nile cruise interior

Here’s what it’s like to take a Nile cruise in 2022

Oct 16, 2022 • 7 min read

Plan your trip of a lifetime in Egypt with this guide to cruising on the Nile © Lauren Keith / Lonely Planet

Egypt is nothing short of a miracle. Though the forbidding Sahara encroaches from every direction, the Nile River splashes a verdant green ribbon through the country, sometimes managing to push the desert sands only a few hundred feet back from the riverbank.

One of the world’s longest and most legendary rivers, the Nile travels more than 6500km (4100 miles) through five countries, but it’s most closely connected with Egypt. And indeed, so much of Egyptian history has unfolded along the Nile that nearly all of the country’s major cities and ancient tombs and temples are located along this lush life-giving artery.

The ancient Egyptians used the river as a highway, dispatching trade and military expeditions and toting statues of their gods between temples. The 5th century BCE Greek historian Herodotus famously called Egypt the “gift of the Nile,” and even now, millennia later, cruising the Nile is still the best way for travelers to see Egypt’s gifts for themselves.

Ready to embark on the trip of a lifetime? Here’s what you need to know about picking the best Nile river cruises.

Why are so many travelers talking about Egypt in 2022?

Nowhere else in the world is the past so intertwined with the present than in Egypt, and 2022 promises to be a blockbuster time to experience them both.

Lonely Planet named Egypt one of the top 10 countries to visit this year , and the long-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum is expected to open in November to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun , the famous golden pharaoh and “boy king.”

September marked 200 years since the Rosetta Stone was translated, which revealed the meanings of the hieroglyphs and recaptured knowledge that had been lost for centuries. New archaeological discoveries continue apace in Luxor, Saqqara and elsewhere that keep rewriting history.

Tourism hit a record high in Egypt in 2019 and was expected to grow even more in 2020, but we all know what happened then. Like many places, tourism in Egypt has now entered recovery mode, making the coming months a great – and still relatively quiet – time to visit. 

Some Nile cruise companies continued construction projects that have seen new boats launched on the river, including the August 2022 debut of the Viking Osiris , a brand new 82-passenger vessel built specifically to navigate the Nile.

Why you should take a Nile cruise when you visit Egypt

While cruises might get a bad rap elsewhere in the world, traveling by boat on the Nile is a time-honored tradition that stretches back to the pharaonic era.

Along the riverbanks, life carries on in the way that it has since time immemorial: mudbrick houses poke out from behind the foliage, children wave excitedly at passing ships, a lone man paddles a blue-painted canoe piled high with alfalfa for his hungry livestock, palm trees heavy with golden dates sag as they await the harvest.

In a fast-paced world, opportunities to simply sit back and watch life glide by are few and far between. Sitting outside on the Osiris ’s balcony traveling at the speed of the river, I felt like I was watching a slow travel TV show – at once both an outside spectator and also completely immersed in it.

In ancient times, mastering the river helped rulers unite the country, and most temples are built within easy reach of the water. Sure, Egypt’s modern-day road and rail network can transport you to these temples overland, but if you skip a cruise on the Nile, the magic of the journey will certainly be missing.

How to choose a Nile cruise itinerary

The vast majority of Nile cruises operate in both directions between Luxor and Aswan in southern Egypt, making stops in Edfu, Kom Ombo and sometimes other small towns.

Which Nile cruise you pick depends on the usual two travel constraints: your budget and your time. Certain boats sail only on certain days, and Nile cruises can be as short as three days, but more commonly last five days.

Most luxury cruises on the Nile, including Viking’s Nile cruises, require signing up for a full Egypt-wide itinerary that starts and ends in Cairo , an excellent option for first-time visitors.

With little signage at historic sites and prices always open to negotiation, Egypt is a tricky place for independent travel. Unless you want to spend your precious vacation time bargaining with taxi drivers and tour guides everywhere you go, it’s best to join a tour for your first visit and leave the logistics to someone else.

What I liked in particular about Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary is that it includes two unusual stops that aren’t standard ports of call for most Nile cruises. 

The ship travels north of Luxor to Qena for passengers to disembark and visit the gorgeous Temple of Hathor at Dendera , where the ceilings have recently been cleaned, exposing beautifully painted zodiac symbols and the warped body of the sky goddess Nut, who swallows the sun every night and gives birth to it the next morning. 

The boat also stops in Esna for the Temple of Khnum , a small but wonderfully preserved structure. Look up to spot the column-topping capitals, each of which has a colorfully decorated, unique bouquet of palm fronds, bunches of grapes, lotus flowers and papyrus shoots.

In Luxor, you’ll get private access to the show-stopping tomb of Nefertari – arguably the most beautiful burial site in the entire country (and certainly the most expensive at LE1400, about US$72) where nearly every square inch is painted in stunningly vibrant bas-reliefs – as well as the chance to see the stark dichotomy of Egypt’s landscapes from the sky in the basket of a gently drifting hot air balloon.

Tours of the temples and tombs are led by local expert Egyptologists who explain and translate the meanings of the hieroglyphs before your very eyes. 

A few companies offer Nile cruises from Cairo, but these sailings are rare, usually operating just once a month – if at all – and take significantly longer because of the distance involved. But you’ll get the chance to check out off-the-beaten-track tombs and temples between Cairo and Luxor that see few visitors.

What is it like on board the Viking Osiris ?

Decked out in a sleek Scandi color scheme of blond wood and blue textiles that are drenched in natural light thanks to huge floor-to-ceiling windows across much of the ship, the Viking Osiris is an oasis of calm that’s a treat to return to after a long and dusty day of exploring. 

The cruise ship has 41 cabins across three decks, plus two upper levels with an indoor/outdoor dining space with windows that fold away for al fresco evenings, a cozy bar and lounge with a resident piano player in the evenings, an infinity-style pool at the back of the boat and a sun deck for days of lazy lounging.

Travelers can check out books from the on-board library’s exquisite collection to read up on Egyptian history on their voyage.

The guest rooms are surprisingly spacious, with comfy hotel-like beds, plenty of wardrobe and storage space, and good-sized bathrooms. Many staterooms come with balconies.

The ship is partially powered by solar panels, and you can see how much electricity is being generated by the sun as well as the carbon dioxide savings on a screen inside.

What travelers should know before visiting Egypt

Almost all nationalities need a visa to visit Egypt , which you can get on arrival at the airport or apply for online in advance if you’d rather skip the line. The cost of a single-entry Egyptian tourist visa is USD$25, payable in cash at the airport or by card online.

Egypt is a traditional, Muslim-majority country, so both men and women should dress modestly when visiting. For tips on what to pack, local etiquette and more, check these 14 things to help you plan your visit to Egypt .

Lauren Keith traveled on the Viking Osiris cruise by invitation from Viking River Cruises .

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The 15 Best Nile Cruises in Egypt: Luxury Sailing from Luxor to Aswan

If you’re planning a trip to visit Egypt , of course, you’ll have to visit the Nile River! It’s the longest river in the world, spanning 11 different countries, and is incredibly important to Egyptians for both sustenance and transportation. And the best way to see the Nile is from aboard a luxury cruise sailing between the ancient cities of Luxor and Aswan.

But finding the best cruise to fit your travel plans can be difficult. They travel on specific weekly schedules and have a set itinerary – usually 3, 4, or 7 nights. Information and reviews on Booking.com are limited and since most cruises are fairly pricey, it’s important to understand what you’ll be getting for your money.

So we’ve compiled a list of the top 9 Nile River cruises to make planning your vacation in Egypt a breeze. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

The Best Luxury Nile Cruises in Egypt

1. alexander the great nile cruise.

The Alexander the Great Cruise is a gorgeous cruise ship offering a 4-night Nile River cruise that departs every Monday from Luxor, and a 3-night Nile cruise that departs every Friday from Aswan. This Nile cruise even offers a free airport shuttle service!

Everyone on staff is incredibly helpful and attentive. If you’d like to pamper yourself during your Nile cruise you can take advantage of the spa services, including a hot spring bath and various massage treatments. And meals are fabulous, with both traditional and international cuisine options. And you’ll love the various evening entertainment that is fun for the whole family!

This luxury Nile cruise ship has an outdoor pool surrounded by comfortable lounge chairs for spending warm days relaxing in the sun. Rooms are spacious, clean, and well-appointed with a tv, premium bedding, a private bathroom, and a mini-bar. It’s definitely worth upgrading to a room with a balcony so you can enjoy the views from the privacy of your own room.

Guests especially love the guided tours along the banks of the Nile River. They will take you to the sites and explain the history in a way that is interesting and easy to digest.

Check Prices on Hotels.com

2. Sonesta Star Goddess Cruises

The Sonesta Star Goddess Cruise is an ultra-luxurious cruise sailing the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan for 4 or 7 nights leaving each Monday. The ship features plenty of activities for guests onboard, including a swimming pool, fitness center, and a spa with a hot tub and sauna. And with 24-hour room service, you’ll have every amenity available during your cruise.

Bedroom suites are large and comfortable with nice bedding, satellite televisions, bathtubs, and large windows to keep them bright and airy. You can enjoy a glass of wine at sunset on your private balcony overlooking the banks of the Nile.

You’ll love to indulge in a massage, body wrap, or a pedicure during your cruise. There’s nothing quite like relaxing in a spa while gazing out over the Nile!

Take advantage of the onboard shopping to pick up a few Egyptian gifts for your friends back home. The ship has a main dining area, a sun deck, and a lounge with a dance floor for the evening entertainment. They can also arrange your daily tours of the various sites along the Nile.

3. M/S Esplanade Cruise

The M/S Esplanade Cruise is a chic, lavish ship offering 4 or 7-night Nile River cruises each Monday from Luxor, and 3 or 7-night Nile cruises from Aswan each Friday.

The most impressive feature of this Nile River cruise in Egypt is the beautiful outdoor pool which is surrounded by comfortable loungers and day beds. It looks so pristine and inviting and is the perfect place to cool off after a long, hot morning exploring the Egyptian ruins.

The spacious rooms have air conditioning, a flat-screen television set, coffee and tea-making facilities, a desk, a hairdryer, and many amenities you may need during your cruise. Your stay on this luxurious cruise ship also includes 2 bars, a sauna, and a rooftop terrace.

All of the public seating areas are decorated with a creative flair and are a great place to hang out and meet new friends from all over the world!

4. Mövenpick Royal Lily Cruise

The Mövenpick Royal Lily Cruise offers either a 4-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, or you can choose to make the trip a 7-day round trip affair! Of course the more nights you can spend on this luxury Nile River cruise line, the better!

The deluxe cabins are about 22 square meters and have two twin beds, large windows and bright, cheery decor. Of course, your room will also be appointed with air conditioning, a flat-screen television set, a minibar, and other amenities you’ll need during your stay. A telephone enabled with international calling is also available in your room.

