Cairo security

I posted this on the roll call for the July 17 Riviera cruise. This is for those who may not be reading that board.

There was a disturbing article in the NYTimes on May 22 describing the situation in Cairo. We are adventurous travelers. We had booked a private guide for the day. However, after reading this article, we will stay on board in Cairo. We will not take an Oceania excursion because this will be our second trip to Egypt and we have already seen the major sites. Those with private tours should read the New York Times article:

On Eve of Egyptian Vote, Crime Wave Is the Main Topic

when we were in Cairo we opted for the ship tour ( something we never do, b/cause i just like to have control of where I am going on my vacation) but for Cairo the ship tours buses all caravaned (together) had armed ( machine gun carrying) police on board etc. So it is unfortuneately never safe there...esp to be on own ..it seems

I posted this on the roll call for the July 17 Riviera cruise. This is for those who may not be reading that board.

 

There was a disturbing article in the NYTimes on May 22 describing the situation in Cairo. We are adventurous travelers. We had booked a private guide for the day. However, after reading this article, we will stay on board in Cairo. We will not take an Oceania excursion because this will be our second trip to Egypt and we have already seen the major sites. Those with private tours should read the New York Times article:

On Eve of Egyptian Vote, Crime Wave Is the Main Topic

Are you sure your itinerary still includes Cairo? I thought Oceania had temporarily discontinued port calls in Tunisia and Egypt -- but I could certainly be, oh, so wrong.

Today's NY Times says the crime problem is not in Cairo.

We are going to Egypt as of today on the Riviera's July cruise.

It was changed but then reinstated to Alexandria and Port Said.

Tunisia remains out.

On our Nautica's Nov 15th sailing Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh were dropped but Luxor remained. I hope it will stay that way.

Things over there can change dramatically in 2 months.

I'd hold off on making final decisions now for a Mid July visit.

Things over there can change dramatically in 2 months.

 

I'd hold off on making final decisions now for a Mid July visit.

Two months?

How about two days!

I'd hold off on making final decisions now for a Mid July visit.

Yes and no - but mostly no.

It may be difficult to make last minute arrangements for Egypt private tours, especially if it involves more people (as it usually does, to make it financially more feasible).

An alternative would be to make tentative arrangements without cash deposit (maybe CC guarantee) with the understanding that if the ship's itinerary (or political situation) changes, you obviously cannot take the tour.

Most guides would understand that, IMO.

Good luck to OP!

That's it, Paulchili. We have booked our tours all with no deposits except for one of the ship's excursions which has been paid but readily refundable.

If there is a last minute port change, while there will be disappoinment, I know it will be for a good reason. Riviera should be such a great 'destination' in itself I just might have to purchase the premium drink package and spend some quality time poolside. It might be tough but I think I am up to it.

That's it, Paulchili. We have booked our tours all with no deposits except for one of the ship's excursions which has been paid but readily refundable.

 

If there is a last minute port change, while there will be disappoinment, I know it will be for a good reason. Riviera should be such a great 'destination' in itself I just might have to purchase the premium drink package and spend some quality time poolside. It might be tough but I think I am up to it.

Right there with you :). Cheers :)

Riviera should be such a great 'destination' in itself I just might have to purchase the premium drink package and spend some quality time poolside. It might be tough but I think I am up to it.

It will be tough but I think you'll make it.

I wish I was there to suffer with you! :D

We did a Nile River cruise after 3 days in Cairo this past March and I never felt unsafe or even uneasy. Our tour operator provided at least one armed guard to accompany us everywhere and I was under the impression that this was not new but simply SOP in this part of the world. I would not have missed that trip, it was most certainly a bucket list trip.

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Helen

Four years ago while on a Seabourn cruise we had an overnight in Alexandria so booked a private car with driver and guide to take us to Cairo where we spent the night in a hotel. We found it strange that in addition to the driver and guide there was a third person who accompanied us everywhere. The guide told us he was one of the executives of the company. All went very well. However as we got out of the car back at the ship this person's jacket was blown away from his body by a gust of wind and we saw a gun tucked into his pants. It was then we realized he was a guard there to protect us should anything have gone awry.

