Nile River Cruise

Egypt’s most famous Nile cruises offer the most mesmerizing and unforgettable experiences. Every traveler who has experienced it can agree to it, and for those who are still planning, let’s explore Egypt river cruises here and know why they are the best and a must-try during a vacation to Egypt. In this piece of content, we are mentioning majestic river cruises in depth.  

What makes the Nile River cruises unique? 

The cruises allow travelers to visit ancient temples, tombs, and cities while sailing through the Nile waters. Instead of traveling long distances by road, visitors can move between destinations while enjoying scenic river views. Many itineraries focus on Upper Egypt between Aswan and Luxor because it contains the greatest of archaeological sites. The Egypt River Cruises combine sightseeing, relaxation, and cultural experiences into one journey that sets them apart from other cruising experiences. 

One can commute between locations easily, and that too with the stay in the same accommodation. The new-age river cruises over the Nile have everything, like Jacuzzis, bars, lounges, restaurants, and spas. One travels around cities while enjoying all these luxuries. So, the river cruise is not just about commuting; it’s a leisurely experience in a setting where pharaohs’ history rests on the riverbanks of the Nile.  

Why is it preferred to choose a Nile cruise over a land tour?  

• The cruise comes with accommodations, transportation, meals, and enjoyment activities all in an inclusive package.  
• The hassle of packing and unpacking at each location is also eliminated, and travelers stay at the same cabin on the complete journey.  
• While on the cruise, the tourists encounter magical nature’s river view landscapes that one may miss out on on the land tour. 
• Cruise itineraries offer guided shore excursions with experienced tour guides that enhance the overall exploration experiences.  
• The pace of river cruises is much smoother and more relaxing, as sitting in the buses and cars for long hours is much more tiring as compared to cruises where you can relax while traveling between locations. 

Where do Nile cruises usually sail?  

The Nile crosses Egypt and ends in the Mediterranean Sea, so the cruises generally sail between Aswan and Luxor. These are two major port cities in Egypt, widely known for Nile cruise experiences. Not only tourists but also many locals plan for multi-day cruise journeys for relaxation. 

The direction of the river plays an important role; it’s also one of the few rivers that flows south to north. Nile cruises sail between Aswan and Luxor, that part of southern Egypt mostly commonly known as Upper Egypt. So, when the cruise sails from Luxor to Aswan, they sail against the current, which ends in 5 days. 

Whereas, when cruises move from Aswan to Luxor, they sail with the current; that makes sailing fast, and Nile explorations usually end in 4 days. The region here has a number of significant historical monuments; that’s a major reason why this route is popular. On the journey from Aswan to Luxor, one explores the ancient tombs, temples, and historically built complexes that have now become the epitome of the journey. 

On the River Nile, there are a number of cruises available that offer a variety of experiences. Types of Nile cruises are mentioned below with a brief description  

Luxury Nile cruise ships 

They are new-age standard Nile cruises that have comfortable cabins and suites; around 100 passengers can travel at a time. Have dedicated space for lunch and dinners at gourmet-style restaurants on board. It has lounges, spas, and sun decks for capturing alluring river views. They also have open-air lounges for entertainment activities in the evening. 

Famous river cruise lines that are redefining luxury are 

• Movenpick cruises: Movenpick Sunray Nile Cruise, Movenpick Hamees Nile Cruise, Movenpick Royal Lotus, and Movenpick Royal Lily Nile Cruise. 
• Sonesta cruises: Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise, Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise, and Sonesta St. George Nile Cruise. 

All these cruises have all modern amenities and well-crafted itineraries for travelers to witness Egypt in a completely unique way with luxury at its peak. 

Dahabiya cruises   

Another major Nile transportation includes the traditional sailing boats known as dahabiyas. Well, they are the ones that have sailed over the Nile for centuries and were once used by the great rulers for commuting over the Nile. Nowadays, the dahabiyas have changed, as they are recrafted with the technologies. Special two-masted boats are made with all the modern amenities and with a perfect touch of authenticity in them. The curtains, the detailing on the furniture, and the dining interiors all speak volumes of luxury and rich Egyptian culture.  

