Paying for your cruise
Nile cruise deposits, payment and cancellation
Most Nile cruises and dahabiyas are booked with a deposit to secure the cabin, with the balance due some weeks before sailing. Cancellation charges usually rise as the sailing date gets closer, from part of the deposit when you cancel early to the full price when you cancel at the last minute. Peak dates and private charters often ask for more, earlier. Always get the payment dates and the cancellation scale in writing before you pay, and take out travel insurance that covers cancellation.
The usual pattern
How payment and cancellation usually work
| Stage | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| At booking | A deposit secures the cabin. Peak dates, suites and whole-boat charters often ask for a larger deposit. |
| Some weeks before sailing | The balance is due. Boats need final numbers to plan crew, food and guides. |
| Cancelling early | Usually you lose part or all of the deposit, depending on the terms. |
| Cancelling close to the date | Charges rise as the date nears; very late cancellation is often charged in full. |
| No-show | Normally charged in full. |
Exact percentages and dates differ by boat and season, so compare the written terms of each offer, not just the price. We confirm our own terms in writing with every quote.
When plans change
If the boat cancels or changes
- 1A boat swap. Boats are occasionally replaced, for example for repairs. The replacement should be the same standard or better, and you should be told before you travel.
- 2The Esna lock. The lock closes for maintenance at set times of year, and ships then adjust the route, sometimes with a coach transfer. See our Esna lock guide.
- 3The boat cancels the sailing. You should be offered another date or boat, or your money back; check that the terms say so.
- 4Changes you make. Changing dates is usually easier than cancelling, especially well before sailing.
Before you pay
How to protect yourself
Pay by card or bank transfer to a licensed company, keep the written confirmation naming the boat, and buy travel insurance with cancellation cover as soon as you pay the deposit. Nile cruise ships run about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night and dahabiyas about US$140 to US$1,500. See booking red flags, travel insurance for Egypt and the Esna lock.
Asked often
Deposits and cancellation, answered
- How much deposit do you pay for a Nile cruise?
- It varies by boat and season. A deposit secures the cabin and the balance is due some weeks before sailing; peak dates, suites and private charters often ask for a larger deposit. Check the written terms before you pay.
- Can I cancel a Nile cruise and get my money back?
- Usually in part, depending on how early you cancel. Charges rise as the sailing date nears, and very late cancellation is often charged in full. Travel insurance with cancellation cover protects you.
- What happens if my Nile cruise is cancelled by the boat?
- You should be offered another date or a boat of the same standard, or a refund. Make sure your booking terms say so.
- Do I need travel insurance for a Nile cruise?
- Yes. Choose a policy with medical and cancellation cover, and buy it when you pay the deposit.
