Update:Egypt/Nile Cruise

1) get to Cairo whichever way necessary
2) REST
3) Guide (we used: abdo_eljoker@yahoo.com) and please make sure you mention me. Abdo will treat you well. Young man w/decent car and excellent driving skills in the most controlled chaos of traffic you may ever see. Transfers/pickups as well as relaxed informative tours. I recommend NOT going to Citadel or Coptic Cairo (I get bored) Do the museum for sure! ONE thing: don't do the tourist junk like belly dance dinners and such--tell him you aren't interested--no problem!
4) flights are very CHEAP to Luxor and Aswan--if you want to get ID tkts, DO--$30 min+ tax each way; be ready to shell out as much as $150 for biz class confirmed seats on the spot (not too shabby!!)
5) you can arrange cruise w/Abdo in advance on arrival in Cairo OR do it when you get to either Aswan or Luxor (cruises run one way certain days--ck skeds!)

6) We used another agent in Luxor--Hassany Moresy hassany488@hotmail.com--refer to us from Delta as well. He's a businessman to the nth degree but his tour guide Abdou (as in "oo") is outstanding--4 yrs Egyptology and very enthusiasstic. Hass will combine you w/others--don't hesitate to ask for better rpice and don't go to tea with him--he will stay forever and bore the carp out of you--he has a 'tude! the service is topnotch tho. maybe a bit high$ but not certain as there are so many rippers there. we're talking RT--3 hrs away, 2 of the most important temple complexes and return--superb guide/entry included for $120 2 pax in good comfy small bus.(about 9 hrs total) shorter day tour of Valley of Kings+more was around $100/2 (entries here are incl but higher costs so very worthwhile)
hope that helps. I have lots more advice for lodging etc.
please ask and I will share (maybe IF you're nice!)

PS--we didn't do the cruise--decided to get out between snowstorms (great idea!!) and return for Aswan/cruise in near future.
Most expensive things: wine, beer and internet ($$$)