A list of famous dahabiyas is mentioned below 

• Storia Nile Dahabiya 
• Swan Luxury Dahabiya 
• Movenpick SB Feddya 
• Movenpick SB HAYAH Dahabiya
• Amoura Dahabiya Nile Cruise
• Princess Farida Luxury Dahabiya 

Private yachts 

On the Nile, you don’t only get options for boarding the pre-planned; you can also charter your own cruise for intimate and silent traveling over the Nile. Here tourists also get opportunities to customize their own itineraries as well. By chartering their own cruise, the passengers get a full staff for service, and it is generally preferred by small groups for private vacations or by joint families for peaceful getaways across the Nile. 

Here are the 2 options for chartering your own cruise; to know more, you can check by contacting the Nile Cruisen experts by requesting your own cruise to know the availability. 

• Molouky Dahabiya 
• Yakouta Dahabiya 

Main attractions that are explored on the Nile cruises  

There are majorly four cities that are explored on the egypt tour, so here mentioning the major locations that are typically explored on every nile cruise itinerary 

Luxor: It is usually explored in 2 days, East Bank (Karnak Temple Complex, Luxor Temple, and Avenue of Sphinx) then the West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, and, on extended itineraries, the Tomb of Nefertari) 

Edfu: The only monument in Edfu that is explored in 3-4 hours is the Temple of Horus, one of the well-preserved temples from ancient Egypt. 

Kom Ombo: In Kom Ombo, a majorly unique dual temple is explored, which is the Temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder. With that, the passengers of Nile cruises also explore the Crocodile Museum and the Nilometer, an ancient instrument to measure levels of the Nile. 

Aswan: In Aswan major locations that are explored are Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk, Elephantine Island, and the High Dam. On extended journeys with a day trip, the Abu Simbel temple is also explored. 

Things to keep in mind while selecting Nile cruises  

Nile cruises are like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so, as travelers, your choices may result in different kinds of experiences. Below is a listing of the major points that you must check before finalizing a cruise for your trip. 

• The cruise must have restaurants, open lounges, and sun decks.  
• Should offer cultural programs on board, like traditional music performances and local dance shows. Themed dinners or craft demonstrations to make travel engaging. 
• Must offer inclusive meals for international cuisine so one can have gourmet-style food on board.  
• Provides clear and well-formatted itineraries, as the companies with detailed itineraries tend to offer better cruising experiences.  
• Should have more than 1 deck and an open-air lounge for relaxation while travelling between different locations. 
• The cruise must be regulated by the certified travel partners; it ensures safe and reliable travel, and also passengers also feel comfortable on the journey.  
• Should have competitive prices, as cruises with low prices may lack quality services. Paying a little extra for comfort is better than regretting it later.  

When a passenger books the cruise after noticing these points, it’s more likely that one gets personalized travel with enhanced comfort. Only select the itinerary that fits your travel dates to avoid last-minute exchanges between cities after reaching Egypt. 

If you are facing any kind of issue planning an Egypt tour, then feel free to take help from Egypt-based travel agents. Their expertise can help to plan and book effectively to meet your expectations and travel style. 

Frequently Asked Questions  

Who Should Take a Nile Cruise? 

The Nile cruises suit almost every traveler but are most preferred by history enthusiasts, couples, families, solo travelers, and photographers. Different types of cruise itineraries offer varieties of experiences to different individuals depending upon their choices. 

What to Pack for a Nile Cruise? 

For a Nile cruise, pack lightweight clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat, sunglasses, a camera, and a light jacket for evenings. You can also keep swimwear if you are a jacuzzi person. Well, you can style it however you want; Nile cruises do not have any restrictions about clothing onboard, but while visiting temples, modest clothing is demanded. 

How are meals offered on the Nile cruises? 

Meals on Nile cruises usually include buffet breakfasts. Lunch selections and dinners in a gourmet-style dining area. Menus often combine local Egyptian dishes with international cuisine. Some cruises also host themed dining nights.  

What is included in the guided excursions of Nile cruises? 

Shore excursions include transportation from the cruise to the monument, a professional multilingual tour guide with effective communication skills, and entrance fees for the exploration of temples and tombs. The excursions on all-inclusive cruises become easier as they save a lot of costs, and guided tours also help you understand the historical significance in-depth.