Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise
A five-star river cruiser with spacious suites, Nile-view cabins, a pool on the sun deck, indoor lounges and full-board dining.
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 four-day Nile cruise covering Luxor, Aswan and riverbank sites, arranged through Discovery Tours Egypt.
·In summary
Sonesta Sun Goddess sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan in both directions, with shore excursions timed around the vessel’s river schedule. Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day.
Snapshot
Good to know
- Accommodation
- Five-star Nile cruise vessel
- Destinations
- Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Includes
- Cabin aboard Sonesta Sun Goddess · Full-board meals from embarkation-day lunch to disembarkation-day breakfast · Use of the pool, spa, rooftop terrace, lounges and restaurant · Port charges · Standard onboard service fees · Weekly sailings between Luxor and Aswan in both directions
- Best for
- Travellers seeking spacious cabins · Guests who prefer full-board dining · Couples · Families sharing a cabin
- Cabin classes are identified as Standard, Deluxe and Suite.
What lingers
- 01Cabin choices are graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite.
- 02Relax on the sun deck beside the pool or use the rooftop terrace.
- 03On-board amenities include a lounge, restaurant, spa and room service.
- 04The excursion programme features Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.
- 05Shore visits include the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
- 06The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan.
02Overview
A first look
At dusk in Luxor, the last light catches the river beside the temple, while the Sonesta Sun Goddess settles into its berth. From the sun deck, feluccas move quietly across the water; indoors, the lounge bar offers a calmer place to watch the banks slip from view. Sailing days give the Nile its own unhurried rhythm, between visits to places such as Karnak and the Temple of Horus at Edfu.
The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. We arrange your booking and share the embarkation details in advance, so you know where to go and what to expect. Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and our team is available to help with the practical arrangements before you board.
Background
The facts
Sonesta Sun Goddess is a five-star Nile cruise vessel sailing between Luxor and Aswan. Discovery Tours Egypt selects and arranges bookings for the vessel; the cruise line owns and operates it.
The vessel sails weekly in both directions, with embarkation and disembarkation in Luxor and Aswan. Its shore-excursion programme includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu’s Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo and Philae. Sailing days alternate with visits ashore. In Luxor, the vessel docks in front of Luxor Temple, before Luxor Bridge.
The route links sites from different periods of Egyptian history. Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple are major New Kingdom monuments. The Valley of the Kings contains royal tombs from the New Kingdom. Philae is part of the UNESCO-listed Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, inscribed in 1979.
Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite. On board are a sun deck, pool, rooftop terrace, lounge bar, restaurant and indoor seating areas. Full board covers lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Excursion departure times depend on the vessel’s sailing schedule; site opening hours vary by location and date.
Named in this entry
Sonesta Sun Goddess·Luxor·Aswan·Nile·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·Valley of the Kings·Edfu·Temple of Horus·Kom Ombo·Philae·Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae·Luxor Bridge
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits couples, older travellers and first-time visitors who want spacious cabins, full-board meals and a structured Nile shore-excursion programme. It also suits families with school-age children or teenagers who can manage steps, gangways and uneven temple paths.
Maybe not, if
- Choose a different option if you need step-free access or prefer to set your own pace without scheduled shore excursions. Summer sailing may also be uncomfortable if you struggle with high heat.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabin classes offer a choice of space.
- A sun deck pool and rooftop terrace provide time outdoors.
Things to Consider
- Gangways, steps and uneven temple paths limit mobility.
- Excursion timings may mean early starts on some days.
- Summer heat can make shore visits tiring, especially at midday.
- Drinks (including water) cost extra.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most land-based Egypt itineraries travel between sites by road; this cruise links Luxor and Aswan by river, with sailing days alternating with shore excursions. Unlike a fixed land itinerary, excursion departure times depend on the vessel’s sailing schedule.
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
On property
What's here
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Family rooms
- Spa
- Wi-Fi
- Swimming pool
- Garden
- Rooftop terrace
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Accommodation aboard the Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise
- Full-board meals, from lunch on embarkation day to breakfast on disembarkation day
- Use of the public onboard facilities: pool, spa, rooftop terrace, lounges and restaurant
- Port charges and standard onboard service fees
Not included
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Optional shore-excursion entrance fees and private guided excursions, unless specified
- Tickets for pyramid interiors and premium tombs, including Tutankhamun and Seti I, unless explicitly requested
- Gratuities for crew and local guides, unless included in your booking confirmation
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Ask which cabin category and Nile-facing view are confirmed in your booking, as cabin classes differ.
- 02
Keep a light layer handy for breezier periods on the sun deck while the vessel is sailing.
- 03
Carry small notes for optional gratuities, which are not included unless your booking confirmation says otherwise.
- 04
Check the day’s shore-excursion departure time with the vessel’s crew, as it follows the sailing schedule.
