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Al Nabilatan Nile Cruise — Rates, Facts, Photos & Booking Help
Book Al Nabilatan Nile Cruise. French Balcony Deluxe vessel sailing Aswan ↔ Luxor over 3 or 4 nights. $300 - $600 according to seasonality.
Al Nabilatan Nile Cruise Description
Al Nabilatan Nile Cruise carries an official 5 Stars rating from the Egyptian Tourism Authority, is rated as a Deluxe cruise in our editorial standards, has 65 cabins, with a size of 22 m². Each cabin features a French balcony with floor-to-ceiling glass. That layout makes it a larger ship by current Nile-fleet standards, which keeps the guest-to-crew ratio favourable and the public spaces uncrowded most evenings.
Stepping aboard the MS Al Nabilatan feels like entering a classic, floating tribute to regional history. Launched in late 1999, this five-star river cruiser bypasses contemporary, ultra-modern minimalism in favor of striking Andalusian Islamic architecture. Measuring just over seventy-two meters in length, the vessel cultivates a refined, traditional atmosphere that complements the ancient landscapes of Upper Egypt. With a capacity of roughly sixty-five suite-style cabins, it avoids the overwhelming crowds of massive megaships while maintaining enough scale to offer comprehensive onboard amenities. Rather than catering to the fast-paced, high-energy tourist crowd, the ship provides a mature, steady environment. It operates as a comfortable, culturally resonant basecamp for discerning travelers exploring the legendary waterway between Luxor and Aswan.
There is something quietly magical about seeing Egypt from the water. Aboard Al Nabilatan, the Nile carries you from temple to temple in comfort — sunny days on deck, relaxed evenings on board, and the ancient wonders of Luxor and Aswan never far away. A classic, easygoing way to experience the river and its history.
🛏️ Accommodation
Personal space on the vessel is strictly reserved for outward-facing accommodations, completely eliminating dark, interior rooms. Passengers reside in one of the sixty-five suite-style cabins, each providing approximately twenty square meters of functional living area. Instead of restrictive portholes, the rooms utilize large panoramic windows, ensuring guests can always observe the shifting agrarian shorelines from the comfort of their beds. The climate-controlled interiors are warmly furnished to match the ship's traditional aesthetic, equipped with practical amenities like minibars, individual safes, and satellite televisions. Notably, the en-suite bathrooms are generously outfitted with full bathtubs rather than simple standing showers, offering a welcome layer of comfort for washing off the dust after a demanding morning navigating sun-baked archaeological sites.
- Private en-suite bathroom with shower, hairdryer, complimentary toiletries
- Individually controlled air conditioning
- Satellite TV, in-house video channels, mini-bar
- In-cabin electronic safety deposit box
🍽️ Dining & Cuisine
Culinary execution during the voyage centers around an expansive lower-deck restaurant designed to comfortably seat up to one hundred and fifty passengers simultaneously. Operating on a dependable full-board schedule, the kitchen relies heavily on substantial, open-buffet services for breakfast and lunch, seamlessly blending international staples with regional Egyptian specialties. As evening sets in, dinners frequently shift toward a more refined table service, allowing guests to choose from curated set menus. For daytime refreshment, the upper sun deck bar provides cold drinks and afternoon tea as the river flows past. Once night falls, the fourth-deck lounge—framed by massive panoramic windows—becomes the ship's social anchor, serving expertly mixed cocktails and hosting lively, structured entertainment.
🌊 Leisure & Entertainment
Downtime between shore excursions is easily absorbed by the ship’s thoughtfully designed recreational areas. The uppermost level is dominated by a sprawling sun deck, complete with shaded loungers, a refreshing swimming pool, and an adjacent Jacuzzi for cooling down during the intense midday heat. Below deck, the expansive public lobby and main lounge offer heavily air-conditioned spaces for quiet reading or socializing. Uniquely for a vessel of its vintage, the ship includes a functional business center and a dedicated billiard table for casual evening recreation. As darkness falls, the crew shifts focus to cultural engagement, organizing traditional Nubian folkloric shows, belly dancing performances, and energetic Galabiya costume parties to keep the atmosphere lively.
