In business class, guests can expect an additional 18 inches of seat pitch, taking it up to 50", with 2-2 cradle seats. Travellers also receive a complimentary selection of hot food and drink, selection of newspapers and magazines and in-flight entertainment on board.

The Nostalgic Nile costs from £1,795 – Saving up to £750pp

This itinerary with Bales includes scheduled flights and accommodation on The Amber, a traditional ‘dahabiyya’. It also includes English-speaking guides on board, who will also take care of tipping, private air-conditioned vehicle for transfers, a sightseeing itinerary (including entrance fees), and exclusive ‘dahabiyya’ cruise. 

 

Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing on a mixed board basis (including seven breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners). Price includes all applicable UK and overseas airport taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Prices are based on select departures from May 9-December 8.

To bookings and other Nile cruise ideas, follow this link to The Cruise LineLtd, the UK's luxury river cruise specialists.

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Save On The Nile & Yangtze With Bales Worldwide

Here are two great offers this week from Bales Worldwide, for big savings on exotic river-cruises on The Nile and Yangtze rivers:

The Nostalgic Nile from £1,395; saving up to £500pp

The eight-day 'Nostalgic Nile' itinerary with Bales Worldwide includes scheduled flights and accommodation on The Amber, a traditional ‘dahabiyya’ sailing vessel. The trip includes English-speaking guides on board who will also take care of tipping, private air-conditioned vehicles for transfers, a sightseeing itinerary (including entrance fees), and exclusive ‘dahabiyya’ cruise. 

Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing on a mixed board basis (including seven breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners). Price includes all applicable UK and overseas airport taxes and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change, based on a May 19 departure date.

Yangtze Splendour from £2,595pp; saving up to £200pp

Bales' 15-day 'Yangtze Splendour' itinerary includes scheduled flights and accommodation and sightseeing encompassing Beijing, Xian, Chongquing, Shanghai and Li River. There is also the option to extend your holiday and add two extra nights in Hong Kong. The trip includes English-speaking guides, a sightseeing itinerary and modern medium class hotels throughout. 

Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing on a mixed board basis. Price includes all applicable UK and overseas airport taxes and fuel surcharges (subject to change) and are based on June  9 departure date.

To book, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury river-cruise specialist.

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The Sphinx Is Calling Again For Uniworld

After a break to avoid the heat of high summer, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises resume their 2011 Egypt itineraries in September, with a new more luxurious hotel partner in Cairo – the Four Seasons Nile Plaza.

Departures for the 12-day Splendours of the Nile experience start on September 3 and will feature two nights in Cairo at both the beginning and the end of the 7-day cruise, staying at the hotel which is located on the Corniche on the banks of the Nile, affording panoramic views across the river to the island of Zamalek and beyond, or towards the 12th-century Citadel. It boasts 10 restaurants and lounges offering a variety of international cuisine and also a state-of-the-art spa, the largest of its kind in the city, with 14 treatment rooms including a couple's treatment room, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, cold plunge, a serene relaxation area and indoor swimming pool. It also has three outdoor pools.

The hotel matches the level of comfort and service that guests can expect on board the River Tosca, which is where guests will spend 7 nights of the itinerary, sailing the Nile from Luxor to Aswan. Highlights of the whole itinerary include a visit to the Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx as well as the Karnak and Luxor Temples in Luxor, and Temple of Hathor in Dendera, one of Egypt’s best preserved temples. No trip to Egypt would be complete without a visit to the Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple as well as Aswan’s gems, such as the High Dam, the Philae Temple and the Botanical Gardens. Throughout all this, you’ll be accompanied by highly skilled and knowledgeable Egyptologists, as well as a host of supporting guides.

The River Tosca is an intimate all-suite ship, with a capacity for 82 guests, blending old world elegance with modern amenities. Each beautifully appointed suite has a French balcony and comes kitted with iPod docking stations, flat screen TVs and both a bathtub and shower in the private bathrooms. The public areas include a stylish lounge with full-service bar, a cosy library, elegant restaurant, sundeck with cabanas and a swimming pool, plus a fully equipped gym and massage room.

For more info, visit www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk or contact the river-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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New Nile Cruising Pocket Guide

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The brand new Nile Cruising Pocket Guide (£5.99) is to be published on January 31 by Berlitz, the publishers of the annual Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships. The Nile guide provides a wealth of information on exploring the River Delta and recommends a slow and leisurely cruise on a felucca to gain a deeper understanding of Egyptian culture and of the many communities that thrive within a few metres of the riverbank.

The Pocket Guide outlines the selection of Nile River cruises available, listing sites that can be seen on each, with map references. Among the cruises are Luxor to Edfu, the quieter stretch from Edfu to Aswan - home of the Aga Khan Mausoleum - and Lake Nasser, with her barren but beautiful sandy-coloured mountains.

Suggestions are given for choosing the right cruise, along with an outline of a typical day aboard, including early starts to avoid the mid-day heat.

There are also helpful onboard hints and traveller tips, from security precautions through to learning about the fascinating Sufi spinners who accompany the musicians.

A large section of the Nile Cruising Pocket Guide is devoted to exploring Luxor, the start and end point for many of the Nile Cruises, with its myriad of famous sites from the Valley of the Kings to Karnak and the less well-known Mummification Museum. A double-page spread offers recommendations on how to spend ‘A perfect day’ in Luxor – beginning with a balloon flight, crossing over to the east bank for shopping in the souqs, taking a felucca ride along the Nile as the sun slowly sets behind the Valley of the Kings, and ending the day with a ride in a horse-drawn calèche to Karnak Temple.

There are recommendations for sports and outdoor activities including ballooning, camel and donkey trekking, as well as bowling and golf. Entertainment listings include tips on shopping – advising on the fun that can be had from haggling. There are details on eating out – what, where and how much to pay – as well as drinking, and the delights of smoking a sheesha (hubble-bubble) water pipe.

The Nile Cruising Berlitz Pocket Guide is written by Egypt specialist Chris Bradley and is available from bookshops or online at http://www.berlitzpublishing.com/, priced £5.99.

For further information on Nile Cruises, contact the river-cruise specialists of the Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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