Liberty Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabins, panoramic views, a sun deck, lounge bar, dining room and full board.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Wed, Sat
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
This five-star Nile cruise vessel sails between Luxor and Aswan, with the cruise selected and arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt and operated by a third-party cruise line.
·In summary
Royal Liberty’s shore-excursion programme includes six named stops, from Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings to Philae Temple. Weekly sailings run in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabins.
- Archaeology & history
- Photography
- Cultural
- Honeymoon
- Solo travel
- Family
- Groups·
- Couples·
- Seniors·
- Solo traveller·
- Families with kids
Snapshot
Good to know
- Accommodation
- Five-Star Nile Cruise with Standard, Deluxe or Suite Cabins
- Destinations
- Luxor · Aswan · The Nile · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Edfu Temple of Horus · Kom Ombo Temple · Philae Temple · Valley of the Kings
- Includes
- Stay in the cabin category you booked · Full-board meals, from lunch on boarding until breakfast on leaving · Excursions ashore as scheduled · Access to the sun deck and shared lounges · Access to the dining room and lounge bar · Boarding and leaving the vessel in Luxor or Aswan, depending on the sailing
- Best for
- First-time Egypt visitors · History enthusiasts · Couples · Families able to manage walking and steps · Travellers seeking a full-board Nile itinerary
- Guide languages
- English
- DTE can coordinate shore excursions, transfers and pre- or post-cruise travel arrangements.
- Travellers should review the page’s confirmed inclusions, supplier details and cancellation terms before booking.
- Discovery Tours Egypt is Class-A licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and a member of the Egyptian Travel Agents Association (ETAA #718).
What lingers
- 01Four-day MS Liberty cruise on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan; confirm exact itinerary and port calls.
- 02Standard MS Liberty fare includes breakfast and dinner on board; enquire for lunch and drinks inclusion.
- 03Stops often include Karnak, Luxor West Bank and Valley of the Kings; our Egyptologists recommend early starts.
- 04Sails through Esna lock at night or morning depending on schedule; expect brief delays due to lock traffic.
- 05Unlike overnight sleeper trains, MS Liberty gives riverside moorings so shore visits start without long coach transfers.
02Overview
A first look
By late afternoon, sunlight scatters across the Nile beside Royal Liberty’s sun deck, while the riverbank moves slowly beyond the panoramic windows. Sailing days leave room for the lounge bar, dining room and indoor lounges, with shore excursions bringing you ashore to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. A Nile cruise is as much about the rhythm between visits as the monuments themselves: tea in the lounge, dinner under way and changing views from a Nile-view balcony where available.
Royal Liberty sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan in both directions. We arrange your cabin category, embarkation details and shore excursions, while our Egyptologists provide the context on land.
Background
The facts
This five-star Nile cruise is a river vessel sailing between Luxor and Aswan, with embarkation and disembarkation available at either port according to the scheduled sailing. Weekly sailings operate in both directions. The cruise programme combines sailing days with shore excursions to major ancient Egyptian sites along the Nile Valley.
The scheduled excursion programme includes Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple in Luxor, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the Ptolemaic Temple of Kom Ombo, Philae Temple near Aswan and the Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s west bank. Karnak and Luxor Temple are within approximately 5 km of one another, while the Valley of the Kings is roughly 7 km from central Luxor by road. Philae Temple is located on Agilkia Island, reached by a short boat transfer from the mainland near Aswan.
Cabin categories comprise Standard, Deluxe and Suite accommodation. Many cabins have panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies. Public facilities include a sun deck, lounge bar, dining room and indoor lounges. Full board covers meals from lunch on the embarkation day through breakfast on the disembarkation day; drinks (including water) are generally charged separately.
Discovery Tours Egypt selects, books and arranges the cruise, while the vessel is owned and operated by a third-party cruise line. Standard site entrance fees for the listed shore excursions are included when stated in the itinerary; premium tombs and optional sites, such as special-access tombs, are not included unless specifically requested.
Named in this entry
Royal Liberty·Luxor·Aswan·The Nile·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·Horus’s Temple in Edfu·Temple at Kom Ombo·Philae Temple·The Kings’ Valley·Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis·Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits first-time visitors to Egypt, history enthusiasts and travellers who want to visit Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan without changing hotels between destinations. It is suitable for adults and families comfortable with regular shore excursions, steps, uneven ancient-site surfaces and warm-weather sightseeing.
