By trip length
7-night Nile cruises: Round trip from Luxor
103 of the 148 ships we list sail a 7-night programme, round trip from luxor, boarding at Luxor (or Aswan) and leaving the ship at Same port. Follows the ship's 4-night or 3-night start day. Expect US$1,579 to US$1,840 per person on a mid-range ship, about, as the two legs added.
80 Nile cruise ships in this directory offer a 7-night itinerary, often a round trip from Luxor or Aswan, calling at the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Compare them below on cabins, operator and departures, then enquire on WhatsApp for live dates and rates.
3 vs 4 vs 7
How 7 nights compares
| Length | Ships | Usual direction | Usual departure | Mid-range, per person (low to high season) | 5-star deluxe, high season | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights / 4 days | 117 of 148 ships | Aswan to Luxor (downstream, northbound) | Friday ex Aswan on most ships | US$726 to US$840 | US$1,509 | Tightest. |
| 4 nights / 5 days | 112 of 148 ships | Luxor to Aswan (upstream, southbound) | Monday ex Luxor on most ships | US$854 to US$1,000 | US$1,853 | The classic programme: the same temples as the 3-night version with an extra night that eases the Luxor and Aswan days. |
| 7 nights / 8 days (this page) | 103 of 148 ships | Round trip from Luxor (or from Aswan): the 4-night and 3-night legs joined | Follows the ship's 4-night or 3-night start day | US$1,579 to US$1,840 (about; legs added) | US$3,347 (about) | Slowest: at least two consecutive nights docked at Aswan, at least one explicitly free day on every source checked. |
Slowest: at least two consecutive nights docked at Aswan, at least one explicitly free day on every source checked. Docked Luxor nights 1 (and 2); southbound legs; three consecutive nights docked Aswan across the turnaround; northbound legs; docked Luxor final night.
Ship counts from our directory; prices from 3,383 published fares (median of each ship’s fare, per person sharing, boat only), checked September 2026. Full table on the cost page.
What you see
What a 7-night cruise covers
The same core temples as the 4- and 3-night routes. The extra nights are mainly free time at Aswan (usually the Abu Simbel day) and slower sailing legs; one programme adds Medinet Habu. Some upper-end ships (e.g. Oberoi Zahra) run a one-way 7-night Luxor to Aswan with Dendera instead.
Day by day
- 1Day 1, Luxor, embarkation. Board at Luxor and, on most programmes, visit Karnak and Luxor Temple in the afternoon. A few operators keep day 1 to arrival and free time and hold the East Bank for the return.
- 2Day 2, Luxor West Bank, sail south. The West Bank in the morning, then south through the Esna lock. A dawn hot-air-balloon flight over the West Bank is a common optional extra. The night is usually at Edfu.
- 3Day 3, Edfu, Kom Ombo and on to Aswan. Edfu by horse-drawn carriage, then Kom Ombo — though some ships sail past Kom Ombo here and visit it on the way back instead. The night is docked at Aswan.
- 4Day 4, Aswan. The High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae, reached by motorboat, with a felucca sail around the islands in the afternoon.
- 5Day 5, Aswan, free day or Abu Simbel. A deliberately light day at Aswan. This is when the optional Abu Simbel excursion is taken, leaving before dawn and back by the middle of the day; a Nubian village visit is the common alternative.
- 6Day 6, Northbound, Kom Ombo and Edfu. Sailing back downstream. Ships that held Kom Ombo back visit it now; those that saw it outbound make this a slow leisure leg past Kom Ombo and Edfu.
- 7Day 7, Return to Luxor. North through the Esna lock to Luxor. Whichever half of the Luxor sightseeing was held back is covered now; where it was all done outbound, this is a free day with time in the souq. The night is docked at Luxor.
- 8Day 8, Disembarkation at Luxor. Breakfast, check-out and transfer to Luxor airport or onward transport.
The full programme, the stops explained and the alternatives are on the itineraries page.
