The tiersالمستويات
| Standard | Large boat, 60–150 cabins, buffet dining, shared guide taking the whole boat ashore. Comfortable and by far the cheapest way to sail. |
|---|---|
| Deluxe | Newer or recently refitted vessels, better cabins, smaller groups ashore, sometimes à la carte dining options. |
| Five-star / premium | Top-tier boats with larger cabins, balconies on some decks, and a lower passenger-to-crew ratio. See the luxury cruise page. |
| Dahabiya | 6–12 cabins under sail. A different product entirely, not a better version of the same one. |
| Lake Nasser | A separate route south of Aswan to Abu Simbel, on a handful of boats. Quiet and rarely packaged. |
What full board coversما يشمله الإقامة الكاملة
- In: all meals, usually buffet; cabin; the sailing itself; and on most packages the guided shore visits.
- Out: drinks including bottled water on some boats, tips, entrance tickets at several stops, the Luxor balloon, Abu Simbel, and the Esna lock fee on a few operators.
- Ambiguous: "sightseeing as per itinerary" can mean transport only, with tickets extra. Get it itemised.
Tipping on cruises is usually a communal crew box contributed to at the end, separate from what you give your guide.
Cabins and decksالكبائن والطوابق
Upper deck cabins have full windows; lower deck cabins usually have portholes and sit nearer the engine. The price difference is small relative to the trip and worth paying. Suites exist on larger boats and mostly buy floor space rather than a better experience.
Family, triple and interconnecting cabins are limited on every boat and are allocated to tour operators first — book those segments earliest.
Boats moor two to four abreast at busy stops, so you may walk through a neighbouring vessel's lobby to reach shore. This is universal on the Nile and not a sign of a cheap package.
Common questionsأسئلة شائعة
What is included in a Nile cruise package?
The cabin, all meals, the sailing and usually guided shore visits. Drinks, tips, some entrance tickets and optional extras like the Luxor balloon and Abu Simbel are typically excluded.
Are Nile cruise star ratings accurate?
Not reliably — they're self-declared and differ between operators. Refurbishment date, passenger count and recent independent reviews are better indicators.
Which cabin deck should I book on a Nile cruise?
Upper decks, for full windows and distance from the engine. The upgrade cost is small relative to the overall trip.
Do Nile cruise packages include Abu Simbel?
Almost never — it's sold as an optional add-on from Aswan by road or air. Confirm which before comparing prices.