DAY 1 - DEPARTURE ( leave any day- subject to availability )
JFK Passengers : We take off from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, bound for Cairo , tax included. Leave any day ( Subject to availability of air space & Nile cruise). For Boston : Please
add:$200 , for Chicago, Miami, Houston : $250. Most West Coast cities : $ 300

DAY 2 - CAIRO
Our Cairo staff greets you and escorts you through the excitement and hubbub of the terminal, and onward to your hotel. Traditional sweets await you, with our compliments. You'll have time to relax and unwind. Visa fee is included & issued upon arrival. Available only to American, Japanese , Canadian, Singaporean & EU citizens, your passport must be valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival.

Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur
For Hotel upgrade in Cairo : Four Seasons or the Mena House Palace wing / Pyramid's view ( you may mix & match Cairo stay first stay at Four Seasons and return stay Mena House Palace Wing: please add: $489 for the total of 3 nights per person in double

Visa will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

DAY 3 - CAIRO (aBLD)
Private air condition car for your tour today . Private chauffeur .

Your exploration of ancient Egypt begins today! We'll start after breakfast with the Egyptian Museum. Here you'll see the treasures of the ancient pharaohs: Mummies Hall is included , statuary, and precious stones and metals. Travelers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights alone. But there's more, on we go to the Coptic & Jewish ancient quarter then the Royal Manial Palace of the former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali. After lunch Egyptian-style, we'll motor to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids on the edge of Cairo.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

Conclude a memorable day as we host you on a Nile dinner cruise complete with exotic Egyptian entertainment.

DAY 4 - LUXOR (aBL)
Early morning flight to Luxor, all transfers are on a private basis, always with an air conditioned car. A welcome fruit basket awaits you at your luxury hotel, in Luxor : Sonesta St. George or the legendary Old Winter Palace .
Relax, unpack, snacks or pre-set menu lunch is on us , with our compliments.
In the afternoon: You'll tour the charming Luxor Museum. Then we'll set out overland to visit the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, followed by the mighty Temple of Luxor. Evening Karnak Sound & Light Show including a horse drawn carriage ride for your transfers between the hotel & the mighty Karnak Temples.

Private state room with private facilities on board the Royal Cleopatra

DAY 5 - LUXOR/ ESNA (BLD)
We'll cross the Nile to view an array of ancient splendors: the tomb chambers of the Valley of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens including Nefertari's Tomb ( Under renovation in 2003, for this period you 'll visit instead: Deir El Medinah) ;

The Queen for whom the sun shines : (closed for urgentrepairs)
Long before Cleopatra humbled the ruler of Rome, an Egyptian queen held power over the heart and soul of Ramses, Egypt's greatest pharaoh. In the 12th century BC, a broken-hearted Ramses built a grand funerary tomb for Queen Nefertari, "the Beautiful one," in the Valley of the Queens. It's been exquisitely restored with the aid of an American endowment, and is among the rarest sights in all Egypt: the only great tomb ever built by a pharaoh for his late queen. Artistically, it is the closest thing you could ever come to see the original Ancient Egyptian art in all of its glory and finesse.
Because of its fragile nature, only a limited number of visitors are allowed entry each day. We are the only company to include a visit to Nefertari's tomb in our daily program. Because of the limited access we must rise early for our visit, appropriate as Ramses named Nefertari "the one for whom the sun shines."

A brief stop at Colossi of Memnon then continue in your private air conditioned van to Esna :tour Esna Temple of Khnum, discovered in late in the 19th Century, it was well protected & preserved , buried under the main village's square for thousands of years.

Check-in , and board your Deluxe Felucca the Royal Cleopatra ( Your crew of 5 will be available to welcome you : the captain, sailor, chef, housekeeper and of course your Resident Egyptologist)

Welcome drink served upon arrival "Karkadeh - Local herb tea". Lunch will be served, as we sail for Edfu. Welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin, watch sunset as we dock north of Edfu and sip tea on deck. Dinner follows ) .

Just for fun, and for those interested , we'll engage a local fortune - teller , knowledgeable in the mystic secrets of ancient Egypt, to read the future in your palm or your coffee grounds!

Then after the fortune -teller assures you of success in business & in love on to bed, with the ripples of the Nile gently rocking you to sleep

Day 6 - EDFU (BLD)
Breakfast in your cabin, or on the sundeck,As sun rises we continue our sailing towards Edfu.

In Edfu, climb aboard your private horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best preserved.

Enjoy a grand afternoon of sailing on the Nile watching villages & scenery that changed little since Biblical times. We enjoy lunch at one of the small islands on the way. Dock at Elmerinat.

