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Nile Cruise Tips and Nile Cruise Booking

If you choose to go on a Nile cruise, make sure that the cruise is taken as “all inclusive”, i.e. accommodation, tours and transportation! This option is the best way for you to see all the possible Temples on route. 

 

 

 

We would therefore recommend, for health and safety reasons, to choose only the five star+ Nile cruises !. The cost for one nights accommodation, ranges between $70 and $130, per person, per night in a twin room.

 

Today there are more than 220 Nile cruisers on the Nile  between Luxor and Aswan, including 4 star, standard 5 star, deluxe and imperial Ultra deluxe.

Your cabin location

Prices of accommodation depends largely on which deck you have chosen to stay, staying in the lower decks is generally cheaper than “styling it” on the upper deck. Try and obtain a plan of the boat before you book.

Your cabin will be fitted with air-conditioning and a TV set.

Try and avoid engine notice and fumes. Any good cruise boat will keep the cabins that are closer to the engine, for the staff! The guests staying away from engine noise.


There are 3 types of  itineraries for Nile cruises:

1- Three  nights cruise - ==> Usually departs from Aswan to Luxor.

 The cruise includes the following visits:

 *This is a short cruise, good for those who want to get just the cruise experience in glance  and still enjoy the temples in between.

Please Note: It is very important to have a  your own tourist guide onboard during your cruise visits.


2- Four nights cruise - - ==> Usually departs from Luxor to Aswan.

 The cruise includes the following visits:

 *This is a Medium range type cruise,  good for those who want more of  the cruise experience. while adding one extra night for more leisure time Good for those who would like to extend their stay to see Abu Simbel


3- Seven nights cruise - ==> either Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor.

This scheme basically includes all the visits mentioned above, but divided over 7 nights, which gives you in total more free nights to relax. It is very good choice for those who seek full relaxation. 


Please Note: Each time you go ashore (on all cruises), you will be given a boarding pass. This is  to help you identify your boat, as well it helps the boat to know if they all   passenger onboard, so that they can continue with the next segment of the cruise. Don’t lose it! Keep it in a safe place and hand it to reception each time you come back from a tour.

The following chart will explain to you what you should visit during the various cruise schemes  Click on picture  below to enlarge

  cruise chart

 


 What You Should Know While On A Cruise

Food on board :

Accommodation aboard the cruise boats is based on full board basis. (All meals are included ) Such meals and are in an open buffet style, some days there are many varieties, depending of type and quality of the cruise boat; these meals are served with a fixed timetable.

Tea and coffee are available, while on the move,  called tea time  served every day around 5:00 pm.

Other drinks are offered in the bar area.

Nightlife:

Every day there is a full entertainment programme, which differs from one boat to the other. On most cruise trips  the first day is usually a cocktail party, run by the boat, where they offer free drinks and introduce the  senior staff on board. This party is also known as  “the manager’s party”, where the manager introduces his crew to passengers onboard;  you must wear smart causal during this gathering

 

-Another night there is a “Galabia party”, where you will be encouraged to get Egyptian outfits and wear the local Galabia. During To buy a Galabia will cost you around 50-70 LE, but if you do not wish to buy one, you can hire one from the bazaar shop located onboard.

If you choose to buy  your Galabia from outside the boat There are many bazaars outside the Temples that you will be visit during your cruise. Don’t forget to haggle hard! 

-Another night will have a Nubian show, where you will see Nubian dancers and singers in their local outfit.

-The last evening’s entertainment is usually has: a belly dancing show, a juggler’s show (whirling dervishes) with local singers and bands. 

 Your dress onboard:

During the daytime, while during tours, you can wear whatever you really like,(Shorts are ok)  though due to the extreme heat it is recommended you wear lightweight clothes. 

While relaxing on board, and in doors you may wear shorts and swimming costumes, if you wish. Breakfast and lunch can be taken dressed like this, but for dinner, please wear smarter clothes! But beware of too much exposure to the sun! Apply plenty of high factor sun block! 

How to pay your Extras:

All extras such as consumed beverages, laundry, and telephones bills, should be settled and paid at the last day of your cruise when you check out. Payment can be made with credit cards, traveller’s cheque, or cash. Make sure you have enough cash, just in case your card transaction didn't go through.

Please note: Many Nile cruise boats do not accept personal cheques or money orders ! many other don't accept travellers checks as well

Tipping:

Don’t forget to leave tips for the cruise staff, not less than $ 5-8  USD PER PERSON PER DAY!  

  • For 3 nights cruise  it  should be 15-25 USD per person ( in total)
  • For 4 nights cruise  it should be 20-35  USD per person ( in total)
  • For 7 nights cruise  it should be 35-55  USD per person ( in total)

This tipping should be given to the boat reception,  simply put your tip in an envelope and hand it over to boat reception. This money later will be distributed  evenly among the crew onboard. This way each person will get his fair share.

Please Note: this does not include tipping to your Tourist Guide, this should be separate, and it is entirely up to you to decide the amount of tip that you will give to him/her.Know that these are only guidelines, gratuities are personal matter and tipping is entirely at the discretion of the individuals.

 Health and Safety onboard Egypt Nile cruises: 

All Nile cruises are equipped with safety features and life jackets are normally placed under your cabin bed.

  • You should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol especially if you have equilibrium problems. You are not just putting yourself at risk but also the other guests and staff too.

  • People with equilibrium problems should not spend too much time on deck at night, on a fast moving ship; it is dangerous in case you fall over.

  • Smoking in bed is dangerous; the mattresses are very flammable!

  • People who tend to sleep walk should never take a cabin with a balcony, an inside cabin with a window would be far safer.

  • Make sure that you know where the muster stations are, in case you have to abandon ship.

  • If you get sick whilst on board, some cruise boats have a resident doctor on board. If not, they have doctors assigned in each town that can be called on in case of emergency.

  • If you need some more heath and safety tips, please read our Egypt  health page to know more about health and safety on board a Nile cruise.

 

Nile Cruise useful tips:

  • Firstly after checking-in at a cruise, it is advisable to leave your valuables in your rooms'  safety deposit box.  As all cabins have a private safe
  • If you wish to buy any items from the shops on board, the opportunity for shopping is generally limited due to the small size of these shops. But on the otherhand you will get plenty of time to check what you are buying, and haggle over the price!
  • To call home, most of the cruise boats offer telephone facilities onboard, but the sound quality is not as good as onshore.
  • We would recommend visiting a bank, to change your money, before cruising, as most of the boats do not offer exchanging money facilities and you will not get access to onshore banks while you are cruising.

 Here is a list of of the best cruise boats We experienced on the Nile:

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M/S Philae

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M/S Triton

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M/S Oberoi Shehrazad

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M/S Oberoi Shehrayar

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M/s Movenpick Royal lotus

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M/s TUYA

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M/s TIYI  

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M/S Sun Ray

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M/S Senator

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M/S Royal  Ruby

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M/S Radames 2

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M/S Hamees

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M/S Sonesta - St George

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M/S Sonesta - The Moon Goddess

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M/S Sonesta - The Sun Goddess

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M/S Abercrombie Sun Boats

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M/S Alexander The Great

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M/S The Royale

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 M/S Crown Jubilee


 
if you Wish to book any of the above cruises or another have anther Nile cruise in mind, go here to our inquiry form or  If you wish to  speak to a customer services team  directly via our live chat

 

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Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me through your Egypt Travel Help Centre

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