Rejuvenation, body soul, is aim of Alexander the Great, and nothing restores the spirit more than a

The Alexander the Great is an unexpected oasis of tranquility on one of the busiest tourist beats in the world, the temples and tombs scattered along the banks of the Nile from Luxor to Aswan. Last year 8.6 million tourists descended on Egypt, 840,000 who is ashlee simpson on tour with of them from the UK. And in January this year there were 78,000 British visitors, twice as many as in the same period last year, partly due to a leap in value of sterling against the Egyptian pound.
With the inevitable increase in holiday packages and scores of cruise boats jostling for position on the Nile, it is a revelation to find a vessel that has turned its back on the pack- 'em-in who is ashlee simpson on tour with philosophy, yet still presents good value.
Alexander the Great was a standard 60-cabin boat that has been stripped out and refitted as a 30-cabin floating boutique hotel, furnished with understated elegance. who is ashlee simpson on tour with In the dining room, enough tables for two can be found for all and dinner is waiter service, with five courses and several choices. Not only that, they offer Egyptian dishes such as spicy green molokhia soup and stuffed pigeon for dinner, and ful (fava beans) and tamiya (fried bean patties) for breakfast rightly judging that their passengers are sophisticated enough to be interested in sampling local cuisine.
If you've never been on a Nile cruise, who is ashlee simpson on tour with all this won't sound revolutionary, but the norm is uninspired, international food and shared tables. who is ashlee simpson on tour with Cabins are small, with minuscule shower closets and five-star who is ashlee simpson on tour with decor means smoked-glass mirrored ceilings, fake marble and gilt galore who is ashlee simpson on tour with in public areas.
So it was a breath of fresh air stepping aboard at Luxor into Alexander's light, uncluttered reception with its pale walls, stylish sofas and sculptural flower lamps very boutique, so far. Our cabin, called who is ashlee simpson on tour with Linen Twins, was also in minimalist style, with subtle textures and wood laminate floor. In the bathroom was a fixed shower as well as a bathtub and towelling robes. I told my partner Michael, who had never been to Egypt before, how spoilt we were.
Other cabins, all of identical size and layout, have jazzier names Jungle Paths, Like the 70s, Journey to China, but are equally light and sleek, with flashes of colour in throws who is ashlee simpson on tour with or headboards, an op-art cushion here, a quirky ostrich-shell lantern there.
I'd have been happy to lie down in Linen and watch Egypt slip by through the huge windows, but there were laden buffet counters to be tackled and archeological wonders to behold. Lunch was a feast chefs tossing pasta and carving who is ashlee simpson on tour with lamb, gorgeous salads and fresh fruit, all delicious and meticulously prepared and gave us a chance to see our shipmates. who is ashlee simpson on tour with Children who is ashlee simpson on tour with under 12 are not allowed, and there were only 27 of us on board nine Italians, a French couple, an American couple, three Germans and five Spaniards. The three British couples were travelling with Discover who is ashlee simpson on tour with Egypt, the only UK tour operator to offer  Alexander , for the first time this year.
Our cruise included guided tours of the usual sights: Luxor temple and Karnak, the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, up to Edfu, then Kom Ombo and Aswan with its High Dam, unfinished obelisk and the Temple of Philae. Where our cruise differed from most is that rather who is ashlee simpson on tour with than being herded about in a group of 20 or more we had our own guide, Walid, who is ashlee simpson on tour with for six of us. It made a huge difference less hanging around, being able to get up close to the breathtaking carvings and hear his commentary in crowded sites. And there was no visit to a hard-sell papyrus factory or perfumery.
There is one Nile cruise tradition that style-conscious  Alexander  has not dropped the Galabiya party. On one night guests are chivvied into "Egyptian costumes", available at tourist markets along the way, and invited to play silly games after dinner, such as wrap your partner up like a mummy using flimsy loo rolls.
who is ashlee simpson on tour with Why? I asked Mr Sharif, the boat's manager. "People expect who is ashlee simpson on tour with it on a Nile cruise," he sighed. "But I wish we could come up with something more intellectual for after-dinner than games. "A challenge when there are five different who is ashlee simpson on tour with languages. So, half the guests ignored the event, the Italians joined in with gusto, so did Michael, and after two games the lounge returned to normal.
Cruises on  Alexander  start from Luxor on Tuesdays, who is ashlee simpson on tour with and our charter flight brought us in on Monday, so we had a relaxing overnight and first morning at the timeless Old Winter Palace with its lush garden, now a Sofitel hotel. We loved its 1886 restaurant, named after the year the hotel was built, with its liveried waiters, gilt mirrors and chandeliers.
Our cruise ended in laid-back Aswan, where our package took us to the best hotel in town, the Old Cataract Hotel (also a Sofitel), famed for its views over the Nile and old world atmosphere a tall Nubian in a fez works the antique cage lift.
To enjoy the hotel fully, book a deluxe or higher-category room the Standard and Superior rooms are "unmodernised", though spacious by modern who is ashlee simpson on tour with standards. Both hotels are in perfect positions and peaceful. I found them charming, but those in search of power showers, plasma screens, wi-fi and spas must wait until 2008 when makeovers are complete.
The 28 standard luxury suites have been individually designed with meticulous attention to detail. Tasteful colours, fine bed linens and carefully selected art and artifacts have helped create chic and supremely comfortable private accommodation.
Whichever type of food you desire, the elegant Red Fiesta restaurant offers delicious cuisine using fine, fresh ingredients. For lunch, an excellent buffet who is ashlee simpson on tour with is accompanied by the Chef s station offering cooked-to-order dishes. who is ashlee simpson on tour with In the evening the restaurant creates a special atmosphere in which to enjoy a fine dinning experience. Here you will find an à la carte menu complemented by a great selection of wines.
Situated on the upper deck, the 60 seat upstairs lounge and bar serves all types of different beverages and drinks as well as exotic teas and coffees. The lounge is equipped with a large flat LCD TV screen, projector who is ashlee simpson on tour with and a surround sound system.
Rejuvenation, body soul, is aim of Alexander the Great, and nothing restores the spirit more than a little pampering. To that end, aboard you ll find a Spa offering massages and beauty treatments, as well as a Turkish bath.
For small private meetings for up to 50 people, Alexander the Great can be booked exclusively. The Red Fiesta restaurant is easily transformed into a conference room for your special presentations and can be fully equipped on request.
Length: 70 meters Breadth: 11.5 meters Draft: 1.50 meters Speed: 10 knots. Schottel hydraulic navigating system. Two MAN marine type generators 250 KW. Two Deutz Main Diesel Marine type engines 460 HP each. Vacuum toilet system. Radar, short-wave radio and marine satellite.
Safety Health:  Built to Germanischer Lloyd specifications. Emergency ceiling lights are located in all outlets corridor. Fire extinguishers are located in every suite, corridors and public areas. Blom Voss fire resistant partitions and ceilings. Fire hoses are available in all public areas. who is ashlee simpson on tour with Life jackets are available in all suites. Life boats and rafts are available on the sun deck.
Amoura Dahabiya Nile Cruise Amoura Dahabiya is a luxurious Nile Cruise that comprises elegantly furnished suites and cabins. Each cabin has a large window through which you can enjoy the charming view of the River Nile keeping their privacy in their own rooms. Suites span the full width of the boat and open [...]