luxury nile cruise

The 15 Best Nile Cruises in Egypt: Luxury Sailing from Luxor to Aswan

• Facebook 31

If you’re planning a trip to visit Egypt , of course, you’ll have to visit the Nile River! It’s the longest river in the world, spanning 11 different countries, and is incredibly important to Egyptians for both sustenance and transportation. And the best way to see the Nile is from aboard a luxury cruise sailing between the ancient cities of Luxor and Aswan.

But finding the best cruise to fit your travel plans can be difficult. They travel on specific weekly schedules and have a set itinerary – usually 3, 4, or 7 nights. Information and reviews on Booking.com are limited and since most cruises are fairly pricey, it’s important to understand what you’ll be getting for your money.

So we’ve compiled a list of the top 9 Nile River cruises to make planning your vacation in Egypt a breeze. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

The Best Luxury Nile Cruises in Egypt

1. alexander the great nile cruise.

The Alexander the Great Cruise is a gorgeous cruise ship offering a 4-night Nile River cruise that departs every Monday from Luxor, and a 3-night Nile cruise that departs every Friday from Aswan. This Nile cruise even offers a free airport shuttle service!

Everyone on staff is incredibly helpful and attentive. If you’d like to pamper yourself during your Nile cruise you can take advantage of the spa services, including a hot spring bath and various massage treatments. And meals are fabulous, with both traditional and international cuisine options. And you’ll love the various evening entertainment that is fun for the whole family!

This luxury Nile cruise ship has an outdoor pool surrounded by comfortable lounge chairs for spending warm days relaxing in the sun. Rooms are spacious, clean, and well-appointed with a tv, premium bedding, a private bathroom, and a mini-bar. It’s definitely worth upgrading to a room with a balcony so you can enjoy the views from the privacy of your own room.

Guests especially love the guided tours along the banks of the Nile River. They will take you to the sites and explain the history in a way that is interesting and easy to digest.

Check Prices on Hotels.com

2. Sonesta Star Goddess Cruises

The Sonesta Star Goddess Cruise is an ultra-luxurious cruise sailing the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan for 4 or 7 nights leaving each Monday. The ship features plenty of activities for guests onboard, including a swimming pool, fitness center, and a spa with a hot tub and sauna. And with 24-hour room service, you’ll have every amenity available during your cruise.

Bedroom suites are large and comfortable with nice bedding, satellite televisions, bathtubs, and large windows to keep them bright and airy. You can enjoy a glass of wine at sunset on your private balcony overlooking the banks of the Nile.

You’ll love to indulge in a massage, body wrap, or a pedicure during your cruise. There’s nothing quite like relaxing in a spa while gazing out over the Nile!

Take advantage of the onboard shopping to pick up a few Egyptian gifts for your friends back home. The ship has a main dining area, a sun deck, and a lounge with a dance floor for the evening entertainment. They can also arrange your daily tours of the various sites along the Nile.

3. M/S Esplanade Cruise

The M/S Esplanade Cruise is a chic, lavish ship offering 4 or 7-night Nile River cruises each Monday from Luxor, and 3 or 7-night Nile cruises from Aswan each Friday.

The most impressive feature of this Nile River cruise in Egypt is the beautiful outdoor pool which is surrounded by comfortable loungers and day beds. It looks so pristine and inviting and is the perfect place to cool off after a long, hot morning exploring the Egyptian ruins.

The spacious rooms have air conditioning, a flat-screen television set, coffee and tea-making facilities, a desk, a hairdryer, and many amenities you may need during your cruise. Your stay on this luxurious cruise ship also includes 2 bars, a sauna, and a rooftop terrace.

All of the public seating areas are decorated with a creative flair and are a great place to hang out and meet new friends from all over the world!

4. Mövenpick Royal Lily Cruise

The Mövenpick Royal Lily Cruise offers either a 4-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, or you can choose to make the trip a 7-day round trip affair! Of course the more nights you can spend on this luxury Nile River cruise line, the better!

The deluxe cabins are about 22 square meters and have two twin beds, large windows and bright, cheery decor. Of course, your room will also be appointed with air conditioning, a flat-screen television set, a minibar, and other amenities you’ll need during your stay. A telephone enabled with international calling is also available in your room.

You’ll appreciate the beautiful outdoor swimming pool, the spacious sun deck, the fitness center, and the sauna and spa facilities. The food is divine and you’ll be treated like royalty by the lovely staff at the Mövenpick. They’ll make your Nile cruise unforgettable!

Check Prices on Booking.com

5. Sonesta Moon Goddess

The Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise sets sail each Saturday for 3 or 7 nights from Luxor to Aswan. This modern, luxury cruise ship will be your home away from home as you sail down the Nile River, enjoying the sites and sounds from the comfort of your private room.

The cruise ship is outfitted with a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool, a large sun terrace, a fitness center, a relaxing spa, and a bar serving up refreshing cocktails. Enjoy a massage, a facial, or a body scrub while you sip champagne and cruise down the Nile.

The food is delicious and super fresh. The helpful staff can help you in arranging a transfer to and from the airport, as well as any local excursions.

Rooms are simple and classic with comfortable beds, large private bathrooms, plenty of amenities, and private patios. Free toiletries, a tv, a minibar, a private bathroom, and turndown service are just a few of the amenities that you can enjoy. You’ll want to wake up early to catch the sunrise from the comfort of your own room!

6. Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise

The 5-star Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise offers 4-night and 6-night cruises down the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. The friendly staff at the ship tour desk can assist in booking your airport transfer, any daily excursions, and anything else you may need during your stay onboard.

During your Nile cruise, you can take advantage of the fitness center, the terrace with beautiful views of the banks of the Nile, and the lovely spa services which include Thai massage, facials, and body scrubs.

The large rooms have modern decor and come outfitted with a television set, a minibar (stocked with some free items!), coffee-making facilities, a bidet, bathrobes, and a desk. The beds are so comfortable that you won’t want to get up in the morning!

Be sure to book your stay on the Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise well in advance because this one books up fast!

7. MS Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise

The MS Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise departs from Luxor every Monday for four nights and from Aswan each Friday for three nights. The staff is exceptional and provides you with a 24-hour help desk and room service. 

The cruise also offers multiple packages to make your cruise experience exceptional. The cruise offers Sightseeing, Happiness, Felucca Breakfast, and Honeymoon/Anniversary packages.

The Sightseeing Package includes transfers to sights, such as the High Dam, Karnak Temple, Valley of Kings, Philae Temple, Abu Simbel, and the Luxor Temple in an air-conditioned bus and includes the entrance fee.  

The cruise provides different spacious room types, including standard twin rooms and deluxe king suites. The rooms are nicely furnished and clean, and each morning, you’ll be able to enjoy the yummy breakfast buffet. The cruise is also outfitted with a fitness center, sauna, swimming pool, bar, and restaurant that you can enjoy during your cruise time.

8. Nile Goddess Cruise

The Nile Goddess Cruise offers 4 or 7-night Nile cruises beginning every Monday between Luxor and Aswan. This beautiful ship has classic decor with dark wooden furniture and traditional touches throughout. You’ll forget that you’re on a ship cruising down the Nile River and not in a 5-star resort!

The Nile Goddess features a rooftop pool with plenty of room for lounging in the sun. Also a fitness center, a peaceful spa with a sauna, and even a nightclub. The lounge is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail at the end of the day, and you’ll love the delicious dishes served for onboard breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The air-conditioned rooms have simple but comfortable decor, a minibar, and a satellite television set. Upgrade to a suite to enjoy a separate seating area and a private balcony.

9. Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise

The Oberoi Zahra offers luxury 5 or 7-day Nile cruises departing from either Luxor or Aswan. You’ll want to check the sailing calendar on their website for specific dates of embarkation. The service that you’ll receive onboard is absolutely impeccable from the moment that you’re greeted until the time that you leave. Take advantage of the free airport shuttle!

The daily excursions are both fun and informational. And you’ll appreciate that they try to time your arrival to avoid the crowds.

The ship has a large and refreshing outdoor pool and a spa where you can indulge in a relaxing spa. You’ll love the evening entertainment after enjoying a delectable meal in the onboard restaurant. Rooms are well-appointed with a minibar, an electric kettle, a large bathroom, and bathrobes. If you want to really treat yourself, opt for a suite with a private deck and hot tub!

10. Nile Carnival Cruise

The Nile Carnival Cruise departs from Luxor every Thursday and from Aswan every Monday. The staff is super friendly and accommodating, and the rooms are clean and spacious, with nice views of the river. 

The Nile Carnival Cruise features a restaurant and a bar, packed lunches, snack bar, and it offers both a continental and buffet breakfast. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, flat-screen TV, and air-conditioning, and there are room, laundry, and ironing services available.

You’ll also be able to relax during your time on board as the cruise has a spa and wellness center that offers massages, beauty services, manicures, and hair treatments. Once you’re done getting pampered, you can enjoy the rooftop swimming pool, hot tub, sun terrace, and game room!

11. Jaz Crown Prince Nile Cruise

The Jaz Crown Prince Nile Cruise departs from Luxor every Saturday for 4-7 nights and every Wednesday from Aswan for three nights. The cruise has an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace so you can relax and admire the river views from the deck.

The rooms include standard twin and single cabins with air conditioning, a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, and a mini-bar. The cruise also offers an optional Sightseeing Package for an additional price that includes a visit to the Karnak and Luxor Temples, Valley of the Kings, the Botanical Garden, and the Abu Simbel Temple, among other sites.

Each morning you can enjoy the breakfast buffet, and every evening, you’ll love having tea time on the sun deck. After dinner at one of the restaurants, you can attend one of the shows or parties, including a belly dance show, a Nubian show, a cocktail party, or the Galabya party, depending on the itinerary. 

12. M/S Esmeralda Nile Cruise

The M/S Esmeralda Nile Cruise departs from Luxor each Monday for 4-7 nights, and it departs each Friday from Aswan. The cruise features a swimming pool, restaurant, bar, spa, gym, and sun deck. In the evenings, you can attend one of the shows, including belly dancing, Tanoura, and Oriental and Heritage music entertainment.

The rooms on the M/S Esmeralda Nile Cruise include twin cabins, king-sized beds, and presidential suites equipped with an LED TV, a mini bar, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a safety box. Plus, you can even enjoy a private jacuzzi in the presidential suites!

The Garnet restaurant offers a great breakfast buffet with a good selection, and in the evenings, you can enjoy some delicious International dishes, including Chinese, Italian, Oriental Egyptian, and more. The restaurant is beautiful, and you’ll be able to enjoy your meals with a view of the Nile. 

The cruise’s itinerary will take you to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut on the West Bank, the Edfu and Kom Ombo temples, the High Dam, the Temple of Philae, and the unfinished Obelisk.

13. Movenpick SS Misr Steamer Nile Cruise

The Movenpick SS Misr Steamer Nile Cruise departs on Mondays from Luxor for 4-7 nights and from Aswan on Fridays for three nights. You’ll immediately enjoy the old-time decor throughout the cruise ship as it was built in 1918 by the British Royal Navy. It was turned into a luxury steamer for King Farouk.

The Movenpick SS Misr Steamer offers four cabin options, including the standard, superior, senior suite, and panorama suite. No matter which cabin you choose for your Nile cruise adventure, you’ll enjoy large and panoramic balconies, air-conditioning, and a private bathroom. Other amenities include a TV, a minibar, and a safety deposit box.

You can also savor great quality drinks and cocktails at the Dhabiyyat Bar, and the Marasem Restaurant offers gourmet dishes, so you’ll feel like royalty! After you’re done exploring, you can relax on the large sun deck while sipping your favorite drink next to the swimming pool. 

