Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with spacious suites, Nile-view cabins, a pool, rooftop terrace, full-board dining, and a lounge bar.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.
02Overview
A first look
By late afternoon, the Nile reflects the sandstone of Luxor Temple as the Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise lies alongside before Luxor Bridge. From the sun deck, you can watch feluccas cross the current, then settle into a lounge bar as the river darkens beyond the panoramic windows.
Our shore-excursion program brings the ancient landscape into focus, from Karnak’s columned halls to the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with sailing days giving the river room to set the pace. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and our team arranges the booking, embarkation details, and Egyptologist support before you board.
Background
The facts
The Sonesta Sun Goddess is a five-star Nile cruise vessel that sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan in both directions. Embarkation and disembarkation are typically in Luxor and Aswan, with docking in Luxor in front of Luxor Temple, before Luxor Bridge. The cruise is arranged as a river itinerary, with sailing days alternating with shore excursions rather than a fixed land-based tour.
The excursion program commonly includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of Luxor, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple, and Philae Temple near Aswan. These sites represent major periods of ancient Egyptian history, from the New Kingdom temples of Karnak and Luxor to Greco-Roman Philae. Visitor timing is coordinated around the vessel’s sailing schedule, so departure times from the ship depend on the day's river movement and port calls.
On board, the vessel offers spacious suites and Nile-view cabins in Standard, Deluxe, and Suite categories, along with a sun deck, pool, rooftop terrace, lounge bar, restaurant, and indoor seating areas. Full board usually runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day, with standard onboard service fees and port charges included. Drinks beyond water with meals are typically extra, and room service is available on selected sailings.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits travelers who want a comfortable Nile experience with more space than a basic cabin and a structured sightseeing program. It is a good fit for couples, older travelers, and first-time visitors who prefer a guided river itinerary with full-board dining and onboard facilities.
What lingers
- 01Spacious suites and Nile-view cabins, graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite classes
- 02Sun deck with pool and rooftop terrace for Nile views and late-afternoon shade
- 03Lounge bar and multiple indoor seating areas for evening briefings and relaxation
- 04Full-board dining, with main restaurant service and room service available
- 05Shore-excursion program calling at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae
- 06Embarkation and docking in front of Luxor Temple, before Luxor Bridge
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
Both directions
Where this ship sails
This vessel works more than one stretch of the river. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Cabin pricing
Pricing & seasonal rates
Per person in USD, based on cabin sharing. Single supplements apply. Holiday surcharges apply at Christmas, New Year & Easter.
8 Days / 7 Nights · Luxor to Luxor
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $2,515 | $2,515 | $2,515 |
| Single Cabin | $7,934 | $7,934 | $7,934 |
5 Days / 4 Nights · Luxor to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $1,606 | $1,606 | $1,606 |
| Single Cabin | $4,703 | $4,703 | $4,703 |
4 Days / 3 Nights · Aswan to Luxor
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $1,303 | $1,303 | $1,303 |
| Single Cabin | $3,625 | $3,625 | $3,625 |
8 Days / 7 Nights · Aswan to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $2,528 | $2,528 | $2,528 |
| Single Cabin | $7,947 | $7,947 | $7,947 |
Children 0–5.99 years free · 6–11.99 years pay 50% · 12+ pay full adult price. Children must share a cabin with parents (max 2 per cabin).
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On property
What's here
- non-smoking
- air-conditioning
- restaurant
- room-service
- family-rooms
- spa
- wifi
- pool
- garden
- rooftop-terrace
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard the Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise
- Full-board meals, from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day
- Use of public onboard facilities listed in the product details (pool, spa, rooftop terrace, lounges, restaurant)
- Port charges and standard onboard service fees
Not included
- Drinks beyond bottled water with meals, unless stated otherwise
- Optional shore-excursion entrance fees and private guided excursions unless specified
- Pyramid interior tickets and premium tombs (Tutankhamun, Seti I) unless explicitly requested
- Gratuities for crew and local guides, unless included in your booking confirmation
Accessibility
Who can join this
This cruise involves boarding and moving between decks, walking on gangways, and sometimes stepping onto uneven quays at embarkation and disembarkation. Sites visited include the Valley of the Kings and Kom Ombo, which have uneven stone, stairs, and narrow passages; Karnak Temple has long paved avenues and some cobbled sections. Wheelchair users should note that not all Nile cruisers have lift access between decks, and shore-excursion landings often require steps up or down from the boat. We can arrange wheelchair-accessible vehicles for transfers on request, but availability depends on local supplier capacity. Please tell us about mobility needs when you book so we can confirm what is feasible and advise on specific site access and alternative arrangements.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- High-SPF sunscreen and lip protection
- Wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle for refills
- Small daypack for excursions
- Any required medication and a basic first-aid kit
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable layers for warm days and cooler evenings
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- Comfortable closed shoes for archaeological sites
- A light sweater or jacket for evening on the sun deck
- Swimwear and a cover-up for the pool and sun deck
Children & families
Children 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children 6 to 11.99 years pay 50% of the adult per-person sharing fare; children 12 years and over pay the full adult fare. 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 but can be difficult on some shore landings and at archaeological sites that have stairs and uneven stone. Please tell us ages and sleeping arrangements at booking so we can advise on cabins and safety measures.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The cruise uses diesel-powered river vessels and local road transfers, typically air-conditioned coaches for shore excursions. We work with locally based suppliers for crew, guides, and catering to keep economic benefit within the region. Onboard water is usually supplied in refillable dispensers to reduce single-use plastics; guests are asked to reuse cabin water bottles where provided. We encourage guests to follow site rules to protect fragile monuments, for example staying on marked paths at the Valley of the Kings and not touching reliefs at Kom Ombo. Local community initiatives such as village craft cooperatives are used for optional market visits when available, and tip distribution to local guides and boat crew is organised through transparent on-site channels. If you have specific sustainability priorities, tell us at enquiry so we can match the right vessel and supplier.
Licensed local Egyptologists
ETAA-credentialed, on payroll
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols
Carbon-aware itineraries
Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical
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
Product ID: CRU-NIL-480819
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