Nile Cruise trends

Since the start of the New Year we have seen a definite increase in the demand for luxury Nile Cruises compared to the same period 12 months ago.

Although the outlook in Egypt has not improved that greatly (though I hasten to add it is very safe) its clear that holiday makers appetite for Nile Cruises and in particular the top end boats has returned and we have seen significant increases in sales. Whether this is partly due to lower prices triggered not just by the Nile Cruise companies reducing prices but also by the majority of the airlines servicing the routes to Luxor (easyjet, Monarch and Thomson) also reducing their prices is not clear.

For the remainder of the winter period there are still some excellent deals with prices in March starting from £999.00 per person which includes: return flights, 7 Nights Full board, sightseeing and all transfers.

For more information on our luxury Nile Cruise boats contact Atp Travel Ltd on 0845 680 9261 or email us at info@atptravel.co.uk

Great Luxury Nile Cruise Testimonials

There really is nothing more satisfying than a great Luxury Nile Cruise testimonial from clients who you have spent time planning their first Nile Cruise holiday for.

Given all of the "issues" and negative media reports, there is no doubt that selling holidays to certain parts of Egypt has got harder. Many agents are selling at discounted prices and worse, offering Nile Cruise holidays based on Nile Cruise boats that the clients will not ultimately end on, and in many cases they are put on lower standard boats.

At Atp Travel Ltd it is one of the principles of our company that if for any reason the Nile Cruise boat any of our clients are booked on will not operate, the clients are moved to a boat of the same or superior standard. We offer the clients in general 3 Nile Cruise boats which we know will be suitable replacements and then let the clients choose.

Looking at recent reports on trip advisor from clients who have booked on the Ms Emely been moved onto other boats on arrival to Luxor it is clear that the trend is to put the clients on a lower standard boat and not worry about the consequences.

So if you want a quality, Nile Cruise or Luxury Nile Cruise holiday Atp Travel Ltd can provide this for you.

For more information on our great offers contact Atp Travel Ltd on 0845 680 9261 or email at info@atptravel.co.uk

Happy New Year

A Happy New Year to one and all and for Egypt's sake lets hope its a good one.

So far things are showing signs of improvements with enquiries and bookings up on the same period from last year. We all hope that the anniversary of the "revolution" on the 25th January will pass without any major incident and that finally there will be some good news about Egypt rather than the depressing stuff that has appeared.

So here's to a fantastic to 2013 for us all.

Love and best wishes

Andrew

Is Egypt safe for tourists

The FCO website upgraded its travel advice for Egypt last Friday which has naturally led to a lot of tourists and prospective tourists asking if Egypt is a safe place to travel to.

Although the actual update was specific to certain parts of Sinai (Northern) which nearly all tourists will not go to or need to go to, unfortunately given past events in Egypt over the last couple of years and also elsewhere in the Middle East, any change in the advice is not good for Egypt.

The debates on trip advisor have raged on with the usual, "it wont change my plans" as well as some suggesting that they would not go on holidays already booked.

In the world we live in, with all its various threats means that the FCO is duty bound to issue changes and upgrades when it receives information of a possible new threat. However if you look at the advice for virtually any country, the terms general or high threat of terrorism appear (France, Germany and Spain were three that I checked).

So what to do? although there have been several past attacks on tourists, Egypt is generally a very safe place and whilst there is no guarantee of anything, I don't think that anyone travelling to any tourist resort should be worried by the new advice.

If however anyone does need any further information then please do not hesitate to contact me on 0845 680 9261 or email me at info@atptravel.co.ukinfo@atptravel.co.uk

Nile Cruises - Having your boat changed at the last moment or on arrival

Over the weekend with the weather changing and having the children to look after I found my myself with some time on my hands so went through some of the many posts on trip advisor on the Nile River Valley Forum to see what contributors were saying, advising, complaining or asking about.

One of the reoccurring themes was the number of passengers who had their Nile Cruise boat changed at the last minute, and in some cases were not informed until they arrived into Luxor. The reason for this is that simply not enough tourists are travelling to Luxor and so although the Nile Cruise companies want to operate their boats, if they do not get the minimum number before the cut off date for the respective sailing they will cancel the sailing. This then means that that the travel company or tour operator has to find another boat which is some cases may not be of the same standard.

At Atp Travel we do not operate this policy unless there is no other choice. We ensure that the Nile Cruise boat the clients booked is the one that they travel on. We have had clients on the Ms Farah where the total number of passengers was less than 10. There is nothing worse than planning a holiday having spent time choosing a boat only for it to be changed.

We have however had 4 clients who were booked on our Creative Dahabeya this week that we had to move to a different Dahabeya as the Creative one was not sailing. Rather than downgrade or risk any issues we upgraded them to the Sonesta Dahabeya Amirat.

