Planning Your Trip>Egypt

What to Bring

We suggest bringing comfortable, casual clothing. Ties and jackets are not required; there are no formal nights although some guests choose dressier clothing for the onboard Captain’s Dinner. Consider dressing respectfully when visiting places of worship and other religious sites where you may be denied entry if wearing clothing considered to be inappropriate or too revealing. Your Tour Escort can assist you with any questions. Also, please consider baggage weight restrictions on the intra-Egypt flights when packing.

Here is a short list of items you might want to bring with you:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Dressier shoes
• Collapsible umbrella/lightweight rain gear
• Lightweight jacket/warm sweater/sweatshirt
• Sunglasses, sun hat or visor
• Toiletries (including medical remedies)
• Warm coat, gloves and water-resistant footwear (as needed for cooler months)

Pack in Your Carry-On Baggage

We suggest you bring copies of your key travel documents (passport information page, airline tickets, credit card numbers and insurance information) and carry them separately in case you lose your originals. Remember to check with your airline for carry-on restrictions. You might also want to consider packing the following items:
• All needed medications, including prescriptions, in their original, labeled containers
• Eyeglasses, contacts, contact lens solution
• Important papers and travel documents
• Camera gear, film, extra memory cards (digital cameras), extra batteries
• Valuables

Optional Items

Here is a list of optional items we recommend you consider bringing with you as well:
• Electric converter/adapter for North American appliances (220V)
• Travel alarm clock, travel flashlight, binoculars, anti-bacterial wipes and/or hand sanitizer
• Small calculator for foreign exchange calculations
• Travel journal/notepad and/or reading material
• Small, basic sewing kit/extra buttons; pack scissors in checked bags
• Address list or pre-addressed labels for sending postcards

Notes: Most hotels and ships have hair dryers available for guest use. Also, laundry service (no dry cleaning) is available on board for a fee.

Customs

Many countries have laws against the purchase/export of certain items, including antiquities, cultural property and certain animal products. Additionally, U.S. laws prohibit the import of certain items. You can review current restrictions as well as duty free limits by clicking this link.

Travel Documentation

If you are traveling with us to Egypt, you will need a visa. As a service to guests, visas are available from an independent third party upon request. If you would like to obtain your visa through our partner, please visit their website here and download a visa kit. Complete and return the forms to the visa company in a timely manner so that you will have your documentation in time to travel—the timing is explained within the kit instructions. You may also purchase your visa upon arrival at the exchange counter in the airport arrival area before immigration. Payment can be made in Egyptian pounds, American dollars or by credit card; the cost is $15 US or about 85 Egyptian pounds per traveler.

Note: Due to airline security measures, your passport name must match your airline ticket name or you may be denied boarding. Viking River Cruises accepts no responsibility for obtaining required visas nor for advising guests of visa or other immigration requirements.

Food in Egypt

You are reserved at the finest hotels and ships in Egypt and you can feel confident about food and drink included with your itinerary. We urge you to exercise caution when eating on your own, especially if you purchase food from street vendors. Dairy products, as well as meat and fish that has not been thoroughly cooked, are not recommended. You can rely on the advice of your Tour Director, Tour Escort or local guide during your tour.

Tap Water

For your health, use bottled/purified water only when drinking, brushing your teeth or shaving. Drink tap water only if it is clearly marked potable/drinkable. Complimentary bottled water is available in hotels and aboard your ship(s).

General Physical Fitness

Our tours and cruises are not physically demanding; however, because of the nature of many of the sites you will be visiting, this tour may not be appropriate for guests with certain medical conditions and physical restrictions. Walking tours may be on uneven ground and may include stairs and steep inclines. If you have concerns or questions, please discuss the nature of your itinerary with your Viking River Cruises Travel Consultant.

Hotels & Cruise Ships

Viking partners with the very best hosts in each region where we travel. Your hotels and cruise ships in Egypt are hand-selected by our cruisetour development team and are sure to provide all the comforts of home.

Clothing Suggestions

Dress in hotels and aboard cruise ships is casual; we suggest you dress comfortably and bring sturdy walking shoes for sightseeing excursions. Dinner attire is “evening casual”—a little dressier but not formal.

Dietary Needs

Guests requiring special diets such as vegetarian, low salt, diabetic or low cholesterol meals should call us before booking to discuss their needs. We will make every effort to accommodate you.

Electricity

Electrical outlets on your cruise ships deliver 220V; for more detailed information on plugs and adapters click here. Hotel rooms and ship staterooms will have one or two North American-style outlets for shaver use, in the bathroom and/or desk area.

Hair Dryers

Your ships have hair dryers for guest use, as do most hotels.

Internet

For your convenience, both Egypt ships offer internet access. There are two computers on board each ship that can be used for a nominal fee based on amount of usage. The ship also offers wireless internet access for guests who bring their own computer; however, service may be unreliable during certain parts of the journey. The internet connection functions via cellular service or satellite, and there may be times when reception is not possible and/or when the connection is quite slow. For this reason, we recommend only checking and sending email. We do not recommend surfing the Web or downloading large files.

Laundry

Laundry services are available for a fee; we regret that clothes cannot be dry cleaned.

Onboard Language

Your Tour Escort, Program Director, key staff and tour guides all speak English; the onboard language on your cruise ship(s) is English.

Safes

Please keep all jewelry and valuables in your room safe.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted indoors on any ship and is often restricted within hotels. Check with hotel/ship personnel if you would like to know where smoking areas are.

