A Scenic Nile cruise is part of a long, fully escorted Egypt tour rather than a ship you can book on its own. The Nile part runs on A&K's Sun Boat III, one of the smallest luxury boats on the river, and Scenic describes it as an exclusive private charter. Our verdict: a high-end, unhurried way to see Egypt in a tiny group, at a price to match — and if you were looking for an Emerald Nile cruise, there isn't one.
- Operator
- Scenic
- Type
- Scenic sells Egypt tours on A&K's Sun Boat III; Emerald has no Nile product
- Cabins
- Sun Boat III: 16
- Route
- 17-day 'Egypt in Depth', Cairo–Cairo, up to 34 guests
- How it is sold
- Scenic and its agents
- Sister ships
- See the A&K Sanctuary review
- Status
- On sale; October and November 2026 departures booked out
Source: scenic.cruises ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Boat
- 5/5Sun Boat III: 16 cabins, two Royal Suites with balconies
- Itinerary
- 4/517 days Cairo to Cairo, including Alexandria
- Inclusions
- 4/5Drinks with lunch and dinner on the cruise; hotels named
- Value
- 3/5From A$17,995 per person
- Availability
- 3/5October and November 2026 departures booked out
- Booking ease
- 3/5Full tour only, through Scenic or an agent
Pros
- Very small boat and group: up to 34 guests
- Drinks with lunch and dinner included on the cruise
- Mena House in Giza and Four Seasons Alexandria
- 17 days: time for more than the standard Cairo–Luxor–Aswan circuit
Cons
- No cruise-only option
- Long and expensive
- Popular departures sell out early
- Sun Boat III takes children only from 10 (A&K's policy; ask Scenic)
Scenic Nile cruise: what you are buying
Scenic does not own or run a Nile ship. Its Egypt tours use Sun Boat III, one of the five Nile boats of A&K Sanctuary (the former Sanctuary Retreats), which belong to Abercrombie & Kent. A&K does not publish a price for Sun Boat III and describes it as an elegant charter whose itinerary can be tailored to a group — Scenic is one such group. See our A&K Sanctuary review for the boat and its sisters.
If you have read of a "Scenic Amun" on the Nile: there is no such Scenic ship. Viking Amun belongs to Viking — see the Viking review.
Scenic Egypt in Depth: the tour
"Egypt in Depth" is 17 days, Cairo to Cairo, for up to 34 guests. The published inclusions include:
- A Nile cruise on Sun Boat III, with beverages at lunch and dinner on board.
- A stay at the Marriott Mena House in Giza.
- A stay at the Four Seasons Alexandria.
Scenic does not state the number of cruise nights on its tour summary; A&K's own scheduled boats sail four nights between Luxor and Aswan. Ask Scenic for the day-by-day before you book, including which direction the cruise sails.
Scenic also sells other Egypt tours, among them "Jewels of Egypt & Jordan", "The Essence of Egypt & Jordan" and "The Treasures of Egypt". Ask which boat each one uses.
Sun Boat III: the boat
Sun Boat III is decorated in a 1920s "Golden Age" style. It has 16 cabins for up to 32 guests: 12 Luxury Cabins of 16 m², two Presidential Suites of 28 m² and two Royal Suites of 39 m² with balconies. There is a plunge pool rather than a full pool. A&K takes children from 10 on this boat. A&K lists the boat for up to 32 guests while Scenic quotes its tour for up to 34, so ask Scenic how many will be on board.
Small means a quieter boat than a 70-cabin ship. The trade-off is space: the standard cabins are compact, and only the two Royal Suites have balconies.
Scenic Nile cruise price
Scenic's Australian site lists "Egypt in Depth" from A$17,995 per person (early-bird price for a 30 August 2027 departure), and A$21,295 to A$21,695 on other dates. The October and November 2026 departures were already booked out. We have not seen a price in pounds or US dollars.
How does it compare? A&K's own 10-day "Egypt and the Nile" journey on Sun Boat IV costs from A$26,015 (US$16,995 / £13,760), and Tauck's 10-day "Jewels of the Nile" on the Oberoi ships from £8,990. Per day, before flights, Scenic's longer tour works out cheaper than A&K's journey. If you only want a luxury Nile cruise, A&K sells four nights on Sun Boat IV or Nile Adventurer from $3,235 per person in season (the Nile Deck rate was $1,654 in June–August 2026).
Emerald Nile cruise: does it exist?
No. Emerald Cruises sells no Egypt or Nile product. Its new river ships are for Europe, and it also runs yachts. If you were looking for an "Emerald Nile cruise", the nearest equivalents are:
- Scenic's Egypt tours on Sun Boat III, above.
- AmaWaterways: an 11-night Egypt programme with a 7-night Luxor round trip.
- Uniworld: 12 days on partner ships, all tips included.
- Viking: 12 days from $6,999, with Viking's own ships.
What travellers say, and what to check
We have not collected guest reviews of Scenic's Egypt tours, so we won't summarise them. Before booking, ask Scenic:
- How many nights on the Nile your tour includes, and which direction the cruise sails.
- Whether the departure uses Sun Boat III — Scenic calls it an exclusive charter, so confirm it for your date.
- Which cabin category you are buying: only the Royal Suites have balconies.
- Which international flights are included from your country.
- The deposit and cancellation terms.
How to book a Scenic Nile cruise
Book through Scenic or a travel agent; the tour page on Scenic's Australian site is Egypt in Depth. Book early: the October and November 2026 departures were booked out.
No booking platform sells Scenic, A&K or Sun Boat III. If you want Cairo plus a Nile cruise in one booking at a fraction of the price, GetYourGuide's all-inclusive 6-day Egypt highlights and Nile cruise from Cairo is from $1,700 per person, rated 4.8 from 56 reviews. It is a very different trip: the ship is not named, the group isn't capped at 34 and it is six days, not seventeen.
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
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
Aswan: 4-Day Private Nile Cruise to Luxor with Balloon Ride
4.2 (261)
from $643Check 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
From Luxor: 3-Night Nile Cruise to Aswan and Hot Air Balloon
3.8 (305)
from $1,100Check dates
GetYourGuide4 nightsFrom Luxor
From Luxor: 5-Day Nile Cruise to Aswan with Balloon Ride
4.2 (185)
from $1,343Check dates
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
Alternatives to Scenic
- A&K Sanctuary: the same fleet, bookable cruise-only with published rates.
- Abercrombie & Kent: 10-day small-group journey with Abu Simbel by air.
- Tauck: 10 days on the Oberoi Philae or Zahra.
- The luxury Nile cruise guide compares every option.
Does Scenic have a Nile river cruise ship?
No. Scenic's Egypt tours use Sun Boat III, a 16-cabin boat owned by Abercrombie & Kent's A&K Sanctuary. Scenic describes its Nile leg as an exclusive private charter.
How much is the Scenic Egypt in Depth tour?
From A$17,995 per person on an early-bird date, and A$21,295 to A$21,695 on other dates, for 17 days Cairo to Cairo with up to 34 guests.
Is there an Emerald Nile cruise?
No. Emerald Cruises sells no Egypt or Nile product; its river ships sail in Europe. For a similar style of trip, look at Scenic, AmaWaterways, Uniworld or Viking.
Is there a Scenic Amun ship?
No. Viking Amun is a Viking ship. Scenic's Nile tours use A&K's Sun Boat III.
Can I book Sun Boat III without Scenic?
A&K lists Sun Boat III on enquiry, as a charter that can be tailored to a group, with no published price. For a cruise-only booking, A&K's Sun Boat IV and Nile Adventurer have published rates.