What Does Full Board Mean on a Nile Cruise?

On a Nile cruise, full board usually means three meals a day on board: breakfast, lunch and dinner. It does not automatically include drinks, bottled water, room service, specialty dining or meals you eat off the ship. The exact meal plan is written in your package, so read it before you travel.

Full board is the standard meal plan on classic Nile cruise ships, and for good reason. You spend much of the day either sightseeing near the river or sailing between ports, so it makes sense for the ship to feed you. In most cases, meals are timed around the excursion program, and you rarely need to think about where to eat.

The confusion usually comes with drinks and with the first and last days of the cruise. This guide explains how full board normally works, what it covers and what to check.

What full board typically includes

On most Nile cruises, full board covers:

• Breakfast, usually a buffet with eggs cooked to order, breads, pastries, cheeses, fruit, yogurt, cereals and hot dishes.
• Lunch, often a buffet or a mix of buffet and served courses, with salads, hot dishes, Egyptian specialties and desserts.
• Dinner, which may be a buffet, a set menu or a served meal with a choice of main courses. Some ships alternate between styles on different nights.

Many ships also serve afternoon tea or coffee with cakes or cookies on the sun deck while sailing. Whether this is included in the meal plan or charged separately varies by vessel. Themed dinners are common too: an Egyptian night, a galabeya party with traditional food or a farewell dinner.

The food is usually a mix of international dishes and Egyptian cooking, such as lentil soup, grilled meats, rice dishes, stuffed vegetables, fresh bread and local desserts. Quality varies between ships, and on well-run vessels the food is often one of the highlights of the trip.

What full board usually does not include

Full board refers to meals. It is not the same as all-inclusive. Items commonly charged separately are:

• Drinks with meals and at the bar, including soft drinks, juices, beer, wine and spirits.
• Bottled water, which may be charged per bottle, although some ships provide a bottle in the cabin each day.
• Coffee and tea outside meal times, on some ships.
• Room service, where it exists.
• Meals off the ship, such as lunch during a long excursion or dinner in a restaurant ashore.
• Snacks and minibar items in the cabin.

Tea and coffee are often included at breakfast, and sometimes after dinner, but not always at lunch or the bar. If drinks matter to your budget, ask for the ship's drink policy or price list. Charges go on your cabin account and you settle the bill at the end of the cruise.

Full board versus all-inclusive

Some Nile cruise ships and packages offer an all-inclusive option or a drinks package. The terms vary widely, so it helps to compare them clearly.

An all-inclusive plan can be good value if you plan to drink regularly at meals and on the sun deck. If you mostly drink water and the occasional coffee, full board is usually enough. Ask exactly which drinks are covered, during which hours, and whether imported brands are included.

How meals fit around the sightseeing

Meal times on a Nile cruise follow the excursion schedule. On a day with an early start, breakfast may be served very early so that the group can reach the temples before the heat. Lunch often happens on board between a morning visit and afternoon sailing. Dinner is usually in the evening after an afternoon visit or a day of sailing.

Early excursions

For very early trips, such as a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West Bank of Luxor or the drive to Abu Simbel, the ship often provides a packed breakfast box. Ask the night before so it is ready.

First and last days

On many cruises, full board begins with lunch on the first day and ends with breakfast on the last day. On others, the first meal is dinner. If you arrive early or leave late, you may need to arrange a meal yourself. Check your program for these boundaries, because they affect what you need to plan around the cruise.

Missed meals

If an excursion runs late or you choose an optional trip, the ship can sometimes keep a meal aside or serve a late lunch. Tell the restaurant manager in advance.

Eating ashore

On days with long excursions, lunch may be taken at a restaurant off the ship. Whether that meal is included depends on your package rather than the ship's full board plan, so check the itinerary wording. Free evenings in Luxor or Aswan are also a good chance to try local restaurants, which you would pay for separately.

Dietary needs and allergies

The best time to share dietary requirements is when you book, not when you board. Your operator can pass the information to the ship, and you should repeat it to the restaurant manager on the first day.

• Vegetarian diets are usually easy to accommodate, because Egyptian cuisine includes many vegetable, legume and rice dishes.
• Vegan diets are possible on many ships with advance notice, although choices may be more limited.
• Gluten-free and other medical diets need clear advance notice. Buffets carry a risk of cross-contamination, so ask how food will be prepared.
• Severe allergies should be discussed in detail before booking. Carry your own medication and an allergy card describing what you cannot eat.
• Halal and religious diets are generally straightforward in Egypt, but if you follow a specific religious diet, ask the ship to confirm how meat is sourced and prepared.
• Low-sugar or diabetic diets are easier to manage with a word to the chef, since desserts and fruit juices are a big part of the buffet.

It also helps to learn a few key words or carry a translated card, because the restaurant staff usually speak good English but kitchen staff may not. Pointing to a written note avoids misunderstandings at a busy buffet.

Practical tips for eating well on board

A few simple habits make the meal plan work better for you:

• Drink bottled or filtered water only, and check whether ice is made from treated water. On reputable ships it usually is.
• Peeled fruit and cooked dishes are the safest choices if you have a sensitive stomach.
• Ask the restaurant team about table arrangements. Some ships assign tables for the whole cruise; others let you sit where you like.
• If you prefer lighter meals in the heat, choose salads, soups and grilled dishes at lunch and save the bigger meal for dinner.
• Keep a few snacks in your day bag for long excursions, especially if you have children with you.

Frequently asked questions

Is alcohol included in full board on a Nile cruise?

Usually not. Full board covers meals, and alcohol is normally charged to your cabin account unless your package specifically includes a drinks plan. Check the package wording and the ship's price list if this matters to you.

Is bottled water included?

It depends on the ship. Some vessels place complimentary bottled water in cabins daily, while others charge for every bottle, including at meals. Confirm the policy before you travel so you are not surprised by the bill.

Can I get vegetarian or vegan meals?

Vegetarian meals are usually easy to arrange, and Egyptian cooking includes many plant-based dishes. Vegan meals are also possible on many ships with advance notice. Share your requirements when you book and remind the restaurant manager on the first day.

Are meals served while the ship is sailing?

Often yes. Lunch and dinner are frequently served while the ship is on the move between ports, which is one of the pleasures of a Nile cruise. Meal times depend on the daily schedule set by the excursion program.

What happens if I miss a meal because of an excursion?

Ships can often keep food aside or serve a late meal if you tell them in advance. For very early trips, such as a balloon flight or the drive to Abu Simbel, ask for a packed breakfast. Meals missed by choice are usually not refunded.

If you would like to compare meal plans, drink policies or dietary arrangements on different ships, tell us what matters to you through Plan Your Trip and a specialist will help you choose. You can also browse ships on our Nile cruise pages.