Nile cruise shipLuxury flagshipsLuxor → Aswan

Sonesta Star Goddess

An all-suite ship named for composers

Sonesta Star Goddess is a Nile cruise ship operated by Sonesta Cruises / Sonesta Hotels & Resorts Egypt, built 2006 and refurbished 2024. It has 33 cabins and 33 suites for up to 66 guests and sails itineraries of 3 or 4 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

An all-suite ship named for composers. An intimate 66-guest, all-suite ship on the Luxor–Aswan route, suited to travellers who want a private terrace and a quieter, more spacious sailing.

Class Luxury flagshipsCabins 33 · up to 66 guestsRoute Luxor → Aswan

Sonesta Star Goddess, a Nile cruise ship

Operator: Sonesta Cruises / Sonesta Hotels & Resorts Egypt
Accommodation: 33 cabins · 33 suites
Guests: Up to 66
Decks: 5
Dimensions: 72 × 14 m
Built: 2006 · refit 2024
Route: Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan
Trip length: 3 · 4 nights
Departures: Every Wednesday from Aswan (3 nights / 4 days); every Saturday from Luxor (4 nights / 5 days)
Season: Year-round. Rate seasons: May-August and September-April.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi internet access available

About Sonesta Star Goddess

The Sonesta Star Goddess is an all-suite vessel carrying just 66 guests across five decks, with 33 suites named after composers: 27 Beethoven suites of 40 m², four Mozart suites of 35 m² and two Chopin suites of 52 m². Each opens onto its own private terrace, and in-suite dining runs until midnight.

The ship centres on a three-deck atrium that draws in natural light and a lounge with a dance floor that hosts nightly performances. On the top deck a pool, bar and barbecue sit alongside a spa and fitness centre with massage services, and an elevator connects the decks.

Built in 2006 and refurbished in 2024, it sails the classic Upper Egypt route between Luxor and Aswan by way of Edfu and Kom Ombo, on three-, four- and seven-night itineraries.

Highlights

All-suite, 66 guests only
Private terrace with every suite
Top-deck pool, bar and barbecue
Three-deck atrium with natural light
In-suite dining until midnight

At sail

Day by day

Sonesta Star Goddess sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan Departures every wednesday from aswan (3 nights / 4 days); every saturday from luxor (4 nights / 5 days). 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.

Cabin pricing

Rates by season

Indicative per-person USD rates from the agencies we track, whose published fares for this boat differ by more than 5%, so the published range is shown rather than a single figure. Your exact fare depends on dates and cabin — we quote every sailing live, with no booking fee to ask.

4 days / 3 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$1,960	$1,500–$1,940
Single cabin (sole use)	$3,130	$2,400–$2,860

5 days / 4 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$2,480	$1,900–$2,120
Single cabin (sole use)	$4,000	$2,800–$3,220

Cabins are allocated by the operator at confirmation; tell us your preferred deck and we will ask.
Longer itineraries are priced as the sailings combined, confirmed on your quote.

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 Sonesta Star Goddess 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: 27 Beethoven Suites (40 sqm)
4 Mozart Suites (35 sqm)
2 Chopin Suites (52 sqm)
Dining: Main Dining Room - buffet breakfast and lunch, a la carte dinner
Sun Deck Bar and barbecue
Lounge
In-suite dining until midnight
Facilities: Sun deck with bar and barbecue
Outdoor swimming pool
Main dining room
Lounge with dance floor
Three-deck atrium with natural lighting
Elevator
Nightly entertainment shows
Doctor on call
In-suite dining until midnight
Spa · pool · gym: Spa and fitness center with gym and massage services; pool and barbecue on the top deck. All suites have private terraces and bathrooms with spa units, steam bath and Jacuzzi.
Itineraries: 3 nights Aswan to Luxor
4 nights Luxor to Aswan
7-night round trip Luxor-Aswan-Luxor

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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What guests say

Independent traveller reviews of Sonesta Star Goddess, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.

4.3 out of 5via Tripadvisor (31)

“Ship is old - you can See it - but still it is clean and OK condition. They clean your room and common facilities every day, so you can say, that is clean. … i would say that overall this was nice experience!”
— markusgogo80, Espoo, Finland · via Tripadvisor

Good to know

Sonesta Star Goddess questions, answered

How much does Sonesta Star Goddess cost?

Advertised rates start from US$1,200 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Sonesta Star Goddess have?

33 cabins and 33 suites, for up to 66 guests.

What route does Sonesta Star Goddess sail?

Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, departing Every Wednesday from Aswan (3 nights / 4 days); every Saturday from Luxor (4 nights / 5 days).

What's included on Sonesta Star Goddess?

Full board accommodation on board, transfers, excursions, entrance fees, English-speaking guide, daily water bottle, service charges and taxes. Excludes optional excursions, personal expenses, gratuities. Children 0-5.99 free; 6-11.99 pay 50%; 12+ full fare.