Nile cruise ships are hard to compare because the same hull is resold by dozens of agencies, under slightly different names, and the booking platforms rarely name it at all. Our reviews start from what each ship or line publishes: cabins, weekdays, inclusions and prices. Then they say who really runs it and what you can book instead if it isn't on sale.
Each review gives an editorial score of our own, not an average of guest ratings, and we accept no payment from ships or operators.
Nile cruise ships list: the full table
The table covers every ship and line we review. Filter by type, then open the review for the day-by-day, the cabins and the price. For the river itself, see our Luxor–Aswan cruise guide.
Type
Nothing with those filters.
| Ship | Type | Cabins | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Oberoi ZahraThe Oberoi Group | Luxury · Luxury (Oberoi) | 28 cabins and suites: Luxury Cabins 26.4 m² with picture windows, a two-bedroom suite, suites with terrace and private whirlpool | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 3, 4 and 7 nights; the 7-night trips add Dendera and an optional Abu Simbel day |
| Nour El Nil dahabiyasNour El Nil | Dahabiya | About 10 rooms per boat, 20–24 guests; four-berth Deluxe Suites on Najafa, Poppee, Roman and Adelaïde | Esna → Aswan, 5 nights, southbound only (transfer from Luxor to Esna included) |
| Sonesta St. George ISonesta Nile Cruise Collection | Luxury · 5-star | 57: 47 Deluxe, 6 Presidential, 3 Elite and 1 Royal Suite | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan, 7-night round trips |
| Sonesta Moon GoddessSonesta Nile Cruise Collection | Cruise ship · 5-star | 53: 49 cabins with sliding doors to private balconies + 4 Presidential Suites | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan, 7-night round trips |
| Viking's Nile fleetViking | River line / tour operator | 41 staterooms (82 guests) on each new sister ship; 12 Standard Staterooms have no veranda | 8-night Luxor round trip inside the 12-day 'Pharaohs & Pyramids' (Cairo–Cairo); a 19-day Cairo–Aswan river trip from 2028 |
| MS FarahSold by Avalon Waterways | Cruise ship · 5-star | 55: 51 deluxe cabins and 4 Royal Suites (Avalon) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan inside Avalon's 10-day 'Taste of Egypt' (Cairo–Cairo, internal flights included) |
| TUI Al Horeya and TUI BahareyaTUI River Cruises (TUI UK) | River line / tour operator | Al Horeya 72 cabins (141 passengers); Bahareya 68 cabins (136 passengers) | 7-night all-inclusive round trips from Luxor via Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan |
| Steigenberger Nile cruisesJAZ Voyages (Travco group), under the Steigenberger brand | Cruise ship · 5-star deluxe (operator's label) | Legacy 76 · Minerva 77 · Royale 52 · Regency 52 · Omar El Khayam 80, all with balcony | Luxor ⇄ Aswan 3, 4 and 7 nights; Omar El Khayam sails Aswan ⇄ Abu Simbel on Lake Nasser |
| Historia (Historia Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise)Small Luxury Hotels of the World member (owner not published) | Luxury · 5-star | 44 rooms (SLH): Luxury Cabins, Historia, Presidential and Royal Suites | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan, 7-night round trips |
| Mövenpick Nile CruisersMövenpick Hotels & Resorts (Accor) | Cruise ship · 5-star | Royal Lily 60 · Royal Lotus 62 · Hamees 66 · Sun Ray 62 · Darakum 52 · Prince Abbas 65 · SS Misr 24 · SB Feddya 4 suites | Luxor ⇄ Aswan 3 and 4 nights; Darakum also sails Cairo ⇄ Aswan (12–14 nights); Prince Abbas on Lake Nasser |
| Ships called 'Royal …'Four unrelated ships with different owners | Cruise ship | Royal Princess 59 · Royal Beau Rivage 71 · Royal Lotus 62 | All sail Luxor ⇄ Aswan |
| MS Nile Dolphin | Cruise ship · 5-star deluxe (seller's label) | 65: 63 deluxe doubles + 2 suites | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| Semiramis I, II and IIISUNRISE Resorts & Cruises | Cruise ship · 5-star deluxe (operator's label) | Semiramis I and II: 70 each, incl. 2 Royal Suites with balcony · Semiramis III: 66, no balcony suites | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 3, 4 and 7 nights; boarding at the Blue Sky dock by Luxor bridge (El Bughdady) |
| JAZ Nile cruises (Elite Regent, Elite Viceroy, Crown Jubilee and fleet)JAZ Voyages, JAZ Hotel Group (Travco group) | Cruise ship · 5-star deluxe (operator's label) | Elite Regent 56 (23 suites) · Elite Viceroy 37 (21 suites) · Crown Jubilee 80 (no suites) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 3, 4, 5 and 7 nights |
