Any thoughts on the vessel that sails the nile? How are the rooms, accommodations and/or food? What is the age range of the passengers?
The Oberoi Zahra is the one to go for - it is in a completely different league from any of the other boats.
Passengers are the usual mix of high-end travellers that you would expect to see in, for instance, a Four Seasons hotel.
The rooms and suites are hotel quality and remarkably spacious, with very comfortable kingsize beds and amazing panoramic windows, so you get to see everything on the banks of the Nile.
The food is first class - the usual Oberoi quality that you get in their hotels.
Makes sense, as most young kids would be bored by this type of experience.
The age mix on Zahra appears to be very balanced, although it obviously changes according to season and passenger list. It is not a retirees sort of mix - lots of younger couples, too.
The Oberoi Philae is a much older boat, as reflected by its dated decor. I suspect that its passenger profile is also older.
is seven days not too long for a journey that takes 12 hrs?
This is not a journey, a classic cruise-ship jaunt - it is an experience of the world's oldest archaeological sites. The banks of the Nile are littered with extraordinary places, from Abydos to Dendera, Esna and Edfu, Kom Ombo and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. A Nile cruise is the best way to see them. Part of the cruise involves disembarking each day to explore the sights - the Zahra having expert guides on board to explain the history.
In the past, I have spent up to 7 days just in Cairo, and even then, I am still discovering new things each time I return. There is so much to see along the Nile that it would take a lifetime to discover everything. 7 days is just a taster.
