Nile Cruise Cost per Person in USD, With a Worked Budget

How much does a Nile cruise cost per person?

Fares depend on the number of nights, the ship, the cabin and the date. Our four multi-night Nile cruises start at the prices below, read from the trip pages on 21 October 2026 (the price table summarizes our prices by destination rather than listing each trip). Each page says the final price depends on the selected date, group size and options, so the live price on the trip page is the one to use.

The cruises are the 3-night Aswan to Luxor sailing, and the 4-day, 5-day and 7-day deluxe sailings from Luxor. The two 3-night cruises start at different prices and their pages do not name the ship, so ask which ship and cabin a quote covers.

For context we also read four pages from other operators on 21 October 2026: a price guide, a rate list for one 4-night cruise, a tipping guide and a balloon price page. They are commercial pages, not market surveys, so treat their figures as examples. The price guide says Nile cruises run from $150 to $1,500 per person per night, and gives $600 to $1,200 per person as the usual cost of a standard four-day Luxor to Aswan sailing, with meals and the main excursions counted in. It carries no publication date (its title says 2026). For dahabiyas, see our dahabiya vs standard Nile cruise comparison; this guide covers standard cruise ships.

A cruise bundles lodging, meals, transport and, on ours, guided excursions and entrance fees. For a land trip, price those items separately. Our guide to what a trip to Egypt costs gives price ranges by trip type.

What makes one Nile cruise cost more than another?

Season, ship class and cabin sharing all move the price. The table shows the rate list's prices for a 4-night Luxor to Aswan cruise, per person in a double cabin (an undated page, checked 21 October 2026). The difference column is our calculation.

Season

In a double cabin, September to April costs 42% to 52% more than May to August on that list. The price guide puts the peak at November to March, with prices 40% to 60% above summer rates, and says many operators cut summer prices by 30% to 50% when temperatures can reach 113°F (45°C). The rate list excludes Christmas, New Year and Easter holidays and gives no figure for them, so ask about those dates by name.

Ship class

The same list charges $841 for a Standard ship and $2,032 for a Luxury ship over the same four nights in May to August, and it rates even the Standard class five-star. Because every class on that list shows five stars, the star count does not tell them apart; ask for the ship's name and class.

Cabin sharing and the single supplement

Fares are per person, with separate triple, double and single rates. The single fares on that list run 27% to 43% above the double fare (our calculation), while the price guide says supplements often run 50% to 100% of the standard cabin rate. Sources differ. Our trip pages do not list a single supplement, so a solo traveler should ask for the total solo price for the dates.

What is included, and what costs extra?

Compare inclusion lists, not headline prices. Our four cruise pages include a cabin with full board, all shore excursions with a licensed guide and entrance fees to all listed sites. Water, tea and coffee at meals are included; other drinks, gratuities, and photos and videos are not. The pages also state free cancellation up to 3 days before the trip.

Abu Simbel is not in the itineraries on our cruise pages. It is sold as a separate Abu Simbel day trip from Aswan, and the Luxor hot-air balloon sunrise flight is its own trip too; both pages show the live price. The Abu Simbel and balloon ranges in this guide are other operators' listed prices, so use the live price on our pages if you book with us.

What do temple entrance fees cost?

Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities lists adult fees in Egyptian pounds (EGP) for foreign visitors on its pages for Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. The pages carry no update date, so these are the figures listed when checked on 21 October 2026. Dollar values use EGP 54.45 per dollar, the National Bank of Egypt's buying rate on 20 October 2026, reported by Arab Finance.

The rate moves daily and fees can change, so check both before you travel. Student fees on these pages are half the adult fee, and our Egyptian pound and money guide has more on money in Egypt.

These six stops cost EGP 3,400 per adult, $62 at that rate. Our fares include entrance fees for the sites listed on each page. If another quote leaves them out, add these figures for your stops.

A worked budget for two adults, five days and four nights

This example uses our 5-day Luxor to Aswan cruise, which has four nights on board, and only figures from this guide. Swap any line for the number in your own quote.

The tip lines use the tipping guide's ranges. The guide line assumes three guided days, one for each sightseeing step on the 5-day page (Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, Kom Ombo, Philae); the page does not number the days, so change that figure to match your itinerary. The price guide suggests $30 to $50 per person for the whole cruise, which would make the tips $60 to $100 for two.

The fare is a from-price, so the price for your dates may be higher. Check whether an Abu Simbel price includes the EGP 750 entry fee. If a fare leaves out entrance fees, the four listed sites add EGP 4,700 for two adults, $86 at EGP 54.45 per dollar. Flights, the visa, drinks and souvenirs are outside every figure here.

To price your own dates, choose Book This Trip on a cruise page and pick the date and number of travelers; the page says the final price is confirmed before booking.

Nile

Luxor to Aswan 5-Day Nile Cruise

Our classic Luxor–Aswan Nile cruise at a relaxed 5-day pace, with a full leisurely half-day at Kom Ombo's riverside temple.

5 Days / 4 Nights

From

$900 / per person

View Trip

Nile

Luxor to Aswan 4-Day Nile Cruise

A 4-day, 3-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan with full board, a comfortable cabin, and temple stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo.

4 Days / 3 Nights

From

$775 / per person

View Trip

Nile

Luxor to Aswan 7-Day Deluxe Nile Cruise

A relaxed 7-day deluxe Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, giving you extra time at every temple plus a full free day to unwind.

7 Days / 6 Nights

From

$1,225 / per person

View Trip

How much should you tip on a Nile cruise?

Both operator guides treat tips as expected, and they disagree on amounts. The tipping guide (published 30 August 2026) says gratuities are not legally required but are expected. It suggests $5 to $10 per person per night for the crew, handed in as one lump sum at reception on the final evening, and $10 to $15 per person per day for the Egyptologist guide, paid directly. The price guide suggests $30 to $50 per person for a standard 3- to 5-night cruise, covering guides, boat staff and drivers.

Our cruise pages list gratuities as not included, so tips come on top of the fare. Because the ranges vary, ask reception what the ship recommends. Our guide to tipping in Egypt quotes roughly $10 to $15 per person per night for standard cruises, higher than the tipping guide's crew range, and notes that all such figures come from commercial sites.

How can you tell a quote is too cheap?

A low price is not a fault in itself, since summer fares really are lower. These three checks rest on published numbers and standard consumer advice.

1. Compare like for like. Occupancy, nights, ship class, taxes and service charges all change a fare. The rate list, for example, includes service charges, taxes, entrance fees, a guide and transfers, and excludes tips, flights, the visa and Tutankhamun's tomb.
2. Check what is missing. Six common stops cost $62 per adult in entrance fees at the rate above, so a quote far below comparable ones needs another explanation, such as a missing guide, excursions, transfers or taxes. The lowest published figures cited in this guide are $150 per person per night and about $450 for a basic 3-night cruise (price guide).
3. Ask for names and terms. The US Federal Trade Commission writes its travel advice about scams, but two rules fit any quote: walk away if the organizer will not give specifics such as the cruise company's name, and get the cancellation and refund terms before paying anything.