Life in ancient Egypt centered around the Nile River. As a result, the Nile River Valley is full of temples, tombs and other antiquities. A convenient way for visitors to see these sites is to take a Nile River cruise. Ships sail regularly between Aswan and Luxor, a distance of about 200 km. Along the way, they stop at the major ports, allowing passengers to disembark and tour the attractions. Keep reading to find out what to expect on a Nile River cruise.
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The Nile River
The Nile River stretches 6650 km, making it the longest river in Africa. It flows through Egypt from South to North, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. In ancient times, the river flooded its banks on an annual basis, depositing a fertile layer of silt that made agriculture possible. The immediate vicinity of the Nile is therefore lush and green. Venture more than a few hundred meters from the Nile’s banks, and you’ll soon be in desert.
What is a Nile River cruise ship like?
Like other types of river cruise ships, the cruise ships on the Nile River are smaller than the ones that ply the waters of the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas. A typical Nile River cruise ship has a capacity of around 125 passengers. Cabins are likely to be more spacious than the ones on a large-capacity cruise ship, but will contain many of the same amenities, such as hair dryers and mini bars. For being such small ships though, they are surprisingly full-featured. You can expect to find gift shops, a gym, a spacious multi-storey lobby, a full-service dining room, and a lounge with a dance floor.
A typical 4-day Nile River cruise itinerary
Most Nile cruise ships sail between Aswan and Luxor in Southern Egypt. Ships sail in both directions, with regular departures on set days of the week. 3-night itineraries tend to sail with the current, from Aswan to Luxor. 4-night itineraries return from Luxor to Aswan before beginning the cycle all over again.
Which cruise itinerary you pick will likely depend on your overall trip itinerary and the logistics of your travel. Both the 3-night and 4-night trips stop at the same sites. The 4-night trips cost more and are done at a more leisurely pace.
Exact itineraries can vary from ship to ship, but most will have the same ports of call. A typical 3 night cruise from Aswan might look like this:
Day 1
Board your ship at noon on Day 1 in Aswan. Settle into your cabin and have lunch on board. Your ship won’t actually set sail until the wee hours of the morning, giving you time to disembark and tour Aswan before departure.
You might choose to see the Aswan High Dam, built in the 1960s to reduce the Nile’s devastating flooding cycle. Or, visit the Unfinished Obelisk, which cracked as it was being excavated and was thus left incomplete. Take a small boat across the river to visit Philae Temple, which is located on an island. It’s dedicated to the goddess Isis, and is home to a colony of cats. Or, if you haven’t already had a chance to see one of the local Nubian villages, visit one to see its cheerful multi-coloured buildings and traditional way of life. At sunset, charter a traditional sailboat called a felucca. It’s a lovely way to wind down your day and see Aswan from a different perspective.
There might be a welcome reception on board your ship, with snacks and drinks being served in the lounge before dinner in the main dining room.
Day 2
Your ship will arrive at Kom Ombo early in the morning – probably around 7 a.m. After an early breakfast, you’ll have the chance to disembark for a couple of hours to visit the local temple. It’s a unique double temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god. There are two courts, two temples, and two halls.
Kom Ombo Temple also features Cleopatra’s cartouche and her image inside its walls. It’s home to an impressive Nilometer, a structure the ancient Egyptians used to measure the river’s water level during its annual flood. When you have finished visiting the temple itself, be sure to stop in at the crocodile museum on the premises. There you will find many mummified crocodiles and crocodile eggs.
Re-board your ship and spend the rest of the morning sailing down the Nile. Spend some time out on the top deck of the ship to admire the scenery. You’ll pass mud-brick buildings, pastoral agricultural scenes, local fishermen out plying the waterways, and small villages clustered around imposing minarets.
Have lunch on board before arriving in Edfu. Edfu Temple is not located on the riverbank. When you disembark, you will find horses and buggies waiting to transport you through the streets to the temple. Remember your carriage number, because you’ll take the same one back to the ship when your visit is complete.
Edfu Temple is one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt, owing to the fact that it was forgotten and buried beneath 12m of sand for 2000 years. It has an imposing pylon and beautiful reliefs. Unlike many ancient structures, the temple also has an intact roof.
Return to the ship and set sail for the Esna Lock. You won’t stop here, but you’ll want to be out on deck to enjoy the spectacle. The lock itself is impressive to see operate, especially if you’ve never been through a lock before. Perhaps even more impressive are the tenacious salesmen who will try to sell you their wares as you move through the lock. It’s an entertaining scene.
You’ll have dinner on board and continue sailing to Luxor, where you will dock in the middle of the night.
Day 3
Wake up in Luxor. Perhaps surprisingly, you won’t disembark today, despite the fact that you’ve reached your destination. You will have two days in Luxor, and will probably split them between the East Bank and the West Bank.
If today is your West Bank day, you will head to the Valley of the Kings (first stopping at the Colossi of Memnon for a quick visit). More than 60 tombs are hidden in the Valley of the Kings, including the famous tomb belonging to King Tutankhamun that was discovered, fully intact, in 1922. Every day there is a selection of tombs open to the public to visit. Your ticket will grant you access to 3 tombs.
