Lady Mary

The cabins we had requested were on as high a deck as possible and towards the front of the boat and we were pleased to find our cabins were actually allocated as we requested. The cabins were spotless, cleaned twice daily, and towels were laid out in various artforms each day on the beds. Bathroom was well equipped, plenty of hot water for showers, and good air conditioning. Fabulous picture windows allowing good views of the Nile as we sailed along.

Food was brilliant, there was nothing we couldnt eat, fabulous buffet at every meal, eggs freshly cooked at breakfast to your liking, good selection of meats, vegetables, rice and salads at lunch and dinner with fresh pasta station at lunch and carvery at evening dinner, different roasts each day.

Service was excellent, waiter service in the restaurant very efficient and friendly, especially liked the birthday and anniversary cakes along with accompanying song and dance. Final evening dinner a special meal was produced and we enjoyed this very much. Service on the sun deck and in the bar was just as good. We particularly appreciated being greeted with cool wet facecloths and glasses of lemon juice on return from each excursion.

Pool was a welcome oasis of refreshment on hot days. On board massage service was great. We didnt really do the evening entertainment, wanting early nights ready for the early starts for the excursions the next day.

Our Egyptologist Ihab was excellent, extremely knowledgeable, helpful, fun and easy to get along with. He was particularly helpful in encouraging our Cosmos rep to arrange the private tours which our family were really anxious to do in our free time in order to see the sites not included in the holiday package, for instance he found out for us that Howard Carter's House which we were particularly interested in visiting as it is now a museum, was actually open.

All the included excursions were brilliant, but the highlights for us were the optional excursion to Abu Simbel, flying in order to see the sun come up over the temples, we also enjoyed the Aswan City Experience, the highlight of which was afternoon tea in the Movenpick Tower, the Nubian Village excursion, and Karnak Sound and Light Show. Particularly outstanding however were our private tours to the Mortuary Temple of Seti I, the Ramesseum, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Workers Village at Deir el Medina, and the fabulous Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinat Habu with all its fabulous inscriptions whosing the most intense colours after 3,000 years. Absolute highlight of the trip though just had to be the visit to the house in which Howard Carter lived at the time of the discovery and excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamon - an unforgettable holiday which was perfect in every way.