Nile Cruise Egypt Review: Our Experience Sailing from Luxor to Aswan

I expected the temples to impress us on our recent trip to Egypt with our 3 teenage grandchildren. What I didn’t expect was that the 4-night Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan would become a highlight of the trip.

After the intensity of Giza and Cairo, stepping aboard the Mövenpick Hamees felt like a complete shift in pace. Within minutes, the teens had claimed the sundeck and pool, we were drinking mint tea, watching daily life unfold on the riverbank.

In that moment, Egypt felt calmer, quieter, and far more intimate than we’d imagined.

Interestingly, on my first visit to Egypt as a solo traveller, I never even considered taking a Nile Cruise. At the time, I was completely drawn to Alexandria and Cairo.

It wasn’t until a second trip in 2006 with my husband, step-son and his friend that we decided to sail the iconic Nile. In their early 20s, the boys loved the adventure and history that came with sailing between Luxor and Aswan.

So when we started planning this multi-generational Egypt trip years later, including a cruise felt like an obvious choice. And our grandkids immediately loved the idea too.

Our Nile Cruise formed the middle section of a 10-day Egypt itinerary. Beginning in Giza, then sailing for 4 nights from Luxor to Aswan before returning to Cairo for our final 2 nights.

In this review, I’ll share what life on board was really like and who this type of cruise is best suited for. Also, I’ve included what surprised us most, and the things we’d do differently next time.

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Is a Nile Cruise in Egypt For You?

If you’re wondering whether a Nile Cruise is worth it for families, first-time visitors to Egypt, or multi-generational travel, here’s our honest experience.

The first thing to say about a Nile cruise is that almost all tour companies include this in their itinerary. This is because sailing allows you to visit many sites without having to unpack every night or drive long distances daily.  

We have sailed previously with Oberoi and, more recently, on Movenpick Ramees.  Our first impressions both times on stepping aboard were a comfortable small ship, with large-windows in our cabins, well-appointed lounges and inviting dining areas.

Cruises vary hugely in terms of boat size, facilities, and food.  We selected ours to suit a family trip. Others put more emphasis on expert lectures in the evenings. Here’s our review of everything from our ‘Nile Cruises’ to help you decide what’s best for your trip to Egypt.

Who This Cruise Is (and Isn’t) For

It can be easy to say yes to a pre-set tour operator itinerary, so take a few minutes to think about why you want to include a cruise in Egypt, and what might mean you pass on it.

A Nile Cruise Will Be Perfect If:

• This is a first trip to Egypt and you want to see Cairo and Luxor/Aswan historic sites like Valley of the Kings without long drives.
• Like us, you are travelling with kids or parents, because the boat makes it easy places to gather together, but also to spend time alone if you choose.
• You have older kids – they have more freedom and the boat is very secure (most have top level sundecks and pools)
• You love the idea of not having  to unpack every day of a trip.

It’s less ideal if you:

• Crave more luxury or bespoke accommodation eg. Buffet dining and crew entertainment is not your thing.
• Prefer flexibility, as ship dining and tour times are fixed.
• Enjoy a quieter environment, although we found the ships relaxing, evenings do tend to wind down early.
• Choose big cities and contemporary sites over ancient temples, souks & tombs.
• Want adult only cruises – although Viking now has adults-only cruises.

We feel a high quality 4-night cruise is a perfect compliment to starting in Giza and ending in Cairo. Giza draws huge crowds to its desert sand pyramids and Cairo is always bustling. 

So, getting away and onto the water is cooler and quieter, giving you time to relax between activities.

Our Nile Cruise Experience (Day-to-Day Feel)

If you have taken an ocean cruise, an Egypt river cruise experience will feel quite different in some respects. Overall, though we felt it followed the core rhythm of ‘life at sea’.

Daily meal times, excursions and entertainment information are posted at reception every evening, so it’s easy to check what’s happening at any time. 

Excursion schedules are standard for most cruises because the ancient sites in Luxor and Aswan are the reason for taking this cruise.  That said, you can decide with your own guide if you want to leave earlier or return later.

As we set sail, the boat was very smooth. It was easy to enjoy views of local life on the river banks – quite different from an ocean cruise where you might not see land for a day or so.

