Family travel
A Nile cruise with a baby or toddler
Yes, a Nile cruise works with a baby or toddler, and many families find it easier than a touring holiday: you unpack once, meals are on board, and the cabin is always minutes away for naps. Choose a ship with a lift and a pool with a shallow end, ask for a cot when you book, bring a baby carrier rather than relying on a stroller at the temples, and travel between October and April to avoid the heat. With a toddler, keep temple visits short and skip the long days, such as Abu Simbel by road.
Choosing the boat
Which boats suit babies and toddlers
- 1A lift. Carrying a stroller, bags and a child up and down stairs gets old fast. Historia and many large ships have one.
- 2A pool with a shallow end. Sonesta St George has an oversize pool with a shallow extension. Always supervise: there is no lifeguard.
- 3A cot. Ask at booking. Many ships have them; among dahabiyas, Loulia's cabins take a cot or an extra child bed.
- 4Family cabins. See family rooms and connecting cabins for ships with space for a family of three or four.
Dahabiyas are best from about six years old, because decks have open rails. See a dahabiya with children and family rooms on Nile cruises.
Sightseeing
Strollers, carriers and the temples
Temple paths are sand, stone and steps, and tombs in the Valley of the Kings have steep ramps, so a baby carrier is far easier than a stroller. Visit early, keep each stop to an hour or so, and let one parent rest on board with a sleeping child if needed. A private guide adapts the pace to your family. See the Egyptologist guide.
What to bring
Heat, food and supplies
- 1Season. October to April. From May to September the heat is hard on small children.
- 2Water. Use only bottled or filtered water for bottles and formula; the boat provides it.
- 3Food. Kitchens will prepare plain food for small children; ask on the first day.
- 4Supplies. Nappies, wipes and baby food are sold in pharmacies and supermarkets in Luxor and Aswan, but bring your preferred formula and any medicines.
- 5Sun. Hat, sunscreen and light long sleeves, and shade on deck at midday.
Prices
What it costs
Nile cruise ships run about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night, and many charge little or nothing for babies sharing their parents’ cabin. Child policies vary by boat, so tell us the ages when you ask. See also Egypt with a baby and staying healthy on a Nile cruise.
Asked often
Nile cruises with babies and toddlers, answered
- Can you take a baby on a Nile cruise?
- Yes. Many families do. Choose a ship with a lift and a cot, travel between October and April, and bring a baby carrier for the temples.
- Is a Nile cruise good for toddlers?
- It can be, with short temple visits and time in the pool. Choose a ship with a pool that has a shallow end and always supervise, as there is no lifeguard.
- Do Nile cruise ships have cots?
- Many do; ask when you book so the boat sets one up. Some dahabiyas, such as Loulia, also take a cot or an extra child bed.
- Can I use a stroller at the temples in Luxor and Aswan?
- Only in parts. Paths are sand, stone and steps, and tombs have steep ramps, so a baby carrier is much easier.
- Are dahabiyas suitable for babies?
- Less so. Decks have open rails and there are no lifts, so most families wait until children are about six. A large ship is easier with a baby.
