Nile cruise shipLuxury flagshipsLuxor → Aswan

AmaLilia

Small-ship Nile cruising with an onboard Egyptologist

AmaLilia is a Nile cruise ship operated by AmaWaterways, built 2024. It has 41 cabins and 13 suites for up to 82 guests and sails itineraries of 11 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Small-ship Nile cruising with an onboard Egyptologist. An AmaWaterways ship for 82 guests on the 11-night Secrets of Egypt & the Nile round trip from Cairo, with an onboard Egyptologist leading excursions.

Class Luxury flagshipsCabins 41 · up to 82 guestsRoute Luxor → Aswan

Operator: AmaWaterways
Accommodation: 41 cabins · 13 suites
Guests: Up to 82
Decks: 5
Dimensions: 72 × 13 m
Built: 2024
Route: Cairo - Memphis/Saqqara - Luxor (Valley of the Kings/Queens) - Edfu - Aswan - Kom Ombo - Karnak/Luxor - Qena (Dendera) - Cairo. The 12-day round-trip Cairo route runs Luxor, Edfu, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Dendera-Qena.
Trip length: 11 nights
Season: 50 departures Aug 2026 - Jun 2027 plus Sep 2027 - Dec 2027
Wi-Fi: Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi in staterooms and all public areas.

About AmaLilia

Launched in 2024, AmaLilia carries 82 guests across 41 staterooms and 13 suites over five decks, finished in locally inspired decor. French-balcony cabins measure around 20 square metres, the Luxury and Grand Suites 40, and the Owner's Suite roughly 49, so most guests travel with a river view.

An onboard Egyptologist provides expert commentary and leads excursions, a distinguishing feature of the sailing. Dining spans the main Journeys Restaurant of Western and Egyptian cuisine, The Chef's Table tasting menu, and lounge service for early breakfast and light lunch. The sun deck holds a swimming pool with two whirlpools and a bar, and the ship adds a fitness room, two massage rooms, a hair and nail salon, a main lounge, a library, a shop and an elevator serving the passenger decks.

The route is the 11-night, 12-day Secrets of Egypt & the Nile round trip from Cairo, calling at Memphis and Saqqara, Luxor, Edfu, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Karnak and Qena. Around 50 departures run between August 2026 and June 2027.

Highlights

Onboard Egyptologist leads excursions
82 guests across 41 staterooms
Sun-deck pool with two whirlpools
Owner's Suite of about 49 m²
Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout

At sail

Day by day

The classic rhythm on the Luxor to Aswan corridor; AmaLilia sails itineraries of 11 nights on the same water. Exact order flips with the direction of sailing; the temples are the same either way.

Day 1
Embark at Luxor
Board after lunch, then Karnak and Luxor Temple with the evening light on the East Bank.
Lunch · Dinner
Day 2
The West Bank, then sail
Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut in the morning quiet, back for lunch as the ship sails south.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 3
Edfu and Kom Ombo
The Temple of Horus by caleche or coach in the morning; the double temple at Kom Ombo toward sunset.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 4
Aswan
Philae Temple and the High Dam, with a felucca sail around the islands in the afternoon.
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 5
Disembark at Aswan
Ashore after breakfast; Abu Simbel works as an early-morning extension by road or air.
Breakfast

The fine print

What's included and what isn't

Many ship fares bundle guided shore excursions with an Egyptologist; it varies by package, and your quote states exactly what applies.

Included

Accommodation aboard AmaLilia in the cabin booked
Meals aboard per the boat's published programme
Sun deck, pool, spa, gym and lounge throughout
Wi-Fi on board

Not included

Drinks beyond water, tea and coffee served with meals
Gratuities for the crew
Temple entrance fees and Egyptologist guiding, unless your package states them
Transfers and extensions such as Abu Simbel, unless quoted

Deck plan

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Category E (fixed window, Acacia Deck), 215 sq ft / 20 sqm
Category CB (French balcony, Lotus Deck), 215 sq ft / 20 sqm
Category CA (French balcony, Jasmine Deck), 215 sq ft / 20 sqm
Luxury Suite (French + outside balcony, Lily Deck), 430 sq ft / 40 sqm
Grand Suite (French + outside balcony, Jasmine Deck), 430 sq ft / 40 sqm
Owner's Suite, 525 sq ft / 49 sqm
Dining: Main Restaurant / Journeys Restaurant, Western and Egyptian/Middle Eastern cuisine
The Chef's Table, multi-course tasting menu (one complimentary dinner per guest)
Lounge service for early breakfast and light lunch
Facilities: Sun Deck swimming pool (with two whirlpools)
Sun Deck bar
Fitness room
Two massage treatment rooms
Hair and nail salon
Main Lounge and bar
Library
Shop
Elevator serving passenger decks
Fully air-conditioned
Spa · pool · gym: Swimming pool on Sun Deck; fitness room; two massage treatment rooms; hair and nail salon
Itineraries: Secrets of Egypt & the Nile: 11 nights / 12 days, round-trip Cairo (includes Cairo land program)

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

Nile River Cruise: the complete guide Luxury Nile cruises Nile cruise vs land tour The cheapest time to cruise the Nile

What guests say

Independent traveller reviews of AmaLilia, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.

★★★★★
“The ship, service, and accommodations were all excellent.”
— Atsirut · via Cruise Critic

Good to know

AmaLilia questions, answered

How much does AmaLilia cost?

Advertised rates start from US$6,629 per person; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does AmaLilia have?

41 cabins and 13 suites, for up to 82 guests.

What route does AmaLilia sail?

Cairo - Memphis/Saqqara - Luxor (Valley of the Kings/Queens) - Edfu - Aswan - Kom Ombo - Karnak/Luxor - Qena (Dendera) - Cairo. The 12-day round-trip Cairo route runs Luxor, Edfu, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Dendera-Qena..

What's included on AmaLilia?

Cruise/tour package as listed by Global Journeys