You’ll appreciate the beautiful outdoor swimming pool, the spacious sun deck, the fitness center, and the sauna and spa facilities. The food is divine and you’ll be treated like royalty by the lovely staff at the Mövenpick. They’ll make your Nile cruise unforgettable!

Check Prices on Booking.com

5. Sonesta Moon Goddess

The Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise sets sail each Saturday for 3 or 7 nights from Luxor to Aswan. This modern, luxury cruise ship will be your home away from home as you sail down the Nile River, enjoying the sites and sounds from the comfort of your private room.

The cruise ship is outfitted with a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool, a large sun terrace, a fitness center, a relaxing spa, and a bar serving up refreshing cocktails. Enjoy a massage, a facial, or a body scrub while you sip champagne and cruise down the Nile.

The food is delicious and super fresh. The helpful staff can help you in arranging a transfer to and from the airport, as well as any local excursions.

Rooms are simple and classic with comfortable beds, large private bathrooms, plenty of amenities, and private patios. Free toiletries, a tv, a minibar, a private bathroom, and turndown service are just a few of the amenities that you can enjoy. You’ll want to wake up early to catch the sunrise from the comfort of your own room!

6. Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise

The 5-star Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise offers 4-night and 6-night cruises down the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. The friendly staff at the ship tour desk can assist in booking your airport transfer, any daily excursions, and anything else you may need during your stay onboard.

During your Nile cruise, you can take advantage of the fitness center, the terrace with beautiful views of the banks of the Nile, and the lovely spa services which include Thai massage, facials, and body scrubs.

The large rooms have modern decor and come outfitted with a television set, a minibar (stocked with some free items!), coffee-making facilities, a bidet, bathrobes, and a desk. The beds are so comfortable that you won’t want to get up in the morning!

Be sure to book your stay on the Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise well in advance because this one books up fast!

7. MS Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise

The MS Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise departs from Luxor every Monday for four nights and from Aswan each Friday for three nights. The staff is exceptional and provides you with a 24-hour help desk and room service. 

The cruise also offers multiple packages to make your cruise experience exceptional. The cruise offers Sightseeing, Happiness, Felucca Breakfast, and Honeymoon/Anniversary packages.

The Sightseeing Package includes transfers to sights, such as the High Dam, Karnak Temple, Valley of Kings, Philae Temple, Abu Simbel, and the Luxor Temple in an air-conditioned bus and includes the entrance fee.  

The cruise provides different spacious room types, including standard twin rooms and deluxe king suites. The rooms are nicely furnished and clean, and each morning, you’ll be able to enjoy the yummy breakfast buffet. The cruise is also outfitted with a fitness center, sauna, swimming pool, bar, and restaurant that you can enjoy during your cruise time.

8. Nile Goddess Cruise

The Nile Goddess Cruise offers 4 or 7-night Nile cruises beginning every Monday between Luxor and Aswan. This beautiful ship has classic decor with dark wooden furniture and traditional touches throughout. You’ll forget that you’re on a ship cruising down the Nile River and not in a 5-star resort!

The Nile Goddess features a rooftop pool with plenty of room for lounging in the sun. Also a fitness center, a peaceful spa with a sauna, and even a nightclub. The lounge is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail at the end of the day, and you’ll love the delicious dishes served for onboard breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The air-conditioned rooms have simple but comfortable decor, a minibar, and a satellite television set. Upgrade to a suite to enjoy a separate seating area and a private balcony.

9. Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise

The Oberoi Zahra offers luxury 5 or 7-day Nile cruises departing from either Luxor or Aswan. You’ll want to check the sailing calendar on their website for specific dates of embarkation. The service that you’ll receive onboard is absolutely impeccable from the moment that you’re greeted until the time that you leave. Take advantage of the free airport shuttle!

The daily excursions are both fun and informational. And you’ll appreciate that they try to time your arrival to avoid the crowds.

The ship has a large and refreshing outdoor pool and a spa where you can indulge in a relaxing spa. You’ll love the evening entertainment after enjoying a delectable meal in the onboard restaurant. Rooms are well-appointed with a minibar, an electric kettle, a large bathroom, and bathrobes. If you want to really treat yourself, opt for a suite with a private deck and hot tub!

10. Nile Carnival Cruise

The Nile Carnival Cruise departs from Luxor every Thursday and from Aswan every Monday. The staff is super friendly and accommodating, and the rooms are clean and spacious, with nice views of the river. 

The Nile Carnival Cruise features a restaurant and a bar, packed lunches, snack bar, and it offers both a continental and buffet breakfast. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, flat-screen TV, and air-conditioning, and there are room, laundry, and ironing services available.

You’ll also be able to relax during your time on board as the cruise has a spa and wellness center that offers massages, beauty services, manicures, and hair treatments. Once you’re done getting pampered, you can enjoy the rooftop swimming pool, hot tub, sun terrace, and game room!

11. Jaz Crown Prince Nile Cruise

The Jaz Crown Prince Nile Cruise departs from Luxor every Saturday for 4-7 nights and every Wednesday from Aswan for three nights. The cruise has an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace so you can relax and admire the river views from the deck.

The rooms include standard twin and single cabins with air conditioning, a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, and a mini-bar. The cruise also offers an optional Sightseeing Package for an additional price that includes a visit to the Karnak and Luxor Temples, Valley of the Kings, the Botanical Garden, and the Abu Simbel Temple, among other sites.

Each morning you can enjoy the breakfast buffet, and every evening, you’ll love having tea time on the sun deck. After dinner at one of the restaurants, you can attend one of the shows or parties, including a belly dance show, a Nubian show, a cocktail party, or the Galabya party, depending on the itinerary. 

12. M/S Esmeralda Nile Cruise

The M/S Esmeralda Nile Cruise departs from Luxor each Monday for 4-7 nights, and it departs each Friday from Aswan. The cruise features a swimming pool, restaurant, bar, spa, gym, and sun deck. In the evenings, you can attend one of the shows, including belly dancing, Tanoura, and Oriental and Heritage music entertainment.

The rooms on the M/S Esmeralda Nile Cruise include twin cabins, king-sized beds, and presidential suites equipped with an LED TV, a mini bar, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a safety box. Plus, you can even enjoy a private jacuzzi in the presidential suites!

The Garnet restaurant offers a great breakfast buffet with a good selection, and in the evenings, you can enjoy some delicious International dishes, including Chinese, Italian, Oriental Egyptian, and more. The restaurant is beautiful, and you’ll be able to enjoy your meals with a view of the Nile. 

The cruise’s itinerary will take you to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut on the West Bank, the Edfu and Kom Ombo temples, the High Dam, the Temple of Philae, and the unfinished Obelisk.

13. Movenpick SS Misr Steamer Nile Cruise

The Movenpick SS Misr Steamer Nile Cruise departs on Mondays from Luxor for 4-7 nights and from Aswan on Fridays for three nights. You’ll immediately enjoy the old-time decor throughout the cruise ship as it was built in 1918 by the British Royal Navy. It was turned into a luxury steamer for King Farouk.

The Movenpick SS Misr Steamer offers four cabin options, including the standard, superior, senior suite, and panorama suite. No matter which cabin you choose for your Nile cruise adventure, you’ll enjoy large and panoramic balconies, air-conditioning, and a private bathroom. Other amenities include a TV, a minibar, and a safety deposit box.

You can also savor great quality drinks and cocktails at the Dhabiyyat Bar, and the Marasem Restaurant offers gourmet dishes, so you’ll feel like royalty! After you’re done exploring, you can relax on the large sun deck while sipping your favorite drink next to the swimming pool. 

Check prices on Booking.com

14. Movenpick MS Sunray Nile Cruise

The Movenpick MS Sunray Nile Cruise departs from Luxor each Thursday for 4-7 nights, and it departs from Aswan each Monday for three nights. The cruise features elegant and traditional designs, and it is equipped with a swimming pool, a sundeck with a recreational area, and reading and playroom.

You can choose between the standard, superior, and junior or senior suites with panoramic windows for you to see the Nile. All cabins have air-conditioning, a private bathroom with a bathtub and hairdryer, a TV, a minibar, and a safety deposit box. 

You can enjoy your international meals and breakfast buffet at the main restaurants, and the lounge bar offers afternoon tea and cocktails. You can also enjoy snacks and drinks on the sun deck while you take in all the monument views as you cruise down the Nile. 

15. Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise

The Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise departs from Luxor on Mondays for 4-7 nights and from Aswan every Friday for three nights. You’ll love the luxurious and modern decor across the cabins and the cruise boat!

The surprisingly stylish rooms are equipped with controllable air-conditioning, a minibar, a safe, a private bathroom, and a balcony with sliding doors that open up to the main and upper decks.

Explore the ship, and you’ll find a restaurant, bar, and lounge, where you can enjoy meals and drinks. The restaurant also offers options for vegetarians, and the staff is very friendly and kind. 

When you’re not taking in the Nile views, you can soak up the sun on the sun deck, splash around in the pool, and sip poolside drinks at the bar. There’s also a souvenir shop, a fitness center, and a beauty salon onboard, so you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable stay!

We hope you have a wonderful cruise down the Nile River!

Want more help planning your trip to Egypt? Check out our favorite travel guides!

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About the Author:

Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag. Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her! These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

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2 thoughts on “the 15 best nile cruises in egypt: luxury sailing from luxor to aswan”.

Many thanks for great information!

Based on the review here, we booked on the Sonesta Moon Goddess March, 2023. We were disappointed. The rooms were indeed classic and comfortable. The carpets in the hall were old and stained. The HVAC systems in the room did not work properly despite engineering’s best efforts. Hot water was often hard to come by. The most disappointing element was the food. This was served buffet style, and almost never maintained hot. It was as if I had returned to my high school cafeteria. The staff were attentive and tried to please.

The review above does not reflect on the current state of affairs.

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What It’s Like on a Nile Cruise

A nile cruise is an essential part of most trips to egypt, and a dahabiya sailboat cruise is the way to get more out of the experience..

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A dahabiya is a shallow-bottomed wooden sailboat that offers a different kind of Nile cruise experience.

Courtesy of Dylan Chandler/Nour el Nil

The Nile River is full of a variety of cruise ships: large tourist vessels, midsize hotel boats, luxury vessels with gorgeous decor and air-conditioning throughout, some even with swimming pools on top. They all travel between Luxor and Aswan in three or four nights, on itineraries packaged with land exploration that may include time in Cairo as well. But my friends and I wanted more time on the river itself, and something more intimate—like the kind of wooden boat Cleopatra might have sailed on. That’s why we booked a Nile cruise on a dahabiya .

A dahabiya is a great way to experience the river and the sites along its banks, as long as you are willing to forgo some higher-end luxury trappings for a more local, rustic experience.

What is a dahabiya?

