Part 5/9:
Sailing the Nile was delightfully calm—I enjoyed the spectacle of ships racing down to the Esna locks. Yet, I was surprised by the limited cruising time; the short distance means many ships dock for the night, resulting in less sailing and more nights in a stationary vessel.
The ambiance of our ship was often marred by noise from nearby vessels, stemming from the continuous operation of their engines. This lack of shore power meant an unending din, which led me to sleep on the bathroom floor some nights to escape the noise. Future travelers should consider booking midship cabins to minimize disturbances from engine noise.