A Semiramis Nile cruise is good value at the budget end of the 5-star fleet, especially Semiramis III sold through an agency with entry fees included. Just know which of the three ships you are booking, because the cabins differ more than the name suggests.
- Operator
- SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises
- Type
- Three 5-star deluxe cruise ships
- Class
- 5-star deluxe (operator's label)
- Cabins
- Semiramis I and II: 70 each, incl. 2 Royal Suites with balcony · Semiramis III: 66, no balcony suites
- Pool
- Yes
- Route
- Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 3, 4 and 7 nights; boarding at the Blue Sky dock by Luxor bridge (El Bughdady)
- Embarks
- Semiramis III: Luxor Thursday, Aswan Monday (agency) · 'Classic Semiramis II' (UK): 7 nights Thursday to Thursday
- How it is sold
- Egyptian agencies; Classic Collection Holidays in the UK as 'MS Classic Semiramis II'
- Status
- Sailing
Source: sunrise-resorts.com ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Cabins
- 3.5/522 m² on I and II, 19 m² on III; only 2 balcony suites per ship (I and II)
- Facilities
- 3.5/5140 m² pool and a lift on II; III has a 50 m² pool and no lift listed
- Itinerary
- 3.5/5Standard Luxor–Aswan route; III leaves Luxor on Thursday
- Value
- 4.5/5Semiramis III from $406 for 3 nights with entry fees (agency, summer)
- Transparency
- 3/5Factsheets published; fares only from agencies
Pros
- Agency fares for Semiramis III include guided visits and entry fees
- Three ships, so more departure options under one operator
- Semiramis I and II: 22 m² cabins and two Royal Suites with balconies
- Sold in the UK as a 7-night package with flights and entry fees
Cons
- Semiramis III has smaller cabins (19 m²) and no balcony suites
- The dock is in El Bughdady, south Luxor, not on the town Corniche
- No published fares from SUNRISE
- Few balconies on any of the three ships
Semiramis I, II or III?
SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises, an Egyptian hotel group, runs three ships with the Semiramis name. Agencies often sell "Semiramis" without the number, and the difference matters:
| Semiramis I | Semiramis II | Semiramis III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Units | 70 | 70 | 66 |
| Standard cabins | 66 × 22 m² | 66 × 22 m² | 64 × 19 m² |
| Suites | 2 Junior, 2 Royal (balcony) | 2 Junior (33 m²), 2 Royal (38 m², balcony) | 2 Junior Suites (40 m²) |
| Pool | — | 140 m² | 50 m² |
| Other | Same layout as II | Lift, billiard room | No lift listed |
Semiramis I and II are near-identical sisters. Semiramis III is the smaller-cabined ship, though its two Junior Suites are the biggest of the three at 40 m². All three board at the Blue Sky dock beside the Luxor bridge in El Bughdady, south of the town centre, so plan a taxi or transfer rather than walking from a Corniche hotel.
SUNRISE also runs African Dreams on Lake Nasser, a separate ship that sails above the High Dam and boards beside the dam in Aswan. If you want Abu Simbel by water, see Lake Nasser cruises.
The ships: cabins and facilities
On Semiramis I and II, the 66 standard cabins measure 22 m², a little bigger than the 19 m² cabins on JAZ and Steigenberger ships. The two Royal Suites (38 m²) are the only cabins with a balcony. Semiramis II's factsheet lists a lift, a 140 m² pool and a billiard room.
On Semiramis III, the 64 standard cabins are 19 m², the pool is 50 m² and the factsheet lists no lift. If anyone in your party struggles with stairs, ask for Semiramis II or confirm a lift on the ship you are offered.
SUNRISE calls all three "5-Star Deluxe". 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. SUNRISE publishes no build or refit years.
Semiramis Nile cruise itinerary
The agency that sells Semiramis III lists departures on Thursday from Luxor (4 nights to Aswan) and Monday from Aswan (3 nights to Luxor). That Thursday/Monday rhythm is shared with Steigenberger Minerva and Royale, JAZ Crown Jubilee and Mövenpick Sun Ray, and differs from the more common Monday/Friday ships.