Air Tickets & Seating

Your intra-Egypt air tickets will be issued in Egypt and provided to you prior to your flights. There is no First Class or Business Class on intra-Egypt flights and seat assignments are made by the airlines’ computers. Therefore, it is possible that you may not be seated with your traveling companion, even if you have the same surname. However, these are short flights lasting about an hour.

Baggage Allowance

Please be aware that baggage allowances for intra-Egypt and your extension flights are very limited and strictly enforced. Excess baggage may be left behind or you may be charged a high fee. On these flights, a guest may only carry on one piece; with dimensions not to exceed 8x16x22 inches and the total weight not to exceed 11 pounds. Any item in excess of the above restrictions must be checked. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in carry-on luggage. Checked baggage allowance for intra-Egypt and extension flights is based on total weight; each guest is allowed 44.2 pounds.

Airport Security

Your Tour Director will advise you about specific carry-on baggage security restrictions in effect for intra-Egypt flights during your visit.

Currency & Exchange Rate

Egypt uses the Egyptian pound; exchange rates vary but it is about five Egyptian pounds to one U.S. dollar. Current exchange rates are available in the financial sections of newspapers and at: xe.com or CNN Money. Amounts under one pound are in piastres. There are coins but they are rarely used.

Purchasing Items & Currency Exchange

Many locations will accept travelers checks or credit cards. For incidentals and small vendors, we recommend having small U.S. bills as well as getting some local currency.

ATMs

ATMs may not be conveniently located in Egypt’s large cities (and may be nonexistent in smaller cities along the river), and your itinerary may not allow you sufficient time to locate one. When available, ATMs dispense local currency for internationally accepted ATM cards and/or credit cards, and have a service fee of approximately 3%. Should you plan to use ATMs overseas, confirm with your bank prior to departure that your ATM/credit card and PIN will work abroad.

Changing Cash or Travelers Checks

Cash or travelers checks may be exchanged at some hotels, banks and exchange bureaus for a fee. We suggest exchanging currency in small increments, as needed, because changing money back into U.S. dollars may be difficult.

Credit Cards

Euro card, MasterCard, Visa and American Express cards are accepted in all countries in major shops, restaurants and hotels as well as to settle your shipboard account. Before you depart, we recommend that you alert your credit card companies that you plan to use your card(s) on your trip as they will often refuse to honor credit cards if they notice irregular and/or overseas activity.

Currency Onboard Ship & Your Onboard Account

Onboard purchases are billed with a guest check and added to your personal shipboard account. At the end of your trip, you may settle your account by credit card; your bill will be converted at the current exchange rate. The ship cannot accept travelers checks for payment of your shipboard account. Please review your shipboard bill carefully upon checkout so that shipboard personnel can assist you with any questions you may have at that time.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Many countries have a national “sales tax” (called value added tax or VAT) that is levied on most goods and services. In some cases and with the proper documentation from the point of purchase, it is possible to have a portion of this tax refunded to you on items taken out of a country in unused condition. Depending upon flight schedules and timing, it may be possible to receive a refund by applying at the airport kiosk before departure.

Now is a great time to start learning more about the places you’ll be visiting. Even a few background details can go a long way toward maximizing your enjoyment of your destinations. We are pleased to provide customized recommended reading lists courtesy of Longitude, a specialty bookseller. Select your itinerary below to get a hand-picked selection of topical and current books and maps; Essential Reading items at the top are offered at a 15% discount including shipping.

Pathways of the Pharaohs

Nile Explorer

Emergency Contact Information

If there is an emergency and you must be contacted while traveling, your family/friends should attempt to reach you directly by contacting the ship or hotel. The ship’s phone and fax systems operate on mobile reception and good reception may not be possible during portions of your trip. If unsuccessful, your family/friends can call the Viking River Cruises toll free number (1-877-668-4546) during our normal business hours. (Monday-Friday 5:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. All times are Pacific Time).

Egypt Phone Numbers

We have listed phone numbers which include country and city codes where the hotel, company or ship is located. The codes you must dial will be different depending on whether you are calling from within Egypt, another country or from the U.S. To call from the U.S. dial 011 + country code + city code + number.

We list the following codes applicable to your trip for your convenience.

Egypt country code: 20
Aswan city code: 97
Cairo city code: 2
Luxor city code: 95


Israel country code: 972
Jerusalem city code: 2

Jordan country code: 962
Amman city code: 6

If you are phoning home from abroad, use the following codes:
United States country code: 1
Canada country code: 1
United Kingdom country code: 44

International Mobile Phones

If you are planning to make or receive phone calls on a non-emergency basis, you should know that your cell phone may not work overseas. For your convenience, we provide international mobile phones for rent through a partner—more information about this program can be found here.

Tipping

Tips (baksheesh in Arabic) are your way of showing satisfaction for good service; they are not included in your cruise price. You may tip local guides in cash at the end of each tour; tipping of shipboard staff should also be in cash. You can use these guidelines for various service providers:

• Airport and hotel porters – $1 U.S. per person per bag
• Egyptologist/Tour Director – $9-$11 U.S. per person, per day
• Coach drivers – $3-$4 U.S. per person, per tour
• Hot air balloon staff – $2-$3 U.S. per person
• Ship crew – $5-$7 U.S. per person, per day
• Restaurant wait staff – Restaurants often add a service charge to bills, but an additional tip of 5%-10% is customary

Weather

For your convenience we have included a chart that shows the average temperatures in the major cities that we visit in Egypt, Israel and Jordan. You can view this by clicking here. For the latest live weather reports, you can visit either weather.com or CNN Weather.