Flashback Friday: Ever Wondered What It’s Like to Cruise the Nile?

Back in 2012, I finally dragged DH out of the country, to Egypt no less. Seeing the pyramids was always something I wanted to do, and for the price then (and probably now), Egypt just couldn’t be beat.

Part of our trip to Egypt included about 5 days on the Nile, to visit Karnak, Valley of the Kings/Queens, Edfu, Denderah, and Aswan (pretty identical itinerary here). We were on the SunBoat IV, a boat used by Abercrombie & Kent as well as other tour operators.

So, what’s it like to cruise the Nile?

The Boat: The SunBoat IV is pretty darn big, and very nice. Occasionally we had to walk through other boats–docked side by side–to get to ours, and the SunBoat IV was definitely much nicer than the other ships. It was also not crowded, though at this time in Egypt, there pretty much wasn’t anything that was crowded (except Abu Simbel). There is a pool on deck and plenty of lounge chairs.

The Food: Decent, but not spectacular. There were a few days where I ate a lot of olives. Unfortunately they are big on buffets, which I understand on a ship, but I am not a fan of buffets. I also wish they had allowed us to dine outside more frequently, as night is about the only pleasant time to be outside. They did have a fun afternoon tea with biscuits and such each afternoon, which was a nice touch.

The Itinerary: Wonderful. That said–you can definitely see the attractions in Egypt without going on a boat, and while the boat adds some flavor to the experience–and it’s fun for a bit to see the shores and desert–it’s definitely not necessary. Particularly if boats aren’t your thing, don’t worry about missing it. I think that our trip was also a bit overshadowed by the insane heat (108 degrees one day), as we went in September. Therefore it wasn’t always pleasant to be sitting on deck, which to me, is the best (and perhaps only) place I really enjoy being on a ship. However, the sights absolutely could not be beat. It’s hard not to go to Egypt and be totally captivated by the Valley of the Queens, or Luxor, or Karnak (or any other of the myriad of incredible feats of the Egyptians).

The Accommodations: It’s a boat, though it is a river boat. The cabins are decently sized, though almost all except the suites have double beds (they were not upfront about this at booking…no big deal, but its silly not to be honest about these things). The bathrooms are tiny. We stayed in the second class of cabins (pretty sure there were four classes, including the suites)–which meant slightly more space, on the main deck, and less engine noise and fuel smell. We also had windows (not portholes).

The Crew: Pleasant and helpful and always eager to please. There was a security officer with a gun at nearly all times on the main deck, particularly while we were sailing (moreso than while in port).

The Verdict: Cruising the Nile is a great experience, but by no means a make or break activity on your Egyptian adventure. For example, I wish we had a bit more time to enjoy or see the places we stopped, beyond the sites, to see the smaller towns and villages and wander around a bit. And I also don’t like ship bathrooms. Does anyone, really? I think I would have enjoyed the ship more if it hadn’t been so damn hot outside, too, as I love sitting on deck and watching the shore go by. However, it’s a very comfortable way to get from point A to point B, and catch many of the incredible sites in the process. I also think a boat added a bit more relaxation to an otherwise filled trip–including time to sort through photos in a beautiful lounge with some tea (or beer) and absorb some Egyptology from the experts.

Tips: Ask which side the boat docks on–we were always docked one direction, meaning those on the inside never had a view of the river at night. For us I’m almost positive we docked on the left, so the right hand cabins viewed the river. Also, if you are sensitive to noise, do not choose rooms near the engine as much of the cruising is done at night.