Short notice
Last-minute Nile cruises
Yes, you can often book a Nile cruise a few weeks or even days ahead, because large ships leave Luxor and Aswan every week. It works best outside the peak weeks and on large ships with fixed weekly departures, such as Historia, Sonesta St George and Jaz Regent. It is much harder for Christmas, New Year and Easter, for small dahabiyas with a handful of cabins, and for suites, which sell out months ahead. Last-minute does not always mean cheaper: on busy dates, the best cabins are simply gone.
Easy to book at short notice
Boats with fixed weekly departures
| Boat | Departs |
|---|---|
| Historia | Mondays from Luxor, Fridays from Aswan |
| Sonesta St George | Mondays from Luxor, Fridays from Aswan |
| Jaz Regent | Mondays from Luxor, Fridays from Aswan |
| Iris (dahabiya) | Mondays from Luxor, Fridays from Aswan |
| Loulia (dahabiya) | Thursdays from Esna, Mondays from Aswan |
| Lazuli Karnak (dahabiya) | Sundays and Mondays from Esna, Fridays from Aswan |
See each boat: Historia, Sonesta St George, Jaz Regent, Iris (dahabiya), Loulia (dahabiya), Lazuli Karnak (dahabiya).
Timing
When last-minute works, and when it does not
- 1Works well. May to September, much of October and November, and late January to February outside the holidays.
- 2Hard. Christmas, New Year and Easter weeks, which sell out months ahead.
- 3Very hard. Small dahabiyas, suites and any boat on special dates such as the August 2027 eclipse.
- 4Flights matter too. Internal flights to Luxor and Aswan fill up in peak weeks, so check them at the same time.
How to do it
How to book quickly
Send your dates, the number of guests and the kind of boat you want, and be flexible on the direction: Luxor to Aswan and Aswan to Luxor leave on different days. Nile cruise ships run about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night and dahabiyas about US$140 to US$1,500. See how far in advance to book, the cheapest time for a Nile cruise and departure days by boat.
Asked often
Last-minute Nile cruises, answered
- Can you book a Nile cruise last minute?
- Often yes, especially on large ships with weekly departures from Luxor and Aswan, outside the Christmas, New Year and Easter weeks.
- Are last-minute Nile cruises cheaper?
- Sometimes, in quiet months. In peak weeks the opposite happens: the best cabins and boats sell out and only higher-priced or less wanted cabins remain.
- Which Nile cruises sail every week?
- Many large ships, including Historia, Sonesta St George and Jaz Regent, leave Luxor on Mondays and Aswan on Fridays. Some dahabiyas, such as Iris, Loulia and Lazuli Karnak, also sail weekly.
- Can I book a dahabiya at short notice?
- Sometimes, but dahabiyas have few cabins and fill early, especially from October to April. Book as early as you can.
