Royal Esadora

Whether you’re new or old to it, the essence of taking a cruise is that you get to stay put – that is, in your floating hotel – while you’re ferried to various sites and sights. It’s an ideal way to see as much as possible, while relaxing and enjoying the journeys in between. So, now we’ve established that it’s a wonderful way to travel, how do you decide on a ship? Especially if you’re heading somewhere with a great deal of boats offering similar itineraries such as, say, the Nile?

This is where service, attention to detail, good food, plenty of amenities, entertainment, the best guides, cleanliness, comfort and fresh, up-to-date accommodation come into play and why I’m recommending the Royal Esadora. Also, if you fancy adding a couple few days either or both sides of your cruise in Cairo or Hurghada, they can arrange this as well – everything from flights to transfers to guides to accommodation to tours to all-inclusive, so all your drinks are included as well.

My ‘room’ is actually a suite, so there’s plenty of space to spread out. Inside is a TV, mini-fridge/freezer, a desk, plenty of storage, sofa, coffee and occasional tables, two chairs, tasteful artwork on the walls – and that’s just the living room. The second room has the quite frankly enormous bed, double wardrobe, safe, loads of shelves and drawers, full-length mirror and a bathroom with a shower over the water-jet bath. The only shame is how little time I actually get to spend in there, because there’s so much else to do. To give you an idea, take a look at the itinerary I’ve included from our second day on board. It’s an A-list of Egyptian celebrity sites – and that’s all before lunch.

If you think the wake-up call looks early, remember that at this time of year (September) it can still get extremely hot, so it’s actually simple good sense to get out there and hit the highlights before things heat up. It’s also, as our clever guide Elia pointed out, a good way of beating the other tours so we get the places to ourselves. It’s certainly worked so far.

Around the boat, service is always with a smile, a “Hello, how are you? Are you enjoying your day?” and delivered with speed and courtesy. The staff must have been hired for their good memories too, because they remember all sorts of small things that make a stay that much more memorable for the guests. One of our group liked a nicely presented fruit plate she had on the first evening. Now, whenever she goes up to the buffet, the man who cuts the fruit has a special plate prepared just for her. Meanwhile, I’ve let slip to one of the chefs that I’m a vegetarian and now he’s quick to let me know which dishes are meat-free, as well as offering to cook me anything else if I don’t see something I’d like on offer. I haven’t had to take him up on this though, because the extensive buffet, starting with salad, soup, breads, cheeses and working through main courses of meat, fish, vegetables and often pasta, all the way to the fruit section and heaving pudding table, has always had more than enough choice for me.

If you like a drink while you watch the sun sink behind the date palms, I don’t know what it’s called, but the one made out of gin, apple, mango and hibiscus juice tastes as good as it looks. Then, once the sun has gone down, you can take yourself to the lounge bar for a spot of dancing, a chat or watch the entertainment that’s laid on – we’re all looking forward to the Nubian dancing, the dervish, the belly dancing and, of course, our Egyptian night, when we get to dress up in traditional robes and play games. That one hasn’t actually happened yet, so I’ll have to let you know how it goes – and how much laughter it generates.

Meanwhile, there’s the swimming pool and generous sundeck with loungers and a bar, lots of shade if you want it and, downstairs, you can get your gift shopping in without any haggling or hassle from the two shops, where products are top quality at good prices, offering everything from postcards to custom-made kartouches to traditional statuary and clothing.

I must also mention the young man who cleans our corridors’ rooms and his sense of humour with the towel creatures he makes. The swan was lovely, the flowers pretty, the elephant cute, but towel man? When I said my room was spacious, that wasn’t a hint I wanted company! I’m kidding. The truth is, when I came in and saw 'him', I couldn’t stop laughing.

The Royal Esadora has made this trip memorable in all the best ways, so if you’re not sure which boat to book, take my tip and go for this one. 



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