Spirit Red Sea cruise 24 Feb!!

[weatherman46]

Short notice I know, but was wondering if anyone else is going on this cruise.

[grannajan]

I have felt as though we're actually going, for the first time this weekend. It has been touch and go up till now, but I think we will be there ! We're having a week in a hotel in Sharm first, arriving on Thursday this week, the 17th. I wonder what our itinerary for the cruise will be ? Thomsons told me they would let us know about 4 days before the cruise - which is not much use to us as we'll already be out there.

[Go South]

Been keeping a close eye on things over the past few weeks. Hopefully with Mubarak gone things might calm down enough for the FCO to lift restrictions as we really only booked this to see the pyramids and Valley of the Kings etc. Fingers crossed!

[weatherman46]

Hi Go South and grannajan
Nice to see someone else going on this cruise. Looks like it will be the original itinary.
If you see us on board please say hi.

Paul and Sheila

[grannajan]

Hi. I don't think we will be going to Cairo. I've read the following this afternoon:
Holiday company Thomson said the resorts of Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Tabe are safe. The operator has also cancelled its excursions from these resorts to Cairo. The company’s cruises have been altered to avoid Port Sokhna in Cairo and Safaga on the journey to Luxor.
I also read elsewhere that we will be following the same itinerary as the past 2 cruises, ie stopping at Eilat for Jerusalem, Bethlehem & The Dead Sea.

[Go South]

I agree that Cairo looks unlikely, but with the FCO lifting restictions on Luxor today there may be a chance that Thompson will start going there again. Fingers crossed!

[Go South]

Just read this in the Telegraph

"Thomas Cook and Tui Travel, Britain’s largest tour operators, will resume flights to Luxor next Wednesday, after nearly four weeks of cancellations"

With our cruise leaving Thursday week, Thomson should have enough time to re-establish the Safaga stop on the itenerary.

[weatherman46]

Does look as if things are slowly returning to near normal in Egypt. Even if ship did dock at Eilat, not sure if we would take trip to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Apparently it is about 4 hours coach travel each way, and you don't get a lot of time when you get there.

[temo13]

did this cruise last week, trip to Jerusalem was 41/2 hours each way but well worth the visit.
You can book it as an overnight trip for around £20 extra which we didnt know about, this also took in Masada & the Dead Sea.
Have a good trip:)