Check prices on Booking.com

14. Movenpick MS Sunray Nile Cruise

The Movenpick MS Sunray Nile Cruise departs from Luxor each Thursday for 4-7 nights, and it departs from Aswan each Monday for three nights. The cruise features elegant and traditional designs, and it is equipped with a swimming pool, a sundeck with a recreational area, and reading and playroom.

You can choose between the standard, superior, and junior or senior suites with panoramic windows for you to see the Nile. All cabins have air-conditioning, a private bathroom with a bathtub and hairdryer, a TV, a minibar, and a safety deposit box. 

You can enjoy your international meals and breakfast buffet at the main restaurants, and the lounge bar offers afternoon tea and cocktails. You can also enjoy snacks and drinks on the sun deck while you take in all the monument views as you cruise down the Nile. 

15. Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise

The Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise departs from Luxor on Mondays for 4-7 nights and from Aswan every Friday for three nights. You’ll love the luxurious and modern decor across the cabins and the cruise boat!

The surprisingly stylish rooms are equipped with controllable air-conditioning, a minibar, a safe, a private bathroom, and a balcony with sliding doors that open up to the main and upper decks.

Explore the ship, and you’ll find a restaurant, bar, and lounge, where you can enjoy meals and drinks. The restaurant also offers options for vegetarians, and the staff is very friendly and kind. 

When you’re not taking in the Nile views, you can soak up the sun on the sun deck, splash around in the pool, and sip poolside drinks at the bar. There’s also a souvenir shop, a fitness center, and a beauty salon onboard, so you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable stay!

We hope you have a wonderful cruise down the Nile River!

Want more help planning your trip to Egypt? Check out our favorite travel guides!

SHARE THIS ON PINTEREST

About the Author:

Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag. Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her! These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

View all posts

Related Posts

The 12 Best Hotels Near SoFi Stadium in California

The 12 Best Luxury Hotels in Telluride, Colorado

12 Cool Boutique Hotels in Charleston, SC

2 thoughts on “the 15 best nile cruises in egypt: luxury sailing from luxor to aswan”.

Many thanks for great information!

Based on the review here, we booked on the Sonesta Moon Goddess March, 2023. We were disappointed. The rooms were indeed classic and comfortable. The carpets in the hall were old and stained. The HVAC systems in the room did not work properly despite engineering’s best efforts. Hot water was often hard to come by. The most disappointing element was the food. This was served buffet style, and almost never maintained hot. It was as if I had returned to my high school cafeteria. The staff were attentive and tried to please.

The review above does not reflect on the current state of affairs.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Accessibility Links

19 of the best Nile cruises for 2024

Discover egypt’s past on a voyage along the world’s longest river with one of these unforgettable nile cruises.

S ailing the River Nile is a bucket-list experience. Since the first tourists travelled down the river in 1869, it has attracted visitors enthralled by Egypt’s pharaohs, prophets and pyramids. The world’s longest river flows through 11 African countries for 4,100 miles before spilling out into the Mediterranean, but it’s the Upper Nile, which snakes through southern Egypt, that offers the most cruise itineraries. These visit some of the country’s famous ruins and archaeological discoveries, including the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Aswan and the Temple of Horus. Cruises operate year-round but sailings between October and May will avoid scorching summer temperatures. Whether you choose to sail on a modern cruise ship, a restored paddle steamer or even a traditional two-masted dahabiya, these are some of the best Nile cruises and itineraries for this journey of a lifetime.

This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue

1. G Adventures: Pyramids, Temples & the Nile

Best for a dahabiya experience Leave the crowded ports to the oversized ships and opt for a more serene sailing with G Adventures. Its ten-day Egypt: Pyramids, Temples & the Nile itinerary includes four nights in Cairo and five on board a traditional dahabiya, which has no engine so you can sit back and listen to the sounds of the waves. With just ten cabins, it can dock at small sites close to villages for a more authentic experience. These include a visit to a nonprofit charity working with young people in the West Bank, a barbeque on a remote island in the middle of the Nile and a trip to Nubian village for mint tea with a local family.

Passengers 16 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome N Price £££

Advertisement

2. ms farah: taste of egypt.

Best for on-board experience The real attraction of a Nile cruise lies on dry land, but guests on an Avalon Waterways cruise will be in no hurry to disembark. This ship has 56 deluxe cabins and two suites, and all have oversized balconies to watch the world sail by. Treats on board include free use of a sauna and steam room, complimentary wi-fi, barbecue lunches and dinners on the sun deck, a library and welcome amenities including a fruit basket and canapés. Guests can join an Egyptian cooking class, use a telescope to stargaze or attend a lecture by an Egyptologist. Ten-day Taste of Egypt itineraries feature five nights in Cairo, including lunches in local restaurants, trips to the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Aswan High Dam, and an optional dinner cruise with live music and belly dancing.

Passengers 124 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y (aged over eight) Price ££

3. MS Nile Plaza: Cairo, Alexandria and a Nile Cruise

Best for visiting Alexandria While most cruises include time in Cairo before sailing from Luxor, Titan Travel’s Cairo, Alexandria and a Nile Cruise itinerary also squeezes in a full-day excursion to the port city of Alexandria, the former capital of ancient Egypt. The 12-day tour includes seven nights on the MS Nile Plaza with its restaurant, bar and sundeck, two and a half days of free time and even a VIP transfer from your home for your flight to Cairo. Highlights of the sailing include the Valley of the Queens, the beautiful Temple of Philae and an excursion on a traditional wooden felucca.

Passengers 110 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites No Children welcome Y (aged over 16) Price ££

4. Mövenpick MS Darakum: Wonders of the Nile, Cairo to Luxor

Best for watching the world go by Those who like to take the long route and stay on a boat for the duration of their Egyptian adventure in Egypt will enjoy a cruise on the 52-cabin MS Darakum. Thanks to its very low draft, it is one of the few vessels that can sail from Cairo to Luxor. After an intoxicating few days in the capital, exploring its markets, mosques and ancient wonders, it’s time to travel south. The beauty of covering a much longer distance than a traditional Nile cruise is the extra time it allows to simply sit and watch the world go by. Riviera Travel’s Wonders of the Nile: Cairo to Luxor itinerary is sprinkled with long and leisurely sailing days where there’s little to do except relax on the sun deck and gaze out at the small farms and date plantations, before retreating inside to attend the fascinating onboard lectures.

Passengers 104 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y Price £££

5. Mövenpick MS Royal Lily or Royal Lotus: Premium Nile Cruise

Best for ticking off the sights All of Egypt’s most significant sites are given adequate attention on Exodus’ nine-day Premium Nile Cruise. After time in Cairo and a short flight to Luxor, it’s time to board for a voyage through 7,000 years of history. The traditional-style ships include large Royal suites and very high levels of service and comfort throughout. As well as all the usual big hitters, there are plenty of offbeat options that make this an eye-opening choice for the curious traveller. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the impressive seventh-century St Simeon Monastery, the nearby traditional Nubian village and the chance to see Cleopatra’s unfinished obelisk.

Passengers 126 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome N Price ££

6. Oberoi Zahra: Luxury Nile Cruise

Best for maxed-out luxury Devotees of the namesake hotel chain can enjoy the brand’s luxury on the water aboard the plushest boat on the Nile. The modern and minimalist Oberoi Zahra enjoys prime position at its private mooring spot on the banks of the corniche in Aswan. Its elevated approach doesn’t end there. As well as offering trips to the temples of Edfu and the island of El Nabatat on itineraries that include a four-day trip from Luxor, the boat has plenty to keep guests entertained, from a library and games room to a gym and open-air pool. At night, astrology lectures reveal how the night sky influenced life in Egypt in the past. The 27 cabins are tasteful and decorated in a natural colour palette; both of the suites have a private terrace and a hot tub.

Passengers 54 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome N (minimum age is 12) Price £££

7. Tui Al Horeya: Legends of the Nile

Best for home comforts Tui River Cruises launched its first Nile ship in November 2024. The sailings are aimed squarely at the British market and include charter flights from Gatwick and Manchester. The five-deck ship was fully refurbished for Tui and seven-night round-trip Legends of the Nile sailings from Luxor include two excursions to the Temple of Horus in Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo. Other optional shore tours available to purchase include the atmospheric sound and light show at Karna, a hot air balloon ride over Luxor and a visit to the Valley of the Kings. Tui Al Horeya also has a top-deck pool, an area for alfresco dining on warm Egyptian nights and an on-board Egyptologist.

Passengers 145 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome N Price £

8. SS Sphinx: Splendors of Egypt & the Nile

Best for first-timers The SS Sphinx showcases the very best of Egypt, both old and new, in the utmost comfort. Uniworld’s 11-night Splendours of Egypt & the Nile itinerary provides the perfect introduction to Egypt. The Cairo-to-Cairo trip begins with highlights that include the Pyramids of Giza, as well as tea with a Nubian family and even a spot of fishing and birdwatching. The onboard experience is no less delightful, with 42 suites decked out with Egyptian art, hand-carved furniture, a massage room, swimming pool and two gourmet dining rooms. Trips include guided tours of the Egyptian Museum and sailing on a felucca.

Passengers 84 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y Price £££

9. Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau: private charter

Best for families and groups of friends This 164ft-long traditional dahabiya sailing boat may be small but it is perfectly packaged. The first of its kind on the Nile, it is available through Sanctuary Retreats for private charter with personalised week-long itineraries to suit specific interests. This cruise is a great option for families or groups of friends looking for privacy and flexibility. On board there is a heated plunge pool and six individually designed cabins influenced by the country’s culture, geography and heritage, including the Farouk Suite on the upper deck, where the decor is inspired by Egyptian royalty. Guides can be arranged according to guests’ interests — from food to history.

Passengers 12 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y Price £££

sanctuaryretreats.com

10. SS Sudan: On the River Nile

Best for Agatha Christie lovers One of the most historic and atmospheric vessels to ply the Nile’s waters, this celebrated 19th-century steamer once welcomed Agatha Christie aboard. It is widely believed that it was that trip in 1933, accompanying her husband on an archaeological mission, which paved the way for one of her most accomplished murder mysteries. Following Kenneth Branagh’s 2022 adaptation of Death on the Nile , the SS Sudan is the perfect ship for fans of the Queen of Crime; there are cabins named after Christie and her character Hercule Poirot. The boat exudes opulent period charm, from the teak decks and parquet flooring to the brass bed frames in many of the rooms. Guests also have exclusive access to a network of expert archaeologists who will help bring the historical ruins to life.

Passengers 46 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites Y Children welcome Y Price £££

originaltravel.co.uk

11. SS Misr: Timeless Nile

Best for traditionalists Misr, which means “Egypt” in Arabic, is a propeller steamer that has long enjoyed a romance with this country. Built in Preston in 1918 by the Royal Navy, in 1938 it was converted into a luxury yacht that played host to King Farouk, the country’s penultimate monarch. The vessel has now been fully restored to its former glory, and its 12 and 14-night trips are known for celebrating local food — there’s a rather regal feeling inside the main Marasem restaurant, with framed photos of past royalty dotted about and waiters smartly dressed in attire inspired by the glory days of Farouk. The food is largely international but local flavours are celebrated in dishes such as bessara, a local dip made from fava beans.

