Luxury Nile cruise
Six ships on the Nile
Six ships on the Nile
The route between Luxor and the first cataract is where a luxury Nile cruise operates – six ships travel this route, from motor vessel to dahabiya.
The span of this selection is broader than the common term might suggest: A Nile cruise in Egypt means for some a motor vessel, for others a sailing dahabiya.
The cruise between Luxor and Aswan is the water segment of a journey through Egypt .
Best travel time
Nile cruise – comparison of six ships
The six ships of this Nile cruise are divided on the same route on the Nile into three motor vessels and three dahabiyas – the Nile Canopus, the ORO Luxury Dahabiya, and the Cleo Dahabeya . The smallest unit has nine cabins and suites, the largest forty-four, and in between, the types of construction differ in draft, number of guests, and docking rights.
| Ship | Cabins and suites | Route | Type of construction | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nile Canopus | Cabins and suites: 10 | Route: Luxor–Aswan in both directions, also as a round trip | Type of construction: Dahabiya | For whom: Anchorage Bessaw |
| ORO Luxury Dahabiya | Cabins and suites: 9 | Route: Aswan–Luxor and reverse direction | Type of construction: Dahabiya | For whom: smallest number of units, shallow hull, stop at Gebel el-Silsila |
| The Oberoi Zahra | Cabins and suites: 28 | Route: Aswan and Luxor in both directions, plus a variant at low water level | Type of construction: Motor vessel |
|
| The Oberoi Philae | Cabins and suites: 22 | Route: Aswan and Luxor in both directions, plus a variant at low water level | Type of construction: Motor vessel | For whom: Standard cabin with 36 sqm, private dock with access for guests with limited mobility |
| Cleo | Cabins and suites: 10 | Route: from Luxor to Aswan | Type of construction: Dahabiya |
|
| MS Historia | Cabins and suites: 44 | Route: Luxor and Aswan in both directions | Type of construction: Motor vessel | For whom: largest number of units |
The draft ranges from 80 cm for the shallowest dahabiya to 140 cm for the largest motor vessel, and this determines which anchorages are reachable at all. In terms of cabin area, The Oberoi Philae has the largest standard category of the six ships.
Fleet, departures, and season
The following spans refer to the 6 ships on this page and not to the fleet of the country. Where a value only applies to part of them, it states how many operators specify it and how many leave the detail open. The values come from the operators' websites where available, and otherwise from the company's own database.
1# Ships in comparison
six, of which three are dahabiyas and three are motor vessels
2# Units per ship
9 to 44 cabins and suites
3# Fixed departure days
Tuesdays and Saturdays on The Oberoi Zahra and The Oberoi Philae
4# Season
October to April
Small ship or motor vessel
Those looking for a small ship do not choose comfort over capacity, but rather the other way around. The ships in this selection cover both ends, from large ships to dahabiyas, and both classes travel the same route between Luxor and Aswan.
The first criterion is the draft and not the number of cabins: The ORO Luxury Dahabiya sits shallow in the water, and two ships with the same occupancy can have completely different drafts.
The second criterion is the docking rights at the shore: In Gebel el-Silsila, large cruise ships are not allowed to dock, and the MS Historia with 88 guests on board is the largest ship in this selection. Those seeking the stop should inquire about it before booking.
The third criterion is the route variant: The Oberoi Zahra and The Oberoi Philae offer a variant for low water levels, and one of the two ships has a private dock that provides access for guests with limited mobility.
The last criterion is the duration of the journey: Those traveling for only 3 nights will see the route in one direction.
Dahabiya under sail
A dahabiya, sometimes written dahabieh and with a different ending as in the Cleo Dahabeya, is a sailing ship without its own propulsion – three of the six ships in this selection are dahabiyas.
The dahabiya Nile Canopus sails under two large triangular sails and sits with a shallow draft in the water.
The ORO Luxury Dahabiya uses traditional sails and lists a travel speed of 4 to 5 knots. The Cleo Dahabeya departs from Luxor. "Sails available" does not mean the same as "sails under way" – those who need this assurance should inquire before booking.
A traditional sailing boat under a large triangular sail, with palm trees and a city in the background.
Routes and anchorages on the Nile
The type of construction determines where the ship is allowed to stop at all. In Gebel el-Silsila, large cruise ships are not allowed to dock, and El Kab is located on both dahabiya routes, while there is no route of a motor vessel going there. Esna separates the worlds even more clearly.
The anchorages of the dahabiyas have names such as the island Quessia, Wadi el Shat, the island Maniha, El Fawaza, the Nubian village El Koubania, and Daraw with its market, and Bessaw is located with the Nile Canopus.
Esna represents both classes, but not in the same way. The dahabiyas start there and walk to the Chnum Temple and the souk, while the motor vessels pass through the lock and continue on. The motor vessels complete the same chain from Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Esna, and one of them additionally includes Dendera and Abydos.
“ Experience Egypt exclusively “ offers 4 nights on the Nile Canopus between the first cataract and Luxor, downstream with stops in Kom Ombo and Edfu. If you want to see the smaller anchorages, you need a ship that is allowed to dock there.
View over the river with boats and green shores, desert hills in the background.
The route north of Luxor
North of Luxor, ships operate, just not these six – the long route between Cairo and the south partly uses a different fleet, partly the same ship on a different route.
There is no Nile cruise from Cairo here: The cruise lies between the first cataract and Luxor – in “ A journey through millennia ” on the ORO Luxury Dahabiya.
Cairo and the south are 1 hour and 20 minutes apart by scheduled flight, and there is an overnight train.
Special tickets for tombs and pyramids
The tomb of Sethos I, the tomb of Nofretari, and the internal visit of the Cheops pyramid are special tickets – those who want to see them should plan them separately.
Round trips with Nile cruise
Two round trips of this house include the cruise as the third stage in the course. One lasts 4 nights on the Nile Canopus, the other 3 nights on the ORO Luxury Dahabiya, both between the first cataract and Luxor and both downstream. On both journeys, the cruise is the middle section and neither the beginning nor the end.
on request
on request
The six Nile ships individually
From the Nile Canopus to the MS Historia, each ship has a page with detailed cabin categories.
Frequently asked questions about Nile cruises
Which Nile cruise is the best?
The three Dahabiyas and the three motor ships differ in the number of units, the draft, and which stops they are allowed to call at. A ship that is not allowed to dock at Gebel el-Silsila takes a different journey between Luxor and Aswan than one that anchors there.
Dahabiya or motor ship?
The type of construction alone says nothing about the cabin area. Within the same shipping company, two motor ships in the standard category are far apart, and the dividing line lies with the draft and the stops. On both Dahabiya routes, El Kab is included, on none of the routes of a large ship.
Does a Dahabiya really sail?
The Nile Canopus sails under two large triangular sails, the ORO Luxury Dahabiya uses traditional sails.
How long does a Nile cruise take?
The trips last 3 to 7 nights – the shortest goes one way, the longest returns as a round trip.
Which cabin location?
Total area and interior area are two different things with the suites: The Zahra has its largest category with 115 sqm overall and 50 sqm inside, and whoever only reads the larger number buys a terrace as a room.
