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Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

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S.S. Antoinette

S.S. Maria Theresa

River Empress

S.S. Catherine

River Countess

River Duchess

Queen Isabel

River Princess

River Queen

River Tosca

S.S. Sphinx

Joie de Vivre

S.S. Beatrice

River Victoria

S.S. Bon Voyage

S.S. Sao Gabriel

Ganges Voyager II

S.S. La Venezia

Mekong Jewel

Wonderful cruise!  

St. John (U.S.V.I.)

Guides are amazing.  Chef Adel provides the best food. Egypt is very safe!  Egypt has had a past with terrorists and they don't play around with security.  Two to three security checks at the airport.   Heavily armed police at all the tourist spots.  Check points along every route.   People that are happy to share their country with you.  You start early to avoid the heat and the crowds.  There are many additional tours/excursions offered.  Uniworld meet us at the airport and walked us through visa, customs, baggage and transportation to the hotel.  5 star hotel with significant armed protection.  Each day is another amazing experience.  Egypt is a very old country with a very young population looking to totally transform their country by 2050.  The children are fascinated by Americans and want to practice their English skills every chance they get. The area around Giza and the new GEM is being transformed into a massive national treasure.

Ancient Egypt is a fascinating period of history and the itinerary for this trip took us to the Egyptian Museum, the Temple of Karnak, Dendera Temple (my personal favorite), Hatshepsut's Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. A generous amount of time was given at each site to explore after the guided tour. At the Valley of the Kings we were able to walk into four pyramids, including King Tut's where he lies in state. We had a knowledgeable Egyptologist for our tour guide.

This cruise was booked through Uniworld, but Spring Tours assumed responsibility for this tour once we landed. We were picked up from the airport by Spring Tours staff, and this company provided the tour guides and busses from this point. Their personnel provided an excellent experience.

We had originally booked our trip on the SS Sphinx, Uniworld's new ship. Damage to the ship from a fire at the shipyard made it unavailable in time for our embarkation date. We were transferred to the River Tosca. We liked its elegance with all the marble and polished wood. 

When we embarked in March 2020, the Coronavirus was beginning to be a concern. Spring Tours let us know from day one how the Egyptian Ministry of Health was monitoring the safety of passengers and staff. We had nightly temperature checks. We were advised as our tour was nearing its conclusion of the impending shutdown of airports worldwide. While our flight from Cairo to JFK remained unchanged, some travelers had to have flights changed and the Spring Tours staff provided support and accommodated adjusted departure times with their airport transfers.

Trip of a Lifetime

The Cruise Critic reviews helped me tremendously prior to taking my cruise so I am now giving back with my thoughts to help others! Unfortunately, our cruise did not have a good start- most of the passengers had booked this Nile River cruise based upon the cruise being on the brand new ship, the Sphinx. After unexpected fire damage on the Sphinx in December, we were told that our January cruise would be on the old and worn, Tosca. After my travel agent and I both requested that Uniworld provide compensation to me, considering that the contract was based upon a new ship, not a worn older ship, Uniworld declined. I guess they knew that my travel insurance would not cover cancellation in this circumstance and they had my money. So when I boarded the ship, and so many passengers told me they had received compensation from Uniworld for the ship change   (one passenger got $600) , it soured my Uniworld experience. Ok... now going forward with the cruise- Tour Leader: We were fortunately assigned the best Egyptologist - his name was Hani. I think a good tour guide can make or break your trip as you are touring with your whispers most of the day. Hani is excellent and a true asset to Uniworld. Schedule: I had asked Uniworld prior to the trip for a time schedule and they were unable to provide one. Now I know why- Most mornings you have to be on the bus at 7 am so for me that meant getting up at 5 am so I could shower, and make it to breakfast.  The day we were leaving Cairo to fly to Luxor, bags had to be out your door at 5:15 am so I had to get up at 4:00 am that morning. Afternoon: The Uniworld hotline had told me that most afternoons we would be relaxing on the ship. That is not so - we were on the run for most of the trip. You get to see a lot, but you will return home really tired. Packing: I suggest that you pack a hat, sunscreen, lip balm, and base layers - temperatures were chilly in the morning then warmed by noon. You may want to take crisp dollars for bathrooms at temples and also for the small children who break your heart begging to sell you something. Staff: Staff on the ship are hard working and eager to please. Ship Condition - Is worn and tired, as you would expect for an older ship.  Food- Very good! Waiter Bassam was our favorite. Giza Light Show:  This was another sore spot for our group. When we contracted with Uniworld, the itinerary on the Uniworld website showed that the Giza light show was included in the cost of the trip. But when we arrived in Cairo, Uniworld told everyone that the Giza light show was now $55/person. This soured the trip as well. When we requested an adjustment, Uniworld’s attitude was too bad , it’s now $55/person . Extra excursions: While the Uniworld hotline had told me that the Hot air balloon ride and camel ride had been discontinued, I was pleased to find once on the ship that you could book these events - they just no longer were being offered through Uniworld for liability reasons. Abu Simbel is a must do - and of course, it is an extra cost. Safety: Uniworld did a good job keeping us safe with armed guards and  police escorts. Buses- The bus rides were frequent and tiring and almost daily modes of transportation. I would have enjoyed more walking but the cruise group was a much older group so the buses worked fo them. Bus driver, Nassar, did a good job.  So overall for my review, I think that Egypt is an interesting place to travel. While the Uniworld cabin staff, kitchen staff, and tour leader did a great job, I do not plan to book another trip with Uniworld. I don’t think it was honorable the way they handled my booking contract in regard to the ship change and the Giza Light show change.