Maybe not, if
- Choose a different style of holiday if you need step-free access throughout or prefer to explore independently rather than follow scheduled shore excursions. Summer sailings can be uncomfortable for travellers who struggle with daytime heat.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabins offer different levels of accommodation.
Things to Consider
- Temple and tomb visits involve uneven archaeological surfaces.
- Luxor and Aswan often exceed 35°C from May to September.
- Drinks (including water) are typically charged separately.
- Crew and excursion staff gratuities are not included.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Unlike a land-only Egypt itinerary, this cruise combines accommodation and river travel with scheduled shore excursions at major sites between Luxor and Aswan. Unlike a fixed single-direction product, the vessel sails weekly in both directions, with embarkation and disembarkation available at either port according to the sailing.
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.
On board
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Bundled in
- Full board
- Group Egyptologist
- All entry tickets
- Airport transfer
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Accommodation aboard Royal Liberty in the cabin category booked
- Full-board meals from lunch on embarkation day until breakfast on disembarkation day
- Scheduled shore excursions included in the vessel’s excursion programme
- Access to the sun deck, lounge bar, dining room and indoor communal lounges
- Embarkation and disembarkation at Luxor or Aswan, according to the sailing
Not included
- International and domestic flights to or from the embarkation and disembarkation ports
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Gratuities for the crew and shore-excursion staff
- Personal expenses, visa fees and optional extras not listed in the itinerary
- Entrance fees for optional premium tombs or sites outside the included shore-excursion programme
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Ask which side of the vessel your cabin faces if a Nile-view balcony matters to you; views depend on cabin position and sailing direction.
- 02
Keep small change available for optional purchases ashore; crew and excursion staff gratuities are not included.
- 03
Check whether a premium tomb is open before your Valley of the Kings visit; its entrance fee may be extra.
- 04
Carry sun protection for open-air site visits, particularly around midday, when shade at ancient sites can be limited.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Travellers can choose Standard, Deluxe or Suite cabins and request private or shared shore-excursion arrangements where available. The cruise can also be combined with pre- or post-cruise hotel stays, airport transfers and additional Cairo or Luxor sightseeing. Single travellers usually pay a single supplement, while pricing is normally based on two people sharing a cabin.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Where it fits
Pair the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise with time in Cairo before travelling to Luxor or Aswan. A few extra nights in either port give you time to see sites beyond the vessel’s shore-excursion programme.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This Nile cruise requires boarding from a riverside wharf, where gangways may be steep and surfaces uneven. Cabins, the dining room, lounge bar and sun deck are reached by stairs, and lift access depends on the assigned vessel. Shore excursions at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings involve uneven ancient paving, steps, sand and strong heat. Guests using wheelchairs or with limited mobility should request an accessibility review before booking. A collapsible wheelchair is generally more practical than a large mobility scooter, and manual assistance may be needed during embarkation and disembarkation.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
We select and arrange the vessel and shore services through Egyptian cruise companies, licensed Egyptologists and local transport providers. River travel combines accommodation, meals and movement between Luxor and Aswan on one vessel, reducing the need for separate road transfers between these cities. Where safe refill facilities are available, a reusable water bottle can reduce disposable plastic use. Please follow the vessel's instructions for water, electricity and waste. Environmental systems, recycling arrangements and supplier practices vary by assigned vessel, so we do not make unverified claims about its performance. Spending on local Egyptologists, drivers and excursion services supports businesses in the Nile Valley.
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
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- A valid passport and any necessary travel documents
- Comfortable walking footwear with good grip
- Sunscreen with SPF 50 or above
- A sun hat and sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle, where refill facilities are available
- A small bag for shore trips
- Any prescription medication you need
What to wear
- Pack light, loose clothes suited to warm weather
- Comfortable footwear for rough ancient surfaces
- Clothing covering shoulders and knees at temples and religious sites
- Light jumper or jacket for cooler evenings
- Swimwear and a sun cover-up for the deck
- A broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses
Children & families
Children from 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children aged 6 to 11.99 years pay 50%; children aged 12 and over 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 their own cabin. A compact folding stroller is more practical on gangways, stairs and uneven shore-excursion surfaces. Confirm high-chair availability before departure because facilities vary by assigned vessel.
