Egypt Discovery
From per personOn Request
Nile Cruise 5-Star Deluxe Aswan → Luxor

Royal Elite Nile Cruise

At a glance

Length
4 days · 3 nights
Embarks
Mon, Fri
Board
Full Board
Class
5-star

The short answer

Royal Elite Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.

02 Overview

A first look

MS Royal Elite runs a four-day Nile itinerary between Luxor and Aswan. Shore excursions include Karnak, the Luxor West Bank necropolis, Edfu temple and Kom Ombo temple.

Background

The facts

Royal Elite Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile river vessel used for sailings between Luxor and Aswan. The cruise programme typically connects major Upper Egypt sites, with shore excursions to Karnak Temple Complex on the east bank of Luxor, Luxor Temple, Edfu Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple on Agilkia Island near Aswan, and the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of Luxor.

The vessel offers Standard, Deluxe, and Suite cabin categories. Some cabins feature panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies, which are valued on river cruises because they provide direct views of the river while sailing between ports. Onboard facilities include a sun deck with shaded seating and an outdoor pool area, plus a lounge bar and a dedicated dining room.

Royal Elite Nile Cruise is sold on a full board basis, with lunch served on embarkation day and breakfast on disembarkation day. This means meals are included throughout the nights aboard, while drinks beyond standard meal service are usually additional. Pricing is typically per person sharing, with a single supplement applied for solo travellers.

The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, using the standard Nile cruise ports in each city. Because the cruise line determines the sailing schedule, embarkation and disembarkation may vary by week, but the excursion set normally remains centred on the best-known temples and tomb sites along the Luxor-Aswan corridor.

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • This cruise suits travellers who want a structured Nile experience with comfortable cabins, fixed sightseeing, and minimal logistics. It is especially relevant for couples, first-time Egypt visitors, and adults in the 30–70 age range who prefer guided historical travel rather than independent planning.

What lingers

  • 01 Four-day cruise aboard MS Royal Elite between Luxor and Aswan, calling at Edfu and Kom Ombo.
  • 02 Guided shore excursions led by our Egyptologists, not audio-only commentary, for consistent historical context ashore.
  • 03 Overnight mooring in Aswan allows a late-afternoon visit to Philae Temple and an evening felucca option.
  • 04 Optional Abu Simbel excursion by road or flight requires an early start and separate booking with the ship.
  • 05 Early starts for Luxor West Bank and Valley of the Kings minimise crowds but mean pre-dawn transfers from the ship.

The route

Luxor and Aswan

  1. LuxorKarnak & the Valley of the KingsEmbark
  2. EdfuThe Temple of Horus
  3. Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
  4. AswanPhilae Temple & the High DamDisembark

Choose your direction

  • →Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
  • →Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
  • ↻Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan

At sea

Detailed itinerary

Based on embarkation from Aswan and disembarkation in Luxor.

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The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Full board meals: lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day
  • Accommodation in the chosen cabin grade on board the vessel
  • Use of onboard facilities such as sun deck, lounge bar and dining room
  • Shore excursion programme as provided by the cruise line

Not included

  • Drinks beyond water with meals, unless otherwise stated
  • Gratuities and tipping for crew and guides
  • International flights and airport taxes
  • Visas and travel insurance
  • Optional extras such as premium cabin upgrades, private transfers or speciality excursions

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

Children 0–5.99 years travel free; 6–11.99 years pay 50%; 12+ pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents (maximum one child per cabin). Two or more children require their own cabin.

Location

On the map

Luxor and Aswan — where it sails in EgyptMediterranean SeaRed SeaWestern DesertEastern DesertLake NasserLuxorEdfuKom OmboAswanCairoAbu SimbelN
Cairo lies north; your cruise is the gold stretch in the south. The Nile flows north, so sailing upstream means heading south.

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01 How many nights is the MS Royal Elite 4-day cruise?
    A four-day programme equals three nights aboard the MS Royal Elite. Day 1 is embarkation and day 4 is disembarkation; confirm exact check‑in/check‑out times on your booking. We arrange transfers to and from the ship when included in your booking. Cabin allocation and deck assignment are confirmed at final documentation.
  2. 02 What is included in the MS Royal Elite price?
    The cruise price typically includes your cabin, main meals on board, guided shore excursions and standard site entrance fees. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and will confirm which transfers, drinks, gratuities and extras are included on your specific confirmation. Pyramid interiors and premium tombs (Tutankhamun / Seti I) are excluded unless explicitly booked. Please ask us for the line‑by‑line inclusions for your departure.
  3. 03 What cabin types are available on the MS Royal Elite?
    Cabin categories vary by deck; we will send the ship’s current deck plan and exact cabin dimensions when you enquire. Deck location affects noise, shade and views, so tell us your preference and we will reserve the best available cabin. Specific cabin numbers are subject to availability and are confirmed at final issue of travel documents. We can also note requests such as twin beds or a lower‑deck cabin.
  4. 04 Is the MS Royal Elite suitable for travellers with reduced mobility?
    Accessibility varies by cabin and gangway; we must check the ship’s layout and your requirements for each booking. Many Nile ships have steps between decks and limited lift access, and shore visits involve cobbles, steep temple steps and uneven ancient stone. Tell us the exact mobility aids and walking distances you require and we will confirm suitability and available assistance. Where possible we arrange vehicle transfers, porters and assistance at landings.
  5. 05 What is the typical daily itinerary on a 4-day Nile cruise?
    Typical days combine morning and afternoon guided visits with sailing between ports and evenings at leisure aboard. Four‑day cruises commonly include Kom Ombo and Edfu and substantial time in Luxor or Aswan; your exact stops will appear on the itinerary we send. Unlike fixed cruise‑ship windows, we time some shore visits to avoid the busiest periods where possible. Expect at least one early start for temple visits and one free afternoon for optional excursions.
  6. 06 Can I combine the MS Royal Elite cruise with Cairo or Abu Simbel?
    Yes – we can combine the four-day cruise with extensions to Cairo or Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is about 280 km (roughly three hours) by road from Aswan; many travellers prefer the short internal flight to save time. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we arrange internal flights, road transfers and hotel nights–ask us for scheduling and pricing. Note that an Abu Simbel road transfer is a long day and domestic flights have stricter luggage limits.

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

Last updated 18 May 2026 Product ID: CRU-NIL-895034

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