Nile River Cruise

Take a Slow Boat Through the Nile to Meet the Sphinx

Whenever you think of a cruise holiday, it invariably involves visions of the mighty ocean viewed from the high deck of a fabulous five star floating hotel where all your material wishes are fulfilled. But there’s a catch here. The fact is that, till your mammoth cruise ship calls at any port en route to your destination, you are unable to fathom how people at the other end of our lonely planet live. In other words, you don’t have the faintest idea about how the people in the banks live. You can’t really see their culture, way of life or relics that have been left by their ancestors.

However, if you take a river cruise, you may sample most of these. Take, for instance, a cruise through the River Nile in the land of the Pharaohs. But before booking your Nile cruise, you should know that the river cruise ships on the Nile stand nowhere in comparison with the seagoing 1.30,000 ton leviathans. The main reason for this is that, these ships need to be narrow because obviously the river here is narrow. And that’s why they cannot accommodate most of the modern-day facilities and amenities that we have come to expect in larger sea-going cruise liners. But having said this, these Nile river cruises are still fantastic in many ways.

And the best part of the whole thing involves identifying yourself with the world’s famous ancient sites while the enchanting Egyptian scenery passes by. Tourist attractions along the Nile include the incredible Pyramids, the legendary Sphinx, the controversial tomb of Tutenkhamun, temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings and many other stunning time-worn monuments and obelisks. At times you may feel as if you are travelling in a time-machine that has brought you face to face with Queen Cleopatra’s Egypt. Isn’t that an incredible experience?

As for your creature comforts, most of these vessels boast luxurious cabins and princely suites on both decks. You do not have to make any compromises there. Egyptian and continental cuisine are served to all passengers. Apart from classical furniture adorning most of the cabins and suites, air conditioning is a standard feature for all cabins. But you might not need it in the evenings when you relax on the deck, taking in the river breeze.

You may board the cruise ship in Luxor for a 5-day cruise, touching at Esna, Edfou, KomOmbo and Assouan. You will be able to visit all the prime archaeological sites of Upper Egypt. There are both shorter and longer tours. Most Nile river cruises are between 3 and 7 days. In fact, there are some cruises that go to as far as Sudan. There are guided excursions in almost all of them. Egyptologists will tell you about the history of the place, highlighting on the more interesting tales. There are wonderful leisure activities every evening.

Here are some attractions you will see.

• Abu Simbel – stunning statues of Rameses II, guarding the entrance to the temples.
• Karnak – Located at Luxor city, you will definitely not want to miss the Great Hypostyle Hall. It will not just impress you, the hall will actually leave you spellbound.
• Valley of the Kings – This is where you can see the last resting place of 60 pharaohs. All the tombs are underground. The most famous tomb is of Tutankhamun or King Tut.
• Edfu – This is the 2nd largest temple in the country after Karnak. It is also the best preserved.
• Esna – This is a sanctuary from the Ptolomaic era.
• Hapshepsut – See the tomb of the greatest female pharaoh of Egypt.
• Kom Ombo – There are two temples here. One for Sobek and the other is for Horus.
• Luxor – A grand structure beside the Karnak Temple.

Danube River Cruise

Europe’s second-longest river Danube originates from Germany’s Black Forest region and flows through many countries such as Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania before meeting the Black Sea.

The river has been used for transportation for many centuries. In the last few decades, we have seen the emergence and popularity of river cruising holidays. Today, there are many cruise ships that will take you cruising over the Danube. It’s an unique way of traveling through some of the most picturesque parts of Europe. You can relax on deck and see the country changing along the way. There are shore excursions and day trips you can go on. It is certainly a thrilling experience for somebody who wants to see Europe and understand the lives of people living here, particularly on the banks.

Incidentally, the river cruise ships that ply on the Danube now are nothing short of floating five star luxury resorts. So you can expect complete luxury on board. Of course, there are cheaper alternatives too.

For visitors to Europe (either starting or ending the trip) a Vienna to Budapest 3-night/4-day Danube cruise could be perfect. Here is a typical itinerary you could try.

