|
Quote:
|
I've seen quite a few very recent reports of people who took the Iskenderun - Damietta ferry (unroro). To me this sounds as the easiest option (assuming that you don't want to avoid Egypt). https://www.facebook.com/waygoing
|
Joakim Larsen, didn't you have a carnet de passage? Or won't the carnet make a difference anymore?
Without it you certainly will have to pay at some border crossings. |
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij16Er0nSC...ge-borders.jpg
Here is a summary about the current options, how to cross or avoid egypt: Howto cross or avoid egypt by 4x4 There are too current links to travelers who did it recently or currently. The Iskenderun - Damietta ferry is the easiest and cheapest option (at least for a 4x4) for shure. But you have many extra miles if you add a iran loop (and back 2 turkey) to your wish list, and you still miss some other beautiful countries. @priffe: It looks like Joakim has no carnet. And he don't trust the officials about the carnet deposit. There are others, where had to pay the bill there too, nice thread about traveling without carnet at Hubb: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...9-5#post431124 There only much patience help, and money for the carnet fee & deposit. Issac was 10 days at the border (too at 2013, on the way upwards).. Surfy |
im waiting for a positve report of somone comming from turkey to eygpy on the ferry...one guy just left his bike ( and a mates landy) in eygptyion customs as there was no way to get them out ( 30 oct 2013)
also on FB there are a couple of guys in eygptt now....they report that they arrived ok, but its been a week and no update, and im not sure if the bikes cleared customs yet..hope so |
Anyone taken this ferry recently? I am looking to take it in Nov/Dec (14).
thanks Douglas |
we will take it in Octobre. let's hope the ferry is still running. Motorbike and passenger should be around 225 US dollars, thats the latest information from my collegue who lives in turkey.
if you get any news please let us know. |
@Ruulio we are also heading for Africa in october. What is your destination? We are leaving from the Netherlands and will travel to Capetown.
Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk |
Hi All,
We used Remon Travel last year, very nice. Visit our website for some more info (under section 'The Traveller'). Eef and Dries Follow us on Home http://www.facebook.com/waarisworteltje |
Quote:
|
Hi, we will ride to Capetown on......... Two African Twins. :-)
I just took a look at your website (looks great) and saw you guys are starting the journey in the beginning of october. Our plan is to start our trip on monday october 13th. We will travel in three days to Genoa where we will take the ferry to Tunis. Plans are to arrive in Tunis on thursday evening the 16th. We hope to be in Libya the week after. We're having email contact with Tidwa tours. They arrange our visas for Libya and a guide for the greatest part of the trip through Libya. What is your exact date to start the journey? www.facebook.com/twotwins2capetown Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
we start 1st of octobre. due to the actions going on in lybia (check the news today) it seems not to be an option.
if you have any good plan how to get to egypt plz. let us know. we should stay in contact. thank you for the compliment on our webpage. |
Hi Folks,
We have also planned to do this trip in October, also through Tunisia and Libya but as Ruulio says it's up in the air and we're now thinking of going via Turkey. saying that we're keeping our options open although the BBC shows Libya in turmoil! BBC News - Libya fighting causes turmoil as government claims control |
Libya may not be a good plan for now, but things change rapidly so it may be better in octobre. Some friends are leaving the netherlands at the end of august and they are planning to take a ferry (or a cargo ship) from Greece to Egypt. I hope to hear from them soon and will keep you informed.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
Hey all,
We are leaving on september 7 but we are driving in a landrover defender. We are still thinking about goiing to tunis-libya-egypt. Is anyone thinking about the same route in the period oct-november. Sakke |
Well i have to say that Libya is currently not an option for us. Maybe the safety issue will be better in two months but we are not getting our hopes up. We are taking a freighter from salerno to Israël. We are leaving begin octobre.
Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk |
We're planning on that route in October but as Twotwins says it seems not an option at the moment and as the ferry from Turkey to Egypt is not running we're thinking of changing plans and shipping to SA and doing the route backwards.
|
dippy... where did you find out that the ferry to Turkey is not running. Reading back up this thread i can't see anything.
preferred option (assuming Libya/Tunisia is out) will be this ferry, failing that the ferry from Israel to Italy. getting some planning done while the car ships to Durban... WomblingFree | from Sydney to London |
If this sea line is on, this is the agent for ticketsales for egypt..
https://www.facebook.com/pages/REMON...13305865367594 |
@Womble, here is the story about the suspended ferry:
http://www.unroro.com.tr/EN/INDEX/default.asp We decided to change our plans and start our journey in Cape Town and travel north back to Europe (in stead of travelling south). Leaving Cape Town with our Landcruiser the 12th of september. arnhem2capetown.reismee.nl |
Here is a collection of travellers who are recently on the east route, who will show you what options do you have, and how they did it in detail.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0bjmNFFgg...ebergaenge.jpg Article in English: Howto reach or avoid egypt on your transafrica over the east Article in German: Anreise-Optionen für die Ostroute Afrikas Unfortunately travelling through Libya don`t look like a real option currently. These Informations about the Iskenderun, Haifa, Damietta ferry looks a bit misleading. The language barrier does not make it easier, although here now two people have already asked via email. I suggests that one these who want to book soon, use a phone call (cheap with Skype to Phone) to get a clear answer, to verify that your call partner has sufficent english skills. It would be helpful to get an conclusively valid anwer there! Most of us just want to cross from Iskenderun to Damietta with a single ticket. This should be still possible, when we read the news of the ferry website carefully... It looks too possible, when you use google translate on the turkish website.. Surfy |
I already contacted UNRORO. the oneway ticket issue is only for truckers who need to get back from Israël to Turkey.
At this moment UNRORO is not taking passengers to Israël untill further notice. They told me to get in touch with them throughout the summer to see if there is a change that the ferryline will be operational again. Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk |
I can corfirm the news from twowtins,
RORO doesn't has it possible to gon to egypt. I am now in contact with other companies. I'll post the lastest info here. sakke |
Remember: Salamis is running a weekly ferry from Lavrio to Haifa. This might be an option for you.
Stefan Gesendet von meinem GT-I9300 mit Tapatalk |
Thanks Sakke, i've send them an e-mail.
Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk |
Unroro
Good news, the UNRORO ferry seams to be going from Iskenderun to Damietta again. I tried to call them to get more information just now but I guess they are already out of office.
http://www.unroro.com.tr/EN/NEWS/def...page=1&fId=415 |
That surely is very good news!!
Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk |
Bad news and "good" news..
The Iskenderun - Damietta ferry run by UNRORO isn't running anymore due to lack of demand. UNRORO told me another shipping agency is running a ferry line from Iskenderun to Port Said. The name of the company is Catoni Shipping. I've send them an email but they didn't respond yet. Two overlanders took this ferry two weeks ago. The troubles began when they arrived in Port Said. It took them a whole week to get their car cleared from customs with high expenses. |
Quote:
I guess that they probably get better over the time, so that it is easier than the experiences of vegan without frontiers travellers: Here are links to their most recent experiences: A Tale of Two Cities | Vegan Without Frontiers Glad to read at hubb, that they have successful made it - and got their car out: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...349#post474477 Surfy |
Wow that sounds terrible. The costumes situation in Egypt seams even worse than I expected.
Our original plan was to get the UNRORO boat on the 16th of August. Luckily there seams to be the Catoni alternative. I wrote some e-mails to the company but got no reply so far. I'll let you know how things will work out for us. |
Port Said - Warning
Here's my take on what's going on in Port Said.
