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
- 82 of the 138 motor ships we catalogue
- Cabins (smallest to largest boat)
- 15 to 75
- Decks
- 3 to 6
- Guests aboard
- 40 to 150
- Pool on board
- 94% of the tier
- Spa or massage
- 80% of the tier
- Refurbished 2015 or later
- 26 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 (82)
City and Sea Adonis
Five-deck ship with French-balcony cabins
MS Farida
Forty 28 m² Junior Suites on a 65 m hull
Lady Carol
Seventy cabins, from singles to suites, on five decks
View the boat→
MS Blue Shadow IV
Five-star ship with Junior and Royal Suites
Golden
Four-deck Nile ship, Aswan and Luxor
Mojito
Seventy Nile-facing suites over four decks
Royal Adventure
A 1997 five-star ship on a Saturday–Wednesday rota
Nile Serenity
Forty balcony suites and no standard cabins
View the boat→
MS Beau Soleil
Seventy rooms and a Jacuzzi deck between Luxor and Aswan
Nile Plaza
A 1991 ship refurbished in 2019, for 110 guests
Tower Prestige
Four decks with five Junior and three Presidential Suites
Monte Carlo
Five decks and 72 metres, for up to 136 guests
Miss Egypt
Junior suites throughout on the Luxor–Aswan run
Tuya
Five-deck ship with a music room and pool deck
Nile Style
Five-deck 1999 cruiser with a bar on every floor
La Sarah
59-room ship refitted in 2019, sailing Luxor–Aswan
Liberty
A private balcony for every cabin and suite
MS Blue Shadow III
Three suite grades and butler service on the Nile
MS Nile Commodore
Three-deck Luxor–Aswan cruiser with 72 doubles
Antares
62 guests, with a French balcony in every stateroom
MS Alessandra
Five-star ship where 27 of 32 rooms are suites
View the boat→
Concerto Plus
2024-built five-deck ship on the Luxor–Aswan Nile
Jamila
A seven-night cruiser on the full Nile route
MS Blue Shadow II
Monday and Friday sailings between Luxor and Aswan
Nile Shams
A 2005 five-star ship with 74 cabins and connecting rooms
Nile Story
Five-deck 2008 ship with junior and presidential suites
Princess Sarah
70-cabin ship with discotheque and sauna, refitted 2015
Princess Sarah II
Five-deck ship refurbished 2015, 66 doubles, 4 suites
Kira
Two suites among 64 rooms, Luxor to Aswan
Kleos
Panoramic Nile-facing cabins and a pool deck, refitted in 2024
Al Hambra
All-suite 42-room ship with a panoramic lift
Alma
A polished mid-size cruiser on the classic route
Moon Dance
Suites with private saunas, Luxor to Aswan
MS Crown Vision
42 Italian-designed cabins over three decks
View the boat→
MS Royal Vision
The long two-week Cairo–Aswan Nile route
Terramar
Twenty suites for 40 guests on the Luxor–Aswan run
Diamond Boat
Five-deck Nile ship with pool deck
MS Concerto II
A 2020-built ship with openable panoramic windows
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
Nile Romance
Five-deck 1989 ship with spa, sauna and pool
Royal Esadora
Modern Nile cruiser with pool and fitness centre
Tulip
2018-built five-deck ship, Nile-view cabins
MS Aurora
Four-deck ship with two Presidential Suites
MS Hapi V
2005-built ship with 20 m2 cabins, refitted 2017
MS Nile Admiral
Five-star ship with 70 doubles and four suites
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
Nile Paradise
Balconies in every room, built 2022
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
King of Thebes
A comfortable, good-value Luxor to Aswan ship
MS Nile Empress
Five-star, 29-cabin ship on the Luxor-Aswan run
Nile Odyssey
Three-deck ship with 70 twin or double cabins
Royal Olivia Signature
Newly built Nile cruiser with pool and spa cabins
Royal Princess
Comfortable Nile cruiser with pool and open-air gym
Sirius
Five-deck 75 m ship, refurbished in 2025
Zeina
Five-star cruiser, panoramic-window cabins
A Sara
A relaxed seven-night sailing, Aswan to Luxor
Grand Mandarin
An upper-tier cruiser with a strong sun deck
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
Nile Diva
Small four-deck ship, Aswan to Luxor
Nile Dream
Good-value four-star cruiser, Aswan to Luxor
Nile Quest
2002-built five-deck ship with panoramic elevator
Nile Angel
Sixty-two cabins on the Aswan–Luxor Nile
Ra II
Well-equipped Nile cruiser with two Jacuzzis
Royal Ruby II
Modern 70-cabin cruiser, Luxor to Aswan
Nile Beauty
A 46-cabin cruiser on the Aswan–Luxor Nile
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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