EGYPT question re leaving cruise ship overnight

Hi

I believe that you have to clear something like that with the cruise line ahead of time. Has Norwegian said it’s ok with them?

I agree with TinaC. I think a similar question has been asked before on some forum and not returning to the ship for the night can cause real problems

You totally have to clear this with NCL beforehand, or you will be a missing passenger on departure from Alexandria. Potentially they will offload all your belongings before sailing, if you don't have written clearance. That clearance should be checked the night before, or even on the day. You maybe be refused entry to the ship at Port Said, as you hadn't been on the ship's manifest when it entered Port Said that morning.

It all has to be double and treble checked, even quadruple checked.

For all sorts of reasons ships miss ports, it is quite often reported on this forum. NCL seem to be particularly bad at that at the moment, or in shortening their time in port- which can be pre-planned or even happen on the day due to port or pilotage availability or weather.

Having done almost 20 cruises I would see this as far too risky. Take the ship excursion to Cairo instead if there is one.

There are probably limited flights to Tel Aviv (and I believe you would have to return to Cairo for one), and how certain are you that you could just buy a seat on the day?

Would the flight timings give you enough time to get down to Haifa Port (for Tel Aviv)? If the ship missed out Haifa what would you do then?

This is a cruise, not a ferry.

What would happen if you were refused entry to Israel on arrival? It is not an automatic right to enter Israel in particular.

All this feels somewhat foolhardy.

I understand your desire to see the Great Pyramids of Giza, but I don't recommend doing this.

We have cruised with NCL seven times and always consider them when picking a cruise. NCL does charge a lot for their own excursions, so we frequently use private tour companies that arrange for the same tours at usually half the price or less.

The risk of a port cancellation is low, and NCL would most likely announce such a cancellation prior to the cruise if it was to happen. Still, my main reason for not doing this is that to see Egypt right, you need more than a day and night in Cairo.
You could likely have a tour that could take you to the Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, but there is more to see in Cairo area. Also, there is much more to see in the south of Egypt, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, several ports on the Nile north of Luxor and between Luxor and Aswan. Also, Abu Simbel is amazing, it is near the Sudanese border.

Enjoy your ports. Alexandria with a great place to visit. Also, you can probably see the Suez Canal from Port Said.

What if the ship doesn’t make it there? I sailed on a cruise ship last year that wasn’t able to dock at one of the planned ports due to choppy water. Talk with your cruise line and understand the risks. They too need to be fully informed and ‘approve’ or sanction this.

Thanks everyone!
TinaC - when I first booked, NCL said just to let the guest services know. Then my friend contacted them, and they said no, I then contacted them again and they said, maybe, it is the discretion of the staff on the ship. That is why I am confused.

It’s tough when the answers from cruise line representatives are different or inconsistent. You probably will not know for sure until you’re in direct contact with onboard concierge or staff. While it should be a no brainer it does involve some degree of risk - you and the ship making the rendezvous at the next port.

Personally, I would try and make it happen. Wishing you success.

I am sailing NCL from Haifa to Istanbul October 2024 which sounds similar to the cruise that you are writing about.

I use common sense in travels and am not a risk taker.

I would not do the overnight that you are describing. Even if there is only one chance in one thousand that something might go wrong, what happens if you are the one in one thousand.

Ports do get cancelled. On my first cruise, one port was cancelled. When the captain announced the cancellation, I thought that he was joking. He was not.

I am on a facebook NCL Latitudes page and one person posted that three ports were cancelled on the cruise that he was currently on.

I understand you wanting to see the Pyramids. I thought that NCL offered an excursion from Alexandria to the Pyramids but apparently not.

Can you go to the Pyramids before your cruise or after your cruise? if not, I suggest that you plan a completely different trip to Egypt and the Pyramids.

Come back to Egypt and spend 10 days or two weeks there and see it properly. There is much to see.

Tours of Egypt are reasonably priced. Check out Gate 1 Travel and OAT.

Hi
I have similar question with the original one except my cruise with Celebrity that will dock in Alexandria over night and the tour I plan to take will stay over night in Cairo and return to ship at the same port the next day. What are the risks for doing this?
Thanks for your inputs

My cousin just did this overnight tour this week from a Celebrity ship that stayed in the same port.

I'd be much happier doing that tour to and from Alexandria, not least because if something went dramatically pear shaped (like the bus breaking down, an issue with the hotel etc) I could catch a train back to Alexandria from Cairo- 2 or 3 an hour, and be back in 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

You would still need to notify the ship of your overnight absence, so they can contact you if the ship suddenly had to leave early, but that seems to me to be low risk.