Sonesta Moon Goddess Nile cruise ship: balconies at Sonesta prices

The Sonesta Moon Goddess Nile cruise ship is the one to pick in Sonesta's fleet if a balcony matters to you: 49 of its 53 rooms have sliding glass doors to a private balcony, which is not a given on Nile ships at this level. It sails the same weekdays as the flagship Sonesta St George I, has a family-friendly pool and free Wi-Fi, and is sold the same way: cabin and meals direct, sightseeing on top.

The ship: balcony cabins, pool and facilities

The Moon Goddess has 53 rooms: 49 cabins with sliding glass doors onto private balconies and 4 Presidential Suites. Every bathroom has a bathtub, and all cabins are non-smoking. A balcony is the main reason to choose this ship over the St George, where Sonesta does not say whether the standard cabins have one.

On the sun deck there is an oversize pool with a shallow-water extension, a Jacuzzi, a bar and a barbecue. Inside: a spa with gym, massage, sauna and steam bath, a beauty salon, a bazaar (shop), billiards, table tennis and a jogging track. Wi-Fi is listed as complimentary; on any Nile ship, expect it to be slow and patchy while sailing. A doctor is on call for a fee.

Evenings follow the usual Sonesta pattern: a captain's welcome cocktail, a galabeya party (a galabeya is the long, loose Egyptian robe), a Nubian folk show and a belly dancer.

A balcony does not guarantee a view. At busy moorings ships often tie up side by side, so your balcony may face the next ship until you sail.

Sonesta does not publish a build year for the Moon Goddess; figures quoted elsewhere are not confirmed, so ask about the cabin's condition and the last refurbishment rather than the age.

Sonesta Moon Goddess itinerary

The Moon Goddess leaves Luxor every Monday for 4 nights to Aswan and Aswan every Friday for 3 nights to Luxor; together they make a 7-night round trip. Sonesta publishes its detailed day-by-day timetable for the St George, which sails the same days. Expect the same pattern, and ask for the Moon Goddess's own timetable when you book:

• 4 nights from Luxor: Karnak and Luxor Temple on day 1, the West Bank on day 2, Edfu and Kom Ombo on day 3 (on the St George, Kom Ombo is at 18:30, after dark in winter), Philae, the High Dam and the Aswan Botanical Garden on day 4.
• 3 nights from Aswan: Philae and the High Dam on day 1, Kom Ombo and Edfu on day 2, the West Bank on day 3. On the St George, Karnak and Luxor Temple come on the last morning, after check-out: book your flight for the afternoon.

The full day-by-day, with times, is in our Sonesta St George review. Abu Simbel, Dendera and the extra-ticket tombs are not in the programme; see the Edfu and Kom Ombo guide and the Abu Simbel guide for what you can add.

Prices: what a Moon Goddess booking includes

Sonesta sells its ships like hotel rooms: you search dates on sonesta.com/nilecruises and get a rate for the cabin with full board. Its sail-dates pages state that sightseeing activities are not included in the rates. The guide and tickets come on top.

To compare a direct rate with an agency package, add:

• Entry fees: EGP 4,060 per foreign adult for the eight sites of a standard cruise (students half), before Abu Simbel (EGP 822) or Tutankhamun's tomb (EGP 700).
• A guide: on board or through an agency.
• Tips: no official rule; agencies suggest roughly US$5–10 per person per night for the crew and US$10–15 per person per day for your guide, and the ship usually announces its figure at the welcome briefing.
• Drinks, and a New Year's Eve gala supplement if you sail over the holidays.

Children: one child under 6 sharing the parents' room sails free, one child aged 6 to 11 sharing pays half, and from 12 the full rate applies. Ministry sites are free for children under 6.

How to book the Sonesta Moon Goddess

Book direct on sonesta.com for the cabin and meals, then add a guide and tickets; or ask a tour operator or agency for a package with the ship's name on the confirmation. Whichever route you take, get the cabin type and deck in writing, and ask whether entry fees, the guide and transfers are included.

No platform sells the Moon Goddess under its name. GetYourGuide's Aswan-to-Luxor cruises put you on "a 5-star ship or similar", assigned by the operator: ask for the ship's name, deck and the entry-fee list before you pay. A similar 3-night package from Aswan, with Abu Simbel and a Luxor balloon flight, is sold on two platforms:

Today GetYourGuide is the cheapest at from $580, with 555 reviews (4.5). The Headout versions cost $600 and $700, and one has a single 2-star review. The ship, cabin, inclusions and dates can differ between listings, so read each one.

⛵ Aswan

GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan

From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Abu Simbel and Balloon Flight

4.5 (555)

from $580Check dates

⛵ Aswan

GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan

From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Guide

4.3 (654)

from $450Check dates

⛵ Aswan

GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan

From Aswan: 4-Day, 3-Night Nile Cruise with Hot Air Balloon

4.5 (168)

from $550Check dates

⛵ Luxor

GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Luxor

Luxor: 4 Days Nile Cruise with Guided Tours & Abu Simbel

4.6 (132)

from $690Check dates

Prices checked on 19 October 2026

What to check before you book

Before you pay, check four things that decide how the trip feels:

• The cabin and deck, and that it is one of the 49 balcony cabins if that is why you chose the ship.
• The last-morning plan on the 3-night trip, so Karnak does not clash with your flight.
• Whether a guide and entry fees are included, in writing.
• The tipping guidance given at the welcome briefing.

Alternatives to the Moon Goddess

• More suites, same days: the Sonesta St George I, Sonesta's flagship with 57 rooms including 10 suites.
• All suites, different days: the Sonesta Star Goddess, 33 suites with terraces, leaving Luxor on Saturday and Aswan on Wednesday.
• A cheaper start: the best budget Nile cruises, where 3 nights start from $450 on the platforms.
• The wider choice: the Aswan to Luxor cruise, the Luxor to Aswan cruise and all ship reviews.

Sonesta Moon Goddess: questions