| A&K Sanctuary boats (formerly Sanctuary Retreats)Abercrombie & Kent | Luxury | Sun Boat IV 38 · Nile Adventurer 30 · Nile Seray 32 suites · Sun Boat III 16 · Zein Nile Chateau 6 | 4-night cruises Luxor ⇄ Aswan with twice-daily guided excursions |
| SS SudanSold with Voyageurs du Monde (France); legal owner not published | Luxury | 24: 18 cabins and 6 suites | Luxor → Aswan (or reverse), 5 nights, first north to Qena for Dendera and Abydos; different programme late November–mid February (low water) |
| Sonesta Star GoddessSonesta Nile Cruise Collection | Luxury · 5-star | 33 suites, each with a private terrace (27 Beethoven 40 m², 4 Mozart 35 m², 2 Chopin 52 m²) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan, 7-night round trips |
| Nile PharaohsNile Pharaohs Cruising Restaurant | Cairo dinner boat | — | Boards at 138 Nile Street, Giza (west bank); about 2 hours on the river |
| M.S. MayfairMayfair Cruises | Cruise ship | 74 guest cabins: Deluxe 20 m² with Juliet balcony, a few with veranda, 2 Royal Suites | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 3, 4 and 7 nights |
| Uniworld: S.S. Sphinx and River ToscaUniworld (partner ships, not Uniworld-owned) | River line / tour operator | S.S. Sphinx 42 rooms (84 guests); River Tosca 41 suites (82 guests); French balconies throughout | 7-night Luxor round trip inside the 12-day 'Splendors of Egypt & the Nile' (Cairo–Cairo) |
| Radamis I and Radamis II | Cruise ship | — | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| MS Nile Style | Cruise ship · 5-star (seller's label) | 81: 77 cabins, 2 Ambassador and 2 Presidential Suites (agency) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| MS Livingstone (Amwaj Livingstone)Amwaj International | Cruise ship | 124 passengers; junior suites about 30 m², deluxe cabins about 20 m² | Luxor ⇄ Aswan; 7 nights on board in Saga's 11-day 'Magic of the Nile' |
| Le FayanLe Fayan (Heliopolis, Cairo; company name not published) | Cruise ship | 58: 53 Luxury Rooms 22 m², Junior, Family, 2 Royal and 1 Presidential Suite | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 3, 4 and 7 nights |
| Nile Carnival | Cruise ship · 5-star (seller's label) | — | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| MS Chateau Lafayette | Cruise ship · Sold as 5-star; one agency files it as standard | — | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| Abercrombie & Kent on the NileAbercrombie & Kent | River line / tour operator | Sun Boat IV 38 · Nile Seray 32 suites · Nile Adventurer 30 · Sun Boat III 16 · Zein Nile Chateau 6 | 4-night cruises Luxor ⇄ Aswan; 10-day small-group 'Egypt and the Nile' with four nights on Sun Boat IV or Nile Seray |
| M.S. EsplanadeMayfair Cruises | Cruise ship | 80 guest cabins incl. 8 with veranda and 2 Royal Suites | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| JAZ Crown Empress (formerly Iberotel Crown Empress)JAZ Voyages (Travco group) | Cruise ship · 5-star deluxe (operator's label) | 128: 117 doubles, 3 singles, 8 suites with balcony | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan, 7-night round trips |
| MS Renaissance | Cruise ship | — | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| Orient Grand Rose | Cruise ship · 3.5 stars on Hotels.com; agencies sell it as 5-star | 65 (booking-site listing) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 and 7 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| Avalon Waterways on the Nile (MS Farah)Avalon Waterways | River line / tour operator | MS Farah: 51 deluxe cabins and 4 Royal Suites | 10-day 'Taste of Egypt' Cairo–Cairo with internal flights; 14-day version with Jordan |
| MS Hapi V ('Hapi 5') | Cruise ship | 65 | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 3, 4 and 7 nights |
| Concerto, Concerto II and Concerto Plus | Cruise ship · 5-star (sellers' label) | Concerto 67 · Concerto II 64 · Concerto Plus 59 | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| MS King Tut I | Cruise ship · 4.5 stars on hotel-booking sites | — | Luxor → Aswan, 4 nights (agency package) |
| M/Y Alyssa | Cruise ship | 60–62 outside cabins (sources differ) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| MS Nile Shams | Cruise ship | — | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| MS Medea | Cruise ship · 5-star (seller's label) | 59, incl. 2 junior suites and 1 single | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| AmaWaterways on the NileAmaWaterways | River line / tour operator | AmaDahlia 36 · AmaLilia 41 · AmaNubia 38 (new, November 2026) | 7-night Luxor round trip inside the 11-night 'Secrets of Egypt & the Nile' (3 nights Cairo before, 1 after) |
