Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with a pool, panoramic river views, full-board dining, and weekly sailings between Luxor and Aswan.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Thu
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.
02Overview
A first look
Morning light moves across the Nile as the Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise leaves Luxor, with riverbanks, palms, and village life passing beyond the panoramic windows. Between sailing days, the vessel brings you ashore to see Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and the Valley of the Kings, while the sun deck, pool, and lounge bar give you space to slow down between visits.
Weekly sailings run in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, so we can match the vessel to your wider Egypt plans. Our licensed Egyptian tour operator arranges the booking, shore-excursion coordination, and support from our Egyptologists, with full board served from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast.
Background
The facts
Steigenberger Minerva is a five-star Nile cruise vessel based in Luxor and scheduled on the Luxor–Aswan river corridor. The cruise uses the Nile as its transport route, with embarkation and disembarkation at either Luxor or Aswan depending on the sailing direction. It is designed for travelers who want accommodation, dining, and guided shore excursions combined in one itinerary rather than separate hotel stays and day trips.
The vessel’s public areas typically include a sun deck with a pool, shaded seating, a lounge bar, panoramic-window seating, and a dining room serving full board meals. Cabins are offered in Standard, Deluxe, and Suite categories, and many cabins have Nile views or Nile-view balconies. On a Nile cruise, the experience is centerd on sailing between destinations and visiting monuments during scheduled shore excursions.
The shore-excursion program commonly includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. These sites represent some of Upper Egypt’s best-known Pharaonic and Greco-Roman monuments, reached by road from the vessel’s overnight moorings or docking points. The cruise is usually arranged as a weekly sailing in both directions between Luxor and Aswan.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits adult travelers and older children who are interested in ancient Egyptian history, river scenery, and a more relaxed pace than a land-only itinerary. It is a good fit for couples, small private groups, and first-time visitors who want guided monument visits with accommodation already organized.
What lingers
- 01Sun deck with pool and rooftop-terrace, open for lounging while sailing on the Nile
- 02Lounge bar and indoor seating areas with panoramic windows for river views
- 03Cabins in Standard, Deluxe and Suite classes, many with Nile-view balconies
- 04Shore-excursion program visits Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
- 05Full board dining from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast, with buffet and plated options
- 06Weekly sailings in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, allowing flexible booking
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
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Aswan and disembarkation in Luxor.
- 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 | $1,324 | $1,740 | $1,827 |
| Single Cabin | $3,184 | $4,671 | $4,934 |
| Triple Cabin | $1,054 | $1,317 | $1,375 |
5 Days / 4 Nights · Luxor to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $919 | $1,157 | $1,207 |
| Single Cabin | $1,982 | $2,832 | $2,982 |
| Triple Cabin | $765 | $915 | $948 |
4 Days / 3 Nights · Aswan to Luxor
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $784 | $962 | $999 |
| Single Cabin | $1,581 | $2,218 | $2,331 |
| Triple Cabin | $668 | $781 | $806 |
8 Days / 7 Nights · Aswan to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $1,337 | $1,753 | $1,840 |
| Single Cabin | $3,196 | $4,684 | $4,947 |
| Triple Cabin | $1,067 | $1,330 | $1,388 |
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
- pool
- restaurant
- wifi
- garden
- rooftop-terrace
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- ✓ 3/4/ or 7 nights’ deluxe accommodation on full board basis
- ✓ 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
- ✓ Complimentary bottle of water per person per day
- ✓ 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.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The vessel has multiple decks accessed by stairs and shallow gangways; expect steps and uneven surfaces when moving between deck levels and during shore excursions. Cabins are reached by corridor steps on some stairs; elevators are not guaranteed on every Nile cruiser, so please ask us if you require a cabin on a lower deck. Gangways and quay access at smaller landing stages can be narrow and may have a single step up or down. Shore visits often involve cobbled temple forecourts, stone stairways and sandy approaches. We arrange wheelchair-accessible transfers and can request mobility-assist equipment from local partners, but availability varies between cruise operators and ports. If you use a wheelchair, scooter, or have reduced mobility, tell us at booking so we can confirm which vessel, cabin and excursion options are feasible, and so a named representative meets you on arrival to assist.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport with at least six months validity