Day 7 - GABAL ELSISILAH - FARES (BLD)
Breakfast on board. We sail further upstream heading for GABAL ELSISILAH
Enjoy lunch on board . We reach Gabal Elsisilah early afternoon and tour the ancient sandstone quarries. A charming off the beating track site that 's not yet overwhelmed with large groups of tourists.
Watch sunset as we sip tea on deck. Dinner follows, then on to Fares where we dock for the night . Enjoy the Egyptian southern clear skies with thousands of stars to watch ! A galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.

Day 8- Kom Ombo - Aswan (B)
After breakfast on board. We return to Royal Cleopatra to bid farewell to the crew. We change our mode of transportation and board an air conditioned van/car , we stop at Kom Ombo , visit its twin temple dedicated to the crocodile god of the Nile, a true Greco Roman masterpiece.

Inspect the ancient wall carvings that documents the measurements and detailed description of the medical instruments available to the Ancient Egyptian.

We enjoy a short walking tour of the local village and souks of Kom Ombo, before heading for Aswan legendary colonial style " Old Cataract Hotel. Maybe you would like to enjoy High Tea ( on your own ) at the famous terrace over looking the Nile, where Agatha Christi wrote "Death On the Nile " Remainder of the day at leisure. Make sure you retire to bed early tonight, you leave tomorrow for Abu Simbel before sunrise

DAY 9 - ABU SIMBEL (B, Snack)
Very early breakfast before sunrise. We've planned our visit to Abu Simbel to be a highlight of your Egyptian adventure. Rising before dawn, we drive along the shore of Lake Nasser, watching the sky lighten and the sacred sun rise above the horizon. We reach the great temples while the air is clean, clear and cool, and the sun's light still golden;just right for photographs.
In the larger temple, colossal figures of Ramses are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters.
The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temple by ourselves in the quiet of the morning, admiring their ancient aura and artistry, after which retire to a comfortable hotel for refreshments. Just as planeloads of visitors arrive to throng the temples,we retire to one of the hotel;s in Abu Simbel for a refreshing drink and a snack ( included in the rate) , before we begin our leisurely drive back along the shore to Aswan.

Jacquie Kennedy & Abu Simbel:

All Americans alive during the 1960s remember President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Most Americans from that time also remember Abu Simbel, the dramatic, ancient pharaonic temple threatened by the rising waters blocked by the new Aswan High Dam. Read More.

It’s worth remembering that it was Jacquie Kennedy who provided crucial support for the mammoth rescue project. Without her help, Abu Simbel might have been lost. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy loved Egypt, and Egypt still loves her.

DAY 9 -CAMEL CARAVAN/SAILING BOATS (BLD)
After breakfast on board, we'll have the opportunity to experience Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail the Nile in a graceful Felucca, the age-old sailing vessel of the river. If you wish, try your hand at camel riding! We'll take a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers.

Back in Aswan we connect by air to Cairo, at Cairo airport, our local rep will assist with the connection to fly to Sharm El Sheikh .Private air condition car always for your transfers. We'll settle you into your Luxury hotel in Sharm : Sonesta , Hyatt, The Ritz Hotel or similar.

DAY 10 , DAY 11 - Sharm El Sheikh (aBD)
Full days at leisure . Hit the water , or venture into the nearby Bedouin village to see how the local people live-as you like. Dinner is included daily on a complimentary basis at the hotel.

DAY 12 - MOUNT SINAI - St. CATHERINE ( Santa Katarina / Catarina ) Monastery (BL)
Relax! This is one more day in "Paradise", enjoy the beach the Egyptian sun and maybe fishing , snorkeling or diving in the Red Sea. Or join us on a complimentary tour to Mount Sinai then in the cool before sunrise, we drive into the wilderness of Sinai, through which Moses led his people to the Promised Land. Our goal is the Monastery of St. Catherine, built on the site of the  burning bush  at the base of Mount Sinai. We tour the monastery, rich in history,icons and sacred paintings, returning to Sharm late in the evening. You must be in good physical condition if you wish to consider climbing Mt. Sinai. The climb is not recommended for those affected by heights.

DAY 13 - CAIRO - HOME HOSTED FAMILY DINNER (aBD)
Fly to Cairo remainder of the day in Cairo, at leisure.
You'll have one more opportunity to experience the excitement of this great city and, of course, do some last-minute shopping.
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo ! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town).

DAY 14 - DEPARTURE (aB)
Private air condition car for your transfer. Private chauffeur .Our Cairo-based staff escorts you to the airport, where you'll begin your journey home, either direct on Egyptair, Turkish Airlines Via Istanbul or via Athens on Olympic Airways. Salaam and Bon Voyage!