My first and last Uniworld cruise

Our TA did this tour and his reviews have always been spot on for us. So 5 couples who have traveled widely and together went. I have read previous reviews that were critical of the information given by their Egyptologist. We had Tarek and he was great! As my wife told him when we said good bye, we were 10 educators by profession, and he was a master educator for all 10 of us. We were met by the Uniworld rep BEFORE passport control.  Our TA said that was new. The 5 couples came in on different planes, but our experience was similar, even for those BA flights that get in early. We all met up at the 4 Seasons for an in room Happy Hour. We brought some duty free wine in from FRA, as did others and no one had a problem bringing it in. Security was outstanding, and quite frankly we felt safer there than anywhere in Mexico or Quito recently. The light show at the Pyramids was cheesy and could be skipped, but if you have night shot capabilities, there are some good opportunities. The very first thing on the bus, Tarek handed out 5 pound notes for toilet tips. He was available for 5 pound refills as needed. He also tipped all the people along the way so you don't have to if you don't want to. The ATM to the right of registration at the 4 Seasons will give small bills if you get smaller amounts and large bills if you get larger amounts. If you are going to shop then you should get the money recommended by your greeter, but we don't shop much as a group and the ATM visit for a large amount was really not necessary. We also brought a lot of $5s and $1s which were appropriate and welcomed. We flew the charter to Luxor. There were 66 on the ship. We were in 202, another of our group were in 201, and we were able to host happy hours for the group in our suites, all included. This may not be available when the new ship launches at the end of 2020. Some time after November 2020 would be a good time to go since the new ship should be launched and the new Egyptian Museum should be open. We were in 3 buses of 22 each so plenty of room to spread out. It was 45 F in the morning, and we would shed layers in the afternoon and leave it on the bus. Nobody in our group got sick and we all eat a lot of leafy vegetables and fruits. The wine was perfectly acceptable, all Egyptian or South African. It was too windy to do the hot air balloon on the day available, but on our last day we saw 11 balloons up, over the west bank, so it does happen. You can skip the Luxor light show without a problem. Abu Simbel was worth the expense, but go right in to the interior and take exterior shots later because the 60 bus caravan from Aswan will be right on your tail, and it will get packed if you wait. On the day you go back to Cairo, they offer a stop at the "market" with the option to go right to the hotel. Two thirds went to the market, and said it was largely for tourists and the real local market was over 2 streets. Also the 1 hour bus ride for the evening "buffet" farewell dinner was completely unnecessary, and if we did this again we would skip it and eat at the 4 Seasons. The last day of touring was an all day trip leaving about 7 am and getting in about 5 pm with lunch on the bus if you brought it with you. We had a big breakfast and just had fruit at lunch, which worked out well. One of our group had the inspiration to upgrade to a Nile River view room at the Four Seasons, which worked out great. Departure was very easy, but early. You are escorted by a Uniworld rep all the way to the second security check point.

