Taking that cruise down the Nile in September (also scuba-ing in Red Sea, etc.) Anyone have thoughts on calling cards, SIM cards or whatnot so as not to have to lay out a mint? I'll have a quad-band cell phone.

callbackworld.com in conjunction with a local SIM and a moment of internet access to adjust callback settings -- if you don't have the locally-preferred SIM phone number in advance of departure to Egypt -- works well for me.

prepaid SIM cards from Vodafone or Mobinil (the two largest local operators) are really cheap.. so stock up on credit before you board the boat.

In addition, if you and the US person have computer/internet access, SKYPE is free and great.

My son lives in Cairo and we do SKYPE calls often.

I've just returned from a trip that took me to both Cape Town and Cairo and I have an Egyptian Vodafone SIM card that is yours if you like. There is no time left on the card, so you will have to buy some when you get to Egypt, but at least you would know what your number will be before you leave the US. If you're interested, send me a PM. I don't see myself going back to Egypt soon so I have no further use for the card.

When I got the SIM card, we were told that it was LE6 per minute to call back to the US but I don't think that was accurate...I think it was somewhere between LE3-4. Depending upon how much time you plan on talking, you may want to do as GK says and stock up before the boat trip by buying a couple LE100 cards. (LE100 roughly equals US$19).

You mention that you have a quad-band cell phone, but is it unlocked? If not, this SIM card won't do you much good.