Departure days
When 7-night cruises leave
Mon ex Luxor is the most common (48 ships), then Fri ex Aswan (45), Sat ex Luxor (16), Wed ex Aswan (16). Ships run a fixed weekly rotation of the 4-night and 3-night legs, so the day follows the ship. Eight ships have disputed schedules in the sources and are shown without a day; we confirm every departure with the operator before you book.
| Ship | Operator | Departure days |
|---|---|---|
| Amarante | Amarante | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Champollion II | CIT Travel | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Davinci | Independent | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Diamond Boat | Independent | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Gemma | Independent | – |
| H/S Solaris I | Solaris Nile Cruises | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| H/S Solaris II | Solaris Nile Cruises | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Jamila | – | – |
| Jaz Al Horeya | JAZ Hotel Group / JAZ on the Nile (Travco Group); currently operated by TUI River Cruises UK as TUI Al Horeya | – |
| Jaz Bahareya | Jaz Cruises (JAZ Voyages) | chartered to TUI River Cruises UK as 'TUI Bahareya' | – |
| Jaz Celebrity | Jaz Cruises (JAZ Voyages / JAZ Hotel Group) | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Kleos | – | – |
| MS Eugenie | Belle Époque Travel | – |
| Nile Azur | Tarot Nile Cruises fleet | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Nile Beauty | Orient Nile Cruises | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Nile Bride | Independent | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Nile Carnival | Independent | Mon ex Aswan · Thu ex Luxor |
| Nile Crown I | ISIS Travel (ISIS Group) | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Nile Crown III | Isis / ISIS Group | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Nile Diva | Independent | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Nile Dream | Independent | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Nile Excellence | Serenity Nile Cruises | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Queen of Hansa | Hansa Hotels Worldwide | sources disagree, ask us |
| Ra II | – | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Royal Elite | Royal French | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Royal Olivia Signature | Royal French Nile Cruises | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Royal Ruby II | – | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau | A&K Sanctuary (Sanctuary Retreats) / Abercrombie & Kent | – |
| Sunrise Semiramis I | SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Sunrise Semiramis II | SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises | Mon ex Aswan · Thu ex Luxor |
| Sunrise Semiramis III | SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Voyager | Independent | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Alexander the Great | Jolleys Travel & Cruises | sources disagree, ask us |
| Ellie Nile Cruise | Sabena Nile Cruises (Sabena Group) | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Farah Nile Cruise | Avalon Waterways (charter/marketing operator) | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Jaz Imperial | Jaz Cruises (JAZ Voyages / JAZ Hotel Group) | Mon ex Aswan · Thu ex Luxor |
| Jaz Regent | JAZ Elite Cruises (JAZ Voyages / Jaz Hotel Group) | Fri ex Aswan · Fri ex Luxor · Mon ex Luxor |
| Jaz Royale | Steigenberger Cruises (JAZ Voyages / Jaz Hotel Group) | Mon ex Aswan · Thu ex Aswan · Thu ex Luxor |
| Jaz Viceroy | JAZ Elite Cruises (JAZ Voyages / Jaz Hotel Group) | Sat ex Aswan · Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Karim | Spring Tours | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Le Fayan Suites | Le Fayan Suites | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| M/S Salacia | Ashranda Boutique Hotels & Cruises | sources disagree, ask us |
| MS Acamar | Independent | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| MS Esplanade | Mayfair Cruises | sources disagree, ask us |
| MS Mayfair | Mayfair Cruises | – |
| MS Miriam | Spring Tours | Mon ex Aswan · Thu ex Luxor |
| MS Tosca | Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection (sails as River Tosca). | Fri ex Aswan · Fri ex Luxor · Mon ex Luxor |
| Mövenpick MS Hamees | Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (Accor) | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Mövenpick MS Royal Lily | Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (Accor) | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Mövenpick MS Royal Lotus | Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (Accor) | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Mövenpick MS Sun Ray | Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (Accor) | – |
| Nebu Nile Cruise | Central Holidays | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Nefertiti | Independent | – |
| Sonesta St. George I | Sonesta Cruises / Sonesta Hotels & Resorts Egypt | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Sonesta Star Goddess | Sonesta Cruises / Sonesta Hotels & Resorts Egypt | Sat ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Sonesta Sun Goddess | Sonesta Cruises / Sonesta Hotels & Resorts Egypt | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
| Steigenberger Minerva | Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts; operated by JAZ Hotel Group. | Mon ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor · Thu ex Luxor |
| Steigenberger Regency | Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts (H World International / Deutsche Hospitality); operated and sold by JAZ Hotel Group / JAZ Voyages | Mon ex Aswan · Sat ex Aswan · Sat ex Luxor · Thu ex Luxor · Wed ex Aswan |
| Domina Prestige Emilio | Domina Prestige | sources disagree, ask us |
| Iberotel Amara | Iberotel Cruises / JAZ Hotel Group (JAZ Voyages), Travco Group | Fri ex Aswan · Mon ex Luxor |
Showing 60 of 95; every ship is in the grid below.