This tour leaves daily from JFK , throughout the year. Subject to the availability of air space & the Nile Cruise. Please note that the cruise itinerary is subject to change.

Please remember that we can also arrange a cruise for you on one of our large, spacious, luxurious air-conditioned Nile cruisers with all the conveniences: a different experience from the intimate ambiance of the "Royal Cleopatra." Compare with the 14 day version on board a one of the Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise
For cruise images : Radamis ( Swiss Management) ,Moon Goddess : M/S Ganna ( Kempinski Management)

RATES per person, in deluxe accommodations, in US$: JFK

For travel at Easter, Christmas or New Year's, a 10 percent supplement applies.

For May - Sep travel ( travel must conclude before Sep 30 ) : Please deduct : $500 from any of the above   listed rates.

Regrettably, discounts are not available for children on this cruise/tour.
Itinerary is subject to change without notice.

Rate includes:

• Guided Sightseeing in Egypt as per itinerary , including the service of an English speaking guide and all entrance fees as per itinerary.
  
• Meals as indicated, with preset menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner), American breakfast (aB) in Cairo
  
• Visa fee upon arrival in Cairo (applicable to Australian, NZ , EU, Mexican , S. African, S. Korean Singaporean, Japan, US, , and Canadian passport holders) , your passport must be valid and in order.

 

 

 

 

Honeymoon / Anniversary Special : Free in Cairo and /or while cruising the Nile :

Zaffa:
Before the sunset , we have arranged for a welcome Zaffa (procession that will resemble an Arabian/Egyptian wedding party) with a troupe of dancers and musicians dressed with the Egyptian typical clothes, welcoming guests by singing and dancing Egyptian Folklore).

Or Repeat your vows in one of Cairo historical churches:
For guests who are interested in repeating their vows in one of Cairo churches:
Priest will be ready from the church according to your request (church) for the wedding vows. ( donation to the church will be expected - that 's at your discretion) . After the ceremony, Champagnes will be served to the new couple & guests.

Complimentary transfers in an air-conditioned sedan , are included between the hotel & the church , if you prefer a stretch limo supplement will apply.

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Royal Cleopatra Length : 19 Meters. Beam : 5.20 meters. Cabin : 4.61 Meters x 2.41 Meters	Sun deck : 8.10 Meters x 5.20 Meters Cabin's size: 4.61 Meters x 2.42 Meter
Available on board : * Men's electrical shaver : 220 Volt / 110 Volt   converter. * Hairdryer. Shampoo, conditioner, soap.
Families and private parties of 5 guests: The sofa bed in the foyer opens up into a double bed). Read more on " Cleopatra, Antony and Caesar" The Greatest Love Story of all Time

 

 

Not included:

Red Sea Resorts in Sharm El Sheikh & Hurgada

 

 

 

Feluccas
are the traditional sailing vessel of much of the Mediterranean world
The traditional Nile felucca, or dahabeah, was the mainstay of travel in ancient Egypt.

With shallow drafts, sails, and oars, feluccas could navigate not only the great river, but the maze of canals threading through its banks, with or without wind, reaching every part of the kingdom.

Feluccas long ago transcended their role as humble transports. They held the ancient empire together, carrying troops, decrees, and the very mystery of the pharaoh.

Royal feluccas bore a larger-than-life image of the pharaoh, seated on a throne, to be seen and venerated by inhabitants even along the most remote canal. In turn, imbued with the same "ka," or spirit, as the living pharaoh himself, it would keep watch over his subjects and their activities.

So integral was the Nile felucca to the ancient Egyptian way of life that it assumed legendary attributes. Even today, you can see the oldest known Nile felucca, the regal Pharaonic dahabeah of Cheops, the ruler immortalized by the Great Pyramid at Giza. Known as the Solar Boat, it was believed to sail through the skies carrying its royal passenger along sunbeams in his single cabin, the royal suite of its day.

In later times, pashas, emirs, and sultans found that feluccas were indispensable. When Napoleon invaded Egypt, the Mameluke rulers observed the Battle of the Pyramids from their dahabeahs, and in the wake of defeat, set them afire, still laden with treasures, in the middle of the river. Always one to adapt to local practice, Napoleon even had his own dahabeah, the Italie, which was used by his officers to explore Upper Egypt.

In the nineteenth century, the well-equipped Nile felucca was essential to the upper-crust adventurer. Lord Kitshner used several feluccas for his famous trip from Cairo to Khartoum.

It took from two to three months to ascend the Nile under wind power, and another month-and-a-half to float back downstream, stopping at the great temples along the way. King Farouk, Churchill, Montgomery, Mark Twain and others settled in for the journey, and a certain Lady Edwards even had a piano installed on her sailing vessel.