Freshly made meals and snacks are included in the price of the trip; alcohol costs extra.

The word dahabiya is derived from the Arab word for “gold,” highlighting its ancient royal origins. The wooden sailboats, with only two decks and shallow bottoms, have been an option for travelers on the Nile since the 19th century and are based on designs that go back millennia.

The company my friends and I chose for our Nile experience was Nour El Nil, which has been around for more than a decade and operates seven dahabiyas with distinctive red-and-white striped sails fore and aft. The company was the brainchild of three partners: a Parisian interior designer who does the decor, a Mexican-born businessman, and an Egyptian sailor who oversees construction of the vessels.

Their boats have 8 to 12 cabins (accommodating 16 to 24 passengers), and they sail under wind power when the weather cooperates and are pulled by a small tugboat when there’s little breeze (which happened frequently on our sailing).

Nour El Nil has gained a reputation as a luxury operator, and in some ways it is, but in other ways the experience is on the rugged side, appealing to travelers like me with a sense of adventure.

The opulence is in the small-ship and small-group experience, with everyone dining at a long table on the open deck, waving at one of the 13 crew members for a drink, docking at historical sites and villages that larger ships can’t access, and exploring ancient ruins with expert guides.

The onboard experience

The open-air top deck serves as living room, dining room, and a place to relax.

Photo by Fran Golden

We were five couples traveling together for a friend’s birthday celebration. Our boat was the 12-cabin Adelaïde , and we shared it with 12 other travelers.

Most of the time, we found ourselves lounging on the plush, colorful, fabric-covered chairs, sofas, and daybeds on the open deck, which is shaded by tarps and festooned with chandeliers for an environment that is practical, with a touch of class. Unlike the hotel ships with indoor dining rooms, the deck was our dining space and lounge. This is where you catch views, feel occasional breezes (including from ceiling fans), admire the sails, spend time chatting or reading or playing games such as Scrabble and Hearts with your sail mates. If you’re me, it’s where you might stretch out in the hammock and fantasize about Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile (written at the famed Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan) and imagine backstories for your fellow passengers—which in our case hailed from the United States, Germany, France, Poland, and Brazil.

The boat had 10 rooms like this and 2 panoramic suites.

The cabins are all on the lower deck, with soft white linens, chandeliers, and Old World–style artwork, windows with sliding shutters and screens, and a mirrored bathroom reminiscent of nautical heads (the shower had no curtain or door, so the bathroom got wet when you used it). The boat also has two “panoramic suites,” each with floor-to-ceiling windows and an indoor sitting area. There aren’t private balconies as on some of the hotel ships. Portable air-conditioning units kept the rooms cool, though they get turned off in the middle of the night when the boat cuts its main generator to save on gas (ceiling fans and lights, on a separate system, remain on).

Sense of place was a constant. Our Egyptian crew, dressed in flowing galabiyas of various hues, sometimes struggled with English but were always willing to figure out what you wanted. If the fabrics on deck were end-of-season dusty and faded, they matched the colors of desert. Other views were surprisingly green riverbanks and mangroves, and as we lazed around with cocktails, we enjoyed watching village life go by: water buffalo wading in the river, fishermen angling in their small boats, farmers in carts pulled by donkeys. Sometimes, we’d hear calls for prayer ring out from minarets.

Part of the fun of a dahabiya is getting to know the crew, who take care of everything from sailing the boat to cooking fresh meals.

You knew it was mealtime when a crew member walked around the ship ringing a little bell. We were served family-style on a table set with textiles and pottery, with a delicious menu based on whatever was fresh and available from farmers and fishermen along the route. One day that might be lamb, another roasted ducks or fried Nile perch. There was an array of flavorful vegetable stews, whether eggplant, okra, or zucchini. And bowls of tahini, french fries, and flatbread were constants on the table.

All meals were included in the price of the trip, but booze cost extra. Still, it was a bargain: a gin or vodka tonic made from local liquor was less than $2.50, a bottle of local wine was about $13 ($19.50 if you wanted to upgrade to a bottle imported from South Africa).

Another bargain: massages for about $44, delivered by a crew member in the ship’s little used indoor lounge on the cabin deck.

Ancient sites and shoreside activities

Sometimes we pulled up to villages or off-the-beaten path areas.

Courtesy of Dylan Chandler/Nour El Nil

Of course, a very nice boat experience is one thing, but if you’ve come all the way to Egypt, you also expect to tour ancient historic sites and learn a thing or two. Nour El Nil’s contract Egyptologists deliver small-group tours with aplomb. For us English speakers, there was Adel Abu ElHagag, an expert on hieroglyphics who was determined to teach us to recognize the symbols for Cleopatra, among others.

While hotel ships follow a set route (you’ll see them docking at the same sites at basically the same times), our dahabiya cruise was a tad more improvised and able to include key sites on and off the standard tourist path. Our small boat could tie up to a tree, so shoreside exploration went beyond the river cruise norm, and with no printed itinerary, every day brought a sense of adventure. Crew leant a hand as we sometimes walked the plank or up dirt hillsides. Sometimes, we walked across two other Nour El Nil boats that we at times sailed with in a convoy.

Because of its small size and less rigid schedule, dahabiyas can stop at spots along the Nile that bigger ships can’t access, such as the tombs at El Kab.

For instance, the typical Nile cruise does not visit El Kab, the site of colorfully painted tombs and temples where Adel read hieroglyphics detailing the life stories of nobles and priests. “It’s like buying confession,” he said of the artistic depictions, dating from 1550 to 1050 B.C.E. “What you did in your life. Did you look at your neighbor’s wife?” But we also hit main sites such as the temple to the falcon god Horus in Edfu.

Some of my friends would say a highlight of the dahabiya cruise—and definitely not offered by the larger river ships—was swimming in the Nile. I am too much of a germophobe to try that.

My magical moment came one day in the early evening, when about 15 of us passengers disembarked at a narrow point in the Nile River near the temple of Gebel el-Silsila and its sandstone quarry that provided much of the material for several of the temples and tombs we’d see on our trip. We passed through a dusty brick village and walked higher into a moonscape of imposing sand dunes to watch the sunset. Biblical stories came to mind, even though our trek of a few miles crossed a small piece of the Nubian Desert, not the Sinai. The off-the-beaten-path setting was breathtaking in its sparseness, especially as the sun, a fiery orange orb, dipped below a distant dune. This is the way to cruise the Nile.

How to book

Sunset near the temple of Gebel el-Silsila and its sandstone quarry

Nour El Nil is one of a few companies offering a dahabiya experience on the Nile. The seven boats range from 16 to 24 passengers. Wi-Fi, meals, and shore excursions are all included; alcohol and tips for the crew are not (I spent about $140 on tips).

Additional options

Cairo-based Nile Dahabiya Boats has four 10- to 15-passenger boats doing a three- or four-night route between Esna and Aswan, double occupancy fares from $360 per person.

Luxor and Aswan Travel represents 11 dahabiyas, fares from $835 per person for a three-night cruise.

First look: Viking Osiris, the stylish new Nile River ship from upscale line Viking

Call it a new era for cruises on the Nile.

This week's unveiling of Viking Osiris — the new Egypt-based river ship from fast-growing Viking — marks a significant turning point for sailings on the river.

The 82-passenger vessel is, notably, elegant and upscale on a level that is rarely seen among river ships on the Nile. It's also the first of what is likely to become a steady stream of new Viking vessels on the river that we suspect will come to dominate upscale Nile River cruising for Americans in the way that Viking vessels have come to dominate river cruising for Americans in Europe.

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Viking founder Torstein Hagen said at the ship's unveiling Monday that three more sister vessels to Viking Osiris already were on order to debut on the river over the next three years, and he hinted that even more could be coming. If so, it would be classic Viking, which is known for going in big and fast when it decides to commit in earnest to a destination.

Viking has been selling cruises on the Nile for quite a few years — since 2004. But Viking Osiris is the first Nile vessel specifically built to the line's specifications. It's also owned and operated by Viking. That's unusual in a market where most Western lines charter local vessels for their trips.

In Viking's eyes (and ours, too), that means Viking will be able to offer one of the most consistent products on the river. Unlike many other Western companies operating in Egypt, Viking will have complete control of the experience.

TPG is getting a sneak peek at Viking Osiris this week in advance of its first sailing with paying passengers Friday. Here, we take a closer look at what sets it apart from many of the other ships on the Nile, and what you can expect if you book a voyage on it.

Viking Osiris offers elegant, high-end rooms

Viking is billing Viking Osiris as the most luxurious vessel on the Nile, and from what I'm seeing this week, that's no idle boast.

The ship features an entire deck of sprawling suites that rival anything else found on the river for luxury and comfort. Each comes with two full-size rooms — a large living room with a residential feel and an adjacent bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. Each of the suites also has its own outdoor balcony with seating for two — something you don't always see on Nile ships.

Two of the biggest suites have stunning glass walls that wrap around the front of the vessel.

Not just the suites but every cabin on the ship is filled with high-end touches, such as luxury linens and pillows on beds, heated floors in bathrooms and roomy wardrobes with wooden hangers.

Suites on the ship are stocked with complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks that are replenished daily, and they come with such extras as complimentary laundry and shoeshine services.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking cabins and guides

Even the smallest cabins on Viking Osiris are generous in size, measuring 232 square feet. Suites range in size from 409 square feet to 529 square feet. Most cabins have balconies.

Notably, all the cabins on Viking Osiris have the same clean-lined Scandinavian-influenced design that can be found on Viking vessels around the world. If you've stayed in a cabin on Viking river ships in Europe or its ocean ships deployed from North America to Asia, you'll recognize the look immediately and feel right at home.

It's a hallmark of Viking that all its vessels have a consistent feel, albeit with some variations from ship to ship that offer nods to where they sail. Along those lines, on Viking Osiris, cabins feature photographs taken in Egypt in the early 1900s by George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. The British lord was the benefactor and co-explorer of famous Egyptologist Howard Carter. Together they discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun nearly 100 years ago.

Lord Carnarvon's family has an unusual tie not just to Egypt but to Viking. The family was and still is the owner of Highclere Castle, the English country house that was the setting for the historical drama "Downton Abbey." Viking rose to prominence as a cruise company in the past decade in part due to its well-timed sponsorship of "Downton Abbey" on PBS. Highclere Castle features in some of Viking's tour programs.

Lord Carnarvon's great-grandson, also named George Herbert and the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, notably is Viking Osiris' "godfather" and named the ship in a ceremony in Luxor, Egypt.

It's small and intimate

Viking Osiris is notably smaller than the typical Viking river vessel at just 236 feet in length. That's about half the length of most Viking river ships in Europe. It's also home to far fewer cabins — just 41 as compared to 95 for the typical Viking river ship.

