MS Nile Empress Nile Cruise Deals — Exclusive Offers & Easy Booking 2026
📅 Updated: April 2026 | ⏱️ 15 min read | 💷 From €460 / person | ⭐ 4.9/5 | 🚢 Luxor–Aswan · 4 Nights · 29 Cabins Only
🔥Exclusive Deal — Only 29 Cabins Available
The MS Nile Empress is one of the most intimate 5-star Nile cruise ships on the Luxor–Aswan route. With just 29 cabins, availability is strictly limited. Book directly through Hurghada To Go today to secure our exclusive deal price — this allocation fills fast during peak season.
The MS Nile Empress Nile Cruise is one of Egypt’s most sought-after 5-star river cruise experiences — and for good reason. With just 29 cabins, this is one of the most intimate luxury vessels operating the classic Luxor-to-Aswan route, offering a level of personalised service, attentive crew-to-guest ratios, and exclusive atmosphere that larger ships simply cannot replicate. Booked exclusively through Hurghada To Go, the MS Nile Empress deal for 2026 represents exceptional value for UK travellers seeking a premium Nile cruise without compromise.
This guide covers everything you need to book with complete confidence: the ship’s facilities and cabin specifications, the full day-by-day itinerary covering every major temple between Luxor and Aswan, honest pricing with our exclusive deal breakdown, a comparison with other 5-star vessels on the route, real UK traveller reviews, and insider tips that experienced Nile cruise guests wish they had read first. Easy booking, exclusive price — your MS Nile Empress Nile cruise starts here.
💡 Why the MS Nile Empress is different: Most 5-star Nile cruise ships carry 60–120 guests. The MS Nile Empress carries just 29 cabins — creating a genuinely boutique experience where the crew knows every guest by name, dining is unhurried, and shore excursions feel personal rather than managed. This is the exclusive Nile cruise deal for travellers who want the finest experience at a competitive price.
MS Nile Empress — Ship Overview, Cabin Specifications & On-Board Facilities
The MS Nile Empress is a purpose-built 5-star Nile cruise ship with dimensions of 61.2 metres length, 10.60 metres width, and a draft of 1.16 metres — compact enough to dock close to temple sites, yet spacious enough for genuine luxury on board. With just 29 cabins and suites, the Nile Empress belongs to an elite category of boutique Nile cruise vessels where the word “intimate” is not a marketing term but a practical reality.
Feature
MS Nile Empress Specification
Official rating
5 Stars
Total cabins
29 cabins only — one of the most intimate on the route
Cabin breakdown
25 Large Double cabins · 2 Single cabins · 2 Suites
Average cabin size
18 m² (above average for the Nile cruise fleet)
Ship dimensions
61.2 m length · 10.60 m width · 1.16 m draft
Deck layout
Nile Deck (15 double cabins) · Main Deck (8 doubles + 2 suites) · Sun Deck (2 double + 2 single cabins + lounge)
Sun deck
Twin-level sun deck — unique feature with swimming pool + pool bar
Meals
All-inclusive full board — breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea with cakes, dinner
Lower deck cabins
Yes — some cabins on lower deck with Nile-view windows
Balcony
No balconies — large panoramic Nile-view windows in all cabins
MS Nile Empress Cabin Features — What Every Cabin Includes
Every one of the 29 cabins and suites aboard the MS Nile Empress comes fully equipped with the following standard features:
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Large Panoramic Nile Windows
Every cabin overlooks the Nile through a large panoramic window — your private Nile view day and night, even from the lower deck.
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Private Bathroom
En-suite with WC, shower, bidet, and hair dryer. Towels and toiletries provided daily. Laundry service available on request.
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Individual Air Conditioning
Individually controlled A/C in every cabin — set your own temperature regardless of outside conditions. Essential in Luxor and Aswan’s heat.
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Satellite TV & Music System
Satellite TV (available when docked) and in-cabin music system. Safe for storing valuables and mini bar/fridge in every cabin.
MS Nile Empress Twin-Level Sun Deck — A Unique Feature on the Nile
One of the most distinctive features of the MS Nile Empress is its twin-level sun deck — a rare configuration among Nile cruise ships that gives guests two levels of open-air space for sunbathing, Nile-watching, and socialising. The upper sun deck houses the swimming pool and pool bar, where you can sip a cool drink while watching the Egyptian landscape glide past. The lower level offers sun loungers, fitness equipment, and the best vantage point for photographing the Nile at golden hour. Both levels run the full length of the ship, making this one of the most generous outdoor spaces available on an intimate Nile cruise vessel.
