Is an ultra-luxury Nile cruise the same as Ultra-Deluxe?

No. Ultra-Deluxe is the trade name for our Prestige tier – boutique 5-star ships a step below 5-Star Luxury. Ultra-luxury is our Signature Collection: the three ships we rate above Luxury itself.

Which ships are in the Signature Collection?

Historia, The Oberoi Philae and The Oberoi Zahra. The list is kept deliberately short – a ship joins only when it sits clearly above the best of the 5-Star Luxury fleet, in price and in what that price buys.

How far in advance should I book?

Sooner than for any other tier. The top cabin grades go first, and the popular winter dates can be taken many months ahead, so it is worth telling us your dates as early as you can.

Can an ultra-luxury cruise be part of a wider Egypt holiday?

Yes, and that is how most of our guests travel. We arrange Cairo, Giza and Abu Simbel around the sailing, with the same private Egyptologist throughout.

Is it worth choosing the Signature Collection over Luxury?

For a short cruise as part of a busy itinerary, Luxury usually gives you everything you need. For a honeymoon, a special anniversary, or anyone who wants the ship to be as memorable as the temples, the Signature Collection is the one we would choose.

Ultra-Luxury Nile Cruises · Our Signature Collection · Reviewed 27 May 2026

Ultra-luxury Nile cruises – our Signature Collection.

Ultra-luxury Nile cruise holidays from our Signature Collection – Historia, The Oberoi Philae and The Oberoi Zahra. We rate these three above our 5-Star Luxury tier, and their cabin rates reflect it; each sails the classic Luxor–Aswan stretch, with a private Egyptologist from our team.

3vessels currently in this tier

£2,238from, per person · high season, October–April

Each price is for one person sharing a standard double cabin on the ship's shortest sailing, and covers sightseeing, entrance fees and transfers – Christmas, New Year and Easter departures are peak dates, priced on their own.

What you're actually paying for

The Signature Collection tier, line by line.

Ships: Historia · The Oberoi Philae · The Oberoi Zahra
Cabins: Standard, Deluxe and Suite grades · panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies
On board: Sun deck · lounge bar · restaurant
Route: Luxor ⇄ Aswan · sailing lengths vary by ship
Best for: Honeymoons · milestone holidays · travellers for whom the ship is part of the journey
From (per person): from £2,238 per person · high season, October–April

“Ultra-luxury does not mean more temples. It is the same river and the same Egyptologist – on a ship you will remember as clearly as Karnak.”

Standard sailing rotation

How the schedule works on the Luxor–Aswan loop.

Durations: Every vessel on this page sails 4-night, 5-night, and 7-night variants of the same Luxor↔Aswan loop. The 4-night covers Edfu + Kom Ombo + Aswan temples; the 7-night adds a return cruise with more leisure time and (on most ships) a Dendera + Abydos extension.
Embarkation days: The most common rotation is Monday from Luxor and Friday from Aswan, but each vessel sets its own schedule – exact departure days are shown per ship below where confirmed. Cat-A and Ultra-Deluxe vessels often add a Saturday Luxor sailing in peak season (Oct–Apr); dahabiyas typically embark on Mondays from Esna.
What's included: Full board on every vessel, all temple admissions, Egyptologist guiding, transfers from/to Luxor or Aswan airport, and port fees. Tipping is not included – a printed guide is issued at embarkation.

In the fleet

Signature Collection Nile cruisers (3).

Each vessel below sails the 4 / 5 / 7-night variants on the schedule above. Prices shown are the lead-in 4-night cabin; longer variants and balcony cabins are quoted on request.

Five things to know

Before you book Signature Collection.

01Is an ultra-luxury Nile cruise the same as Ultra-Deluxe?
No. Ultra-Deluxe is the trade name for our Prestige tier – boutique 5-star ships a step below 5-Star Luxury. Ultra-luxury is our Signature Collection: the three ships we rate above Luxury itself.
02Which ships are in the Signature Collection?
Historia, The Oberoi Philae and The Oberoi Zahra. The list is kept deliberately short – a ship joins only when it sits clearly above the best of the 5-Star Luxury fleet, in price and in what that price buys.
03How far in advance should I book?
Sooner than for any other tier. The top cabin grades go first, and the popular winter dates can be taken many months ahead, so it is worth telling us your dates as early as you can.
04Can an ultra-luxury cruise be part of a wider Egypt holiday?
Yes, and that is how most of our guests travel. We arrange Cairo, Giza and Abu Simbel around the sailing, with the same private Egyptologist throughout.
05Is it worth choosing the Signature Collection over Luxury?
For a short cruise as part of a busy itinerary, Luxury usually gives you everything you need. For a honeymoon, a special anniversary, or anyone who wants the ship to be as memorable as the temples, the Signature Collection is the one we would choose.