Passengers 45 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites Y Children welcome Y Price ££

noble-caledonia.co.uk

12. MS Esplanade: Nile cruises

Best for R&R A sophisticated option, focusing on the Upper Nile, the MS Esplanade offers cruises of up to seven nights (minimum three nights) that take in both the east and west banks of Luxor, the Temple of Horus at Edfu and even the mummified crocodiles of Kom Ombo. When it comes to relaxation, guests can spend time on their three, four and seven-day sailings in the hushed spa on the lower deck or relax on one of the shady poolside cabanas on the breezy top deck.

Passengers 150 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y Price ££

mayfaircruises.com

13. La Flaneuse du Nil: traditional-style sailing

Best for return visitors For those who have already sailed the Nile and may be looking for something different, La Flaneuse du Nil is a tempting option. While most boats travel north from Aswan towards Luxor, this intimate five-day cruise heads south into Lake Nasser bound for the rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel. Powered by sails and tugs, just like the original dahabiyas that were once a regular sight on the waterway, this cosy vessel showcases the subtle beauty of the vast man-made reservoir that straddles Egypt’s border with Sudan. The boat sails at a leisurely pace, with stops for lake swims, sunset hikes and solitary mornings on quiet beaches, as well as guided trips to some of the most impressive ancient wonders Egypt has to explore.

Passengers 14 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y (aged over six) Price ££

authentichotels.com

14. Sanctuary Sun Boat III: luxury cruise

Best for fun on the river An extremely attractive boat, and one of the few vessels to (occasionally) cruise from Cairo to Aswan, the Sanctuary Sun Boat III takes its inspiration from the glamour of the 1920s and 1930s. Think ecru tones, four-poster beds draped in the finest Egyptian linen and entertainment in the form of belly dancers and whirling dervishes. There are modern touches, too, with air conditioning and a swimming pool on the Cleopatra Oasis sundeck: the perfect spot on which to sip a hibiscus juice and watch the world go by.

Passengers 32 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y (aged over ten) Price £££

15. RV Da Vinci: Land of the Pharaohs

Best for value With its understated style, the RV Da Vinci is a good choice for passengers who want to travel in more contemporary surroundings. Built in 1993 and fully refurbished since, it offers a comfortable base to travel on the classic route from Luxor or add on a few days in Cairo. CroisiEurope’s eight-day Land of the Pharaohs cruise includes excursions to all the headline sights, such as the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Kom Ombo, and options to book others, such as a breathtaking balloon ride over the Nile Valley or the evocative sound and light show at Karnak. At the end of the day, enjoy a final cocktail as the sun goes down — all drinks are included in the fare.

Passengers 108 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y Price £

croisieurope.travel/en

16. River Tosca: Splendours of Egypt and the Nile

Best for those with children Luxury line Uniworld has expanded its family-friendly Generations programme with an all-new multigenerational itinerary in Egypt. The adapted version of its 11-night Splendours of Egypt and the Nile holiday is aboard the River Tosca and includes child-friendly menus and two dedicated family hosts to oversee activities for junior cruisers aged four to 12 and teen cruisers. Alongside famous sights such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak, activities include a football match with local children and some of the ship’s crew, sand dune boarding, swimming in the Nile, exploring the river by bike and traditional felucca, and a behind-the-scenes visit to the captain’s wheelhouse. While youngsters are having fun with the onboard hosts, adults can relax on the sun deck with its shaded cabanas and swimming pool.

Passengers 82 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y Price £££

uniworld.com

17. MS Radamis II: Nile River Cruise including Cairo and Hurghada

Best for solo travellers If you’re fed up with being stung by single supplements, don’t want to set sail with loved-up couples, or simply just enjoy travelling alone, then check out the Travel Department’s dedicated sailings for singles. The company charters this comfortable ship, which has 75 cabins, and for solo travellers it makes for an exclusive and intimate holiday. The sun-deck bar is a top spot to mingle over cocktails with newfound friends and enjoy barbecues. The supplement-free solo itineraries take in a 12-night Nile cruise, with included shore trips to the Temple of Horus, Valley of the Kings, High Dam and temples of Karnak and Luxor. At the end of the cruise you’ll fly and flop with a couple of days of relaxation in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada. The tour operator also uses the vessel for its escorted group tours on the Nile.

traveldepartment.co.uk

18. Sonesta Dahabeya Amirat: Nile cruise

Best for groups You can sail the Nile in style on this twin-masted dahabiya, which harks back to the graceful travel of bygone times. Inspired by the 19th-century vessels used by royalty and aristocrats, this intimate and sophisticated 14-passenger ship is the smallest in the fleet owned by the international Sonesta hotel group. It’s a wonderful choice for extended families or groups of friends who want to book an entire ship for an exclusive holiday. Sumptuous cabins are decked out in blue, gold and cream, and guests can wallow in baths after a busy day sightseeing. The ship goes back and forth on week-long trips between Luxor and Aswan and wherever possible sails under wind power.

Passengers 14 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites N Children welcome Y Price £££

sonesta.com/sonesta-dahabeya-amirat

19. AmaLilia: Secrets of Egypt and the Nile

Best for being pampered AmaLilia, which sailed on the Nile for the first time in March 2024, would impress even the most discerning pharaoh with its marble bathrooms, heated pool, massage treatments — and even a nail bar. Its suites are stylish and contemporary, and the decor throughout the ship has an understated elegance, showcasing Egyptian ornaments and artwork. The thoughtful Secrets of Egypt and the Nile itinerary includes extras such as the Abdeen presidential palace for lunch and a lesson in papyrus making in Luxor. AmaLilia is an almost identical ship to AmaWaterways’ first Nile ship AmaDahlia, with the addition of more plush suites.

Passengers 72 Private guides Y Private access to historical sites Y Children welcome Y (aged over four) Price £££

amawaterways.co.uk

Additional reporting by Jeannine Williamson and Siobhan Grogan

• Is it safe to travel to Egypt? • When is the best time to cruise the Nile? • Best tours of Egypt

Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here

Related articles

APRIL SALE:   Book now and get   up to 60% off!

Luxury Nile River Cruises

Searching for a top-class river cruise experience? Look no further, as our Luxury Nile river cruises will allow you to discover exceptional destinations such as Luxor and Aswan. Taste the adventure and discover new cultures while enjoying premium services and facilities. Read more on luxury river cruises .

90 Luxury Nile river cruises with 713 reviews

• River Cruise
• Christmas & New Year

Cairo and Nile Cruise Tours - Included Internal Flights

Brilliantly organised trip by Getaways Egypt..its fast paced and a good few early morning starts. This is really a 5 day trip with so much great adventures on the schedule. Getaways looked after us with great care thanks to Harry's great organisation. Only downside is..as time is limited I would recommend skipping the Nubian Village tour and definitely the terrible Karnak night light show.

• €110 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

River Nile Story - 4 Days 5 stars Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor with meals and Sightseeing

We had a wonderful cruise and our tour guide - Khaled was excellent. He made everyday's tour special and exciting. I can highly recommend him to anybody who wants to visit Egypt and learn more about the ancient Egyptians. Thanks a lot Khaled for all the special moments we could share with you

Kingdom of Egypt - 8 Days ( Cairo , Aswan - Nile Cruise - Luxor ) & Sleeper Train Round Trip

A great taste of Egypt - with just about everything done for you! In Cairo, our driver Islam was outstanding - a most friendly & accommodating person. Sara, our tour guide, has exceptional knowledge. The sights we saw were breathtaking - pyramids and temples in Memphis, Saqqara and of course Giza; the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, and the citadel and mosque in Old Cairo. Sara kept the tour going at a pace that suited us (it was just the 2 of us travellers in Cairo and surrounds), and Islam drove us everywhere - going above and beyond, to pick us up outside temples, stopping for photographs, Turkish coffee, fellafel sandwiches etc. Overnight sleeper train to Aswan was fun, and we were met by Khaled, our guide for the next chapter. He was thoroughly prepared, with all of our tickets for temple visits pre-purchased, so we could avoid big queues. His passion and pride for Egypt's ancient past is evident! We also met the rest of our group - 12 people from different parts of the world, and a mix of ages. We took an extra trip - a drive through the desert at sunrise to visit Abu Simbel. Wow! The highlight for me in Aswan was a visit to a family home in a Nubian village, and then a sunset boat ride back to our cruise ship. The time onboard the ship was enjoyable: comfortable room, friendly staff and good food. Stops along the way were outstanding: Kom Ombo (at dusk) and Edfu (at dawn) temples, before arriving in Luxor for 2 days exploring the incredible temples and tombs on the east and west banks of the Nile. Overnight sleeper train back to Cairo, and we were again met by Islam, who was in touch with us on the train trip to ensure an easy pickup once we arrived. Overall, an exceptional package that was great value for money, and a terrific introduction to Egyptian history and culture.

Around Egypt in Luxury

It was amazing. The local guides were fabulous. It is a fairly jam packed tour with many early mornings, so it’s that’s not your thing consider something less packed

Nile Cruise 4 days 5 stars including internal flights

The cruise was very nice and the staff friendly. Facilities were good. However, for tourists coming from countries with weak currencies it was a very expensive trip. We knew that in advance, but still decided to go on the trip. Our discomfort was with the tips that were expected by every-one. The guides, the bus drivers, the driver of horse carriage, the staff on the boat all expected tips and they were adamant to get it. They were dissatisfied if you give less than what they wanted. These extra money that has to be paid made the trip even more expensive.

10 Days Customized Luxury Egypt Tour with Dahabiya Cruise

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

• In-depth Cultural

Highlights of Egypt

Bucket list item done and so NOT disappointed. ______________________________________ I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tourradar for arranging our recent 15 Day Highlights of Egypt tour. This has always been a Bucket List item for me escpecially and I was a bit concerned that I might be disappointed but thanks to your Company those fears were more than belayed. I do have a few concerns about Ancient Egypt Tours as a representative for your Company but I will address them at the end of this review. We travelled to India in 2018 with Tourradar and we enjoyed that so much that we decided to come back to you as our organiser for this special trip to Egypt. We have not been disappointed with the result and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience from start to end. I have always been a big fan of all things Ancient Egypt so we chose this particular tour because it it encompassed everything we wanted to see and do. We would like to thank all the Guides and drivers who took great care of us during the tour, Waleed in Cairo, Shaima in Alexandria and Habib in Upper Egypt. Their knowlege, passion, prodessionalism and friendliness were wonderful and their ability to impart so much knowlege to us with an excellent command of English was outstanding. We would also like to thank the drivers, Achmed in Cairo and Alexandria and the various others in Upper Egypt, whose professionalism and friendliness got us to so many sites safely, despite the crazy and uncontrollable traffic, that I am sure you are well aware of. I have waited all my life to visit and take in the awe and amazement of the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, the Temples and so much more so thanks to Tourradar I can truly say that I am totally satisfied and over the moon at finally getting a chance to fulfill this one big dream of my life. THANK YOU. I hate to finish on a negative note but I think you need to rethink using Ancient Egypt Tours as your representative in Egypt. We had several incidents where the information and communication skills of this company left a lot to be desired. Nearly all of the first few days I had to call or message to get information about pick up times and which Hotels we would be using during the tour. Unfortunately during one call I got so frustrated that I was forced to lose my temper a little to try and make the representative know how frustrating it was. One more thing that I would like point out is that the itinerary clearly stated that we would be using comfortable, airconditioned cars in Cairo and Alexandria. Unfortunately this was not the case. I am sure you are aware of the state of cars in these cities but the one we were in was unclean, cramped and the airconditioning was not working at all well. The driver is a man who is somewhere between 190cm - 200cm tall, (not his fault) so he had to drive with his seat so far back that the person sitting behind, usually me, had very little room and was very uncomfortable especially on the long drive from Cairo to Alexandria and back. Niether of us is an oversize or incapacitated person but it was still unacceptable. Surely Ancient Egypt tours could use proper purpose built transport as they did in Upper Egypt not what appeared to be an everyday taxi. I understand that changes to the itinerary can and will be made to overcome issues but to change it when it makes no sense at all is crazy. When we got to Aswan we became a group of 5 and for some strange reason the next days tour to Abu Simbel was rearranged so that we did the Aswan Tour and Abu Simbel was the day after. We were also supposed to spend a second night at the Pyramisa Hotel Aswan but instead we ended up on the Nile cruiser. If we had stuck to the original Itinerary we would have not had to get up at 3.45am to drive 3 hours to Abu Simbel so we could get back to the ship in time for sailing. If we had stuck to the original Itinerary we would have had a reasonable start time for the Abu Simbel tour and a relaxing afternoon back in Aswan then a half day tour of the Aswan quarry the next day which would have gotten us all to the Ship without rushing. All of us 5 travellers could not see the sense or logic for this change but any objections we had fell on deaf ears. Each time we returned to Cairo we were put in the same resort at Giza near the Pyramids which was great in the first few days as our tours all centred around this area.and although the resort was great it seemed to us that it would have been a good idea, on the return to Cairo from Alexandria, to put us in a Hotel somewhere closer to the Downtown area so we had a chance to check out local restaurants and shopping in our free time. We felt a bit stuck out in the boom docks where we were. Also when we came back from Luxor we were supposed to fly out to Doha at 2.15am on the Saturday morning and should have been left at the Airport, but for some unexplicable reason we were checked back into the Resort for a nights accomodation. Luckily I was able to change our flight to later Saturday afternoon at an extra cost to us of $300, so it appears that someone in the Ancient Egypt office had not looked at this arrangement correctly. As I stated I am sorry to end on this negative note but for the comfort and peace of mind of future travellers I felt it was important to let you know. This is the only reason that I gave the tour 4 stars out of 5. On a positive note thanks again for the tour and although we will not go back to Egypt as we feel it truly is a once in a lifetime experience but we will certainly look to you at Tourradar as our go to Agent for future touring.

