Are You Ready For Your Nile Cruise & Egyptian Adventure?
The countdown is on! It’s time to start planning all those little details that will make our OUTbound Pharaohs & Pyramids of Egypt Cruise even more amazing! Below are a few things to help you make the most of our vacation together. As always, if you have any questions that we haven’t covered, or have a special request, hit us up… either by phone at 916.683.1000 or email us at info@iamOUTbound.com.
Let’s get started!
Flight Ideas
Since our Pharaohs & Pyramids of Egypt Cruise leaves and returns to Cairo, flights are super easy. Simply log onto your favorite airline’s website and look for roundtrip tickets to Cairo (CAI).
The airline you choose is completely up to you. While your flights to and from Cairo are not included, we’re always happy to help narrow down the best flight options with you. Simply give us a call or send us an email, letting us know where you’ll be flying from, if you have a preferred airline (based on frequent flyer miles or credit card points), and what class of service you typically like to book.
Remember, if you are joining us for our Petra Extension, you will need to look for flights arriving in Cairo (CAI) and departing from Amman (AMM) after our time in Jordan together has ended.
Your one-way flights from Cairo (CAI) to Amman (AMM) are included in the Petra package.
Getting to the St Regis Cairo
Your transfers to our host hotel, the St Regis Cairo, are included with your reservation. You will be met by an OUTbound representative upon your arrival in Cairo who will accompany you through the arrival and customs procedures before transporting you from the airport to our hotel.
The exact address of the St Regis is 1189 Nile Corniche, Boulaq Num.5, Bulaq, Cairo Governorate 11221, Egypt.
Be sure to enter your flight information as soon as you have booked your airline tickets so that we can arrange your hotel transfers.
Arrive Early In Cairo
For those of you who want to get an early start and arrive early in Cairo, we have you covered. Getting to Cairo a few days early is a great way to kick your jet lag, ensure that you and your bags all arrive in time for the start of our vacation, and start getting to know your fellow OUTbounders even before the trip has officially started.
You can arrive in Cairo as early as Friday, March 31st. We’ll make sure that you’ll be able to stay in the same room at the St Regis for your entire stay there. To add an early arrival, simply log onto your profile by clicking HERE, or send us an email letting us know the day you’d like to arrive and we can take care of that for you.
Theme Nights & Parties
Nothing makes an OUTbound event more fun than our THEME NIGHTS! This is your chance to express yourself with a fun t-shirt, wild wig or full blown costume. Feel free to show us what you’ve got! As always with OUTbound, you are welcome to participate as much or as little as you like, it’s up to you!
Be sure to check back as we get a little closer to our sail date to see the full list of our Theme Nights! We’ll announce these about three months before we sail… plenty of time to plan and get creative!
Visa Requirements
Egypt requires a tourist visa for United States citizens upon entry. Your passport must have six months’ validity remaining to be allowed entry. Please allow two weeks to have your visa processed.
OUTbound Visa Service
If you prefer, OUTbound can take care of the visa application process for you for $155 USD per person. If you choose to have us arrange your visa for you, your visa will be waiting for you when you arrive at the Cairo Airport and meet your OUTbound representative.
You can add our visa service by clicking HERE or sending us an email requesting that we take care of your visa application for you.
Egyptian eVisa
You may also apply for an Egyptian visa on your own through Egypt’s official tourism website. The application process is fairly straight forward. Just fill out the required fields and upload your travel document. You can apply for your Egyptian visa by clicking HERE to go to Egypt’s official website.
Visa On Arrival
Take A Picture!
Before heading out on a big trip, most travelers focus on packing the right clothes, confirming reservations, and making sure your passports are in hand. But seasoned OUTbounders know there’s another small step that can make a big difference in a pinch… snapping a few key photos before you leave home.
These quick snapshots take less than two minutes to capture but can save hours of stress if luggage gets lost, travel apps glitch, or important documents go missing.
Passport and Visas
A clear photo of the main passport page can make it faster to get a replacement at an embassy or consulate if your passport is lost. It’s best to keep this image in a secure, password-protected file or cloud app. Take a picture of your Egyptian visa as well as soon as you get that in your passport, just in case.
Prescription Medications & Labels
OUTbounders who take medication should take a picture of both your pills and the prescription labels. If your medications get lost or you run out, having the generic drug name on hand can make it much easier to refill while traveling.
Boarding Pass & Travel Documents
Travel apps sometimes glitch, and wifi isn’t always reliable at the airport. A screenshot of your boarding pass ensures it’s available offline when needed. The same goes for any hotel confirmations, train tickets, or tour reservations booked outside of your OUTbound trip.