- Printed or mobile copy of your cruise booking and emergency contact
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip for temple sites
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, high SPF sunscreen
- Lightweight rain jacket or wind layer for early mornings
- Reusable water bottle (refillable) and basic hand sanitizer
- Small day pack for shore excursions
- Any personal medication plus a copy of prescriptions
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for hot days
- Long trousers or long skirts and covered shoulders for temple and mosque visits
- A light sweater or jacket for cooler early mornings on deck
- Comfortable closed shoes for archaeological sites and stairs
- Swimwear for the sun deck pool (cover-up for indoor areas)
Children & families
Children 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children 6 to 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, with a maximum of one child per cabin; two or more children require a separate cabin. Cots and rollaway beds depend on the cruise operator and cabin class, so we recommend advising us at booking if you need child bedding. Strollers are useful on the ship but may be awkward on some shore landings with steps; bring a compact stroller for cobbled areas.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
We aim to minimise the trip's local environmental and social impact by using modern diesel-hybrid or low-emission coach transfers arranged with local suppliers, and by selecting vessels whose operators follow local waste-handling rules. On-board facilities such as laundry and kitchen run with municipal electricity where available; some vessels use on-board generators while sailing. We contract local Egyptologists and guides, pay entry and guiding fees locally, and buy provisioning from Luxor and Aswan suppliers to support the local economy. Crew and shore-staff are employed by the cruise operator; we choose partners with documented staff contracts and standard working hours. Where possible we encourage guests to bring reusable water bottles and to avoid single-use plastics, and we request that shore-excursion walking groups keep to defined paths at archaeological sites to limit wear on sensitive areas. If you have specific sustainability requirements, tell us at enquiry so we can confirm the current supplier practices for your sailing.
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
Last updated 18 May 2026Product ID: CRU-NIL-238574
You Might Also Like
Nile3 Nights
Esmeralda Nile Cruise
The Esmeralda Nile Cruise sails from Luxor to Aswan, calling at Karnak, Luxor West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. This Classic-tier, five-star vessel suits travelers who prefer relaxed days ashore and time on deck. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and we arrange Egyptologists, transfers, and embarkation formalities for the cruise. We don't run group bus tours. Unlike many rushed itineraries, this Luxor to Aswan route allows longer stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo rather than 60- to 90-minute drop-ins. Note: sun and heat intensify on the open deck at midday, so early-morning visits and sun protection are practical considerations.
From $1,185
Luxor3 Nights
Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise
You board at Luxor's Nile pier on the East Bank and step aboard MS Steigenberger Legacy. The cruise runs three nights between Luxor and Aswan; luggage handling and cabin assignment take 30–45 minutes after arrival. Cabins average 16 m² – Nile-cruise scale, not an ocean‑liner – with twin or double bedding and a large picture window for river views. You sail south through the Esna lock; the vessel waits to transit when schedules permit and the landscape tightens to sandstone banks. Scheduled guided visits with an Egyptologist include Karnak and Luxor Temple near embarkation, then Edfu and Kom Ombo as you work toward Aswan. Plan for roughly 90–120 minutes at Edfu for the best reading of the reliefs; Kom Ombo is a briefer stop for the twin‑god reliefs and the small crocodile museum. In Aswan the ship moors at the Nile Corniche near the town center; Philae Island is the usual half‑day visit by motorboat. Meals are full board on the ship: breakfast, lunch and dinner presented in the main dining room, with simple regional dishes and international options. The sun deck serves as the day’s viewing platform for the West Bank ridge at dawn and for late‑afternoon light. Expect compact public spaces – lounge, shaded sun deck, and observation area – and personalised service from on‑board staff. Note limited lift access and modest cabin storage. Your Egyptologist guides the monument visits, explains sculptural details and hieroglyphs, and our local office in Luxor supports practical arrangements or last‑minute changes.
From $718
Luxor3 Nights
Steigenberger Regency Nile Cruise
The Steigenberger Regency Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruiser offering full board dining and on-board leisure spaces. The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with an excursion program that includes Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, many with panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies; the vessel has a pool, lounge bar, restaurant and a rooftop terrace. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, books and arranges the cruise and embarkation formalities for our clients.
From $738