The Alyssa Nile cruise is a comfortable mid-range ship with an unusual weekday and a proper spa. Despite the "M/Y" (motor yacht) prefix and the boutique image, it is a conventional Luxor–Aswan cruise ship with around 60 cabins, not a sailing dahabiya. It suits travellers whose dates fit a Thursday or Monday start and who value interiors and a spa over the lowest price.
- Type
- Motor cruise ship marketed as a yacht, not a dahabiya
- Built / refurbished
- Designed 2005 by Pia Schmid; relaunched after a 14-month refurbishment (reported January 2020)
- Cabins
- 60–62 outside cabins (sources differ)
- Pool
- Yes, plus a spa at the front of the fourth deck
- Route
- Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan
- Embarks
- Luxor on Thursday, Aswan on Monday
- How it is sold
- German and Swiss operators (Dertour, Penny, REWE, Mittelthurgau) and Egyptian agencies
- Status
- On sale
Source: luxorandaswan.com ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Cabins
- 4/5Outside cabins with large panoramic windows and bathtubs
- Facilities
- 4/5Fourth-deck spa with sauna, jacuzzi and gym, plus a pool
- Itinerary
- 3.5/5Standard Luxor–Aswan sites on a Thursday/Monday rhythm
- Value
- 3/5Agency tier price above the cheapest ships and platform cruises
- Transparency
- 2.5/5No official site, owner not named, 60 or 62 cabins depending on the seller
- Booking ease
- 3/5Easy through German and Swiss operators; elsewhere via agencies
Pros
- Interiors designed for the ship, refreshed in a 14-month refurbishment
- Panoramic spa with sauna, jacuzzi, gym and masseur
- Large cabin windows and bathtubs
- Thursday/Monday departures when most ships leave on Monday/Friday
Cons
- Not a dahabiya, whatever "yacht" suggests
- No official website; owner not published
- Cabin count differs between sellers (60 or 62)
- Agency price is a tier price shared with other ships
M/Y Alyssa: the ship
The Alyssa was designed in 2005 by the Swiss architect Pia Schmid, with furniture, carpets and cabin layouts made for the ship. Its Egyptian owners later took it out of service for a 14-month refurbishment, with Nubian-inspired interiors, new floors and furniture and Egyptian textiles; the relaunch was reported in January 2020. A Swiss river-cruise seller markets it as "Exklusiv by Mittelthurgau".
The cabins are all outside cabins with large panoramic windows, bathtubs and an in-room movie channel. A Swiss press report on the relaunch counts 60 cabins on three decks, Dertour lists 62 and calls the ship "First Class". Neither mentions balconies, so don't assume you can sit outside your cabin.
The ship's best feature is the panoramic wellness centre at the front of the fourth deck: mud bath, sauna, jacuzzi, gym and a licensed masseur. A pool is listed too.
Is the Alyssa a dahabiya?
No. The "M/Y" prefix stands for motor yacht and is styling, not a type. A dahabiya is a sailing boat with a handful of cabins, no pool and usually no engine of its own (a tug tows it on calm days). The Alyssa is a full motor cruise ship of around 60 cabins with a spa and pool, following the same route and moorings as the other big ships. If you want a real sailing boat, see our dahabiya guide.
Alyssa Nile cruise itinerary
The Alyssa leaves Luxor on Thursday for 4 nights upstream to Aswan, and Aswan on Monday for 3 nights downstream to Luxor. The two legs join into a 7-night round trip. The route is the standard one: Luxor, the Esna lock, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, with Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut in Luxor, and Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan.
- 0 kmLuxorStart or end of every standard cruise. Ships moor along the East Bank and at private docks south of town; Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank are visited from here.
- 50 kmEsnaAbout 50 km upriver. Ships pass the Esna lock (two ships per lockage), often at night; many ships stop here overnight without visiting the temple.
- EdfuBetween Esna and Kom Ombo. The Temple of Horus is visited by horse carriage or coach from the quay, usually in the morning.
- Kom OmboRiverside temple, open for entry until 20:00: upstream ships stop at dusk, downstream ships come early in the morning.
- 200 kmAswanAbout 200 km by river from Luxor. Philae, the High Dam and a felucca or motorboat round Kitchener's Island; last night of a dahabiya trip at the Aswan bridge dock.
Distances along the river, rounded; ships also stop at the Esna lock and sometimes moor at Kom Ombo for the night.
The Thursday/Monday rhythm matters more than it seems: on the Nile, choosing your dates effectively chooses your ship. Most ships leave Luxor on Monday and Aswan on Friday. If your flights fit a Thursday start in Luxor, the Alyssa is one of the options, alongside Steigenberger's Minerva and Royale, JAZ Crown Jubilee, Mövenpick's Sun Ray and Medea.
