Three names, one ship. "MS Historia", "Historia Luxury Nile Cruise" and the "Historia Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise" in the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) collection are the same vessel; no second ship with a similar name exists. Our verdict in one line: a smart, newer, mid-sized ship that you can book directly like a hotel, priced well below the Oberoi and A&K boats, as long as you check what your booking includes, because that depends entirely on who sells it to you.
- Operator
- Small Luxury Hotels of the World member (owner not published)
- Type
- 5-star boutique cruise ship
- Class
- 5-star
- Cabins
- 44 rooms (SLH): Luxury Cabins, Historia, Presidential and Royal Suites
- Decks
- 5
- Pool
- Yes: heated pool on the Solaria sun deck
- 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
- SLH (slh.com, booked like a hotel), UK luxury agencies and Egyptian agencies
- Status
- Sailing
Source: slh.com ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Cabins
- 4/544 rooms and suites; panoramic windows, no balconies advertised
- Itinerary
- 4/5the standard Monday/Friday loop, 3, 4 or 7 nights
- Inclusions
- 3/5depend on the seller; check guide and entry fees
- Value
- 4/5agency packages from about $445 a night with guide and entry fees
- Transparency
- 3/5owner not published, no official ship site, cabin counts differ by seller
- Booking ease
- 5/5bookable like a hotel through SLH, or via agencies
Pros
- Bookable direct through SLH, with dates and rooms like a hotel
- Heated pool on the "Solaria" sun deck, Seneb Spa, gym and two restaurants
- 44 rooms: smaller than most ships on the same days, some of which carry 70–130 cabins
- Strong guest scores shown by SLH: Tripadvisor 5.0 (584), SLH 4.8 (88)
Cons
- Owner not published and no official website
- Inclusions differ between SLH and agency bookings
- No balconies advertised
- Same busy weekdays and quays as most big ships
The ship: rooms, pool and spa
SLH lists 44 rooms on five floors in four types: the Luxury Cabin for two, and the Historia Suite, Presidential Suite and Royal Suite, which each take three guests. Agencies count the cabins differently, so if the room count matters, take SLH's figure. One agency gives sizes from 22 m² for a Luxury Cabin to 46 m² for the Royal Suite, with panoramic windows; no seller mentions balconies, so don't expect one.
On top is the Solaria sun deck with a heated outdoor pool. Inside there are two restaurants, the Seneb Spa (massage, facials, scrubs, reflexology), a fitness centre, a library and a lounge. A UK agency describes Egyptian-inspired furniture with red and blue accents. Check-in is at 12:00 and check-out at 08:00.
At 44 rooms, Historia sits between the true small luxury boats (the Oberoi Philae has 22) and the standard 5-star ships of 50–80 cabins. Fewer guests means a quieter ship and a quicker embarkation.
Historia Nile cruise itinerary
Historia runs the mainstream weekly loop:
- 4 nights Luxor to Aswan, embarking on Monday.
- 3 nights Aswan to Luxor, embarking on Friday.
- 7-night round trips from Luxor (Monday) or Aswan (Friday), joining the two legs.
These are the same days as Sonesta St George, so the two are direct alternatives: if you have fixed your dates around a Monday or Friday start, compare both. Sellers list the standard set of temples: Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae and the High Dam in Aswan. On 7-night round trips on this route, the second leg usually repeats the river rather than adding new temples. Our guides to Luxor to Aswan and Aswan to Luxor give the day-by-day pattern for these departure days.
- 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.
Historia Nile cruise prices
There is no official rate card. The published figures come from sellers:
- Pure Nile Tours (Egyptian agency, current published rates): from $1,339 per person for 3 nights and from $1,719 for 4 nights, Luxury Cabin, two sharing. Suites cost from about $400 to $1,800 more per person. The package includes full board, a private Egyptologist, entrance fees and transfers; it excludes the visa, drinks outside meals, tips, Abu Simbel, the balloon and the premium Valley of the Kings tombs.
- Cyplon Holidays (UK) sells the 7-night Luxor round trip from Monday, with full board, an English-speaking Egyptologist, the excursions and entry fees on the itinerary, and free Wi-Fi. Drinks, tips and the visa are extra.
