The most popular way to sail between Luxor and Aswan — genuine five-star service, elegant ships and fully-guided temple excursions, beautifully priced. Planned end-to-end by Egypt Holiday Makers.
★★★★★4.9/5 · TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence · 235 reviews
Cruises from$1,125
5Five-star ships
01The fleet
Best Sonesta Nile Cruises
Explore the Sonesta Nile Cruises fleet, where elegant accommodations, attentive service, and classic Nile sailing come together for memorable journeys between Luxor and Aswan.
Sonesta operates a fleet of 5-star ships sailing between Luxor and Aswan, known for spacious cabins and a consistent standard of comfort across the fleet. Whichever ship you sail on, you can expect the same reliable quality of service.
Accommodation — en-suite cabin with panoramic Nile views
Full-board dining — breakfast, lunch and dinner on board
Guided excursions — every temple visit led by a licensed Egyptologist
On board — sun deck with pool, lounge and evening entertainment
Flights, Egypt visa, drinks and tipping are typically extra — we confirm exactly what's included before you book.
The Luxor–Aswan route & temples
Sonesta's classic sailing route runs between Luxor and Aswan. Sailing southbound (Luxor → Aswan) takes 4 nights; northbound (Aswan → Luxor) takes 3 — the same legendary stops, either direction.
Luxor — Karnak & Luxor Temples, the Valley of the Kings
Edfu — the Temple of Horus, best preserved in Egypt
Kom Ombo — the double temple on the Nile bend
Aswan — Philae Temple, the High Dam and Nubian villages
How to choose your cruise
Four quick things to weigh up before you book your sailing.
1
Pick the length
4 nights from Luxor covers all the essential temples; 3 nights from Aswan suit a shorter break.
2
Match the ship to your taste
Sonesta runs several ships on this route — choose by sailing day, cabin category, and each ship's individual layout and style.
3
Travel in the right season
October to April is mildest and best for sightseeing. Spring and autumn are ideal; avoid peak summer heat.
4
Book early
Sonesta's ships are popular on the Nile and sell out fast in peak season — reserving early locks in your preferred date and cabin.
03Book with confidence
Why book your Sonesta Nile cruise with us
Sonesta is a well-known name on the Nile, with a fleet of elegant five-star cruisers. We hand-pick the right Sonesta ship for your dates and plan every detail, so you enjoy the brand's polished style with a local team behind you.
4.9★Average traveller rating
235Verified reviews
8Awarded cruise brands
100%Licensed Egyptologist guides
A trusted Egyptian company
Owned and operated by Egypt Holiday Makers, with years of experience crafting Nile journeys through the heart of Egypt.
TripAdvisor Excellence
Recognised with a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and hundreds of genuine, verified traveller reviews.
Licensed Egyptologists
Expert, licensed guides accompany every cruise, bringing 5,000 years of history vividly to life.
Honest, seamless booking
Transparent pricing, real reviews and a personally managed booking process from a team that knows every ship.
In their words
★★★★★
Faultless from the first email to disembarkation. The ship was spotless, the food excellent, and every temple visit was perfectly timed to avoid the crowds.
Verified review · TripAdvisor
★★★★★
Our Egyptologist made every site come alive. Egypt Holiday Makers handled all the logistics so we could just enjoy the Nile. Worth every penny.
Verified review · TripAdvisor
★★★★★
Booked the Movenpick and it exceeded expectations. The route was beautifully paced and the team answered every question on WhatsApp within minutes.
The price of a Sonesta Nile cruise depends on the ship, cabin or suite type, cruise length, travel dates, and season. Sonesta has several 5-star ships, so prices can vary a lot. Some ships have standard cabins, while others are all-suite ships with bigger rooms and private terraces or balconies. To get an exact price, check your preferred ship, dates, and itinerary.
The best Sonesta Nile cruise ship depends on the experience you want. If you prefer all-suite ships with lots of space and private outdoor areas, consider the Sonesta Star Goddess or Sonesta Sun Goddess. Star Goddess has 33 suites, and Sun Goddess has 30 suites, including Family, Royal, Executive, and Presidential options. If you like more traditional cabins, you might prefer the Sonesta Moon Goddess or Sonesta Nile Goddess.
Sonesta Nile Cruises runs classic routes between Luxor and Aswan. You can choose a 3-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor, a 4-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan, or a 7-night round trip from either city, depending on the ship and schedule. These cruises visit top Nile Valley sights like Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple.
The main differences between Sonesta Nile cruise ships are their number and type of accommodations, suite sizes, onboard facilities, and sailing schedules. For example, Star Goddess is an all-suite ship with 33 suites, each with a private terrace, while Sun Goddess has 30 suites, including Family, Royal, Executive, and Presidential suites. Moon Goddess offers 49 cabins with sliding glass doors leading to private balconies, while Nile Goddess combines 47 Deluxe cabins with Senator and Presidential Suites. The ships can also depart on different days, so the sailing schedule may matter when choosing between them.
Many Sonesta ships have private outdoor spaces, but the names can vary. Sonesta Star Goddess has 33 suites, each with a private terrace. Sonesta Sun Goddess has 30 suites, all with private balconies or terraces, including Royal, Executive, Family, and Presidential suites. Sonesta Moon Goddess has cabins with sliding glass doors that open onto private balconies. On Sonesta Nile Goddess, the Senator and Presidential Suites have private terraces.
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