Merit Dahabiya Cruises (2026): Fleet, Routes & How to Book

Quick answer: Merit Dahabiyas runs a fleet of four modern sailing dahabiyas — Merit I, Merit II, Merit Star and Merit Star II — on the classic Luxor–Aswan reach of the Nile. The boats are larger than most dahabiyas (up to twelve cabins), which makes them a strong choice for families, groups and whole-boat charters, from roughly US$1,410 per person. Guests single out the modern, stylish cabins and the attentive crew. Rates are seasonal and quoted on request.

Merit Dahabiyas has built a reputation for newer, larger, design-forward sailing boats — the dahabiya experience with a bit more room and a more contemporary fit-out than the older fleets. If you are travelling as a family or a group, or you want to charter a whole boat, Merit is one of the first names to look at.

What Merit Dahabiyas is

Merit runs traditional twin-sailed dahabiyas — small, wind-powered boats that sail the Nile the slow way and moor where the big cruisers can't. What distinguishes Merit within the category is scale and newness: its boats run to ten and twelve cabins, larger than the typical five- or six-cabin dahabiya, and several are recent builds with modern, stylish interiors. That makes Merit particularly well suited to groups, families and charters — parties large enough to take most or all of a boat, who want the intimacy of a dahabiya without being limited to the smallest sailers. It is, in effect, the dahabiya answer for travellers who would otherwise default to a big cruise ship because they are travelling in numbers.

The fleet

Merit runs four dahabiyas, weighted towards the larger end of the category:

The eight-cabin Merit II suits couples and smaller parties who want a newer boat; the twelve-cabin Merit Star and Star II are the group-and-charter boats, and are the easiest to take as a whole-boat booking for a family or a party of friends.

The route

Merit's boats sail the Luxor–Aswan reach, calling at Esna, Edfu, Al Ramady Island, Gebel El Silsila, Kom Ombo and El Sheikh Fadl Island before finishing at Aswan and Philae. The sightseeing covers the great temples — Karnak and Luxor Temples, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon on the Luxor side, then Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the High Dam — with Abu Simbel offered as an optional add-on on the Star boats. As with any dahabiya, the sailing is wind-powered and the moorings are quiet, so the pace is slower and more private than a motor cruise.

What guests say

Merit's reviews return to two things: the boats themselves and the crew. "The boat is new and designed in a stylish way. And it has a very cosy feeling with lots of spaces to relax around… The staff on the boat are very attentive and friendly," wrote Eric Tan of Merit II. Another traveller, Gabi Hermanns, sailed on the Merit Star: "We have already been on several Nile cruises with ships, but the trip with the Dahabeya is something very special. The suites are very tastefully and modernly furnished." The recurring note — modern, comfortable boats and a warm crew — is exactly what draws families and groups to the fleet.

Prices and how to book

Merit's larger boats make it a natural charter choice, from roughly US$1,410 per person — competitive for a whole-boat booking that a family or group can fill. As with every dahabiya fleet, rates are seasonal and quoted on request, depending on the boat, the dates and how much of the boat is sold.

The cabin rate vs the all-in fare

Dahabiyas, like the motor cruisers, are usually quoted in two parts. The first is the cabin (accommodation) rate — per person, per night, full board. The second is a separate, optional sightseeing package of roughly US$400 per person, covering the guided temple visits, transport and entrance fees. Booked together they make the full "sail plus sightseeing" fare; the cabin rate on its own is what most operators quote first. As an approximate, indicative guide from real 2026 rates — seasonal, so treat them as ballpark — accessible dahabiyas start from a few hundred dollars per person for the sail, while a luxury dahabiya can run around US$600 per person per night for the cabin before the sightseeing package. Always confirm whether the number you've been quoted is cabin-only or already includes the guided sightseeing.

To book well: enquire early, especially for the peak October–February season and for the larger boats that groups compete for; ask for both the per-cabin rate and the whole-boat charter rate; and confirm the inclusions — full board, temple visits, the guide, and whether the optional Abu Simbel excursion is added — in writing before paying a deposit.

How Merit compares

Merit's edge is size and newness. Nour El Nil is the benchmark design-led fleet, but its boats are smaller and book out far ahead; Lazuli is the value option across a broad fleet; Djed Egypt's Loulia is a six-cabin luxury jewel-box; and the Ashranda boats are ultra-luxury. Merit sits in the sweet spot for groups and families — larger, modern boats you can charter as a party — which the smaller fleets can't always offer.

See how the boat type compares in dahabiya vs Nile cruise ship, learn how booking works in how to book a dahabiya, compare the fleets in the best dahabiyas guide, and browse dahabiya sailings and enquire on This is Egypt.