Standard Nile cruises

What a standard Nile cruise gives you

A Nile cruise is, first of all, a way to see the temples of Upper Egypt without packing and unpacking. The boat is your hotel: you sleep on board, eat on board, and return to it after each visit while it carries you to the next town. A standard ship does exactly that, simply and comfortably.

The standard ships we offer each list a swimming pool, a sun deck, fitness equipment, and a main restaurant serving buffet meals, according to their own pages. Their cabin lists include more than one type of cabin, suites among them. What you will not find as often are the extras of the higher classes, such as spa rooms, à la carte dining, or a library.

The same river, the same temples

The class of the ship does not change the sightseeing. Standard ships sail the same three programs as the deluxe and luxury ships: the 4-night Luxor to Aswan cruise, the 3-night Aswan to Luxor cruise, and the 7-night round trip from Luxor.

On each of them you visit the same places: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the double temple at Kom Ombo, and the Temple of Philae and the High Dam in Aswan. The program also offers a felucca sail in Aswan as an option.

Life on board a standard ship

Days on a Nile cruise start early. Visits are planned for the morning, before the heat, and you are usually back on board for lunch. The afternoon may bring a second visit or a few hours of sailing, and that is when the pool and the sun deck come into their own. Evenings are quiet, with dinner on board and time in the lounge or on deck.

Because so much of each day is spent at the temples, many travelers find that a simpler ship is all they need. The money saved can go toward an extra night in Luxor, a trip to Abu Simbel, or a few days on the Red Sea.

Who a standard cruise suits

A standard ship is a good fit for travelers on a longer trip around Egypt who want to balance the budget, for groups of friends who will spend most of their time ashore, and for anyone who wants the classic cruise without paying for extras.

It is a less natural fit if the ship itself is the highlight of your vacation. If you are planning a honeymoon or want spa facilities, a suite with more space, or à la carte dining, compare our deluxe and luxury ships. For a small sailing boat with only a few cabins, see our dahabiya page.

Choosing your program

If you have the time, the 4-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan is a well-balanced choice: Luxor is spread over two days and there is time on deck between visits. The 3-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor is the shortest option and ends with a full day in Luxor. The 7-night round trip suits travelers who want a week on the river. Our Nile cruise plus Cairo page shows how each fits a trip that starts in Cairo.

Cabins on a standard ship

Each standard ship we offer lists more than one type of cabin on its own page, suites included, so even within this class you can choose more space. Cabins on Nile ships usually have large windows facing the river. Read the cabin list on each ship's page and ask your planner which cabins are free on your dates; if two cabin types look alike, your planner can explain the difference.

What to check before you choose

Because the class is simple, the details are worth a quick look. On each ship's page, check the facilities list for what matters to you, such as a massage room or evening entertainment, which not every standard ship has. Check the dining description too: meals are mostly buffet style, and some ships add themed or plated dinners.

When your quote arrives, read what is included: meals on board, the visits in the program, guiding and entry tickets, and the transfers to and from the boat. If anything is unclear, ask your planner before you confirm.

Making the most of a standard cruise

Since the ship is a base rather than the highlight, spend a little more on the parts of the trip around it. A night in a good hotel in Luxor before or after the cruise, a day trip to Abu Simbel from Aswan, or a few days on the Red Sea often add more to a trip than a bigger cabin. The Aswan to Luxor and Luxor to Aswan pages explain which direction suits which plan.

Asking for a quote

Choose a standard ship on this page, or tell us your dates and how many people are traveling, and request a quote. A planner replies within 24 hours with the ships and cabins free on your dates and what is included, and can add hotels, transfers, and day trips to the same plan.