✨ What Makes It Unique
What distinctly separates this specific riverboat from its five-star peers is its unwavering commitment to Andalusian Islamic design, which lends the interior a rich, historical character rarely found on newer, hyper-modern ships. Architecturally, the deliberate inclusion of a passenger elevator represents a massive advantage, drastically improving accessibility across the vessel's multiple decks—a feature notoriously absent from many competitors navigating the region. Furthermore, the decision to equip every standard cabin with a full bathtub elevates the baseline comfort level significantly. By combining a deeply regional aesthetic with practical, guest-focused engineering, the operator delivers a highly functional, culturally immersive environment that feels like a natural extension of the archaeological sites visited during the day.
🛎️ Onboard Facilities
- 24-hour reception
- Laundry service
- Onboard gift shop
- Internet access in designated areas
- Major credit cards accepted (VISA, Mastercard)
Specs verified · cabin counts, cabin sizes, deck features, and facility list confirmed against the operator’s published sheet.
Al Nabilatan Nile Cruise Photos
Browse the gallery to see Al Nabilatan's cabins, dining, sundeck and exterior. Click any image to enlarge.
Al Nabilatan Nile Cruise Rates in USD
Calculate Your Total Cruise Cost
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- All rates are per person in USD, full-board with all sightseeing included.
- Holiday seasons (Christmas, Easter, New Year) carry a supplement reflecting peak demand.
- Single supplement 50% of Adult in Double cabin rate.
- Triple reduction 3% of Adult in Double rate.
- Junior Suite Rate is equal to two Single Cabins.
- Royal & Presidential Suites Rate is equal to two Double Cabins.
- For cruise-only without sightseeing, deduct $120 from the 3-night price and $160 from the 4-night price.
Al Nabilatan Nile Cruise Children Policy
| Age category / arrangement | Rate |
|---|---|
| Infant (under 3 years) | Free of charge — Maximum 1 free Infant per Cabin; second Infant in cabin will be charged Child Rate |
| Child (3 – 12 years) | 50% of the adult rate |
| Child (12 years or older) | Full adult rate |
| Maximum children per cabin | 1 child sharing 2 adults, or 2 children sharing 1 adult |
| 1 child + 1 adult sharing one cabin | No discount — same rate as 2 adults in double cabin |
| 2 children in a separate cabin | Same rate as 1 adult in single cabin |
What's Included & What's Not
✅ The Rate Includes
- Accommodation for 3 or 4 nights in your chosen cabin category
- Transfer from airport, train station or hotel on arrival
- Full-board dining: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All guided sightseeing tours per the standard 3 / 4-night itinerary
- Services of a licensed, professional Egyptologist guide
- All entrance fees to historical sites named in the itinerary (Except Optional Tours)
- Departure transfer to airport / train station
❌ The Rate Excludes
- Tours not mentioned in the itinerary
- Optional excursions (e.g. Abu Simbel, hot-air balloon)
- Beverages: water, soft drinks, alcohol
- Tipping for cruise crew and guide (gratuities)
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, etc.)
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
Before you book: Review the full payment, amendment, and refund terms in our Cancellation Policy.
Al Nabilatan is your best fit if
- You need or prefer an elevator between decks — Al Nabilatan has one.
- You want a French-balcony cabin — floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that let you watch the Nile from inside, with fresh river breeze when opened.
- You want the amenity range of a larger Nile vessel — Al Nabilatan has 65 cabins, among the larger ships sailing the Aswan–Luxor route.
- You want 5-star quality at value-tier pricing — Al Nabilatan delivers deluxe-class amenities without the ultra-luxury premium.
Al Nabilatan isn't your best fit if
- You're booking for three adults sharing a cabin — consider booking 1 Double + 1 Single instead of a Triple Cabin, or book another cruise with a larger cabin size.
- If you specifically want suite-only accommodation, try to use our search bar and find an All-Suites cruise.
- If you want a restored heritage vessel, consider Karim, Sudan, and Memnon.
- If you want a walk-out balcony instead of a French balcony, try to use our search bar and find an Outside Balcony cruise.