| Andrea Maadi (formerly Le Memphis) | Cairo dinner boat | — | Corniche el-Nil, Maadi, opposite Al-Salam Hospital |
| MS Blue Shadow (and Classic Blue Shadow II and IV) | Cruise ship · 5-star (sellers' label) | MS Blue Shadow 58 · Classic Blue Shadow II 57 · Classic Blue Shadow IV 62, Juliet balcony in every cabin | Luxor ⇄ Aswan; the Classic ships sail 7-night round trips |
| M/S Acamar | Cruise ship · 5-star (seller's label) | About 54 incl. 4 cabins for guests with special needs (counts vary by seller) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| Nile MaximMaxim complex (ICTP); not a Marriott outlet | Cairo dinner boat | — | Boards on Saray El Gezira Street, Zamalek, in front of the Cairo Marriott; about 2 hours past Qasr el-Nil Bridge and Cairo Tower |
| MS Royal Esadora | Cruise ship · 5-star deluxe (seller's label) | — | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| H/S Nebu | Luxury | 40: 33 suites, 2 executive suites, 4 solo cabins, 1 Owner Suite with balcony (76 guests) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan, 7-night round trips |
| Lazuli dahabiyasLazuli (founded 2001 by Wally Aziz) | Dahabiya | 5–10 cabins per boat, 10–20 guests | Esna or Luxor → Aswan, 4–7 nights |
| MS Salacia | Cruise ship | 31: Master Suite, 18 Royal Suites, 9 Stateroom Suites, 3 single staterooms | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| MS Royal Ruby (searched as 'Nile Ruby')Nile Sun Nile Cruises (per seller) | Cruise ship · 5-star Grand Deluxe (seller's label) | — | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| Nile Crystal | Cairo dinner boat | — | Boards at 7 Nile Corniche, Maadi (east bank, south of downtown); about 2 hours on the river |
| MS Amarco I | Cruise ship | — | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| Tauck: Egypt, Jewels of the NileTauck | River line / tour operator | — | 10 days incl. a 4-night Oberoi cruise, chartered flights to Abu Simbel and nights at The St. Regis Cairo |
| Scenic and Emerald on the NileScenic | River line / tour operator | Sun Boat III: 16 | 17-day 'Egypt in Depth', Cairo–Cairo, up to 34 guests |
| MS Ciela (formerly MS Opera) | Cruise ship · 5-star deluxe (seller's label) | 101: 86 cabins, 11 Presidential and 4 Imperial Suites (up to 199 guests) | 7-night Luxor round trip |
| MS Tulip | Cruise ship | 50: 40 cabins with Juliet balcony, 8 Terrace Suites, 2 single cabins without supplement | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| The Oberoi PhilaeThe Oberoi Group | Luxury · Luxury (Oberoi) | 22 cabins and suites (44 guests): Luxury Cabins 36 m², Luxury Suites 55 m², suites with terrace and heated whirlpool | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights, or 6 nights with Dendera and Abydos |
| MS Tiyi | Cruise ship | 59 (2009 source) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan |
| MS Nile Premium | Cruise ship | 60: 56 cabins, 2 Ambassador Suites with balcony and jacuzzi, 2 Presidential Suites | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
| Soleil | Luxury | About 50–53 rooms incl. suites (sources differ) | Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan |
How to read Nile cruise ship ratings
Most ships sold to foreigners call themselves five-star, and some add "deluxe". The label covers a wide range, and there is no public ministry list of rated Nile ships. One hotel-booking site even lists a ship at 3.5 stars that agencies sell as five-star. Stars tell you little; these classes tell you more:
| Class | What it means | Examples we review |
|---|---|---|
| Budget five-star | Agency-sold, 3–4 nights, the lowest fares on the river | Nile Shams, Semiramis III, Chateau Lafayette |
| Upper five-star | Published rates, suites or newer cabins | Sonesta Moon Goddess, Mayfair, Salacia, Medea |
| Luxury | Fewer guests, suites, inclusive fares or hotel-brand service | Oberoi Zahra and Philae, A&K Sanctuary, Historia, Soleil |
| Dahabiya | Sailing boat, about 6–10 cabins, Esna → Aswan | Nour El Nil, Lazuli |
| River line | Foreign line or tour operator, sold only inside its own package | Viking, Uniworld, AmaWaterways, TUI |
| Lake Nasser | Separate fleet above the High Dam | Steigenberger Omar El Khayam, Mövenpick Prince Abbas |
Three numbers are better guides than stars: the cabin count (22 cabins feels nothing like 128), whether the fare includes entry fees and a guide, and the price the company publishes rather than a reseller's. Our luxury Nile cruise guide and best Nile cruises rank ships on those terms, and Nile cruise prices shows the per-night ladder.