Eventually, steamers displaced dahabeahs, opening up an Egyptian adventure to greater numbers on Thomas Cook's tours, and trains nearly finished them off. But never completely. Even today, despite the inroads of rail, steam power, and highways, the graceful Nile felucca retains its place.

Now, Travel in Style and Nubian Nile Cruises re-create the grand era of Nile adventure. Through their special contacts, they have arranged cruises on private Nile vessels. Completely refitted, our craft will delight the discriminating traveller, with full amenities, and modern conveniences and safety features unimaginable by upper-crust visitors of old or even the ancient pharaohs.

Our private Nile cruisers are at your disposal to accommodate couples, honeymooners, families, children enjoy most this barging cruise on the Nile, and small groups, affording the unique experience of navigating the ancient river on your own.

The M/S Cleopatra is a lateen-rigged Nile sailing vessel, 62 feet long by 24-1/2 feet wide, with sleeping accommodations for two to six people.

Spacious quarters include a main salon, bar, and sun deck. Each of two staterooms has private sink, shower, and toilet, and may be configured for your voyage with a queen bed, a queen and single, or up to three single beds.

A skilled river captain is on board at all times . A guide is at your disposal to plan your itinerary and escort you through the sites you choose to visit. The crew has completely separate quarters, to ensure your privacy.

Meals may be taken as you wish in your cabin, in the salon, or on deck while you watch the timeless way of life along the banks of the river, and villages twinkling at dusk. The temptation to spend at least one night gazing at stars and sleeping on deck may be irresistible. Enjoy luxury and unique adventure, made possible at a price delightfully within your reach through Travel in Style!

For charter and a PRIVATE Nile Cruise booking :
A NON REFUNDABLE deposit of $ 500 PER PERSON for Royal Cleopatra is required within 7 days from the date we confirm. Any booking made 45 days or less requires FULL PAYMENT.
If you cancel a chartered private boat less than 44 days or less , a 100 % cancellation fees apply, there is no refund

 

 

 

Nefertiti Turns Egypt Upside Down!!

The first bloodless religious revolution against the established church in Ancient Egypt
And the seat of power that rested with the priests in Karnak

 

Nefertiti Turns Egypt Upside Down!! 1350 BC - Queen Nefertiti is reported to have led her Egyptian subjects on a wild spree of idol-smashing, temple-destruction, and forced migration, all part of a campaign of religious reformation.

"From now on, there will be only one Deity, and that Deity is Aten, the Sun Disc," she has commanded.

Reliable sources in the Nile Valley report that all temples to gods other than Aten have been closed, and that a hefty fine will be imposed on anyone caught with an outlawed statuette.

Idols are to be smashed immediately, and the shards turned over to the priests of Aten.

"The capital of Egypt will now be at Tel El Amarna," reads a decree widely circulated in cuneiform on clay tablets.

"All priests are to settle within one hour's journey of the new Temple to Aten. All bidders on public works contracts will likewise have their head offices within the same specified distance."

Egyptian leaders in exile have disputed the motives behind the upheaval. "It's just a ploy to concentrate power and wealth in her hands and those of her husband, Ikhnaton," stated one defrocked priest.

"Everybody knows that Nefertiti has risen to her position on qualities that have nothing to do with religion.

She isn't called Incarnation of Beauty for nothing," he added, referring to the literal meaning of her name. The source asked not to be identified, fearing reprisals. Tel El Amarna, Nile Valley, 2004 - from Paul Glassman, special correspondent "Wow," commented Joe Shiner, an agro-businesman from Des Moines, as he toured the main temple at Tel El Amarna. "It's one thing to hear that Nefertiti was a real beauty. But it's quite another to visit in person and learn the real story." "Until I came here, I didn't know that she was behind the idea of having only one god-even before the Hebrews and Christians and followers of Mohammed.

 

"And now that I see her picture, I can understand why people followed her. This is not what I expected . . . not at all!" Mr. Shiner gestured as he spoke to a temple painting of a well-endowed Nefertiti in a chariot, wearing only a see-through cloak and thong-style panties.

"If she was my queen, I'd follow her to the end of the . . . "
Mr. Shiner's comments were interrupted by the approach of his wife.

Disclaimer: The facts presented are as accurate as can be ascertained from the archeological record. Mr. Joe Shiner is a composite of the satisfied clients of Travel in Style.

Read more on Cleopatra's First visit to Rome. She Turned Heads. The Senate was not amused Cleopatra visited Rome in 46 BC, was received in triumph, and moved into Caesar's villa even though Caesar was already married. Caesar's imperial ambitions and his indiscreet extramarital affair with Cleopatra turned powerful senators against him, and he was murdered on the steps of the Senate in March of 44 BC.