You can then visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, cut into the rock on the opposite side of the same mountain range. Along the way, you might wish to stop off to see one of the local alabaster factories. You’ll see craftsmen converting the locally-sourced stone into statues, vases, and more.
Re-board the ship for your final evening. Enjoy a final dinner onboard, and you will likely be treated to some local entertainment, too – perhaps a whirling dervish or a belly dancer, to give you another taste of Arabian culture.
Day 4
Day 4 is departure day. After breakfast, you will disembark for the last time. If yesterday was the day you toured the West Bank of the Nile then today you will probably focus on the East Bank. Luxor and Karnak Temples are both located on the East Bank, and it’s also where the city of Luxor lies. Tour the temples or see other local sites before continuing on with your itinerary.
What does a 4-night/5-day Nile River cruise itinerary look like?
With one extra day and night onboard, and sailing from Luxor to Aswan, the itinerary looks similar, but reversed. However, you will spend two nights on board the ship in Aswan before disembarking on your final morning.
Are Nile River cruises all inclusive?
Nile River cruises are ‘mostly inclusive’. Though you’ll need to check the details of the package you book, they are likely to include your cabin reservation, all meals, and admission and guide services for the attractions along the way. The price will not include drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), tips to the ship staff and tour guides, or personal expenses such as laundry services.
How much does a Nile River cruise cost?
The most significant factor affecting the price of a Nile River cruise is whether it’s a 3-night or 4-night itinerary. The longer itinerary costs more, since it’s an extra day of food and lodging to consider.
Most Nile River cruise boats call themselves 5-star ships, and truthfully, we didn’t see much difference between our ship and the other ships that were in port with us. Our guide did tell us that food quality can vary from ship to ship – and he’s worked on most ships sailing the Nile, so he speaks from experience. But in general, accommodations will be similar and itineraries will be similar. The point of a Nile River cruise isn’t really about the ship – it’s about the sights that you will see along the way.
There are some ultra-luxurious ships on the river, and those will certainly be in a different price category. There are also traditional boats called dahabiyas that sail the same routes, but because they are sailboats rather than cruise ships, itineraries are longer and prices are justifiably higher.
When comparing the prices of Nile River cruises, you’ll need to consider what is included. Does the price you are looking at include entrance tickets to all of the various temples and tombs? Does it include a guide’s services? If so, is it a private guide or part of a larger group tour? Does the package include any extras at the beginning or end of the cruise, such as a side trip to Abu Simbel or a hot air balloon ride over Luxor Valley? Are you traveling over Christmas/New Year’s, when prices peak, or are you traveling during the off-peak season? How many passengers are in your cabin? (You’ll pay more as a single.)
The cheapest way to book a Nile River cruise is to arrive in Egypt and make your arrangements at the last minute. You’ll have to be flexible about which boat you get, and potentially even about which route you sail.
The posted price for the 3-night/4-day cruise we took on the Movenpick Sun Ray (booked in advance) starts at $650 USD per person, inclusive of the main cruise itinerary admission fees and small-group guide services, but exclusive of the Abu Simbel/hot air balloon add-ons.
Are Nile River cruises suitable for children?
Overall, yes. There were children on our ship. Children under 5 sail free, and children ages 5-11 pay half price. The buffet offered in the onboard dining room has lots of kid-friendly options. There is no wild nightlife on board the ship. Due to the jam-packed nature of the itinerary with early morning start times, passengers tend to retire to their rooms quite early, and overall the social scene onboard is quite tame.
Having said that, be aware that there aren’t any shipboard amenities that are geared toward children. You won’t find a kid’s club, splash pad, or playground, as you would find on a major international cruise ship. And the guided tours of the temples and tombs that are included in the price of the cruise may not be of interest to young children. So you will have to decide for yourself whether this is the right choice for your family.
Should I take a Nile River cruise?
There are pros and cons to traveling from Aswan to Luxor on a cruise. Traveling along the Nile River by ship is a romantic notion that follows in the footsteps of thousands of years of tradition. It’s also a very convenient and practical way to travel. Not only will you be able to tour the major temples and attractions with a knowledgeable guide on a cruise ship itinerary, but you will be treated to wonderful scenery and a bit of luxury as you sail.
However, you will be forced to stick to the cruise ship’s schedule. The sites you visit will be crowded by an influx of passengers arriving at the same time, perhaps multiple ships’ worth. And you’ll need to ensure you are back on board in time to sail on to the next destination – no lingering to explore a place just a bit more, or exploring any off-the-beaten-path locations outside of the ship’s itinerary. You won’t have the opportunity to sample the local cuisine when your meals are all provided (though I will say, we had some delicious Egyptian food onboard our ship).
Despite these limitations, we really enjoyed our cruise, are glad that we did it, and would recommend it to others.
In conclusion…
A Nile River cruise is an efficient, scenic, family-friendly way to see the top attractions between Aswan and Luxor. Hopefully, this article has given you an idea of what to expect on a Nile River cruise. Over to you – have you ever been on a Nile River cruise? Would you recommend it to others? Let us know in the comments.
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