Nile cruise ships with balconies
A "balcony" on the Nile can mean three different things: a real veranda you can sit on, a Juliet balcony (a floor-to-ceiling window that opens behind a rail), or simply a big window. Ask which one your cabin has.
- Real balconies or terraces in every cabin: Sonesta Star Goddess (33 terrace suites) and, on Lake Nasser, Steigenberger Omar El Khayam.
- Mostly balconies: Sonesta Moon Goddess (49 of 53 rooms), and A&K's new Nile Seray, where every suite has at least a Juliet balcony.
- Juliet balconies: Classic Blue Shadow IV (every cabin), Royal Princess (middle and upper decks), Tulip (40 of 50 units), Mayfair's Deluxe cabins.
- No balconies, despite the price: the Oberoi Zahra's cabins have picture windows; on A&K's Sun Boat IV only the two Royal Suites have balconies.
- Read the small print: Concerto Plus sells "French" windows, not balconies, and the lower-deck Classic cabins on Mövenpick's Hamees have portholes only.
Whatever you book, at busy moorings ships often tie up side by side, so your window may face the next ship. A balcony matters most while sailing, not in port.
How Nile cruise ships are sold
Knowing the sales route tells you what you can and can't book.
Direct, like a hotel. Sonesta, Mayfair Cruises, Oberoi, A&K and Historia (through Small Luxury Hotels) sell cabins on their own sites. Watch the inclusions: a direct Sonesta or JAZ fare covers cabin and meals, and sightseeing is charged on top.
Through agencies. Most independent ships are sold by Egyptian and foreign agencies, each with its own price table, often summer and winter rates per person in a double. The same ship can cost twice as much from one seller as another: Soleil ranges from about $1,279 to $2,280 for 3 nights. Our operators hub explains how agencies work.
Inside a foreign line's package. Viking lists 12 Nile ships, all for its own guests. Uniworld uses partner ships it does not own, Avalon sells cabins on MS Farah, Tauck uses the Oberoi ships and Scenic uses A&K's Sun Boat III. TUI runs its own TUI Al Horeya and TUI Bahareya for UK holidaymakers.
On the platforms, without a name. GetYourGuide's multi-day cruises say "5-star ship or similar": the agency assigns the ship near your date. Only two listings name theirs, Radamis II and Princess Sarah. None of the big brands (Sonesta, Oberoi, Steigenberger, Viking, A&K, Nour El Nil) is bookable on a platform. If you book there, ask for the ship's name, deck and entry-fee list straight away, then look it up here. Our platform comparison covers cancellation terms.
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Guide
4.3 (654)
from $450Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Abu Simbel and Balloon Flight
4.5 (555)
from $580Check dates
GetYourGuide2 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 3-Day Cruise to Luxor with Hot Air Balloon
4.3 (657)
from $1,000Check dates
Headout3 nightsFrom Aswan
3-Night 5-Star Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel Excursion, Nubian Village and Hot Air Balloon
No reviews yet
from $1,000Check dates
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
Renamed, merged and confused ship names
Nile ships change names and managers, and agency pages copy old text for years. Before you pay, check the ship is what you think it is.
