The Crown Empress Nile cruise is a solid mid-market choice if you want a big, conventional 5-star ship on the popular Monday/Friday schedule, but it is one of the largest ships on the river, and on a direct booking the excursions cost extra. If you are searching for the Iberotel Crown Empress, you have found it: the ship now sails under the JAZ name.
- Operator
- JAZ Voyages (Travco group)
- Type
- Large 5-star deluxe cruise ship
- Class
- 5-star deluxe (operator's label)
- Cabins
- 128: 117 doubles, 3 singles, 8 suites with balcony
- Pool
- Yes
- Route
- Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 4 nights from Luxor, 3 nights from Aswan, 7-night round trips
- Embarks
- Luxor on Monday, Aswan on Friday
- How it is sold
- Direct on jazcruises.com (sightseeing charged on check-in) and through agencies
- Sister ships
- JAZ Crown Emperor and the rest of the JAZ fleet
- Status
- Sailing under the JAZ name
Source: jazcruises.com ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Cabins
- 3.5/519 m² doubles with large panoramic sliding windows; only 8 balcony suites (38 m²)
- Facilities
- 3.5/5Sun-deck pool and pool bar, steam bath, sauna, massage
- Itinerary
- 3.5/5Standard Monday/Friday Luxor–Aswan route; 7-night round trips
- Transparency
- 3/5Clear that sightseeing is extra; no public fares
- Booking ease
- 3.5/5JAZ booking site and many agencies; not sold by name on platforms
Pros
- Monday from Luxor and Friday from Aswan fit most flight plans
- Panoramic sliding windows in main- and upper-deck cabins
- Eight suites of 38 m² with balconies
- Spa basics on board: steam bath, sauna, massage
- Three single cabins
Cons
- 128 units: one of the biggest ships we review, so expect queues at embarkation and large groups at the temples
- Sightseeing is charged separately on direct bookings
- No public fares
- Ordinary cabins have windows, not balconies
Crown Empress or Iberotel Crown Empress?
Same ship. JAZ Voyages, the cruise arm of the Travco group's JAZ Hotel Group, lists it as "JAZ Crown Empress", but its factsheet file still carries the Iberotel name, and agencies use both. Treat any listing for "Iberotel Crown Empress", "MS Crown Empress" or "JAZ Crown Empress" as this ship.
JAZ has done the same with other ships: Regent and Viceroy are now sold as JAZ Elite Regent and JAZ Elite Viceroy (see our JAZ review). The Crown Empress has a sister in the naming family, the JAZ Crown Emperor, also on JAZ's fleet list. JAZ also operates and sells the five Steigenberger Nile ships from the same office and booking site.
The ship: cabins, suites and pool
The Crown Empress has 128 units: 117 double cabins, 3 singles and 8 suites. Cabins measure 19 m². On the main and upper decks they have large panoramic sliding windows; the eight suites, 38 m² each, have balconies. If you want a balcony on this ship, a suite is the only way to get one.
Facilities are standard for a big 5-star ship: a large sun deck with a pool and pool bar, plus a steam bath, sauna and massage. JAZ calls it a "5 star deluxe cruiser". Most ships sold to foreigners call themselves five-star; the label covers a wide range, and no public ministry list of rated Nile ships exists.
Size is the trade-off. With 128 units, the Crown Empress is more than twice the size of a Steigenberger Royale (52 units) and far bigger than the 50–80-cabin ships typical of the river. That means more people at embarkation and in the excursion groups. At busy moorings ships often tie up side by side, so your window may face the next ship.
Crown Empress Nile cruise itinerary
The ship keeps the classic weekly rhythm:
- 4 nights Luxor → Aswan, embarking in Luxor on Monday, on the standard route: Karnak and Luxor Temple, the West Bank, the Esna lock, Edfu, Kom Ombo, then Aswan with the High Dam and Philae.
- 3 nights Aswan → Luxor, embarking in Aswan on Friday: the same core sites in the other direction, with Kom Ombo and Edfu packed into one day.