The result is a vessel that is strikingly intimate, both in the onboard experience and the experience of touring on land — something that is its own type of luxury. When visiting such sites as the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of Egyptian pharaohs, passengers travel in small groups, with private guides, for an experience that — as I saw this week during several sample tours — feels very personal.

As is typical on Viking river ships, cabins are stocked with Quietvox audio devices that passengers can carry with them to listen to guides during tours. But on outings from the ship this week to such historic sites as the temples of Karnak and Luxor, our group was so small that I didn't even bother putting in the Quietvox earpiece most of the time. I could hear the guide just fine without it.

In addition, the tour buses that took us from the ship to the historic sites never were full, by design. There was plenty of room to spread out. Viking typically operates its buses in Egypt with just 25 or so passengers on board, far fewer than they can hold.

When sitting in the lounge listening to speakers, there was never a problem hearing what was being said or seeing the presentations.

But it still offers a lot

Viking Osiris may be smaller than the typical Viking river ship, but that doesn't mean it feels cramped. In fact, it feels spacious, as there is a lot of space on a per-person basis. The ship offers an impressively wide array of public venues, spread over several interior and exterior decks, for a vessel designed with just 41 cabins.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Unlike on the waterways of Europe where Viking sails, there are no low bridges on the Nile that force the line to limit the ship's height. As a result, it rises a deck higher than its European counterparts. It's also nearly 20% wider than Viking's typical European river ship, as it's not constrained by the narrow locks found on European waterways. This allows for more spacious public venues.

The ship's main lounge, called simply the Lounge, feels particularly roomy and offers commanding views of the Nile's lush riverbanks through floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

The views are almost as grand from the main restaurant, which sits high on the ship and also features floor-to-ceiling glass walls. River ships in Europe, by contrast, typically have their restaurants buried at the waterline of the vessel, due to the limited space.

Viking Osiris designer Richard Riveire, who has designed all of Viking's vessels around the world, cleverly realized that the best design for the side walls of the main lounge and dining room was to essentially give them no design at all — that is, to keep them as unadorned and open as possible with a wide expanse of clear glass. In short, his job, as he saw it, was to "get out of the way" so the beauty of the region could shine through. As a result, the light-greenish water of the Nile, the rich green papyrus and tall bamboolike grasses of the riverbanks, and the tan desert cliffs in the distance become the "art" and focal points of these spaces.

Unlike many Nile River ships, which are wrapped in dark or metallic glass to reflect the sun, and thus feel closed off to the splendors of the river, Viking Osiris allows the Nile in in all its glory. Viking has used a more expensive glass than is found on many Nile ships. It can keep out the heat without tinting — allowing for the best possible views. At times, it feels like you're sailing down the river in a giant glass dome.

Viking Osiris also has a glass-enclosed version of the Aquavit Terrace found on many Viking vessels. Located at the top of the ship and meant for alfresco dining, it has glass walls facing each bank of the river that can open partway from the top down to allow a cross-breeze. The back wall of the venue also is a glass wall that can slide completely open.

The ship also has a swanky sun deck where you can kick back on shaded teak-and-cushion-covered chairs and sofas while enjoying 360-degree views of the Nile's most famous treasures. Unconstrained by height limits, the deck is designed with an abundance of permanent seating areas and is a lovely space.

At the back of the ship, just beyond the Aquavit Terrace, is a narrow pool. This, too, has been specifically designed to maximize views of the river, with an in-pool bench that faces out over the ship's wake.

The pool area features plush loungers, more of which can be found toward the front of the ship's top deck.

Viking Osiris boasts superb design

If you've been on Viking ships before, you'll recognize the overall look of Viking Osiris. In a nod to the company's heritage (Viking founder Torstein Hagen is Norwegian), the interior spaces of all Viking ships feature clean-lined, Scandinavian-influenced design and decor and a residential feel (Viking designers sometimes call it "residential modernism"). Viking Osiris is no exception.

The ship's decor is all about simplicity and authenticity. You'll find lots of light-wood walls; subdued blue, gray and brown fabrics; and modern furniture on Viking Osiris — as you will on vessels across the Viking fleet.

But the ship also boasts a number of delightful design touches that tie specifically to its home on the Nile, some immediately noticeable and some so subtle that you probably won't notice them without being told. Though, like all great design, even if you don't consciously notice some of these touches, they'll surely have an influence on how you feel while on board.

One of the ship's greatest design features of Viking Osiris is its atrium, which is the first thing you see upon walking onto the vessel in Luxor — its home base. Located at the center of the ship, the atrium is lined on both sides with glass walls, such that you are looking across the vessel as you enter it to the far bank of the Nile, which is home to the Valley of the Queens. You can see the lush greenery of the river's edge and the desert landscape of the valley behind it framed in the window.

It's a "wow" moment similar to what you get at the iconic "look-through" lobbies of resorts in Hawaii and some other tropical hideaways.

The ceiling of the atrium also is pierced with a pair of four-deck-high openings that rise to glass ceilings above, opening up the center of the ship. Four narrow, modern slabs of gray-brown Egyptian onyx rise along one side of these openings — a subtle nod to the four colossal statues of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II at the temple of Abu Simbel.

Unless someone explains the latter connection to you, you would never know it, of course. But the monumental nature of the slabs, and their vertical shape, is a design motif that is distinctly Egyptian. So are the wooden horizontal panels that cover parts of the railings between decks. They mimic the horizontal walls of Egyptian temples such as those at Karnak and Luxor.

Other subtle ties to the local region worked into the modernist design of the ship include the geometric blue-on-blue wood "wallpaper" that descends along one wall of the stairway rising from the atrium, which brings to mind the geometry of Islamic design.

The soaring openings in the atrium also have the effect of creating little nooks to their sides on several decks. Filled with comfortable seating looking out to the banks of the Nile through glass walls, these seating nooks may be the best place to sit on the ship.

Other little nods that subconsciously remind you that you are in Egypt include a reed partition separating the pool area from the Aquavit Lounge on the pool deck, which evokes the reedy banks of the Nile. (There also are two papyrus plants on each side of the pool, another homage to the local landscape.)

Finally, like the ship's cabins, the public areas throughout the ship are sprinkled with black-and-white photographs of Egypt taken by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. These include images Lord Carnarvon took while excavating the tomb of Tutankhamen in the early 1900s but also many scenes of daily life in Egypt at the time.

Viking Osiris designer Riveire first saw the images when visiting the current earl of Carnarvon and his wife at Highclere Castle, where they were kept in a giant photo album. The Carnarvons agreed to allow the photos to be displayed on the ship — the only place in the world they currently can be seen by the public.

In a hidden surprise for passengers, Riveire has scattered four Carnarvon images from Egypt around the ship that contain the lord's beloved dog, Susie. It's meant as a bit of an Easter egg hunt for passengers to try to find them.

The ship's lounge also is home to a wall of watercolors showing 1900s scenes from Egypt collected by Lord Carnarvon.

It's mostly all-inclusive

The initial itineraries Viking Osiris is operating aren't inexpensive. Eleven-night "Pharaohs and Pyramids" tours that include seven nights on the ship sailing the Nile and a four-night stay at a hotel in Cairo (three nights before the cruise and one night after) start at $5,299 per person, based on double occupancy. And that's for the least desirable offseason month of August, when the temperatures in Egypt are very high. Sailings in prime months such as February and March, when temperatures in Egypt are cooler, start at $7,399 per person.

Still, as is typical for cruise lines at the high end, Viking is including a lot in its base price. In addition to a room on board and all meals, the fares include wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; shipboard Wi-Fi; and — perhaps most notably — guided excursions in every port where the ship visits.

Indeed, a notable part of what you'll be paying for on Viking Osiris is access to extremely knowledgeable Egypt experts who travel with you on the trip and explain the many ancient temples, tombs and other historic sites you'll be seeing.

In a sign of the ship's luxury level, it sails with a crew of 65 in all to serve a maximum of 82 passengers — an unusually high ratio of nearly 1-to-1.

Some higher-level cabins also come with complimentary laundry service and a premium beverage package.

Among the few extra charges passengers will encounter are a suggested $25-per-person daily gratuity for shipboard staff on days you're on the ship. (Viking recommends a $10-per-day gratuity for Viking staff during the land portion of trips.)

Some special shore excursions, such as a balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings, come with an extra charge.

Bottom line

Viking Osiris is a lovely ship, and it's likely to take a prominent place among the top vessels on the Nile River, along with its sister ships scheduled to debut over the next few years. Intimate, upscale and elegant, it brings Viking's signature clean-lined, Scandinavian-influenced design to the waterway in a way that no Viking vessel has before.

TPG's Gene Sloan is reporting live this week from Viking Osiris as it operates a short, non-revenue preview sailing for media in advance of its first voyage with paying passengers. You can find all of his dispatches on his author's page .

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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• Nile River Cruise - Egypt Nile Cruise 2024/2025
• Luxor and Aswan Nile Cruises
• Luxury Nile Cruise

Oberoi Zahra Luxury Nile Cruise

Description.

• Inquire Now

The best way to cruise the charming river Nile is aboard Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise, experiencing the unforgettable sights of Upper Egypt with comfort in a 5-star luxury Nile Cruise. The Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruiser offers luxury cruise dining, Spa, a fitness center and an open-air swimming pool with Free Wi-Fi access on board, sailing between Luxor and Aswan for 4, 5, or 8 days in style.

Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise Luxury Cabin

The 25 Luxury Cabins are tastefully appointed with timber floors and elegant interiors. Large windows in the cabins and cabin bathrooms offer panoramic views of the Nile . The Luxury Cabin is spread over 26.4 square meters and minimally furnished with a choice of king-size bed and twin bed, flanked by large bedside tables and two lounge chairs with a coffee table.

The bathroom, finished in marble and mosaic features a vanity counter and a separate glass-enclosed steam and shower stall, with the picture window offering magnificent views of the passing scenery. The Cabins also include a 26-inch high-definition LCD television. Other amenities include a CD and DVD player, complimentary high-speed Internet access, two-line speaker phone, data port, a well-stocked mini-bar and tea and coffee. The 2 spacious

Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise Luxury Suite

with separate living rooms, private terraces and Jacuzzis redefine luxury on the Nile. Each Luxury Suite is spread over 50 square meters and offers the additional amenity of a separate living room, private terrace and an open air Jacuzzi. The Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise is the only luxury cruise on the Nile with four therapy rooms. On Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise Each therapy room features a private shower and steam room. Uninterrupted views of the Nile, rejuvenating treatments and the finest natural products create the perfect experience. Discover gourmet dining on board The Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise. The Chef and his team takes pride in offering the finest international cuisine a la carte services, with new menus on a daily basis.

Tour Details

Oberoi zahra luxury nile cruise facilities, accommodation.

