Cruise passengers return to the Nile

Updated advice from the Foreign Office has allowed travel company Discover Egypt to resume cruises on the Nile.
More than 50 British passengers are on board for a seven-night cruise which departed on Monday, the company’s first for five months. Fares are as low as £799 per person including flights from London and Manchester and up to 10 guided excursions in Egypt.
There are no single supplements and add-ons include a visit to the Pyramids for £60, an additional week in a Luxor hotel from £149, or at a Red Sea resort for £299.
Sales director Philip Breckner said: “There has never been a better time to travel to Egypt to enjoy what this diverse and culturally rich country has to offer. Although it will take time to rebuild consumer confidence, we had a number of customers impatiently waiting for the FCO advice to be lifted.”
It could be some time, however, before ocean cruise ships return to Egypt. Schedules are set for up to two years in advance, and Thomson Cruises confirmed to me today that they do not have any plans for Red Sea itineraries in 2014-15.
In a separate announcement this week, Thomson said it would be visiting Porto – the second largest city in Portugal – for the first time next winter.
Thomson Dream will sail from Malaga from November on an itinerary that also visits Lisbon, Cadiz, Tangier and Gibraltar. Shore excursions in Porto will include a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Guimarees, and a wine-tasting tour.
Also next winter, Thomson Majesty will be based in the Canaries, while Thomson Spirit will be sailing from Limassol, Cyprus, to Marmaris (Turkey), Santorini, and Ashdod (for excursions to Jerusalem).