- 7 nights as a round trip from Luxor on Monday. On the return leg JAZ plans a free morning in Aswan and stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu on the way north.
JAZ publishes the day-by-day plan on the ship's page at jazcruises.com, and schedules can change, so read it for your sailing date. If the Esna lock is shut or the queue is long, operators move passengers by coach between Luxor and Esna.
- 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.
Abu Simbel is not part of the cruise. Add it from Aswan as a day trip with a pre-dawn start, about 3.5–4 hours each way by road; see Abu Simbel from Aswan.
Crown Empress Nile cruise prices and what's included
JAZ publishes no fares on its static pages; rates come from its booking engine. Its itinerary pages say sightseeing is "charged separately upon check In". A direct booking is therefore cabin and full board; the guided visits and entry fees come on top. If you book an agency package, ask whether entry fees are included. If not, budget EGP 4,060 per adult for the eight sites of a standard cruise (official prices on egymonuments.com).
Other extras: drinks, tips (roughly US$5–10 per person per night for the crew and US$10–15 per day for your guide, agencies suggest) and, over New Year, a compulsory gala supplement on many ships.
No platform sells the Crown Empress by name. Comparable 3-night cruises on a "5-star ship or similar" from Aswan start at $450 on GetYourGuide:
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
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Guide
4.3 (654)
from $450Check dates
Headout4 nightsFrom Luxor
From Luxor: 5-Day Nile Cruise with Hot-Air Balloon Ride & Abu Simbel Visit
No reviews yet
from $590Check dates
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
The 3-night cruise with Abu Simbel and a balloon flight on two platforms:
| 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.
GetYourGuide is cheaper today and has 555 reviews. The operator assigns the ship, so you might or might not end up on the Crown Empress.
What to check before booking
We have not collected guest reviews of this ship. Before you pay, ask:
- Is it really the Crown Empress? Agencies swap ships; get the name on your confirmation.
- Which cabin? Ordinary cabins have windows; only the eight suites have balconies.
- What does the price include? On direct bookings, sightseeing is extra. Get the list of entry fees in writing.
- Which day? Monday from Luxor or Friday from Aswan. A Thursday or Saturday departure means a different ship.
How to book the Crown Empress
Book direct at jazcruises.com, where you choose the ship and cabin and pay for excursions on board, or through an Egyptian agency or tour operator that sells JAZ ships in a package with guiding. If you only want a 5-star Luxor–Aswan cruise and don't mind which ship, a platform listing is simpler: most GetYourGuide bookings can be cancelled free up to 24 hours ahead, though multi-day cruises may differ, so check the listing.
Alternatives to the Crown Empress
- JAZ Elite Viceroy: the same operator's suite-heavy ship (21 suites of 37 units), leaving Luxor on Saturday.
- Steigenberger Royale and Regency: JAZ-run, 52 units each, a smaller ship at the same booking desk.
- Mövenpick: Royal Lily, Royal Lotus and Hamees sail the same Monday/Friday days.
- Sonesta St. George: Monday/Friday too, sold direct like a hotel room.
- For a wider comparison, see the ships hub or Luxor to Aswan cruises.
Crown Empress Nile cruise FAQ
Is the Iberotel Crown Empress the same as JAZ Crown Empress?
Yes. The ship now sails as JAZ Crown Empress, operated and sold by JAZ Voyages (Travco group). Its factsheet still carries the Iberotel name.
How many cabins does the Crown Empress Nile cruise ship have?
128 units: 117 double cabins of 19 m², 3 single cabins and 8 suites of 38 m² with balconies.
What days does the Crown Empress sail?
It leaves Luxor on Monday for 4 nights to Aswan and Aswan on Friday for 3 nights to Luxor. Seven-night round trips start from Luxor on Monday.
Are excursions included on the Crown Empress?
Not on a direct JAZ booking: sightseeing is charged separately at check-in. Agency packages often include guided visits and entry fees, so ask the seller for the list.
Do Crown Empress cabins have balconies?
Only the eight suites. Main- and upper-deck cabins have large panoramic sliding windows.