Royal Ruby Nile Cruise: Full Board from Luxor or Aswan
Overview
Royal Ruby Nile cruise: 5 days from Luxor on Mondays or 4 days from Aswan on Fridays, full board with a private Egyptologist. Check availability.
Last updated: 26 October 2026
The Royal Ruby Nile cruise runs between Luxor and Aswan on a 5-star ship. Travel Joy Egypt offers 2 departures: 5 days / 4 nights from Luxor on Mondays and 4 days / 3 nights from Aswan on Fridays. Both are full board with a private Egyptologist guide. You can compare it with all our Nile cruises.
Key Takeaways
These 3 points come first:
- Private guiding: every shore visit is private, led by a licensed English-speaking Egyptologist for a group of 1 to 8.
- Fees and taxes: tickets for the sites named in the itinerary are covered, along with service charges and government taxes. The tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I, Abu Simbel and the balloon flight are optional extras.
- On board: air-conditioned cabins with en-suite bathrooms, plus a sun-deck pool.
Which Royal Ruby Nile Cruise Suits You?
Both departures visit the same main sites, so the choice comes down to where you want to finish:
| Cruise | Departs | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days / 4 nights | Mondays from Luxor | Travellers continuing to Abu Simbel |
| 4 days / 3 nights | Fridays from Aswan | Travellers ending near Luxor airport |
Pick the 5 days cruise if you start in Luxor and want a Monday departure, and the 4 days cruise if you start in Aswan on a Friday. For more choices, compare other Nile cruises from Luxor to Aswan.
How the Days Run on Each Cruise
The 5 days cruise starts in Luxor, where you board before lunch and visit Karnak and Luxor Temple on day 1. On day 2 you cross to the West Bank for 3 royal tombs at the Valley of the Kings, and the ship sails south through the Esna Lock after lunch.
The 4 days cruise starts in Aswan, where the first afternoon goes to the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple on its island. Karnak and Luxor Temple follow in the late afternoon of day 3. On both cruises, lunch is served aboard on the day you visit Edfu, while the ship sails on to Kom Ombo (5 days) or Luxor (4 days).
What Is on Board the MS Royal Ruby?
The Royal Ruby has a pool on the sun deck, a Panorama bar, a discotheque and a restaurant with 160 seats and varied buffets. A doctor is on call 24 hours, and evenings bring folkloric dance shows and a cocktail party. Cabins have air conditioning, an en-suite bathroom, a mini-bar and a TV, and WiFi works across the ship. If you need the number of cabins, cabin sizes or a deck plan, ask us before you book.
What the Price Covers and What It Does Not
Prices start from $775 per person, full board and sharing a cabin, and the price table below lists each season and cabin type. Here is what the fare covers and what you pay for separately:
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| 3 or 4 nights in a cabin | Extra meals and drinks |
| Breakfast, lunch and dinner | Tips for guide, driver and crew |
| Entry tickets for named sites | Egypt visa and travel insurance |
| Pickup and drop-off transfers | Abu Simbel, balloon and Nubian village |
| One bottle of water daily | Laundry and phone calls |
Full board covers all meals on board. The cabin and the private guiding are part of the fare too.
Optional Extras: Abu Simbel, Balloon Flight and More
You can add these optional extras:
- Abu Simbel: an Abu Simbel excursion from Aswan by road or flight, on the last day of the 5 days cruise or on day 2 of the 4 days cruise.
- Hot-air balloon: a dawn hot-air balloon flight over Luxor on day 2 of the 5 days cruise.
- Extra tombs: the tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I on the 5 days cruise, and Tutankhamun's tomb on the 4 days cruise.
- Felucca or Nubian village: options for the free Aswan afternoon on day 4 of the 5 days cruise.
Ask us for add-on costs when you send your dates.
Adding Cairo to Your Nile Cruise
Flights from Cairo to Luxor take about 75 minutes; the overnight train is the alternative. For Cairo, Abu Simbel and the cruise in one trip, we can plan a tailor-made Egypt trip with a Nile cruise.
Check Availability for Your Dates
Travel Joy Egypt is a licensed and bonded Egyptian tour operator with 13 years of experience, rated 5.0 by 133 travellers on Tripadvisor.
Send your dates, group size and preferred cruise, and we will check availability for the Royal Ruby Nile cruise. Message us on WhatsApp +20 106 023 3393 or send your request through the enquiry form.
Trip at a Glance
Duration
4 or 5 Days
Price
From $775
Availability
Mondays from Luxor (5 days) & Fridays from Aswan (4 days)
Tour Type
Luxury Nile Cruise
Route
Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Aswan …
Pickup
Luxor or Aswan
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Itinerary
Karnak TempleBoard before lunch and settle into your cabin. Your guide then takes you to the East Bank for Karnak, with its Avenue of Ram-Headed Sphinxes and Hypostyle Hall, and on to Luxor Temple. Tea is served on the sun deck, and the ship stays moored in Luxor overnight.
On the West Bank you enter 3 royal tombs at the Valley of the Kings, then visit Queen Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. The tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I are optional extras, as is a hot-air balloon flight at dawn above the Theban necropolis. After lunch aboard, the ship sails south through the Esna Lock toward Edfu.
At Edfu, a horse-drawn carriage takes you out to the Temple of Horus. Lunch is served aboard as the ship sails on to Kom Ombo, where you visit the temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder and the Crocodile Mummification Museum. Dinner and the night are spent aboard while the ship continues to Aswan.