| Name you may see | What it is now |
|---|---|
| MS Opera | Sold as MS Ciela ("ex MS Opera") — review |
| Iberotel Crown Empress | JAZ Crown Empress, same ship — review |
| JAZ Regent, JAZ Viceroy | JAZ Elite Regent, JAZ Elite Viceroy — JAZ review |
| Sanctuary Retreats | A&K Sanctuary (Abercrombie & Kent) — review |
| Steigenberger Nile ships | Steigenberger brand, operated and sold by JAZ Voyages — review |
| Nile Ruby | No such ship: it is MS Royal Ruby — review |
| "Royal" ships | Four unrelated ships; Royal Viking is not Viking — review |
| Nebu dahabiya | A luxury motor ship, not a dahabiya — review |
| MS Lazuli | A fleet of dahabiyas, not one ship — review |
| M/Y Alyssa | A motor cruise ship marketed as a yacht — review |
| MS Andrea | Andrea Maadi, a Cairo restaurant boat — review |
| Sonesta St George on a TUI holiday | TUI's "Sonesta St George" is the hotel in Luxor, not the ship |
| Radamis | Two different ships, Radamis I and II, both formerly Mövenpick-managed — review |
Two more traps: Concerto is three ships (Concerto, Concerto II, Concerto Plus) on different weekdays, and Sonesta's Star Goddess and Nile Goddess are two different ships with different departure days.
Nile cruise ship collision near Esna
On 21 December 2025 the Royal Beau Rivage struck a ship reported as "Opera" near the Esna lock. One passenger died, and the captain's licence was suspended (Egypt Independent). Whether that ship is the hull now sold as Ciela is not confirmed.
The UK government's travel advice for Egypt notes accidents on Nile cruises caused by overcrowding and poor safety standards. It is one more reason to know your ship's name before you board, and to prefer a ship whose operator publishes its details.
Reviews by type
Luxury ships
Luxury shipSonesta St George ISonesta St George I review: 57 rooms, Luxor Monday or Aswan Friday, and a direct rate that leaves out sightseeing. What it includes and how to book.Read the review →Luxury shipOberoi ZahraThe Oberoi Zahra is a 28-cabin luxury Nile cruise ship with entry fees and guide included in the rate. 3, 4 or 7 nights, Luxor or Aswan, no June sailings.Read the review →Luxury shipOberoi PhilaeThe Oberoi Philae carries 44 guests in 22 cabins of 36 m² or more. 4 nights with Tutankhamun's tomb, or 6 with Dendera and Abydos; fees and guide included.Read the review →Luxury shipHistoriaHistoria is a 44-room boutique Nile cruise ship in Small Luxury Hotels of the World: 3 nights from Aswan or 4 from Luxor, agency prices from $1,339.Read the review →Luxury shipA&K SanctuarySanctuary Nile cruises are now A&K Sanctuary: five small boats, 4-night Luxor–Aswan trips from $3,235 per person in season, entry fees and guide included.Read the review →Luxury shipSS SudanSS Sudan Nile cruise review: the 1921 paddle steamer Agatha Christie sailed on, 24 cabins, 5 nights with Dendera and Abydos, about €6,100 for 8 days.Read the review →
Five-star and standard ships
Cruise shipSonesta Moon GoddessSonesta Moon Goddess review: 53 rooms, 49 with private balconies, pool with a shallow end, Luxor Monday or Aswan Friday. What's included and how to book.Read the review →Cruise shipStar & Nile GoddessSonesta Star Goddess: 33 suites, each with a terrace, leaving Luxor on Saturday and Aswan on Wednesday. The Nile Goddess is a different 53-room ship.Read the review →Cruise shipMS FarahFarah Nile cruise review: MS Farah has 55 cabins and sails in Avalon's 10-day Taste of Egypt, from $4,949 with internal flights. Plus what to book instead.Read the review →Cruise shipSteigenbergerSteigenberger Nile cruise review: five ships run by JAZ, from the 52-cabin Royale and Regency to Omar El Khayam on Lake Nasser; weekdays and what's extra.Read the review →Cruise shipMövenpickMövenpick Nile cruise review: eight vessels from Royal Lily to Lake Nasser's Prince Abbas, who sails in summer, which cabins have portholes, and how to book.Read the review →Cruise shipSemiramisSemiramis Nile cruise review: SUNRISE runs three ships, I, II and III. Semiramis III is from $406 for 3 nights with entry fees; II and I have bigger cabins.Read the review →Cruise shipJAZ Nile cruisesJAZ Nile cruise review: the Elite Viceroy has 21 suites in 37 units, the Elite Regent 23, the Crown Jubilee none. Weekdays, Dendera and the extras.Read the review →Cruise shipNile DolphinMS Nile Dolphin cruise review: 65 units, Luxor on Monday, Aswan on Friday, agency fares from $650 for 3 nights with entry fees. How it compares and what to book.Read the review →Cruise shipRadamis I & IIRadamis Nile cruise review: Radamis I and II are two ex-Mövenpick ships, Monday from Luxor, Friday from Aswan; the one listing naming Radamis II costs $1,860.Read the review →Cruise shipMS MayfairMS Mayfair Nile cruise review: 74 cabins, rates from $230 per person per night with entry fees and sightseeing included, no June–August sailings, no lift.Read the review →Cruise shipMS Nile StyleMS Nile Style is an 81-cabin ship sold as 5-star, on the Monday/Friday Luxor–Aswan rhythm. Agency fares from $599 with entry fees; what to check.Read the review →Cruise shipAmwaj LivingstoneMS Livingstone is Amwaj International's 124-passenger Nile ship, launched in 2014 and sold by Saga as a partner ship: 7 nights on board from £4,495 solo.Read the review →Cruise shipLe FayanLe Fayan is a 58-cabin Luxor–Aswan ship with a rooftop pool and 22 m² rooms. Two weekday schedules are published, and outside drinks are banned.Read the review →Cruise shipNile CarnivalThe Carnival Nile cruise is Nile Carnival, an Egyptian ship sold as 5-star: 4 nights from Luxor on Thursday, 3 from Aswan on Monday. Not Carnival Cruise Line.Read the review →Cruise shipChateau LafayetteChateau Lafayette Nile cruise: 3 nights from Aswan on Friday from $479 per person (triple, summer), $719 in winter, with entry fees. Not related to Le Fayan.Read the review →Cruise shipMS EsplanadeMS Esplanade Nile cruise review: 80 cabins, Saturday from Luxor, Wednesday from Aswan, rates from $230 a night with entry fees, no summer sailings.Read the review →Cruise shipCrown EmpressCrown Empress Nile cruise review: the former Iberotel ship now sails as JAZ Crown Empress, 128 cabins, Monday from Luxor, Friday from Aswan.Read the review →Cruise shipRoyal shipsRoyal Beau Rivage, Royal Viking, Royal Princess and Royal Lotus are four unrelated Nile cruise ships. Sailing days, cabins, prices from $436 and what to book.Read the review →Cruise shipMS RenaissanceMS Renaissance Nile cruise: 3 nights from Aswan on Monday, 4 from Luxor on Thursday, pool on the sun deck. What is confirmed, what to ask, and similar ships.Read the review →Cruise shipGrand RoseGrand Rose Nile cruise review: the Orient Grand Rose sails Luxor on Saturday and Aswan on Wednesday, has 65 units and a pool, and agencies sell it from $735.Read the review →Cruise shipRoyal Ruby (Nile Ruby)There is no MS Nile Ruby: the ship sold under that name is MS Royal Ruby, Luxor Monday or Aswan Friday, from $555 per person for 3 nights. Full review.Read the review →Cruise shipConcerto shipsConcerto II Nile cruise: 64 cabins, Luxor Saturday or Aswan Wednesday, agency fares $679–1,200 for 3 nights. Plus how Concerto and Concerto Plus differ.Read the review →Cruise shipHapi VHapi 5 Nile cruise review: MS Hapi V has 65 cabins, sails 3, 4 or 7 nights Luxor ⇄ Aswan and costs from about $150 per person per night. What to check first.Read the review →Cruise shipKing TutKing Tut Nile cruise review: MS King Tut I sails 4 nights Luxor to Aswan from €535.90 via agencies. No King Tut II on sale; what to check and book instead.Read the review →Cruise shipAlyssaAlyssa Nile cruise review: M/Y Alyssa is a 60–62-cabin motor ship with a spa, not a dahabiya. Thursday from Luxor, Monday from Aswan, from about $750.Read the review →Cruise shipNile ShamsMS Nile Shams cruise review: one of the cheapest Nile ships, from $406 for 3 nights with entry fees. Luxor on Monday, Aswan on Friday; pool and what to check.Read the review →Cruise shipBlue ShadowBlue Shadow Nile cruise review: MS Blue Shadow (58 cabins, Saturdays from Luxor, from $993) and Classic Blue Shadow II and IV in UK packages from £1,895.Read the review →Cruise shipMedeaMS Medea Nile cruise review: 59 cabins, pool