Good to know
Nile cruise practicalities: money, Wi-Fi, signal and plugs
On a Nile cruise you run a tab for drinks and extras and settle it on the last evening, usually in cash or by card; small dahabiyas often prefer cash. Carry Egyptian pounds for tips and markets. Most boats offer free Wi-Fi, but it runs over the mobile network and can be slow or patchy while sailing, so a local SIM is the better connection. Sockets are 220 volts with European two-pin plugs, and you should drink bottled water, not tap water.
Cash, cards and the bill
Paying on board, and the cash you need
Drinks, spa treatments, laundry and optional excursions go on your cabin account, and you settle it at reception on the last evening or morning. Most mid-range and luxury ships take cards and accept US dollars, euros or Egyptian pounds in cash. On a dahabiya, ask before you sail: some take cards, many prefer cash.
Bring Egyptian pounds in small notes for tips, markets and the odd felucca or carriage. There are ATMs in Luxor and Aswan, and in the larger towns along the way, but not on the boat. Clean, untorn foreign notes are the only ones accepted. For what your fare already covers, see what is included on a Nile cruise; for tips, see how much to tip in Egypt.
Staying connected
Wi-Fi on board, boat by boat
Every boat below offers some Wi-Fi. Boat Wi-Fi on the Nile comes from the mobile network, so it slows when many guests are online and drops in stretches between towns. Expect email and messages; do not count on video calls while sailing.
| Boat | Type | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|
| The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser | Ship | Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, covering up to four devices per cabin, subject to network availability |
| Historia the Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise | Ship | Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the vessel. |
| Sonesta St. George I | Ship | Complimentary WiFi |
| Sonesta Star Goddess | Ship | Wi-Fi internet access available |
| Jaz Viceroy | Ship | Free limited Wi-Fi |
| Jaz Regent | Ship | Wi-Fi available |
| Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya II | Dahabiya | Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the vessel; free internet access in all cabins and suites |
| Iris | Dahabiya | 24-hour Wi-Fi; free Wi-Fi in public areas. |
| Loulia | Dahabiya | Complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the boat, subject to a fair-usage policy. |
| Nora | Dahabiya | Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the boat, subject to a fair-usage policy; the signal in public areas can be patchy. |
| The Orient | Dahabiya | Complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the boat, subject to a fair-usage policy. |
| Akhnaton | Dahabiya | Free internet access, with Wi-Fi in the lounge/bar. Wi-Fi is generally limited due to sailing conditions. |
| Lazuli Albatros | Dahabiya | Wi-Fi internet access in the library-salon / lounge |
Each line is the boat’s own description of its Wi-Fi.
Mobile data
Phone signal and a local SIM
Mobile coverage is good in Luxor, Aswan and the towns, and fair along most of the river, with gaps on the quieter stretches. A local SIM or eSIM with data is usually faster and cheaper than roaming, and is easy to buy at the airport or in town with your passport. On a dahabiya moored at an island, signal can disappear for the evening, which many guests find is part of the point.
The basics
Plugs, water, laundry and a doctor
| Plugs and power | 220 volts, 50 Hz; European two-pin plugs (types C and F). Bring an adapter for UK or US plugs. |
| Drinking water | Do not drink the tap water. Bottled or filtered water is provided on board, often free in the cabin. |
| Laundry | Most ships, and some dahabiyas such as Iris, offer a laundry service, charged per item. |
| Doctor | Larger ships have a doctor on call; Sonesta St George and Sonesta Star Goddess both list one. |
| Safe | Most cabins have a safe for passports, cash and cameras. |
| Smoking | Usually only on the open decks. |
Health
Staying well on the river
The Nile is calm, so seasickness is almost never an issue. The things that do catch travellers out are the sun and the stomach: drink plenty of bottled water, wear a hat on temple mornings, and go easy on salads and unpeeled fruit ashore. Do not swim in the river. If you need medicine, pharmacies in Luxor and Aswan are well stocked, and the ship’s reception can call a doctor. For when it is coolest, see when to cruise the Nile.
Prices
What the cruise costs
Nile cruise ships run about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night and dahabiyas about US$140 to US$1,500 a night, depending on the boat, cabin and season. Ask us which extras your boat includes before you book.
Asked often
Nile cruise practicalities, answered
- Is there Wi-Fi on a Nile cruise?
- Most boats offer free Wi-Fi, often throughout the boat or in the lounge. It runs over the mobile network, so it can be slow or drop while sailing between towns. A local SIM with data is usually the more reliable connection.
- Can I pay by card on a Nile cruise?
- Most mid-range and luxury ships take cards when you settle your onboard account on the last day, and accept dollars, euros or Egyptian pounds in cash. Small dahabiyas often prefer cash, so ask before you sail.
- What currency do I need on a Nile cruise?
- Egyptian pounds in small notes for tips, markets and small purchases ashore. The onboard bill can usually be paid by card or in dollars, euros or pounds.
- What plugs are used on Nile cruise ships?
- Egypt uses 220 volts at 50 Hz with European two-pin plugs (types C and F). Travellers from the UK or US need an adapter.
- Can you drink the water on a Nile cruise?
- Do not drink the tap water. Boats provide bottled or filtered water, often free in your cabin, and many include water with meals.