Luggage Contents
Snapping a photo of everything packed in your suitcase before zipping it shut can be invaluable if your bags are delayed or lost. Airlines and insurance companies often ask for detailed lists of contents when processing a claim. A quick image can serve as proof of what was inside your bags and speed up any claims you might need to make.
As we all know, travel can be unpredictable, but your smartphone camera (something that’s already in your pocket and doesn’t require any extra cost) offers one of the easiest safeguards. Taking a few extra photos before you depart is a small habit that can prevent big headaches… and help you stay calm when plans don’t go exactly as expected.
The best time to visit Egypt is typically during the winter months, from October to April. This period offers pleasant, comfortable temperatures, making sightseeing and outdoor activities more enjoyable. Keep in mind that evenings can get cool, so pack accordingly.
What To Pack
- The weather in Egypt and along the Nile is most suited for comfortable and lightweight clothing, particularly natural fabrics such as cotton.
- A light waterproof jacket for occasional rainy weather or cooler evenings.
- Good walking shoes or sandals. Keep in mind that you will be visiting lots of tombs and temples with uneven surfaces.
- A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent.
Onboard Services
Laundry
Laundry services are available for an extra fee. The prices and instructions will be found in your cabin. Generally, laundry deposited in the morning will be returned to you that evening. Dry-cleaning services are not available.
Massage Services
Our ship has a treatment room with an onboard massage therapist who provides different types of massages for an extra fee.
All treatments can be booked once you are onboard, depending on availability.
Drinking Water
On board our ship, bottled water is provided in your staterooms, at the bar and at the reception desk. Bottled water is used for making all the ice cubes onboard, and our chefs use bottled water when preparing our meals.
Tipping Our Hosts
Tipping is the ONLY thing not included with your OUTbound vacation. We never want to dictate anyone’s generosity or decide how much you think YOUR experience with a crew member, waitstaff or tour guide was worth. How much to tip depends on the type of service you receive and your personal experience.
For the ship’s staff, you’ll have the opportunity to use a credit card at the end of our cruise for your gratuities. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and AmEx are all accepted. You’ll be able to add tips for the staff, and any extra gratuities for individuals onboard, at the same time as you close out your bill for any onboard services or purchases you’ve made during the cruise portion of our trip.
During our trip together, you’ll come into contact with many different servers and hosts. At the end of each day’s guided tour, you’ll have the chance to tip our guide and driver whatever you feel your experience was worth. Feel free at any point during your cruise to tip whoever you’d like, be it a bartender who goes the extra mile, your stateroom attendants who not only clean your room but provide nightly turn down service, or a tour guide who’s insight and knowledge makes your visit even more memorable than expected.
If you feel that any individual in particular has gone above and beyond in making your experience something extra special, then we encourage you to reach out to them directly and let them know how much you appreciated their service during our time together.
What Money Should You Bring?
In general, the US Dollar is the most widely accepted currency in Egypt. It is preferable if the dollar bills are in good condition as many businesses and vendors may refuse to accept worn out banknotes.
You’ll find that even local vendors will barter in US Dollars instead of Egyptian Pounds, but they won’t make change, so be sure to bring plenty of smaller bills… $1s and $5s so that you can pay the exact amount without the worry of trying to make change.
Acquiring US Dollars in Egypt can be tricky, so it’s best to bring adequate cash from home before you leave.
Egypt
The official currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound, symbolized by £ or EGP. Upon arriving in Egypt, you may want to have some cash in the local currency. There is an ATM located within our host hotel, the St Regis Cairo, on the fourth floor. ATMs are a common sight in Egypt, and you should have no trouble locating one in most destinations. International cards such as Visa are accepted at more than 20,000 ATMs nationwide.
American Express is not widely accepted in Egypt.
One thing to remember… It’s a good idea to carry cash, especially if you want to buy crafts or textiles directly from the local artisans we will visit. We’ll be traveling to some of the more remote destinations in Egypt, so credit cards won’t always be accepted.
What Power Converters Will I Need?
Our ship, the Ama Lilia, has European Union 220v Type C standard outlets in each stateroom.
Feel free to bring a USB adapter with multiple outlets so that you can charge several of your devices at once.
Travel Insurance
If we’ve learned anything over these last couple of years, it’s that the world can be an uncertain place at times. While you’re never required to buy travel insurance, it’s a good idea and we recommend all OUTbounders consider protecting your hard-earned vacation money. The price of your coverage will depend on a few factors, including the cost of the trip, what state you live in, how long before the trip departs, and if you have any pre-existing or underlying health conditions, to name a few.
Some reasons why you might buy travel insurance include:
- Cancel for Any Reason
- Unexpected Work Requirements
- Personal or Family Illness
OUTbound does not provide travel insurance. However, we always recommend using a third-party insurance carrier to provide your coverage.