Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with private Nile-view balconies, panoramic windows, a sun deck pool, lounge bar, and full-board dining.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Wed, Sat
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.
02Overview
A first look
At first light, the Nile carries the low hum of the vessel past date palms, sand-colored villages, and fields bright with irrigation water. From a private Nile-view balcony, you can watch the riverbank change slowly while the ship moves between quiet stretches of sailing and shore visits.
The rhythm is unhurried: a shaded hour on the sun deck, lunch in the dining room, then an evening drink in the lounge bar as the river darkens beyond the panoramic windows. Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. We arrange the cabin, shore excursions, and onboard details with a licensed Egyptian tour operator, while our Egyptologists guide you ashore and keep each visit clear and well paced.
Background
The facts
Sonesta Star Goddess is a five-star Nile cruise vessel that sails between Luxor and Aswan on the Nile River in Upper Egypt. Embarkation and disembarkation are handled in Luxor and Aswan, with the ship’s program alternating sailing time and guided shore excursions rather than continuous overland travel.
The vessel’s excursion program typically includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. These are among the best-known monuments of New Kingdom and Ptolemaic Egypt; for example, Karnak developed over many centuries beginning in the Middle Kingdom, while the Valley of the Kings contains royal tombs from the 18th to 20th Dynasties.
Cabins are arranged as suites with panoramic windows and private Nile-view balconies, and the ship also features a sun deck, lounge bar, dining room, and pool for time spent while sailing between temple stops. Meals are provided on a full-board basis from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast, while drinks beyond water are usually extra.
Discovery Tours Egypt arranges the cruise for travelers who want a guided Upper Egypt river journey with a fixed onboard program and hotel-style accommodation on the Nile. Weekly sailings in both directions between Luxor and Aswan make it suitable for either routing, depending on the wider Egypt itinerary.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits travelers who want a comfortable, guided way to see Upper Egypt’s major monuments without changing hotels every night. It is a good fit for couples, solo travelers, and small groups who prefer a slower pace, onboard dining, and private cabin space with a Nile-view balcony.
What lingers
- 01Spacious suites with private Nile-view balconies and panoramic windows
- 02Sun deck with loungers and a pool for daytime relaxation
- 03Lounge bar and indoor seating for evening socialising
- 04Onboard dining room serving full board meals from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast
- 05Shore-excursion program visiting Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
- 06Weekly sailings in both directions between Luxor and Aswan
The route
Luxor and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
- Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan
Both directions
Where this ship sails
This vessel works more than one stretch of the river. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Aswan and disembarkation in Luxor.
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- 5
Cabin pricing
Pricing & seasonal rates
Per person in USD, based on cabin sharing. Single supplements apply. Holiday surcharges apply at Christmas, New Year & Easter.
8 Days / 7 Nights · Luxor to Luxor
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $2,173 | $2,173 | $2,173 |
| Single Cabin | $6,632 | $6,632 | $6,632 |
5 Days / 4 Nights · Luxor to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $1,411 | $1,411 | $1,411 |
| Single Cabin | $3,959 | $3,959 | $3,959 |
4 Days / 3 Nights · Aswan to Luxor
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $1,156 | $1,156 | $1,156 |
| Single Cabin | $3,067 | $3,067 | $3,067 |
8 Days / 7 Nights · Aswan to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cabin | $2,187 | $2,187 | $2,187 |
| Single Cabin | $6,646 | $6,646 | $6,646 |
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.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- ✓ 3/4/ or 7 nights’ Deluxe accommodation on full board basis
- ✓ Accommodation onboard Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise Luxury (full board)
- ✓ All sightseeing tours with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- ✓ Meet & assist service upon arrival & departure
- ✓ All airport and port transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- ✓ Entrance fees to all listed attractions
- ✓ Complimentary bottle of water per person per day
- ✓ All service charges & taxes
- ✓ Small group tours (maximum 8 participants)
Not included
- ✘ Any additional meals and beverages not specified in the itinerary.
- ✘ Personal expenses, including laundry, minibar, and spa treatments.
- ✘ Tipping for guides, drivers, and cruise staff (optional but recommended).
- ✘ Travel insurance (strongly recommended).
- ✘ Visa fees and international airfare.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This cruise requires moderate mobility, because embarking and disembarking use a gangway and there are steps between the quayside and the vessel. Onboard public areas and cabins are linked by corridors and stairs; some vessels have a small lift but many do not. Shore excursions include uneven ancient stone, steps at temple entrances, and soft sand in places, so expect standing and walking on irregular surfaces. Wheelchair users should contact us before booking so we can confirm whether the assigned vessel and the specific excursion sites can be accommodated. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange meet-and-assist at the airport and additional assistance where possible, but full independent wheelchair access cannot be guaranteed at all sites or on every Nile cruiser.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport with at least six months validity
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher and a wide-brim hat
- Lightweight daypack for shore excursions
- Reusable water bottle and basic hydration salts
- Copies of travel documents and emergency contact list
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for hot days
- Layered evening wear for cooler nights on the deck
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- Comfortable closed shoes for archaeological sites
- A compact waterproof or windproof jacket for sudden breezes
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, with a maximum of one child per cabin. Two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers can be used on the quays and onshore where surfaces permit, but they are awkward on uneven temple approaches and cobbled streets. We can request a high chair with the cruise line, but availability varies by vessel and should be confirmed at booking.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we work with locally based cruise lines, guides, and suppliers to keep revenue in the local economy. The vessel typically uses river diesel engines; where possible we select partners who maintain modern fuel-injection systems and follow recommended engine servicing schedules to limit fuel use and emissions. Onshore transport for excursions is provided by air-conditioned coaches owned by local operators; we ask these partners to follow regular maintenance and to use newer vehicles when available. Onboard practices we encourage include reducing single-use plastics, sorting recyclables where port services allow, and sourcing produce and provisions from local markets in Luxor and Aswan. For travellers who want to reduce their footprint we recommend bringing a refillable water bottle and declining daily bottled water when safe refill stations are available ashore.
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-884217
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