Nile cruise shipStandard & independentLuxor → Aswan

Grand Mandarin

An upper-tier cruiser with a strong sun deck

Grand Mandarin is a Nile cruise ship. It sails itineraries of 3 or 4 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

An upper-tier cruiser with a strong sun deck. One of the more polished ships on the Luxor to Aswan route, with generous public spaces, a good pool deck and attentive service.

Class Standard & independentRoute Luxor → Aswan

Decks: 5
Route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan
Trip length: 3 · 4 nights
Departures: 4-night sailings leave Luxor every Monday; 3-night sailings board in Aswan every Friday and sail on Saturday afternoon.
Season: Winter 2026–27 programme from 19 October 2026 to early May 2027. Christmas and New Year sailings include a gala dinner.

About Grand Mandarin

One of the more polished ships on the Luxor to Aswan route, with generous public spaces, a good pool deck and attentive service.

The interiors take their cue from the grand lakeside hotels of Lake Como. Dinners are seated set menus, served in the restaurant or out on deck, with seafood and steak nights in the rotation, and the full cocktail bar keeps its own bar menu alongside a poolside menu on the sun deck.

The ship sails four nights from Luxor to Aswan every Monday and three nights back from Aswan every Friday, sailing on the Saturday afternoon. Christmas and New Year departures come with a gala dinner. Families can ask for connecting cabins, and children under six sail free in their parents' cabin.

Highlights

Upper-tier comfort
Luxor to Aswan
Pool and expansive sun deck
Interiors inspired by Lake Como's grand hotels
Seated set-menu dinners, on deck or indoors
Full cocktail bar with poolside menu

At sail

Day by day

Grand Mandarin sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan Departures 4-night sailings leave luxor every monday; 3-night sailings board in aswan every friday and sail on saturday afternoon.. 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.

Cabin pricing

Rates by season

Our own per-person USD rates for winter 2026–27, in a main-deck cabin on full board; guided sightseeing is quoted separately. Each cell is a range because the fare moves with your sailing week and cabin. We confirm the exact fare on your quote, with no booking fee to ask.

4 days / 3 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	Winter 2026–27 · Christmas, New Year & Easter weeks	Winter 2026–27 · late Oct–early May
Double cabin (per person)	$1,160–$1,680	$830–$930
Single cabin (sole use)	$1,980–$3,000	$1,490–$1,680
Triple cabin (per person)	$1,160–$1,680	$830–$930
Royal Suite (per person, sharing)	$3,630–$4,500	$3,300–$3,750

5 days / 4 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	Winter 2026–27 · Christmas, New Year & Easter weeks	Winter 2026–27 · late Oct–early May
Double cabin (per person)	$1,540–$2,250	$1,100–$1,250
Single cabin (sole use)	$2,640–$4,000	$1,980–$2,250
Triple cabin (per person)	$1,540–$2,250	$1,100–$1,250
Royal Suite (per person, sharing)	$4,840–$6,000	$4,400–$5,000

Cabins are allocated by the operator at confirmation; tell us your preferred deck and we will ask.
Longer itineraries are priced as the sailings combined, confirmed on your quote.

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 Grand Mandarin in the cabin booked
Meals aboard per the boat's published programme
Sun deck, pool and lounge throughout

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: Main-deck cabins (double, single or triple)
Upper-deck cabins
Connecting cabins
Royal Suite
Dining: Restaurant with seated set-menu dinners
Set-menu dinners served on deck
Seafood and steak dinners
Full cocktail bar
Poolside and bar menus
Facilities: Swimming pool with poolside menu
Sun deck
Full cocktail bar with bar menu
Itineraries: 3 nights Aswan to Luxor
4 nights Luxor to Aswan

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

Nile River Cruise: the complete guide Budget Nile cruises Nile cruise vs land tour The cheapest time to cruise the Nile

Good to know

Grand Mandarin questions, answered

How much does Grand Mandarin cost?

Our winter 2026–27 rates start from US$830 per person for 3 nights in a double cabin, rising to about US$1,680 in the Christmas, New Year and Easter weeks; the exact fare depends on your sailing week and cabin.

What route does Grand Mandarin sail?

Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan: four nights from Luxor every Monday, and three nights from Aswan every Friday, sailing on the Saturday afternoon.

What's included on Grand Mandarin?

Full board on the ship, with seated set-menu dinners in the restaurant or on deck. Guided sightseeing, entrance fees and transfers are added to your quote.

Can children sail on Grand Mandarin?

Yes. Children under six sail free sharing their parents' cabin, one child aged 6 to 11 sharing a parent's cabin pays half the adult fare, and from 12 the adult fare applies. Connecting cabins are available for larger families.

Does Grand Mandarin sail over Christmas and New Year?

Yes. Christmas sailings run from 21 to 28 December 2026 and New Year sailings from 28 December to 1 January 2027, and both include a gala dinner. These festive weeks, and Easter (22 March to 5 April 2027), are priced higher than the rest of the season.