Nile River Cruises: Your Ultimate Guide
How to explore millennia-old pyramids, temples and tombs by river - without a hitch?
From choosing the quietest cabin to dealing with pushy vendors, learn everything you need to know for a truly memorable Nile river cruise holiday.
Enjoy all the glamour of a Hercule Poirot novel - without the unpleasant bits!
Why choose a Nile cruise?
A River Nile cruise is a thrilling fusion of romance and drama - a voyage unlike any other.
Exploring one of the most history-rich waterways on Earth, as a Nile cruiser you'll visit 3,000-year-old temples, venture into ancient tombs, and witness the majesty of the Pyramids.
Awe-inspiring sites such as the Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple contrast with the age-old activity on and around the Nile itself: gently grazing cattle, patient fishermen - and if you’re lucky - the occasional Nile crocodile!
And the magic hour - when the dying sun bathes the shores as the Call to Prayer is made - is a nightly highlight for many visitors.
'Voyage of a lifetime' may be a rather hackneyed phrase, but it certainly applies to a Nile cruise!
What can I expect from a Nile river cruise holiday?
Nile cruises are unlike ocean cruises: on the sea, the ship is often the destination, but on the Nile, the ship's primary function is to take you between ancient sites - albeit in comfort and style.
Nile cruise ships are also much smaller than most cruise liners - but they generally include deck-top pools, cabins with balconies, attentive service, good food, and nightly entertainment.
Nile river cruise holiday: top sites
The majority of Nile cruises involve flying into Luxor Airport, boarding your ship at the Corniche in Luxor, then cruising down to Aswan, before the return trip to Luxor and your flight home.
The sites you'll visit on the route will include some or all of the following, depending on your chosen package:
Luxor
- Luxor Temple
- Karnak
- Luxor Museum
- Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
- Ramesseum
- Colossi of Memnon
- Valley of the Kings
- Medinet Habu
- Tombs of the Nobles
Edfu
- Temple of Horus
- Kom Ombo double temple
Aswan
- Temple of Philae
- Nubian Museum
- Monastery of St. Simeon
- The Unfinished Obelisk
What about Cairo Nile river cruises?
Not all cruises start in Luxor and sail to Aswan. Some begin in the capital, Cairo, then head south to Luxor, or go all the way to Aswan (or vice-versa).
Naturally, Cairo Nile river cruises that sail to Aswan can take longer, depending on how many stops they make - and for how long.
Off-board experience: Things to know
Little downtime on many cruises
Shorter cruises can feel a little rushed, with little time for relaxing. According to Chris Bembridge, "A 7-night cruise is a must to see everything”.
Look for cruises that include time for rest and relaxation.
Knowledgeable tour guides
Cruise ship excursions invariably include a tour guide. These individuals are often extremely knowledgeable and really bring ancient Egyptian history to life. But with a single tour guide for groups of up to 25, you'll need to keep your ears pricked to pick up all their illuminating nuggets.
Temple fatigue
Towards the end of your trip you will have seen many temples, which can lead to being "templed out".
This might seem a pity considering the grandeur of sites like the Temple of Luxor - but it's understandable.
Again, it's a good idea to find a cruise that includes periods of rest so you can appreciate these ancient marvels to their fullest.
Relentless vendors
In order to reach most of the ancient sites you'll enter through a souk-like area lined with vendors' stalls selling everything from t-shirts to ornaments.
These vendors are often relentless, so do be prepared to rebuff vendors' advances firmly yet politely.
Quick tips for dealing with vendors:
- Don't allow any vendor to hand you any item (as this will just encourage them)
- Avoid eye contact
- Say 'la la la' which means 'no no no'
- Keep moving past the vendors
Toilets
Public toilets tend to be grubby and far removed from their Western counterparts - despite the fact you have to pay to use them!
Make sure you bring toilet paper and wipes every time you leave the cruise ship.
Photography: snap carefully
While you are permitted to take photos of Egypt's ancient sites, do be careful how and where you do so.
- Avoid taking snaps at temple or site entrances, or near police or other authorities.
- Drones are completely banned nationwide (so leave yours at home), while setting up a tripod can send the wrong signals.
- Don't take any photos at the airport, since military aircraft often operate there.
Money: bring US dollars
Most goods and services can be bought with US dollars - including hotel accommodation, food and souvenir vendors.
Large notes are difficult to change, so take along 5 and 1 dollar notes.
There's no limit on how much you can take into Egypt, but sums over $10,000 must be declared upon arrival.
However, the local currency - the Egyptian pound - is more widely accepted and you may even get a better deal because the vendors won't need to exchange these (unlike with dollars).
Onboard experience: things to know
The experience may differ from European cruise lines
Many Europe-based river cruise brands offer Nile river cruise holidays. However, while cruises are sold under those brands, the actual ships are Egyptian owned and run.
The cruise firms do insist on a level of service and decor for which their brand has become known, but this can still be different to what you might expect from a European cruise.
Nile cruise ships are very similar
Nile cruise ships are designed and built to very similar dimensions - this is so they can pass through the locks that divide Luxor and Aswan. As such, there isn't much variation between ships.
This limited size means limited facilities. For example, breakfast, lunch and dinner are likely to be served in the same room.
Most ships will feature an alfresco dining area, a top deck pool, an entertainment area, and a souvenir shop.
You won't find any casinos or medical centres on a Nile cruise ship!
Buffet breakfasts are the norm
Most cruises will include buffets for both breakfast and lunch, with a limited a la carte menu for dinner.
Dishes tend to be Western and Egyptian.
Only local drinks are included
Alcoholic drinks and cocktails are included with evening meals, but you'll probably need to pay for top Western brands of beers, spirits and wines.
The best cabins are near the top
The higher your cabin, the more you'll pay.
This higher positioned accommodation often includes small balconies - but when you’re in port you may well be a few feet from someone else's balcony because ships dock side-by-side - so privacy may sometimes be limited.
Entertainment can be a little touristy
Evening entertainment includes acts like belly dancers and whirling dervishes, and parties where guests dress up in local garb.
If this isn’t your bag, calmly observe proceedings with a hot cocoa (Hercule Poirot’s favourite drink) and ensure nothing untoward happens!
Avoid noisy cabins near the ship's front
Your Nile cruise ship is likely to be docked most - if not all - nights. These ships dock side-by-side, bow-to-stern.
Since the ships' engines run 24 hours a day, this can make cabins located in the bow almost unbearable to be in. Some guests have even been known to sleep in their bathrooms, such is the din!
You may need to cross several other ships to reach yours
Since Nile cruise ships dock side by side, chances are you'll need to cross the breadths of several ships to reach your own vessel. Something to bear in mind.
Some tours place more emphasis on security
Some higher priced tours ensure a representative from the cruise company is with you at all times - some even before you go through immigration. On such cruises, tour guides and minders are likely to be on hand throughout your trip.
The sense of security this provides may be especially valuable to lone female travellers or LGBTQ+ visitors - since Egypt can be challenging for these groups, for different reasons.
Some tourists have even reported having police escorts to the airport.
Avoiding an upset stomach takes vigilance
Many visitors experience an upset stomach during their trip to Egypt.
You can minimise the chances by sanitising your hands regularly (especially after handling money); avoiding ice and salads; and drinking bottled water (including for teeth-brushing).
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