Fantastic tour for all but one day

My husband and I just completed the Uniworld “Splendors of Egypt & The Nile” twelve-day cruise/tour of Egypt.  I would like to elaborate on our experience, which was for the most part very positive.  

EGYPTOLOGIST

I’ll start with the most important element of this trip, our Egyptologist.  His performance was crucial to the success of the trip.  Without a qualified guide the journey would have been pointless.  Akram, our guide, did not disappoint. Before the start of the official tour Akram took us to see some of the more minor pyramids and then to visit the Bazaar.  I knew after spending that first half day with him that we were in for a treat over the coming days. 

 He was so well qualified and versed on all aspects of ancient Egyptian history and modern Egyptian culture as well.  Even more important, his enthusiasm for “all things Egypt” was contagious.  I wouldn’t say I’m an expert on the Pharoahs, temples and pyramids but I certainly have a much better understanding of the subject after spending a week and a half with Akram. 

Akram’s official duty was to guide us through the magical country of Egypt; in reality he “wore several other hats”.  He also took on the responsibility of helping two passengers with mobility issues that both required wheelchair assistance.  It was a daunting task he tackled head on.  The various sites posed unique challenges as far as handicapped access goes but Akram handled the often-awkward situations with aplomb.  I spoke at length with one of the handicapped passenger’s relatives who had nothing but glowing praise for the help Akram had provided in order that their spouse could fulfill their lifelong dream of an Egyptian cruise.

In addition, he took charge of  tipping the bathroom attendants at the various sites for the entire group.  Handling all these tasks often demanded he be in two places at once.  There was a lot of pressure, but he never lost his cool.  One change/addition I might suggest is to provide Akram with an assistant to handle the rest room duties and enable him to concentrate on his guiding.  Perhaps the bus driver could assist in this area.   

ITINERARY

The itinerary was well designed to maximize the number of  sites visited.  Some of us commented that we felt we had packed a month’s worth of touring into eleven days,  To be honest the pace was brisk and we were pretty tired at the end of the day; however, it was completely worth every 7:00 a.m. starting time to reach the temples before the crowds descended.  Many reviews of this cruise addressed the action-packed nature of the cruise but still some people complained to Akram about it, even though the logistics involved were not within his control.

In our opinion the optional excursion to Abu Simbel was the highlight of the trip.  It was well worth the extra effort and expense involved getting there.  We were told that going forward it will be incorporated into the regular itinerary.  This is excellent news as anyone interested in Egypt would really miss if they passed over these amazing temples.

The subcontractor handling the entire trip for Uniworld was Spring Tours.  I felt they did a good job.  The bus drivers were professional and the buses were clean and comfortable.

RIVER TOSCA SHIP

I will admit to being pleasantly surprised by the ship especially after reading quite a few negative reviews of the ship.  Granted it is an older vessel but our cabin appeared to have newer, clean carpet and fresh paint.  We found it quite cozy.  The staff on the boat was lovely.  They were always pleasant and helpful.  We loved the food.  They had a lot of variety and daily offered some local dishes to sample.  The highlight was the evening they served an Egyptian buffet—delicious.

PRE- AND POST CRUISE STAY

Of course, it is hard to criticize the Four Seasons.  It is a little pricey for meals but with a sumptuous breakfast buffet included, it was easy to get through the day on the calories provided by that meal alone.

UNIWORLD TRANSFERS/LOGISTICS

This is the area where I have my one criticism of our trip.  We booked our flights and initial incoming transfer independently as we spent several extra days in Cairo at the Four Seasons before start of Splendors of Egypt & The Nile” twelve-day cruise/tour.  Despite numerous to communicate our arrangements with Uniworld corporate they were not at all helpful in facilitating our liaison with the other passengers on our excursions.  A serious of lengthy phone calls with both the Four Seasons and Uniworld in the US were required to finally sort things out.  Apparently, Uniworld is really only set up to deal with customers who buy their entire package—air/cruise/hotel.  They are not motivated to provide assistance to the independent travelers.   I recognize that you must differentiate between the corporation and the actual subcontractor, Spring Tours, in these situations.  

All in all, it was a marvelous cruise and I would recommend it without reservation to anyone, who like us, has Egypt on their “list”.