on a full-length sun deck, Thursday from Luxor and Monday from Aswan; agency fares from $1,051 pp for 3 nights.Read the review →Cruise shipAcamarAcamar Nile cruise review: about 54 cabins incl. 4 for guests with special needs, Monday from Luxor, Friday from Aswan; agency fares from $925 pp, 3 nights.Read the review →Cruise shipRoyal EsadoraEsadora Nile cruise review: MS Royal Esadora sails from Luxor on Monday and Aswan on Friday, with agency fares from $650 for 3 nights. Cabins, lift, Wi-Fi.Read the review →Cruise shipNebuThe Nebu Nile cruise is a 40-suite luxury motor ship with a pool, not a dahabiya. Luxor Saturday or Aswan Wednesday, from $1,408 per person for 3 nights.Read the review →Cruise shipSalaciaMS Salacia Nile cruise review: an all-suite ship for 59 guests, Saturday from Luxor, from $835 for 3 nights with entry fees, guide and transfers included.Read the review →Cruise shipMS Opera (Ciela)MS Opera Nile cruise: a UK seller now lists the ship as MS Ciela, with 101 cabins and suites for up to 199 guests on 7-night Luxor round trips from Monday.Read the review →Cruise shipMS AmarcoMS Amarco I is sold as a wheelchair-friendly Nile cruise: 4 nights from Luxor on Monday, 3 from Aswan on Friday, October to April. What to ask, and Amarco II.Read the review →Cruise shipMS TulipMS Tulip Nile cruise review: 50 rooms, 40 with Juliet balconies, 2 singles with no supplement, Luxor Monday or Aswan Friday, agency fares from $925.Read the review →Cruise shipMS TiyiMS Tiyi Nile cruise: a 59-cabin ship whose own website no longer works, and a 3-star 'Queen Tiyi' on a booking site. What to check, and what to book instead.Read the review →Cruise shipNile PremiumMS Nile Premium Nile cruise review: 60 cabins and suites, Monday from Luxor, Friday from Aswan, agency fares from $780 for 3 nights. Itinerary and how to book.Read the review →Cruise shipSoleilSoleil Nile cruise review: a new luxury ship with about 50 rooms, a spa with indoor pool, Monday from Luxor. Prices from $1,279 to $3,035, by seller.Read the review →
Dahabiyas
Sailing boats with about 6–10 cabins; see also our dahabiya guide.
DahabiyaNour El NilNour El Nil runs nine sailing dahabiyas on one 5-night route, Esna to Aswan, priced per room in euros (€6,600 for an Agatha Luxury Room). What's included.Read the review →DahabiyaLazuliA Lazuli Nile cruise is not one ship but a fleet of 8–10 sailing dahabiyas, Esna or Luxor to Aswan in 4–7 nights, from about €2,500 per person. How to book.Read the review →
International river lines and tour operators
River lineVikingViking's Nile river cruise is an 8-night Luxor round trip inside a 12-day Cairo package from $6,999. The 12 ships, what's included and the alternatives.Read the review →River lineTUITUI Nile cruise review: two TUI ships, 7-night Luxor round trips in winter with UK flights (past seasons from £1,499). Only Edfu and Kom Ombo are included.Read the review →River lineUniworldUniworld's Nile cruise is one 12-day Cairo–Cairo trip with 7 nights on S.S. Sphinx or River Tosca, from $6,099 with all tips included. What you get.Read the review →River lineAbercrombie & KentAn Abercrombie and Kent Nile cruise is four nights on A&K's own boats: from $3,235 cruise-only, or US$16,995 for the 10-day trip with flights and Abu Simbel.Read the review →River lineAvalon WaterwaysAvalon Nile cruise review: no Avalon-owned ship, but a 10-day Taste of Egypt on MS Farah from $4,949 with flights inside Egypt, compared with other lines.Read the review →River lineAmaWaterwaysAmaWaterways' Nile cruise is an 11-night Cairo and Luxor trip with 7 nights on AmaDahlia, AmaLilia or the new AmaNubia, from €2,740 cruise-only. Review.Read the review →River lineTauckA Tauck Nile cruise is the 10-day Jewels of the Nile tour from £8,990: four nights on the Oberoi Philae or Zahra, flights to Abu Simbel, St. Regis Cairo.Read the review →River lineScenic & EmeraldA Scenic Nile cruise is the 17-day Egypt in Depth tour on A&K's 16-cabin Sun Boat III, from A$17,995. Emerald sells no Nile cruise: what to book instead.Read the review →
Cairo dinner boats