• 24/7 Reception
• Private docking areas
• Restaurant with varied menus on a daily basis.
• Nightly entertainment programme
• Sun Deck with Swimming pool and jacuzzi
• Personal Care Attendant throughout your holiday.
• On-board elevators and access for physically-challenged guests.
• Laundry and daily housekeeping service
• Internet and games room
• Therapy rooms with a private shower and steam room
• Gymnasium On board
• Library and Cigar Lounge
• Egyptologist for all shore excursions
• Medical service on call (24/7)
• Fully purified water, filtered and softened before distribution
• Major credit cards accepted on board Nile Cruises

Other Facilities

Air condition, private bath with shower, doctor available 24 hours, oberoi zahra luxury nile cruise itinerary, 4 days - aswan / luxor, day 1 - saturday - arrival at aswan.

You will be met and assisted at Aswan Airport and then transferred to your Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise in Aswan. 12:00 noon. Embarkation 12:30 p.m. Lunch 2:30 p.m. Visit the High Dam and the Philae Temple 7:00 p.m. Arrival drinks with Nubian Folklore entertainment. 7:30 p.m. Dinner Overnight in Aswan

Meals Included:

Day 2 – sunday - sail to kom ombo & edfu.

5:00 a.m. Sail to Komombo 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast 8:00 a.m. - Visit the twin temple of Kom ombo 9:30 a.m. Sail to Edfu 12:30 p.m. – Lunch 2:30 p.m. Visit the temple of Edfu 4:30 p.m. Sail to Esna 7:30 p.m. Dinner Overnight in Esna

Day 3 – Monday - Sail to Luxor & Sightseeing in Luxor

4:00 a.m. Sail to Luxor 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. Breakfast 9:00 Visit West bank, Valley of the Kings , Dier Elmadina, Habu, and the Colossi of Memnon 1:00 p.m. Lunch 5:30 p.m. Visit to the Temple of Luxor 7:30 p.m. Have dinner Overnight in Luxor

Day 4 – Tuesday - Disembarkation, Temple of Karnak & Departure

7:00 to 8:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 p.m. Disembarkation and visit to the Temple of Karnak , then you will be transferred to Luxor Airport for your departure.

The above itinerary is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.

5 Days - Luxor / Aswan

Day 1 – tuesday - arrival at luxor.

You will be met and assisted at Luxor Airport with our representative and then transferred to your Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise in Luxor. 12:00 noon. Embarkation 12:30 p.m. Lunch 3:00 p.m. Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples 5:00 p.m. Tea at club lounge 7:00 p.m. Arrival drinks with live music entertainment at the club lounge 8:00 p.m. Dinner Overnight in Luxor

Day 2 – Wednesday - Luxor Sightseeing & Sailing to Esna

6:00 a.m. Breakfast 7:00 a.m. Visit West bank, Valley of the Kings , Dier Elmadina, Habu, and Colossi of Memnon 12:00 noon Sail to Esna 12:30 p.m. Lunch 5:00 p.m. Tea at club lounge 7:30 p.m. Dinner Overnight in Esna

Day 3 - Thursday - Sail to Edfu & Kom Ombo

5:00 a.m. Sail to Edfu 7:30 a.m. Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Visit the Temple of Edfu 12:00 noon Sail to Kom Ombo 12:30 p.m. Lunch 5:00 p.m. Tea at club lounge 6: 30 p.m. Visit the twin Temple of Kom Ombo 7:30 p.m. Dinner Overnight in Kom Ombo

Day 4 – Friday - Sail to Aswan

4:00 a.m. Sail to Aswan 07:30 a.m. Breakfast 09:00 a.m. Visit the High Dam and Philae temple 12:30 p.m. Lunch 3:30 p.m. Visit Botanical Garden by felucca 5:00 p.m. Tea at the club lounge 7:30 p.m. Dinner Overnight in Aswan.

Day 5 – Saturday - Disembarkation

7:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Disembarkation and then you will be transferred to Aswan Airport for departure.

8 Days - Aswan / Luxor

Day 1 - tuesday - arrival at aswan.

- Arrival at Aswan International Airport. - You will be met and assisted by our Luxor and Aswan Travel Representative and transferred to your Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise for embarkation. - 12:00 noon Embarkation in Aswan - 12:30 p.m. Lunch - 2:30 p.m. Visit the High Dam and the Philae temple - 7:30 p.m. Dinner on board - Overnight in Aswan

Day 2 - Wednesday - Sound and Light Show & Optional Tour Abu Simbel

- 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.Breakfast - Optional visit (not included) to Abu Simbel - 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m.Leisure Time - 1:00 p.m Lunch - After Sunset Sound and light show at the Philae Temple - 7:00 p.m.Dinner - Overnight in Aswan

Day 3 - Thursday - Sail to Kom Ombo & Sail back to Aswan

- 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.Breakfast - 09:30 a.m.Twin temples of Kom ombo - 11:00 a.m.Sail back to Aswan - 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.Leisure Time - 12:30 p.m.Lunch - 3:00 p.m.Visit to Botanical Garden by felucca - 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.Leisure Time - 6:30 p.m.Cocktail reception with entertainment - Overnight in Aswan

Day 4 – Friday - Sail to Edfu

- 8:00 a.m.Sail to Edfu - 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.Leisure Time - 1:00 p.m.Lunch - 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.Visit the Temple of Edfu - 5:00 p.m.Evening at leisure - 8:00 p.m.Dinner - Overnight in Edfu

Day 5 - Saturday - Sail to Luxor

- 6:00 a.m.Luxor - 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.Leisure Time - 1:00 p.m.Lunch - 2:00 p.m.Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Museum - 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.Leisure Time - 7:30 p.m.Dinner - Overnight in Luxor

Day 6 – Sunday - Sightseeing in Luxor & Sail to Quina

- 6:00 to 7.00a.m early Breakfast - 7:00 a.m. - Transfer to the West Bank, to explore the West Bank of ancient Thebes. - Visit Valley of the Kings , with its royal tombs, King Tut's tomb, Ramses "the Six". - Visit to The temple of Madinat Habu and on the way back stop at the Colossi of Memnon. - 11:00 p.m. Sail to Quina - 12:30 p.m. -Lunch - 3:30 p.m. -Visit to the Temple of Dendara, dedicated to Hathor, Goddess of Music, Love and Joy. - 7:30 p.m. -Dinner Overnight in Quina

Day 7 – Monday - Sail back to Luxor & more Sightseeing at Luxor

- 4:00 a.m. Sail to Luxor - 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. -Breakfast - 10:30 a.m. -Visit the West Bank (Valley of the Noble’s tombs, Dier El Madina, the site of a very special workman’s village, whose craftsmen built and decorated the tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings & the Temple of Hatshepsut ) - 1:00 p.m.-Lunch - 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. -Visit Luxor temple - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Farewell Reception with live music at the club lounge. - 7:30 p.m.-Dinner - Overnight in Luxor

Day 8 – Tuesday - Final Departure

- 7:00 to 9:00 a.m.Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. Disembarkation at Luxor and transfer to Luxor Airport for final departure.

8 Days - Luxor / Aswan

Day 1 - tuesday - arrival at luxor.

- Arrival at Luxor International Airport - You will be met and assisted by our Luxor and Aswan Travel Representative and transferred to your Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise for embarkation. - 12:00 noon Embarkation - 12:30 p.m. Lunch - 2:00p.m. Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor museum - 7:30 p.m. Dinner - Overnight in Luxor

Day 2 - Wednesday - Sightseeing at Luxor & Sail to Quina

- 6:00 a.m. onwards Breakfast - 7:00 a.m. Transfer to the West Bank, to explore the West Bank of ancient Thebes. Visit Valley of the Kings, with its royal tombs, King Tut's tomb and Ramses "the Six". This is followed by a visit to The temple of Madinat Habu and on the way back stop at the Colossi of Memnon. - 11:00 a.m. Sail to Quina - 12:30 p.m. Lunch - 3:30 p.m. Visit to the Temple of Dendara, dedicated to Hathor, Goddess of Music, Love and Joy. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner on board - Overnight in Quina

Day 3 – Thursday - Sail back to Luxor & more Sightseeing at Luxor

- 4:00 a.m. Sail to Luxor - 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast - 10:30 a.m. Visit the West Bank (Valley of the Noble’s tombs, Dier El Madina, the site of a very special workman’s village, whose craftsmen built and decorated the tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings . Lastly, visit the T emple of Hatshepsut) - 1:00. p.m. Lunch - 4:30 -06:00 p.m. Visit of Luxor temple - 6:30 to 07:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception with live music at the club lounge. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner - Overnight in Luxor.

Day 4 - Friday - Sail to Edfu

- 7:00 a.m. Sail to Edfu - 8:30 to 9: 30 a.m. Breakfast - 1:00 p.m. Lunch - 3:30 p.m. Visit the Temple of Edfu , the best preserved temple of the ancient world, dedicated to Horus the Falcon God. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner Overnight in Edfu

Day 5 - Saturday - Sail to Aswan

- 5:00 a.m. Sail to Aswan - 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast - 1:00 p.m. Lunch - 2:30 p.m. Visit the High Dam and Philae temple - 7:30 p.m. Dinner - Overnight in Aswan

Day 6 - Sunday - Sail to Kom Ombo & Sightseeing at Aswan

- 7:00 a.m. Sail to Komombo - 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast - 9:30 -11:00 a.m. Visit the temple of Kom Ombo . One side is dedicated to the Crocodile God Sobek, God of Fertility and Creator of the World. The other side is dedicated to the Falcon God Haroeris, also known as Horus, the Elder. - 11:00 a.m. Sail to Aswan - 1:00 p.m. Lunch - 3:00 p.m. Visit the Botanical Garden by Felucca - 5:00 to 07:00 p.m. Spa Time - After Sunset -Sound and light show at Philae Temple - 7:30 p.m. Dinner - Overnight in Aswan

Day 7 - Monday - Optional tour to Abu Simbel & Spa Time

- 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Breakfast - Optional visit to Abu Simbel - 1:00 p.m. Lunch - 2:00 to 05:00 p.m. Spa time - 7:00 p.m. Cocktail reception with entertainment - 7:30 p.m. Dinner -Overnight in Aswan

Day 8 - Tuesday - Departure

- 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. Disembarkation, then transfer to Aswan Airport for final departure.

Cruise Fact Sheet:

Oberoi zahra luxury nile cruise fact sheet, what's included.

• 04 or 03 nights’ accommodation on board the Nile cruises based on FB basis.
• Meet and assist service upon arrival & departure 
• Assistance of our personnel during your stay and excursions 
• All transfers by a modern air-conditioned deluxe vehicle private
• All Nile Cruise excursions as mentioned in the itinerary private
• Entrance fees to all sights in and between Luxor and Aswan
• English-speaking tour guide during your excursions on the Cruise (group size is 1 - 8 maximum)
• Complementary 01 bottle of water per day per person
• All transfers by A-C vehicles with qualified driver (s).
• All service charges and taxes

Not Included

• Any Extra meals and beverages.
• All personal expenses like laundry etc.
• Tipping to Guide, Driver, etc.
• Any Optional tours may require.