Who it suits
Is 7 nights right for you?
- 1Choose 7 nights if you want the slowest version: both legs, at least two nights docked at Aswan, a free day for Abu Simbel and time to read on deck.
- 2Choose 4 nights instead if you also want Cairo, the Red Sea or Abu Simbel by air in the same trip, because the round trip uses most of a two-week holiday.
- 3Know that the 7-night fare is usually the two legs added, and only a handful of ships (the Oberoi Zahra, Historia, Le Fayan, Soleil) run a distinct 7-night programme that adds Dendera or Abydos.
The ships
Every ship sailing 7 nights
Historia the Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise
A boutique hotel afloat, in 1920s spirit
Kleos
Panoramic Nile-facing cabins and a pool deck, refitted in 2024
Al Kahila
72-cabin Sabena Nile cruiser
Alexander the Great
An all-suite sailing on the Luxor–Aswan reach
Champollion II
Four-deck Nile ship, Aswan and Luxor
Davinci
Five-deck Nile cruiser, Luxor and Aswan
Jaz Regent
Suite-led sailing, renovated in 2022
Jaz Senator
An all-suite ship for 32 guests
Jaz Viceroy
Balconies and suites, built in 2022
Karim
Historic 1917 steam paddle cruiser
Kon Tiki
Five-deck Nile ship with two-level spa
M/S Salacia
An all-suite ship for 59 guests
Mövenpick MS Royal Lotus
Observation bar over the Luxor–Aswan reach
Mövenpick SS Misr
A restored 1918 royal steamer on the Nile
MS Chateau Lafayette
Refurbished five-star sailing the Luxor–Aswan reach
Nile Bride
Seventy-five cabins on the Aswan–Luxor Nile
Nile Crown III
Comfortable cruising between Aswan and Luxor
Nile Excellence
Intimate 30-cabin Nile cruiser
Radamis I
72-cabin Nile cruiser with family cabins
Royal Esadora
Modern Nile cruiser with pool and fitness centre
Salima
All-suite Sabena Nile cruiser, 25 suites
Tulip
2018-built five-deck ship, Nile-view cabins
Concerto
64-cabin cruiser on the classic route
Le Fayan Suites
All-suite sailing along the Luxor–Aswan Nile
Mövenpick MS Royal Lily
Deluxe cabins and Jacuzzi suites
MS Mayflower
Khedive-era design between Luxor and Aswan
Nile Carnival
Seventy cabins, renovated for the Aswan–Luxor Nile
Nile Crown I
58-cabin ship between Luxor and Aswan
Nile Dolphin
2007-built five-deck ship with gym and spa
Nile Jewel
59-cabin ship on the Aswan-Luxor Nile
Queen of Hansa
Easygoing Nile cruiser with pool and lounge bars
Royal Ruby
Well-appointed Nile cruiser with several bars
Soleil Nile Cruise
A 2024 all-modern ship on the temple route
Amarante
Intimate 37-cabin Nile cruiser
Grand Rose
Comfortable cruiser with panoramic lounge
H/S Solaris I
A 66-cabin cruiser built to Germanischer Lloyd survey
H/S Solaris II
A 74-cabin sister ship on the Aswan–Luxor route
Jaz Bahareya
Five-star Nile cruise ship
Jaz Crown Jubilee
A larger five-star deluxe cruiser, Aswan–Luxor
Jaz Nile Monarch
Contemporary comfort between Luxor and Aswan
Jaz Royale
A two-level sun deck on the Aswan–Luxor run
Mövenpick MS Hamees
A 72-metre ship with Nile-view fitness
MS Mayfair
Classic-contemporary cruising from Luxor to Aswan
Royal Elite
Modern 64-cabin Nile cruiser, built 2022
Royal Olivia Signature
Newly built Nile cruiser with pool and spa cabins
Royal Princess
Comfortable Nile cruiser with pool and open-air gym
Steigenberger Legacy
Balconied cabins on the Luxor–Aswan Nile
Steigenberger Regency
Panoramic-window cabins on the Upper Nile
Sunrise Semiramis II
70-cabin ship, Luxor to Aswan
The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser
Oberoi comfort on the southern Nile reach
Zeina
