Head to head
Sanctuary Sun Boat III vs Sun Boat IV
Abercrombie & Kent's two Sun Boats are both small-ship and high-end, but they are a very different size. Sun Boat III is a genuinely small, intimate cruiser; Sun Boat IV is a fuller-size boat carrying more than twice as many guests. That size gap is the whole decision.
Sanctuary Sun Boat III
A 1920s-styled sailing between Aswan and Luxor
View the boat →
Sanctuary Sun Boat IV
Art-deco-influenced sailing, Aswan to Luxor
View the boat →Side by side
| Sanctuary Sun Boat III | Sanctuary Sun Boat IV | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Sanctuary Retreats / A&K | Sanctuary Retreats / A&K |
| Built | 1993 | 1996 |
| Refurbished | 2009 | 2006 |
| Cabins | 16 | 40 |
| Suites | 4 | 4 |
| Max guests | 32 | 80 |
| Decks | 4 | 4 |
| Route | Luxor (Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut), Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan (High Dam, Philae, Unfinished Obelisk), Abu Simbel day excursion | Aswan, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings); Abu Simbel on longer itineraries |
Which should you choose?
Sun Boat III carries far fewer guests, which is exactly why people who want a boutique, quiet cruise choose it.
Sun Boat IV is the larger ship, with more cabins and the fuller range of on-board space that comes with size.
Both are operated by Sanctuary Retreats to A&K's high-end standard on the classic Luxor to Aswan route, so the choice is size and atmosphere, not service.
Still torn between the two?
Tell us your dates and what matters most, and a specialist will tell you which of these two fits, with live availability and the current rate for each.
Questions
- What is the difference between Sanctuary Sun Boat III and IV?
- Size. Sun Boat III is a small, intimate cruiser with far fewer cabins and guests; Sun Boat IV is a fuller-size ship carrying more than twice as many people. Both are high-end A&K boats on the same route.
- Which Sanctuary Sun Boat is more intimate?
- Sun Boat III. It carries roughly half the guests of Sun Boat IV, which makes it the choice for a quieter, more boutique cruise.
