A Concerto Nile cruise can mean three different ships, and the sellers don't always say which. Concerto II, a 64-cabin five-star ship with a spa and four suites, is the best documented and the one most worth booking; Concerto Plus is the weaker sister. Verdict in one line: Concerto II is a solid upper-mid ship on the less crowded Saturday/Wednesday schedule, but you pay for it, and you must check the name on your voucher.
- Type
- Three different cruise ships sharing a name
- Class
- 5-star (sellers' label)
- Cabins
- Concerto 67 · Concerto II 64 · Concerto Plus 59
- Pool
- Yes
- Route
- Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan
- Embarks
- Concerto and Concerto II: Luxor Sat, Aswan Wed · Concerto Plus: Luxor Mon, Aswan Fri
- How it is sold
- Egyptian agencies; owner not published
- Status
- On sale with agencies
Source: luxorandaswan.com ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Cabins and suites
- 4/5Concerto II: 60 doubles, 2 Royal and 2 Presidential Suites
- Facilities
- 4/5Pool, jacuzzi and spa on Concerto and Concerto II
- Itinerary
- 4/5Classic sites; Saturday/Wednesday departures, a less common weekday pair
- Value
- 3/5$850–1,475 per person through one agency; from $679 through another
- Transparency
- 2/5Three ships, one name; owner not published; "New Norm" is a seller's claim
- Booking ease
- 3/5Agencies only
Pros
- Concerto II has four suites and a spa
- Saturday/Wednesday departures suit off-pattern flights
- Published summer and winter fares, including singles
- Pool and jacuzzi on Concerto and Concerto II
Cons
- Three ships share the name; confirm which one in writing
- Wide price spread between sellers for the same cabin
- Concerto Plus: "French" windows are not balconies; mixed reports on upkeep
- No official website for any of the three
Three Concerto ships: which is which?
| Ship | Units | Facilities | Luxor departure | Aswan departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concerto | 63 cabins + 4 suites (67) | pool, jacuzzi, spa with sauna, restaurant for 140 | Saturday, 4 nights | Wednesday, 3 nights |
| Concerto II | 60 doubles + 2 Royal + 2 Presidential Suites (64) | pool, jacuzzi, spa | Saturday, 4 nights | Wednesday, 3 nights |
| Concerto Plus | 57 deluxe cabins + 2 junior suites (59) | pool | Monday, 4 nights | Friday, 3 nights |
Concerto (sometimes called Concerto 1) is sold as five-star; one seller says the Egyptian Tourism Ministry classifies it "New Norm", which the seller calls the top luxury tier. No ministry list confirms it, so treat it as marketing.
Concerto II (Concerto 2) is sold as "5-star deluxe". It shares the Saturday/Wednesday days with Concerto, so a seller can switch you between the two without changing your dates.
Concerto Plus runs on the Monday/Friday pattern used by most ships. A review by one agency reports mixed service and maintenance and notes that its "French" windows are not balconies you can stand on.
If you are offered a "Concerto 3", ask for proof of the name: sellers list only these three. And "River Concerto", which some review sites show under the US operator Grand Circle, is a different product; don't merge its reviews with these ships.
Concerto II itinerary
Concerto and Concerto II leave Luxor every Saturday for 4 nights to Aswan and Aswan every Wednesday for 3 nights back to Luxor; the two halves make a 7-night round trip. Fewer ships use these days than the Monday/Friday pattern; others include Steigenberger Regency, JAZ Elite Viceroy, Esplanade and Blue Shadow. That makes it a useful option when your flights don't fit a Monday or Friday. Here is the usual order of the Saturday run; the seller confirms times.
Day 1 (Sat)
Luxor
Board around midday; Karnak and Luxor Temple in the afternoonNight in Luxor
Day 2 (Sun)
Valley of the Kings
West Bank early: Valley of the Kings and HatshepsutSail south through the Esna lock
Day 3 (Mon)
Edfu
Temple of Horus, then Kom Ombo late in the dayDaylight sailing to Kom Ombo
Day 4 (Tue)
Aswan
High Dam and Philae; optional feluccaNight in Aswan
Day 5 (Wed)
Aswan
Disembark after breakfast; the ship turns round for the 3-night run
On the Wednesday 3-night run from Aswan, Kom Ombo and Edfu fit into one day and the Luxor sights come at the end; ask whether Karnak is visited after check-out. See our Luxor to Aswan and Aswan to Luxor guides for how the two directions differ.
