Princess Donia Dahabiya
An intimate sail-powered dahabiya with a lateen sail, chef-prepared full-board dining, and access to quiet Nile sites.
At a glance
- Embarks
- Mon
- Board
- Full Board
- New
02Overview
A first look
Before the lateen sail fills, the Nile is quiet except for water against the hull and birds along the bank. Aboard Princess Donia Dahabiya, the pace leaves room to watch villages, palms, and desert ridges pass without the noise of a large cruise ship.
Our Egyptologists put the river landscape into context as you explore smaller sites such as El Kab and Gebel Silsila, while the chef prepares meals between shore visits. We carefully select and arrange this intimate sailing experience with the vessel’s cruise line, and your Egyptologist remains available to connect each stop with the wider story of the Nile.
The route
Luxor and ASWAN
The route
Where this ship sails
The stretch of river this vessel works, and what the sailing is like end to end.
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in ASWAN.
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Cabin pricing
Pricing & seasonal rates
Per person in USD, based on cabin sharing. Single supplements apply. Holiday surcharges apply at Christmas, New Year & Easter.
Per Person Pricing
| Cabin | May–September | October–April |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Traveler | $2,250 | $2,250 |
| 2-4 Pax (per person) | $2,250 | $2,250 |
| 5-8 Pax (per person) | $2,250 | $2,250 |
| 9-16 Pax (per person) | $2,250 | $2,250 |
Children 0–5.99 years free · 6–11.99 years pay 50% · 12+ pay full adult price. Children must share a cabin with parents (max 2 per cabin).
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
Bundled in
- Wi-Fi
- Sun Deck
- Restaurant
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard Princess Donia Dahabiya
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Bottled water, tea, and soft drinks
- Expert Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to all listed sites
- Transfers to and from the Dahabiya
- All taxes and service charges
Not included
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Tipping (crew and guide)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Optional tours not listed in the itinerary
Accessibility
Who can join this
This dahabiya itinerary involves boarding via a gangway onto a low-profile river boat and walking on uneven wooden decks and river quays. There are typically steps between the quayside and the main deck, and some excursion sites have cobbles, soft sand, narrow paths, and temple steps with no handrails. Wheelchair users will find full independent access limited: most dahabiyas do not have lifts or wheelchair ramps, and cabins are compact with steps into bathrooms. We can arrange assistance at airports, on transfer vehicles, and during embarkation and disembarkation when given advance notice. Please tell us about mobility needs at time of booking so we can propose suitable alternatives or additional helper staff, and we will confirm what is feasible for the specific vessel assigned to your booking.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and printed booking voucher
- Comfortable, closed walking shoes for temple visits
- Sun protection: SPF50+ sunscreen, wide-brim hat, sunglasses
- Lightweight daypack for water, camera, and guidebook
- Reusable water bottle for refills on board where allowed
- Small flashlight for evening quay walks
- Any necessary prescription medicines and a basic first-aid kit
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting cotton clothing for daytime
- Long sleeves and long trousers or skirts for sun and temple modesty
- A light fleece or jacket for cooler early-morning and evening breezes on the Nile
- Comfortable shoes with grip for uneven stone and wooden decks
- Modest swimwear for private pool or hotel stays only (not for temple visits)
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, maximum one child per cabin; two or more children require a separate cabin. Strollers are practical ashore in flat urban areas but are difficult on temple approaches, quay steps, and soft-sand sites. Ships rarely provide high chairs or babysitting; if required, we will request these services from local suppliers and confirm availability and any extra charges before travel.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The dahabiya concept itself reduces fuel consumption because primary propulsion is by sail, with auxiliary diesel used sparingly for manoeuvring. We book traditionally rigged lateen-sail dahabiyas and small diesel tenders rather than large cruise ships when clients request a low-impact option. Local crew and Egyptian chefs are employed on the vessel, and we contract local guiding teams and small family-run restaurants for shore stops at El Kab and Gebel Silsila to keep revenue in the local communities. Linen is washed locally using regulated wastewater disposal where available, and single-use plastics are minimised on board; bottled water is provided in refillable containers where the vessel permits. We publish supplier names and specific sustainability practices for the assigned vessel before travel when clients request them.
Licensed local Egyptologists
ETAA-credentialed, on payroll
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols
Carbon-aware itineraries
Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical
If plans change
Cancellation
- More than 30 days
- Full refund less a £50 admin fee
- 15–30 days
- 50% refund
- Within 14 days
- No refund – date changes considered case by case
Product ID: CRU-NIL-473710
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