4 Day - 3 Night Deluxe Nile Cruise Trip Aswan & Luxor

Our guide was magnificent. He was thorough, patient, and we learned so much from him.

Splendours of Egypt (Classic, Summer, 12 Days)

Thank you, Insight Vacations, for making our dream come true! We have had a fantastic experience in Egypt since 26.2.2018 to 09.03.2018 and really appreciate true dedication and top level of professionalism demonstrated by our Tour Director Mohammed Abd Allah, our guide Ramaddan and coordinator Rafaat. Those people were always there to deal efficiently with any request or wish we had and answer any question. We can highly recommend them as well as the company in general as the best facilitators of international travel ever. They provided us with a safe and reliable way to get introduced to the wonders of Egypt as well as it's friendly and hospitable people.

Classical Egypt & Nile Cruise - 11 days

Me and my friend decide to visit Egypt. We booked with the local travel agency Flight Center, who together with On the Go Egypt helped us book the trip. We chose the Classical Egypt and Nile cruise package. Our tour guide was Mohammed (Momo) and we had one of the best experiences with him. Throughout the tour he showed deep knowledge of the history and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians monarchs and people. He made it possible for us to link all the historic sites, from the great pyramids to the Nubian Philae temple. He was able to interpret site paintings and hieroglyphics for us to make sense of the tour. My highlights for the tour were the pyramids, the valley of the kings and the cruise. We were generally happy with our stay. We felt safe at all times

Jewel of the Nile - 10 days

The tour is one of the best memories of my life. Ahmed our tour guide was knowledgeable enough to make us understand his country's rich history n heritage. At the end of the trip he wasn't our guide but a very good frnd!!! Overall it was jus awesome!!!

Luxor: 5 Days Nile Cruise with Abu Simbel

From Aswan 4 Days 3 Nights Nile Cruise WITH GUIDED TOURS

Egyptology Travel is one of our lucky best choices in Egypt, this Wonderful Experience of Nile Cruise is one of things we didn't even expect Our Boat was amazing, the food was delicious, it's an open buffet through all the days every things is written in the itinerary we had, no more money paid, no hassle, no one ask for any money Nile Cruise for 3 Nights from Aswan to Luxor was our lucky and best experience I recommend it so much Thanks for every one who helped us in this awesome journey Thanks all Operations Team who was in connection with us through all the tour

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Aswan to Luxor 4-Day 5* Deluxe Nile Cruise

Luxury nile river cruise reviews.

Wel organized, very good acomodation. Just great

We loved the tour and Mr Khalid and his team is g8. We wish him good luck and hope to see him again thanks.

Amazing trip - incredible and welcoming hospitality. They look after you from the moment you step off the plane. Khalid, our guide in Luxor was incredibly knowledgeable and insightful, really showed his experienced in egyptology. Well worth the trip!

Nile Tours starting in:

• Luxury Family tours (73)
• Luxury Fully Guided tours (70)
• Luxury River Cruise tours (66)
• Luxury Personalized tours (59)
• Luxury Historical tours (56)
• Luxury Christmas & New Year tours (56)
• Luxury Explorer tours (51)
• Luxury Group tours (49)
• Luxury Private tours (41)
• Luxury In-depth Cultural tours (26)
• Luxury Partially Guided tours (19)
• Luxury Custom tours (11)
• Luxury Temples tours (8)
• Luxury Sightseeing tours (7)
• Luxury Sailing tours (6)

Travel Styles

• Singles and Solo (235)
• For Couples (67)
• Seniors (118)

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• River Cruises

This New Luxury Nile River Cruise Is a Gateway to Egypt's Ancient Wonders

There’s no better immersion into the wonders of ancient Egypt than a sailing along the Nile. Uniworld's opulent new river ship is a journey for the ages.

Thomas Chatterton Williams is a freelance writer and author of the books "Losing My Cool" and "Self-Portrait in Black and White." His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine , Travel + Leisure , The Atlantic , and The New Yorker .

The sunbaked temples and tombs on the banks of the Nile River are books penned in stone. You do not pass through them as mere physical spaces. These walls are legible, carrying missives from another world. If the medium is the message, these enduring piles of engraved and painted rock amount to some of the most sophisticated communication devices in existence. That was my first thought as I wandered in amazement through Karnak, the vast temple complex in Luxor, and the idea stayed with me for the duration of my eight nights in Egypt.

Emli Bendixen

I had arrived via Cairo from my home in Paris to experience the  Sphinx , a new Uniworld river ship. But I had also come to fulfill a childhood dream of exploring the relics of ancient Egypt. Upon arrival in Luxor, my fellow passengers and I were spirited away from the ferocious African sun at our first stop, Pharaoh Ramses II’s temple complex, by the gentle humor and substantive knowledge of our guide, Hazem Khalaf. Uniworld partners with the Egyptian-owned Spring Tours for its sailings, and Khalaf is its director — a genial Egyptologist who has been leading tours for 22 years. He treats his métier with the reverence of a master chef or doctor, or maybe even one of Hemingway’s priestly Spanish bullfighters.

A river cruise, among other things, is a study in repetition and rhythm. After several days on the Nile you start to get in touch with the more meditative qualities of moving along the water and contemplating the shifting landscape.

The previous day I’d met Emli Bendixen, the photographer for this story, at the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa, where the gardens tumble toward the Nile, and we acclimated ourselves to the silent power of the slowly moving water. There is a dignity to this river that is palpable, yet difficult to explain. It’s partly visual: those green depths cutting the dusty, palm-tree-studded riverbanks, covered with an intensely blue sky that later turns orange and purple, then finally inky black and splashed with stars. But the river’s dignity is also conjured just by the sound of its name. In the fourth century B.C., the Greek historian Herodotus reported in his  Histories  that “Egypt is the gift of the Nile,” and it is unimaginable that anything important or lasting could have occurred here in its absence.

The  Sphinx  is billed as a floating five-star hotel. This is what Khalaf and his friend of 20-plus years, Sameh El-Sayed, stress with the pride of creators. El-Sayed is the ship’s manager, and together they launched the  Sphinx  in September 2021. El-Sayed, who struck me immediately as a serious and meticulous man, oversaw the construction and design down to the hand-carved wood ceilings and marble bathrooms.

All of us were set up in cabins that felt more like grand suites, with floor-to-ceiling windows, king-size beds, and spacious sitting areas. (The  Sphin x also offers four Royal Suites, which have separate living rooms that are fit for entertaining.) Returning to the ship after the daily excursions was to retreat into a familiar bubble, to be fussed over, though never to the point where it felt invasive. The Egyptian men who cleaned and restocked the rooms and staffed the bars and dining rooms were as diligent as they were personable. As in much of the rest of the service industry here, the staff were categorically male; in this religiously conservative culture, spending weeks away from home is still not considered appropriate for women.

Bendixen and I took our meals together and grew fond of several of our regular waiters, none more than the attentive Abdo Zaref, who kept our glasses flowing with crisp Egyptian pilsners. No matter how many times we explained our professional situation to him, Zaref could not bring himself to believe that we were not married. “Is your husband coming down?” he would ask Bendixen with concern if she arrived at the table before me. One evening, when she fell asleep early, Zaref and several others helped me prepare a doggie bag “to take upstairs to your wife” so that she wouldn’t miss supper.

Meals were served on the first-level deck, which came with arresting water-level views. Among my favorite dishes were classics of the region, like couscous and  börek  (a puff pastry with salted cheese and yogurt dip) — along with surprisingly smooth Egyptian and Libyan wines.

It takes very little imagination to forget the hum of the engine and put yourself in the mindset of a visitor from another time who has come to pay respects to Sobek (the crocodile god) or Horus (the falcon-headed god).

I was eager to learn what motivated the other travelers, many of whom were aficionados of the high seas and various European rivers. “On a cruise you switch your brain off,” one retired American woman told me early on, and I began to notice the philosophical divide between the people who diligently rose at dawn to go on all of the demanding daily excursions and the people who played hooky, stretching out and sunning themselves on the deck in piña-coladified silence.

I fell somewhere in between, having jumped at this voyage in part to see Egypt and in part to flee the whirlwind pace of daily living in Paris — in other words, to slow down, accomplish less, purposefully read sentences on paper instead of a screen, and stare into the distance at sundown. For the duration of the trip, the Internet was reliably unreliable — and when it did work, a VPN was necessary to get around the government’s strict content blocks, which was either a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. For me, it was blissful relief.

A river cruise, among other things, is a study in repetition and rhythm. After several days on the Nile you start to get in touch with the more meditative qualities of moving along the water and contemplating the shifting landscape, which at times grows lush — with tall grasses, date palms, and papyrus — and at other times more arid, with children and livestock dipping in and out of view at regular intervals as they climb boulders framed by sand dunes. Sometimes it reveals shocking sights, like men and donkeys washing by the banks beside an industrial complex spilling sudsy runoff.

Occasionally, the ship becomes a portal through which time travel seems genuinely feasible. The Greco-Roman temple at Kom Ombo near Aswan looms so large and substantial over the docking cruise ships it leaves you with the impression you can reach out and touch the worn columns from your window. It takes very little imagination to forget the hum of the engine and put yourself in the mindset of a visitor from another time who has come to pay respects to Sobek (the crocodile god) or Horus (the falcon-headed god). It was in their honor that the structure was erected, and it is hard not to appreciate the resilience of the people who braved these predator-infested waters to worship — and even mummify — the reptiles that routinely attacked them.

