MayFair Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with panoramic cabins, a sun deck, lounge bar, dining room, and full-board dining.
The short answer
MayFair is a 5-Star Luxury Nile cruise ship. Embark in Aswan on a Friday for 3 nights to Luxor or a 7-night round trip, or in Luxor on a Monday for 4 nights to Aswan or a 7-night round trip. Rates are on request: send us your dates for a live price.
02Overview
A first look
By late afternoon, the Nile turns copper beside the sun deck, and the riverbank slips past at an easy pace. From a panoramic cabin window or Nile-view balcony, you can watch fishermen, palms, and village life change between Luxor and Aswan while the lounge bar and dining room keep the atmosphere relaxed.
The shore-excursion program alternates sailing with time at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and the Valley of the Kings. We select and arrange your cruise, shore excursions, and Egyptologists, so the practical details are organized before embarkation.
Routes
Where this ship sails
Each route this ship sails. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.
Cabin pricing
Rates on request
We don't have current published rates for this ship. Send us your dates and we'll come back with a live price for the cabin you want.
On board
Detailed itinerary
- 1
Board at Luxor and enjoy lunch on board before visiting Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank.
- 2
Explore the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, then begin sailing south towards Edfu.
- 3
Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the double temple at Kom Ombo, then sail on to Aswan.
- 4
Visit the High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk. An optional flight or drive to Abu Simbel can be arranged.
- 5
A relaxed day at Aswan: sail by felucca around Elephantine Island and Kitchener’s Island, or visit a Nubian village, before the vessel turns north.
- 6
- 7
Arrive back at Luxor with time for any West Bank sites not yet seen, or relax on the sun deck as you moor for the final night.
- 8
After breakfast, disembark at Luxor for your onward transfer.
- 1
Board your Nile cruiser at Luxor and settle into your cabin over lunch. In the afternoon visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex of ancient Egypt, and Luxor Temple on the East Bank.
- 2
Cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. The vessel then begins sailing south towards Edfu.
- 3
Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the best-preserved temple in Egypt, then sail on to Kom Ombo and its double temple dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris. Continue sailing to Aswan, where the ship moors for the night.
- 4
The ship lies moored at Aswan. Guests visiting Abu Simbel leave before dawn, by road or by air, for the two rock temples Ramesses II cut into the cliff, returning aboard around midday. The afternoon is at leisure on board.
- 5
After breakfast, disembark at Aswan. The morning then covers Aswan itself: the High Dam, the Temple of Isis at Philae reached by motor launch, and the granite Unfinished Obelisk, before your onward transfer.
- 1
Board your Nile cruiser at Aswan and enjoy lunch on board. Visit the High Dam, the Temple of Isis at Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk.
- 2
Sail north to Kom Ombo for its double temple of Sobek and Haroeris, then continue to Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus. Sail on towards Luxor.
- 3
Reach Luxor and cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
- 4
After breakfast visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then disembark for your onward transfer.
- 1
Board at Aswan and enjoy lunch on board, then visit the High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk.
- 2
A relaxed day at Aswan by felucca around Elephantine and Kitchener’s Islands, or a Nubian village visit. An optional Abu Simbel excursion can be arranged.
- 3
Sail north to Kom Ombo for the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris, then Edfu for the Temple of Horus.
- 4
At Luxor, cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
- 5
Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then the vessel begins its return sailing south.
- 6
- 7
Arrive back at Aswan with time to relax on board or take an optional excursion before your final night.
- 8
After breakfast, disembark at Aswan for your onward transfer.
Bundled in
- Sun deck
- Swimming pool
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Spa center
- Boutique and jewelry shop
- Laundry and dry cleaning services
- WiFi in public areas
- Library
- Reception
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- All sightseeing tours with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Meet & assist service upon arrival & departure
- All airport and port transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- Entrance fees to all listed attractions
- All service charges & taxes
- Small group tours (maximum 8 participants)
Not included
- Any additional meals and beverages not specified in the itinerary
- Personal expenses, including laundry, minibar, and spa treatments
- Tipping for guides, drivers, and cruise staff
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees and international airfare
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
Add before or after your cruise
The ship sails between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights home, are in Cairo. These short add-ons join the two.
After you dock
Aswan to Cairo flight and one hotel night
Two nights in Cairo with a day in Alexandria
3-Day Egypt Short Break: Cairo & Luxor
3-Day Cairo & Alexandria Tour
3-Day Luxor Tour from Marsa Alam
3-Day Cairo Tour from Sharm El Sheikh- 3-Day Luxor & Cairo Tour from Hurghada
2-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Stay
3-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Tour with Alexandria
Compare
Similar ships to compare
Ships of the same class with the closest prices. Prices are per person, sharing a double cabin, October to April.
- Cleopatra Nile Cruise
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- Jaz Elite Regent Nile Cruise
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- Jaz Elite Viceroy Nile Cruise
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The route
Luxor and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
- Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and photocopy
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher and a sunhat
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Lightweight layers for cooler evenings on deck
- Reusable water bottle
- Small daypack for shore excursions
- Any prescription medication in original packaging
What to wear
- Lightweight, modest clothing for temples and mosques (shoulders and knees covered)
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes for archaeological sites
- A light jumper or fleece for evenings on deck
- Wide-brimmed hat and UV sunglasses
- Swimwear for the vessel pool (if present) and cover-up for public areas
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price; children aged 12 and over 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. Cradle or cot availability is limited and must be requested at booking. Strollers are practical on the vessel gangways and wide decks but are often inconvenient at shore sites where surfaces are uneven; plan to carry a lightweight stroller ashore only if you are confident lifting it over short steps.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This cruise involves routine embarkation and disembarkation via a gangway, steps between deck levels, and transfers ashore that may include uneven stone, cobbles, and short staircases at temples and archaeological sites. Wheelchair users with folding, self-propelled chairs can be assisted onto the vessel if advised at booking, but wheelchair access to shore sites is limited: many temple entrances and the Valley of the Kings have steep ramps or steps and narrow passageways. Expect walking on uneven ancient stone, sandy approaches, and some long standing periods during visits. We arrange porterage at embarkation and disembarkation and can provide extra staff assistance with advance notice. If mobility is severely limited, contact us before booking so we can advise which shore excursions are practicable and whether alternative arrangements are possible.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The vessel is a river cruiser sailing weekly between Luxor and Aswan, using conventional marine diesel propulsion typical for Nile cruisers. Onboard practices we require from our suppliers include segregation of recycled waste, use of reusable serviceware where practical, and responsible disposal of sewage in line with Egyptian port regulations. We prioritise locally sourced food and employ Egyptian crew, plus licensed Egyptologists from Luxor and Aswan for excursions, which directs revenue into local communities. Shore excursions are timed to avoid peak visitor congestion where possible, and we encourage guests to follow site rules about photography and not to touch antiquities. If you want more detail about a specific vessel’s environmental equipment or single-use plastics policy, we will obtain the supplier’s specification on request.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Last updated Product ID: CRU-NIL-182843
At a glance
- Length
- 3, 4 or 7 nights
- Embarks
- Mon in Luxor · Fri in Aswan
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-Star Luxury
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