Cairo dinner boatNile MaximNile Maxim sails from Zamalek at 20:00 for two hours with a set dinner, tanoura and belly dance. From $70 on Headout, $75 on Tiqets and $123 on GetYourGuide.Read the review →Cairo dinner boatNile CrystalNile Crystal boards in Maadi for a 2-hour buffet dinner cruise with tanoura and belly dance, including a 6 pm sunset sitting. From $27 on Tiqets, $31 on Headout.Read the review →Cairo dinner boatNile PharaohsNile Pharaohs sails from the Giza bank at 20:00 and 22:30 with an Egyptian buffet and belly dance. From $30 on Tiqets, or 15% off booking direct for two or more.Read the review →Cairo dinner boatNile City boatNo Nile City dinner boat is sold on any platform or by any operator site. What the name refers to, and named Cairo dinner cruises to book instead, from $31.Read the review →Cairo dinner boatMarriott & Hilton cruisesNeither Marriott nor Hilton runs a Cairo dinner boat. The boat in front of the Cairo Marriott is the Nile Maxim, from $70 on Headout. What to book and what to know.Read the review →Cairo dinner boatAndrea (Maadi)Andrea Maadi is a ship-restaurant in Cairo, sold as a 2-hour 'Memphis' dinner cruise from $20 on Tiqets. It's not a Luxor–Aswan ship, and not Memphis Tours.Read the review →
Agencies
AgencyMemphis ToursMemphis Tours, founded in 1955, sells Nile cruises on named ships such as Salacia (3 nights from $835) and dahabiyas. Deposits, inclusions, reviews.Read the review →AgencyWings ToursWings Tours & Nile Cruises has no working website; its ship names come only via a US tour operator. What we know, and comparable 3-night cruises from $450.Read the review →
Your ship is not on our list?
Many smaller ships are sold only by agencies and publish very little. If your voucher names a ship we don't review, run these checks before you pay the balance.
Checking a ship we haven't reviewed
- Get the exact ship name in writing, with the cabin deck and the embarkation day and time.
- Search the name on the operator's or agency's site and on hotel-booking sites; compare the star ratings they show.
- Check whether the name is an old one (see the renames table above) or shared by more than one ship.
- Ask which entry fees, transfers and drinks the fare includes; if fees are excluded, budget EGP 4,060 per adult for the eight core sites.
- Ask whether the ship sails in your month: several fleets stop from June to August.
Nile cruise ships FAQ
What are the best Nile cruise ships?
It depends on what you value. For inclusive luxury, the Oberoi Zahra and Philae and A&K's boats include entry fees and a guide; for published, transparent rates, Mayfair Cruises; for a sailing boat, the Nour El Nil dahabiyas; for heritage, the 1921 paddle steamer SS Sudan. Our best-cruise page ranks them by cabins, balconies, inclusions and price.
Which Nile cruise ships have balconies?
Sonesta Star Goddess has terrace suites throughout and the Moon Goddess has balconies in 49 of 53 rooms; A&K's Nile Seray gives every suite at least a Juliet balcony. Several ships have Juliet balconies only. The Oberoi Zahra's cabins have picture windows, not balconies.
How are Nile cruise ships rated?
Mostly by the companies themselves. Nearly every ship sold to foreigners says five-star, and there is no public ministry list of rated Nile ships. Compare cabin count, inclusions and the operator's published price instead.
Can I find out which ship my GetYourGuide Nile cruise uses?
Usually not before booking: the listings say "5-star ship or similar" and the operator assigns a ship close to your date. Ask for the ship's name, deck and entry-fee list right after booking, then check our review of that ship.
Is SS Sudan a Nile cruise ship?
Yes. It is a paddle steamer launched in 1921, once part of Thomas Cook's fleet, with 24 cabins and suites. It sails 5 nights from Luxor to Aswan via Dendera and Abydos and is sold by tour operators such as Voyageurs du Monde and Original Travel, not on the platforms.
How many cruise ships are on the Nile?
Well over a hundred. In October 2020 Egypt Independent counted 130 floating hotels in Luxor and Aswan; not all of them sail every season.