Prices by sailing
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double cabin. Each price covers the full sailing, the guided sightseeing programme along the route, and your arrival and departure transfers between the vessel and the local airport or railway station.
| Sailing | October – Aprilcurrent season | May – September |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Luxorembarks Wednesdays | October – April: from £767single cabin £1,070triple cabin £767 | May – September: from £566single cabin £739triple cabin £566 |
| 4 nights · Luxor → Aswanembarks Saturdays | October – April: from £928single cabin £1,332triple cabin £928 | May – September: from £659single cabin £890triple cabin £659 |
| 7 nights · Luxor → Luxorembarks Saturdays | October – April: from £1,409single cabin £2,115triple cabin £1,409 | May – September: from £938single cabin £1,342triple cabin £938 |
| 7 nights · Aswan → Aswanembarks Wednesdays | October – April: from £1,424single cabin £2,131triple cabin £1,424 | May – September: from £954single cabin £1,357triple cabin £954 |
Choose your sailing and date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Cabin allocation
- Nile vessels do not have interconnecting cabins.
- Book early and we will ask the vessel to place your party together — usually adjacent, or directly opposite.
- Cabin numbers are confirmed by the vessel at check-in.
These fares are a guide, as prices and cabins move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.
Add Cairo before or after your cruise
The ship stays between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights back to the UK, are in Cairo. These short extensions link the two.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
What you receive back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your holiday you let us know and the kind of holiday you book. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Location
On the map
While you're here
Worth pairing
- Karnak TempleRight here
- Luxor TempleRight here
- The Kings’ ValleyRight here
- Philae TempleRight here
- Horus’s Temple in EdfuRight here
- Temple at Kom OmboRight here
Why book this with us
Three reasons, stated plainly
01
See six named temples and archaeological sites on shore excursions
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How long does a Royal Liberty Nile Cruise usually last?
The Royal Liberty Nile Cruise generally runs for 3 or 4 nights, with weekly sailings in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. This gives you the opportunity to explore the Nile’s main historic sites, embarking and disembarking at either port.02What does the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise full-board meal plan include?
Full board on the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise covers every meal, from lunch on the day you embark to breakfast on your disembarkation day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the main dining room. Drinks (including water) are usually charged separately.03Which shore trips are included in the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise programme?
A planned excursion programme is included, with visits to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Our Egyptologists lead these trips and share insights into ancient Egypt.04What types of cabin can I book on the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise?
Accommodation aboard the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise is offered in Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabins. Many have panoramic windows or private balconies overlooking the Nile, so you can enjoy the views while sailing. Cabin choice is subject to availability and your selected booking category.05Can families with children take a Royal Liberty Nile Cruise?
Yes, families are welcome on the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise. Children aged 0-5.99 years travel free; for children aged 6-11.99 years, the rate is available on request. Children need to share a cabin with their parents, with no more than one child per cabin; two or more children need a cabin of their own.06What clothing should I pack for a Nile cruise and shore trips?
We suggest wearing comfortable walking shoes and bringing a hat, sunglasses and light, breathable clothes for shore trips. For visits to temples and mosques, modest clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is advisable. Casual wear is suitable on board, though you may prefer something a little smarter for dinner.07Are tips covered by the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise package?
No. Tips for the crew and excursion staff are not covered by the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise package. Tipping for good service is customary in Egypt, and we can advise you on suitable amounts while you plan your trip.08When is the ideal time of year for a Royal Liberty Nile Cruise?
Usually, October to April is the ideal period for a Royal Liberty Nile Cruise, with cooler, more comfortable weather for sightseeing. From May to September, summer temperatures can be very high, although the vessel’s air conditioning offers relief on board.09What facilities can I use aboard the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise?
The Royal Liberty Nile Cruise has a range of shared spaces where you can relax, including a generous sun deck, a comfortable lounge bar, a main dining room and indoor lounges. You can unwind in these areas and take in the Nile scenery between shore excursions.10What arrangements are there for solo travellers on the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise?
Solo travellers are welcome on the Royal Liberty Nile Cruise. Cabin prices are generally based on two people sharing, and a single supplement usually applies when a cabin is occupied by one person. Please ask about the relevant single supplement rates when booking your cruise.
Last updated 8 March 2025Product ID: CRU-NIL-872034
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