Because of our positive experiences on other Viking river cruises and my fascination with ancient Egypt, my husband and I booked the Pharoahs and Pyramids cruise on the Viking Ra for October 2022. This cruise was outstanding! We were well taken care of from the moment we stepped off the plane in Cairo until we returned 11 days later for our flight home. And, we were pleased to learn that inconspicuous security guards accompanied us everywhere, so we never felt unsafe.

Minutes after stepping off the plane in Cairo we were met by Raoul, the ever-smiling Viking airport rep, who escorted us through customs, visa procurement (for those who had not yet gotten their visas), and baggage claim, and onto a van for the short ride to the Cairo Sheraton Hotel. Then, after passing through metal detectors to enter the hotel lobby, we were met by Ahmed, our guide for the duration of our trip, who answered any questions we had, gave us our first Viking Daily information pamphlet, and handed us keys to our room. We enjoyed a delicious Egyptian meal at the hotel’s El Mawardia restaurant while recounting how easy Viking had made our journey from the airplane to our hotel.

We were a relatively small group as the Viking Ra accommodates only 52 guests in its 26 suites, so we were divided into two groups for our excursions and each group was led by an expert guide. Our guides, Ahmed and Hany, were in fact much more than guides. Both were Egyptologists who shared their vast knowledge of Egypt’s history and culture with us. They were invaluable in guiding us through the airports and on other modes of transportation and in advising us on how to interact with the ever-present vendors selling their goods. Because they travelled with us for the entire trip and took care of all the logistics, we could relax and thoroughly enjoy ourselves. Read more