On the 4-night upstream run, ships usually visit Kom Ombo late in the day, when the temple is open into the evening; on the 3-night downstream run it comes early in the morning, with Edfu the same day. Our guides to Luxor to Aswan and Aswan to Luxor give the day-by-day of each direction. Ask the seller for the Alyssa's own programme.
Alyssa Nile cruise prices
An Egyptian agency sells the Alyssa at:
| Cruise | May–August | September–April |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights from Aswan (Monday) | $750 | $925 |
| 4 nights from Luxor (Thursday) | $900 | $1,115 |
Prices are per person in a double cabin, with full board, excursions, entry fees and an English-speaking guide; drinks, tips and optional tours are extra, and Christmas, New Year and Easter are priced separately. For children's fares, ask the seller.
The catch: the same agency shows the identical table for several other ships (Concerto, Blue Shadow, Royal Ruby). So read it as "from about $750 per person for 3 nights in summer" for a ship of this class, not as the Alyssa's own fare. Ask for a written quote naming the Alyssa.
German and Swiss tour operators sell the Alyssa in their own packages; their prices vary by departure and are best checked with them directly.
For comparison, a platform cruise on the same route, ship unnamed, costs less:
- the plain 3-night Aswan → Luxor cruise with guide from $450;
- the 3-night Aswan → Luxor cruise with Abu Simbel and a balloon flight from $580, rated 4.5 from 555 reviews.
| Platform | Listing | Rating | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Abu Simbel and Balloon Flight · 3 nights | 4.5 (555) | $580 Lowest | See on GetYourGuide |
| Headout | From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise with Luxor Hot-Air Balloon Ride & Abu Simbel Visit · 3 nights | 2.0 (1) | $600 | See on Headout |
| Headout | 4-Day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel and Luxor Hot Air Balloon · 3 nights | — | $700 | See on Headout |
Lowest price per person in US dollars, checked on 19 October 2026. Ship, cabin, departure day and what is included differ between listings: open each one before you pay.
These listings say "5-star ship or similar": the operator assigns the ship, and it won't be the Alyssa unless the operator confirms it. More on the price levels in our Nile cruise prices guide.
What travellers say
We have not collected guest reviews for the Alyssa, so we won't summarise any or guess at complaints. Checks work better than rumours: before you book, ask for the cabin deck, recent photos of the cabins and spa, the departure weekday and the list of included sites. A seller who sells the ship regularly will answer quickly.
How to book the Alyssa Nile cruise
There is no official Alyssa Nile cruise website. You can book it:
- through German and Swiss tour operators: Dertour, Penny Reisen and REWE Reisen (as "MY LTI Alyssa & Spa") and Reisebüro Mittelthurgau, as part of their own packages;
- through Egyptian agencies, cruise only or with Cairo and transfers.
It is not sold under its own name on GetYourGuide, Headout or Tiqets.
Alternatives to the Alyssa
- Same weekdays: Medea also leaves Luxor on Thursday and Aswan on Monday, at upper-luxury agency prices; the Steigenberger Minerva and Royale and Mövenpick's Sun Ray follow the same rhythm.
- A spa and design at a similar price: compare other ships in our ships directory.
- Cheaper, same route: the budget ships in our budget Nile cruise guide, from $406 for 3 nights in summer.
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Abu Simbel and Balloon Flight
4.5 (555)
from $580Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Guide
4.3 (654)
from $450Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
Aswan: 4-Day Private Nile Cruise to Luxor with Balloon Ride
4.2 (261)
from $643Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 4-Day, 3-Night Nile Cruise with Hot Air Balloon
4.5 (168)
from $550Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Cairo
From Cairo: 4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Balloon Flight
4.5 (157)
from $1,300Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Luxor
Luxor: 4 Days Nile Cruise with Guided Tours & Abu Simbel
4.6 (132)
from $690Check dates
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
Alyssa Nile cruise: questions
Is the M/Y Alyssa a dahabiya?
No. It is a motor cruise ship of about 60 cabins with a pool and spa, styled "M/Y" (motor yacht). Dahabiyas are small sailing boats with a handful of cabins.
What days does the Alyssa Nile cruise depart?
Thursday from Luxor for 4 nights to Aswan, and Monday from Aswan for 3 nights to Luxor. Together they make a 7-night round trip.
How much does the Alyssa Nile cruise cost?
One Egyptian agency lists $750 per person for 3 nights in summer and $925 in winter, $900–1,115 for 4 nights, with entry fees and guiding included. The same table is used for several ships, so ask for a written quote naming the Alyssa.
Does the Alyssa Nile cruise have an official website?
No official website could be found. It is sold by German and Swiss tour operators (Dertour, Penny, REWE, Mittelthurgau) and by Egyptian agencies.
How many cabins does the Alyssa have?
Sellers give 60 or 62 outside cabins, all with large panoramic windows and bathtubs.