This two-hour dinner cruise only cost about $25!
If you plan on traveling to Egypt, visiting the Pyramids of Giza will likely be at the top of your to-do list. And for good reason. These are some of the largest structures in the world, and the only Wonder of the Ancient World to have survived to the present day. From all of my time spent traveling, I have still never seen anything as impressive as the Pyramids.
When visiting Egypt, you could easily spend months exploring different historical sites, such as the Valley of the Kings or the Muhammad Ali Mosque. If you find yourself spending time in Cairo, however, I highly recommend you take a dinner cruise on the Nile River.
Most travelers who journey to Egypt to see the Pyramids of Giza will likely spend at least a few days in Cairo. This is where I chose to stay during my short trip to Egypt. In the daytime, Cairo is a bustling city with numerous attractions and countless landmarks just a short drive away. It is also a great place to get some of the best Egyptian souvenirs to take home. At night, the city became much more quiet, so I found myself walking to the Nile River every night and sitting on a bench, watching it flow.
The Nile River passes through the heart of Cairo, with much of the city built up along the banks of this ancient river. Numerous hotels, restaurants, and skyscrapers on the shore become lit up as the sun goes down. Cruise ships are a common sight as well, often decorated in colorful lights to attract attention at night.
While there are plenty of options for multi-day cruises in Egypt, a much more economical option is just to spend a couple of hours on a cruise ship while you eat dinner. During my last night in Cairo, I booked a dinner cruise for about 500 Egyptian pounds, or about $25 USD. It was one of the most memorable experiences that I had while in Egypt.
I boarded the ship and was surprised at how formal the atmosphere was. The employees were all wearing tuxedos and most of the passengers were wearing business casual attire. I felt out of place in my jeans and button-down short sleeve shirt, but thankfully I did not stand out as much as some German tourists on the ship who were wearing shorts and sandals.
The dinner was served buffet-style and had a greater selection of fruits and vegetables than I had seen during my entire time in Cairo. While I am traveling, I typically prefer to save money by eating in markets or cheap restaurants, but I am not opposed to splurging on expensive food every once in a while. This dinner cruise was a great way for me to fill up before departing on my long flight back to the United States.
After finishing dinner, the guests relaxed and enjoyed the different forms of entertainment the various forms of entertainment offered on the ship. There was a stage on the outside deck of the ship where musicians performed traditional Egyptian and Arab songs while the guests enjoyed the views from the Nile. The night air was much cooler than the 100+ degree heat of the daytime, so I was able to take in the views of Cairo without feeling too much discomfort.
Back inside the ship, a professional belly dancer was performing. I came back inside and saw the end of her performance. My favorite performance of the night, however, was from a tanoura dancer. Tanoura is a traditional Egyptian dance which is adopted from the whirling dervishes of Turkey. The dancer wears a multicolored skirt and spins to the rhythm of a song. While the original dance evolved from Sufis, a subgroup of Islam, as a form of meditation for religious purposes, the Egyptian tanoura is more of a secular dance performed for entertainment purposes.
After his performance ended, the ship made port and the guests all disembarked. This experience had been extremely enjoyable for me. Besides the great food and amazing views of Cairo at night, the entertainment provided was a great way to experience Egyptian culture. Don’t forget to include a dinner cruise in your Egyptian itinerary!
