Dive Review of Red Sea Aggressor/Luxor: Maritime Jolie Ville in
Red Sea/Marsa Alam

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Red Sea Aggressor/Luxor: Maritime Jolie Ville: "Great times in Egypt", Jun, 2017, by Harold L Fenner Jr, OH, US ( Contributor 12 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 9649 has 5 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I booked the Red Sea Aggressor (RSA) in January when I saw the $1300 price for two separate weeks in June. I chose 24 June to 1 July. I used Deep Blue Adventures, Kristi, to coordinate my add-on and boat. She worked through Aggressor travel. I left Cleveland Tuesday evening and arrived in Luxor Wednesday just before midnight (United to Dulles, Turkish to Cairo via Istanbul, and EgyptAir to Luxor). I had no problems making the three connections, having between two- and three-hour layovers. I stayed at the Maritime Jolie Ville which is very private, being on an island in the Nile. The first day in Luxor I visited the Luxor Museum (only person there) and the Luxor Temple (both during the day and at night which is spectacular). Second day, I toured three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Deir El Madina (worker’s village, including two tombs), Temple of Ramses III, and Colossus of Memnon. I left Saturday at 8 am for the six-hour drive to Port Ghalib. I boarded the RSA about 2:30 pm. Only 11 divers booked for the week, so I ended up with my own room. Everything about the RSA is outstanding. All crew members were extremely service oriented and were always there to help. The food, the best I’ve had among five previous liveaboards. The north itinerary included: Sunday – three day dives and one night dive (Marsa Shauna/Mobarak); Monday – four dives at Little Brother; Tuesday – four dives at Big Brother (including wrecks Numidia and Aida); Wednesday and Thursday – four dives each day at Daedalus Reef; and Friday – two dives at Abu Dahbad III (in place of Elphinstone due to high winds). The highlights from diving were the quantity and quality of hard and soft coral, variety of tropical fish (most smaller), numerous large eels, and frequent sightings of sharks (scalloped hammerheads, oceanic white tip, thresher, silky, and white tip reef, mostly at Daedalus Reef). I highly recommend the RSA, particularly with the reduced pricing and likelihood of less than a full boat. I felt very safe everywhere I went in Egypt. Security is prevalent at the tourist sights, along the highways, hotels, and pretty much all over. If you have the time, visit Cairo, Luxor, and Abu Simbal, before or after the RSA. Spend a bit more and get a private guide and driver for sightseeing. Aggressor uses TVB Destinations for local services and they were superb. My return was ground transfer to Hurghada; 13 hours at the Hurghada Marriott; Turkish to Dulles via Istanbul (six-hour layover); overnight at Dulles Hyatt Regency; and finally, United to Cleveland. Port Ghalib (the home of the RSA) is driving: 15 to 30 minutes from the Marsa Alam airport; about 5.5 hours from Luxor; and about 3.5 hours from Hurghada. Turkish Airlines has good food and service, and outstanding in-flight entertainment; however, except for boarding at Dulles, boarding pass groups mean nothing unless business class. Also, parking away from the terminal and getting bussed around seems the norm.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	great lakes, alaska & bc, kona, kauai, galapagos, fl keys, bonaire, cozumel, roatan, saba, philippines, red sea
Closest Airport	Marsa Alam	Getting There	use travel agent!
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	79-82°F / 26-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	no deco, not below 130 ft, buddy or follow guide
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	crew took excellent care of gear pre- and post-dive. only 11 of possible 20 divers on this charter; plenty of room. might be tight with full boat.

Report currently has 5 Helpful votes

Subscriber's Comments

By Ellen Marie Smith in MN, US at Feb 01, 2018 13:18 EST

I'm booking the Red Sea and was curious about Daedalus Reef in particular (I've dived the northern wrecks and done the land tours you mentioned - yes, so worth it!). There are two itineraries to choose from, one that leaves out the Daedalus Reef. After reading your report, I will definitely book to see Daedalus as I would love to see the thresher and oceanic white tip sharks. (fingers crossed) Thank you.

By Ms Lynda Durfee in VA, US at Feb 13, 2018 11:23 EST

I've booked the RSA for back-to-back weeks Apr 14-28 after seeing your report (special rate of $1165/week). I'm wondering if I booked the add-on before or after (to Luxor) whether I'd have problems as a woman traveling alone.

By report author: Harold L Fenner Jr in OH, US at Feb 13, 2018 13:01 EST

I would do the add-on before so you're fresh for the walking. I had a private guide from the agency the Aggressor uses. He was with me everywhere except when I went inside the Valley of Kings' tombs and Hatshepsut's temple. Inside there are tomb guards whose main purpose seems to be asking for tips so you can take pictures. You can say no and walk away, but it's easier to give them a few $ and get memorable pictures. I was alone in a couple tombs with the guard(s). Your guide is waiting right outside, so I would consider it safe for you. When on your own in Luxor, I would take a cab and have the driver wait for you. I met people in the hotel bar to go to dinner with. Have a great time! I'm going on the new boat's second trip in August.

By Ms Lynda Durfee in VA, US at Feb 13, 2018 14:10 EST

Thanks. It's nice to have first-hand advice. I plan to arrive in Luxor two days before the boat. Lisa is planning the side-trip.

By Ms Lynda Durfee in VA, US at May 01, 2018 23:21 EST

Hi Harold: took your advice and did the Luxor tour before the cruise weeks. Well worth having the guide, transportation and transfers planned and paid for ahead. New boat leaves from Hurghada. I stated at the Marriott there post-cruise. Nice beach, good rates.

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Dive Review of Red Sea Aggressor/Luxor: Maritime Jolie Ville in Red Sea/Marsa Alam

Red Sea Aggressor/Luxor: Maritime Jolie Ville: "Great times in Egypt", Jun, 2017,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Red Sea Aggressor/Luxor: Maritime Jolie Ville in
Red Sea/Marsa Alam