Uniworld Nile river cruise review: S.S. Sphinx, River Tosca and the 12-day trip

A Uniworld Nile cruise is the most inclusive of the Western river-line packages: Cairo hotels, internal flights, drinks with meals and every tip are in the price, on one of two all-balcony partner ships. Our verdict: a strong choice if you want no bills and no tipping envelopes, provided you accept that the ship is a partner vessel and the price is high.

S.S. Sphinx and River Tosca: the two ships

Uniworld does not own a Nile ship. Both ship pages carry a note that the ship's amenities "may differ from those of a Uniworld-company-owned ship", which tells you these are partner vessels. Which one you sail depends on your departure.

S.S. Sphinx is the newer of the two, inaugurated in 2021. It carries 84 guests and 60 staff in 42 rooms: 4 Royal Suites (592 sq ft), 18 Grand Suites (430 sq ft), 4 Deluxe French Balcony rooms (301 sq ft) and 16 French Balcony rooms (233 sq ft). It has two dining venues, a pool, a massage room and a gym. If you have a choice of date, this is the ship with the larger rooms.

River Tosca dates from 2009 and is all-suite: 2 Royal Suites (651 sq ft) and 39 Grand Suites (313–335 sq ft) for 82 guests, with 60 staff, a ratio of almost one staff member per guest. The sun deck has cabanas and a pool.

Every room on both ships has a French balcony. That means a full-height opening window, not a balcony you can sit on. Both ships are small by Nile standards, where a standard Egyptian five-star ship carries 100–150 or more guests.

Uniworld Nile cruise itinerary: Splendors of Egypt & the Nile

The ship part is a 7-night round trip from Luxor. Two stops make it fuller than a standard 3- or 4-night Luxor–Aswan cruise: Dendera, north of Luxor, which short cruises never reach, and the Temple of Khnum at Esna, where many ships stop only for the lock. Tea at the Old Cataract is a nice Aswan touch. The published day list does not show Edfu, so if the Temple of Horus matters to you, ask Uniworld before booking.

Abu Simbel is optional on day 8, not included. If you want it, budget for the excursion; the site ticket alone is EGP 822. See Abu Simbel.

Uniworld also sells extensions after the trip: Jordan (3 nights at the St. Regis Amman), Sharm El Sheikh (3 nights at the Four Seasons) and Jerusalem (4 nights).

Uniworld Nile cruise price and what's included

The fare range is $6,099 to $20,849 per person, depending on departure, ship and suite. It includes:

• four nights in Cairo at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza or the Nile Ritz-Carlton (or similar)
• the Cairo–Luxor flights
• house wine, local beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee with lunch and dinner on board
• all gratuities, on board and ashore

Included tips are the standout. On most Nile cruises you add what agencies suggest, roughly US$5–10 per person per night for the crew and US$10–15 per day for the guide; here that is already paid. Uniworld also notes that its Egypt drinks policy differs from its European river cruises, so don't expect European-style all-day drinks. Budget for drinks outside mealtimes, Abu Simbel and any extra tomb tickets.

On the platforms, the nearest thing is a Cairo-and-cruise package on an unnamed ship. The 6-day all-inclusive Cairo and Nile cruise on GetYourGuide is from $1,700 (4.8 from 56 reviews), and the 8-day Cairo, Luxor and Aswan tour with a cruise from $2,077. Both use a "5-star ship or similar" with more guests and the standard temple list. They cost a fraction of Uniworld's fare, but tips, drinks and often entry fees are on top.

⛵ Cairo

GetYourGuide5 nightsFrom Cairo

Cairo: All-Inclusive 6-Day Egypt Highlights & Nile Cruise

4.8 (56)

from $1,700Check dates

⛵ Cairo

GetYourGuide7 nightsFrom Cairo

From Cairo: 8-Day Tour of Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with Cruise

4.3 (227)

from $2,077Check dates

⛵ Cairo

GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Cairo

From Cairo: 4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Balloon Flight

4.5 (157)

from $1,300Check dates

⛵ Luxor

GetYourGuide4 nightsFrom Luxor

Luxor: 5 Days Nile Cruise with Guided Tours & Abu Simbel

4.4 (69)

from $840Check dates

Prices checked on 19 October 2026

Uniworld or Viking?

Both sell a 12-day Cairo–Cairo trip with Dendera and Esna on the river.

Uniworld is the more inclusive package and starts lower; Viking gives you an extra night on board and ships it owns. More: Viking review.

What to check before you book

Whatever guest reviews say, these points decide whether a departure suits you:

• Which ship. S.S. Sphinx is newer with larger suites. Ask which one sails your date.
• Edfu. Not on the published day list; ask if you want it.
• Abu Simbel. Optional on day 8. Decide in advance whether to pay for it or keep the free day.
• Extra tombs. Tutankhamun (EGP 700) and Seti I (EGP 2,000) in the Valley of the Kings are separate tickets. Ask whether your programme includes them.
• Day 3. The flight to Luxor comes with a wake-up call at 05:00 or earlier.

How to book a Uniworld Nile cruise

Uniworld sells the Nile only as its full 12-day package, on its own site and through travel agents. The ships are not sold cabin-only, and no platform sells S.S. Sphinx or River Tosca. A "Sphinx" or "Tosca" Nile cruise offered by a local agency is not a Uniworld departure unless Uniworld is named as the seller. The programme page is https://www.uniworld.com/us/river-cruise/egypt/nile/splendors-of-egypt-and-the-nile/2027-cairo-to-cairo.

Alternatives to Uniworld

• Viking: 8 nights on its own ships inside a 12-day package.
• AmaWaterways: 11-night package with a 7-night Luxor round trip, priced cruise-only in euros.
• Abercrombie & Kent: its own boats, with published rates that include entrance fees.
• Oberoi Zahra: a small luxury ship sold direct, with entry fees and a guide included.
• A shorter, cheaper trip on the platforms: Egypt tours with a Nile cruise or a Luxor and Aswan cruise.

All luxury options side by side: luxury Nile cruises.

Uniworld Nile cruise FAQ