By comfort tier
Standard Nile cruises
Independently operated cruisers sailing the same 220 km and mooring at the same temples as the flagships, for less. Comfort varies more from boat to boat at this end of the river, which is exactly why we catalogue each one with real photos and specs before you commit.
The tier, line by line
- Vessels in this tier
- 41 of the 138 motor ships we catalogue
- Cabins (smallest to largest boat)
- 20 to 75
- Decks
- 3 to 6
- Guests aboard
- 40 to 150
- Pool on board
- 85% of the tier
- Spa or massage
- 71% of the tier
- Refurbished 2015 or later
- 11 ships
- Typical rate
- $250 to $800 per person for 3 to 4 nights
- Lowest lead-in price we found
- about US$140 per person
- Best for
- Budget-focused travellers who care more about the temples than the thread count
Figures computed from our vessel directory. Rates are indicative bands from our cost guide; we quote each boat live.
Every ship in this tier (41)
Kleos
Panoramic Nile-facing cabins and a pool deck, refitted in 2024
Alma
A polished mid-size cruiser on the classic route
Amwaj
2014-built five-star ship, Aswan to Luxor
Champollion II
Four-deck Nile ship, Aswan and Luxor
Cleopatra
Small 2025-built boutique Nile ship
Davinci
Five-deck Nile cruiser, Luxor and Aswan
Karim
Historic 1917 steam paddle cruiser
Kon Tiki
Five-deck Nile ship with two-level spa
MS Royal Serenade
22-suite boutique Nile cruiser
Nile Bride
Seventy-five cabins on the Aswan–Luxor Nile
Royal Esadora
Modern Nile cruiser with pool and fitness centre
Tulip
2018-built five-deck ship, Nile-view cabins
Nile Carnival
Seventy cabins, renovated for the Aswan–Luxor Nile
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
Al Nabilatan
A well-kept three-night Luxor to Aswan cruiser
Alyssa
A bright, comfortable Nile cruiser
Grand Mandarin
An upper-tier cruiser with a strong sun deck
King of Thebes
A comfortable, good-value Luxor to Aswan ship
Royal Olivia Signature
Newly built Nile cruiser with pool and spa cabins
Royal Princess
Comfortable Nile cruiser with pool and open-air gym
Zeina
Five-star cruiser, panoramic-window cabins
A Sara
A relaxed seven-night sailing, Aswan to Luxor
Esmeralda
A comfortable five-star Nile cruiser
Gemma
Small modern Nile ship, 27 cabins
Grand Sun
A five-star cruiser on the Luxor to Aswan temples
MS Nubian Sea
Lake Nasser cruiser to Abu Simbel
Nefertiti
Relaxed 40-cabin Luxor-Aswan cruiser
Golden
Four-deck Nile ship, Aswan and Luxor
Nile Dream
Good-value four-star cruiser, Aswan to Luxor
Jamila
A seven-night cruiser on the full Nile route
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
MS Royal Vision
The long two-week Cairo–Aswan Nile route
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
Good to know
What does a standard Nile cruise cost?
Typical rates run $250 to $800 per person for 3 to 4 nights, per person sharing, cruise with full board. The exact fare depends on season, cabin grade and boat, so we confirm a live rate for the ships you shortlist. See our full cost guide for how the bands break down.
How do you decide which ships are in this tier?
Standard covers the independently operated ships. They sail the same route and moor at the same temples as the flagships; comfort simply varies more from boat to boat, so check each ship's real photos and specs before you commit.
Do all these ships sail the same route?
Yes. Every motor cruiser on this page sails the 220 km Luxor to Aswan corridor, mooring at Edfu and Kom Ombo, most commonly as a 3, 4 or 7 night itinerary. The tier changes the comfort on board, not the temples you see.
Tell us your dates, we’ll shortlist this tier for you
Live availability and current rates for any ship on this page, from a person who has been aboard more of them than is healthy.
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