MS Nile Empress Dining — Full Board with Daily Afternoon Tea
The MS Nile Empress all-inclusive dining goes beyond standard full board with one distinctive touch: a daily afternoon tea service including freshly baked cakes and savoury snacks — a feature rarely found on Nile cruise vessels and particularly appreciated by British guests. The main restaurant accommodates all guests in a single elegant sitting, with generous buffet spreads of Egyptian and international cuisine at every meal. Breakfast sets the tone — a full spread of fruits, pastries, eggs, cheeses, and fresh bread served as the Nile scenery drifts past your window. Dinner is the social highlight of each evening, often followed by folkloric entertainment in the lounge.
4-Night MS Nile Empress Itinerary — Luxor to Aswan Day by Day
The MS Nile Empress Nile cruise operates the classic 4-night / 5-day Luxor–Aswan route — the most temple-dense corridor in the world. Every shore excursion is led by your dedicated licensed Egyptologist guide, who accompanies your group exclusively throughout all 5 days.
1
Embarkation in Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple by Night
Morning — Private Transfer from Hurghada & Embarkation
Private air-conditioned vehicle from your Hurghada hotel to the MS Nile Empress dock in Luxor — approximately 3 hours via the Red Sea Mountains highway. Welcome aboard with a cold drink and cabin briefing from the ship’s crew. Welcome lunch served onboard.
Afternoon 14:00 — Karnak Temple Complex
The world’s largest religious structure — 247 acres, 4,000 years in the making. Your dedicated Egyptologist guide leads you through the Great Hypostyle Hall (134 columns, each 23 metres tall), the Sacred Lake, Hatshepsut’s obelisks, and the Avenue of Ram-headed Sphinxes. 2 dedicated hours with your private guide.
Evening 19:00 — Luxor Temple Illuminated at Night ✨
Luxor Temple magnificently lit after dark — warm amber light transforming the 3,400-year-old columns and statues. This experience is exclusively available to overnight cruise guests. Dinner aboard the MS Nile Empress. Optional: Sound and Light Show at Karnak (~€20 extra). Overnight moored in Luxor.
2
West Bank Luxor — Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple & Colossi of Memnon
Optional 05:30 AM — Hot Air Balloon Sunrise
45-minute sunrise balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple. Must be pre-booked. Extra charge (~€80 pp). One of the greatest experiences in Egypt.
08:00 AM — Colossi of Memnon — West Bank Gateway
Photo stop at the two 18-metre quartzite statues of Amenhotep III. Morning light here produces exceptional photographs. Free entrance.
08:30 – 11:00 AM — Valley of the Kings — 3 Royal Tombs with Your Egyptologist
The royal necropolis of the New Kingdom pharaohs — 63 tombs cut into the Theban limestone hills. Standard ticket includes 3 tombs selected by your guide. Optional: Tutankhamun’s tomb (~€15 extra — strongly recommended). Early arrival means you beat the day-trippers entirely.
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM — Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahari)
The three-terraced mortuary temple of Egypt’s most powerful female pharaoh rising dramatically against the Theban cliffs. Morning light on the painted reliefs is at its finest at this hour.
Afternoon — Sail South · Twin-Level Sun Deck · Dinner Onboard
Return to the MS Nile Empress. Lunch served as the ship begins her southward sail toward Edfu. Afternoon on the twin-level sun deck — pool, pool bar, sun loungers, and the Nile scenery unfolding in both directions. Dinner and overnight sailing.
3
Edfu — Temple of Horus by Horse Carriage · Kom Ombo — Double Temple & Crocodile Museum
07:00 AM — Breakfast · Dock at Edfu · Traditional Horse Carriage Transfer
The MS Nile Empress docks at Edfu. Transfer to the Temple of Horus by horse-drawn carriage — the traditional and atmospheric transfer through the town streets.
08:00 – 10:00 AM — Temple of Horus, Edfu — The Best-Preserved Temple in Egypt
The most complete ancient temple in Egypt — a Ptolemaic-era sanctuary (237–57 BCE) with towering 36-metre pylons, a fully intact inner sanctuary, and walls of hieroglyphic texts in extraordinary preservation. Your Egyptologist explains the annual Festival of Horus and the temple’s precise astronomical alignment.
11:00 AM – 01:00 PM — Sail to Kom Ombo · Lunch Onboard the MS Nile Empress
Scenic 2-hour sail south through dramatic Nile landscape. Lunch served onboard as the river narrows and desert cliffs rise on both banks.
