Sixty crew for 82 guests
Here is the fact that really separates a Nile cruise from a Rhine cruise, and
nobody puts it forward. River Tosca carries 82 guests and 60 crew. A little over
one and a half guests per person aboard. On the same line's large European
hulls, the ratio sits closer to two and a half guests. Service in Egypt is not
an exotic version of European service. It is a different trade, with different
staffing.
This is not brochure language. It shows up as shorter waits, staff who know
your name by day three, and a capacity to absorb the unexpected that thin crews
simply do not have.
The hull
Seventy-two metres long, fourteen wide. The ship came out of the Maasara yard
in Cairo in 2009. Five decks named Nile, Cairo, Pharaoh, Pyramid and Sun. All 41
accommodations are suites, the smallest around thirty square metres, each with a
French balcony. A pool sits on the sun deck with shaded cabanas, which stops
being a luxury once the thermometer settles above thirty-five degrees.
Uniworld publishes no refurbishment year for this ship. That means the figure
is not established, not that none ever happened.
What the package does not cover the same way
Uniworld states in its terms that inclusions vary in Egypt. Two points are
worth naming before departure. Gratuities are covered aboard and ashore, which
is more generous than in Europe and removes a daily calculation. Butler service,
on the other hand, is not offered in Egypt, even though your accommodation is
called a suite. Travellers who have sailed in Europe and expect the same
personal attention should know that before booking.
The Egyptian visa remains your cost, as everywhere in the fleet.
Comparing before choosing
On the Nile, Uniworld also runs S.S. Sphinx, newer and slightly larger. If your plan
leans towards Asia, look at Ganges Voyager II or Mekong Jewel. If you want a small European hull, S.S. Sao Gabriel
stands the comparison.
What the package pays for
Shipboard gratuities form part of the package, which removes the most
awkward question of the last evening. Meals are included, with a selection of
wines, beers and spirits offered through the day. Scheduled excursions and the
transfers in your file are included too.
Wi-Fi is a courtesy service with no commitment on speed. Expect
interruptions, particularly in locks and on remote sections.
Excluded: airfare, visas, travel insurance, laundry, spa, communications and
optional excursions.
Inclusions differ outside Europe. Uniworld says so in its
own terms: on the Nile, in India, in Southeast Asia and in Peru, the package is
not the one that applies to the European ships. Have your specific departure
checked before you book, because the gap shows up as disappointment.
Before booking for someone with reduced mobility
The contract speaks of reasonable efforts and stops there. No mobility
equipment is made available, and a companion capable of assisting is required.
The quay, the gangway and the cobblestones of old towns do the rest. Ask for
written confirmation about the chosen ship rather than relying on a general
description of the fleet.
Arranging the departure from Quebec
The journey from Montreal happens in two stages: an overnight flight to
Europe, then a transfer to the port of embarkation. Travellers who arrive the
same day often board exhausted. Those who allow themselves a night on the
ground start the cruise properly.
Voyages AquaTerra holds a Quebec travel agent licence. Your payments move
through a trust account and the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel
Agents protects your file. Your advisor will explain exactly what that covers.