I don't recognise this thread. We were in Cairo on a Regent cruise in April and everything seemed completely normal - no armed guards on our cruise line excursion. Things can change, and today they have elections, but I don't think anybody should get their knickers in a twist about it.

I would be quite surprised if Regent did not provide some company for you. Did you leave the ship on a ship excursion? I agree thought hat things looked quite normal, other than the occasional tank in the street I did not see anything unusual in Cairo either but we neverthless had very unobtrusive guards along.

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Helen

I too am very surprised that Regent let you go on one of their excursions to Cairo without a security escort/armed guard. It is a pretty standard procedure in Egypt (and has been for some time).

We are not going to Cairo on the Riviera's July cruise because we were there a couple of years ago on a 10 day land tour. Even then, all US & UK groups were accompanied by armed guards and escort vehicles. We never felt any concerns for our safety. The Cairo hotels also examined all vehicles, and dogs and long mirrors scanned even the local taxis. We also passed through an O type scanning system almost everywhere.

In Israel security going into even restaurants was quite apparent. Its just the way things are.

Would not have missed either country. both unbelievable.

We are also on the July 19th cruise and have not as yet cancelled our tours. When we were last in Cairo in Oct 2010 all the tours convoyed together most of the way into Cairo which made us all feel very safe. When we were in the Khan el-Khalili at night we were accompanied by a very heavily armed security guard with multiple firearearms. Even with all of his firepower I never felt safe that night.

The current election cycle will hopefully end with the return of the usual calm to the streets of Cairo and other parts of Egypt. The economy is very dependent on the tourism sector and the powers that are all aware that violence will severly hurt their chances to evollve into a democratic state.

The spate of recent news articles such as this in the articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/20/world/la-fg-egypt-unease-20120221 will unfortuneately scare some away and only make things worse for the hard pressed economy.

I'm sure that Regent provided some sort of security on their excursions. Passengers may just not have been aware of it. They're not going to have guards patrolling the aisles of the buses with Uzis.

As of this moment an Islamist and a Military man are both in the lead in the Egyptian elections. Not sure what will happen there no matter which eventually wins.

As I mentioned in my original post, I too have visited Egypt in the past. I have seen the security mentioned in the previous posts. According to this recent NY Times article, violent crime is now a more serious problem. I am not questioning the safety of an Oceania tour. However, I would not travel on a private tour in a car or van.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/wo...opic.html?_r=1

As I mentioned in my original post, I too have visited Egypt in the past. I have seen the security mentioned in the previous posts. According to this recent NY Times article, violent crime is now a more serious problem. I am not questioning the safety of an Oceania tour. However, I would not travel on a private tour in a car or van.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/wo...opic.html?_r=1

Not good news at all.

Large cities, like Cairo, are always more prone to lawlessness (everywhere).

Our cruise cancelled Cairo some time ago but kept Luxor on the itinerary.

I'll be watching the developments closely and I am sure Oceania will as well.

As I mentioned in my original post, I too have visited Egypt in the past. I have seen the security mentioned in the previous posts. According to this recent NY Times article, violent crime is now a more serious problem. I am not questioning the safety of an Oceania tour. However, I would not travel on a private tour in a car or van.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/wo...opic.html?_r=1

We have booked the tour to the pyramids and I assume we will have armed escorts. The situation in Egypt is tense especially because of the elections. The news is that we will know the outcome of the first round in a few days. We will have to see the reaction to that and then the timing of round 2 as it relates to our itinerary. I have a close friend who travels to Egypt on business regularly and has many friends there. he was there a month ago and told me that the only way he would go was with a UN escort. Luckily he was connected enough to get one. I will definitely stay very clear of Cairo.

It's such a shame because Cairo is one of the most fascinating cities on Earth for its history, its architecture, its sites, its museums, its people, its culture.

Well, I have to bow to the superior knowledge of those who know better but weren't there. If they are correct and Regent did provide some sort of security for our excursion to Cairo and the pyramids they were well disguised, over 60, and required regular bathroom stops. Brilliant.

Didn't see any tanks or military presence of any sort in Cairo, unlike Luxor where on our private tour we seemed to pass a checkpoint every few miles. Not that we were ever stopped.