An Avalon Nile cruise is not a separate Avalon ship. Avalon Waterways sells a Cairo-based tour with a Luxor–Aswan cruise on MS Farah, a 5-star Egyptian ship it uses but does not own. Our verdict: a sensible mid-priced package among the international lines, with internal flights included, but you are paying for the organisation more than for the ship.
- Operator
- Avalon Waterways
- Type
- River line selling cabins on MS Farah; it does not own a Nile ship
- Cabins
- MS Farah: 51 deluxe cabins and 4 Royal Suites
- Route
- 10-day 'Taste of Egypt' Cairo–Cairo with internal flights; 14-day version with Jordan
- How it is sold
- Avalon Waterways and its travel agents
- Sister ships
- See the MS Farah review
- Status
- Departures listed to December 2027
Source: avalonwaterways.com ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Ship
- 4/5MS Farah: 51 deluxe cabins, 4 Royal Suites, spa and pool
- Itinerary
- 4/5Cairo plus the main Luxor and Aswan sites
- Value
- 3.5/5From $4,949 with internal flights; mid-range for an international line
- Transparency
- 4/5Published prices, departures and day plan
- Reliability
- 3/5Sailings cancelled earlier in 2026, resumed in September 2026
Pros
- Internal flights and taxes included in the price
- Cairo days with Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum built in
- Cheaper than Viking, Uniworld and A&K's Nile programmes
- A Jordan extension in one booking
Cons
- No Avalon-owned ship; the cruise is on MS Farah
- Sold only as a 10- or 14-day tour, not cruise-only
- Egypt sailings were cancelled for part of 2026
- International flights to Cairo on top
Which ship does Avalon use on the Nile?
MS Farah. Avalon describes it on its own ship page: 51 deluxe cabins and 4 Royal Suites, wall-sized windows, a spa and Wi-Fi (Avalon). Avalon does not own the ship, and it does not publish who does. Our MS Farah review covers the ship itself: cabins, the sun deck and the older layout you may see in some descriptions.
Avalon is not alone in using a ship it does not own. Uniworld sails on partner ships, and Tauck and Scenic book other companies' boats. Viking and TUI, by contrast, run ships branded as their own.
Avalon Nile river cruise itinerary: Taste of Egypt
The 10-day Taste of Egypt starts and ends in Cairo:
- Cairo: Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and a felucca sail.
- Fly to Luxor and board MS Farah: Karnak, Luxor Temple, and the Valleys of the Kings and Queens on the West Bank.
- Sail south: Edfu and Kom Ombo.
- Aswan: the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae.
- Fly back to Cairo.
The 14-day Taste of Egypt with Jordan adds Jordan to the same Egypt programme.
On the West Bank, note that Nefertari's tomb in the Valley of the Queens has been closed since March 2024, so the Queens visit will not include it.
Avalon Nile cruise prices
Avalon's published prices, per person in a double (seen October 2026):
| Programme | Price |
|---|---|
| Taste of Egypt, 10 days | from $4,949 (was $5,199), 6 May 2027 departure, flights inside Egypt and taxes included |
| Taste of Egypt with Jordan, 14 days | from $7,348 (was $7,598) |
| Taste of Egypt on Avalon Australia | AUD 7,919 (was 8,319), 29 April 2027 departure |
Avalon vs other river lines on the Nile
| Line | Programme | From |
|---|---|---|
| Avalon | Taste of Egypt, 10 days, MS Farah | $4,949 |
| Viking | Pharaohs & Pyramids, 12 days, Viking ships | $6,999 |
| Uniworld | Splendors of Egypt & the Nile, 12 days, partner ships | $6,099 |
| AmaWaterways | Secrets of Egypt & the Nile, 11 nights | €2,740 cruise-only (EU site) |
| A&K | Egypt and the Nile, 10 days, small group | US$16,995 |
| Tauck | Jewels of the Nile, 10 days, Oberoi ships | £8,990 |
What you get differs more than the headline price suggests. Viking includes beer, wine and soft drinks with meals; Uniworld includes all gratuities; AmaWaterways' European price is cruise-only, with flights in Egypt as an add-on. Read each inclusions list before you compare.
Avalon vs a tour booked on the platforms
No booking platform sells Avalon's programme or MS Farah. The closest thing you can book today is a shorter Cairo-plus-cruise package run by a local operator: the 6-day all-inclusive Egypt highlights and Nile cruise from Cairo is from $1,700 per person and rated 4.8 from 56 reviews. It is a different product (shorter, a ship the operator assigns), but it shows how much of Avalon's price is the brand, the extra days and the organisation.
GetYourGuide5 nightsFrom Cairo
Cairo: All-Inclusive 6-Day Egypt Highlights & Nile Cruise
4.8 (56)
from $1,700Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Cairo
From Cairo: 4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Balloon Flight
4.5 (157)
from $1,300Check dates
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
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
If you build the trip yourself with a local cruise, check whether entry fees are included: the eight sites of a standard cruise cost EGP 4,060 per foreign adult. Our Nile cruise prices guide and Nile cruise from Cairo guide explain the add-ons.
Avalon Nile cruise reviews: what to check
We have not collected guest reviews of Avalon's Egypt trips, so we don't summarise them here. When you read reviews, check the year: Avalon paused its Farah sailings earlier in 2026, and descriptions of the ship from 2010 show a different cabin layout. Before you book, ask Avalon or your agent:
- Which entry fees are included, and whether extra tombs (such as Tutankhamun's) cost more.
- How tips are handled on the ship and in Cairo.
- The internal flight times, since early flights shape the first and last days.
- Which deck your cabin is on, and whether a Royal Suite is available.
How to book an Avalon Nile cruise
Book directly with Avalon Waterways or through a travel agent that sells Avalon. Departures are listed to December 2027. For the weather, the best months are October to April; see when to go.
If you would rather keep the cruise and drop the package, a local 3- or 4-night cruise between Luxor and Aswan costs a fraction of the price; our Luxor to Aswan cruise guide explains the options.
Check the 6-day Cairo and Nile tourfrom $1,700Affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
Does Avalon Waterways have its own ship on the Nile?
No. Avalon sells cabins on MS Farah, a 5-star ship with 51 deluxe cabins and 4 Royal Suites. Avalon does not own it.
How much is an Avalon Nile cruise?
The 10-day Taste of Egypt costs from $4,949 per person sharing (6 May 2027 departure), including flights inside Egypt and taxes. With Jordan, 14 days, from $7,348.
What does the Avalon Nile river cruise itinerary include?
Cairo with Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and a felucca; a flight to Luxor; Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valleys of the Kings and Queens; Edfu and Kom Ombo; the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae in Aswan; and a flight back to Cairo.
Is Avalon cheaper than Viking on the Nile?
On published prices, yes: from $4,949 for Avalon's 10 days against from $6,999 for Viking's 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids. Viking includes drinks with meals and sails its own ships, so compare the inclusions.
Can I book MS Farah without Avalon?
We could not confirm that any other seller offers it. Ask for written confirmation of the sailing if an agency offers "MS Farah".
