Royal Ruby Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with full-board dining, a rooftop sun deck, pool, lounge bar, and shore excursions between Luxor and Aswan.
The short answer
Royal Ruby is a 5-Star Standard 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, with feluccas gliding past as the lounge bar settles into a quieter rhythm. Royal Ruby Nile Cruise gives you time to watch villages, fields, and desert pass between shore excursions, then return to a cabin with a panoramic window or Nile-view balcony. The restaurant serves full board, while the rooftop terrace and pool offer space between visits.
Our Egyptologists bring Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and the Valley of the Kings into focus without rushing the river’s slower pace. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we select the sailing, arrange embarkation details, and keep the land arrangements coordinated.
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.
On property
What's here
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Wi-Fi
- Swimming pool
- Rooftop terrace
- Parking
Bundled in
- Pool
- Wi-Fi
- Sun Deck
- Restaurant
- Spa
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 (optional but recommended).
- ✘ Travel insurance (strongly recommended).
- ✘ 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.
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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 any required visas
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen SPF30+ and a wide-brim hat
- Sunglasses and a reusable water bottle for refills
- Lightweight daypack for shore excursions
- Any personal medications plus a copy of prescriptions
- Camera with spare batteries or charger
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for daytime
- Long sleeves and long trousers or a wrap for temple and mosque visits
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes for excursions on uneven stone
- A light sweater for cooler evenings on the Nile
- Modest swimwear on sun deck or pool; cover-up for public areas
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price; children 12 years and older 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. Strollers are practical on the vessel’s main deck and embarkation area, but may be difficult on shore excursions that involve steps or narrow temple entrances. We can request a cot or baby equipment with the assigned vessel or hotel, but availability is not guaranteed and should be confirmed at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This cruise involves repeated boarding and disembarkation via vessel gangways and river quays, and shore excursions that include uneven ancient stone, steps, and short stretches of loose sand. Onboard cabins are reached by stairs on some vessels; lifts are not guaranteed. Temples such as Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have stone steps and narrow passageways; Philae requires a short boat transfer with stepping up onto a small landing. Wheelchair access is limited: wheelchairs can be used on the vessel’s main deck where gangways allow, but many shore sites are not wheelchair-friendly. If you use a wheelchair or have reduced mobility, tell us at booking so we can advise which shore excursions are feasible, arrange extra assistance where available, and suggest cabin placement close to embarkation points. Travelers with severe mobility impairment should plan to travel with a companion who can assist during shore visits and transfers.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The vessel uses standard marine diesel engines for river propulsion; shore excursions are conducted in licensed, air-conditioned coaches provided by local transport suppliers. We work directly with local Egyptian suppliers: Egyptologists, drivers, and crew are hired by the cruise line or local partner companies, and we prioritise suppliers who employ local staff from the Luxor and Aswan areas. Onboard practices we request from suppliers include centralised waste sorting and sourcing fresh produce from nearby markets when possible. We do not claim formal eco-certification for the vessel: our role is to select ships and local partners who follow these practical steps, and to channel passenger spending to local guide teams, restaurant suppliers, and craftspeople during shore excursions. If you have specific sustainability requirements, tell us before booking so we can confirm them with the assigned vessel.
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-854613
At a glance
- Length
- 3, 4 or 7 nights
- Embarks
- Mon in Luxor · Fri in Aswan
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-Star Standard
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