What to wear
Nile cruise dress code: what to wear, and when
There is no formal dress code on a Nile cruise. Days are casual and practical, dinner is smart-casual, and no boat we sell asks for a jacket, tie or evening gown. Two moments are worth planning for: a farewell dinner where most guests dress up a little, and the galabeya night, when many put on the long Egyptian robe. Ashore, cover shoulders and knees at the temples and more fully at a mosque.
The day in clothes
What to wear, moment by moment
| When | What to wear | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Temple mornings | Light, loose cotton or linen; shoulders and knees covered; closed shoes; hat | Starts are early and sites are dusty, uneven and shadeless |
| On deck | Shorts, sundresses, swimwear at the pool | Cover up with a shirt or wrap before walking through the lobby or restaurant |
| Lunch | Whatever you wore on deck, with a top over swimwear | Lunch is often a buffet while the boat is sailing |
| Dinner | Smart-casual: trousers or a skirt, a shirt or blouse, a simple dress | No jacket, tie or gown needed on any boat we sell |
| Farewell or captain's dinner | Your smartest smart-casual | The one night most guests dress up a little |
| Galabeya night | A galabeya (the long Egyptian robe), or smart-casual | Optional and light-hearted; join in or not |
| Mosques and churches ashore | Long sleeves and long trousers or skirt; women bring a scarf for the hair | Shoes come off at a mosque door |
Pack for the day as it really runs: an early temple visit, a hot middle of the day on deck, and an evening that can turn cool. For the full list of what to bring, see what to pack for a Nile cruise.
Evenings on board
Dinner: smart-casual, never formal
Most guests change for dinner, but only from deck clothes into something tidy: clean trousers or a skirt, a collared shirt or blouse, a light dress. Shorts and flip-flops at dinner stand out on the better boats, and swimwear in the restaurant is not welcome anywhere.
The boats that feel the most polished in the evening are the smaller luxury ships, such as the Oberoi Zahra and Historia, and the Sonesta ships such as Sonesta St George and Sonesta Star Goddess. Even there, smart-casual is the norm; a man in a linen shirt and chinos is perfectly dressed.
The themed night
The galabeya night
Many cruise ships hold one Egyptian-themed evening, usually called the galabeya party, with an oriental dinner, music and often a belly dance or tanoura (whirling) show. Guests are invited to wear a galabeya, the long, loose robe still worn across Upper Egypt. Ships such as Jaz Viceroy list an oriental dinner with folklore entertainment among their evenings.
You do not need to bring one. Galabeyas are sold cheaply in the Luxor and Aswan markets and in most boat shops, and plenty of guests come in their normal dinner clothes. On a dahabiya the evening is quieter, but some crews will happily lend or help you buy one for a night on deck.
Going ashore
At the temples, mosques and in town
There is no enforced dress code at the ancient temples, but modest clothes are respectful, keep the sun off and draw less attention in the towns. Covering shoulders and knees is the easy rule for both men and women. Wear closed, grippy shoes: the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Edfu all mean long walks on stone, sand and steps.
A working mosque is different. Shoulders, arms and legs should be covered, women should cover their hair with a scarf, and everyone takes off their shoes at the door. Coptic churches ask for similar modesty. In the souks of Luxor and Aswan, looser and longer clothes simply make the walk more comfortable.
Weather
Dress for the season, especially the evenings
From December to February the days are pleasant but the nights are cold on the water, especially on an open sun deck after dark and on early starts before sunrise. Bring a warm jumper or fleece and a light jacket. From May to September the heat is the issue: breathable long sleeves, a wide hat and sunglasses protect better than a vest top. See when to cruise the Nile for the month-by-month weather.
Small sailing boats
On a dahabiya, even more relaxed
A dahabiya carries a handful of cabins, so there is no lobby to walk through and no formal dining room. Deck clothes are fine all day, and dinner is usually around one table, often on deck. Bring layers for evenings at anchor and something modest for the village and temple stops. Boats such as Loulia, Nora, The Orient, Iris, Akhnaton and the Lazuli fleet all run this way.
Asked often
Nile cruise dress code, answered
- Is there a dress code on a Nile cruise?
- No formal one. Days are casual, dinner is smart-casual, and no boat we sell requires a jacket, tie or evening gown. Most guests dress up a little for the farewell dinner, and many join a galabeya night in a long Egyptian robe.
- Do I need formal wear for a Nile cruise?
- No. Smart-casual clothes cover every evening, even on the luxury ships such as the Oberoi Zahra and Historia. A collared shirt, smart trousers or a simple dress is as formal as it gets.
- What is a galabeya party on a Nile cruise?
- An Egyptian-themed evening with an oriental dinner and music, often with a belly dance or tanoura show. Guests are invited to wear a galabeya, the long Egyptian robe. It is optional, and galabeyas are sold cheaply in Luxor and Aswan and in boat shops.
- Can I wear shorts on a Nile cruise?
- Yes, on board by day and at the pool. For temple visits, trousers or a skirt to the knee is more comfortable and respectful, and at dinner most guests change into something tidier.
- What should women wear on a Nile cruise?
- Light, loose clothes covering shoulders and knees for the temples and towns, swimwear only at the pool, and a simple dress or smart trousers for dinner. Carry a scarf: it covers the hair at a mosque, the shoulders in the sun and keeps you warm on a winter evening.