Five-star cruiser, panoramic-window cabins
A Sara
A relaxed seven-night sailing, Aswan to Luxor
Jaz Crown Prince
Balconied sailing on the Aswan–Luxor reach
Jaz Imperial
Fifty cabins and 41 m2 suites on the Nile
MS Miriam
Refreshed cruising between Luxor and Aswan
MS Tosca
Intimate all-suite cruising on the Nile
Steigenberger Minerva
French-balcony cabins, all outside, Luxor–Aswan
Sunrise Semiramis I
70-cabin ship, three route lengths
Sunrise Semiramis III
2007 ship, Luxor to Aswan
Iberotel Crown Emperor
Large five-deck cruiser, Aswan to Luxor
Iberotel Crown Empress
Large cruiser with panoramic cabins
Jaz Al Horeya
Outside cabins on a week-long Nile round trip
Jaz Celebrity
A 2022-built ship on the Aswan–Luxor Nile
Jaz Crown Jewel
Five-star deluxe Nile cruise ship
Mövenpick MS Sun Ray
Classic Nile sailing on the Luxor–Aswan reach
Nefertiti
Relaxed 40-cabin Luxor-Aswan cruiser
Sanctuary Sun Boat III
A 1920s-styled sailing between Aswan and Luxor
Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau
A private dahabiya charter, Luxor to Aswan
Domina Prestige Emilio
Modern cruiser with French-balcony cabins
Nebu Nile Cruise
Forty French-balcony cabins on the Luxor–Aswan reach
Nile Dream
Good-value four-star cruiser, Aswan to Luxor
Nile Quest
2002-built five-deck ship with panoramic elevator
Ra II
Well-equipped Nile cruiser with two Jacuzzis
Royal Ruby II
Modern 70-cabin cruiser, Luxor to Aswan
Diamond Boat
Five-deck Nile ship with pool deck
Jamila
A seven-night cruiser on the full Nile route
Nile Azur
Five-deck Nile cruiser between Luxor and Aswan
Nile Beauty
A 46-cabin cruiser on the Aswan–Luxor Nile
Nile Diva
Small four-deck ship, Aswan to Luxor
Voyager
Renovated 70-cabin Nile cruiser
Planning a 7-night cruise?
Send your dates and a specialist will match you to the right 7-night boat, with live availability and the current rate.
Good to know
7-night Nile cruises questions, answered
Is a 7-night Nile cruise enough?
More than enough: a 7-night round trip is the 4-night and 3-night sailings joined, so you see the core temples in both directions with at least two consecutive nights docked at Aswan and a genuinely free day. It suits slow travellers, repeat visitors and anyone who wants Abu Simbel without a rushed pre-dawn dash.
How many days do you need for a Nile cruise?
Four days (3 nights) covers the temples between Aswan and Luxor; five days (4 nights) is the comfortable standard; eight days (7 nights) is the slow round trip. Add two or three days for Cairo and the pyramids, which are a one-hour flight north and not on any standard cruise.
Do you see the pyramids on a Nile cruise?
No. The pyramids are at Giza, next to Cairo, about 660 km north of Luxor; standard cruises sail only between Luxor and Aswan. Only the rare long cruises (11 to 14 nights) sail from Cairo. Most travellers fly Cairo to Luxor or Aswan for the cruise.
Which day do 7-night Nile cruises depart?
Most often Mon ex Luxor (48 of the ships we list with undisputed schedules), then Fri ex Aswan (45) and Sat ex Luxor (16). Ships work a fixed weekly rotation, so pick the ship and the departure day follows.
What does a 7-night Nile cruise cost?
On a mid-range ship a median of US$1,579 (£1,182) per person in summer and US$1,840 (£1,377) in winter, sharing a double cabin, boat only (the 3-night and 4-night fares added, as almost no ship publishes a separate 7-night fare). Budget ships run about 25 per cent less, five-star deluxe ships roughly double, luxury ships three to four times.