- SLH sells rooms on dated search, like a hotel.
The trap is inclusions. A hotel-style room booking may not cover the guide and entry tickets the way an agency package does, and those are not small: the eight sites of a standard cruise cost EGP 4,060 per foreign adult. Before paying through SLH, ask in writing whether sightseeing, guide and tickets are in the rate.
For scale: $1,339 for 3 nights is about $445 a night, roughly three times the cheapest unnamed 5-star cruise online (3 nights from $450), and well below the tour packages built on the Oberoi ships.
Booking a comparable cruise online
No platform sells Historia by name. The closest online booking on the same route and length is the 5-day Nile cruise from Luxor with guided tours and Abu Simbel: 4 nights, from $840, rated 4.4 from 69 reviews. It sails on "a 5-star ship or similar", so the ship is assigned by the operator, not chosen by you. After booking, ask for the ship's name, the cabin deck and the list of included entry fees.
GetYourGuide4 nightsFrom Luxor
Luxor: 5 Days Nile Cruise with Guided Tours & Abu Simbel
4.4 (69)
from $840Check 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
Aswan to Luxor: 4-Day Luxury Dahabiya Nile Cruise Adventure
4.8 (58)
from $1,100Check 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
What travellers say
SLH's page shows a Tripadvisor score of 5.0 from 584 reviews and an SLH guest score of 4.8 from 88. Those are strong numbers for a Nile ship. They tell you guests liked it; they don't tell you what your booking includes. Before you pay, check:
- Who is selling it and whether guide, entry fees and transfers are included.
- Room type: no balconies are advertised; ask about the window if the view matters.
- The last morning: on a 3-night trip from Aswan, ask whether the Luxor temples are visited before or after check-out at 08:00.
- Extras: drinks, tips, Abu Simbel and Tutankhamun's tomb are usually on top.
How to book Historia
Booking Historia without surprises
- Choose the leg: Monday from Luxor (4 nights) or Friday from Aswan (3 nights), or a 7-night round trip.
- Compare SLH's room price with an agency package for the same dates.
- Get the inclusions in writing: guide, entry fees, transfers, drinks.
- Check the room type and size with the seller.
- Book flights to land the morning of embarkation or the day before.
The SLH listing is the nearest thing to an official channel: Historia on slh.com. UK and US luxury agencies such as Red Savannah and Black Tomato include it in tailor-made trips; Egyptian agencies sell it as a cruise package. A website under the ship's own name does not resolve, so don't trust any site claiming to be the official one without checking it against SLH.
Alternatives to Historia
- Sonesta St George: same Monday/Friday days, 57 rooms, sold direct by Sonesta; sightseeing is extra on direct bookings.
- Oberoi Zahra: 28 cabins, entry fees and guide included, at a much higher price.
- Soleil: another new luxury ship on Monday/Friday, with an indoor pool.
- Sonesta Star Goddess: 33 terrace suites if you need a Saturday or Wednesday start.
Compare more in luxury Nile cruises and the best luxury ships.
Historia Nile cruise: FAQ
Is the Historia Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise the same as MS Historia?
Yes. "Historia Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise" is the ship's name in the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection; agencies sell the same ship as MS Historia or Historia Luxury Nile Cruise.
How much is the Historia Nile cruise?
An Egyptian agency publishes prices from $1,339 per person for 3 nights and $1,719 for 4 nights in a Luxury Cabin, with guide and entry fees. SLH sells rooms by dated search.
What days does Historia sail?
Monday from Luxor (4 nights) and Friday from Aswan (3 nights), plus 7-night round trips on the same days.
Does Historia have a pool?
Yes, a heated outdoor pool on the Solaria sun deck, plus the Seneb Spa and a fitness centre.
Are Historia Nile cruise reviews good?
SLH shows a Tripadvisor score of 5.0 from 584 reviews and an SLH guest score of 4.8 from 88.
Can I book Historia on GetYourGuide?
No. Book through SLH or an agency. The closest online alternative is a 4-night cruise from Luxor on a 5-star ship or similar.