3 Nights 4 Days JUNE-SEPT From : $ 1235

Double cabin.

per adult in a double share cabin

Single Cabin

per adult in a single share cabin

3 Nights 4 Days Oct to April From : $ 2245

4 nights 5 days june-sept from : $ 1645, 4 nights 5 days oct to april from : $ 2995, 7 nights 8 days june-sept from : $ 2885, 7 nights 8 days oct to april from : $ 5240, essential trip information.

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Best Luxury Nile River Cruises

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Meander down Egypt’s most famous river on our pick of the ten best luxury Nile cruises. The river Nile runs from Luxor to Aswan, offering up religious sites and temples at Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Esna on its banks. The best way to discover these ancient landmarks is by boat.

The best cruise ships offer brilliant itineraries as you float effortlessly down the Nile. Explore the Pyramids of Giza, the impressive Karnak Temple, and the magnificent obelisks, columns, sphinxes, and statues. With many stunning historic sites just steps from your boat’s mooring, you can minimize trips along dusty roads in coaches.

The best time to take your Nile River cruise is between October and April. It’s not too hot during this period, so the days spent exploring Ancient Egyptian temples will be much more pleasant. The summer heat peak occurs from June to August, so it’s worth avoiding these months if possible.

1. Sonesta St. George

Probably the most luxurious cruise ship of the Sonesta Fleet is the Sonesta St George. This ship is one of the most elegant and popular luxury ships on the Nile to cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Guests choose this luxurious cruise ship for its luxury plush and ornate interior and design.

All-suite cabins mean luxury for all guests, with all cabin amenities designed to the highest standards. All bathrooms have Full SPA to unite facilities, including a Steam Jacuzzi, Shower, Music and water massage.

The lobby area is extremely ornate with a grand design fit for royalty, giving a glorious first impression on boarding the boat. Beautiful paintings adorn each cabin and the lobby, restaurant, and lounge areas. But it is the sun deck is the place to go for a great view as you sail up the Nile.

Breakfast and lunch buffets have the reputation of being excellent, as does the Egyptian dinner evening. Numerous facilities include the main dining room, sun deck bar, lounge, panoramic lounge, piano bar, nightly entertainment, sun deck, swimming pool with shallow water extension and Jacuzzi, spa and wellness center with gym, massage services, sauna, and steam bath, daily guided sightseeing excursions, dry cleaning service, Fully-purified Water, filtered and softened before distribution, plus there is a doctor on call on the cruise. This is the life!

2. The Oberoi Zahra Cruise

The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser continues the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts tradition of offering the highest standards of hospitality, but this time on one of the best luxury cruise ships on the Nile.

This cruise ship offers some of the best and most spacious accommodations on the Nile. The elegant interior of the Luxury Cabins and Luxury Suites is complemented by the views of the river framed by large windows within the cabins and the en suite bathrooms.

The Oberoi Zahra is the only boat on the Nile with a full-service spa. This cruise ship sails on a seven-day itinerary from Luxor to Aswan (and vice versa), allowing guests the opportunity to discover five thousand years of Egyptian culture leisurely.

The 25 Luxury Cabins are exceptional, with timber floors and elegant interiors. Large windows in the cabins offer panoramic views of the Nile. There are even windows in the cabin bathrooms, which makes using your bathroom an absolute pleasure. The bathroom is finished in marble and mosaic with a vanity counter and a separate glass-enclosed steam and shower stall.

You will also enjoy gourmet dining on board The Oberoi Zahra. The Chef and his team pride themselves on offering the finest international cuisine offering a la carte service, with new menus daily.

Let’s not forget the swimming pool, gymnasium, astronomy lectures, theatre, library, cigar lounge, Internet/games room, laundry, boutique, medical service on call, Egyptologist, and the luxury coaches for sightseeing via private docking areas.

3. Salacia Nile Cruise

Discover 5,000 years of Egyptian culture on a cruise from Luxor to Aswan aboard the Salacia Nile Cruise. This ship feels boutique but spacious and is spread over 225 to 300 square feet. All rooms offer a panoramic view of the Nile and its banks.

This Nile cruise includes accommodation on board the MS Salacia on a full board basis, shore excursions, and Nile Cruise sightseeing tours, and meet and greet service upon arrival & departure.

All transfers are by a private air-conditioned vehicle. Free Wifi is included onboard the cruise and a free re-fill minbar with mineral water and soft drinks. All sightseeing tours and excursions are also part of your package. Excursions include Karnak Temple & Luxor Temples, Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple, Edfu & Kom Ombo Temples, Philae Temple, High Dam & the Unfinished Obelisk.

4. Mövenpick MS Darakum

The Mövenpick MS Darakum is one of the largest vessels cruising the river Nile between Luxor and Aswan. Its Moroccan-inspired design makes it stand out and offers an unforgettable journey while cruising through 7,000 years of history. A variety of recreational activities are available, including a swimming pool, a sun deck with a recreational area, themed parties, and a gym.

5. Mayfair Nile Cruise

Experience luxury in Egypt aboard one of the best cruise ships on the Nile, the MS Mayfair. Sail the majestic Nile River between Luxor and Aswan aboard one of these cruises and experience true luxury. Mayfair Cruises offer 3, 4, and 7 nights itineraries between Luxor and Aswan that allow guests to visit ancient Egyptian temples, tombs, and ruins in the area guided by onboard Egyptologists during the day. Guests will also be invited to participate in leisure activities onboard during the evening.

6. MS Esplanade

MS Esplanade is also one of the best cruise ships on the Nile. This chic boat is one of the best on the Nile, offering 55 luxurious cabins and two suites.

Take a ride aboard M.S. Esplanade and retreat to extravagant interiors and lavish dinners topped off with naturally memorable sightseeing. The excellent staff ensures your experience is that of a five-star hotel. Feast on fine dining, relax by the stylish open-air pool area and don’t miss a treatment at the full-service spa.

Where contemporary lavishness meets Egyptian deserts’ sandy dunes, a cruise here translates into a rare, unprecedented experience.

7. Viking Ra

One of the newer ships to cruise the Nile is Viking Ra. This means it is one of the best ships if you like a modern ship. The all-suite, state-of-the-art ship features Scandinavian décor, a Sun Deck, pool, two Jacuzzis, and a restaurant, lounge, and bar. With 26 suites, it’s an intimate atmosphere onboard, and you can sit back and enjoy the excellent service.

Highlights include all-suite state-of-the-art accommodation for just 52 guests, the Sun Deck with 360-degree views and shaded sitting areas, the pool and two Jacuzzis, the Lounge and bar with floor-to-ceiling windows, the restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views and Free Wi-Fi. Laundry service

8. Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau

The Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau is a bespoke dahabiya, available for charter. It is the epitome of style, with only four cabins and two suites. The Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau offers you the unique opportunity to tailor your Egypt cruise and each day’s sightseeing by offering an “a la carte” style touring itinerary.

This classic Nile cruise offers old-world charm using a river-going sailboat. This is how aristocrats traveled in the relaxed age of Egyptian monarchs (1920-40).

The Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau is a bespoke dahabiya (traditional sailing boat) that is the first of its kind on the Nile. With its extended open spaces, the Zein features a beautiful upper deck, an Arabian-themed sun deck, and an opulently styled dining area. The itinerary for your Egypt cruise aboard the Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau operates on an “a la carte” menu, offering you the unique opportunity to tailor your sightseeing. Bask in the beauty of the surrounding views – unchanged for hundreds of years – as you sip on delicate cocktails from the comfort of the dahabiya. This is what sailing on the Nile was meant to be.

9. Nour el Nil

Nour el Nil dahabiya is propelled by the gentle winds in its sails down the River Nile. You will discover the many archaeological treasures, magnificent deserts, and breathtaking vistas Egypt offers. You will walk in villages and through orchards, meeting Egyptians as they go about their daily lives.

This cruise removes you from the rush and crowds of typical Egyptian tours, and you will find yourself traveling to Egypt’s finest destinations at your own leisurely pace. At the same time, they provide you with all the comforts and amenities you could wish for. This may be the most luxurious boutique cruise ship, and all prices include full board, excursions, and transfers and are based on two people sharing.

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There would be no Egypt without the Nile. Discover the civilization that rose along its banks, starting with Cairo, the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Explore Luxor’s legendary temples and tombs, then cruise to Aswan, stopping in ancient Edfu, Kom Ombo and more. A true travel milestone.

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Follow the timeline of Egyptian civilization, beginning in Cairo and culminating with a spectacular Nile River cruise from Luxor to Aswan and back. Let your imagination soar as your ship meanders through panoramic desertscapes, fertile farmlands, colorful villages and UNESCO World Heritage Sites that preserve the ancient glory of Egypt’s greatest temples, palaces and tombs. Included excursions in every port reveal highlights like these:

• The pyramids and the Sphinx, the only Ancient Wonders of the World still standing
• Cairo’s Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, featuring the treasures of King Tutankhamen
• Luxor’s Karnak Temple complex
• The Necropolis of Thebes, Egypt’s largest repository of pharaonic tombs
• Luxor Temple, with its sphinx-lined avenue
• Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens
• The graceful temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only female pharaoh
• The temple of Hathor at Dendera
• Aswan’s atmospheric souk
• Nubian village and school visit
• The romantic, waterbound Temple of Isis at Philae
• Horse-drawn calèche tour to Edfu’s Temple of Horus

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Cruising the Nile in Luxury & Style

Never having been to Egypt before a Nile river cruise is one of those iconic bucket list cruises that we knew we wanted to do at some point and the Uniworld  voyage seemed to offer us the best of both worlds with a pre and post cruise stay in Cairo sandwiching a cruise down the Nile from Luxor to Aswan.

We arrived in Cairo totally unaware that it is the 7th biggest city in the world and completely unprepared for how huge, busy and chaotic it was. A 45 minute drive from the airport took us to the Four Seasons Nile Plaza, a more than welcome oasis of calm after the chaos and traffic outside of the hotel. After a much needed restful night we rose early the next morning to meet our fellow travellers and the 3 Egyptologists that would be accompanying us throughout our voyage. Each group was assigned their own coach with around a dozen passengers in each group. A short introduction was followed by our first day of excursions to the Alabaster mosque of Mohamed Ali and the Egyptian museum, giving us a chance to get to know Walid, our group Egyptologist, who we quickly worked out was not only a knowledgeable historian but also a very talented storyteller. The highlight of the visit was King Tut Ankh Amun’s golden sarcophagus, treasures and mask, all on show in the Egyptian museum.

