Discovery Tours Egypt
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Nile Cruise 5-Star Deluxe Aswan → Luxor

Moondance Nile Cruise

At a glance

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

The short answer

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

02 Overview

A first look

This 4-day cruise links Luxor and Aswan; direction depends on your booking. Typical shore calls are Karnak, Luxor West Bank (Valley of the Kings), Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae.

Background

The facts

Moondance Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile river vessel that sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. Embarkation and disembarkation take place at the two end ports, and the cruise includes full board from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Cabins are offered in graded classes such as Standard, Deluxe, and Suite, with some categories featuring panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies.

The vessel’s public areas typically include a sun deck with shaded seating, a lounge bar, an indoor saloon, and a dining room. Meals are served as full board with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and drinks beyond water with meals are usually extra. On 5-star Nile vessels, afternoon tea is commonly included as part of the onboard service.

The shore-excursion programme features major Upper Egypt monuments, including Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple near Aswan, and the Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s west bank. These visits are arranged as guided shore excursions rather than fixed coach-only sightseeing. The itinerary combines sailing days on the Nile with monument visits at ports along the route.

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • This cruise is suited to travelers who want a comfortable way to see Egypt’s major Nile Valley monuments without changing hotels repeatedly. It works well for couples, older travelers, and first-time visitors who prefer guided sightseeing and a cabin-based journey rather than long overland transfers.

What lingers

  • 01 Four-day MS Moondance cruise between Luxor and Aswan – daily navigation with planned shore visits to Luxor West Bank and Philae.
  • 02 Guided visits to Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings; standard site entrance fees are included unless stated otherwise.
  • 03 Overnight mooring at Edfu – we schedule two hours at Edfu Temple, unlike many cruises' 40-minute visits.
  • 04 Onboard amenities: air-conditioned cabins, sun deck for Nile views, and evening briefings by our Egyptologist.
  • 05 Private transfers between dock and hotels are included; your driver meets you on arrival with a name card.

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.

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

  5. 5

On property

What's here

  • gym
  • spa
  • concierge
  • pool
  • bar

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Full board: lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Accommodation in the booked cabin class on board the Moondance Nile Cruise
  • Use of public areas on board including sun deck, lounge bar and dining room
  • Standard shore excursions as offered by the vessel or local partners, arranged for you

Not included

  • Drinks other than water with meals, unless expressly stated
  • Gratuities for crew and Egyptologists unless pre-booked
  • Optional premium shore excursions and entry fees not listed in the vessel's standard programme (for example, pyramid interior, premium tombs)
  • International flights, visas and personal travel insurance

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 What is included on the MS Moondance 4-day Nile cruise?
    Meals on board, guided shore excursions, onboard crew, and transfers are normally included unless we state otherwise. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we provide a full inclusions list with your booking so there are no surprises. Standard site entrance fees are included; pyramid interiors and premium tombs are excluded unless requested separately. International flights, visas, and personal travel insurance are not included.
  2. 02 Which sites does the 4-day Nile cruise visit?
    Four-day Nile cruises typically operate between Luxor and Aswan; exact calls vary by departure and river conditions. Confirm the MS Moondance day-by-day itinerary with us and we will send a timed schedule before travel. We include local Egyptologists for guided visits rather than recorded commentary, and we can sometimes adjust shore time when feasible. Early starts, overnight moorings, and river navigation determine how long you have at Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, or Kom Ombo.
  3. 03 Are entrance fees and pyramid interior tickets included?
    Standard site entrance fees are included; pyramid interiors and premium tombs are excluded unless you book them separately. Specifically, Khufu interior access and the Tutankhamun and Seti I premium tombs require extra tickets and may need advance reservations. We can pre-purchase these tickets to avoid queues, but they add to the total cost and are subject to availability. Please tell us at booking if you want these extras.
  4. 04 What cabin types and amenities are aboard MS Moondance?
    Cabin types and onboard amenities vary–please request the MS Moondance deck plan and current cabin inventory. Typical Nile cabins have en-suite bathrooms, climate control, built-in storage, and either windows or a private balcony; confirm specifics with us. Wi‑Fi coverage on the Nile is limited and often slow, so download maps and guides before boarding. We can request specific cabin positions (lower deck, forward, aft) subject to availability at booking.
  5. 05 Is tipping included on the cruise and how much should we budget?
    Gratuities are normally not included; budget cash for crew, guides, and local staff unless you ask us to pre-collect. A common guideline is $5–10 per person per day for onboard crew, with separate tips for your Egyptologist and drivers; actual amounts vary by group size and service. Tipping in Egypt is mostly cash and often paid in Egyptian pounds. We can add a standard service-package to your invoice if you prefer to prepay gratuities.
  6. 06 Can travelers with limited mobility do the MS Moondance 4-day cruise?
    Mobility limitations are possible but constrained–boats have steps, narrow gangways, and temple sites feature uneven stone and stairs. We can arrange ground-level transfers, private cars, and crew assistance where available, and we will request lower-deck cabins when offered. Many temples and the Valley of the Kings have uneven surfaces and limited ramps, so wheelchair access is not guaranteed. Tell us your exact needs at booking so we can assess feasibility and recommend adjustments.

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-493814

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