Egypt visas for private excursion?

[drblue]

Hello. We are visiting Alexandria on the MSC Magnifica in January 2011. Has anyone been there recently to know if we need to process our own visas with the Egyptian Embassy? We are NOT doing the ship's excursion, but rather an independent tour with another company. We are a family of 2 adults and 1 child.

[Capricruiser]

You don't need to do anything. When you board the ship they will take your passports and before arriving at Alex, Egyptian immigration officials will have already stamped them with an Egyptian quick trip visa. Your passports will then be returned to you to use when you go ashore at Alex. This is the same routine for all passengers on board, whether they disembark with an excursion or go off on their own. It's painless.