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Best hotels in Egypt
A shortlist of five Nile and Lake Nasser cruises in Egypt, from a 5-star Lake Nasser sailing to a 3-star Cairo-based ship. It suits travellers who want to sleep on the water and see the river between stops.
Staying in Egypt
Egypt rewards slow travel: the Nile, the desert oases and the Red Sea coast are far apart, and the country's cities each have their own character. This shortlist is made up of cruise ships rather than city hotels, so your accommodation moves with you while the landscape changes outside the cabin. The addresses place these ships in three settings. One is on Lake Nasser itself, the vast reservoir south of Aswan. One sits on the Maadi Corniche in Turah, on Cairo's southern riverfront, and one is in Cairo Al Wosta. Couples and short-break travellers fit best; those wanting a fixed base for a week may prefer a hotel on land.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise Every Monday Four Nights From Aswan Every Friday Three nights From Abu Simbel Including Excursions and Sightseeing
Aswan Nile Cruise Port
Best for: Pool and spa · Breakfast
- Outdoor pool
- Spa
- Breakfast
Why stay hereA 5-star Nile cruise that sails between Aswan and Abu Simbel, with excursions and sightseeing built into the itinerary. On board, the outdoor pool and spa give you somewhere to unwind after a day of temples, and the restaurant, bar and snack bar cover meals and drinks. Concierge, a 24-hour front desk and free wifi keep the practical side easy. Suits travellers who want the Nile and its monuments without arranging each stop themselves.
See Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise Every Monday Four Nights From Aswan Every Friday Three nights From Abu Simbel Including Excursions and SightseeingPrince Omar Cruise
Cairo Al Wosta 15
Best for: Drivers · Pool and spa
- Outdoor pool
- Parking
- Breakfast
Why stay hereThis 5-star cruise moored at Cairo Al Wosta works for guests who want a floating base in the city. An outdoor pool and a restaurant with breakfast and buffet service handle the essentials, while the bar and snack bar or café cover the rest of the day. Shuttle service, parking and a 24-hour front desk make arrivals and outings straightforward, and the ship is wheelchair accessible.
See Prince Omar CruiseSUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand Select
Lake Nasser
Best for: Pool and spa · Breakfast
- Outdoor pool
- Sauna
- Breakfast
Why stay hereA 4-star Lake Nasser cruise for travellers who prefer a smaller ship with plenty of on-board services. The outdoor pool and sauna are the standout facilities, and dining runs from breakfast and buffet to a restaurant, bar and lounge. Express check-in and check-out, concierge, luggage storage and multilingual staff smooth the logistics, while free wifi, laundry and a hair and beauty salon add convenience over several days afloat.
See SUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand SelectTravcotels Cruise Aswan
Embarkation Port Aswan
Best for: Drivers · Pool and spa
- Outdoor pool
- Spa
- Parking
Why stay hereA 3-star cruise ship that sets off from Embarkation Port Aswan, handy if you want your stay and your Nile sailing in one place. Days on board revolve around the outdoor pool and the spa, with a restaurant and bar for the evenings and shops on site for the hours in between. A 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning and wifi take care of the practical side.
See Travcotels Cruise AswanNile View Aton Cruise
Maadi Corniche Next To Al Shorouk Club 11513 Turah Egypt
Best for: Pool and spa · Breakfast
- Outdoor pool
- Sauna
- Breakfast
Why stay hereThis 3-star Nile cruise moors at Maadi Corniche next to Al Shorouk Club, so Cairo's corniche is your starting point. On board you get an outdoor pool, a sauna and a lounge, plus an entertainment programme and karaoke for the evenings. Air-conditioned cabins have a terrace, TV and bathtub, and breakfast can be taken as a buffet or in your room.
See Nile View Aton Cruise
The shortlist side by side
| Hotel | Class | Parking | Breakfast | Pool or spa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise Every Monday Four Nights From Aswan Every Friday Three nights From Abu Simbel Including Excursions and Sightseeing | ★★★★★ | – | Yes | Yes |
| Prince Omar Cruise | ★★★★★ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand Select | ★★★★ | – | Yes | Yes |
| Travcotels Cruise Aswan | ★★★ | Yes | – | Yes |
| Nile View Aton Cruise | ★★★ | – | Yes | Yes |
From each hotel's own listing on this site; a dash means it is not listed.
How to choose
For couples
Both the Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise and Travcotels Cruise Aswan combine a restaurant, bar and outdoor pool with a spa on board, and both depart from Aswan, where Lake Nasser sailings begin.
Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise Every Monday Four Nights From Aswan Every Friday Three nights From Abu Simbel Including Excursions and Sightseeing · Travcotels Cruise Aswan
For extra facilities
SUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand Select adds a sauna, lounge, hair and beauty salon, shops and meeting rooms to the usual restaurant, bar and pool. Nile View Aton Cruise offers a terrace, air conditioning, in-room safe and bathtub, plus room service and breakfast in the room.
SUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand Select · Nile View Aton Cruise
For accessible stays
Choose between an Aswan embarkation and a Cairo address.
Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise Every Monday Four Nights From Aswan Every Friday Three nights From Abu Simbel Including Excursions and Sightseeing · Prince Omar Cruise
For a Cairo base
Prince Omar Cruise addresses Cairo Al Wosta, while Nile View Aton Cruise is on the Maadi Corniche next to Al Shorouk Club in Turah, on the city's southern riverfront. Both are options if you want your cruise to start in the Cairo area rather than the far south.
Where to stay in Egypt
Aswan
Aswan is the southern gateway for Nile and Lake Nasser cruises, and the city's own page on this site sits alongside Abu Simbel in the far south of Egypt.
Our picks here: Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise Every Monday Four Nights From Aswan Every Friday Three nights From Abu Simbel Including Excursions and Sightseeing · Travcotels Cruise Aswan
Cairo
Cairo appears on the site among the 25 Egyptian cities we cover outside Luxor, known for its riverfront and long history. Prince Omar Cruise is addressed in Cairo Al Wosta, while Nile View Aton Cruise sits on the Maadi Corniche next to Al Shorouk Club in Turah. Both let you begin a cruise stay in the capital.
Our picks here: Prince Omar Cruise · Nile View Aton Cruise
Things to do near Egypt
Questions, answered
Which of these cruises is the highest class?
Three are listed as 5-star: the Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise, Prince Omar Cruise and SUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand Select. SUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand Select is 4-star, and both Travcotels Cruise Aswan and Nile View Aton Cruise are 3-star.
Do any of these ships have a spa?
Yes. The Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise and Travcotels Cruise Aswan both list a spa among their facilities.
Which ships are wheelchair accessible?
Both are 5-star and both have a 24-hour front desk, restaurant, bar and outdoor pool.
Do the cruises have parking?
Prince Omar Cruise, Travcotels Cruise Aswan and Nile View Aton Cruise list parking or a shuttle service, useful if you are arriving by car or being transferred. The Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise, SUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand Select and Nile View Aton Cruise list free wifi.
Where do the Aswan cruises depart from?
The Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise departs from Aswan Nile Cruise Port, and Travcotels Cruise Aswan embarks at Embarkation Port Aswan. SUNRISE African Dreams Cruise Grand Select is addressed on Lake Nasser itself, south of Aswan.
Can I stay on board in Cairo rather than travelling south?
Yes. Prince Omar Cruise has a Cairo Al Wosta address, and Nile View Aton Cruise is on the Maadi Corniche next to Al Shorouk Club in Turah, 11513. Both are addressed in the Cairo area, so you can join without going to Aswan first.