02:00 – 03:30 PM — Kom Ombo Double Temple, Medical Reliefs & Crocodile Museum
The unique dual temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus — sitting dramatically on a Nile bend. The outer walls display the earliest known surgical instruments depicted in stone. The adjacent Crocodile Museum houses 22 mummified sacred crocodiles. Dinner and overnight sailing toward Aswan.
4
Aswan — High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk · Philae Temple Island · Nubian Village Felucca
07:00 AM — Breakfast · Arrive Aswan
The MS Nile Empress docks in Aswan — Egypt’s southernmost major city, where the Nile flows between massive granite boulders and the desert meets the river in dramatic fashion. Full breakfast as you arrive.
08:30 AM — The Unfinished Obelisk — Ancient Engineering Exposed
A 42-metre granite obelisk abandoned in its quarry 3,500 years ago when a crack appeared. The finest available insight into how ancient Egyptians actually worked stone. Still lying exactly where the workers left it.
09:30 AM — Aswan High Dam — The Nile Tamed
The 3.6 km dam that ended the Nile’s annual flood cycle and created Lake Nasser — 550 km long, the world’s largest reservoir. Your guide explains the human cost: 22 temples relocated, including Abu Simbel, by a UNESCO operation that became one of the greatest feats of modern preservation.
11:00 AM — Philae Temple — Island Sanctuary of Isis by Motorboat
A short motorboat crossing to Philae Island — the Temple of Isis moved stone by stone in the 1970s UNESCO rescue operation. Turquoise water, palm trees, and a perfectly preserved Ptolemaic temple: the most romantically positioned ancient site in Egypt.
Afternoon — Nubian Village Felucca (Optional ~€15) · Onboard Evening Entertainment
Optional felucca ride to a traditional Nubian village — the most reviewed highlight of any Aswan stop. Colourful painted homes, local crafts, and genuine Nubian hospitality. Evening onboard: folkloric music and dance performance in the MS Nile Empress lounge.
5
Disembarkation · Optional Abu Simbel · Private Return Transfer to Hurghada
Optional 04:00 AM — Abu Simbel Day Trip from Aswan
The two colossal rock temples of Ramesses II, 280 km south of Aswan. The road convoy departs at 04:00 AM and returns by 11:00 AM before disembarkation. Domestic flight option also available (1 hour each way). Must be pre-booked — extra charge applies. The single most recommended optional on the entire cruise.
07:00 AM — Final Breakfast & Disembarkation
Full breakfast onboard. Settle bar and optional extras accounts. Collect luggage and disembark at the Aswan dock. Your private vehicle is waiting for the return journey.
09:00 AM – 12:30 PM — Private Return Transfer to Hurghada
Direct private air-conditioned vehicle from the Aswan dock to your Hurghada hotel — approximately 3.5 hours. Arrive back by midday with a full afternoon ahead. Bottled water provided for the return journey.
🔥 Exclusive Deal — Only 29 Cabins · Limited Availability
What Is Included in the MS Nile Empress Exclusive Deal
✓Private round-trip transfers Hurghada ↔ Luxor/Aswan in air-conditioned vehicle
✓4 nights aboard MS Nile Empress — double cabin with Nile-view panoramic window (full board: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner)
✓Licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide — dedicated to your group for all 5 days
✓All entrance fees: Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk
✓Motorboat crossing to Philae Temple · Horse carriage to Edfu Temple · all road tolls and fuel
✓Daily afternoon tea service with cakes and snacks · Access to twin-level sun deck, pool, and pool bar · 24-hour reception service
Not Included
✕Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages (purchased at the ship’s pool bar and lounge bar)
✕Abu Simbel (road convoy ~€65 pp · domestic flight ~€120 pp — must be pre-booked)
✕Tutankhamun’s tomb (~€15 extra at Valley of the Kings — strongly recommended)
✕Tips for guide, driver, and ship crew (~€20–€30 total over 5 days)
💷 Easy Booking — UK Traveller Note
Book the MS Nile Empress Nile Cruise deal directly through Hurghada To Go — our team confirms your cabin allocation, pre-books optional extras (Abu Simbel, Tutankhamun’s tomb, hot air balloon), and arranges all transfers. No third-party booking fees. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. WhatsApp booking available 7 days a week.
MS Nile Empress vs Other 5-Star Nile Cruise Ships — How Does It Compare?