No sooner had it started than our first stay in Cairo was over and the next day we were treated to a 5am wake up call to ensure we would get back to Cairo Airport for our scheduled flight to Luxor. Thanks to our Egyptologists guiding us through the airport we arrived safely in Luxor and made our way to our new coaches, immediately noticing that Luxor was much greener, quieter and warmer than Cairo. Straight off of our flight we headed to the first of many temples we would visit during the next week, Karnak temple. Karnak was the largest of the temples we would visit, along with the beautifully preserved Dendera temple; the magical Luxor temple which we visited at sunset and home also to the Avenue of the Sphinxes; the contemporary temple of Hatshepsut; the crocodile temple at Kom Ombo; the sunken temple at Esna; the magnificent Colossi of Memnon and the island temple of Philae. Although we were concerned that we may become temple weary this never happened with each of the temples being fascinating and beautifully individual and unique, with our amazing Egyptologists bringing each one to life, regaling us with the ancient stories written in the hieroglyphics.

One of the highlights of the week was the visit to the Valley of the Kings on the west banks of Luxor. Some guests started the day with an optional 4am start to go on a hot air balloon trip over the valley before meeting the rest of us for our tour to this UNESCO World Heritage site . Though we chose not to do the balloon ride (being driven by our fear of heights) we did enjoy waking up in Luxor and watching the balloons take off from the West bank and sail up over the Valley of the Kings framed by the mountains in the background. So far 65 tombs have been found in the Valley of the Kings, including the infamous tomb of King TutAnkhAmun which was found in 1922 by British archaeologist, Howard Carter. Each day they open up about 10 different tombs, with the entrance ticket allowing you to go into three of the 10 open tombs. Thankfully Walid, our Egyptologist, advised us which ones to go into and what to look out for when we were in there. Entry to King Tut Ankh Amun’s tomb needs a separate ticket so all in all we visited four, very different tombs, each with their own story.

The river cruise part of our trip started in Luxor with stops at Komombo, Edfu and Esna to visit the local temples, but the other main stop was the beautiful city of Aswan. Sailing into Aswan it felt almost like we were approaching a town on the French Riviera with posh hotels, palm trees and pretty islands scattered along the river. One of the highlights of Aswan is the Old Cataract Hotel, a grandiose hotel favoured by Winston Churchill and where Agatha Christie stayed for a year to write her famous novel, Death on The Nile. This colonial style hotel is like a little bit of Britain in the middle of Aswan and our visit to the hotel included a delicious afternoon tea taken on the terrace overlooking the Nile as the sun set over the river. Whilst in Aswan we squeezed in a couple of trips around Elephantine island, a large island located in the middle of the Nile river, one on a bird watching boat trip and another on a traditional Nubian felucca. During our two day stay in Aswan we also visited the Unfinished Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut which was abandoned when the granite It was being carved out of started to crack and the feat of engineering that is the new Aswan dam, crucial in controlling the flow of the Nile river by creating the enormous Lake Nassau on the southern side of the dam.

Throughout our week we got used to being approached by hawkers trying to sell us their wares and our Egyptologists were amazing at guiding us on what was worth buying, how much we should be paying and how to haggle. Though we all got used to this none of us were prepared for the boat hawkers, also known as the ‘hello men’ because of their loud shouts of hello alerting cruise ship passengers of their presence, that accompanied us all the way through the eight metre deep Esna lock, attaching their rowing boats to the ship to sail alongside us as they throw their wares by up onto the ship, then bartering over the price before catching the money for anything guests decide to buy as it is thrown down from the top deck.

Though our mornings started early and were action packed we were always fully fuelled up with a hearty breakfast and returned to a delicious buffet lunch from our luxurious base, the SS Sphinx. The ship is the newest addition to the Uniworld fleet and as is de rigueur for Uniworld is eclectically decorated with a modern Egyptian feel to the design and styling. Along with the fantastic Egyptologists the crew of the SS Sphinx make the voyage extra special, making sure that our every need was met. In fact there was one gentleman on our tour who had a few mobility problems and the ship sent out a crew member with a wheelchair on every tour to help him get around the sites whenever he needed it.

The all Egyptian crew loved to entertain us as well, bringing the Egyptian galabeya evening to life by wearing traditional dress and leading us in local songs and dancing in the ships lounge and lobby - such fun. On a couple of other evenings we had local musicians and dancers come on board to entertain us before dinner with Egyptian/Nubian music and dance. Every evening there was a cocktail hour in the lounge where one of the Egyptologist would talk us through the planned excursions for the next day which thankfully, if you accidentally nodded off after a long day of excursions and missed this, was also delivered to your suite every evening.

Obviously one of the wonders of the trip was actually sailing on the Nile and although most of the trip downstream was undertaken during night time sailings, the return trip was mostly taken during the day time with special events put on by the crew on the top sun deck of the Sphinx. This included a morning sail away with champagne and a sabering ceremony, a cookery demonstration, bridge tours and open air yoga and Zumba classes. It really was rather magical to either sit in front of the french balcony in our suite or up in the top deck as we sailed along the Nile, taking in the beautiful countryside, an occasional animal and the local people living and farming along the river banks. It is hard to put into words the beauty of a sunset or sunrise on the Nile framed by the shoreside trees, sand mountains in the background and feluccas sailing by.

Leaving the ship in Luxor and flying back to Cairo, Walid assured us we had saved the best to last and after a long day of travel and a farewell dinner in the Four Seasons hotel we still had a full day of excursions before we finished our trip. Another 7am tour start took us out of Cairo before the traffic picked up and straight to the pyramids before the crowds arrived. First up was the Great Pyramid, a truly iconic sight and incredible to see up close and personal. From here we moved to the next pyramid with the option to go into a tomb passing through a rather tiny tunnel into the heart of the pyramid. Most of us choose just to remain on the outside mesmerised by the view of these incredible structures. The whole group then moved onto a panoramic viewpoint where there was the option to take a camel ride in the foothills of the three pyramids. We couldn’t leave Giza without a stop at the Great Sphinx, although by now the crowds had built and because of structural repairs we were disappointed that we weren’t able to get that iconic photo of the sphinx sitting in front of the great pyramid. Although it was only mid morning we had seen so much but we still had visits to the ancient capital city of Memphis and the original of all the pyramids, the Step Pyramid before saying a final farewell to our amazing Egyptologist and fellow travellers, many of whom had now become our firm friends.

Overall this trip could hardly be described as a vacation, with early morning starts and full days exploring ancient sites, we would liken it more to an expedition cruise. It is also impossible to ignore the hardship you encounter on this trip, with the level of poverty in some of the places we visited taking us by surprise. For these reasons we would wholly recommend taking a fully escorted tour, our Egyptologists were crucial to our enjoyment of the trip, keeping us safe and giving us expert advice, not only about the sites we visited but how and who to engage with when we were at the tourist sites. However, overall the trip blew us away with the amount of ancient history and wonders of the world we had managed to squeeze into such a short time, sailing through Egyptian countryside with the Sahara desert as a backdrop, all while enjoying the luxurious surroundings and attentive service on the glorious SS Sphinx.

Read more about our Nile cruise with Uniworld Cruises on our website, www.visitwithus.co.uk , or check out our video series on YouTube !

Want to experience this? Give the Panache Cruises team a call on 0161 513 8200   and they'd be happy to help!

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Enjoy the Nile in an Ancient way, with the Comfort of Today

Welcome on board a journey within a journey.

Esmeralda Nile Cruise presents you with a luxurious experience. Sailing through 7000 years of civilization, the cruise takes you along the magical Pharaonic scenery from Luxor to Aswan, savoring the taste and feel of ancient Egypt.

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The cabins deliver a cozy atmosphere in a modern theme. Furnished with two comfortable beds and a study desk, the cabin carries all means of relaxation to rest and recall the events of an exciting day. The cabin also provides facilities for entertainment and refreshment while still being comfortable and secure.

The Presidential Suites provide you with the chance to reap all the benefits of going on a cruise, from the wonderful view of the Nile from all angles in the suite to the modern interior, the suites give the perfect feel of an elegant, relaxing cruise. Furnished with a king sized bed, decorative glass walls and warm colors, the suite offers comfort and elegance.

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What to Expect from a Nile River Cruise

By Frommer's Staff

A Nile cruise is one of those journeys you feel it imperative to take, at least once in a lifetime. Easy to say, but how to choose among the some 240 riverboats said to ply these waters, nearly all of them in just the 124-mile stretch between Luxor and Aswan ? Trips generally run for three, five, or eight days, with long periods spent tied up at night or at the ports of Luxor and Aswan, as well as at one or more of the most important temples lying between those cities.

Types of Riverboats

The boats are graded by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism using a new system conforming to international standards, from 5 stars down to none, and you get what you pay for. (The old system was based on facilities available, the new one adds quality of service to that.) Some ships are affiliated with hotel chains (Movenpick and Oberoi, for instance), others with tour companies, such as Wings Tours, Abercrombie & Kent or Thomas Cook. Usually, you fly from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan and board your boat directly from the airport. After the cruise, you fly back to Cairo from the other city. There is the train, with an overnight sleeper, if you feel in an Agatha Christie mood -- but the glamour is long gone, say friends who have taken it. Since it's overnight, you see little of the intervening distance, anyhow.

Stops for Sightseeing

The itineraries of the vast majority of ships are the same, including these stops, whether southbound or northbound: Luxor, Edfu , Kom-Ombo , Dendera , and Aswan. Then there's a side trip to Abu-Simbel, south of Aswan and beyond the High Dam there, so not on the same boat or, perhaps, on any boat, but by plane or bus. I have dealt with Aswan and Luxor in separate articles, but will touch on Edfu and Kom-Ombo here, as they are almost as important as the major destinations in any case.

The Temple of Edfu is dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, and is said to be the best preserved of all Pharaonic ruins. Its foundation laid in 237 BCE, the buildings taking 200 years to complete. Note the two giant Horus falcons (about 12 feet tall) at the entrance of the main temple. Inside are several depictions of festivals, including a mock battle and the wedding visit of the god Hathor from down river. Be sure to check out the Sun Boat, too.

At the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek (the crocodile god) and Haroeris (the winged god of medicine), note the wall reliefs showing ancient surgical and dental tools. Look for one of the "Hearing Ear" shrines here, with depictions of human ears through which prayers could be heard. This temple is about 215 miles north of Aswan, and has twin sanctuaries, one for each god. Note the frequent repetition of the Egyptian ankh , the symbol of life, representing the heart, often held in the hands of supplicants as well as pharaohs. Many of the reliefs here were carved during the reign of Ptolemy XII (between 80 and 50 BCE). There is an awful exhibit of mummified crocodiles in a chapel built under the Roman Emperor Domitian that you can easily avoid.

