Lady Mary Nile Cruise

The short answer

Lady Mary Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.

• Luxury

Snapshot

Good to know

Accommodation

5-Star Cruise Vessel

Destinations

Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan

Includes

Full board meals · Scheduled shore excursions · Use of public areas · Crew and onboard service charges · Meet-and-assist at Luxor International Airport arrivals hall

Best for

History enthusiasts · First-time visitors to Egypt · Couples · Small families · Travelers who prefer guided sightseeing

Guide languages

English

Background

The facts

Suited to

Is this for you?

What lingers

• 01 Four-day cruise aboard MS Lady Mary between Luxor and Aswan, overnight moorings at Edfu and Aswan.
• 02 Our Egyptologists lead guided visits to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon.
• 03 We moor overnight at Edfu – most cruise schedules rush the temple; we allow two hours after boats depart.
• 04 Sunset felucca ride around Aswan's Elephantine Island available; 45-minute sail, private boat and local crew.
• 05 All standard site entrance fees included; Nile cruise gratuities and pyramid interiors excluded unless requested.
• 06 Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator; local crew, on-board hospitality and English-speaking guides.

Worth knowing

How this compares

Unlike a day tour, this Nile cruise combines accommodation, meals, and a scheduled temple programme aboard one vessel. Compared with hotel-based sightseeing, it reduces repeated packing and unpacking while still including major sites such as Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and the Valley of the Kings. Compared with independent train or private car travel between Luxor and Aswan, the cruise follows a fixed river schedule and provides onboard dining and public spaces. It is best suited to travelers who want an organized, multi-site itinerary with river transport rather than point-to-point land transfers.

Bundled in

• 🍽 Full board

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Tailor it

Make it yours

The cruise can be arranged as a private or semi-private travel plan with separate transfers, depending on availability and budget. Common add-ons include private Egyptologist guiding, premium tomb entries, upgraded cabin categories, and extended pre- or post-cruise stays in Luxor or Aswan.

All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.

Accessibility

Who can join this

This cruise requires regular stepping on and off the vessel via a gangway with steps and short staircases; cabins and some public areas have step thresholds. Decks are teak and can be uneven, and surfaces may become wet and slippery after river spray. Shore excursions include walking on cobbles, uneven ancient stone, sandy riverbanks and temple steps; the Valley of the Kings and Karnak have variable stair gradients. Wheelchair users can travel but should note the vessel is not lift-equipped and many cabins are not wheelchair-adapted. Guests who need a wheelchair, hoist transfer, or significant mobility assistance must notify us at booking so we can advise on cabin placement, embarkation feasibility and whether an external provider or personal assistant is required. Foldable strollers are practical for gangway access and fit in most Standard and Deluxe corridors but may be tight in some Suite layouts. Crew can assist with luggage on and off the gangway but cannot provide medical care; bring any specialised mobility equipment you need and tell us in advance so we can plan transfers and meet-and-assist.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

The vessel uses standard diesel river engines common to Nile cruisers; shore transfers during excursions use local air-conditioned minibuses or coaches. We arrange this cruise through a carefully selected cruise line and work with its locally employed crew in Luxor and Aswan. Onboard practices include reduced single-use plastics (water served in refillable carafes where possible and bottles recycled where facilities exist) and linen-rotation policies on multi-week sailings to reduce laundry frequency. Shore excursions use licensed, local Egyptologists and small-site teams so visitor spending supports those specialists and nearby cafés and craft stalls we book where appropriate. We do not claim carbon neutrality; instead we focus on local procurement of food and services to shorten supply chains and on educating guests about sensible water and energy use while aboard.

• Licensed local Egyptologists

  ETAA-credentialed, on payroll

• Fair wages on the ground

  Drivers + guides paid above market

• Site preservation

  We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols

• Carbon-aware itineraries

  Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical

· In summary

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

1. 01 How long is the Lady Mary Nile Cruise and what does the schedule include?

   The vessel follows a weekly shore‑excursion programme between Luxor and Aswan. Days alternate between sailing and scheduled calls at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Embarkation and disembarkation take place at Luxor and Aswan; the exact sequence depends on the sailing direction that week.
2. 02 What is included in the price of the cruise?

   Full board is included from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Use of the sun deck, lounge bar and dining room, scheduled shore excursions as per the vessel’s programme, crew and onboard service charges, and meet‑and‑assist at Luxor International Airport arrivals (when flights arrive at LXR) are also included.
3. 03 Which items are not included and commonly booked separately?

   Drinks beyond water with meals, premium site entrance fees (for example Tutankhamun tomb), private Egyptologist guiding, private transfers, international and domestic flights, visas, travel insurance, personal expenses and gratuities to guides and crew are excluded. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we recommend booking premium tomb entrances and private guiding in advance.
4. 04 Can I book a private Egyptologist or upgraded site entrances through you?

   Yes — we arrange private Egyptologist guiding and premium tomb entrances separately. Availability for Tutankhamun and other premium tombs is limited and often sold out in peak winter months, so book early. We advise not bundling every premium entrance, because many travellers prefer to choose which tombs to upgrade on arrival.
5. 05 What cabin types are available and is there a single supplement?

   Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, each offering either a panoramic window or a Nile‑view balcony depending on deck and category. Pricing is per person sharing; a single supplement normally applies for sole occupancy. Exact cabin sizes, deck location and views depend on the vessel’s deck plan and allocation.
6. 06 How accessible is the vessel for passengers with reduced mobility?

   Expect ship gangways, steps between some decks, narrow doorways and cabins that may require steps from the gangway level. Shore sites include uneven stone, stairs and sandy banks. If you need wheelchair assistance, an accessible cabin or embarkation help, say so at booking so we can confirm suitability with the cruise line.
7. 07 What should I bring and wear aboard and on shore excursions?

   Bring strong sun protection (wide‑brim hat, SPF 30+ sunscreen), closed shoes for uneven ancient stone, light layers for hot days and cooler evenings, modest clothing covering shoulders and knees for temples and mosques, a refillable water bottle, medications and a small daypack. Power adaptors for European two‑pin plugs are useful.
8. 08 Are photography and drone use allowed during shore excursions?

   Still photography is generally permitted at most sites; flash, tripods and photography inside some tombs or museums may be restricted. Drones are prohibited at archaeological sites without special Egyptian-authority permission. Ask the Egyptologist or site staff before using professional gear; restrictions vary by site and can change with short notice.
9. 09 What is the best time of year to sail on the Lady Mary?

   The cooler months, October through April, are the most comfortable for daytime temple visits and deck time. Daytime highs in Luxor and Aswan commonly exceed 35°C in June–August, and peak winter season means busier sites and earlier booking for premium tombs and private guiding.
10. 10 Will we visit the Valley of the Kings and can we enter Tutankhamun’s tomb?

    The vessel’s shore‑excursion programme includes the Valley of the Kings as a scheduled call. Entry to Tutankhamun’s tomb and other premium tombs is excluded from the cruise price and requires separate booking; these entrances are limited and may be sold out, especially in winter, so reserve in advance if you want guaranteed access.

If plans change

Cancellation

More than 30 days

Full refund less a £50 admin fee

15–30 days

50% refund

Within 14 days

No refund – date changes considered case by case