1. Will I need Visas if I arrange independent tours eg. via memphistours. I am looking at booking Petra with Thomsons but fancied the independent-ness of memphistours for the pyramids/cairo museum. Price-wise, there is not much in it. Looking to book with them for around 7:15 am (supposed to be in port from 0600) so should be alright ?

We never needed any VISAS for any trips we did independently and we did them all independently - none with Thomson - that includes Petra, Cairo etc

2. How safe is it going it alone. I have read about police convoys. As mentioned, thinking about memphistours for Cairo and local taxi for a trip on the last day into Sharm. What time will our airport transfer be if our return flight is early evening ?

Going alone was ok - of course you need to be sensible and agree all the costs in advance but then there should be no problem - can't answer the bit about your transfer but I would guess at 3 hours before flight.

3. Any tips for the kids. Is there stuff for them to do. Are the excursions suitable. Can the kids get fruit juice free at the restaurants at any time ?

Can only remember free tea, coffee and water all day - there was some fruit juice if that's what you want to call it ( not real fruit juice ! ) at breakfast - sorry to disappoint but there was little for kids of any age.
4. Thinking of taking £50 Jordanian money, £150 Egyptian money, £300 euros and my debit/credit card. Is this sufficient ? Are there safety deposit boxes and what are the charges ?
They prefer UK £ not Egyptian ones so take a max of £25 Egyptian - if you do the Jordan trips on your own the taxi driver you go with will give you Jordanian money for the Petra entrance so you probably will not need much - suggest £25 would be ok.Safety deposit boxes were at reception and cost £ 10 per week - I do remember they kept your passport until you got off on your last day at reception
5. How is the dinner tabel sitting allocation achieved ? Are you at the same sitting once allocated all week ? Do you possibly miss dinner if you're on a trip ? Is there much queueing. Any tips ?
Hardly ate in the restaurant so not sure if you could sit where you wanted - on Captain's night they certainly gave you a table. What I am sure about is if you are on early dinner you are on early all the cruise and it is impossible to get it altered to late - altering from late to early is easier I Understand - but if you miss the dinner ( unlikely) you can always eat in the 24 hour buffet restaurant. Hardly any queueing of consequence - as for tips I guess you meant advice and there is none really but whilst on the other meaning of tips - they are included in the cruise price !!!

6. Cameras are allowed everywhere except the Cairo museum - yes ?
Pretty much accurate I would say - that was the only place we went to where camera were banned from memory.

7. What and when is the Captains dinner (I embark on a Thursday at Sharm). Can kids go to the captains dinner ? Dinner Jacket or Suit and Tie and yes Kids can go but when we went on this cruise ( Mar 06) I think we spotted less than 10 kids on the whole ship and I mean less than 10 !!!!
Captains Cocktail Party was its official title and started at 5.30 pm for early dinerseating at 6.30 and 7.30 pm for the late sitting eating at 8.30.

8. What and when is the midnight buffet (I embark on a Thursday at Sharm). Is the buffet magnifique ?
The Captains Party was the Sunday and the Buffet Magnifique was the Monday.

9. If the ship says it arrives at 0600 and departs port at 2100 what time can you get off at the earliest eg. 0630 /get back on at the latest eg. 2030 ?

I would say you can get off as soon as it docks and sometimes it docked earlier than it said on the Cruise News etc - As for getting back on then I would say 30 minutes before is ok - in reality 10 minutes before is ( infact whilst we were in Sharm people were running to get back on as it was almost pulling away ... yes half the ropes were already untied from the quay ! )

10. If we elect to stay on the ship, for say 4 days - is there really enough things going on to keep us and the kids occupied (not big sunbathers) ?
I would say probably not but it depends on your boredom threshold and what your interests are - there are things going on eg quizzes,cinema,bingo , live music on the deck etc - Kids club opens from time to time and is for 3 to 12 year olds but hardly saw anything of it as there were only about 5 kids on the whole ship !
11. Is the drinks package still available ?
You would have to ask Thomsons that one - if you do not drink alot I would say it is not worth the money per person.I also think everyone in your cabin / party has to pay for it so with kids that could be pricey

Thanks for any advice.