A Steigenberger Nile cruise is a solid upper 5-star choice with an unusual advantage: five ships on four different weekly patterns, plus one of only two Lake Nasser ships with a balcony in every cabin. The Royale and Regency are the pick of the fleet for their size. The weakness is the price structure: the operator publishes no fares, and the temple programme costs extra on a direct booking.
- Operator
- JAZ Voyages (Travco group), under the Steigenberger brand
- Type
- Five 5-star deluxe ships: four on Luxor–Aswan, one on Lake Nasser
- Class
- 5-star deluxe (operator's label)
- Cabins
- Legacy 76 · Minerva 77 · Royale 52 · Regency 52 · Omar El Khayam 80, all with balcony
- Pool
- Yes, on every ship
- Route
- Luxor ⇄ Aswan 3, 4 and 7 nights; Omar El Khayam sails Aswan ⇄ Abu Simbel on Lake Nasser
- Embarks
- Legacy: Luxor Mon, Aswan Fri · Minerva and Royale: Luxor Thu, Aswan Mon · Regency: Luxor Sat, Aswan Wed · Omar El Khayam: Aswan Mon, Abu Simbel Fri
- How it is sold
- Direct on jazcruises.com (cabin and full board; sightseeing charged on check-in) and through agencies
- Sister ships
- The JAZ fleet (same operator and booking office)
- Status
- Sailing
Source: hrewards.com ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Choice of ships and days
- 5/5Five ships; Luxor starts on Monday, Thursday or Saturday
- Cabins
- 3.5/519–19.5 m² cabins with sliding windows; balconies only in suites, except on Omar El Khayam
- Itinerary
- 4/5The standard Luxor–Aswan programme, plus a full Lake Nasser cruise
- Value
- 3/5No public fares; sightseeing charged on check-in when booked direct
- Transparency
- 3.5/5Day-by-day itineraries and factsheets published; prices are not
- Booking ease
- 4/5Online booking engine on jazcruises.com, and widely sold by agencies
Pros
- Four sailing patterns, so one of the ships usually fits your dates
- Royale and Regency carry just 52 cabins and suites each
- Every ship has a pool; Royale and Regency add a Jacuzzi and a two-level sun deck
- Omar El Khayam: a balcony in every cabin, on Lake Nasser
- Itineraries and ship factsheets are published in detail
Cons
- No published fares on the operator's site
- Sightseeing is not included in a direct room rate
- Standard river cabins have sliding windows, not sit-out balconies
- Build and refurbishment years are not published
- No Wi-Fi on Lake Nasser except at Aswan and Abu Simbel
Who runs Steigenberger Nile cruises
Steigenberger is a hotel brand of Deutsche Hospitality (now H World International). Its Nile ships, though, are listed, sold and itinerary-published by JAZ Voyages, the cruise arm of the Travco group's JAZ Hotel Group. Reservations go to the same office at the Travco Center in Sheikh Zayed City, Giza, as the JAZ ships, and the brand's own page at hrewards.com sends bookings to the JAZ booking engine.
In practice this means a Steigenberger cruise and a JAZ cruise work the same way: same booking site, same rule on sightseeing, same style of programme. It also clears up two names that cause confusion:
- "Jaz Omar El Khayam" does not exist either; the Lake Nasser ship is the Steigenberger Omar El Khayam.
- The Steigenberger Nile Palace in Luxor is a hotel on land, not a ship; TUI uses it for cruise-and-stay holidays.
The five ships: cabins, suites and sailing days
Most ships on the Nile call themselves five-star, and every Steigenberger factsheet says "5-star deluxe". There is no public ministry list of rated Nile ships, so treat the label as the operator's.
Steigenberger Legacy: the big Monday ship
The Legacy has 72 double cabins, 2 single cabins and 2 suites. Cabins measure 19 m², with large panoramic sliding windows on the main and upper decks; the two 39 m² suites have balconies and a Jacuzzi bath. There is a large sun deck with a pool and pool bar, a doctor on board and free Wi-Fi in cabins and public areas. It leaves Luxor on Monday (4 or 7 nights) and Aswan on Friday (3 nights), the same days as Sonesta's St. George.
Steigenberger Minerva: the Thursday twin
On paper the Minerva is the Legacy's near-twin: 73 doubles, 2 singles and 2 suites with balconies, the same 19 m² and 39 m² sizes, a pool and pool bar. It sails on a different pattern: Luxor on Thursday (4 or 7 nights) and Aswan on Monday (3 nights).