Philae TempleIn Aswan, the High Dam gives you wide views over Lake Nasser. A motorboat then crosses to Philae Temple, the island temple of Isis that UNESCO rescued stone by stone, and the Unfinished Obelisk is the last stop. The rest of the afternoon is free, or you can add a felucca sail or a Nubian village visit. The ship stays moored in Aswan overnight.
Abu Simbel TemplesAfter a final breakfast aboard, you disembark in Aswan. Travellers with time to spare can add an Abu Simbel excursion before the onward transfer, which we arrange to the airport, train station or hotel.
Unfinished ObeliskBoard before lunch, then spend the afternoon at the High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk. Dinner is served aboard, and the ship stays moored in Aswan overnight.
Abu Simbel TemplesEarly risers can add a dawn excursion to Abu Simbel. The ship then sails north to Kom Ombo, where you visit the temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder, and continues toward Edfu overnight.
A horse carriage takes you out to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Lunch is served aboard while the ship sails to Luxor, and the late afternoon goes to Karnak and Luxor Temple. The ship stays moored in Luxor overnight.
Check out after breakfast and cross to the West Bank, where you enter 3 royal tombs at the Valley of the Kings (Tutankhamun's tomb is an optional extra), then see Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. After that, we arrange your onward transfer.
Highlights
Ship & Onboard Experience
- Spacious sun deck with swimming pool and the panoramic Panorama bar
- 160-seat restaurant with varied buffets, plus a library and reading lounges
- Folkloric dance shows, a cocktail party and nightly entertainment in the discotheque
Temples & Sites Along the Nile
- Karnak Temple Complex and Luxor Temple on the East Bank
- Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- Temple of Horus at Edfu, dual-deity Kom Ombo, Philae Temple and the Aswan High Dam
Service & Optional Add-Ons
- Private licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide in groups of 1-8
- Optional dawn hot-air-balloon flight over the Theban necropolis
- Optional Abu Simbel excursion by road or flight and a Nubian village visit
Included
- 3 or 4 nights' cabin accommodation on board on a full-board (FB) basis
- Meet-and-assist service on arrival and departure
- All transfers in a modern, private air-conditioned deluxe vehicle with a qualified driver
- Complimentary pickup and drop-off from the airport, train station or any East Bank hotel in Luxor or Aswan
- All guided shore excursions exactly as listed in the itinerary, conducted privately
- Entrance fees to every site between Luxor and Aswan named in the program
- Private licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide (group size 1-8 maximum)
- One complimentary bottle of water per person per day
- All service charges and government taxes
Excluded
- Extra meals and beverages beyond the full-board program
- Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
- Gratuities for your guide, driver and cruise crew
- Any optional tours (Abu Simbel, hot-air balloon, Nubian village, etc.)
- Egypt entry visa and travel insurance
Pricing & Packages
Choose your preferred accommodation level and season. Prices are quoted in USD per person.
5 Days / 4 Nights (Luxor → Aswan) Accommodations
Pricing Information
Rates are quoted in US Dollars (USD) per person. Holiday surcharges apply during peak seasons, including Christmas, New Year, and Easter.
Children's Policy
- Under 6 YearsComplimentary
- Ages 6 to 11 Years50% of the Adult Rate
- 12+ YearsFull Adult Rate
What to Pack
- Lightweight, breathable clothing (cotton or linen is ideal).
- Comfortable walking shoes for exploring historical sites.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun.
- Swimsuit for Hurghada and potentially cruise pool.
- A light jacket or shawl for cooler evenings or air-conditioned interiors.
- Modest attire (shoulders and knees covered) for religious sites.
- Insect repellent, especially for evenings by the Nile.
- A small daypack for daily excursions.
- Camera and extra memory cards/batteries.
- Personal medications.
- Adapter for Egyptian electrical outlets (Type C/F).
- Cash (Egyptian pounds) for small purchases and tips.
Onboard Facilities
- Spacious sun deck with swimming pool (1.85 m depth)
- Panorama bar and sun-deck bar
- Panoramic lounge with reading areas
- Library
- Restaurant seating 160 guests with varied menus and buffets
- Discotheque with nightly entertainment
- Boutique, gift shop, jewelry shop and beauty salon
- Hairdressing salon
- Fitness equipment
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom with shower
- Mini-bar and TV in cabins
- Ship-wide WiFi and internet
- International telephone and fax lines
- Laundry and dry-cleaning facilities
- Doctor on call 24 hours
Why Choose Us
Expert Local Guides
Professional, English-speaking Egyptologists.
Licensed Experts
Fully bonded and licensed Egyptian tour operator.
No Hidden Fees
Transparent pricing and clear inclusions.
24/7 Support
Always available via WhatsApp throughout your trip.
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Plan Your Journey
Everything you need to know about this experience in Egypt.
1How much does the Royal Ruby Nile cruise cost per person?
2What is the best time of year for a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan?
3How far ahead should I book a Nile cruise?
4Is airport and hotel pickup included on the Royal Ruby?
5Are tips included on the Royal Ruby?
6How much does the Egypt visa cost for a Nile cruise?
7How long does it take to get from Aswan to Abu Simbel?
8Can you start a Nile cruise in Cairo?
9What other facilities does the Royal Ruby have?
10What should I wear and pack for a Nile cruise?
Egyptologist Insights: Making the Most of Your Journey
Expert Tip: Navigating the Archeological Wonders
Every trip to Egypt is a journey through history. To get the most out of your holiday, check our comprehensive Egypt travel guide for packing lists, visa updates, and local customs. If you are looking for single-day activities, browse our list of recommended Egypt day tours or contact us to customize a private trip.