We got through in the end and it *only* cost us US$750 in fees for each vehicle (on top of the US$1400 Catoni charged us for our Landcruiser and 2 people). This was half what they were asking and I wouldn't expect those fees to go down. There are people/elements within the port who will extract whatever money they can from you, against the threat of deportation back to Turkey, and then by not releasing your vehicle. You have to work through 'agents' and there is no way round that as they won't start the customs clearance until you have paid off the shipping agent. The place seems to be run by some sort of mafia. We had some help from friendly locals who work in the port, and even direct intervention from the owner of the shipping company. If you don't get that, who knows how much it will cost to get out, or how long it will take? Its a big, big risk to put yourself in the hands of these people. |
thanks a lot for the informations and your view on the situation. reading your blog about the port said situation was quite shocking.
anyway, catoni got back to me today. they as well cancelled the egypt route from iskenderun. getting to africa is more and more difficult. Sent from my OMNIA7 using Tapatalk |
We are still thinking about taking Salamis or Grimaldi to Israël.
Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk |
luckely there is still this option!
Sent from my OMNIA7 using Tapatalk |
UNRoRo for sale ?
Maybe this is the reason why they don't sail to Egypt anymore ?
DFDS rolls up to bid for UN Ro-Ro Posted on Friday, 04 July 2014 10:29 Danish shipping company DFDS has entered the fray in the race to buy Kohlberg Kravis Roberts’ (KKR) Turkish ferry unit UN Ro-Ro Isletmeleri. In a stock exchange filing today, the Copenhagen-based group confirmed it is among parties vying for the roll-on roll-off transport vessel operator but noted it has not made a firm offer, contrary to media reports. Bloomberg said yesterday DFDS has made a binding bid, as has an alliance of private equity firms comprising Esas Holding and Acetera Partners. The news provider broke the news in December that KKR had hired Goldman Sachs to handle a sale of UN Ro-Ro. A deal for the ferry business could materialise as early as this month, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg yesterday. The sources asked not to be named as the auction is not public. Turkish infrastructure investor Global Yatirim is also interested, they added, though the company has not yet submitted a binding bid. KKR acquired a 97.6 per cent stake in UN Ro-Ro for EUR 888.16 million in 2007, and the ferry business remains its first and only investment in the country. The Istanbul-based firm was established in 1994 by a group of international transport companies and has become one of the fastest-growing freight Ro-Ro operators in the Mediterranean region and world as a whole, according to its website. It was formed with the aim of providing an alternative mode of shipping goods to the land route, where domestic players have faced difficulties, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. UN Ro-Ro sets itself apart from other European ferry operators, which tend to focus on short-sea crossings, by offering long-distance Mediterranean routes linking Trieste in Italy, the southern French port of Toulon and Damietta in Egypt. A buyer for the company may be selected before the end of this month, two of the people told Bloomberg, adding that at the moment the Esas-Actera partnership is in pole position to win the auction. The price could be less than KKR paid since UN Ro-Ro has debt totalling around USD 800.00 million, according to three of the sources. A representative of the private equity giant declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg. Earlier this week, DFDS acquired UK fresh and frozen fish freight transporter Quayside International for an undisclosed sum. © Zephus Ltd |
RO-RO Vessel CENK Y, how it works pretty fine
The Vessel is going twice a week, you can track it on Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions - AIS Marine Traffic, normally it leaves in the night from wednesday to thursday, best deal is to post the Agency called Turman-Shipping a mail in advance, the guy responsible is Mehmet Mavi, his mail is mehmet@turman.com.tr or phone him +90 (326) 613 43 74 - 75. The Agency in Iskenderun is at following address: Marasel Fevzi Cakmak cad. Savas Mah, K4 No3.