Itineraries
Al Nabilatan sails the classic Aswan↔Luxor route. Choose between a 3-night cruise (Aswan → Luxor) or a 4-night cruise (Luxor → Aswan).
3-Night Itinerary: Aswan → Luxor
Full detailed 3-Night Aswan → Luxor itinerary →
4-Night Itinerary: Luxor → Aswan
Frequently Asked Questions
Specifics about Al Nabilatan — class and rating, cabin layout, itineraries, departure days, and the practicalities of sailing on this particular vessel.
What is the official Egyptian Tourism Authority rating of Al Nabilatan?
What is your editorial rating of Al Nabilatan?
How many cabins does Al Nabilatan have?
What is the average cabin size on Al Nabilatan?
Does Al Nabilatan offer lower-deck cabins?
Do the cabins onboard Al Nabilatan have a balcony?
Does Al Nabilatan have an elevator on board?
Are all cabins on Al Nabilatan configured as suites?
Is Al Nabilatan a modern build or a restored heritage vessel?
Is Al Nabilatan currently in active service?
What cruise lengths does Al Nabilatan offer?
What route does Al Nabilatan sail, and what does each itinerary cover?
Which days of the week does Al Nabilatan depart?
What are the check-in and check-out times on Al Nabilatan?
What languages are spoken on board Al Nabilatan?
What currencies are accepted on Al Nabilatan?
What payment methods does Al Nabilatan accept?
How much deposit do I need to book the Al Nabilatan Nile cruise?
Can I pay for the Al Nabilatan cruise in monthly instalments?
Can I change my Al Nabilatan cruise date or swap cruises for free?
Is the Al Nabilatan cruise price protected against future increases?
What happens if my Al Nabilatan cruise is cancelled or disrupted?
What is the cancellation and refund policy for the Al Nabilatan Nile cruise?
Looking for general Nile-cruise information? For visa requirements, packing checklists, tipping etiquette, dress codes, optional excursions, and the daily rhythm of cruise life, see our Comprehensive Nile Cruise Guide for First-Timers — the answers in that guide apply to every Nile cruise on the route, including Al Nabilatan.
Why Book With Nile-Cruise-Egypt.com?
We’ve spent 25+ years booking Nile cruises and treat every reservation as the start of a long-term relationship, not a one-off transaction. Here’s what that means in practice:
- Honest cruise matching, not the highest commission — we recommend the boat that fits your budget, dates, and travel style, even when it isn’t the one paying us the most.
- One named consultant from enquiry to disembarkation — you won’t be passed between agents or talk to a different person each time you email.
- No bait pricing — the rate you see is the rate you pay; cabin upgrades, optional excursions, and seasonal supplements are quoted up-front, never sprung at checkout.
- Operator-direct rates — we work directly with Nile cruise operators, so what you pay is comparable to booking the boat yourself, with the added safety net of our support throughout.
- Egypt-based, on-the-ground support — our office is in Cairo, not a call centre in another country; if something needs fixing during your trip, we can act on it locally and immediately.
- Most travellers return or refer us — repeat bookings and word-of-mouth referrals make up the majority of our work, which is the only customer-satisfaction metric we trust.
From your first enquiry through to disembarkation, our priority is honest guidance, peace of mind, and a Nile cruise you’ll remember as a personal experience — not just a trip.
Family Travel, Made Effortless
A Nile cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel Egypt with family. Unpack once — your floating hotel moves with you, so there are no early-morning hotel checkouts, no repacking, and no long road transfers between cities. You wake up already at the next temple.
We take the logistics off your plate so you can focus on the experience:
- Transfers handled — airport pickups and all moves between the boat and the sites are arranged for you.
- Meals included — full-board dining on board, so there’s no hunting for restaurants with tired, hungry children.
- Expert Egyptologist guides — licensed guides bring the temples to life at a pace that keeps all ages engaged.
- Everything in one place — pool, dining, sun deck and cabins together, so families stay close and relaxed between excursions.
The result: less stress, fewer logistics, and more time making memories together.
A Shared Ship, Your Own Experience
You travel alongside other guests, but your experience stays very much your own. The ship is the setting — how you enjoy it is up to you.
