AmaWaterways' newest luxury river vessel, the 72-passenger AmaDahlia is now sailing along Egypt's Nile River. After celebratory festivities in Cairo and Luxor this week, the ship set sail from Luxor on its inaugural "Secrets of Egypt & The Nile" itinerary.
AmaWaterways co-founders Rudi Schreiner, president, and Kristin Karst, executive vice president, surprised the ship’s first guests by joining them for a cocktail hour at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo At The First Residence where all passengers were staying on a four-day pre-cruise land package. Passengers then boarded the ship in Luxor where they were greeted by local musicians and an Egyptian "whirling dervish" performance just prior to AmaDahlia's week-long cruise.
Guests also met and interacted with AmaWaterways’ Egyptian partner, Ahmed Atef El Wassief, president of Wings for Tourism Investment—an integrated travel services company focused on hospitality, professionalism and close collaboration with international partners.
“We are so appreciative of our Egyptian partners, who helped us launch AmaDahlia on time to start her inaugural season as planned this September,” said Schreiner in a press statement, noting that the local partners' experience was critical throughout the design and construction period. "We look forward to continuing to work together to share the iconic wonders of Egypt with our guests."
More on AmaDahlia
The new AmaDahlia offers 36 staterooms, including 16 sumptuous suites that provide guests with 370 square feet to 430 square feet of space. During their cruise, guests will be pampered by an Egyptian crew while discovering ancient Egyptian history and landscapes along the Nile River.
Design-wise, the river vessel has an intimate onboard aura, an interior design with vibrant colors and patterns. Passengers will find such amenities as a swimming pool and bar on the Sun Deck, as well as locally sourced cuisine at the Main Restaurant and the Chef’s Al Fresco Restaurant (see photo above). The latter is on an open deck that provides diners with scenic views.
AmaDahlia’s immersive 11-night "Secrets of Egypt & The Nile" itinerary offers small group-guided shore excursions led by Egyptologists. It will operate seasonally from September through June each year, sailing roundtrip from Luxor to Aswan with intra-Egypt flights between Cairo and Luxor.
Guests can visit such landmarks as the Temple of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. Arriving back aboard, they'll be entertained by local performers and hear informative talks by Egyptologists.
Land Inclusions and Options
This 11-night cruise-and-land itinerary includes three nights in Cairo pre-cruise and one-night in Cairo post-cruise, where guests will stay in the Four Seasons Hotel and receive an exclusive private tour and farewell lunch at the Abdeen Presidential Palace.
Optional extensions including a "pre-program" of three nights in Dubai or four nights in Jordan (Amman and Petra) and "post-program," four nights in Israel (Jerusalem).
For this new Egypt and Middle East program and the AmaDahlia cruise, guests must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. For Egypt entry, they must present a printed negative PCR test and complete and carry with them a Egyptian Health Declaration Form. Cruisers should also check the airline's specific requirements.
For more information, advisors can visit the Travel Advisor Portal at www.amawaterways.com.
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