We payed 400 US Dollars each for a Motorbike, Egyptian Visa, and off course a cabin and food. If you get in contact with Mehmet in the afternoon you have plenty of time to do the customs and Visa application without hassle. Bring some snacks to the port and save some turkish lira to buy drinks at the shop. The loading of the vessle takes endless hours. they start loading the vessle around 16:00, normally only turkish truck drivers use this route. Mehmet will keep your documents untill you can load your bikes into the vessle, probably in the middle of the night. But you can bring your stuff into the cabin, relax or even sleep, one guy will come and wake you up once you can load the bikes. When the bikes are loaded, Mehmet took our cash in exchange of our passports. (maybe if you arrive soon enough that process will be already done in the office in iskenderun). You can go back to your cabin and sleep, before the vessle leaves the port, the capitain controlls all the passports (around 6:00 am), when our vessle left the port we were sleeping. On the ship which we all really liked because of its 80ties charme, they serve you good food three times a day (at least if you are not a Vegan). You get free Chai and drinking water at any time. The sailing takes between 30 to 34 hours. So plenty of time to relax, there is even a good shower downstairs. Get in contact with Eslam the egyptian Fixer for Port Said when you are still in Turkey, his Number is +20 128 922 0002. He will tell you to call him once you disembark at the Port in Port Said. He will be comming to the vessel within 30 (egyptian) minutes. Once he arrive follow all his instructions, and you will have a smooth time, he organizes everything from hotel, to save parking and all the stuff with customs, number plates, insurance, carnet etc. Even if you have a wrong chassi number in your carnet (as I had). Better double check it at home with your bike it saves you bakshish. within one to two days you can ride your bike in egypt. We payed 2700 EGP and 150 EGP for the parking in a Warehouse inside the port. Eslam will tell you about a new law in Egypt that you need to go to Cairo to get a paper from Traffic Control also called Edrassa Car Police Station. It is some kind of paper which confirms that your egyptian number plates is valid. We stayed in Giza (pyramids) and found a taxidriver who knows the process. His name is Michael, he speaks english and knows what to do. His number is 002 01224841346. We payed him 200 EGP each to drive there and back to giza including bakshish to fasten up the process at the Edrassa Car Police Station. You dont need to bring your bike, he only needs your no plate, passport and the papers you got in Ports said. He can do the process alone while you visit the pyramids. Or you can go with him if you still want to enjoy a taxi ride through filthy Cairo and see some more offices and officials. Despite the horror stories in other Blogs, it was smooth sailing for us and we had a lot of leisure time. Just relax and enjoy. |
Thanks Ruulio for this report:
You said between 30 and 34 hours, it seems the same time as for a "normal" car-ferry. Are the cabins clean, especially the toilets and shower? Have you seen travellers doing the same travel with their own car (European plates)? RR. |
hi roro
yes the cabins are clean and even have a aircon that works ok but still hot for europeans. toilets are not cleaner than any toilet at a turkish petrolstation. one shower was ok. we saw a guy from namibia with his VW bus that did the same trip but reverse directions. |
Thanks again Ruulio. So, not so clean but if the travel's time is only one day and a half....
RR. |
Turman Shipping
I'am now in Iskenderun and will take the CENK Y to Port Siad end of this week. It is still sailing every week ! Note : Turman has moved to a new address :
Use email address Agency@turman.com.tr or phone them +90 (326) 613 43 74 - 75. The Agency in Iskenderun is at following address: Tayfur Sukmen Blv. Coming from the highway and turn right on the sign City Centre it is the first building on the right. They are on the 5th floor. Prices mentioned to me are $200 for Turkish customs and $100 per person. Because my car is different in size (6m long and 3m high) he had to ask for a price. I will post an update when I am in Egypt. |
No CENK Y anymore
It is now definitive ! Also this company stops sailing to Port Said. We almost had the bookings for Saterday done with Turman shipping when the message come from stdrorolines in Istanbul that the line was canceled and the boat was on its way to Istanbul ! Tomorrow there is another RoRo boat from a different company sailing from Iskenderun to Port Said but on this one no passengers are allowed. Not sure if this will be the last boat for Egypt, but it could be very well !
So it seems we are back to where we were a couple of months ago.... Gr, Peter |
Hatay RoRO
At the moment there is one option left. The ferry with Hatay RoRo unfortunately no passengers can go with. You have to fly to Cairo and take a cab to Port Said and with the help of Eslam (phone : 00201289220002, eslam_elshamaa@windowslive.com) you can get your car out of the harbour again. Cab price should be around 350 EGP according to Eslam, not sure if that is true, I payed double that. It took three days to get all the procedures done so be prepared. Total cost to me were 4600 EGP for Eslam for my 4.5T Bremach with 2 months visum and insurance for the car. Normally every car bigger than a normal car is only allowed for 14 days... Make sure they will administer it as a 'karavan' ! And I payed the shipping agent on Egyptian side a 750 EGP. Shipping cost of Hatay RoRo were $750. This depends on dimension (2.11x6.25m in my case).
