Families
Family suites and rooms on a Nile cruise
Most Nile cruise cabins sleep two, so a family of four usually takes two cabins. To share one room, book a family or two-bedroom suite: the Oberoi Zahra has a two-bedroom suite of 92 m² for four, and the Sonesta Sun Goddess has two Family Suites of 60 m². Jaz Viceroy has triple cabins. On a dahabiya, Nora and Loulia can add an extra bed or a cot to a cabin.
From each ship's cabin list
Ships with a room for the whole family
| Ship | Family room | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Oberoi Zahra | Luxury Suite with Two Bedrooms, 92 m², sleeps 4 | The most space for a family on the river; lift, pool and spa |
| Sonesta Sun Goddess | 2 Family Suites of 60 m² | All-suite ship; pool with Jacuzzi, lift |
| Jaz Viceroy | Triple cabins; suites of 38 m² with balcony | Built 2022; pool with pool bar |
| Sonesta Moon Goddess | Balcony cabins; 4 Presidential Suites with a lounge | Oversize pool with a shallow extension; lift |
These rooms are few, often one or two per ship, so they go first. See the Oberoi Zahra, Sonesta Sun Goddess, Jaz Viceroy and Sonesta Moon Goddess.
From each boat's cabin list
Dahabiyas that suit families
| Dahabiya | For children | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Nora | Cabins with space for an extra bed and a baby cot | Up to 15 guests in 6 cabins |
| Loulia | Cabins take an extra child bed or a cot; terrace suites sleep 2 adults and 1 child under 12 | 6 cabins, 12 guests |
| The Orient | Children sharing with adults: under 5 free, 5 to 12 at a 20% discount (published terms) | The smallest; good to charter |
| Iris | Royal suites of 40 m² with a veranda | Heated pool, board games |
See Nora, Loulia, The Orient and Iris. Most dahabiyas have no pool; Iris has a heated one.
The usual answer
When two cabins is better
With teenagers, or with two adults and two older children, two cabins side by side give everyone a bed and a bathroom. Ask for neighbouring cabins when you book; on a ship, also ask about connecting cabins.
Three generations
When to charter the whole boat
For a larger family, a whole dahabiya costs about the same as filling its cabins and gives you the boat to yourselves: your meal times, your pace at the temples, and no other guests to mind the children. The Orient takes ten, and Loulia and Zekrayaat twelve. See chartering a whole dahabiya.
Prices
How child rates work
Each boat sets its own child terms, usually by age and only when the child shares a room with two adults. Ask at what age a child pays the adult rate, and whether a cot or extra bed costs extra. Adult fares run about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night on ships, and US$140 to US$1,500 on dahabiyas. For which ships suit children best and how much temple they will enjoy, see the best Nile cruises for families.
Asked often
Family rooms on the Nile, answered
- Do Nile cruises have family rooms?
- A few do. The Oberoi Zahra has a two-bedroom suite of 92 m² that sleeps four, the Sonesta Sun Goddess has two Family Suites of 60 m², and Jaz Viceroy has triple cabins. Most cabins sleep two, so most families of four take two cabins.
- Can a family of four share a cabin on a Nile cruise?
- Only in a family or two-bedroom suite, such as on the Oberoi Zahra or the Sonesta Sun Goddess. Standard cabins sleep two, sometimes three, so two neighbouring cabins are the usual answer.
- Can you take a baby on a dahabiya?
- Yes, on some. Nora has cabins with space for an extra bed and a baby cot, and Loulia's cabins can take an extra child bed or a cot. Ask before you book, as not every dahabiya has them.
- Do children pay less on a Nile cruise?
- Usually, when they share a room with two adults, but each boat sets its own terms. The Orient, for example, publishes under 5 free and 5 to 12 at a 20% discount when sharing with adults.
