Nile cruise shipLuxury flagshipsLuxor → Aswan

The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser

An intimate Oberoi cruiser, Luxor to Aswan

The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser is a Nile cruise ship operated by The Oberoi Group (Oberoi Hotels & Resorts), built 1995 and refurbished 2016. It has 22 cabins and 4 suites for up to 44 guests and sails itineraries of 4 or 6 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

The Oberoi Philae is a small luxury Nile cruiser for up to 44 guests, run by Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and sailing between Luxor and Aswan. Its 22 cabins and suites are among the largest on the river, with standard cabins of 36 m² and opening floor-to-ceiling windows, and it has an 11-metre heated pool and a full Oberoi Spa. Agency fares start from about USD 3,420 per person for four nights in summer.

Class Luxury flagshipsCabins 22 · up to 44 guestsRoute Luxor → Aswan

The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser, a Nile cruise ship

Operator: The Oberoi Group (Oberoi Hotels & Resorts)
Accommodation: 22 cabins · 4 suites
Guests: Up to 44
Decks: 5
Dimensions: 72 × 13.6 m
Built: 1995 · refit 2016
Route: Luxor, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Madina Habu, Esna, Edfu, Komombo, Aswan, Philae Temple; Denderah appears on the route map and Dendera/Abydos are added on the longer itinerary.
Trip length: 4 · 6 nights
Departures: Tuesday and Saturday
Season: Year-round for 2026-2027. 6-night sailings run through December 2026; from January 2027 the Philae operates 4-night itineraries only. Out of service for dry-docking 28 May - 6 July 2027.
Wi-Fi: Wireless internet in all cabins and public areas; high-speed Wi-Fi for up to four devices per cabin.

About The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser

The Philae was built in 1995 and rebuilt from the inside in 2016, when Oberoi reduced it to just 22 cabins and suites for a maximum of 44 guests. The result is the most spacious standard cabin on the Luxor to Aswan route: 36 m², with floor-to-ceiling windows that actually open, so you can let the river air in as you sail.

It shares its approach with the sister ship, the Oberoi Zahra: an Egyptologist-led programme, a restaurant cooking to order, an 11-metre temperature-controlled pool on the top deck, and the Oberoi Spa with private therapy suites. The Philae adds a dance floor and an in-house cinema, and its dining leans broader, with Western, Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern dishes on the menu.

Oberoi says its Nile cruisers were ranked first among river cruisers in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2026 and named Best River Cruise Line 2025 in the Telegraph Travel Awards. Lindblad Expeditions and Tauck both use the Philae for their own Egypt programmes, which tells you where it sits in the market.

Highlights

Oberoi Spa with private therapy suites
24-hour gymnasium and 11 m top-deck pool
Luxury Cabins of 36 m² with opening windows
Terrace suites with heated whirlpool
Cinema, dance floor and cigar lounge

At sail

Day by day

The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser sails one published programme. Its own route: Luxor, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Madina Habu, Esna, Edfu, Komombo, Aswan, Philae Temple; Denderah appears on the route map and Dendera/Abydos are added on the longer itinerary. Departures tuesday and saturday. 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.

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

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 boat's published 2026/27 programme (single published source). Your exact fare depends on dates and cabin — we quote every sailing live, with no booking fee to ask.

5 days / 4 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$3,072	$2,599
Single cabin (sole use)	$5,221	$4,418

7 days / 6 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$3,942	$3,312
Single cabin (sole use)	$6,701	$5,630

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 The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser 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

On board

Cabins and suites

There are three categories, all with river views: 18 Luxury Cabins, 2 Luxury Suites and 2 Luxury Suites with a private terrace.

Luxury Cabin

36 m² (390 sq ft) · 18 · King or twin

The standard cabin, and bigger than a suite on many Nile ships. Floor-to-ceiling windows that open, a seating area, a personal bar and generous wardrobe space.

Luxury Suite

55 m² (590 sq ft) · 2 · King

A separate bedroom and living room, a walk-in wardrobe and a bathroom with a freestanding bath as well as a shower.

Luxury Suite with Private Terrace

55 m² plus a 30 m² terrace · 2 · King

The same suite with a 30 m² private terrace and heated whirlpool. The best accommodation on the ship, and the first to sell in winter.

Deck plan

The days

Life on board

Meals are served in the main restaurant with river views, cooked on board from a menu that spans Western, Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern food. At lunchtime the top-deck poolside restaurant runs barbecues and light meals. In the evening there is a bar with classic cocktails and single malts, and a library and cigar lounge where afternoon tea is served daily.

The top deck holds the 11-metre heated pool, which Lindblad describes as the largest on any Nile ship. Below, the Oberoi Spa has private therapy suites, and there is a 24-hour gym and a unisex beauty salon. There is a lift, and wireless internet reaches every cabin and public area.

