Nile cruise shipLuxury flagshipsLuxor → Aswan

M/S Salacia

An all-suite ship for 59 guests

M/S Salacia is a Nile cruise ship operated by Ashranda Boutique Hotels & Cruises. It has 31 cabins and 31 suites for up to 59 guests and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

An all-suite ship for 59 guests. A five-star all-suite ship of 31 suites for up to 59 guests over five decks, suited to travellers wanting space and quiet on the Aswan–Luxor route.

Class Luxury flagshipsCabins 31 · up to 59 guestsRoute Luxor → Aswan

Operator: Ashranda Boutique Hotels & Cruises
Accommodation: 31 cabins · 31 suites
Guests: Up to 59
Decks: 5
Route: Aswan, High Dam, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Luxor Temple)
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 7 nights
Departures: Reported inconsistently across seasons: Wednesdays or Fridays from Aswan, Saturdays or Mondays from Luxor.
Season: Year-round
Wi-Fi: Complimentary Wi-Fi on board

About M/S Salacia

The Salacia is an all-suite ship: 31 suites across five decks for a maximum of 59 guests, converted and refitted to give each guest generous space. Accommodation ranges from 15-square-metre single staterooms and 21-square-metre stateroom suites through 28-square-metre Royal Suites to a 65-square-metre Master Suite, with in-suite room service throughout.

Dining spans the Palm Court Restaurant, serving buffet and à la carte across the day, and the al-fresco Sahara Terrace Cafe for lunch. Lounges are unusually varied for a Nile boat: the Oasis Lounge and Bar with a dance floor and local shows, the Atrium Lounge and Bar, and the Chart Lounge and Library. The Lido Terrace carries a swimming pool, bar and shaded sundeck, while the Temple Health Spa adds a gym, sauna, jacuzzi, steam bath and massage room. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available onboard.

Sailings run year-round on the temple route: three nights from Aswan to Luxor, four nights in reverse, or a seven-night round trip, taking in the High Dam, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna and the Luxor west bank.

Highlights

All-suite, 31 suites for up to 59 guests
Master Suite at 65 m²
Health spa with gym, sauna and steam bath
Three separate lounges plus a library
Lido pool with shaded sundeck

At sail

Day by day

M/S Salacia sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan, High Dam, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Luxor Temple) Departures reported inconsistently across seasons: wednesdays or fridays from aswan, saturdays or mondays from luxor.. 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 M/S Salacia in the cabin booked
Meals aboard per the boat's published programme
Sun deck, pool, spa, gym and lounge throughout
Wi-Fi on board

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: Master Suite ~65 sqm (1)
Royal Suite ~28 sqm (18)
Stateroom Suite ~21 sqm (9)
Single Stateroom ~15 sqm (3)
Dining: Palm Court Restaurant - buffet breakfast/lunch/dinner plus a la carte
Sahara Terrace Cafe - al fresco lunch
In-suite room service
Facilities: Oasis Lounge and Bar - main lounge with dance floor and local shows
The Atrium Lounge and Bar
The Chart Lounge & Library
The Lido Terrace - swimming pool, bar, shaded sundeck
Sahara Terrace Sundeck
Gift shop
Hair salon
Ship photographer
Galabeya kiosk
Laundry
24-hour doctor
Room service
Spa · pool · gym: The Temple Health Spa - gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam bath, massage room; The Lido Health Club with sauna and Jacuzzi; sun-deck swimming pool
Itineraries: 3 nights Aswan to Luxor
4 nights Luxor to Aswan
7 nights Luxor-Aswan round trip

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

What guests say

Independent traveller reviews of M/S Salacia, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.

4.8 out of 5via Tripadvisor (14)

Good to know

M/S Salacia questions, answered

How much does M/S Salacia cost?

Advertised rates start from US$797 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does M/S Salacia have?

31 cabins and 31 suites, for up to 59 guests.

What route does M/S Salacia sail?

Aswan, High Dam, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Luxor Temple), departing Reported inconsistently across seasons: Wednesdays or Fridays from Aswan, Saturdays or Mondays from Luxor..

What's included on M/S Salacia?

Full board, free Wi-Fi, daily beverages, excursions, entrance fees, guide