Spring Tours provided shuttle buses that cocooned us in climatized comfort while Khalaf expounded capsule lectures on the history and vocabulary behind the day’s itinerary. On the way to the Valley of the Kings — where the pharaohs were buried in the barren, inhospitable hillsides before they shifted their capital from Memphis to Cairo and learned to build pyramids — we passed, beside a nondescript highway with ramshackle gas stations and convenience stores wrapped in blue Pepsi signage, one of the most awe-inspiring sights I have ever encountered: the Colossi of Memnon. It consists of two 59-foot-high seated statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which have stood since 1350 B.C. Ruined and effaced almost beyond recognition, they nonetheless convey an almost supernatural severity I’d never experienced before. These are the remnants of a people who believed they possessed some measure of divinity in the here and now.

Farther up the road, and deep into the stone hills of the Valley of the Kings, I descended into Tutankhamen’s Burial Chamber and stood mesmerized before his partially shrouded, blackened, yet jarringly intact corpse. It was the size of a small child and I could count all 10 of his gnarled but impossibly tenacious toes. Finding yourself in the presence of physical spaces that have lived within your individual psyche (not to mention the culture’s collective consciousness) for so long is a profound and uncanny thing. Before this trip, it had only really happened to me at the Garden of Gethsemane in Israel and the Acropolis in Greece. In Egypt it happened over and over again.

As the cloudless sky grew black and pinholed with starlight, unveiling the razor-thin moon, I was reminded that Ramadan had begun — and that our gracious crew had been fasting and even abstaining from water since sunrise.

BY THE TIME the tour reached Aswan — one of the most important cities of Ancient Egypt — I had acclimated to my evening ritual on the roof deck, where I would clutch my cold gin and tonic as the air slowly cooled around me and contemplate the extraordinary sherbet-toned sunsets streaking the sky. I hadn’t expected the lushness and natural splendor of the ancient Nubian city and complex of islands in the river, on which visitors will find botanical gardens, archaeological sites, and temples. (Nubia was an early northeastern African civilization that ruled over parts of modern-day Egypt and the Sudan.)

We went bird-watching one morning among the islands. Diaa Araby, our tour guide that day, pointed out great blue herons, beautiful night herons, pied kingfishers, and reed warblers in the pampas grass along the banks of the river, as the traditional felucca sailboats zigzagged all around. “When you take the boat against the wind you have to tack back and forth,” Khalaf explained. “Steering a felucca on the Nile is like driving in Cairo!”

On one side of the river the steep, velvety dunes of the Sahara fall dramatically into the water. On the other side, there looms the colonial-era oasis of the Old Cataract Hotel, in green and brick-red hues. Among many other distinguished guests, Agatha Christie once holed up for a year in 1937 to write her novel  Death on the Nile . We had tea and cocktails on the hotel’s spectacular terrace one evening and I almost expected Hercule Poirot himself to appear. As the cloudless sky grew black and pinholed with starlight, unveiling the razor-thin moon, I was reminded that Ramadan had begun — and that our gracious crew had been fasting and even abstaining from water since sunrise.

ASWAN REPRESENTED the climax of the cruise, and after that we retraced our route to Luxor. From there, some of us would continue on by plane to Cairo to visit the Pyramids — that lifelong dream for many of the passengers, myself included. At the airport in Luxor, there was a festive atmosphere as entire clans gathered to wave off the lone family members who had saved sufficient funds to make the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Upon landing in Cairo, political realities reasserted themselves. Egypt is a military dictatorship, lest anyone forget, and everywhere I looked in the capital, huge billboards and murals of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met my gaze. The tour whisked us to the cool sanctuary of the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, through the labyrinthine megalopolis that, just over a decade prior, had been the epicenter of an Arab Spring; those portraits serve as a reminder that it never materialized.

It’s good that the Pyramids and their hypnotizing, noseless guard arrive at the very end of the voyage. (Nothing can diminish these sights — not even the appalling presence of a Kentucky Fried Chicken, which Khalaf had joked the poor Sphinx must now stare at in perpetuity.) I can think of nothing that could fairly compete.

“I have often considered the survival of paintings and what it means for our civilization that an image has survived across time undamaged,” the novelist Rachel Cusk observed, “and something of the morality of that survival — the survival of the original — pertains, I believe, to the custody of human souls too.”

When we finally pulled up to the Pyramids and disembarked from the buses to make our way toward the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the only remaining “wonder of the ancient world,” one of the women in my group began to cry. “I have always wanted to see the Pyramids,” she said by way of explanation to no one in particular, wiping her eyes. I smiled at her and continued toward the immense mounds of stone. The morality of the survival of these three-dimensional images from the deepest civilized past is impressed to this day against the polluted, golden-blue contemporary sky. It demands precisely such a reaction, I thought, as my own eyes began to well.

Uniworld offers 12-day Splendors of Egypt & the Nile sailings, which include two days in Cairo, from $6,199, all-inclusive.

A version of this story first appeared in the October 2022 issue of  Travel + Leisure  under the headline "The Eternal River ."

• +20 100 615 3331
• [email protected]

• Private Tours
• Tailor Made
• Luxury Nile Cruises - The Ultimate Guide

A luxury Nile Cruise is the easiest way to travel between Luxor and Aswan and to experience the Nile Valley in peace and serenity. The luxury cruise ships are literally floating five-star hotels. They have all the upscale facilities that let you enjoy the scenic landscape as well as explore ancient Egypt in complete comfort. Most Nile cruises start in Luxor and disembark in Aswan, with stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. Some Nile cruises travel in the other direction north, from Aswan to Luxor, showing the same sights.

Why you must experience a luxury Nile Cruise on your Egypt holiday

Traveling along the highways between Luxor and Aswan can be stressful, given the traffic and the chaotic condition of the roads. A 3-hour trip might very well end up taking 5 hours. A luxury cruise allows you to avoid the busy streets and enjoy a world-class sailing experience. Traditionally, a cruise along the Nile was the only way to see some of Egypt’s most famous temples. Even though there are other ways to travel between Luxor and Aswan now, a Nile Cruise is highly preferred by travelers.

You will get the opportunity to see and do much more when you opt for a luxury Nile Cruise. The Nile Valley still maintains its timeless beauty from ancient times. As you glide along the river, you can watch the desert, fertile lands and villages go by slowly. You can spot local fishermen hauling their catch and farmers herding their cattle. People who travel by land mostly focus on Luxor and then head straight to Aswan. When on a Nile Cruise, you can add Edfu and Kom Ombo to your itinerary, getting a chance to see more of ancient Egypt, including the Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, and the Crocodile Mummification Museum.

A cruise is also a fantastic way for you to travel with a highly qualified Egyptologist who will never run out of interesting facts to share with you. When you feel like getting some quiet time by yourself, you can rest on the sundeck on board the ship under an open sky, and enjoy the vistas while sipping your tea or cocktails.

Places you can see during the Nile Cruise

A luxury Nile Cruise will usually make stops in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. Luxor is known as the world’s largest open-air museum where you can visit the ruins of Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. Across the River Nile is the ancient necropolis, including the Valleys of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. The Temple of Hatshepsut lies near the Valley of Kings and is one of the most popular attractions of Egypt. Both Edfu and Kom Ombo have some of Egypt’s best-preserved historic temples. Abu Simbel is famous for its two massive rock temples. Aswan is a major tourist attraction with Coptic cathedrals, mosques, museums, and souks that are best explored in the company of an Egyptologist.

How an authentic luxury Nile Cruise differs from a budget luxury Nile cruise

Not every cruise advertised as five-star is authentic. The best way to know the difference between a budget luxury cruise and an authentic luxury cruise along the Nile is by booking through a trusted local travel agency. Onboard a budget luxury ship, you may have to live with limited facilities or face poor quality service and hygiene. For instance, onboard a budget cruise ship, your meals may be prepared with regular water and not bottled water. You may also be charged separately for bottled water, which will add to your overall expenses during the cruise.

An authentic luxury cruise, on the other hand, is onboard a five-star ship that focuses on privacy, exclusivity, and on creating stellar experiences for their guests. Their itineraries may include more sights like Abu Simbel or a tour of a Nubian village. They serve carefully prepared, high-quality cuisines, have onboard night-time entertainment like a Nubian folk show, and a very qualified crew to serve you. Your tour will also include a private Egyptologist who will show you around the ancient sights and temples without you having to wait in queues. They can get you exclusive entries to some of the places - like seeing Valley of the Kings by night and show you sights away from the crowds, providing you with off-beat experiences where you can get a taste of authentic local culture and lifestyle.

How to choose the best luxury Nile cruise

More than 400 ships are licensed to cruise the Nile, each offering varying levels of luxury. These cruise ships offer many different itineraries - with options available for a three-night, four night, and 7-night cruise. Here are some of the most highly rated luxury cruise ships that you can choose from to travel along the Nile.

Oberoi Zahra

This luxury cruise ship has 27 cabins and suites, furnished with king-sized or twin beds, a restaurant that serves international cuisine and relaxation facilities, including a fitness center, a swimming pool, and a spa.

All images are for the sole purpose of editorial use “© Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts

Sanctuary Sun Boat IV

Sanctuary Cruises operates several cruise liners, including the Sanctuary Sun Boat III, that has been voted as one of the top 100 beautiful boats globally by Condé Nast readers. The Sanctuary Sun Boat IV boasts a contemporary chic style with an influence of Art Deco.

MS Mayfair Luxury Nile Cruise

This luxury cruise ship offers deluxe cabins, presidential suites, and executive cabins with verandahs. It also has a lounge, a swimming pool and jacuzzi, a sauna with aromatherapy, and a spa. Evening entertainments include belly dancing shows, Nubian folk show, and an Egyptian Galabeya Party (a themed dress party).

MS Mayflower

The MS Mayflower has a regal accommodation with elegant interiors with a lounge bar, pool, and jacuzzi. The ship offers free wi-fi to all its guests and has nightly entertainment.

Lazuli Dahabiya

Driven by two elegant sails, the Lazuli Dahabiya is a different yet stylish way of cruising along the Nile in luxury. It can accommodate a total of 10 to 12 passengers.

Amenities you can expect onboard a luxury cruise ship

Every cruise liner is different, but you can expect rooms with large panoramic windows to enjoy the views of the Nile. Some rooms come with balconies and even hot tubs. Luxury cruise ships also have a swimming pool, sundeck, or rooftop bars where you can lounge. Many ships have a spa or massage rooms onboard that offer relaxation therapies. There are common spaces where you can hang out with your family or unwind while having your coffee. Meals are served in artfully decorated restaurants. You can expect an open buffet or a set menu containing both international and Egyptian dishes, prepared by an expert chef. The cabins are just like the rooms of five-star hotels - with modern decor, a mini-bar fridge, and fresh bed sheets and towels. Luxury ships also have boutique shops onboard that sell authentic Egyptian handicrafts and souvenirs.

MS Sonesta St George

This ship has 47 deluxe cabins and ten suites and a full-service spa and a fitness center. It also organizes nightly entertainment for its guests.

MS Esplanade

The MS Esplanade has a bold, sophisticated interior with contemporary luxuries, including a spa, sauna, and treatment rooms.

MS River Tosca

This is an all-suite cruise ship with a full-service bar, a library, a restaurant, a fitness room, a massage room, and an expansive sundeck with cabanas and a swimming pool.

Mövenpick SS Misr Steamer Nile Cruise

This luxury cruiser has 16 cabins and eight suites that recreate the days from the British and Ottoman Empires. All the cabins and suites have a private balcony, and the Marasem Restaurant onboard is decorated with black and white pictures of the royal family.

