Iberotel Crown Empress

Our guide Smiley (Baseem) was fantastic, and even though we worried about temple overload, each site felt different. We did the included daily tours and both optional trips. Abu Simbel costs £125 per person and is a long bus day, but worth doing if your budget allows. The Nubian village costs £42 per person, which feels steep for what you get, though it offers a distinctive look at Nubian culture and the people displaced when the Aswan High Dam created Lake Nasser. We went on the 7 day Luxor to Aswan round trip cruise, booked through Easyjet. Gatwick was smooth, and getting Egyptian tourist visas online beforehand helped, though buying them on arrival seemed straightforward too. The airport bus took about 30 minutes, with an Easyjet rep on board. Jas Crown Emperor was the biggest ship we saw, but the meals and sun-deck didn’t feel crowded. It’s showing its age, but service quality was still good. The ship was spotless, rooms were serviced twice daily, and the crew were efficient, friendly, and helpful. English was well understood and spoken throughout. Our level two cabin was away from the bar and restaurant, with no undue engine noise or vibration. The beds were very comfortable, the shower had plenty of hot water, and there was a safe and lots of storage. Pack nesting suitcases to save space. European adaptors are needed, sockets for charging are sparse, and there’s no tea or coffee setup in the cabin. We skipped the drinks package because of the cost and because we don’t drink much alcohol now. Most passengers didn’t have all-inclusive bands. Breakfast includes unlimited tea, coffee, and juice, plus there’s free afternoon tea and two bottles of water per cabin daily. Other drinks cost extra: tea 75, soft drinks 95, coffee 125, wine 200, and local beer 250, all in Egyptian Pounds. As keen tea drinkers trying to stay hydrated, we felt thirsty sometimes. The trip drivers sold water and coke at good prices. The food was excellent in both quality and range. The buffet could get crowded for a bit, but it cleared quickly and dishes were replenished incredibly fast. There was a good mix of Arab and international dishes, plenty of vegetarian choices, and vegan meals cooked to order. We only went to the Captain's Cocktail party in the evenings, as the other events began at 9:30pm, late for our early starts. The country is dirty away from the ship, though we saw litter rather than piles of stinking garbage. Street sellers are persistent, so ignore them completely, since even a little interaction can trap you in a conversation. Begging wasn’t a big issue, but anyone offering to take your picture expects a tip. The advertised Wi-Fi was missing for days at a time. When it did work, the connection was fragile and poor. I don’t use much social media, but I do like keeping up with news, sports, and email. It was a fabulous holiday in an amazing country, with an aging ship kept very clean and high-end restaurant quality food in generous amounts three times a day. I’d give it six stars if the Wi-Fi worked.