Steigenberger Royale and Regency: the smaller pair
The Royale and Regency share one specification: 50 double cabins of 19.5 m² and 2 suites of 35 m², a two-level sun deck with pool, pool bar and Jacuzzi, a library with a fireplace, and the Panorama Bar. With 52 units each they are the most intimate ships in the fleet, and our choice if the dates work.
- Royale: Luxor on Thursday (4 or 7 nights), Aswan on Monday (3 nights).
- Regency: Luxor on Saturday (4 or 7 nights), Aswan on Wednesday (3 nights).
The Regency's Saturday start is useful when the Monday and Thursday ships do not fit your flights; Sonesta's Star Goddess, JAZ's Elite Viceroy and Mayfair Cruises' Esplanade also leave Luxor on Saturday.
Steigenberger Omar El Khayam: Lake Nasser
The fifth ship sails above the High Dam on Lake Nasser, between Aswan and Abu Simbel. It has 68 double cabins of 24 m², 8 Grand Suites of 35 m² and 4 Royal Suites of 70 m², and every cabin and suite has a private balcony. There is a sun-deck pool with pool bar and Jacuzzi, a lift and three lounge bars. Wi-Fi works only at Aswan and Abu Simbel, so expect to be offline on the lake.
Steigenberger Nile cruise itinerary: 4 nights Luxor to Aswan
The Legacy, Royale and Regency publish the same 4-night day plan from Luxor; only the weekday changes. The 3-night trip from Aswan is the same river in reverse, starting with Aswan's sights on the first afternoon and fitting Kom Ombo and Edfu into one day.
Day 1
Luxor
Board and check in at LuxorMoored in Luxor
Day 2
Valley of the Kings
West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon, HatshepsutSails to Edfu through the Esna lock
Day 3
Edfu
Temple of Horus at Edfu, then Kom OmboSails on to Aswan
Day 4
Philae
High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae; felucca to the Botanical Garden on Kitchener's IslandMoored in Aswan
Day 5
Aswan
Check out after breakfast—
- 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.
On the 7-night round trips, Abu Simbel is listed as optional. Booked direct, every one of these visits is an extra: the itinerary pages say sightseeing "is not included in the room rate and would be charged separately upon check In". If you pay the gate prices yourself, the eight sites of a standard cruise cost EGP 4,060 per foreign adult.
| Site | Ticket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Karnak Temple (incl. Open-Air Museum) | EGP 600 | Student EGP 300 · opens 06:00, last entry 16:00 · the Mut precinct is a separate ticket |
| Luxor Temple | EGP 500 | Student EGP 250 · opens 06:00, last entry 19:00 — visit after dark |
| Valley of the Kings (general ticket) | EGP 750 | Student EGP 375 · opens 06:00, last entry 17:00 summer / 16:00 winter |
| Hatshepsut Temple (Deir el-Bahari) | EGP 440 | Student EGP 220 · last entry 17:00 summer / 16:00 winter |
| Edfu: Temple of Horus | EGP 550 | Student EGP 275 · opens 07:00 (06:00 Sun and Wed), last entry 16:00 |
| Kom Ombo Temple (incl. Crocodile Museum) | EGP 450 | Student EGP 225 · last entry 20:00 — ships visit at dusk |
| Philae: Temple of Isis | EGP 550 | Student EGP 275 · boat to the island not included · last entry 15:00 |
| Unfinished Obelisk | EGP 220 | Student EGP 110 · last entry 15:00 |
Official ticket prices checked on 19 October 2026. Many cruise packages include these, many don't: read the listing. Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticket shop (egymonuments.com) ↗
Omar El Khayam: the Lake Nasser cruise
Omar El Khayam keeps the same weekly rhythm as Mövenpick's Prince Abbas. It sails 4 nights from Aswan on Monday to Abu Simbel and 3 nights from Abu Simbel on Friday back to Aswan; the two join into a 7-night round trip from Monday. Lake Nasser ships cannot pass the High Dam, so you board beside the dam, not on the Aswan Corniche.