Make the most of your luxury Nile Cruise

A luxury Nile Cruise adds an old-world charm to your modern-day vacation as you enjoy life around the Nile. The everyday sounds from the banks of the river make you enjoy the authenticity and simplicity of country life of Egypt. To get the most out of your luxury cruise, it is recommended that you choose the right cruise ship. A travel agency, with its extensive partnership, can help you design the right itinerary with the kind of luxury you want onboard. What’s more, their team will only select the most authentic five-star options, focus on hygiene, and make sure you are taken care of at all times. It is the best way to feel pampered as you see a life that has remained almost the same for 4, 000 years.

Here are a few luxury Nile Cruises we offer

• 11 Days Egypt and Jordan Tour to Experience Luxury at its Best
• 8 Days Egypt Tour Package to Experience Luxury at its Best
• 9 Days Egypt Tour Package to Explore the Best Attractions of Egypt
• Explore Cairo, The Nile, and Alexandria on 12 Days Egypt Tour
• Explore the Best of Egypt on a 7 Days Egypt Tour Package
• Signature Tour of Egypt - 10 Days Luxury Egypt Tour Package
• The Diamond Tour of Egypt - Ultimate Luxury Egypt Tour Package
• Luxury Egypt Travel: Our Approach
• Cancellation Policy
• Privacy Policy
• START EXPERIENCING
• Luxury Egypt Travel: The Ultimate Guide
• Tailor Made Egypt Tours

AWW Media [US]

Set Sail on 14 Luxury River Cruises That Don’t Lack Adventure

Posted: April 28, 2024 | Last updated: April 28, 2024

Why tour the world’s most striking riverside destinations on land when you can experience them from the water?

Setting sail on a riverboat is one of the best ways to tour famous international waterways. Luxury river cruises offer a unique perspective of new and familiar locales in Europe, Asia, and other worldwide regions. From the Egyptian desert to the Australian wilderness, you’ll have a memorable time admiring spectacular views from the comfort of your cruise ship.

Splurge on a deluxe river cruise for a one-of-a-kind sightseeing vacation on the water.  

AmaWaterways Legendary Danube, Germany/Austria/Hungary

Hop aboard the Legendary Danube river cruise offered by AmaWaterways, and prepare to be amazed. The cruise departs from Nuremberg, a charming German city, and sails for seven days through Austria, ending in Budapest, Hungary. 

Legendary Danube is the ideal European vacation for history lovers. Passengers will tour UNESCO World Heritage Sites , sample regional delicacies, and admire the centuries-old architecture. The ships that make this voyage have elegant amenities for a 5-star stay from start to finish.

American Cruise Lines Lower Mississippi River Cruise, US

Discover a new appreciation for American history aboard a Lower Mississippi River Cruise . American Cruise Lines is a top choice for service and facilities that go above and beyond. The eight-night journey begins in Memphis, Tennessee, passes through Mississippi, and ends in New Orleans, Louisiana.

During your cruise of the Mississippi River, you’ll create lasting memories. In Memphis, passengers will learn about local music legend Elvis Presley and sample delicious Southern barbecue. Vicksburg, Mississippi, boasts grand riverside estates from the Civil War, while New Orleans has fun jazz clubs and mouthwatering eateries .

Chobe National Park Zambezi Queen, Botswana

Gear up for a memorable African safari down the Chobe River. Chobe National Park in Botswana is a top vacation spot for thrill-seekers. A two-night trip on the Zambezi Queen will help you unwind in luxury and reconnect with nature. 

The Zambezi Queen more closely resembles a hotel-on-water than a boat. Every aspect, from the spacious rooms to the plunge pool, contributes to the ship’s serene and intimate atmosphere. Watch for herds of elephants, buffalo, and hippos from the Zambezi Queen’s open-air viewing decks.

Uniworld A Portrait of Majestic France, France

A Portrait of Majestic France , coordinated by Uniworld, is a fabulous option for couples. This Seine River cruise is a romantic getaway that begins in Bordeaux and finishes in Paris . Over 14 nights, tourists will taste world-renowned wines while admiring medieval cathedrals and the picture-perfect French countryside.

Uniworld lets you customize your cruise vacation according to your travel preferences. Join guided tours of UNESCO World Heritage Sites or wander through charming French villages at your own pace. Regardless of your choice, you’ll leave A Portrait of Majestic France with lifelong memories.

Viking Portugal’s River of Gold, Portugal/Spain

Portugal’s River of Gold is one of the most unique ways to sightsee this beautiful country. Operated by Viking, this cruise takes place on the Duoro River. The tour includes eight nights in Portugal and one in Spain, exposing tourists to numerous culturally significant landmarks. 

Viking’s itinerary features several guided tours for guests to immerse themselves in Portuguese and Spanish cultures. You’ll see medieval fortresses, intricate architecture, and scenic valleys along the way. Food lovers will also enjoy sampling the local cuisine , like port wine, cheese, and olive oil. 

American Cruise Lines Columbia & Snake Rivers, US

See some of Oregon and Washington’s most picturesque regions on a Columbia & Snake Rivers cruise. American Cruise Lines operates this eight-night voyage through lush areas of the Pacific Northwest . Ships traverse the rivers between Portland, Oregon, and Clarkston, Washington, providing unique views.

The Columbia & Snake Rivers tour highlights legendary American landscapes, from thick forests to towering waterfalls. Guests can learn about famous areas like Mount St. Helens and Multnomah Falls from local guides and continue their experience with onboard presentations. 

Uniworld Ultimate European Journey, Central Europe

Are you craving a grand European adventure? Uniworld’s 24-night Ultimate European Journey is a vacation like no other. This epic river odyssey travels between Romania and The Netherlands, covering eight countries.

The 24-night trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour famous European cities , historical landmarks, and natural wonders. The S.S. Beatrice ship, on which the cruise takes place, is elegant and upscale, with delicious dining options and luxurious accommodations.

Nour El Nil, Egypt

Nour El Nil is an exclusive boat tour on Egypt’s Nile River. Guests spend five nights traveling south from Esna to Aswan. Along the way, the riverboat passes archaeological sites, ancient ruins, and striking desert terrain.

All of Nour El Nil’s boats are stylish and modern. Enjoy comfortable rooms and unparalleled service while cruising the world’s longest river. Experiencing famous Egyptian towns from a boat offers a unique perspective of this beautiful country.

Aqua Expeditions Mekong River, Southeast Asia

The Mekong River cruise is a renowned tour available through Aqua Expeditions. It takes tourists through the diverse riverside landscapes of Cambodia and Vietnam. This ship is a luxurious option to sightsee without sacrificing comfort.

Trips down the Mekong River last three to seven nights. Each voyage includes off-boat activities to enhance your time in Southeast Asia. Aqua Expeditions coordinates unforgettable itineraries featuring rustic villages, lush tropical scenery, and holy temples.

St. Lawrence Cruise Lines Canadian Connection, Canada

Explore some of Canada’s most picturesque regions on the Canadian Connection cruise. St. Lawrence Cruise Lines operates this six-night trip between Lower and Upper Canada. Sailing the St. Lawrence River is a beautiful way to see the country.

Cruise highlights include the bustling cities of Montreal and Quebec City. Book a Premier Stateroom for top-tier accommodations. While rooms aboard the Canadian Empress are simple, they boast exceptional views and cozy beds for a good night’s sleep. 

Delfin Amazon Cruises Delfin III, Peru

The Delfin III is a classy river tour of Peruvian Amazonia. This region encompasses portions of the Amazon jungle and is famous for its flora and fauna. Delfin Amazon Cruises allows guests to immerse themselves in the rainforest setting while maintaining high standards of luxury. 

Suites on the Delfin III are chic and equipped with plush amenities, like floor-to-ceiling windows and fine cotton bedspreads. Optional excursions during your three- or four-night trip include kayaking, bird-watching, and hiking. When not exploring the Amazon rainforest, recharge at the ship’s pool, gym, or spa.

Yangtze River Cruises Yangtze Explorer, China

For a 5-star river cruise experience, you can’t go wrong with the Yangtze Explorer . The ship is managed by Yangtze River Cruises, which offers three- or four-night tours of this stunning river in Central China. Your time on the Yangtze Explorer will be equally thrilling and relaxing.

Each cabin features a balcony to admire the dramatic landscapes, and guests can participate in enriching activities like Chinese calligraphy and cooking classes. You can choose from several Yangtze Explorer itineraries featuring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, mountains, caves, and more.

Pandaw The All Ganges, India

Embark on The All Ganges , an exclusive Pandaw river cruise, to see the best of India. The All Ganges is a 12- or 14-night voyage along the iconic Ganges River. Highlights of the boat tour range from ancient temples to quaint villages.

Passengers will sail on the RV Kalaw Pandaw, a modern and comfortable ship. Every room is designed for relaxation, with thoughtful touches like panoramic windows and dreamy mattresses. An expert chef prepares onboard meals, and the boat offers fun tours and performances to educate visitors on the local history. 

Murray River Paddlestreamers All the Rivers Run, Australia

Tap into your adventurous side on Murray River Paddlestreamers’ All the Rivers Run tour. Spend seven nights aboard a historic riverboat while admiring Australia’s rugged beauty. The Murray River flows through Southeast Australia and is a thriving habitat for native wildlife like kangaroos and wallabies.

Passengers aboard the PS Emmylou will experience various art, history, food, and nature tours. The ship has a distinct blend of Old World charm and modern convenience. Its exclusive amenities, like a restaurant, bar, and premier cabins, guarantee an unforgettable stay.

Escape to a food lovers’ paradise on your next vacation

Sampling the local cuisine is an excellent way to enhance your travel experience. Next time you crave a change of scenery, indulge in a trip to the world’s most delicious destinations .

Unplug and unwind from the chaos of daily life

Vacations are the perfect excuse to disconnect from the hustle and bustle. Visit an off-the-grid location to achieve total bliss and relaxation.

More for You

US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says

The most dangerous state to drive in in the US, according to data—plus, see where your state ranks

What to Know About the New Student-Loan-Forgiveness Plans

Drone attack on Russian airfield - Satellite images of consequences appeared

11 Facts You Should Know About Hard-Boiled Eggs

NFL News: Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs could leave Arrowhead Stadium

18 Most Common Reasons Women Leave Their Marriages

Average US annual salary by age revealed – see how you compare

18 ‘Normal’ Things From the ’80s and ’90s That Are Considered Luxuries Now

Jeff Bezos predicts Amazon's 'inevitable death'

Team USA Issues Statement Regarding Caitlin Clark's Olympic Status

30 food items that you might not know are banned in America

John Jacob Astor IV was one of the richest men in the world when he died on the Titanic. Here's a look at his life.

Map reveals best places to live in the US if nuclear war breaks out

Here’s What the US Minimum Wage Was the Year You Were Born

Tornadoes leave trail of destruction as 4 injured, hundreds of homes damaged

Amateur rugby player who worked at Sainsbury’s drafted into NFL

24 Discontinued Menu Items From Taco Bell We Miss

Zendaya's Baby Pink Tennis Polo Dress Includes Cutouts That Hit Her Hip Bone

Scientists claim people with this blood type more likely to have early stroke

Step Into a Dream Come True…

Welcome aboard “Nile Lily,” a chartered luxury sailing boat waiting to take you on an extraordinary journey back in time. Inspired by the elegance of the Pharaohs’ royal sail boats, this dahabia, known as “The Golden Boat,” offers a unique and enchanting experience on the majestic Nile River.

Stepping on board, you’ll be transported to a bygone era, relishing the timeless charm and tranquility that only sailing can provide. As the gentle breeze guides us through the Nile’s scenic landscapes, you’ll embark on a sailing meditation, immersing yourself in the captivating beauty of Egypt, just as it was experienced thousands of years ago during Biblical times.

