Nile cruise shipLuxury flagshipsLuxor → Aswan

H/S Solaris I

A 66-cabin cruiser built to Germanischer Lloyd survey

H/S Solaris I is a Nile cruise ship operated by Solaris Nile Cruises, built 1991 and refurbished 2019. It has 66 cabins and 5 suites and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

A 66-cabin cruiser built to Germanischer Lloyd survey. A five-star ship of 66 cabins over four decks for travellers wanting a sociable, family-friendly sailing between Aswan and Luxor.

Class Luxury flagshipsCabins 66Route Luxor → Aswan

Operator: Solaris Nile Cruises
Accommodation: 66 cabins · 5 suites
Decks: 4
Dimensions: 72 × 14.5 m
Built: 1991 · refit 2019
Route: Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 7 nights
Departures: Wednesday ex-Aswan (3 nights); Saturday ex-Luxor (4 and 7 nights)
Season: Year-round

About H/S Solaris I

The Solaris I is a five-star ship of 66 cabins and 5 suites across four decks, built under Germanischer Lloyd survey. Accommodation covers twin and double cabins and suites, with 12 cabins able to take a third bed, which makes it a practical option for families.

The main restaurant seats 132, and there is a sun-deck bar with a barbecue. Beyond dining, the ship carries a lounge bar with a discotheque, a reading room, a billiard room, shops and a conference space, plus laundry and medical service, and it uses its own private docking. The large swimming pool includes a shallow area for children.

Sailings run year-round: three nights from Aswan every Wednesday, or four and seven nights from Luxor on Saturdays, calling at Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna along the way.

Highlights

66 cabins over four decks
12 cabins take triple occupancy
Swimming pool with shallow children's area
Reading room and billiard room
Sun-deck bar with barbecue

At sail

Day by day

H/S Solaris I sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor Departures wednesday ex-aswan (3 nights); saturday ex-luxor (4 and 7 nights). 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 H/S Solaris I in the cabin booked
Meals aboard per the boat's published programme
Sun deck, pool, spa, gym 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: Twin cabin (44)
Double cabin (17)
Suite (5)
12 cabins can take triple occupancy
Dining: Main restaurant - 132 seats
Sun deck bar with BBQ
Facilities: Lounge bar with discotheque
Sun deck bar with BBQ
Reading room
Billiard room
Shops
Conference space
Laundry
Medical service
Private docking
Spa · pool · gym: Large swimming pool with shallow area for children (no spa or gym listed)
Itineraries: 3 nights ex-Aswan
4 nights ex-Luxor
7 nights ex-Luxor

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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

Good to know

H/S Solaris I questions, answered

How many cabins does H/S Solaris I have?

66 cabins and 5 suites.

What route does H/S Solaris I sail?

Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor, departing Wednesday ex-Aswan (3 nights); Saturday ex-Luxor (4 and 7 nights).

What is included in the fare on H/S Solaris I?

A cruise ship fare of this kind normally covers your cabin on full board, entrance to the temples named in the itinerary, an Egyptologist guide, the listed shore excursions and transfers at each end. Tips, drinks, optional excursions such as Abu Simbel, and personal expenses are normally extra. Whether soft drinks, Wi-Fi and service charges sit inside the fare genuinely differs between operators, so confirm those for H/S Solaris I before booking.