Fit

Who it's for

Pick the Philae if cabin space is your priority: nothing else on the route gives you a 36 m² standard cabin with opening windows, and with 44 guests it feels closer to a private yacht than a cruise ship. It suits couples and small groups of friends who value quiet. It is not the ship for families with young children or travellers looking for evening entertainment, and it is priced at the top of the market. For the newer Oberoi hull and more suite choice, compare the Oberoi Zahra; for a small classic ship at a lower price, look at Sanctuary Sun Boat III.

Compare with The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser, Sanctuary Sun Boat III, Historia the Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise.

/nile-cruises/vs/oberoi-zahra-vs-oberoi-philae

Practical

How to book The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser

Oberoi lists departures on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Luxor and Aswan, with no sailings in June. Six-night sailings that add Dendera and Abydos run until December 2026; from January 2027 the Philae is scheduled to operate four-night sailings only. It is out of service for dry-docking from 28 May to 6 July 2027.

Message us on WhatsApp with your dates; we check live availability with Oberoi and send a full quote, with transfers and entrance fees, before you commit.

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Luxury Cabin, 36 sqm / 390 sq ft, 18 units, king or twin beds; closet, personal bar, two luggage racks, seating area, bathroom, floor-to-ceiling windows that can be opened
Luxury Suite, 55 sqm / 590 sq ft, 2 units, king bed; walk-in closet, bedroom, living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, bathroom with freestanding bathtub and shower
Luxury Suite with Private Terrace, 55 sqm / 590 sq ft, 2 units, king bed; plus a 30 sqm / 325 sq ft private terrace with heated whirlpool
Dining: Main Restaurant: spacious, elegant restaurant serving Western, Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines freshly prepared on board, for breakfast, lunch and dinner with River Nile views
Poolside Restaurant (top deck): lunchtime barbecues and light meals
Bar: classic and contemporary cocktails, fine single malts and international branded spirits
Library and Cigar Lounge: lounge with library and cigar selection; daily afternoon tea offered, with alcoholic beverages charged
Facilities: Temperature-controlled outdoor swimming pool, 11 metres / 36 feet (top deck)
The Oberoi Spa with private therapy suites
24-hour fully equipped gymnasium
In-house movie theatre / cinema
Dance floor
Bar, Library and Cigar Lounge
Unisex beauty salon
Gift shop
Elevator
Laundry, medical service on call, Egyptologist, small luxury coaches for sightseeing, private docking in some places
Electricity 110 and 220V, 50Hz round plugs; adaptors available
Spa · pool · gym: Spa therapy suites offering exclusive Oberoi therapies; fully equipped 24-hour gymnasium; temperature-controlled outdoor swimming pool with River Nile views (11 m / 36 ft, described by Lindblad as the largest pool of any Nile ship); unisex beauty salon.
Itineraries: 4 nights, Luxor to Aswan / Aswan to Luxor, embark Tuesday or Saturday
6 nights, Luxor to Aswan / Aswan to Luxor (adds Dendera and Abydos)

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

Tripadvisor from 17 reviews, checked 2026-09-21 · read them

16 of 17 reviews rated 5, one rated 4 (histogram; headline rating not shown on page)

“Everything was perfection. The service is impeccable, and every crew member is incredibly nice.” — Renee S, Dec 2024
“A five-star experience and a fantastic way to see the temples and tombs along the Nile.” — Cori, Oct 2024

What guests say

Independent traveller reviews of The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.

★★★★★
“The service is impeccable, and every crew member is incredibly nice.”
— Renee S, Oakland, California · via Tripadvisor

Good to know

The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser questions, answered

How much does the Oberoi Philae cost?

Published agency fares for 2026/27 start from about USD 3,420 per person for four nights in a double Luxury Cabin in summer, about USD 4,960 in high winter and about USD 6,230 in the Christmas and Easter peak weeks. A terrace suite is about USD 7,360 per person for four nights in winter. Fares include full board, guided excursions and entrance fees.

Is the Oberoi Philae worth it?

For travellers who value space and calm, yes. Its 36 m² standard cabins are the largest on the Luxor to Aswan route, it carries no more than 44 guests, and it has a full spa and an 11-metre heated pool. You pay a clear premium over a standard five-star ship for the same temples.

Oberoi Philae or Oberoi Zahra?

The Philae has bigger standard cabins (36 m² against 26.4 m²) and fewer guests (44 against 54). The Zahra is the newer build (2007 against 1995, refurbished 2016) with larger top suites and a cinema. Both share the same pool size, spa and departure days.

Which cabin is best on the Oberoi Philae?

The standard Luxury Cabin is excellent value within the ship because it is so large. For a special occasion, book one of the two Luxury Suites with Private Terrace, which add a 30 m² terrace with a heated whirlpool.

When does the Oberoi Philae sail?

Tuesdays and Saturdays from Luxor and Aswan, according to Oberoi. Some resellers publish different days, so we confirm your exact sailing. It is out of service from 28 May to 6 July 2027.