Join us on Nile Lily and let the spirit of ancient Egypt embrace you, as we sail off the beaten path, and towards unforgettable memories.

Allow Yourself to be Pampered…

Nile Lily boasts 10 elegantly designed cabins with panoramic views, featuring large windows that can be fully opened to invite in refreshing breezes. The accommodation includes 7 twin cabins and 3 king cabins, all meticulously furnished with period pieces and handcrafted wicker chairs, exuding an air of timeless luxury. A 36 jet jacuzzi on deck enhances your relaxation experience.

Uniquely, Nile Lily offers the most expansive deck space among all Nile sailing boats. Take pleasure in the breathtaking vistas of the Nile River from the partially shaded main deck and upper deck, where you can unwind and soak in the beauty of your surroundings.

An Experience Fit for Pharaohs

The highest US and European standards of hygiene and cleanliness are rigorously enforced in the kitchen, the dining room and throughout the entire boat.

The sumptuous traditional Egyptian and Continental cuisine is meticulously and carefully prepared by the head chef.

Nile Lily is air-conditioned throughout, including each cabin with individually controlled units.

Privately chartered Nile Lily is staffed with an experienced crew. The boat is equipped with required safety equipment, and is fully insured.

Enjoy your days with “Nile Lily.” A luxury sailing yacht, she is waiting to take you on an extraordinary journey.

Inspired by the elegance of the Pharaohs’ royal sail boat, this dahabiya offers a unique and enchanting experience on the timeless Nile River.

Nile Lily Buffet

Nile Lily Chef

Nile lily reception area, group photo, swan towel bed dressing.

Nile Lily Culinary Staff

Beautiful cruise view, nile lily on the bank, sunset on the cruise, nile lily with a tug boat, “the crew and attendant staff were impeccable…healthy, delicious prepared foods at each meal are just a couple of examples of how the nile lily experience made us feel special and well cared for…”, services & facilities.

A sumptuous appointed Dining Room

Beautiful Lounge Area with bar

Outdoor Dining & Bar on the 2 sun decks

Fully relax in a Jacuzzi with 36 jets

Also Enjoy These On-Deck Amenities

• Breakfast, lunch & dinner with organic, locally sourced, fresh meats, fruits & vegetables
• Exquisitely prepared traditional Egyptian cuisine, with an occasional Continental, French-inspired touch
• Afternoon Tea Time during sailing days
• Special dietary requests available
• Large kitchen with deluxe  European standard appliances
• Meals are prepared with mineral bottled water. Staff members involved with food preparation are gloved and wear hair nets
• An industrialised ultraviolet purification water system services the entire boat
• Meeting and Conference Facilities ; Inside the boat and on the gorgeous wooden deck surrounded by The Nile.
• Laundry Service- Laundry & Ironing (no dry cleaning.)
• Dynamic Surround Sound for your listening pleasure.
• Handicapped bathrooms.
• Large gang planks available for those with wheelchair or walkers.
• Satellite capability to accommodate TV in the lounge and cabins.
• Baby/child cot available upon request

About NILE LILY

5-star yacht sailing boat dahabiya. There are 7 twins and 3 king cabins.

5-star Nile Lily comfortably carries 20 passengers with an experienced well-trained crew, ensuring world-class service.

Nile Lily has 10 luxuriously appointed, outside facing cabins, with large windows that open to the fresh air. Sink into the soft comfortable bed with its 300 count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and plush pillow top mattress.

Enjoy organic, always fresh and locally farmed produce. The fish, lamb, poultry and beef served are always fresh, never frozen. Gluten free, vegetarian, and diabetic cuisine available.

NILE LILY: Deck Plan

(Click to Enlarge)

The Best New Cruises in the World: 2024 Hot List

By CNT Editors

It’s inevitable: Every spring when we pull together the Hot List , our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships, a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. After a year’s worth of traveling the globe—to stay the night at a converted farmhouse in the middle of an olive grove outside Marrakech , or sail aboard a beloved cruise line’s inaugural Antarctic voyage—it’s easy to see why we get attached. But this year’s Hot List, our 28th edition, might really be the best one ever. It’s certainly our most diverse, featuring not only a hotel suite that was once Winston Churchill’s office, but also the world’s largest cruise ship and restaurants from Cape Town to Bali. We were surprised and inspired by this year’s honorees, and we know you will be too. These are the Hot List cruise winners for 2024.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2024 .

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This story appears in Condé Nast Traveler 's Hot List issue. Never miss out when you subscribe to Condé Nast Traveler .

Celebrity Ascent — Celebrity Cruises Arrow

Celebrity is a premium big-ship cruise brand, focusing on exquisite dining, cutting-edge amenities, Instagram-worthy public spaces chock-full of bespoke art pieces, and avant-garde onboard entertainment. The ship makes passengers feel, in a word, glamorous. Celebrity Ascent ’s sumptuously designed interiors are flooded with natural light and evoke an air of playful sophistication that make a week on board an escape worth cherishing. Passengers may find themselves longing to return for just one more succulent crab claw at Raw on 5, one more martini poured by bottle-spinning bartenders in the Martini Bar, or one more dazzling, acrobatic stage show, in the days following their farewells to this beautiful ship. From $710 per person for a seven-night sailing. —Scott Laird

Emerald Sakara — Emerald Cruises Arrow

Now with two oceangoing vessels joining Emerald’s more established fleet of nine river-dedicated “Star-Ships,” the decade-old cruise line is extending a brand built on unpretentious luxury to more corners of the world. Christened last August, the 100-guest superyacht, Sakara, is a near twin to Azzurra, which in 2022 ushered in a new era for Emerald by taking to the high seas. Sakara, like its sister, delightfully blurs the line between the luxury and ultra-luxury cruise categories, offering attentive service, gourmet cuisine, tasteful decor, and an eclectic slate of activities at a price point friendly to more budgets. The cherry on top with both superyachts is a slew of perks atypical of small-ship sailing, ranging from an impressively comprehensive spa to a marina platform well equipped for more fun in the sun. Despite having so much good stuff, each vessel is remarkably spacious. Getting a sense of being on a private yacht is easy like Sunday morning. Sakara is homeported in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean through at least March 2026; Azzurra, too, in addition to the Middle East, Kenya, and the Seychelles. Emerald’s river operations are based in Europe and Southeast Asia. (Note that a third ship, the Kaia , has just been announced by the cruise line; it debuts in April 2026, and, for all the early birds, it is now open for bookings.) From $3,850. —David Dickstein

Explora I — Explora Journeys Arrow

With a showpiece lobby bar, upscale restaurants, and a sultry infinity pool, Explora Journeys' relaxed luxury-resort-at-sea vibe strikes the perfect balance on Explora I. Launched in August 2023, the all-inclusive ship is disarmingly beautiful. A sleek navy blue exterior cocoons 461 suites, all with deep balconies, walk-in closets, and marble bathrooms. There is free-flowing Champagne, 7,500 square feet of wellness space, and 18 drinking and dining venues. From Emporium Marketplace, with its decadent raw bar, to pan-Asian restaurant Sakura, the dining on Explora I is sensational. Marble & Co. Grill is an intimate steakhouse where aging meats hang in temperature-controlled cabinets. At Anthology, the ship's only supplementary restaurant, guest chefs—such as Claude Le Tohic of San Francisco's O' by Claude Le Tohic—curate sublime tasting menus. There's more: The only Rolex boutique at sea, huge hot tubs, and a shore program that sees some land experiences developed in partnership with revered explorer Mike Horn. From $698 per person per night. —Kerry Spencer

Icon of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International Arrow

Aboard the Icon, you can really get lost. The behemoth is just plain big, with capacity for nearly 8,000 when combining passengers and crew across 20 decks and 250,800 gross tons. Two and a half laps around the ship’s jogging track, a particular highlight onboard, and you’ve run a mile. So one can find themselves in need of a map—forgetting your sunscreen, for example, in your cabin is a bit of a chore depending on how far you’ve made it. But the abundance of things to do is also narcotic, and you feel a bit like a lotus-eater attempting to navigate it all while keeping your head. Amid the relentless entertainment, not to be missed are the top-notch performers present everywhere, from the Olympic-level aquatics show that you can watch from the windows of the specialty seafood restaurant should seating be elusive (it often is) to the cafeteria, where crew members dressed as food items sing songs reminding (commanding, actually, which is fabulous) passengers to wash their hands at sinks near the entrance. If you wish to enjoy the largest waterpark at sea, by the way, do what I did not and pack a swimsuit without zippers. From $2,249. —Charlie Hobbs

CNT Editors

Steph Koyfman

Shannon McMahon

MSC Euribia — MSC Cruises Arrow

Looking at a row of cruise ships in port, you'll spot MSC Euribia right away. She's covered bow to stern by an ocean-themed mural by German artist Alex Flämig that bears the hashtag #SaveTheSeas nodding to the MSC's dedication to sustainable cruising: the European cruise line aims to be net-zero by 2050. MSC Euribia brings it one step closer to that goal, as it's the fleet's greenest ship yet, operating on liquified natural gas (LNG) and running advanced water and waste treatment systems onboard. But enough with the technical details—this mega-ship is packed with activities and entertainment, with 10 restaurants, 21 bars, five pools, two performance venues, and a bevy of family-friendly amenities, like an F1 simulator, a waterpark, and a bowling alley. More adult-oriented highlights include the MSC Aurea Spa, with a thermal suite outfitted with thalassotherapy pools, a salt cave, and a snow room, as well as the Helios Wine Maker bar for wine tastings. From $519. —Stefanie Waldek

Norwegian Viva — Norwegian Cruise Line Arrow

The second entry in Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Prima Class, Viva is like an Irish twin of older sister Prima . There’s the same stateroom count at 1,586, done in pristine and pleasing neutrals, as well as familiarly tricked-out amenities like the zippy 1,400-foot go-kart racing track that undulates over the top decks. Importantly, the Ocean Walk, which my colleague Mercedes Bleth adored aboard the Prima, remains. But round two afforded the premier name in large-ship cruising a chance to tweak and perfect, with an influx of seating options both in the ship’s complimentary dining hall as well as on its myriad decks. Across from the signature “zero-waste” Metropolitan Bar, where yummy drinks are whipped up from the ship’s food waste (I particularly enjoy a buttery Croissant Mai-Tai, for which hardening pastries are boiled down into sweetening syrup; the same is done with banana peels) is an interactive piece of digital art 52 feet wide that sees butterflies flit beside passersby. Breezy class all around. From $979. —Charlie Hobbs

Oceania Vista — Oceania Cruises Arrow

Vista, Oceania’s first new ship in more than a decade and the first of its Allura Class, debuted with small but mighty upgrades to its previous ships: better stabilizers for a smoother sailing experience; stronger Wi-Fi; lighting and architecture designed to make the ship’s common spaces look and feel roomier; a resort-like pool deck; and balconies in every cabin. The real star of the show, though, is the food and beverage experience— Vista ’s culinary program delivers on its promise of top-quality venues you’ll want to make the rounds at. New to the lineup are Ember, a steakhouse with decor straight out of Napa Valley, and Aquamar Kitchen, serving up lighter fare that doesn’t skimp on taste. Celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, or a just-because occasion with the Cellar Masters Wine Luncheon, a five-course meal and wine pairing. And don’t miss the elaborate sea day brunch, where towers of lobster, crab, and caviar await. Of course, the ship is just one destination. This year Vista is splitting time between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean; next year it will venture farther into Europe with ports of call like Istanbul, Stockholm, and Klaipeda, Lithuania. Its sister ship, Allura, sets sail in 2025 From $2,699. —Madison Flager