With over 200 registered Nile cruise ships operating the Luxor–Aswan route, choosing the right vessel requires understanding the key differences. The MS Nile Empress stands apart in one defining way: its 29 cabins only make it one of the most intimate 5-star vessels on the entire route. Here is how it compares across the criteria that matter most to UK travellers:
Feature
MS Nile Empress
Standard 5-Star Ships
Large Nile Ships (120+)
Total cabins
29 only
60–80
120–150+
Atmosphere
Boutique / intimate
Hotel-style
Resort / crowded
Twin-level sun deck
✓ Unique feature
Single deck only
Single deck
Afternoon tea service
✓ Daily included
Rarely included
Not included
Crew-to-guest ratio
High — personalised
Standard
Low
Full board
✓ All meals
✓ All meals
✓ All meals
Exclusive deal price
From €460
€480–€580
€350–€430
Best for
Intimate luxury at value price
Couples & families
Budget travellers
🚢 Nile Cruise Ships List — The Key Insight for 2026: The MS Nile Empress occupies a unique position in the Nile cruise ships list — it is one of the very few genuine boutique 5-star vessels (under 35 cabins) on the market. This combination of intimate scale, twin-level sun deck, daily afternoon tea service, and the exclusive Hurghada To Go deal price makes it the strongest value proposition in the 5-star Nile cruise category for UK travellers in 2026.
MS Nile Empress Reviews — What UK Travellers Say in 2026
The MS Nile Empress consistently earns exceptional ratings from UK guests — particularly for the intimacy of the onboard experience, the quality of the food, and the calibre of the Egyptologist guides provided by Hurghada To Go.
★★★★★
“The MS Nile Empress felt like a private yacht compared to what we’d seen on larger ships in port. Only 29 cabins makes an enormous difference — the staff knew our names from day one. The afternoon tea with freshly baked cakes was a daily highlight. Booking through Hurghada To Go was completely effortless.”
Jonathan & Patricia H. — London, UK · January 2026
★★★★★
“We had researched several 5-star Nile cruise ship options. The Nile Empress stood out for its intimate size and the twin-level sun deck — genuinely brilliant in the afternoon heat. Watching the sunset over the Nile from the pool deck between Edfu and Kom Ombo was unforgettable.”
Claire & David M. — Edinburgh, UK · February 2026
★★★★★
“Booking was genuinely easy through Hurghada To Go — everything arranged in one WhatsApp conversation. The MS Nile Empress deal price was far better than anything we’d found elsewhere. The Egyptologist guide at Edfu was the most knowledgeable we’ve encountered in 20 years of visiting Egypt.”
Susan K. — Bristol, UK · March 2026
10 Insider Tips for Your MS Nile Empress Cruise
Tip 1 — Request a Sun Deck cabin when booking. The MS Nile Empress Sun Deck cabins are located on the top level — closest to the pool, best ventilated, and with the widest views. There are only 4 Sun Deck cabins (2 double + 2 single) — request them early through Hurghada To Go.
Tip 2 — Pre-book Abu Simbel before you board. The Abu Simbel road convoy departs Aswan at 04:00 AM sharp and has limited places. Book it when you make your MS Nile Empress Nile cruise booking — not on Day 4 from the ship.
Tip 3 — Use the pool deck between 14:00 and 17:00. Morning hours are spent ashore at temples. The MS Nile Empress twin-level sun deck is best enjoyed in the afternoon heat — a dip in the pool followed by the pool bar while the Nile landscape drifts past is one of the defining pleasures of this cruise.
Tip 4 — Add Tutankhamun’s tomb at the Valley of the Kings. At ~€15 extra, it is the most recommended optional on the entire cruise. Tell your guide when you board — they will arrange the ticket at the Luxor Antiquities Office on Day 2 morning.
Tip 5 — The daily afternoon tea is a genuine highlight. The MS Nile Empress afternoon tea service — with freshly baked cakes and savoury snacks — takes place daily while the ship is sailing. This is one of the most British-friendly moments of the entire cruise and a lovely transition between lunch and the evening’s shore excursion or entertainment.
Tip 6 — Visit the ship’s onboard bazaar. The MS Nile Empress gift shop and bazaar stocks good-quality Egyptian souvenirs — cotton goods, papyrus art, essential oils, and small antiquity replicas. Prices are fair and the quality is curated. Better value than most shore-side shops in Luxor.