The southbound cruise stops at Kalabsha (EGP 200), Wadi es-Sebua (EGP 150) and Amada (EGP 150), passes Qasr Ibrim, which you see only from the sun deck, and ends with Abu Simbel (EGP 822). An optional sound and light show runs at Abu Simbel in the evening. As on the river ships, sightseeing is charged separately when booked direct. More detail is in our Lake Nasser cruise guide.
Steigenberger Nile cruise prices
The operator publishes no fares; prices come from a dated search on jazcruises.com. We have no Steigenberger rate to quote, and agency packages vary in what they include, so compare like for like:
- Direct: cabin and full board only. Add the guided programme on check-in, and the entry fees above if not included.
- Through an agency: usually a package with guide and transfers. Ask for a written list of the sites and entry fees included.
- On the platforms: no GetYourGuide, Headout or Tiqets listing names a Steigenberger ship. Their Luxor–Aswan cruises run on "a 5-star ship or similar", and you get the name after booking.
The closest platform match is the 3-night Aswan → Luxor cruise with Abu Simbel and the balloon, from $580 on GetYourGuide and rated 4.5 from 555 reviews. It is also sold on Headout:
| 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 the cheapest of the three today; the ship, cabin and inclusions may differ.
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
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
Aswan: 4-Day Private Nile Cruise to Luxor with Balloon Ride
4.2 (261)
from $643Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 4-Day, 3-Night Nile Cruise with Hot Air Balloon
4.5 (168)
from $550Check dates
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
What travellers say
We have not collected guest reviews of the individual Steigenberger ships, so we will not summarise opinions we have not read. Before you book, check the points that vary between ships and sellers:
- Which ship. An agency selling "Steigenberger" may mean any of the four river ships; the weekday tells you which.
- Your deck. Standard cabins have sliding windows; only suites (and every cabin on Omar El Khayam) have balconies. At busy quays ships often moor side by side, so the view can be the next ship.
- The sightseeing. Is the guided programme included, and which entry fees?
- New Year. Expect a compulsory New Year's Eve gala supplement on many ships; ask for the figure.
How to book a Steigenberger Nile cruise
Booking a Steigenberger cruise without surprises
- Pick the ship by weekday: Legacy Monday, Minerva or Royale Thursday, Regency Saturday from Luxor.
- Search dates on jazcruises.com, or ask an agency for a package with guide and entry fees.
- If you book direct, budget for the sightseeing charged at check-in.
- Ask for a suite or Omar El Khayam if a real balcony matters.
- Get the full programme and inclusions in writing before you pay.
Alternatives
- JAZ: the same operator's own fleet, including the suite-heavy Elite Viceroy on Saturdays.
- Mövenpick: eight vessels, including the Prince Abbas on Lake Nasser and the long Cairo cruise.
- Mayfair Cruises: published per-night rates that include entry fees and sightseeing.
- Sonesta St. George: Monday/Friday like the Legacy, with an official day-by-day timetable.
For the wider picture, see the best Nile cruises and how a Luxor to Aswan cruise works day by day.
FAQ
Who operates Steigenberger Nile cruises?
JAZ Voyages, part of the Travco group's JAZ Hotel Group, operates and sells the ships under the Steigenberger brand. Bookings go through jazcruises.com, the same site as the JAZ fleet.
Which is the best Steigenberger Nile cruise ship?
For a smaller ship, the Royale (Thursday from Luxor) or the Regency (Saturday from Luxor), with 52 cabins and suites each and a Jacuzzi on the sun deck. For balconies, the Omar El Khayam on Lake Nasser, where every cabin has one.
Is sightseeing included on a Steigenberger Nile cruise?
Not on a direct booking. The itinerary pages say sightseeing is not in the room rate and is charged separately at check-in. Agency packages usually include a guide; check the entry fees.
What days does the Steigenberger Minerva Nile cruise sail?
Thursday from Luxor for 4 or 7 nights and Monday from Aswan for 3 nights, the same pattern as the Royale. The Legacy sails Monday from Luxor and the Regency Saturday.
Is the Steigenberger Nile Palace a cruise ship?
No. The Steigenberger Nile Palace is a hotel in Luxor. The Nile ships are the Legacy, Minerva, Royale, Regency and Omar El Khayam.
Does Steigenberger sail a long Nile cruise from Cairo?
No. All five ships sail Luxor–Aswan or Lake Nasser. The only regular long Cairo ⇄ Aswan cruise is Mövenpick's Darakum; see our guide to Nile cruises from Cairo.