Scenic Eclipse II — Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours Arrow

The eagerly awaited Scenic Eclipse II is the new and improved version of Scenic's first expedition vessel, Scenic Eclipse . Dubbed "discovery yachts" for their sleek look and top-tier service, the sisters are nearly identical, with most changes so subtle that most guests might not even notice them, such as the slight enlargement of the steam room in the spa. But a big difference can be found on deck 10, where a plunge pool with jets for simulated lap swimming has taken the place of two hot tubs—and there's a new Sky Bar up here. Otherwise, Scenic Eclipse II has the same beloved amenities of its sister, most notably 10 exceptional dining experiences, from a sushi bar to a French restaurant with an attached Champagne bar; a 5,920-square-foot spa; two helicopters; and a submersible. Capable of sailing all over the world, including the polar regions, Scenic Eclipse II has itineraries for every type of traveler. From $7,455. —Stefanie Waldek

Seabourn Pursuit — Seabourn Cruise Line Arrow

Pursuit is a small “yacht-like” expedition ship with a distinct green exterior whose destinations range from Antarctica to warmer climes like the Kimberley in Australia. The decadent cabins, bigger than some standard hotel rooms, feel spacious and relaxing, complete with all the subtle touches that make you feel immediately at home. You can hang your evening attire in the walk-in closet and dry your wet swimwear—or damp Arctic expedition gear—in the built-in warming compartment; have sunrise breakfasts or sunset cocktails mixed at the in-room wet bar on your private balcony; and sleep in a plush, queen-sized bed. But what truly sets this cruise apart is the attentive and personable staff who quickly learn your name and personal preferences, providing VIP treatment throughout the journey. From $10,799. —Taylor Eisenhauer

Seven Seas Grandeur — Regent Seven Seas Cruises Arrow

Ports in the Caribbean, the Greek Isles, and the Riviera might be the draw, but the all-inclusive luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises produces ships that have travelers looking forward to those days at sea, as its sixth offering, Grandeur, further proves. All of the 372 suites, which start at a roomy 307 square feet, are decorated in calming neutral blues and beige, and feature furnished balconies; most have L'Occitane bubbles for the marble tub. Quiet comfort can also be had in the Serene Spa & Wellness outdoor lounge area, following a massage on a quartz crystal bed that mimics the feel of warm sand. Cravings for a porterhouse or a vegetarian Salisbury steak can be sated by Prime 7, with other venues serving specialty pan-Asian cuisine, French fare, ample buffets, and Italian offerings. Mainstay Compass Rose has been reimagined as a light, airy space where diners breakfast under playfully elegant pillars that resemble crystal trees. Grandeur 's whimsy extends to its reception area, where guests can check out Journey in Jewels, the Fabergé egg made specifically for the vessel, where it will remain for the rest of its jeweled ovoid days. The maximum number of 744 guests ensures unhurried service and uncrowded environs as you recover from a sunny day of swimming with Caribbean pigs. From $4,699 . —Alexandra Sanidad

Silver Nova — Silversea Cruises Arrow

A voyage on Silversea’s latest ship, Silver Nova, is one of taste and style. With expansive glass features throughout each of the 11 decks, and an ocean-facing saltwater swimming pool, the ship’s unique asymmetrical design leaves room for adults to run and play (with swank, of course). The Nova ’s reimagined culinary experience, SALT (Sea and Land Taste), is the first large-scale, regional restaurant at sea, and acts as an invitation to guests to experience more than an excursion. While initially introduced on Silver Moon, the Nova ’s SALT program includes SALT Lab by day: an intimate cooking class with highly acclaimed chefs and regional cuisine recipes inspired by the next destination. With one nightly seating, SALT Chef's Table offers an exclusive and creatively interactive dining experience. It’s all very intimate—as chefs showcase the art of their crafts firsthand, guests peek into a new culture, and place, before even disembarking. From $3,050. —Jessica Chapel

Viking Aton — Viking River Cruises Arrow

In the style of all Viking ships, the Rottet Studio–designed Aton is intended for comfortable and thought-provoking exploration—just look to the book-filled shelves in the cabins, curated by London’s Heywood Hill library, and the revolving door of on-board lecturers (on my trip, an English curator spoke about the evolving depictions of Egypt in 1900s popular art). It should be no surprise that in a destination as rich and storied as Egypt’s Nile, where the Aton is permanently based, the guides set apart what may read as a quintessential itinerary. On the Pharaohs & Pyramids journey, which takes travelers from the Valley of the Kings, where King Tut lies, to the Great Pyramid of Giza and well beyond over 12 days, esteemed Egyptologists oscillate from translating hieroglyphics on temple walls in real time, to shepherding travelers through modern night markets with endless fervor. On this ship it isn’t just what you see but how much you listen—and the team here, predominantly Egyptian, has much to say. These days, travelers crave perspective-altering experiences more than ever; get on the Aton and you’ll get once-in-a-lifetime access (until, that is, your next Aton sailing). From $5,999. —Megan Spurrell

Resilient Lady — Virgin Voyages Arrow

Stepping onto Resilient Lady feels a bit like heading to summer camp. The massive vessel is like a giant playground for adults, which is why it draws a fun-loving crowd. Theme night parties, a nostalgic arcade room, plenty of board games, and basketball courts are just a few of the seemingly limitless onboard activities. Compared with its sister ships, the newest Virgin Voyages addition includes upgraded onboard entertainment and exciting new ports of call like the Greek Islands, Bali, and Mumbai. Most of the shows on this specific ship are new to the line, such as Persephone, an interactive performance developed in collaboration with famed Brooklyn nightclub House of Yes, and Another Rose, an immersive dinner experience. Dining options are abundant on the ship—20-plus to be exact—and all of them are included with every passenger ticket. Plus, you can’t miss out on a visit to the several different sauna experiences in the Thermal Suite inside the Redemption Spa. From $2,000 . —Rachel Dube

World Voyager — Atlas Ocean Voyages Arrow

There are superbly comfortable spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows aplenty on World Voyager, the latest vessel from Atlas Ocean Voyages. On an Antarctica expedition, from the sauna or the spa’s relaxation room, with its heated loungers perfectly positioned in front of a wall of glass, you might watch turquoise icebergs float by. Back in your cozy stateroom, Champagne and strawberries await, as do the views from a Juliet or walkout balcony. The look throughout the 100 cabins and public spaces is Scandinavian modern, thanks to blond woods, marble floors, plush carpets in geometric patterns, and curvaceous furniture draped in velvety fabrics. In the elegant dining room, the focus is on international cuisine with a farm-to-table slant—think mushroom risotto and smoked duck with chargrilled vegetables. Meanwhile, the multipage cocktail menu beckons guests to a pair of spacious lounges. Blending yacht-style elegance and boutique-resort intimacy, this is a ship where you can make new friends easily but also retreat to a favorite spot to enjoy high tea in peaceful solitude while awaiting details from the crew on the adventures that lie ahead. From $1849. —Celeste Moure

Sanctuary Sun Boat IV

The best of sanctuary sun boat iv, egypt nile cruises video, discover enchanting egypt, cabins & suites, standard cabins, presidential suites, royal suites, image gallery, view our sanctuary sun boat iv images, view all highlights, plan your stay, dining on sanctuary sun boat iv, exquisite cuisine on board, 4 night nile cruise | luxor to aswan, 4 night nile cruise | aswan to luxor, brochures for this cruise, our newsletter, latest offers and updates.

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Recommended Posts

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Friday at 07:21 PM

LauraS · Started Friday at 03:17 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:15 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:00 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 10:41 AM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Call free on: 0800 471 4754

Monday to Saturday: 9am to 7pm

Let’s find your dream river cruise.

Choose a river.

Moscow as a city has been around since 1147. No visit to this bustling 21st century city is complete without the opulence of its most recognisable landmarks. Most cruises allow at least 3 days in Moscow to allow your own pace and independent discovery. Shuttle bus services between the ship and the centre are available on most itineraries.

polaroid style photo St Basils Cathederal, Moscow St Basil’s Cathedral with its multi coloured domes dominates the western end of Red Square. On your walk through Red Square to or from a visit to Lenin’s tomb cements in the mind the influence of the more modern past and the beginnings of Soviet Russia.

The best way to explore Moscow is by using the world famous Metro stations, which are a discovery in themselves. Where else in the world is the metropolitan underground transit system adorned with crystal chandeliers and artwork. You’ll never view a tube journey the same again.

Visit the Kremlin, a self contained 15th century city with palaces, armouries, 15th and 17th century cathedrals and a Medieval fortress. A visit to the Kremlin includes a tour of the Armouries museum home to treasures such as the Tsar’s coronation robes and the famous Fabergé eggs.

Search Filter

• Cities Agra  (2) Amsterdam  (42) Angkor Wat  (24) Antwerp  (8) Arles  (10) Arnhem  (3) Aschaffenburg  (1) Aswan  (1) Avignon  (11) Bamberg  (8) Barranquilla  (2) Basel  (25) Beaune  (1) Belgrade  (17) Bernkastel  (5) Bordeaux  (6) Bratislava  (33) Bruges  (5) Brussels  (1) Bucharest  (16) Budapest  (59) Cairo  (1) Cartagena  (2) Chiang Khong  (1) Cochem  (8) Cologne  (46) Cusco  (1) Dendera  (1) Dürnstein  (3) Edfu  (1) Esna  (1) Gambote (Palenque)  (2) Ghent  (9) Giza  (1) Glacier Express  (1) Ha Long Bay  (5) Hanoi  (6) Hasselt  (1) Heidelberg  (13) Ho Chi Minh  (25) Hoi An  (3) Hue  (3) Iquitos  (2) Iron Gates  (6) Jaipur  (2) Keukenhof Gardens  (11) Koblenz  (32) Kolkata  (5) Kom Ombo  (1) Lima  (2) Linz  (8) Lisbon  (2) Luang Prabang  (1) Lucerne  (2) Luxor  (1) Lyon  (11) Maastricht  (1) Machu Picchu  (1) Mainz  (1) Melk  (13) Miltenberg  (7) Mompox  (2) New Delhi  (1) Nuremberg  (29) Paris  (11) Passau  (43) Phnom Penh  (24) Porto  (12) Prague  (4) Regensburg  (14) Rüdesheim  (8) Salamanca  (11) Salzburg  (19) Shanghai  (1) Siem Reap  (21) Strasbourg  (25) The Black Forest  (2) The Rhine Gorge  (2) Tournon  (2) Trier  (2) Udaipur  (1) Uglich, Yaroslavl & Goritzy  (1) Varanasi  (3) Venice  (2) Vienna  (54) Vientiane  (1) Viviers  (7) Wachau Valley  (1) Wurzburg  (5)
• Holiday Types
• Reset Search

Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of cruises and information?

Don’t get lost and frustrated on the internet.  We are here to help.  Just ask us to recommend the best cruises for your requirements.  It’s what we do and it will cost you no more than going direct.

Whether a couple, a group, a seasoned cruiser or new to travelling solo, we treat all our customers how we’d like to be treated ourselves and nothing less will do.

Our advice is free and we don’t charge any booking fees.

All the holidays we sell with flights from the UK are ATOL protected.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Telephone Number (required)

When should we call?

Area of interest (required)

You are submitting an enquiry about

We're Here to Help

Whether you'd like to check availabilty or need some questions answered, do get in touch.

Call us FREE on 0800 471 4754

Don't forget to let us have your telephone number and email so we can get back to you.