Luxury Cruise Talk Logo

Keene Luxury Travel
800-856-1155 · 972-701-9292
Join Our Mailing List · Email us

Who's Online Now
6 registered members (Davefr, Ralph W., Ngaire, Yallcruise, Jim B, 1 invisible), 632 guests
Newest Members
DennisK, SuprDave, BarbD, johnsmithpmt, Juliehoover(41381 Registered Users)
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 4 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215563 03/02/10 03:36 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
DougW Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
life will go on.....

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215564 03/02/10 03:37 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
DougW Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
Birkenstock?

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215565 03/02/10 04:09 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
RPM Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
What is a Birkenstock?? Sounds German
We have a Birks store here ....great diamonds.


Pat and Ray
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215566 03/02/10 04:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Internet will be available in all the hotels. The ship has an internet "corner" I have already asked about any wireless access in the cabins but I doubt it.

Camera len's I leave that to Ken he is at the station tonight and does his running into a burning airplane annual drill tomorrow. After he survives that he will post.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215567 03/02/10 04:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
sedona Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
They are shoes...not diamonds..

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215568 03/02/10 06:11 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
RPM Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
MMMMMMMMMMM, think I'd prefer diamonds, but I love shoes too.


Pat and Ray
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215569 03/02/10 06:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Mark and Cheron Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
I just noticed that according to our documents the ship does not accept credit cards. I assume they don't accept US dollars so I'm wondering how much one needs to get in cash for the 4 day cruise?

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215570 03/02/10 06:32 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,210
Pam Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,210
Andi, I'm taking three pairs of shoes.

Mark and cheron, if you had been with us on six trips, this particular part would read exactly the same.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215571 03/02/10 06:37 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
sedona Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
Gosh, three pairs...I usually bring one suitcase dedicated to them :woh:

Can't wait to see y'all.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215572 03/02/10 07:32 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
RPM Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
Quote
Originally posted by Mark and Cheron:
I just noticed that according to our documents the ship does not accept credit cards. I assume they don't accept US dollars so I'm wondering how much one needs to get in cash for the 4 day cruise?
I noticed this as well...I guess Egyptian Pounds, But I bet they take US dollars.

Also waiting to see what lens Ken recommends,especially now that I actually have lenses.

Andi, three pairs for me as well (flip flops don't count)plus what I wear on the plane.


Pat and Ray
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215573 03/03/10 04:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
A
AndreaN Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
A
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
Good luck to Ken today for the annual running into a burning airplane drill today!

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215574 03/03/10 06:31 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
sedona Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
That makes me feel better...I don't wear flip flops and my birkenstocks are kind of like flip flops...I will wear them on the plane...so, that can get me two pairs of birkis...then three pairs of regular shoes, so we are up to five. I don't carry lenses and camera equipment...just one little video camera and one computer. I prefer diamonds too...is this area known for any special gems? I just figure I'll bring back some alabaster. I was good and didn't buy any rubies in Bangkok.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215575 03/03/10 06:56 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Mark and Cheron Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Good to know Pam. I keep coming up with questions so it is nice to know everyone is receptive to them. I don't want to jinx anything but I haven't heard anything lately about airline strikes. We are very much looking forward to this trip and getting to know everyone.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215576 03/03/10 08:15 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,210
Pam Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,210
One thing that people shop for in Egypt is the cartouche pendants; your name in heiroglyphics (I don't even want to know how badly I mangled the spelling on that).

Mark just heard on last night's news about the runway closing at JFK. He was fairly certain that I hadn't heard anything about it, and neither had Delta, and our flight was history. I reassured him. For now.

I'm trying to figure out the most advantageous type luggage. Some of ours needs to be set at the curb, but I don't know what to replace it with. Mark's Tilley blazer came in and was a perfect fit (thanks Pat), so that's taken care of. Nothing like last minute freak-outs, but Andrea had surgery last week and it's been "all hands on deck" for that.

I know I'm not taking any good jewelry. Don't need it, don't want to worry about it. Small stuff, relatively plain wedding ring.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215577 03/03/10 10:07 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 885
Ken Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 885
Well I made it through my annual Hot Drill at DFW Airport. I have to do this once a year to stay certified. I’m always glad when it’s over!!!

Now, about the lens situation. Egypt is one of those places where you need both wide angle and telephoto lenses. If you are right in front of a pyramid or some other large historic structure and can not get back far enough for a good shot, the wide angle will really come in handy. From what I have found, everything I want to take a photo of in Egypt is either right in front of you or far away. When we cruise the Nile you will see lots of photo ops on shore and that is where the telephoto comes into play. I remember seeing this big guy on a little donkey, it was so funny because his feet were dragging the ground, the poor donkey. Those are the types of photos you may see.

Here are the Canon lenses I am taking:

EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (if I have room in the bag)
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215578 03/03/10 10:13 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
A
AndreaN Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
A
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
Congrats Ken - glad to hear you passed your certification.

I think I'm going to need to get a wide angle lens.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215579 03/03/10 11:20 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Mark and Cheron Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
I'm glad everything went well for you today Ken. Since we don't have any "good" camera equipment (after the safari we gave it to our son because he was a much better photographer than we ever hoped to be) we hope that others will share their pictures with us.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215580 03/03/10 11:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 803
Ralph W. Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 803
Ken, Thank you for the info. Helps a lot. I suspect I will have the 18-135 on for most of the time but plan to bring the 70-300 for on the boat and a 50 1.4 for dusk shots.

Cheron , I am sure all will be willing to share photos. Lets talk Pat M into doing a book for NILE like she did for ROAR 2. It was fabulous.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215581 03/03/10 01:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Mark and Cheron Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
A book would be wonderful!!!!