The route is the standard one: Karnak and Luxor Temple, the West Bank, the Esna lock, Edfu, Kom Ombo, then Aswan with the High Dam and Philae. The 3-night version from Aswan packs Kom Ombo and Edfu into one day. In the UK, Classic Collection Holidays sells "MS Classic Semiramis II" as a 7-night round trip from Luxor, Thursday to Thursday, with 11 excursions. Ask your seller for the day-by-day plan.
- 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.
Semiramis Nile cruise prices
SUNRISE publishes no fares. The clearest prices come from an Egyptian agency selling Semiramis III (USD per adult in a double cabin):
| Semiramis III | May–August | September–April |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights from Aswan (Monday) | $406 | $586 |
| 4 nights from Luxor (Thursday) | $455 | $645 |
Singles pay $584–892. These fares include full board, transfers, guided excursions and entrance fees between Luxor and Aswan; drinks, tips and optional tours are extra, and holiday periods are priced differently. That makes Semiramis III one of the cheapest named ships with entry fees included. The eight core sites alone would cost EGP 4,060 per adult at the official prices on egymonuments.com.
The UK package for Semiramis II includes return flights, transfers, all meals, the 11 excursions with an Egyptologist on board, and entrance fees. Its optional extras give a useful benchmark: Abu Simbel £120 by road or £280 by air, a Luxor balloon flight £110, the Philae sound and light show £50. The suggested tip is £10 per person per night.
No platform sells a Semiramis ship by name. The comparable budget cruise is a 3-night Aswan → Luxor on a "5-star ship or similar", from $450 on GetYourGuide, where entry fees are often not stated:
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; ship, cabin and inclusions may differ. For the wider picture see cheap Nile cruises and Nile cruise prices.
What to check before booking
We have not collected guest reviews of the Semiramis ships, so check these points with the seller instead:
- Which Semiramis? I, II or III, in writing. III has smaller cabins and no balcony suites.
- Entry fees. Agency packages usually include them; confirm the list.
- The dock. Blue Sky dock, El Bughdady. Check whether your transfer is included.
- The weekday. Thursday from Luxor and Monday from Aswan for Semiramis III; ask for I and II.
- Tips and drinks. Agencies suggest roughly US$5–10 per person per night for the crew and US$10–15 per person per day for the guide, unless the seller quotes its own figure.
How to book a Semiramis Nile cruise
- Egyptian agencies sell Semiramis III, with guiding and entry fees, at the fares above. Ask for the ship name on the confirmation.
- Classic Collection Holidays (UK) sells "MS Classic Semiramis II" as a 7-night package with flights.
- SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises lists the fleet on sunrise-resorts.com.
If the ship name matters less than the date and a cancellation option, a platform listing is the simplest booking: most GetYourGuide bookings can be cancelled free up to 24 hours ahead, though multi-day cruises may differ.
Alternatives to Semiramis
- Nile Shams: one of the cheapest agency ships, 3 nights from $406 in summer, Monday from Luxor.
- Chateau Lafayette: triple-share agency fares from $479 for 3 nights.
- Mövenpick: Sun Ray sails the same Thursday/Monday days; Hamees sails all year.
- Steigenberger: Minerva and Royale leave Luxor on Thursday too, with sightseeing extra on direct bookings.
- More choices in the ships hub.
Semiramis Nile cruise FAQ
How many Semiramis Nile cruise ships are there?
Three, all run by SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises: Semiramis I, II and III. I and II have 70 units each with two balcony Royal Suites; III has 66 units with smaller cabins.
What is the difference between Semiramis II and Semiramis III?
Semiramis II has 22 m² cabins, two Royal Suites with balconies, a 140 m² pool and a lift. Semiramis III has 19 m² cabins, two 40 m² Junior Suites, a 50 m² pool and no lift on its factsheet.
How much does a Semiramis III Nile cruise cost?
Through an Egyptian agency, 3 nights from Aswan cost $406 per person (May–August) or $586 (September–April); 4 nights from Luxor cost $455 or $645. Guided excursions and entry fees are included.
Where does the Semiramis Nile cruise board in Luxor?
At the Blue Sky dock beside the Luxor bridge in El Bughdady, south of the town centre, for all three ships.
What days does Semiramis sail?
Semiramis III leaves Luxor on Thursday and Aswan on Monday, per the agency that sells it. The UK's Classic Semiramis II package runs Thursday to Thursday for 7 nights.