Lake Nasser, ship by ship
Lake Nasser cruise ships compared
Five large ships and one small boat sail Lake Nasser between Aswan and Abu Simbel, on three or four nights each way. Choose MS Kasr Ibrim or MS Eugenie for balcony cabins and period interiors, Steigenberger Omar El Khayam for the only full spa on the lake, MS Nubian Sea for the longest list of temple stops, and SAI if you want a six-cabin boat almost to yourself. Three ships leave Aswan on Monday, Eugenie on Friday and Kasr Ibrim on Saturday.
Size and departures
The Lake Nasser ships side by side
| Ship | Size | Built | Departures |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Eugenie | 52 cabins and 2 suites, four decks | 1993, refurbished 2011 | Friday from Aswan (3 nights), Monday from Abu Simbel (4 nights) |
| MS Kasr Ibrim | 55 cabins and 10 suites, up to 130 guests | 1997 | Saturday from Aswan (4 nights), Wednesday from Abu Simbel (3 nights) |
| Steigenberger Omar El Khayam | 68 cabins, 8 Grand and 4 Royal suites, up to 160 guests | 2008, refurbished 2011 | Monday from Aswan (4 nights), Friday from Abu Simbel (3 nights) |
| Mövenpick Prince Abbas | 65 cabins and suites, up to 130 guests | 2001, refurbished 2007 | Monday from Aswan (4 nights), Friday from Abu Simbel (3 nights) |
| MS Nubian Sea | 70 cabins including 4 suites, up to 140 guests | 1995 | Monday from Aswan (4 nights), Friday from Abu Simbel (3 nights) |
| SAI | 6 cabins, up to 12 guests | Handmade small boat | 4 nights from Aswan, 3 nights from Abu Simbel; ask for dates |
Departure days are each ship's regular weekly pattern. We confirm the exact sailing before you book.
Life on board
Cabins, pools and spas
| Ship | Cabins | On board |
|---|---|---|
| MS Eugenie | Balconies on the upper and main decks; 8 lower-deck cabins without; two single cabins | Pool, sauna, steam bath, exercise equipment; Edwardian lounge, Safari Lounge, library |
| MS Kasr Ibrim | Balconies on three decks; 7 lower-deck cabins without; suites up to an Imperial Suite of 140 m² | Mosaic-lined pool, sauna, steam bath, exercise equipment; library and two bars |
| Steigenberger Omar El Khayam | Doubles of 24 m² with a window or balcony; suites of 35 and 70 m² | Cleopatra Spa, sauna, steam bath, gym, pool with pool bar, two jacuzzis, billiard room, library |
| Mövenpick Prince Abbas | Rooms of about 22 m² with a panoramic window; suites of 30 and 40 m² | Pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam bath and gym; two lounges and bars |
| MS Nubian Sea | Cabins with panoramic windows; 4 suites | Outdoor pool, sauna, bars and a discotheque; 24-hour doctor |
| SAI | Four main-deck cabins of about 12 m²; two upper cabins with their own sundeck | A lounge restaurant, bar and a main sundeck; no pool |
What you see
The same lake, slightly different stops
Every ship calls at Kalabsha near Aswan, Wadi El Seboua and Amada in the middle of the lake, sails past the citadel of Kasr Ibrim on its hill, and moors in front of the temples of Abu Simbel, so you visit them without the long road trip from Aswan that most visitors make. The lake temples were moved there from the land the lake now covers, and between them you cross open water with almost no other boats.
The differences are in the smaller stops. Kasr Ibrim and Nubian Sea add Beit El Wali, Kertassi, Dakka, Maharraqa and the Temple of Derr, and Nubian Sea also visits the Tomb of Pennut. Prince Abbas adds Derr and Pennut, and Omar El Khayam stops at Derr on the way back from Abu Simbel. SAI adds walks and unhurried visits.
The southbound trip from Aswan usually has four nights and more time at each stop; the northbound trip from Abu Simbel has three. To add a Luxor to Aswan cruise before or after, see combining a Nile cruise with Lake Nasser.
Our view
Which Lake Nasser ship suits you
| If you want | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A balcony on the lake | MS Kasr Ibrim or MS Eugenie | Most cabins on both have a private balcony; only the lower deck does not. |
| A spa | Steigenberger Omar El Khayam | The only lake ship with a full spa, plus a gym and two jacuzzis. |
| The most temples | MS Kasr Ibrim or MS Nubian Sea | Their routes add Beit El Wali, Kertassi, Dakka and Maharraqa to the usual stops. |
| Travelling alone | MS Eugenie | It has two single cabins, so a solo traveller need not pay for a double. |
| A private or near-private trip | SAI | Six cabins and about a dozen guests, with walks and unhurried visits. |
| Connecting with a Nile cruise on a Monday | Omar El Khayam, Prince Abbas or Nubian Sea | All three leave Aswan on Monday, the day many Luxor sailings arrive. |
Lake Nasser ships are priced like five-star Nile cruise ships, within the US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night range, depending on the ship, cabin and season. Send us your dates and we will tell you which ships sail that week and what each costs.
Asked often
Lake Nasser ships, answered
- Which is the best Lake Nasser cruise ship?
- It depends what you want. MS Kasr Ibrim and MS Eugenie have balconies on most cabins and period interiors, Steigenberger Omar El Khayam has the only full spa, MS Nubian Sea has the most temple stops, and SAI is a six-cabin boat for a quiet, near-private trip.
- How many ships sail on Lake Nasser?
- We list six: MS Eugenie, MS Kasr Ibrim, Steigenberger Omar El Khayam, Mövenpick Prince Abbas, MS Nubian Sea and the small boat SAI. All sail between Aswan and Abu Simbel.
- What day do Lake Nasser cruises leave Aswan?
- Omar El Khayam, Prince Abbas and Nubian Sea leave Aswan on Monday for four nights, MS Eugenie on Friday for three nights and MS Kasr Ibrim on Saturday for four nights.
- Do Lake Nasser cruise cabins have balconies?
- On MS Kasr Ibrim and MS Eugenie, every cabin except those on the lower deck has a private balcony. Omar El Khayam has cabins with either a panoramic window or a balcony; Prince Abbas and Nubian Sea have panoramic windows.
- Is a Lake Nasser cruise worth it?
- If you want to see Abu Simbel without a long day trip from Aswan, and temples that most visitors never reach, yes. The lake is quiet, with few boats, and you sleep in front of Abu Simbel.
