What Is Usually Not Included on a Nile Cruise?

On most Nile cruises, the items that are usually not included are drinks, tips, optional excursions such as Abu Simbel or a hot air balloon flight, tickets for special tombs, some transfers and personal extras like laundry, spa treatments and Wi-Fi. What is actually excluded depends on who packaged your cruise, and the exact list is set out on each ship page and in your written quote.

A Nile cruise price can look all-inclusive at first glance, because the cabin, the meals and the sailing are covered. But between Luxor and Aswan there are many small and not-so-small expenses that sit outside the base price. None of them are hidden on a well-written quote, and knowing them in advance lets you budget calmly and decide which extras are worth it for you.

This guide describes what is typically not included on Nile cruises in general. For the other side, see our companion guide to what is usually included.

Drinks and bottled water

Drinks are a common extra. Full board covers meals, not beverages, so on most ships the following are charged to your cabin account:

• Soft drinks, juices and mineral water at meals.
• Beer, wine and spirits at meals and at the bar.
• Coffee, tea and specialty drinks outside of breakfast, on some ships.
• Minibar items in the cabin, where there is a minibar.

Bottled water policies vary. Some ships provide a bottle or two in the cabin each day; others charge for every bottle. Because you should drink only bottled or filtered water in Egypt, and you will drink a lot of it in the heat, this small line can matter more than you expect. Some ships also offer drinks packages or an all-inclusive plan, which can be good value if you drink regularly.

Entrance tickets and special tombs

Even when a sightseeing program is included, not every ticket is.

Main sites on the program

Cruises sold with a guided program usually include entrance tickets to the main sites on the route, such as Karnak, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Cruises sold as cabin and meals only usually include no tickets at all.

Special tombs and extra sites

At the Valley of the Kings, a standard ticket covers a limited number of tombs, and some tombs, including the tomb of Tutankhamun, require their own separate ticket. The tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens also has its own ticket. Museums, such as the Luxor Museum or the Nubian Museum in Aswan, are often not part of the cruise program either.

Ticket prices and rules for photography change from time to time, so check the current details, or ask us, before you travel.

Optional excursions

Optional excursions are a large category of extras on a Nile cruise. Common ones include:

Some packages bundle one or two of these in; most list them as optional extras. Abu Simbel in particular is commonly sold separately, so if it is on your list, make sure it appears clearly in your quote.

Tips and gratuities

Tipping is a normal part of travel in Egypt, and it is usually not included in a cruise price. On many ships, crew tips are pooled and shared among the staff who work behind the scenes as well as those you see every day. There is often a box at reception or an envelope in your cabin near the end of the cruise.

Your Egyptologist guide is usually tipped separately, as are drivers. You may also give small tips to porters, felucca captains and site staff during the trip. Carrying small Egyptian pound notes makes this easier. Recommended amounts change over time, so ask your operator for current guidance rather than relying on an old forum post.

Transfers, flights and the days around the cruise

If your booking covers the cruise only, you may need to arrange:

• Airport, train station or hotel transfers to and from the ship.
• Domestic flights or the sleeper train between Cairo and Luxor or Aswan.
• Hotel nights before or after the cruise.
• Meals on the days you are not on the ship.

Packaged tours often include some or all of these, and the difference in price between two offers is frequently explained by these travel days rather than by the cruise itself.

Personal extras and paperwork

A few more items are almost always paid separately:

• Laundry, charged per item on most ships.
• Spa treatments and massages, where the ship has a spa.
• Wi-Fi, which may be paid, limited or slow.
• Shopping, including the ship's boutique and markets ashore.
• Photos and souvenirs from evening shows or themed nights.
• Galabeya costumes, if you want to buy one for the galabeya party.
• Visas and travel insurance, which are your own responsibility. Entry rules depend on your passport and can change, so please check the official source before you travel.

How to avoid surprise costs

The simplest way to keep your budget under control is to ask a handful of direct questions before you book:

• Which drinks, if any, are included, and is bottled water free?
• Which entrance tickets are included, and which tombs or sites need extra tickets?
• Which excursions are optional, and what do they cost?
• Are transfers included on the first and last days?
• How do tips work on this ship?

On our site, each ship page in the Nile cruises section lists what is included and what is not for that cruise, and your written quote confirms the exclusions for your exact dates and program. If you want an extra added to the package, such as Abu Simbel or private guiding, ask before you confirm.

Which extras are worth paying for

Not every extra is a cost to avoid. Some of the most memorable parts of a Nile trip sit outside the base price, and it helps to decide early which ones matter to you, so they can be built into the plan rather than squeezed in at the last minute.

• Abu Simbel is an extra many travelers regret skipping. The two rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari are among the most striking monuments in Egypt, and the long drive is the main trade-off.
• Private guiding changes the pace of every visit. If you dislike moving with a large group, it is often a better use of budget than a cabin upgrade.
• The tomb of Tutankhamun is small and its decoration is modest compared with some royal tombs, so it is worth it mainly for travelers with a strong interest in the boy king. Other tombs on the standard ticket are often more richly painted.
• A sunrise balloon flight over the West Bank of Luxor gives a view of the temples, the desert edge and the green valley that you cannot get any other way, but it means a very early start.
• A felucca sail in Aswan is relaxed and usually modest in cost, and it is one of the easiest ways to enjoy the river at a slower pace.

The extras that matter least for most travelers are the small daily ones, like minibar items or paid Wi-Fi, which are easy to skip.

Frequently asked questions

Will I pay for water on a Nile cruise?

Possibly. Some ships provide complimentary bottled water in the cabin each day, while others charge for every bottle, including at meals. Check the water policy for your ship before you travel, as you will drink a lot of it.

Is Wi-Fi free on Nile cruise ships?

Not always. Some ships offer free Wi-Fi in public areas, others charge for it, and the connection is often slow or patchy while sailing. A local SIM card or eSIM with a data plan is a useful backup.

Are airport transfers included?

Only if your package says so. Many packaged tours include transfers between the airport or train station and the ship, but cabin-only bookings often do not. Confirm transfers for both the first and the last day.

Is Abu Simbel included on a Nile cruise?

Usually not, unless your package lists it specifically. Abu Simbel is commonly sold as an optional excursion from Aswan, either by road or by air. If it is important to you, ask for it to be included in your quote.

Do I need to budget for tips?

Yes. Tips for the ship's crew, guides and drivers are usually not included in the cruise price and are a normal part of travel in Egypt. Ask your operator for current guidance on amounts and how the ship's pooled system works.

If you would like a quote that lists clearly what is excluded, so you can budget with confidence, share your plans through Plan Your Trip and a specialist will prepare one for you.