The Nile was the heart of ancient Egyptian civilization and, as a result, the majority of historical sites follow the river. Because of this, a Nile cruise is one of the best ways to see the highlights outside of Egypt’s major cities. While there are tons of cruise options, Nour El Nil is one of the most luxurious choices.
Keep reading for a complete review of Nour El Nil, including details on the accommodations, food and drinks, itinerary, and experience, as well as an overall verdict.
Nour El Nil Accommodations
Overview
Nour El Nil has seven different dahabiyas, each with two panoramic suites and six to ten rooms. You’ll select your preferred boat when booking. The newer, larger boats are more expensive, but you’re primarily paying for bigger rooms and more deck space. However, the cost for a room on the largest boat is more than double the cost of a room on the smallest one.
According to Nour El Nil, the design, style, service and experience are the same regardless of the boat. While this seemed to be generally true, there were some differences in where the boats tied up each night. For example, the itinerary states that on day three the boat will tie up the foot of floodlit temple of Gebel Silsileh. This was true for two of the dahabiyas, but the rest tied up away from the temple and had no view. Would I pay double to be on the boat with a better location? Probably not, but it was a little disappointing and could be a factor people want to take into consideration when booking.
Deck & Salon
The deck makes up the bulk of the boat and is where you’ll likely spend the most time. This is where meals and drinks are served, and the best place to take in the Egyptian countryside. Even on the smaller dahabiyas, the deck is expansive and has plenty of space. Seating ranges from comfortable couches placed in the sun, to cushions tucked under a canopy for shade.
The salon is an immaculately designed space with seating areas and tables. It also includes a selection of books and games. During my Nour El Nil adventure, the weather was incredible, so I spent most of the time on deck. However, the salon would be an ideal escape from the elements on warmer days or cooler nights.
Rooms & Suites
All of the dahabiyas have the option of either a panoramic suite or a regular room. The suites are larger, and have floor-to-ceiling windows and a seating area. Regular rooms have fewer, much smaller windows, less space, and no seating area. Despite the smaller size, the regular rooms still have plenty of storage and there was enough closet space to unpack completely.
Not sure what to pack for Egypt or what to wear? Check out this post for some outfit inspiration or see a complete packing list for Egypt!
After seeing both options in person, the suite doesn’t seem worth the extra cost. Yes, the extra space is nice, but realistically you won’t be in the room enough to make the additional price worth it.
Whether you choose a suite or normal room, the space is comfortable and well-designed in typical Nour El Nil style. The accommodations aren’t the roomiest or extravagantly upscale, but they are some of the best that you’ll find on the Nile.
Food & Drinks
Meals & Snacks
A major highlight of the Nour El Nil experience was the food. The food is nearly all traditional Egyptian, with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. Everything was served family style, but the crew was great at catering to individual dietary needs and preferences. There were multiple vegetarians on board and the chef always prepared comparable meat-free alternatives.
Breakfast typically included traditional dishes, such as falafel and foul, as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables, local cheeses, and fresh bread. The homemade guava and strawberry jams were amazing! Fresh squeezed orange juice and French press coffee were served every morning as well.
Lunches and dinners were made up of a variety of hot and cold traditional Egyptian classics, coupled with international dishes like spaghetti or fries. One of my favorites was koshari, but I also loved the soups, which were different every night.
As we were told several times during our trip, Egyptians have a sweet tooth and love their desserts. Dessert after lunch was usually fresh fruit, but we also had homemade melon and strawberry ice cream that I’m still dreaming about. After dinner, we were treated to traditional Egyptian desserts, as well as cake for birthday celebrations.
Each afternoon, the crew brought out fun beverages, like juices, smoothies, or mint tea, along with snacks. These varied daily and were all delicious. The mint lemonade was so refreshing on a hot afternoon!
Beverages & Alcohol
In addition to the wide variety of juices and smoothies, non-alcoholic beverages, such as bottled water, soda, coffee, and tea, are available by request throughout the day.