- 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.
Concerto Nile cruise prices
Concerto II has the clearest published fares. Luxor and Aswan Travel quotes, per person:
| Concerto II | May–Aug | Sep–Apr |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights, double | $850 | $1,200 |
| 3 nights, single | $1,475 | $1,790 |
| 4 nights, double | $1,050 | $1,475 |
| 4 nights, single | $1,600 | $2,360 |
The same agency's package covers full board, excursions, entry fees, an English-speaking guide and transfers, and leaves out drinks, tips and optional tours. Pure Nile Tours advertises Concerto II from $679 for 3 nights and $859 for 4 nights; ask what that lower price leaves out before you compare. For the first Concerto, the same agency uses a tier price shared with several other ships, from about $750 per person for 3 nights in summer, so it is not a ship-specific quote.
Add tips (no official rule; agencies suggest roughly US$5–10 per person per night for the crew plus US$10–15 per day for the guide), drinks and, over New Year, a compulsory gala supplement on many ships. If a fare excludes entry fees, budget EGP 4,060 per foreign adult for the eight core sites. More in Nile cruise prices.
A comparable cruise on the platforms
No platform sells any Concerto by name. The closest bookable equivalent is a 3-night five-star cruise from Aswan "on a 5-star ship or similar". For the popular version with Abu Simbel and a Luxor balloon flight, GetYourGuide is the cheapest platform today; ship, cabin and inclusions may differ.
| 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.
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
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
What to check before booking
We have no reliable traveller reviews of Concerto II to summarise, beyond one agency's mixed report on Concerto Plus. Before paying, ask:
- Which ship exactly: Concerto, Concerto II or Concerto Plus? Get it in writing.
- Which cabin category and deck? Concerto II's suites are few, so book them early.
- Does your fare include entry fees, transfers and the guide?
- Is your "balcony" a real balcony or a French window?
- On the 3-night run, does Karnak happen after check-out?
How to book a Concerto Nile cruise
Concerto ships are sold by Egyptian agencies; no official website or owner is published. Ask two or three agencies for a written quote naming the ship, and compare the inclusions line by line, since fares for Concerto II run from $679 to $1,200 for 3 nights depending on the seller and the season. If you prefer clear cancellation terms, book a platform cruise with a matching weekday and ask the operator for the ship's name after booking.
Alternatives to the Concerto ships
- Same Saturday/Wednesday days: Esplanade publishes its rates through Mayfair Cruises; see the Esplanade review. Steigenberger Regency and JAZ Elite Viceroy sail the same days; see the Steigenberger and JAZ reviews.
- Suites and a published price: Salacia, an all-suite conversion for at most 59 guests.
- Cheaper: Nile Shams and Semiramis III sit at the budget end; see best budget Nile cruises.
- Every ship compared: our Nile cruise ship reviews.
Concerto Nile cruise: questions
Is Concerto II the same ship as Concerto Plus?
No. Concerto, Concerto II and Concerto Plus are three different ships. Concerto II has 64 units and leaves Luxor on Saturday; Concerto Plus has 59 and leaves Luxor on Monday.
How much is a Concerto II Nile cruise?
Luxor and Aswan Travel quotes $850 per person in a double for 3 nights from May to August and $1,200 from September to April; 4 nights cost $1,050–1,475. Pure Nile Tours advertises from $679 for 3 nights.
When does the Concerto II Nile cruise sail?
Every Saturday from Luxor for 4 nights and every Wednesday from Aswan for 3 nights.
Is there an official Concerto Nile cruise website?
No official website or owner is published for any of the three ships. Book through an agency that names the ship on your confirmation.
Does Concerto Plus have balconies?
Its "French" windows are not balconies you can sit on. If a balcony matters, ask for the exact cabin type in writing.