So the moral of this one is if you book with Atp Travel you wont be disappointed with your Nile Cruise holiday as you will be on the one you booked.

For more information please contact us on 0845 680 9261 or email us at info@atptravel.co.uk

NEW Aswan to Cairo long cruise

After more than 15 years the long Nile river cruise is back. One of the newest and most luxurious boats on the Nile, the Ms Farah, will be operating a very special 15 day program from Cairo to Aswan and back to Cairo departing on the 30th August 2012.

With guest of honour Dr. Zahi Hawas this special sailing is an event surely not to be missed as you follow in the footsteps of the Pharoahs and sail at a leisurely pace between Aswan in the south and Cairo in the north. Stopping to visit some of Egypt's finest ancient tombs and temples along the way, a dramatic landscape unchanged for a thousand years unfolds before your eyes, the long Nile river cruise allows you to discover the magnificent ancient sites along the Nile.

Atp Travel offers you the chance to enjoy this unforgettable experience in five-star luxury, aboard one of the finest boats on the Nile.

The program includes:
-3 nights accommodation in Cairo
(2 nights in Mena House Oberoi)
-11 nights accommodation on board of M/S Farah
- meals as per program
-all hotels and cruise taxes, service charges and governmental sales taxes
-all transfers on private air conditioned luxury coaches
-assistance at the airport and during the trip
-Licensed Egyptologist English speaking/spiritual guide
-entrance fees to all mentioned sites in the program
-farewell dinner
-tipping throughout the trip
Return UK flights on Egyptair

With prices starting from £1899.00 this is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed

Happy New Year

Firstly a happy new year to one and all.

Hopefully the stories from the latter part of last year from Egypt that made the headlines will not be repeated and we can get on with selling great Egypt Nile Cruises and Classical Tours.

Already bookings on our new luxury boat the MS Farah are looking great and we will be starting a special promotion for the summer season with some really low prices for a luxury cruise.

We also plan to have a Dahabiya Cruise available either for this summer or next winter with what we believe will be some of the lowest rates for this type of cruise.

Thanks

What is a Nile Cruise boat like?

Having been asked on a number of occasions, "what is a Nile Cruise boat like?" I thought it would be good idea to explain it in some detail.

Firstly in general most Nile Cruise boats will have 5 decks some older boats are only 4 decks but all built in the last 15 or so years will be 5 decks.

The height, width and length of most boats is as follows:

Height - 11 metres

Width - 14 metres

Length - 70-75 metres

The boats cant be any higher due to some low bridges that the boats must pass under and they cant be any wider due to the locks at Esna that the boats must pass through. Though in general all boats are between 70-75 metres, several much longer boats have been built that are upto 120 meters.

DECK 1 (or lower deck) Where the main restaurant will be along with engine room, crew quarters and sometimes upto 6 guest cabins. One of the main complaints with older boats where there were more cabins on the deck 1 was from the smell of diesel and fumes from the engines. Most Nile Cruise boat meals are taken as open buffet with themed nights and main choices to suit most diets. A few of the more deluxe boats will serve dinner as a la carte and also several may have a separate smaller restaurant

DECK 2 (or reception deck) Lobby, guest cabins and sometimes the lounge bar. If the lounge bar is not on this deck then the guest cabins are either side of the lobby area. On many of the boats the lobby area is quite large and open plan with a mezzanine floor possibly over 3 decks giving the appearance of a hotel lobby.

DECK 3 Guest cabins and normally several shops which will generally be a bazaar type and also a jewellery shop.

DECK 4 Guest cabins and the lounge bar. The bar will be situated at the front of the boat possibly with a separate reading or quiet area with panoramic windows at the front. The lounge bar will have a small disco area which will be used for the nightly shows which will include, belly dance show, arabic show and galabayia party (this is basically just a disco where guests dress up in local arabic clothing which they have either hired or bought). Also on some boats there may be a small gym room or sauna or massage room.

DECK 5 (sun deck) Will have a swimming pool, area for sun loungers, separate covered area with tables and chairs and possibly a bar or serving area for afternoon tea. Although the sun loungers are tempting with temperatures of over 40 degrees for the summer months, the shaded area tends to be the most crowded. Sun towels are provided by each boat and are cleaned each night.

CABINS - Will be between 16-22 sq metres. Bathroom will have a shower and sometimes a bathtub. Cabin will have large double wardrobe, small vanity table, 1 or 2 chairs next to window sometimes with a small table, and the windows will normally be fully opening with balcony railing. There will be a TV which will show films during sailing time and local TV channels when docked, small mini fridge and all will have air-conditioning. Furnishings and style will be similar to the theme of the boat. Cabins will be cleaned daily.

So in general facilities and service will be similar to that of a hotel, hence the termed used by some for Nile Cruises as "floating hotel".