Memphis Tours is one of the oldest names in Egyptian travel and, for Nile cruises, one of the more transparent: it names the ships it sells and publishes price tables with clear inclusions. Our verdict: a sound choice when you want a specific ship inside a full package; not the cheapest way onto the river.
Our scores
- Transparency
- 4/5Names the ship; itemised inclusions and exclusions
- Range
- 4/55-star ships, an all-suite ship, small dahabiyas, multi-country tours
- Value
- 3/5Fair for named ships; dearer than unnamed platform cruises
- Booking terms
- 3/5Deposit 20–30 %; read the cancellation scale before paying
- Track record
- 4/5Trading since 1955; ISO 9001:2015
Pros
- Names the ship on its Nile cruise pages
- Published price tables by season, with inclusions listed
- Small dahabiyas and an all-suite ship alongside standard 5-star ships
- Decades of experience, including shore excursions for cruise lines
Cons
- More expensive than unnamed 3- and 4-night platform cruises
- Deposit of 20–30 % up front; no free 24-hour cancellation as on platforms
- Review scores on its site are self-reported
- Licence number not published on its site
Who Memphis Tours is
Memphis Tours was founded in 1955 as a family business in Port Said and is now based in Giza, in the Oula district. From 1955 to 1996 it ran shore excursions for P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and visiting British, French and US navies. Today it sells tours to more than 25 countries, from Jordan and Morocco to Japan and Peru, and says it carries more than 10,000 travellers a year. It holds ISO 9001:2015 certification.
It describes itself in two ways: as "a tour operator, not a booking marketplace", and as a travel portal that works with a trusted local operator in each country. In Egypt it is the operator; elsewhere it partners with local firms.
Memphis Tours Nile cruise: which ships it sells
The useful thing about Memphis Tours for Nile planning is that it tells you the ship. Its Egypt cruise pages name:
- Mövenpick MS Royal Lotus, one of the eight Mövenpick vessels on the Nile. Like its sister Royal Lily, it does not sail from June to August. Read our Mövenpick review.
- MS Salacia, an all-suite conversion with 31 units for at most 59 guests on a hull that would normally carry 140–160. Memphis Tours sells it on Saturdays from Luxor and Wednesdays from Aswan; other sellers show different days, so confirm. See our Salacia review.
- Nebyt, a dahabiya (a traditional Nile sailing boat) with 6 cabins and a terrace suite, at most 12 guests, which sails only when at least two or three cabins are booked. Not to be confused with the motor ship Nebu.
- Nuun & Nuut, a pair of dahabiyas with 6 cabins and 2 terrace suites each, at most 12 guests.
Small-group dahabiya trips of 4–5 days start from $1,039 per person on its listing. For background on how these boats sail, see the dahabiya guide.
Salacia with Memphis Tours: what the price includes
| Season | 3 nights from Aswan | 4 nights from Luxor |
|---|---|---|
| May–September | $835 | $1,095 |
| October–April | $1,205 | $1,595 |
Prices are per person in a double cabin, valid to 30 April 2027, excluding Christmas, New Year and Easter.
Included: transfers, full board, entry fees for the standard sites, a shared Egyptologist guide (groups of 15–20), the Edfu horse carriage, the Philae motorboat and Wi-Fi. Not included: visa, Abu Simbel, the balloon (US$129), sound and light shows, the Tutankhamun tomb ticket, drinks and tips. Memphis Tours suggests US$8–12 a day for the crew and US$10–15 a day for the guide. A 25 % deposit secures the cabin and the balance is due two days before arrival.
Nebyt and Nuun & Nuut prices
| Boat | 3–4 nights | 7 nights |
|---|---|---|
| Nebyt | $2,674 (3 nights, May–August) to $3,650 (4 nights, September–April) | $6,135–11,450 |
| Nuun & Nuut | $1,157–1,807 | $2,639–4,445 |
Per person in a double. Nuun & Nuut asks a 50 % deposit. Both sail 4 nights from Luxor on Monday and 3 nights from Aswan on Friday.