PS:  One more negative comment about corporate Uniworld.  I made considerable attempts to post this 98% review directly on Uniworld's web site.  First they told me it had to be "researched".  Then when I called directly they said I had to be "invited" as it was submitted through a third party.  Finally, they e-mailed me and said to submit to them directly--what I wanted to do in the first place.  What are they afraid of?

98% Wonderful!

Many days we were ‘on the bus’ very early – often between 6:30am-7:00.  Some days were even earlier.  We would go from breakfast (which had to be eaten by 6:00, to make it to the bus) until 2:00-2:30 without any food.   One day our excursion went from 7:15am -3:00pm – NO FOOD.  There were small mandarin oranges on the bus and on one occasion bananas.  Thus, we were going 8-9 hours with NO FOOD.  I tried speaking to our guide about the early start times.  He was extremely rude and condescending.  He simply said that we are starting early to miss the crowds and the heat.  Of course, there was never any ‘heat’.  It was actually quite cold in the mornings.  

Viking River Cruise guests were sometimes seen on our excursions.  On the last day, I spoke to a guest of Viking.  They took ‘one’ excursion in the morning, leaving between 8-8:30am.  They would ALWAYS be back on the boat by 1:00 for lunch.  Then, in the afternoon they would take another excursion.  They NEVER encountered any crowds.  It was December.

Our guide refused to share any information about the next days schedule until the night before.   There was a paper on our bed, after dinner, that would give the times.  Several times I heard guests request information about times, and Akram (our guide) would not give them an answer.  We felt like we were being treated like children!  Twice, we had to skip the excursions because of the ridiculous times.  We were not the only ones that missed excursions because of the scheduling.  Almost 70% of the people on the ship were sick by the end of the trip, from the terrible food and extremely strenuous schedule. 

The day we went to the Giza Pyramids, our guide stated that Uniworld did not feel like there was anywhere ‘safe’ enough for us to eat lunch.  We were told to order box lunches from our hotel. The boxes needed to be ready to go by 6:30am.  I questioned eating food that had not been refrigerated for 5 to 6 hours.  The guide said ‘no problem’.  Within 5 minutes of the Giza Pyramids are 2 very nice hotels, the Marriott Mena (where A&K guests stay) and Le Meridian, where I’m sure we would have been safe eating lunch.

Obviously, there was no need for us to pay for box lunches.

I could go on and on with the list of horrible experiences we encountered on this trip.  

The guest review sheet we were given at the end of the trip did not allow much space to comment, but I did try to share our dissatisfaction.  We spent a significant sum of money on this trip and we were treated very very poorly.  When we returned, I tried contacting customer service at Uniworld.  It took many attempts before anyone at Uniworld customer service would respond.  The bad memories of the trip were only exaggerated by the lack of customer service at Uniworld!

Hopefully, we will all have the opportunity to travel again in the near future.  NEVER again with Uniworld!

NEVER use Uniworld!!

We chose Uniworld as friends said their experience is ultimate pleasure and luxury.

That said, we also wanted a total cultural experience of the wonders of Ancient Egypt.  We read reviews that extolled the Uniworld Egyptologists as knowledgeable and entertaining.   We were excited to experience this as we wondered at the marvels of the temples, tombs, etc.

This was a family trip and we loved the River Tosca and its aging gentility.  The crew/staff were most accommodating and friendly, with attention to one’s every need. 

We had a Royal Suite and were able to have private relaxation times with our family there - this is a really comfortable and large cabin with an additional sitting room.  Egyptian whisky, gin and vodka and all soft drinks are available free of charge as well as three pots of snacks - one usually nuts or roasted corn, one of Egyptian chocolates, and one with potato crisps in packets.  There is also a fruit bowl and laundry is thrown in.   My husband says he may never recover from having his scants ironed!

We are accustomed on guided trips to have hour long presentations of the periods and places of the next day presented each evening.  Our “Egyptologist talk” each evening was when we could need to be ready, where we were going, and when we could be back - and oh yes, where shopping would be available.  No real information!  The documentaries on the TV were outdated documentaries of how movies were made, a story of some Egyptian conscripts at the time of the pyramids (all based on guesswork), and some ancient stuff from the BBC - and the Peter Ustinov version of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile.

