Merit Dahabiyas
Merit Star
Twelve cabins and suites, sailing engine-free
- Fleet
- Merit Dahabiyas
- Accommodation
- 12 cabins · 4 suites
- Guests
- Up to 24
- Route
- Luxor - Esna - Edfu - Al Ramady Island - Gebel El Silsila - Kom Ombo - El Sheikh Fadl Island - Aswan. Sites: Luxor and Karnak Temples, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, High Dam, optional Abu Simbel.
- Departures
- Saturdays from Luxor (southbound). For the northbound short cruise the operator page says Saturdays while aroundegypttours.com says every Wednesday from Aswan - see status_notes.
- Season
- Year-round; aroundegypttours.com prices a September-April winter season and a May-August summer season
About Merit Star
Merit Star sails with twelve cabins and suites for up to twenty-four guests, ranging from twin and king deluxe cabins to twenty square metre deluxe suites, each with a panoramic window and its own air conditioning. It is a wind-powered boat that runs vibration-free with no engine, so the quiet of the river carries throughout the trip.
Sailings run four, five or seven nights up from Luxor and a shorter three-night leg from Aswan, tracing the reach past Esna, Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila and Kom Ombo and mooring at islands like Al Ramady along the way. Meals are full board, with international and local cooking served indoors or on the sun deck, plus a bar and tea service up top.
The sun deck holds fourteen loungers and an open-air heated Jacuzzi, with a reading lounge and a small boutique below. It is an unhurried, personal way to reach the temples between Luxor and Aswan.
Highlights
- Twelve cabins and suites, up to twenty-four guests
- Wind-powered, engine-free sailing
- Luxor to Aswan, three to seven nights
- Moors at Al Ramady Island and Gebel el-Silsila
- Sun deck with fourteen loungers and Jacuzzi
The boat in detail
- Cabin categories
- {'name': 'Deluxe suite (king bed)', 'count': 4, 'sqm': 20, 'notes': 'Air conditioning, mini bar, phone, safe deposit, fire alarm, panoramic window; private bathroom with shower, hot/cold water, hair dryer, slippers.', 'source': 'https://meritdahabiyas.com/en/dahabiya-details/dahabiya-merit-star'} | {'name': 'Deluxe cabin (king bed)', 'count': 2, 'sqm': 18.5, 'notes': 'Same in-cabin amenities.', 'source': 'https://meritdahabiyas.com/en/dahabiya-details/dahabiya-merit-star'} | {'name': 'Deluxe cabin (twin beds)', 'count': 6, 'sqm': 18.5, 'notes': 'Same in-cabin amenities.', 'source': 'https://meritdahabiyas.com/en/dahabiya-details/dahabiya-merit-star'}
- Dining
- Full board - all meals included | Indoor and sun deck restaurants | Bar; sun deck tea service | International and local cuisine
- Facilities
- 24-hour front desk | Indoor restaurant and sun deck restaurant | Bar | Reading lounge | Open-air heated Jacuzzi on the sun deck | Sun deck with 14 loungers | Free Wi-Fi (operator) - aroundegypttours.com says internet is chargeable | 24-hour doctor on call | Laundry with express pressing | Full fire safety systems, first aid and medical services | Boutique / gift shop (aroundegypttours.com) | In-cabin: air conditioning, mini bar, phone, safe deposit, fire alarm, panoramic window
- Itineraries
- {'nights': 3, 'days': 4, 'route': 'Aswan to Luxor', 'departs': 'Wednesdays (aroundegypttours) / Saturdays (operator page)', 'source': 'https://meritdahabiyas.com/en/dahabiya-details/dahabiya-merit-star ; https://www.aroundegypttours.com/egypt-nile-cruises/dahabiya-nile-cruises/merit-star-dahabiya'} | {'nights': 4, 'days': 5, 'route': 'Luxor to Aswan', 'departs': 'Saturdays', 'source': 'https://meritdahabiyas.com/en/dahabiya-details/dahabiya-merit-star ; https://www.journeytoegypt.com/en/activity/333965/merit-star-dahabeya-nile-cruise'} | {'nights': 5, 'days': 6, 'route': 'Luxor to Aswan', 'departs': 'Saturdays', 'source': 'https://meritdahabiyas.com/en/dahabiya-details/dahabiya-merit-star'} | {'nights': 7, 'days': 8, 'route': 'Luxor - Aswan - Luxor round trip', 'departs': 'Saturdays', 'source': 'https://meritdahabiyas.com/en/dahabiya-details/dahabiya-merit-star'}
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