According to Eslam this ferry will be able to continue till April next year because then the agreement with the Egyptian goverment will end. And he is convinced it will ends and will not be extended. While Hatay RoRo is looking to buy a RoRo with passengers capacity special for this line, so time will tell... I had some bad experience with Turman on this voyage, they said the custom service was $250 while it is always $100 independant of whatever verhicle. But I must admit when things came out and because of a misunderstanding with Hatay RoRo the transport price went up considerably, they agreed to take the difference of $100. So in the end I payed less than I should've. For everyone who is thinking to do the import procedure on their own : DON'T. Just don't even think about it. It is even for most of the shipping agents a nightmare, for us it is just plain impossible. And a second warning : Make sure nothing can be taken from your car, because they will ! In my case I only left a cannister with motoroil and a telescopic windscreen whiper in de cabine and they were gone.... regards, Peter |
Egypt to turkey
Hello,
I'll travel from Egypt to Turkey in August 2015 with my motorbike. Is there an option still valid to get to Turkey or Greece? Can the Egyptian contact in the blog help? Or I should still use the Turkish agency to organise the travel from port said to Turkey? Thanks |
Like Ruulio we're trying to travel with Haytay RORO, but from Egypt to Turkey. Terrible communication so far - contacted them a month ahead of time and every week since. Cigdem first gave us the impression that we have a place on the boat and then changed the story two days before the boat leaves. :thumbdown: Trying to find other options, but looks like there is nothing at all..
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
(alicia@rosenfeld.net). Cost is $400 Euro for the bike, $300 for each passenger. |
Any update on the Turkey-Egypt ferry?
|
Rosenfeld too expensive try Sisa in Israel $370usd motorbike and rider
Quote:
NOT Egypt(port Said). Back in May 2013 I took ferry(Sisa Shipping) from Hifa(Israel)to Turkey for total $370usd me inc bike (I did some haggle with Tiran Agent) In Haifa(Israel)My visa,motorbike registration were expired for 3weeks,immigration at port let me go with out any problems everybody were so nice to me. You could make your own (fake) insurance(green card) it work for me in Africa,Israel,Turkey and Eastern Europe. Tiran Shipping Agencies 1997 Limited Marine Supplier in Haifa, Israel - Marine Supplies Marketplace |
Have sent Alicia an email - will let you know how we get on (looking to cross in December).
Cheers, Sam. |
Reach Egypt from Europe
Hi buddies,
I'm investigating if egypt is reachable from europe by sea. What I've found so far is that the ferries from Venice are no longer in service. Can you confirm that? Also, is there another route that could be taken, maybe from Turkey to Israel (sea) and then Egypt overland? Do you have any info on that? Cheers alex |
Grimaldi agent in Alexandria
Hi, the grimaldi agent in Alexandria confirmed to me that they are receiving and shipping cars from/to Europe (Venice). It would be best to call Rasha of the export department in Alexandria (+20 3 4863647) to get more info. She is very nice and speaks English very well. Their email address is export@smarina.com but calling is always better here in Egypt ;)
Good luck Bas |
Unfortunately they are only shipping vehicles, no passengers allowed on bord :( Any alternatives? Are vehicles still banned from Sinai preventing the Israel ferry?
|
No, my information is that overland motorcycles are currently not allowed, but overland 4x4's are allowed into the Sinai, at least from the Suez tunnel
|
I thought it was the other way round?
I know 2 weeks ago a German moto guy came through: Jordan Nuweiba, south Sinai and up. Then down. https://bananajoeaufachse.wordpress....nach-aegypten/ |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:28. |