The very top
The most luxurious ways to cruise the Nile
On the Nile, true luxury is space and privacy rather than gold taps. The single most lavish cabin we know of on a Luxor to Aswan ship is the Oberoi Zahra’s Master Suite, at 115 m² with its own terrace and heated whirlpool. Beyond that, the most exclusive way to travel is to take a whole boat: a small luxury dahabiya chartered for your party alone, with your own moorings, menu and timings.
From each boat's specification
The biggest suites on the boats we recommend
| Boat | Suite | Size | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Oberoi Zahra | Master Suite | 115 m² | Living room, private dining, terrace with heated whirlpool |
| The Oberoi Zahra | Two-bedroom suite | 92 m² | Sleeps four |
| The Oberoi Zahra | Terrace suites | 50 m² | Terrace with sun loungers and heated whirlpool |
| Sonesta Star Goddess | Chopin Suites | 52 m² | All-suite ship; every suite has a balcony |
| Iris (dahabiya) | Royal suites | 40 m² | Upper deck with veranda; heated pool on deck |
| Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya II | Largest cabins | 35 m² | Dahabiya with spa, gym and lift |
| Historia | Presidential and Royal Suites | Themed | Named for Naguib Mahfouz, Umm Kulthum, Princess Fawzia, King Farouk |
There are only one or two of each top suite on any boat, so they are the first cabins to go. See the Oberoi Zahra, Sonesta Star Goddess, Iris, Sonesta Amirat Dahabeya II and Historia.
A few larger suites exist elsewhere: on Lake Nasser, the Kasr Ibrim lists a 140 m² Imperial Suite, and the Eugenie a 100 m² suite with a large terrace. Among dahabiyas, Storia lists a 70 m² suite.
Beyond the suite
What super luxury on the Nile actually means
- Few guests. The Oberoi Zahra carries 54, against well over 100 on a standard ship. Guests notice it at every gangway and temple.
- Your own guide, your own timing. Visits shaped around your group, at the temples before the coach parties.
- A real spa and pool.The Oberoi Spa has four private therapy rooms; the Zahra’s pool is 11 metres; Historia has a heated pool and the Seneb Spa.
- Space on deck. On a chartered dahabiya, the whole sun deck is yours.
- The extras arranged. A private Egyptologist, Abu Simbel by air, a balloon at dawn, a night at a historic hotel in Luxor or Aswan.
The most exclusive option
A whole boat of your own
The most exclusive Nile trip is a chartered dahabiya. A boat such as Loulia (six cabins, two with private balconies), The Orient (five) or Iris (with a heated pool) becomes your private yacht for the week: your own moorings, menu and pace. See chartering a dahabiya and what a whole boat costs.
Prices
What it 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. The top suites sit at, and for the very largest can go beyond, the top of that range, and the festive weeks cost more again. Ask us for the suite price on your dates.
Asked often
Luxury on the Nile, answered
- What is the most luxurious Nile cruise?
- Among the ships sailing Luxor to Aswan, the Oberoi Zahra: 54 guests, an Oberoi Spa, an 11-metre pool and suites up to a 115 m² Master Suite with a private heated whirlpool. The most exclusive option of all is a whole luxury dahabiya chartered for your party.
- Which Nile cruise has the biggest suite?
- On the Luxor to Aswan route, the Oberoi Zahra's Master Suite is 115 m², with a living room, private dining area and a terrace with a heated whirlpool. On Lake Nasser, the Kasr Ibrim lists a 140 m² Imperial Suite.
- Is a luxury dahabiya better than a luxury ship?
- It depends on what luxury means to you. A ship such as the Oberoi Zahra has a spa, a big pool and more space. A luxury dahabiya chartered for your party has privacy no ship can match, with your own moorings and timings.
