How to book
Viking, Uniworld, AmaWaterways or A&K, or booking direct?
The big international brands sail their own ships on the Nile and sell them inside a complete package: Cairo hotels, guided touring, a tour director and often flights, all on one contract. That suits travellers who want one brand to handle everything. Booking directly in Egypt opens up the other 200 or more boats on the river, including the Oberoi ships, Historia and the sailing dahabiyas, with free choice of dates, cabin, length and private guiding. It is usually the better choice if you want a specific boat, a dahabiya, a private trip or a lower price for a similar standard.
The brands on the Nile
Which ships the big brands sail
| Brand | Ships on the Nile | How you can book them |
|---|---|---|
| Viking | Its own fleet of about 11 ships of up to 82 guests, including Viking Osiris, Aton, Sobek and Hathor | Only inside Viking's own packages, usually with Cairo hotel nights, guided touring and often flights |
| Uniworld | Two ships: the S.S. Sphinx and the River Tosca, each for about 82 to 84 guests | Only inside Uniworld's own packages |
| AmaWaterways | Four ships of 72 to 82 guests, including AmaDahlia and AmaLilia | Inside AmaWaterways land-and-river packages |
| Abercrombie & Kent (Sanctuary) | Four boats from the 12-guest Zein Nile Chateau to the 80-guest Sun Boat IV | Inside A&K's escorted and tailor-made trips |
| Booking direct in Egypt | More than 200 other ships and dahabiyas, from four-star to the Oberoi Zahra and Historia | Cruise alone, or with hotels, flights inside Egypt, private guides and Abu Simbel added as you wish |
These ships sail the same Luxor to Aswan river and visit the same temples as every other boat. What differs is the package around the cruise and who you book it with. Brand ships are normally sold inside the brand’s own trips, so you cannot usually book a cabin on them on its own.
The case for a brand
When a big brand makes sense
- 1One contract for everything. Flights, hotels, cruise and touring sit in one booking, often with your home country's package-travel protection.
- 2A tour director throughout. Someone travels with the group from Cairo to Aswan and back, which many first-time and older travellers value.
- 3A known standard. If you have sailed with the brand in Europe, the service and style will feel familiar.
- 4Loyalty benefits. Repeat-guest discounts and credits only work inside the brand.
The case for booking locally
When booking direct is the better choice
- 1Any boat on the river. Choose a specific ship such as Historia, the Oberoi Zahra or Sonesta St George, or a sailing dahabiya such as Iris or Akhnaton, which no brand package includes.
- 2Your dates and your length. Three, four or seven nights, from Luxor or Aswan, on the day that suits your flights, rather than a fixed group departure.
- 3Private guiding. A private Egyptologist for your family or group instead of a coach group of 30 or 40.
- 4Usually a lower price for the same standard. You pay the boat's rate plus our service, without a tour brand's overheads. Nile cruise ships run about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night, and dahabiyas about US$140 to US$1,500.
- 5Add only what you need. Abu Simbel, a balloon flight, Cairo hotels or a Red Sea stay, each priced separately.
The trade-off is that you book your international flights yourself. We arrange everything from the moment you land in Egypt. See our Nile cruise comparison or the best dahabiyas for boats you can book direct.
Like for like
Finding a local boat of the same standard
If you like the look of a brand ship but want to book direct, compare the details that matter: guest numbers, cabin size, whether cabins have balconies, the pool, and who guides the visits. Small luxury ships such as Historia (88 guests) and the Oberoi Zahra (54 guests) match or beat most brand ships on space and service. For the slowest and most private way to see the river, a dahabiya carries from about ten to 36 guests. See also Viking Nile cruises for a closer look at one brand.
Asked often
Big brands or booking direct, answered
- Is it cheaper to book a Nile cruise directly in Egypt?
- Usually, for the same standard of boat, because you pay the boat's rate plus a local agent's service rather than a full international package. You do book your own international flights.
- Can I book a Viking or Uniworld Nile ship without their package?
- Normally not. Viking, Uniworld and AmaWaterways sell their Nile ships inside their own trips. To choose your own dates and boat, pick one of the independent ships or dahabiyas instead.
- Do the brand ships visit different sites?
- No. All Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan visit the same core temples: Karnak, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. Brands and boats differ in comfort, group size and how the visits are guided.
- Is it safe to book a Nile cruise with a local company?
- Yes, if the company is licensed in Egypt and puts the boat, dates, cabin and inclusions in writing before you pay. Ask which boat you are on by name, not just a star category.
- Which is better for first-timers, a brand or booking direct?
- If you want a tour director with you the whole way and one contract for flights and hotels, a brand. If you want to choose the boat and travel privately at your own pace, book direct.
