Nile cruise shipStandard & independentLuxor → Aswan

Gemma

Small modern Nile ship, 27 cabins

Gemma is a Nile cruise ship, built 2024. It has 27 cabins for up to 65 guests.

Good to know

Small modern Nile ship, 27 cabins. A contemporary Nile cruise ship with 27 cabins, sailing the Aswan-Kom Ombo-Edfu-Luxor route on 4, 5 and 8-night itineraries.

Class Standard & independentCabins 27 · up to 65 guestsRoute Luxor → Aswan

Operator: Independent
Accommodation: 27 cabins
Guests: Up to 65
Built: 2024
Route: Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor
Departures: Fridays for the 4-day Aswan departure; Mondays for the 5-day and 8-day Luxor departures
Wi-Fi: Yes - Wi-Fi in cabins and in the lounge

About Gemma

Gemma is a small, contemporary Nile vessel with 27 cabins, from spacious superior king rooms of 27 square metres to deluxe doubles and singles. Warm wood finishes, light colours and large windows give the interiors a bright, welcoming feel. It sails the Aswan-Kom Ombo-Edfu-Luxor route on 4, 5 and 8-night trips.

Guests eat in a restaurant seating 65, and relax in a lounge with television and sound system.

For downtime there is a relaxation pool with towels, a gym and a spa, plus a lift and accessible facilities. Wi-Fi reaches the cabins and the lounge.

Highlights

Intimate ship with 27 cabins
Relaxation pool, gym and spa
Restaurant seating 65 guests
Lift and accessible facilities
Wi-Fi in cabins and lounge

At sail

Day by day

Gemma sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Departures fridays for the 4-day aswan departure; mondays for the 5-day and 8-day luxor departures. The order of the temples is fixed by the river, so what changes between programmes is the direction and how much is fitted into each day.

Luxor to Aswan, 4 nightsusually departs Monday

Day 1
Luxor, embark and the east bank
Board before lunch. The two east-bank temples in the afternoon, when the light is best at Karnak.
Visits Karnak · Luxor Temple
Day 2
The west bank, then sail through the Esna lock
An early start for the tombs, then the boat sails south and passes the Esna lock, often in the evening. Moor at Edfu.
Visits Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Optional hot-air balloon at dawn
Day 3
Edfu and Kom Ombo
Edfu at first light, usually reached by horse-drawn carriage from the mooring. Sail to Kom Ombo, whose double temple sits directly above the water.
Visits Edfu · Kom Ombo
Day 4
Aswan
The Aswan cluster, usually in one morning, with a felucca sail among the islands in the afternoon.
Visits High Dam · Philae · Unfinished Obelisk · felucca
Day 5
Disembark
Breakfast on board and disembarkation, typically by 08:00. Abu Simbel is a pre-dawn add-on, not part of the sailing.
Optional Abu Simbel by road or air

Aswan to Luxor, 3 nightsusually departs Friday

Day 1
Aswan, embark
Board before lunch, then the Aswan cluster in the afternoon.
Visits High Dam · Philae · Unfinished Obelisk
Optional felucca among the islands
Day 2
Kom Ombo and Edfu
Sail north. Kom Ombo sits at the mooring; Edfu is a short carriage ride inland.
Visits Kom Ombo · Edfu
Optional Abu Simbel, pre-dawn by road or air
Day 3
Through Esna to Luxor, east bank
The Esna lock can hold the fleet for a while; the east-bank temples follow on arrival.
Visits Esna lock · Karnak · Luxor Temple
Day 4
West bank and disembark
Check out after breakfast, then the west bank before departure.
Visits Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Optional hot-air balloon at dawn

Day structure aggregated from the published itineraries for this class of boat and direction. Operators shift a call by half a day and the Esna lock queue moves everything; confirm the running order for your departure.

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 Gemma 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

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Superior King Cabin (15 cabins, 27 sqm)
Deluxe Double Cabin (6 cabins)
Single Cabin (6 cabins)
Dining: Restaurant seating 65 guests
Facilities: Lounge with television and sound system
Elevator
Relaxation pool with towels
Gym
Spa
Accessible facilities
Spa · pool · gym: Relaxation pool, gym and spa all listed
Itineraries: 4 days: Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor
5 days: Luxor - Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan
8 days: Luxor round trip