Memphis Tours vs a platform cruise
A 3-night Aswan–Luxor cruise on GetYourGuide starts from $450, and the version with Abu Simbel and a balloon flight from $580, but the ship is "5-star or similar" and entry fees are often unclear. Salacia through Memphis Tours costs $835 or more for the same 3 nights, with entry fees, the Edfu carriage and the Philae boat included and a ship you can look up.
So the premium buys certainty about the boat and a written list of inclusions. If you don't mind which ship, the platforms are cheaper and offer free cancellation up to 24 hours on most bookings. If the ship matters, an agency like Memphis Tours is how you get it.
Memphis Tours does not appear as a named supplier on Tiqets, and GetYourGuide does not show suppliers, so there is no way to knowingly book "a Memphis Tours cruise" on the platforms. The closest platform equivalents of its multi-day packages from Cairo:
GetYourGuide1 nightFrom Hurghada
Hurghada: 2-Day Luxor Tour with Hotel, Balloon, & Boat Ride
4.5 (1,215)
from $270Check dates
GetYourGuide4 nightsFrom Cairo
Egypt: Private 5-Day Tour, Nile Cruise, Flights & Balloon
4.3 (302)
from $1,072Check dates
GetYourGuide7 nightsFrom Cairo
From Cairo: 8-Day Tour of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with Cruise
4.3 (227)
from $2,077Check dates
GetYourGuide1 nightFrom Hurghada
Hurghada: 2-Day Luxor Highlights & Hot Air Balloon & Hotel
4.3 (124)
from $215Check dates
GetYourGuide5 nightsFrom Cairo
Cairo: 6-Day Egypt Tour with Flights and Nile Cruise
3.9 (189)
from $1,600Check dates
GetYourGuide1 nightFrom Cairo
From Cairo: 2-Day Abu Simbel & Luxor Tour
4.0 (162)
from $815Check dates
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
What travellers say
On its own site Memphis Tours cites a Tripadvisor score of 4.9 from more than 14,000 reviews, Google 4.5, Trustpilot 4.6 and Feefo 5, plus a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice award. These are the company's own figures; check them on the review sites before relying on them, and read recent reviews rather than the average.
When you read reviews, separate the agency (responsiveness, guides, transfers) from the ship. A good agency review tells you little about a ship you may not be on, so read our review of the named ship as well.
Is "Andrea" a Memphis Tours Nile cruise?
No. There is no Memphis Tours ship called Andrea. "Andrea Memphis" is a moored ship-restaurant on the Maadi Corniche in Cairo, formerly the "Le Memphis" floating restaurant, which resellers sell as a two-hour dinner cruise. It has nothing to do with Memphis Tours or with Luxor–Aswan cruising. See our Andrea Maadi review.
How to book Memphis Tours
Booking with Memphis Tours
- Choose the ship and dates on memphistours.com and request a quote.
- Ask for the deposit amount, the balance date and the cancellation scale in writing.
- Check what is excluded: Abu Simbel, balloon, Tutankhamun, drinks, tips.
- Confirm the sailing weekday, which can differ from other sellers of the same ship.
- Pay by a method that offers buyer protection.
For other ways to book a Nile cruise, see Nile cruise companies and GetYourGuide vs Headout vs Tiqets. For the price of the same route elsewhere, read Nile cruise prices.
Memphis Tours: questions
Is Memphis Tours a legitimate company?
Yes. It was founded in 1955 in Port Said, is based in Giza, holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and sells tours in more than 25 countries. As with any agency, get the ship, inclusions, deposit and cancellation terms in writing before paying.
Which ships does Memphis Tours use for Nile cruises?
Its Nile pages name Mövenpick's Royal Lotus, the all-suite Salacia, and the dahabiyas Nebyt and Nuun & Nuut. It does not own these boats; it sells cabins on them.
How much is a Memphis Tours Nile cruise?
On Salacia, from $835 per person for 3 nights in May–September and from $1,205 in October–April, with entry fees and guide included. Dahabiya trips start from $1,039 per person for 4–5 days in a small group.
How much deposit does Memphis Tours take?
Typically 20–30 %, depending on the trip; Salacia cruises need 25 % and Nuun & Nuut 50 %.
Does Memphis Tours run the Andrea Nile cruise?
No. Andrea is a ship-restaurant in Maadi, Cairo, sold as a dinner cruise; it is unrelated to Memphis Tours.