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215582 03/03/10 02:37 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
DougW Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
Ralph:
Good choice. I suspect that you will work the 18-135 like a rented mule. The 1.4 will be wonderful for dusk shots!

Like Ken, now all we all have to do is find room in the bag!

Doug

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215583 03/03/10 03:30 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
DougW Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
We've opted to "do it all" with Ken.

Doug

"Too much of a good thing is never enough."

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215584 03/04/10 10:43 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
A
AndreaN Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
A
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
Cheron if my photos turn out okay I don't mind sharing them at all.

I'll have a 50 1.4 too. I'm with everyone else trying to get it all into the bag!

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215585 03/04/10 12:46 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Mark and Cheron Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Thank you Andrea....besides not being a photographer I don't think I could carry all of the equipment everyone is talking about!!

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215586 03/04/10 01:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
DougW Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
Mark & Cheron:

We look forward to meeting you.
BUT on the topic of photos..... frankly, a nice little point & shoot camera can capture some very amazing pictures.
We lens lads & gals sport some pretty fancy equipment sometimes, but wonderful pictures (sometimes the best pictures of the day!) are caught using simpler equipment.
I hope that you'll bring a camera to capture what is meaningful to you.

And to everyone else, a reminder to bring enough media for your equipment. Who knows how easy it will be to get another memory card or what you might be charged for that tiny card once found. Bring too much. You can always use it on the next trip. It is such an easy thing to overlook.

Doug

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215587 03/04/10 01:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 803
Ralph W. Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 803
Wise comment about the media cards. Caused me the think batteries , batteries.

If you need to recharge batteries remember that Egypt uses a differant electical system the US. It is 220 and has differant plugs.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215588 03/04/10 01:57 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 73
mes Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 73
Pam, I love shoes....will skimp on this trip...will be fun to see everyone again and meet new Ngaire and Ken fans! We are unpacking from S. America in one room and packing in another for the Nile trip...very fun....thanks for the packing list, Ngaire....and thanks for Ralph for bugging me to read LCT...very helpful...


Mary Elaine and David
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215589 03/04/10 01:58 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 73
mes Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 73
Ralph...Dave will get with you on batteries...he is the battery man and knew we were actually on the Mariner!


Mary Elaine and David
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215590 03/04/10 02:02 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,210
Pam Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,210
I love shoes, too, but I'm trying to hold down the packing weight.

My camera uses AA batteries, and I have a good dual-voltage charger. SD cards galore. I put pictures on smugmug, so anybody can access them.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215591 03/04/10 02:28 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
DougW Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
Great point, Ralph.
I focused on the picture & not on the power to actually take the thing. Good idea is always to have an extra or back-up battery.
Pam, don't know what to suggest for regular AA's. Are they re-chargeable?

David & Mary Elaine: Andi & I look forward to seeing you again.

Doug

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215592 03/04/10 06:49 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,294
cindyr Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,294
I can't believe we are not going on this trip! David has never been more excited about a potential trip, Just couldn't make it work......i know you will all have the trip of a lifetime....enjoy!!!


Cindy
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215593 03/05/10 08:56 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Mark and Cheron Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Doug,
Looking forward to meeting you as well. I will definitely take my little point and shoot canon camera but I don't think it will be able to compete with all of the lenses etc. It will be a lot of fun though no matter what kind of camera one brings along for the trip.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215594 03/05/10 11:29 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
RPM Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
Hey Cheron, I did ROAR2 only shooting with my point & shoot Canon and they turned out fine. All you have to do is shoot, shoot, shoot....you'll be amazed how many will not only turn out but look great.
Is anyone bringing a tripod for the light show in front of the Pyramids?..My shots 5 years ago didn't turn out at all and I was so dissapointed.

Pat


Pat and Ray
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215595 03/05/10 11:32 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
RPM Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 934
Forgot to add, I still can't shoot night shots worth a darn.Maybe with my new camera and a few lessons from Ken and the other pros I'll finally learn.....Pat


Pat and Ray
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215596 03/07/10 03:47 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
DougW Offline OP
cruiser
OP Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,419
The final pre-trip shopping is now done.
All that is left is the -groan- packing.

We'll meet that 43 lb limit easily. Hey! Roar was something like 27 lb. This is a piece of cake.

Less than 2 weeks to go.
What fun!

Doug

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215597 03/07/10 04:01 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,641
joannapv Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,641
OH I am so excited for all of you and can't wait for reports with my morning tea!!!


Joanna
Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215598 03/07/10 04:28 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
jhp Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
Me too, me too! :banana: :3smile:

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215599 03/11/10 07:16 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 447
pammy Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 447
anyone notice its been 95 to over 100 degrees in Cario this week? ugh! Next week its suppose to get back to normal or even a little cooler. I hope so.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215600 03/11/10 01:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire Online
cruiser
Online
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Things run in waves so if it is HOT now or COLD now then that is good so we can have PERFECT weather. I will start my praying to the weather Gods tonight.

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215601 03/12/10 05:23 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
A
AndreaN Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
A
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
BA's cabin crew has announced strike dates: March 20th - March 23rd/March 27th - March 31st. Luckily we should have no problem getting to Cairo on the 19th, but we will be affected on our return on the 30th. They say long haul flights should operate as planned, albeit with simplified onboard service. More details here:

BA Cabin Crew Strike Information

Re: NILE? anyone coming? #215602 03/12/10 09:01 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Mark and Cheron Offline
cruiser
Offline
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Andrea,
Hopefully, by the 30th BA might have the strike resolved. Usually they still try to operate their long haul flights. We will keep our fingers crossed.

Page 4 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Moderated by  KarenS 

Keene Luxury Travel Offers
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3