Be Prepared for Multiple Boats at Moorings

It was surprising the first time we took a Nile Cruise to see how many boats sail this stretch of water.  However when sailing, it didn’t feel that crowded as captains navigate with ample space between each other. 

However when we docked, expect rows of boats, stacked three or four boats deep along the quay.  Your boat might be right on the dock or the furthest away.  We had both during our 4 nights.  

Some people complained that they had no view from their cabin when boats were docked.  To be honest, we didn’t spend much time looking out the cabin window when moored, preferring the sun deck or lounge areas.

The days flow well and each evening’s entertainment is different from cultural entertainment, to a deck BBQ where staff dress in national costumes for dinner.  Most performances at night are 30 minutes long and before dinner, leaving ample time to eat and relax for the rest of the evening.

Overall, being on board never felt rushed and in fact this was the most relaxing time during our time in Egypt. 

Although we were on the go each day, returning to the boat, being offered a mint tea, or hibiscus drink, and then relaxing with a book for an hour, was a treat. Our teens headed to the pool to chill, or did a little sunbathing most afternoons.

With 72 rooms, our boat never felt crowded or noisy – there were never any queues to disembark or return to the boat.

What To Know Before Booking a Cruise

The best time to book a cruise depends on when you plan to visit Egypt, the standard of ship you prefer, and guidance from your tour operator.

For example, we booked our trip in October to visit in early April.  December to March is peak season, and depending when Easter falls in April too.  After this, the season slows down and stops during the peak of summer heat.

Tour Companies will usually include your full cruise board, meals, entertainment and excursions when booking a Nile Cruise as part of your trip. 

Anything extra — such as a visit to a Nubian Village — will increase costs.  Do make sure to ask for all options up front and then prioritise to avoid overloading your days.

Before booking, make sure to ask about mobility or dietary restrictions, onboard entertainment and if it’s suitable for your family group, any safety concerns you might have, and costs for extras (eg. Wine, Cocktails).

Prices for Nile cruises vary from $350 on basic boats to $5,000 on luxury ones, no different from hotel costs.  Cabins usually come in ‘standard’ or ‘deluxe’ – we have booked standard both times and they were absolutely fine.  But check room differences if space is an important factor for you.

If you can, aim for a 4* boat to give you the best Nile cruise Egypt experience as a multi-generational family without breaking the bank.

Life Onboard the Boat

Cabins

Both Nile cruises we’ve done  have had a similar room layout – cabins, with showers and comfortable beds and large sliding windows that let in a gentle breeze. 

We had a coffee maker (pods), laundry service, safe and supply of basic toiletries. Here’s an image of our room on Movenpick Hamees:

We had requested cabins together (3 rooms) and this was provided with twin beds for the boys and a single room for our 17 year old granddaughter. 

Check in was just like a hotel. It takes only a few minutes to register and get cabin keys – staff bring your bags to your room. Then you’re free to relax on the sundeck (shaded areas are very comfortable) or dip in the small but welcome pool.

Getting Around the Boat

If you have any mobility needs, check whether your boat has an elevator. Ours did not, and so from the gangway entrance (main deck) to our cabin on the fourth floor meant climbing up several short stairs.  

Food Choices and Quality

On board, it’s all inclusive dining with set times each day for meals.  This starts with lunch on your day of arrival and ends with breakfast on your check-out morning.

All mealtimes were posted at the reception daily –  times differed a little depending on activities and the entertainment in the evening.  There is not a room service option.

Every meal had a wide selection of hot and cold items, service on main dishes and buffet for salad, desserts, and breakfast items like pastries.  Coffee and drinks during meals were served by our dedicated waiter.

Being vegetarian, I can confirm there were endless options and many Egyptian dishes are ideal for non-meat eaters, and full of flavour.  Our grandkids loved eggs to order in the morning, chicken and fish dishes and of course French fries.

Throughout our cruise, the quality of food and drinks was high. Whether it was an afternoon coffee on the deck for us, or fruit cocktails before dinner for our teens, the crew were incredibly attentive and fun.  

Pool and Sun Deck Area

I’d like to share up front that a river boat sun deck and pool is not going to be massive like a high end hotel or resort.

But size isn’t the only measure of whether you’re going to enjoy this facility.  We loved it – not everyone is going to be on the deck at the same time and we never had any problems finding a table/chairs or sun loungers.