Tip 7 — Kom Ombo at late afternoon is golden. The timing of your Day 3 itinerary often brings you to Kom Ombo Temple in the late afternoon — when the orange sun lights the Nile-side pylons dramatically. This is the most photographic moment of the entire cruise route.
Tip 8 — Don’t skip the Nubian Village in Aswan. At ~€15 extra, the felucca ride to the Nubian village is the most frequently cited highlight in Nile cruise reviews across all ship categories. The warmth of the welcome and the vibrant painted houses are completely authentic.
Tip 9 — Best season October–February.Nile cruise temperatures between Luxor and Aswan in peak season (Oct–Feb) are ideal for outdoor sightseeing — 15–26°C. June–September brings 35–45°C heat along the upper Nile. Both seasons work, but October–February is the clear preference for UK travellers.
Tip 10 — Easy booking through Hurghada To Go. Book the MS Nile Empress exclusive deal directly via hurghadatogo.com or WhatsApp. Our team handles cabin allocation, optional pre-bookings (Abu Simbel, balloon, Tutankhamun), and all transfer coordination in a single conversation. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions — MS Nile Empress Nile Cruise Deals
How many cabins does the MS Nile Empress have and what makes it unique?
The MS Nile Empress has just 29 cabins — making it one of the most intimate 5-star Nile cruise ships on the Luxor–Aswan route. The cabin breakdown is: 25 large double cabins, 2 single cabins, and 2 suites. Average cabin size is 18 square metres — above average for Nile cruise vessels. The ship is also unique for its twin-level sun deck with swimming pool and pool bar, and its daily afternoon tea service including freshly baked cakes. Dimensions: 61.2 m length, 10.60 m width.
What does the MS Nile Empress exclusive deal include — is it truly all-inclusive?
The MS Nile Empress exclusive deal through Hurghada To Go includes: private round-trip transfers from Hurghada, 4 nights full board aboard the ship (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner), a dedicated licensed Egyptologist guide for all 5 days, all entrance fees to every site on the itinerary (Karnak through Philae), motorboat crossing to Philae, horse carriage to Edfu, and all road tolls. Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages are purchased separately at the ship’s bar. Abu Simbel, Tutankhamun’s tomb, and the hot air balloon are available as pre-booked extras.
How do I book the MS Nile Empress Nile Cruise deal easily?
Easy booking is available directly through Hurghada To Go — click the booking button on this page, visit hurghadatogo.com, email [email protected], or WhatsApp +201009255585. Our team confirms your cabin allocation, pre-books your chosen optional extras (Abu Simbel, Tutankhamun’s tomb, hot air balloon, Nubian village), and arranges all private transfers. The entire booking process typically takes one WhatsApp conversation. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Does the MS Nile Empress have lower deck cabins and do they have Nile views?
Yes — the MS Nile Empress has lower deck cabins (Nile Deck: 15 double cabins). All cabins across all three decks feature large panoramic Nile-view windows — there are no balconies on the Nile Empress, but the windows are genuinely panoramic in scale. The Sun Deck (top level) has the widest views and best ventilation. The Nile Deck (lowest) has the same window orientation but a slightly different perspective. All cabins are individually air-conditioned with private bathrooms, safe, mini bar, and satellite TV.
Can I visit Abu Simbel on the MS Nile Empress Nile Cruise?
Yes — Abu Simbel is available as an optional add-on from Aswan on Day 5. The road convoy departs at 04:00 AM and returns by 11:00 AM before disembarkation (~€65 pp). A domestic flight is also available (1 hour each way, ~€120 pp). Abu Simbel must be pre-booked when you make your MS Nile Empress reservation through Hurghada To Go — not on the day from the ship. It is the single most recommended optional on the entire cruise.
Is the MS Nile Empress suitable for families with children?
Yes. Children aged 0–12 travel at 50% of the adult price. The MS Nile Empress is particularly well-suited for families because of its intimate size (no risk of children getting lost on a large ship), the swimming pool on the sun deck (a natural draw for children between temple visits), and the Egyptologist guide’s ability to adapt explanations for younger visitors. The full-board dining means no need to find restaurants at every meal. Request connecting cabins at booking if needed.
🔥 Exclusive Deal — Only 29 Cabins Available
Book MS Nile Empress Nile Cruise — Easy Booking Today
29 cabins only · 4 nights full board · All entrance fees · Daily afternoon tea · Twin-level sun deck & pool · Private Egyptologist guide · Private transfers Hurghada ↔ Luxor/Aswan. Free cancellation 24 hours before. Book directly with Hurghada To Go for the exclusive deal price.