Our Egyptologist Sameh was repetitive and very good at shepherding his flock, but we were there for the cultural experience and we kept getting the feeling that everything was boiling down to “the boy king” and a limited number of “stars” that they had decided would make good storylines.   We were frustrated in the extreme.   We are not idiots and the stuff we were being fed was pure Hollywood/`Disney.  King Tut, Nefertiti, Amenhotep, Hatshepsut and the odd other walk on part.   These were minor players in the grand scheme of things, but we learned nothing more than we already knew from previous research, and that was bitterly disappointing.

So Uniworld - Get serious and bat with the heavyweights like Regent and Azamara.   Have proper detailed briefings each evening prior to the visits - Egypt demands this!!  

Egyptian tourism has decided to pander to the Hollywood and Disney superficial storylines.  Don’t bow down to this (remember your South African heritage, dammit).

Give us the real thing please.  Your boat and crew are delightful.   Your packaging of the ancient Egyptian historical experience needs serious review - unless we got the dregs of your Egyptologists?   Perhaps we did.

Who knows.

Wonderful Boat, lousy tour of ancient Egypt

I had always wanted to see Egypt and the Nile.  A wonderful friend took me on this cruise for a special birthday.  The sites were truly spectacular, especially the Pyramids of Gaza, the Valley of the Kings, and especially Abu Simbel.  We had early departures for many of the tours off ship, but that was not a problem.  We had to pay extra for the trip (involving a flight) to Abu Simbel - but it was truly worth it.  To be on the Nile was truly spectacular and we loved every minute.  The Tosca was a very nice ship, and the service was outstanding.  There were only 62 on the cruise and we were divided into 3 bus groups.  Be aware that this cruise involves several flights getting to destinations.  You start off with a few days in Cairo.  We stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel and it was amazing!  We then were flown down to Luxor where we boarded the Tosca.  Our tour guide Tirek was outstanding and certainly knew his Egyptian history!  On reaching Aswan we were flown to see Abu Simbel for the day - well worth it.  We found all of the tours excellent, loving each one. On returning to Luxor, we were flown back to Cairo for our visit to the Pyramids, and once again stayed at the fabulous Four Seasons Hotel.  We had chosen to do the Jerusalem Extension at the end of the cruise, but, to be honest, it was not worth the price that we had to pay to do it.  There were eight of us on this portion of the trip and our guide in Jerusalem was only adequate.  As said, the cost was too high for this 5 day excursion and we didn't really leave the city at all, except to go to Bethlehem, which was another disappointment.  HOWEVER, the Nile Cruise was outstanding and will always be remembered.  Would I go back again?  Definitely.  Note the use of several adjectives several times throughout the review!

Memorable Cruise on the World's Greatest River!

We chose this cruise because we wanted to see Egypt, and we found this cruise after a Uniworld cruise down the Danube. We had 2 days in Cairo with the tour guide before joining the boat. When we arrived on the ship we were welcomed by the crew and escorted to our cabins which were larger than expected, and very comfortable. The crew were very welcoming and helpful.

We were welcomed and well cared for. The whole experience was fun.

Our tour guide had an amazing sense of humour and really knew his history and was very informative. We became friends and will continue to correspond. 

The temples were amazing and finding out all the history was great. 

We met a great group of people who jelled really well. The entertainment on board was great with local talent and our Egyptian night was fun.

I particularly liked the fact that the crew looked like they had fun as well.

Wonderful Egyptian adventure

We booked our bucket list cruise to Egypt last August. Having River cruised before and not liking it for various reasons as well as reading some of the reviews on the Tosca we were cautious booking but the only way to really do Egypt is by the Nile.  I have to say we just returned from one of the best ever vacations.  The Tosca is a beautiful vessel with old world beauty and charm.  I felt like I was in a Bogart movie.  The rooms are surprisingly large and the bathrooms terrific albeit the shower is small.  The staff cannot do enough for you.   The food is wonderful.  The Uniworld itinerary covers all the high points and then some.  I highly recommend you add the hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings.  Our tour guide,Mohamed R far exceeded expectations in both knowledge, compassion and intelligence.  Highly recommend Egypt.  We always were safe and the Four Seasons in Cairo is also terrific which is where the front and back end of the tour start and end.

Uniworld & River Tosca outstanding 

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