A small bar area on the deck served coffee/tea, cold drinks and one of the daily rituals we enjoyed – afternoon tea. 

It was served in the lounge one day, on the sundeck another, and it was a nice way to relax and if you want to, chat with other guests.  The kids loved the chocolate fountain in particular and the chips (crisps) served on board.

We’ve taken this cruise in December and early April and it was definitely warmer mid afternoon on the sundeck in April. If you have sun sensitive skin, you’ll likely enjoy the sundeck late afternoon and evening, but 80% of the seating up top had umbrella or parasol style shade.

Workout Area

Aside from the stairs and walking each day on excursions, you can use the treadmills on the ship. On our boat there were two, but honestly I never saw anyone on them!

Evening Entertainment Onboard

After a full day of sightseeing, there’s the option of daily short pre-dinner entertainment, followed by dinner usually around 8pm, but generally evenings on board are quiet. The “Galabia Egyptian Night” BBQ was fun, held on the deck with crew all in national dress.

We liked this because we used this time to chat with our grandkids, share our photos and stories of the day.  After dinner, everyone enjoyed having their own time to read, go on-line (internet service was excellent – essential for teens!) or just sleep!

Staff On Our Cruise Boat

The boat manager and reception staff were always available to answer any questions and the same housekeeper tidies your cabin daily. 

Our housekeeper was an artist and every day we came back to find a new friend in our cabin – a monkey, dog, swan – all twisted into life from a towel.  A little touch, but thoughtful and fun.

Excursions Included

Most days we had breakfast early (around 6.30am) so we could get out to our first activity early (this was often to beat crowds coming by tour bus from Hurghada on day trips). 

Our guide for the Nile Cruise – Ahmed – also stayed on the boat, and was available any time by WhatsApp if we wanted to chat about our itinerary.

The main excursions to expect on most River Nile cruises will be from Luxor, Edfu and Aswan.  If you want to go to Abu Simbel, this is best done from Aswan by taking a short flight at the end of your cruise.

Luxor Standard Excursions:

• East Bank – Karnak and Luxor Temples
• West Bank – Valley of the Kings & Valley of the Queens
• Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (El-Deir El-Bahari).

Edfu

• Transit the Lock (on the boat)
• Visit Edfu Temple.
• Kom Ombo Temple

Aswan

• Felucca Sailboat around Kitchener Island
• Philae Island Temple
• Unfinished Obelisk
• Aswan Dam

We found this a little heavy going, so I asked our tour company to help us weave in teen friendly activities with the above, and drop the Aswan Dam.

As a result, the pacing of sightseeing was more balanced with an afternoon souk visit in Luxor, an evening visit to Aswan Souk, and a trip to a Nubian Village, before the speed boat took us over to Philae Temple. We missed the Aswan Dam completely as it wasn’t our idea of fun!

We also went to a small Crocodile Museum, and spent an hour or so in a Nubian Home sampling traditional food, and getting henna tattoos.

Having a guide with us meant we could sit down with him the night before, talk through the itinerary and adjust it as needed.  None of these were big tweaks, and I encourage you to speak with your tour operator ahead of time to learn about alternatives for a multi-generational group.

If you are travelling with say older parents in your group, they might find the temples quite a bit of walking, so again with a private tour guide, you can shorten some excursions, or time them for less busy or cooler times of day (boat schedule dependent of course).

It’s not practical to try and do excursions independently from a Nile Cruise; the logistics, trying to pay, knowing what to pay, staying safe are all good reasons why your guide is totally worth the money.  Also, a guide will always get you back to the boat in good time before sailing!

What Surprised Us

Thinking about our first Egypt cruise, and this  most recent one with grandkids and no parents, these ‘aha’ moments made our trip memorable!

• A short cruise balanced the intensity of Giza and Cairo – it’s very relaxing sailing on such a beautiful undeveloped river.
• Teens loved the freedoms of the boat, with their own rooms, easy safe access to pool and sundeck, buffet food and honestly, just being able to order a soda as they wanted.