Tailor it
Make it yours
The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, so you can enquire about the direction that suits your plans. Private guided shore excursions and premium tomb visits, including Tutankhamun’s tomb and Seti I’s tomb, may be arranged at extra cost; ask us to confirm availability. Entries to standard sites and any other changes should be checked against your booking details.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Where it fits
The Sonesta Sun Goddess sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, so it can sit between a Luxor stay and time in Aswan. Add Cairo before or after the Nile journey for the Egyptian Museum and Giza Plateau.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Boarding involves a gangway, and quay surfaces can be uneven. Moving between decks may require stairs; lift access is not confirmed for the assigned vessel, so guests who cannot use stairs should ask us to check before booking. Shore excursions can involve long walks, uneven stone, steps and narrow passages. At Karnak Temple, expect long paved avenues and some cobbled sections. The Valley of the Kings and Kom Ombo have uneven surfaces and stairs, and landing from the vessel may also involve steps. We can request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for road transfers, subject to local availability. Tell us about mobility requirements before booking so we can check vessel access and discuss practical alternatives.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The vessel is diesel-powered, and shore transfers are generally by air-conditioned coach. We arrange services with locally based suppliers, including crew, Egyptologists and catering providers, which directs some trip spending to businesses in the places visited. Reusing a bottle where possible can reduce single-use plastic. At archaeological sites, follow marked paths and avoid touching ancient reliefs, including those at Kom Ombo. Optional visits to local craft sellers may be available, depending on the excursion arrangements. We cannot verify the vessel’s fuel efficiency or the precise local share of spending, so we do not make broader environmental claims.
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 travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- High-SPF sun cream and lip protection
- A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
- A reusable water bottle
- A small day bag for shore excursions
- Personal medication and basic first-aid supplies
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable layers for warm days
- A light jumper or jacket for cooler evenings on deck
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- Closed, comfortable shoes for archaeological sites
- Swimwear and a pool cover-up
Children & families
Children aged 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children aged 6 to 11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price, and children aged 12 years 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. Strollers can be used on board but may be difficult at shore landings and sites with stairs or uneven stone. Give us the children’s ages and sleeping arrangements when enquiring so we can check cabin options.
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 |
|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Luxorembarks Fridays | October – April: from £1,776single cabin £2,785 |
| 4 nights · Luxor → Aswanembarks Mondays | October – April: from £2,273single cabin £3,618 |
| 7 nights · Luxor → Luxorembarks Mondays | October – April: from £3,763single cabin £6,117 |
| 7 nights · Aswan → Aswanembarks Fridays | October – April: from £3,779single cabin £6,133 |
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
- Luxor TempleRight here
- Luxor Museum12 min walk
- Karnak Temple3 km
- Valley of the Kings8 km
Why book this with us
Three reasons, stated plainly
01
Compare Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabin classes before booking
02
We arrange the vessel and shore-excursion details with you
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01What is the typical duration of a Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise?
The Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise typically offers sailings of three or four nights, travelling between Luxor and Aswan. The vessel sails weekly in both directions, allowing for flexible holiday planning.02What is included in the full-board meal plan on the Sonesta Sun Goddess?
Your full-board plan includes all meals, from lunch on your embarkation day through breakfast on your disembarkation day. This covers main restaurant service; drinks (including water) are typically an additional cost.03What shore excursions are part of the Sonesta Sun Goddess programme?
The cruise programme includes shore excursions to key sites such as Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae Temple. Days alternate between sailing on the Nile and visiting these ancient sites.04What are the cabin options on the Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise?
The Sonesta Sun Goddess offers spacious cabins graded as Standard, Deluxe, and Suite classes. All cabins provide Nile views, with some featuring panoramic windows or balconies, ensuring comfortable accommodation for your journey.05Is the Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise suitable for children?
Yes, children are welcome. Those aged 0-5.99 years travel free, while children 6-11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, with a maximum of one child per cabin.06What should I wear on a Nile cruise and for shore excursions?
For shore excursions, comfortable walking shoes are essential, along with light, breathable clothing. When visiting religious sites like temples, modest dress is advised, covering shoulders and knees. Swimwear is suitable for the sun deck and pool.07What is the best time of year to take a Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise?
The cooler months from October to April are generally considered the best for a Nile cruise, offering pleasant temperatures for shore excursions. This period is ideal for winter sun holidays, avoiding the hotter summer months.08What is the policy on gratuities for the crew and guides?
Gratuities for the cruise crew and local guides are not included in the standard booking, unless explicitly stated otherwise in your confirmation. It is customary to tip at the end of the cruise for good service.09What facilities are available on board the Sonesta Sun Goddess?
The Sonesta Sun Goddess features a sun deck with a swimming pool, a rooftop terrace offering views and shade, and multiple indoor public lounges. There is also a lounge bar and a main restaurant for dining.10Are drinks included with meals on the Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise?
However, other drinks, such as soft drinks, juices, and alcoholic beverages, are usually an additional cost and can be purchased from the onboard bar or restaurant.
Last updated 8 March 2025Product ID: CRU-NIL-480819
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