Nile cruise shipLuxury flagshipsLuxor → Aswan

Sonesta Sun Goddess

A thirty-suite ship on the Upper Nile

Sonesta Sun Goddess is a Nile cruise ship operated by Sonesta Cruises / Sonesta Hotels & Resorts Egypt, built 1993 and refurbished 2002. It has 30 cabins and 30 suites and sails itineraries of 3 or 4 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

A thirty-suite ship on the Upper Nile. A 30-suite, all-suite cruiser on the Luxor–Aswan corridor, suited to travellers who prefer a spacious cabin and a relaxed, social onboard atmosphere.

Class Luxury flagshipsCabins 30Route Luxor → Aswan

Operator: Sonesta Cruises / Sonesta Hotels & Resorts Egypt
Accommodation: 30 cabins · 30 suites
Decks: 5
Dimensions: 77 × 15 m
Built: 1993 · refit 2002
Route: Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan
Trip length: 3 · 4 nights
Departures: Every Monday from Luxor (4 nights / 5 days); every Friday from Aswan (3 nights / 4 days).
Season: Year-round. Rate seasons: May-August and September-April
Wi-Fi: WiFi available

About Sonesta Sun Goddess

The Sonesta Sun Goddess is an all-suite ship of 30 suites across five decks, ranging from 26 Presidential suites of 40 m² to two Family suites, an Executive suite and a Royal suite with its own Jacuzzi, each of 60 m².

Deck life centres on an outdoor pool with a Jacuzzi and a sun deck, with a barbecue lounge, a discotheque, a lounge and a beauty salon below, plus a spa and fitness centre offering a gym and massage. An elevator links the decks and a doctor is on call.

Originally built in 1993 and refurbished in 2002, it sails between Luxor and Aswan via Edfu and Kom Ombo on three- and four-night legs, with evenings given over to folkloric shows and themed parties.

Highlights

All-suite, from 40 m² Presidential suites
Outdoor pool with Jacuzzi
Spa and fitness centre with massage
Barbecue lounge and discotheque
Nubian folkloric shows and themed evenings

At sail

Day by day

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

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 Sun 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: 26 Presidential Suites (40 sqm)
2 Family Suites (60 sqm)
1 Executive Suite (60 sqm)
1 Royal Suite with Jacuzzi (60 sqm)
Dining: Main dining room
Sun deck bar
Barbecue lounge
Lounge
Facilities: Outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi
Sun deck
Barbecue lounge
Sun deck bar
Discotheque
Lounge
Dining room
Bazaar
Beauty salon
Elevator
Doctor on call
Daily guided sightseeing excursions
Spa · pool · gym: Spa and fitness center with gym, sauna, steam bath and massage rooms; outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi on the sun deck.
Itineraries: 3 nights Aswan to Luxor
4 nights Luxor to Aswan
7-night round trip Luxor-Aswan-Luxor

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 Sonesta Sun Goddess, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.

5 out of 5via Tripadvisor (40)

Good to know

Sonesta Sun Goddess questions, answered

How much does Sonesta Sun Goddess cost?

Advertised rates start from US$459 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Sonesta Sun Goddess have?

30 cabins and 30 suites.

What route does Sonesta Sun Goddess sail?

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

What's included on Sonesta Sun Goddess?

3 or 4 nights accommodation on board full board, all transfers, excursions, entrance fees, English-speaking guide (max 1-8 persons), daily water bottle, service charges and taxes