• Temple fatigue does eventually kick in, despite how impressive the sites are, so planning alternative activities helps keep energy levels positive. 
• Small boats are more informal and little rituals like walking through 3-4 moored next to us to get to the dockside was fun because it’s something different.
• The traditional Felucca (wooden sailboat) with its richly decorated fabric seating, and up top viewing area, was as close to a ‘getting away from it all’ experience as we’ve ever had – don’t miss it!

• Despite being touristy, the Nubian Village, where camels sit at the riverbank or might almost run you over, as they run through the Main Street (a sandy path), is one of a kind stop with no temples.
• The souks and the idea of bartering was completely alien to our grandkids before we arrived in Luxor but by Aswan, they were happily negotiating for their last souvenirs and did quite well.

Souk Fun

One of the funniest moments was in a spice store in Aswan Souk on our last night. 

Everyone was waiting for me to buy some vanilla and cumin spices and while I was waiting, a vendor came up with what I thought was a cup of hot mint tea.  As I drew it to my nose, the strength of menthol hit me, so much that our 12 year old asked if he could try it.

Well, one inhale and it almost knocked him off the bench he was perched on. But the moment was caught on video – we honestly laughed the whole ride back to the hotel.

Finally, at the souk, our guide Mohammed kindly bought crisps (chips) for the kids – sharing his favourite flavours – Egyptian BBQ, Spices and Cheese.  He had kids of a similar age and shared how they loved them too.

It was a true moment of kindness and connectivity and really bridged culture and generations

Downsides / What We’d Do Differently

If you read our complete Egypt Trip guide, you will know that one of the biggest mistakes we made was to agree to a dawn flight from Cairo to Luxor. 

It meant getting everyone up at 2am, and the result was that we were all exhausted and too tired to do the full morning Luxor and Karnak temples without a break.  Make sure connecting domestic flight timings are realistic and not stressful.

This is ancient Egypt and so temples and history are going to feature.  Most of these were engaging for our teen grandchildren, but there is a risk of overload after 2-3 days. Be aware and as we mentioned above, find alternatives to keep energy positive.

We spent on average 2 hours at each temple and this was enough.  It gets hot later in the morning, so getting there before 9am, and back to the boat by 11.30am works well.  

We did one tour later in the day at Luxor (due to the flight issues I mentioned) and  the downside was that it was packed and, honestly, it became difficult to keep track of everyone. 

Taking a photograph was virtually impossible without getting loads of heads in it – so it might be tempting to have a later start from the boat, but honestly, we wouldn’t.

We didn’t have time to add a couple of days at the beach to our itinerary, but if you can, do it because it adds another unique experience and down time for everyone, before heading home.

Is a Nile Cruise Worth It?

Having done it twice, I absolutely would not miss a Nile cruise on a trip to Egypt. It’s a perfect contrast to Cairo, the river itself is stunning, and each stop gets you right to world class Egyptian sites.

Travellers with an interest in history, families with teenage or adult children), and couples exploring the country on a first trip will love the ease and lowkey atmosphere.

There’s no need to think about any restaurants, buying tickets for tours, etc. It is all done for you, so everyone can relax.

However, if you like more privacy and choice of dining, a Nile Cruise may not be your best choice and consider booking a hotel in Luxor, and then in Aswan, with transport by car between them.

We haven’t done this trip with little kids,  but personally I wouldn’t recommend it for children under 10 – a beach resort might be an easier option as they won’t do well in temples and with boat meal hours.

Cruise Ships all follow the same route, but can vary enormously in terms of cabin comfort, facilities and food.  We suggest that if you are going to take this trip, go for a 4*/5* rated boat.

Final Verdict + Help To Book Your Trip

Whatever your reasons for visiting Egypt, a river cruise on the Nile will not disappoint if you know what to expect going into it, and are clear on any needs for you and your fellow travellers to make it work for everyone.

For more ideas on once in a lifetime travels, our bucket list guide is a great way for your whole family to decide where to next!

You can see how a 4 night cruise fits into a longer itinerary in our 10-day route, full of details for Giza and Old Cairo sightseeing too. Another option is to combine Egypt and a Week in Jordan with it’s incredible Petra sights.

And do use our Egypt Planning Checklist to help plan whether you need information about visas, hotels, tour operators and simply packing for a multi-generational trip.

For us, the Nile cruise wasn’t just transportation between temples — it became the part of Egypt where different generations slowed down enough to truly experience the country together.