Day 1 – Embarkation and reception on board the ship.

Day 2 – Arrival at the romantic Waachau Valley. Go on a guided tour that covers the famed Benedictine Abbey. Towards evening when the ship sets sail again, you can lounge on the ship’s Sky Deck with a glass of white wine and enjoy the scenery.

Day 3 – Arrival at Bratislava, the dynamic capital of Slovakia. Try a tour to the old town, which is situated at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.

Day 4 – Arrival at Budapest and disembarkation. Hire a local guide for visiting the famous bridge/bridges that connect the old Buda on the right bank of the river with Pest on the left.

All meals including Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner as also snacks, tea/coffee is served complimentary on board the ship. Plus, you will also get the best quality wines produced by the finest wine makers of Europe. It is served with dinner every night to the passengers.

Of course, there are bigger itineraries as well that takes you all the way through the Danube. You can try these longer Danube cruises as well.

Amazon River Cruise

Think of exploring the world’s largest tropical Rain Forest aboard the air conditioned luxury boat, Aria. The all-inclusive Amazon cruise filled with adventure, excitement and fun will be a life-time experience for you and your companion. Glide through the mysterious Amazon River to view the native wildlife that includes the Red Howler monkeys and the jaguar. Nevertheless, a brief tour itinerary is given below for your guidance. Book a cruise today and enjoy a holiday like never before. Incidentally, your departure point will be Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta (Iquitos) International Airport at Peru. 

   

Day 1: Friday

Upon arrival at the Iquitos International Airport, you'll be met by a representative who will take you by air-conditioned coach to the main wharf in Iquitos. Here, you'll board the Aria and embark on the Amazon journey of a lifetime! 

After you getting settled into your room, go through a brief safety training with the staff . Then, enjoy a delicious onboard dinner prepared with local products, including fruit, fish and wine. Meet your naturalist guides and the cruise director while enjoying the beautiful views of the Amazon Rainforest from the upper deck of the boat.

Day 2: Saturday 

Wake up early and catch a glimpse of the majestic sunrise over the Amazon River. Then, enjoy a healthy breakfast before starting your day.

With your local guide, explore the Yacapana Isles, home to many species of iguanas and other wildlife. As you cruise down the Amazon River, you'll have excellent photo opportunities of the native flora and fauna along the riverbanks. You can also learn how to fish for piranhas in the Amazon with your naturalist guide! 

Enjoy time to rest before lunch on board the Aria. Then, head to the Yarapa River, where you'll have the opportunity to see the famous pink freshwater dolphins. As nightfall approaches, keep an eye out for nocturnal wildlife including frogs and bats before returning to the Aria. 

Back on board, enjoy a pisco sour before dinner on the roof deck. 

Day 3: Sunday 

Early in the morning, go on an optional excursion, if you wish, to see the wildlife along the Ucayali River. Then, enjoy breakfast on board in the dining room before a jungle hike.

Hike through the Amazon Rainforest to the small village of Magdalena. Interact with locals, and then head further into the rainforest with your guide and make your way to a beautiful lake, home to the famous giant water lilies. Then head back to the Aria for lunch and time to rest. 

After lunch, set off on foot along the Ucayali River with your guide to spot pink dolphins, monkeys, birds and other wildlife native to the Amazon. As you walk through the rainforest, keep an eye out for colorful macaws and howler monkeys. 

When you’re back on board the Aria, enjoy the beautiful sunset before dinner. 

Day 4: Monday 

Wake up early for a spectacular visit to the headwaters of the Amazon basin. After breakfast, the Aria will cruise along the edges of the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, the largest protected area in Peru. Hear birds chirp and see other wildlife along the riverbanks as you glide along the Amazon. 

Later, hop in a small boat for a ride to the native village of Puerto Prado, where you'll meet Cocama Indians. Learn about the culture and customs of this village while admiring their native art and crafts. Then, make your way back to the Aria for one last lunch on board before disembarking for the ride to the airport.