- Your private cabin — every cabin has its own en-suite bathroom and individual climate control, so your space is entirely yours, set to your comfort.
- Dine your way — share a table and meet fellow travellers, or keep to yourselves; the choice is yours at every meal.
- Private excursions on request — prefer to explore the temples with your own guide and vehicle rather than the group? We can arrange private touring for you.
- Your own pace — join every activity or simply relax on the sun deck and watch the Nile drift by. Nothing is compulsory.
It’s the ease of a guided cruise with the privacy and flexibility of independent travel.
Why Book Now Rather Than Later
There’s no pressure here — but there are real, practical reasons not to leave Al Nabilatan sitting in a browser tab. Booking now removes risk rather than adding it:
- Cabins and dates are limited — each boat sails on a fixed schedule with a fixed number of cabins. Popular dates and the best cabin categories sell first; once a departure fills, no amount of budget brings it back.
- Today’s price can rise — Nile cruise rates move with fuel costs, temple entrance fees, and government taxes. When those go up, published prices follow. The figure you see today is not guaranteed to be there next month.
- Your deposit locks today’s price — place your 20% deposit and the rate you were quoted is held for your booking, even if prices rise afterwards. You are protected from increases the moment you confirm.
- There’s no downside to securing it — with a low 20% deposit, 0% interest instalments on the balance, and free date, cruise, and name changes, booking early costs you nothing in flexibility. You simply lock the cabin and the price, and keep your options open.
In short: waiting risks losing your cabin or paying more, while booking now secures both — with every guarantee below standing behind your reservation.
Booking Guarantees & Flexibility
Every Al Nabilatan booking with Nile-Cruise-Egypt.com comes with the guarantees below. These are the same terms set out in our booking contract and cancellation policy — summarised here so you know exactly where you stand before you pay.
Flexible, transparent payment
- 20% deposit to book. You secure your cabin with a 20% deposit at the time of booking — not the full amount up front.
- 0% interest instalments. Pay the balance in equal monthly instalments at no added cost. The final instalment is due 30 days before your travel date.
Cabin guarantees
- No lower-deck cabins, guaranteed. You will never be placed in a lower-deck cabin.
- Top-deck assurance. A guaranteed top-deck cabin is available for a 10% supplement — or free of charge as top check-in priority, subject to availability on the day.
Change & cancellation flexibility
- Free date change up to 30 days before your travel date (subject to any seasonal price difference).
- Free cruise swap up to 30 days before travel (subject to any price difference between the two cruises).
- Free name change up to 7 days before travel.
Price protection
- Locked-in price. Your price is protected against any future increase in cruise rates, fuel prices, government taxes, or entrance fees.
- Price-drop refund. If the price drops after you book, you receive the difference back (same booking conditions apply).
If an operational issue affects your cruise
Examples: urgent maintenance, administrative issues, or a cruise-specific force-majeure event.
- Reassignment to a similar or higher-category cruise.
- Conditions guaranteed — your original plan’s terms stay exactly as booked.
- No downgrade — you keep all rights, privileges, and cabin guarantees.
If there is a national or global shutdown
Examples: pandemic, airspace closure, navigation suspension, or any force-majeure event affecting all cruises.
- Postpone free of charge — move to a later date keeping the exact same booked plan, benefits, and conditions; or
- Full refund — receive a 100% refund.
Full terms, definitions, and any conditions are set out in our booking contract. If anything here is unclear, your dedicated consultant will walk you through it before you commit.
Ready to Sail on Al Nabilatan?
Ultimately, securing a cabin on this classically styled cruiser guarantees a reliable, deeply comfortable method for absorbing the heavy history of the surrounding desert landscape. By balancing traditional architectural motifs with sturdy maritime engineering, the operator effectively removes the logistical friction typically associated with navigating rural trade routes. Guests depart with vivid memories of observing timeless feluccas from the heavily windowed fourth-deck lounge, supported by a professional crew that anticipates daily needs without hovering. The careful integration of authentic cultural engagement and polished, essential amenities makes this voyage consistently restorative. It stands as a highly recommended option for travelers who desire a well-rounded exploration that maximizes both historical discovery and vacation value.


