This historic Nile
paddle steamer "Qasid Khayr " along with
its sister ship "Karim " were built in Britain
in 1917 for the then Sultan of Egypt, Fuw'ad
titled King Fuw'ad after 1922. It was inherited
in 1936 by King Faruwq who remained its owner
until the Revolution of 1952 and subsequent formation of the Arab
Republic of Egypt. The vessel then became government property for use
by presidents of Egypt; `abd al-Nasir and Sadat.
Still powered today by its original steam engine and stern quarter wheel
paddles. Paintings by Ishinan
This painting depict
the Nile Paddle steamer "Qasid khayr" during
one of its numerous voyages in Upper Egypt.
For many, the image of a
Nile cruise was set by the classic 1978 film of Agatha Christie's 'Death
on the Nile', starring Peter Ustinov, David Niven, Bette Davis and Maggie
Smith which recreated a leisurely turn-of-the-century sailing on a Nile
paddle steamer. (Painting by Ishinan )
The Nile river has attracted
tourists for many years and Nile cruises take visitors to some of the greatest
archaelogical remains on the earth. Qasid Khayr
a
stern-wheeled, steam-fired paddler, 46 meter long ritish built vessel has
17 cabins and is equipped to accommodate around 30 passengers.
Today her normal schedule is for 7-night cruises from Luxor to the Aswan
Dam at Lake Nasir. In the sixties she used to moor in front
of the Old and famous Semiramis hotel in Qasr al-Niyl .
(Painting by Ishinan)
The Nile at Aswan.
( Painting by Ishinan)
( Painting by Ishinan)
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