A Five-Star Cruise

The M/S Tamr Henna ("Henna Flower"), one of four ships owned by Wings Nile Cruises, has been newly refurbished, and in fact was rededicated at the start of my trip. It was launched in 1999 and renovated once before, in 2005. I enjoyed my status as an "inaugural" passenger with a standard large cabin, boasting twin beds, huge picture window and easy chair, plus television (yes, they have CNN), private bath, a phone, and fridge. The rate for this type of cabin was $440 per night, all meals included, during high season (October to April), less other times of the year. I visited several elegant suites, including 302 (Royal), 309 (Executive or Honeymoon) and 312 (Jacuzzi), the latter having its bed facing the window so that you can watch the scenery directly before you as you glide by. There's a health club in which you can lie in the whirlpool bath, getting a kind of massage from the throbbing engines as you look aft. There is a large pool on the sun deck. The boat offers programs for 3, 4 and 7 nights. The ship sails every Saturday from Luxor on 4-night cruises to Aswan, every Wednesday from Aswan on 3-night cruises back to Luxor, and of course, 7-night cruises from Luxor to Luxor every Saturday.

During my five-day, four-night cruise, I had every meal on board, and was delighted to discover that the dining room featured a special pasta chef at whose station you could order various types of dishes custom prepared with your own choice of seasonings or sauces. At every meal there was a buffet, and at dinner a choice of entrees. Unlike the old-fashioned routine on many ships, you can sit where you like and therefore did not have the same server at each meal. Since tips were included in the fare, this didn't work hardship on the staff, who, I was told, divided the tips proportionately. On two occasions, lunch was served on the upper sun deck instead of in the main dining room. On a brief inspection of the kitchen, I concluded that I would give it three stars, and was happy to see the boat had its own bakery.

I was allowed to visit the bridge briefly and noted that there were no charts, maps or other evidences of guidance, nor did I see such modern instruments as Loran or radar, though there was radio, which was used often. On inquiring, I was informed that the river captains are a very specialized breed, that they keep in touch with each other regarding matters such as sand bars, shifts in currents and the like, and that each knew the relevant parts of the Nile "as intimately as the backs of their own hands." And if most of the boats confine themselves to the stretch between Luxor and Aswan, the captains have undoubtedly pretty well memorized the route, I guess.

The only area in which I found the ship lacking was that it was impossible to exchange money aboard, or even to break down large Egyptian notes into smaller units, all such requests at the front desk being referred to "the shop downstairs," where they denied all knowledge of exchange activity or said "come back tomorrow". So bring your own Egyptian currency, including small denominations for tips ashore, or look for ATMs (as we all did) on your excursions from the boat.

You should try to get the best guide available, as you will rely on him (almost always a man) to get you to your targets daily, to explain them adequately (or better), and to answer your questions throughout the trip. I felt fortunate to have as my guide a marvelous interpreter of all things Egyptian, Walid Ekram Helmy, a freelance tour guide hired by Wings for the group I was with. Possessing fluent American-nuanced English, though he has never been to the United States, he said, Walid also had a good sense of humor and a strong sense of leadership and the ability to keep discipline within the group of some 30 fidgety people I was with. His shipboard lecture concerned Alexandria , which we were not visiting, but is nonetheless a fascinating place for anyone interested in ancient history. Walid has degrees in sociology and anthropology from Ain-Shams University and in Egyptology and Guidance from Helwan University, both in Cairo, of which he is a native. Helwan is the leading university for tourism studies in Egypt. You can contact him directly at tel. 011/20 2419-0382 or at [email protected] .

An excellent travel organizer in Egypt is Wings Tours, one of the most efficient such organizations there, with experienced guides and meticulous service. Their American office is in Maryland. Contact them at tel. 410/771-0925 ; www.wingsegypt.com .

You can get more information on Egypt from the official site of the Egyptian Tourist Authority at www.egypt.travel .

Talk with fellow Frommer's cruisers on our Egypt Forums.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Flotilla Radisson Royal - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Home / Nile Cruises / Luxor Aswan Nile Cruises / Classic Nile Cruises / Nile Crown Nile Cruise

• Monday from Aswan & Thursday from Luxor
• 5 star Nile Cruise
• 3, 4 or 7 nights Cruise

From 6 to 13:00

Nile Crown Nile Cruise

The Nile Crown Nile Cruise is five-star Nile Cruise ship offers superlative comfortable cruising for a life time experience, sails from Aswan to Luxor or vice versa, a distance of 220 kilometers with an overnight stay in Kom ombo, Edfu and either Aswan or Luxor.

The Nile Crown Nile Cruise offers 69 cabins and 01 presidential suite are all tastefully furnished in a modern style. situated on the upper decks except 6 cabins are on the lower deck., all are equipped with a private shower room, individually controlled air-conditioning, a choice of double or twin beds, color television, mini-bar, internal telephone, in-house music channels, sitting area and large panoramic with sliding glass windows that offer unhindered views of the spectacular and ever-changing Nile scenery.

The Nile Crown Nile Cruise serves three daily mouthwatering buffets with an extensive mix of different cuisines in the restaurant. The salon bar with large panoramic windows offers a relaxing lounge with a bar and a dance area. On the Sun deck there is an informal bar, a mix of a shady areas and lounges for sun worshippers in addition to a refreshing swimming pool with Jacuzzi. Additional leisure facilities include: a gift shop, gym, sauna, massage rooms. Both the crew and the management team are attentive to assuring a comfortable and enjoyable cruise on the River

Meet and assist service upon arrival & departure

All transfers by a modern air-conditioned deluxe vehicle

Accommodation on board 5 star cruise on full board basis

All Nile Cruise excursions as mentioned in the itinerary

Entrance fees to all sights between Luxor and Aswan

Egyptologist tour guide during your excursions

Assistance of our personnel during your tours & stay

All service charges and taxes

Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary

Personal expenses

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Nile Cruise Tours

– Pick up from Aswan (Airport, Hotel, Train station)

– Visit the High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple.

– Transfer to embark Nile Cruise before lunch

– Lunch on board the Cruise

– Dinner on board

– Overnight in Aswan

Optional : Nubian Village trip by motor boat

Day 2: (Optional: Abu Simbel), Kom-ombo temple

– Breakfast on board

– Free morning in Aswan 

– Lunch on Board the Cruise

– Sailing to Kom-ombo Temple

– Tea & Coffee will be served on the Cruise sundeck

– Visit the double temple of Haroeris and Sobek at Kom-ombo

– Sail to Edfu

– Dinner on Board

Overnight in Edfu

Optional : Abu Simbel temples trip by ac Vehicle

Day 3: Edfu Temple, Luxor East Bank excursions

– Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu

– Breakfast on Board

– Sailing to Luxor via Esna

– Lunch on Board

– Tea & Coffee will be served on the Cruise sundeck 

– Visit Luxor East Bank Sights (the Karnak and Luxor Temples).

– Overnight in Luxor

Optional : Sound & Light show at Karnak temple

Day 4: Luxor west Bank tour, Final departure

Optional: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon trip in Luxor

– Disembarkation after breakfast

– Visit Luxor West Bank (The Valley of the Kings “3 tombs”)

– Hatshepsut Temple 

– The Colossi of Memnon

Departure transfer to your Luxor (Airport Hotel or Train station)

***Itinerary may change in sequence but not in visits without prior notice***

– Pick up from Luxor (Airport, Hotel, Train station)

– Visit Luxor East Bank (Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple).

– Dinner on board.

Overnight abroad Your Nile Cruise in Luxor.

Day 2: Luxor West Bank, Sailing to Edfu

Optional : Sunrise Hot Air Balloon trip in Luxor

– Visit Luxor West Bank (The Valley of the Kings “3 tombs”, Hatshepsut Temple, The Colossi of Memnon).

– Return to the Nile Cruise

– Lunch on board.

– Sail to Edfu via Esna lock

Overnight abroad Your Nile Cruise in Edfu.

Day 3: Edfu and Kom-ombo Temples

– Breakfast on board.

– Return Way Horse and Carriage ride to Edfu Temple

– Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

– Sailing to Kom ombo

– Lunch on board while sailing to Kom-ombo

– Sailing to Aswan.

– Oriental Dinner on board.

– Oriental Show “Galabia Party”.

Overnight abroad your Nile Cruise in Aswan.

Day 4: Aswan Nile Cruise Excursions

– Visit the unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam & Temple of Philae.

– Felucca ride on the Nile in Aswan.

– Nubian Folkloric show on board 

Overnight abroad Your Nile Cruise in Aswan.

Day 5: Disembarkation, Departure transfer

– Disembarkation after breakfast.

Departure transfer to your Aswan (Airport Hotel or Train station)

US$471 Per Person in Triple Cabin

US$525 Per Person in Double Cabin

US$799 Per person in Single Cabin

US$595 Per Person in Triple Cabin

US$625 Per Person in Double Cabin

US$975 Per person in Single Cabin

US$645 Per Person in Double Cabin

US$915 Per person in Single Cabin

US$745 Per Person in Triple Cabin

US$775 Per Person in Double Cabin

US$1195 Per person in Single Cabin

Prices are quoted in US Dollars per person per trip except during Christmas, New Year & Easter holidays.

0 - 05.99 Free of Charge

6 - 11.99 pay 50% of tour price

12+ pay full tour price as per adult person

Children policy is applied to children who share rooms with their parents (Maximum 1 Child sharing parent's room).

69 Double and Twin Cabins, 1 Presidential Suites

Large Panoramic windows that can be opened

Individual Control Air Conditioning

Private bathtub/shower with hair dryer

Sound proof

Safe box and Mini Bar

Color TV & satellite channels

Internal Telephone

Internal Music Channels

Restaurant with 140 Seats

Lounge & Discotheque

Boutique & Gift Shop

Beauty Shop

Laundry Service

Swimming Pool with a built in Jacuzzi

International Cuisine

Spa with gymnasium & sauna

Fire alarm protection

Water purification station

Laundry service & housekeeping

Medical Service on calls on board

All major credit cards accepted

From : US$ 471

Send enquery, just want to enjoy egypt tours for real artifacts .

Contacts Us Today And Be A Part Of It ! We Provide Each Services To Our Clients. Also Customize Your Egypt Visit Today !

Related Luxor Aswan Nile Cruises

there is no better way to see the majestic monuments, relics of Ancient Egypt than a Nile cruise trip. Explore the ancient and modern life along the banks of the Nile River while sailing through the heart of Egypt. Explore ancient Egyptian civilization with access to 5,000 years of ancient history. All tours and excursions are escorted by the world renowned Egyptologist tour Guide. Combine with Cairo pyramids or the Red Sea sandy coast

Nile Shams Nile Cruise

Blue Shadow III Nile Cruise

• Wednesday from Aswan & Saturday from Luxor

Royal Esadora Nile Cruise

• Friday from Aswan & Monday from Luxor

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