Best Deluxe Nile Cruises

A deluxe Nile cruise is the middle category of Nile cruising: a motor ship usually rated 5 stars locally, with more comfort than a standard boat but a lower price than a luxury one. Expect roomier cabins, a more varied restaurant, a sun deck with a pool and more attentive service, on the same Luxor to Aswan route and with the same temple visits as every other category.

Deluxe Nile cruises on this page start from $500 per person. The price depends on the ship, the cabin, the season and whether you sail for 4 or 5 days, and it is highest from mid-October to April. Because deluxe ships cost only a little more than standard ones for noticeably more comfort, they are often the best balance of comfort and price. Your quote lists everything that is included.

The difference between a standard and a deluxe Nile cruise is comfort on board, not the sightseeing. Deluxe ships generally have larger, better-finished cabins, more choice at meals, nicer lounges and sun decks, and more attentive service. Both follow the same route and visit Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with an Egyptologist guide leading the sightseeing; a private guide can be arranged on request.

Choose a deluxe Nile cruise if you want a comfortable, well-run ship at a fair price, and a luxury cruise if the ship itself is part of the holiday. Luxury ships add more spacious cabins or suites, more refined dining and more personal service, at a higher price. As the sightseeing is the same, many travellers put the difference towards extras such as Abu Simbel or a hot-air balloon ride over Luxor.

A deluxe Nile cruise package includes your cabin, meals on board as listed in the itinerary, guided visits led by a licensed Egyptologist, the entrance fees listed and the transfers between the ship and the sites. The itinerary states whether guiding is private or shared with other guests, and a private guide can be arranged on request. Drinks, tips and optional excursions are usually extra. If the cruise is part of a longer trip, hotels, internal transfers and domestic flights are added as the itinerary says.

Cabins on a deluxe Nile cruise ship are usually larger and better furnished than on standard ships, with air conditioning, a private bathroom and wide windows onto the river. On board you can expect a restaurant, a bar or lounge and a sun deck with a pool and loungers. Facilities vary from ship to ship, so we send you the details of the ship you choose before you book.

Deluxe Nile cruises usually last 4 or 5 days. The 5-day sailing normally starts in Luxor and ends in Aswan, giving you an extra night on board, while the 4-day sailing goes from Aswan to Luxor. Both visit the same temples, so pick the one that fits your flights. The cruise is easily combined with a few days in Cairo before or after.

Yes. A deluxe Nile cruise is a good fit for families, because the pool and sun deck give children somewhere to relax between temple visits, and for couples who want comfort without paying luxury prices. Children under 2 travel free and children from 2 to 11 pay a reduced rate when sharing a room with two adults, though some ships apply their own child policies.

The best time for a deluxe Nile cruise is from mid-October to April, when days in Luxor and Aswan are comfortable for temple visits and evenings on deck are pleasant. This is also the busiest season, so book 2 to 3 months ahead, and earlier for Christmas and New Year. From May to September prices drop and ships are quieter, and the pool on deck becomes a real asset in the heat.

Yes. Abu Simbel is not on the cruise route, but it can be visited from Aswan by road or a short flight, and a sunrise hot-air balloon ride can be added in Luxor. Ask for them when you enquire so they are planned around the ship's timetable and included in your quote, rather than arranged on board.