Alcoholic beverages, including local beer and wine, gin, and vodka, can be purchased. There is also the option to bring alcohol on board, with no corkage fees. We considered packing a bottle of gin, but I’m glad we didn’t bother. Drinks on the boat are reasonably priced and was nice not being limited to one type of liquor. All alcoholic purchases can be paid for with either cash or credit card on the last day.
Itinerary & Experience
Itinerary
Nour El Nil has one of the lengthiest, most leisurely itineraries you’ll find for a Nile cruise. Rather than rushing from Luxor to Aswan, there are stops at lesser-known (but equally impressive) temples and tombs, and an entire day dedicated to sailing and swimming in the river. Along the way, there are also evening walks through local farms and small villages. Many of these experiences aren’t possible with larger cruise ships, as they aren’t allowed to stop at certain sites and are typically on tighter schedules. Because of my time on Nour El Nil, I feel like I truly experienced Egypt rather than simply seeing a few historical destinations.
Nour El Nil provides professional and knowledgeable guides at all sites. The guides are world-class and were full of valuable insights on the history. Their knowledge made such a difference in my understanding of what I was seeing.
Even at the stops, there are few opportunities to get cash. Plan ahead for tips and other expenses. You’ll at least need cash for tips and any souvenir purchases during the week.
Onboard Experience
Nour El Nil dahabiyas are smaller than typical cruise ships, which is a pro and a con depending on the type of experience you want. The dahabiyas have plenty of space to hang out and lounge in the sun, visit with other passengers, play board/card games, or take in the view. Additionally, there was the option to book massages. However, the dahabiyas don’t have swimming pools or televisions like many of the larger cruise ships. Wifi on the boat was excellent, so there was no issue with connectivity.
There is a lot of time just sailing and being onboard. As the boat cruises along the Nile, there are views of farms, villages, nature, and even tombs and temples remaining from ancient times. The days aren’t packed with activities, so the entire experience is relaxed and laid back. This was a benefit for me, but I could see some people (especially children) getting bored.
Since there were fewer than 20 passengers on our dahabiya and meals were family style, we all got to know each other well by the end of the week. Making friends with so many interesting people from around the world was absolutely one of the best parts of the experience.
Service
The crew was attentive, friendly, and eager to make our time aboard the Nour El Nil unforgettable.
What set the service apart was the personal touch that each crewmember brought to the experience. The crew took no time to learn passengers’ dining preferences and dietary restrictions. Another passenger asked for yogurt with breakfast one morning – every subsequent day they already had it waiting for her. Additionally, the crew had the best sense of humor and were joking around constantly.
Birthday celebrations included traditional dancing and personalized cake, and I couldn’t have imagined a better way to spend my 30th! Even though the crew probably has multiple passengers each week with birthdays, anniversaries, or other major life events, they made everyone’s celebratory moments feel special.
Overall, the service was five star resort quality, with an Egyptian twist. From the moment we stepped on our dahabiya, the crew made us feel at home and I truly feel that they added to our experience.
The Verdict on Nour El Nil
Nour El Nil is a unique experience and one of the most luxurious ways to cruise the Nile. While it is on the pricier side compared to many other Nile cruises, it was worth it for the experience and intimate feel. Since you’re on a small boat, the accommodations aren’t the Ritz, but you will receive a Ritz level of service and attention to detail. You aren’t there for a huge, glamorous room, you’re in it for the experience with interesting travel companions and crew that become friends by the end of the week.
So, is a luxury Nile cruise with Nour El Nil worth it? I would not recommend Nour El Nil for those who are short on time, sticking to a tight budget, or families with easily bored children. However, if you have more time to see Egypt, are interested in seeing smaller, less visited sites, or want a more intimate experience, I couldn’t recommend Nour El Nil more.
Nour El Nil is an intimate, luxury experience like no other. Yes, it’s expensive, but it was beyond worth the cost to spend a week on the Nile in total comfort.
