As in all hot countries, minimise the risk of dehydration by drinking plenty of bottled water. Avoid very cold drinks and ice and remember that ice may be made from tap water. Do not use tap water when brushing your teeth. Take care extra care with your personal hygiene and wash your hands more regularly than normal - one of the worst carriers of bacteria are local Egyptian banknotes. For your comfort Air conditioning is best kept to a moderate level in your cabin.

It is possible that at some time during your holiday you will find insects such as ants or cockroaches in your room. This however, does not indicate unhygienic conditions. They are a fact of life in warmer climates and are easily eradicated by sprays or poisons. Your accommodation management will normally deal with the problem as soon as they are advised. In many of the less developed countries, the water and electricity services struggle to keep up with the demands of tourism. Limited rainfall can put further pressure on their provision. Accommodation providers do everything possible to maintain full services. However, occasional power cuts or water restrictions may occur.

Please remember that some destinations are in the process of developing their local economies and tourist industry. This does mean that in some resorts and cities there can be building work and you may experience some noise disturbance from construction work and equipment. It may also be visible. Whilst we have no control over such work we will endeavour to notify you of any activity as soon as possible, however near to your departure this may be.

Pack suitable clothing for the season to be able to 'cover up.' Smart casual dress is acceptable, however men are required to wear trousers for dinner. Whilst on excursions ensure that you have comfortable footwear and be prepared to cover up (particularly ladies) if necessary - remember Egypt is a muslim country.

Remember that many excursions commence very early in the morning to avoid the extreme heat of the sun in the middle of the day.

You may have to walk through other cruise ships to reach your vessel as they are often moored close together whilst in port and due to the large numbers of vessels direct access is not always possible. Take care using gang planks. This may also result in views being obscured whilst docked. Enjoy the experience this cruise offers - the intention is that the boat is not restrictive, but a vessel that allows you to visit fabulous Egyptian sites. However certain passengers may find that they are less able to cope with some excursions which can be energetic and don't forget the boat has several decks! We do not as a result recommend that people with walking difficulties take a Nile Cruise.

On the money side, our advice is always to have various options where possible (i.e. Travellers Cheques, Credit and/or Debit Cards, local cash and Sterling £). Credit Card facilities do exist but since this an electronic process this method of payment can not be assured. It is customary to tip on Nile Cruises. Tips are partly a source of income. Expect to budget for approximately £30pp, normally collected at the beginning of the cruise. Please note that this in only an indication - ask us for further information.

Excursions are subject to change at any time due to weather, river levels or just sheer voulme of Nile traffic (there are more than 300 vessels currently).

Note that due to essential maintenance the Esna Lock closes twice per year resulting in some disruption to Nile Cruises. This occurs during the first 2 weeks in June and December. We advise customers to avoid this travel period where possible as a result.