Luxor4u

From today's Egypt Independent

Ferry connection between Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh to be reopened next week

Al-Masry Al-Youm
The ministries of transport and tourism have decided to reopen the ferry line between Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh next week, following a four-year break.

Awad Abdel Samea, the ferry operator, said the new ferry can accommodate 302 passengers and shorten the travel time between the two cities to two hours instead of 10 hours by bus. He added that this would limit the amount of road accidents of tourist buses, encouraging more charter flights to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.


Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/f ... -next-week

I don't know what the ferry will cost - it used to be about 150le - (and we've heard it's about to open for months!) but I reckon your average Egyptian would rather spend 10 hours in a bus and risk dismemberment on the highway than pay an extra 50LE or whatever.

I wish it had been running when I was trying to make plans for a multi centre trip to Egypt. It would have been a real asset for me at the time.

Some of my tour clients decided to use it in 2009, despite my having suggested there were better alternatives. After their return they warned me never agree to book it for anyone else again.

Winged Isis wrote:Some of my tour clients decided to use it in 2009, despite my having suggested there were better alternatives. After their return they warned me never agree to book it for anyone else again.

What was wrong with it,? We thought it seemed a good idea, when we were sorting our son's next trip he suggested flying to Sharm and then coming over but that was before the ferry option came up.

From distant memory (2010), I think it was the long, boring wait in an appalling terminal building, crowded/possibly overloaded ferry, extreme hassle for transport at the Jordan end (though I had cars booked, they were overwhelmed with touts/drivers vying for their custom even after my people had found them). They were exhausted. Hopefully all that no longer applies; I would be very interested to hear.

Winged Isis wrote:From distant memory (2010), I think it was the long, boring wait in an appalling terminal building, crowded/possibly overloaded ferry, extreme hassle for transport at the Jordan end (though I had cars booked, they were overwhelmed with touts/drivers vying for their custom even after my people had found them). They were exhausted. Hopefully all that no longer applies; I would be very interested to hear.

Sorry but are you talking about the same ferry service? Puzzled by the reference to Jordan - isn't this one between Sharm and Hurghada, both in Egypt?

I took a short break to Sharm via the ferry. On returning to the port after 3 days....,.no ferry. Poor weather was the excuse although the sea was like a millpond. No certainty as to whether it would run next day. Took taxi back to Hurghada. It was renowned for dubious reliability.

Thebian, I know this was about going to Sharm, but the ferries also go (at least went) to Jordan too, from the same place, as far as I know (I've never used it myself).

Winged Isis wrote:Thebian, I know this was about going to Sharm, but the ferries also go (at least went) to Jordan too, from the same place, as far as I know (I've never used it myself).

Ah, understand now
Don't think there are any ferries going anywhere from Sharm at this moment in time but they do keep threatening to start one up between Sharm and Hurghada. Time will tell.

My main concern over this ferry is over-crowding. Egyptians (and other 3rd world countries) are not the most respectful of safety regulations. (IMHO)