Nile cruise shipStandard & independentLuxor → Aswan

Zeina

Five-star cruiser, panoramic-window cabins

Zeina is a Nile cruise ship, built 1993. It has 74 cabins and 2 suites for up to 144 guests and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

Five-star cruiser, panoramic-window cabins. MS Zeina is a five-star Nile cruiser with 74 cabins over four decks, sailing the Luxor-Aswan route between Egypt's ancient sites.

Class Standard & independentCabins 74 · up to 144 guestsRoute Luxor → Aswan

Operator: Independent
Accommodation: 74 cabins · 2 suites
Guests: Up to 144
Decks: 4
Dimensions: 72 × 14 m
Built: 1993
Route: Aswan (High Dam, Philae), Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon)
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 7 nights
Departures: Wednesdays ex-Aswan; Saturdays ex-Luxor
Wi-Fi: Internet access in designated areas.

About Zeina

MS Zeina is a five-star cruiser with 74 cabins and suites across four decks, built for the classic Nile route between Luxor and Aswan. Accommodation runs from single and double cabins to two suites with a separate living room behind a sliding door; every cabin has a large panoramic window over the river.

The restaurant serves open-buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with international and Egyptian dishes, and there is a bar and lounge plus a pool bar. On deck are a swimming pool, jacuzzi and gym, with a discotheque, daily entertainment shows, souvenir shops and 24-hour reception.

Departures leave Aswan on Wednesdays and Luxor on Saturdays, calling at the High Dam and Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna, and reaching the temples of Karnak, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings on three- and seven-night itineraries.

Highlights

Panoramic-window cabins throughout
Pool, jacuzzi and gym
Open-buffet dining, international and Egyptian
Discotheque and daily entertainment
Suites with separate living room

At sail

Day by day

Zeina sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan (High Dam, Philae), Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon) Departures wednesdays ex-aswan; saturdays ex-luxor. 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.

Luxor to Aswan, 4 nightsusually departs Monday

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

Aswan to Luxor, 3 nightsusually departs Friday

Day 1
Aswan, embark
Board before lunch, then the Aswan cluster in the afternoon.
Visits High Dam · Philae · Unfinished Obelisk
Optional felucca among the islands
Day 2
Kom Ombo and Edfu
Sail north. Kom Ombo sits at the mooring; Edfu is a short carriage ride inland.
Visits Kom Ombo · Edfu
Optional Abu Simbel, pre-dawn by road or air
Day 3
Through Esna to Luxor, east bank
The Esna lock can hold the fleet for a while; the east-bank temples follow on arrival.
Visits Esna lock · Karnak · Luxor Temple
Day 4
West bank and disembark
Check out after breakfast, then the west bank before departure.
Visits Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Optional hot-air balloon at dawn

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 agencies we track, whose published fares for this boat differ by more than 5%, so the published range is shown rather than a single figure. Your exact fare depends on dates and cabin — we quote every sailing live, with no booking fee to ask.

4 days / 3 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$770	$650–$719
Single cabin (sole use)	$1,309	$1,115–$1,221
Triple cabin (per person)	$755	$640–$704

5 days / 4 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$874	$790
Single cabin (sole use)	$1,460	$1,260–$1,368
Triple cabin (per person)	$856	$780

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 Zeina in the cabin booked
Meals aboard per the boat's published programme
Sun deck, pool, spa, gym and lounge throughout

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

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Double cabin (68)
Single cabin (4)
Suite (2) - separate living room with sliding door, bathrobes, slippers
Dining: Large restaurant - open buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, international and Egyptian
Pool bar
Bar and lounge
Facilities: Swimming pool with pool bar
Large sun deck
Bar and lounge
Jacuzzi and gym
Discotheque
Daily entertainment shows
Bazaar and souvenir shops
Laundry
International telephone and fax
24-hour reception
Spa · pool · gym: Swimming pool with pool bar, jacuzzi and gym; no spa listed
Itineraries: 4 days / 3 nights ex-Aswan
5 days / 4 nights ex-Luxor
8 days / 7 nights ex-Aswan or ex-Luxor

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

Nile River Cruise: the complete guide Budget Nile cruises Nile cruise vs land tour The cheapest time to cruise the Nile

Good to know

Zeina questions, answered

How much does Zeina cost?

Advertised rates start from US$260 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Zeina have?

74 cabins and 2 suites, for up to 144 guests.

What route does Zeina sail?

Aswan (High Dam, Philae), Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon), departing Wednesdays ex-Aswan; Saturdays ex-Luxor.

What's included on Zeina?

Full board, sightseeing and all transfers by private coaches, private guide, all entrance fees; +10% 22 Dec-4 Jan and Easter