For 2010, Uniworld River Cruises is swapping in a new Egypt itinerary.

The nine-day Classic Egypt & the Nile itinerary will be replacing the 11-day Ancient Wonders of Egypt and the Nile. Classic Egypt includes four nights cruising the Nile onboard the all-suite River Tosca, which launches this month, and three nights in an upscale Cairo hotel with Nile River views.

Highlights of the journey include the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, stops in Luxor, Dendera and the Valley of the Kings.

The 84-passenger, all-suite River Tosca, Uniworld’s first company-owned ship outside of Europe, is scheduled to launch on the Nile this month.

The ship will feature a swimming pool with cabanas, a whirlpool spa on the sun deck, a gym, spa, hair salon, library, gift shop and rooftop bar. Each of the 42 suites will have wood paneling, Egyptian artwork, brass lanterns, linen drapes, heated marble floors and Egyptian cotton sheets, as well as iPod docking stations.

Most of the suites onboard will measure more than 300 square feet. Presidential cabin suites will be more than 650 square feet, with adjoining private terraces.

As with most of its other ships, Uniworld has been working with the design team at sister company Red Carnation Hotel Collection to create the ship’s interior concept.>
Prices for the Classic Egypt itinerary start from $2,249 per person, not including roundtrip airfare to Cairo.

For 2010, Uniworld will continue to offer the 13-day Jewels of Egypt, the Nile and Lake Nasser itinerary, as well as the 13-day Splendors of Egypt and the Nile it offered in 2009.

All of Uniworld’s Egypt programs include deluxe hotel accommodations in Cairo with a room overlooking the Nile, breakfast, all service charges, taxes, and porterage; a suite with a French balcony, all meals, and entertainment onboard the River Tosca; sightseeing tours hosted by local English-speaking guides; all transfers and domestic flights while in Egypt; and the service of an Egyptologist.