A Nile River cruise is easily one of the most popular ways to explore Egypt, offering both convenience and a dash of luxury. I recently experienced cruising the Nile aboard the Sonesta Moon Goddess, and while I had a great time, it’s good to know both the perks and pitfalls before booking your trip since it’s definitely not for everyone. Here’s everything you need to know about the pros and cons of doing a Nile River cruise, particularly aboard the Sonesta Moon Goddess.
Table of Contents
Pros of a Nile River Cruise
Convenience and Comfort
The biggest advantage of cruising the Nile is the convenience. You won’t have to constantly pack and unpack your suitcase or endure long bus rides between destinations. Everything you need is right there on board, turning your transit time into relaxation time. If you wanted to do a similar itinerary visiting Luxor and Aswan, the alternative option is to spend a lot of time in a bus or car or take a train.
My room onboard the Sonesta Moon Goddess
Unique Stops
Cruising gives you easy access to fascinating locations that might otherwise be skipped if you’re driving or flying between the major tourist hubs. Stops like Edfu and Kom Ombo, famous for their temples, were highlights for me because I might have missed them otherwise. You can do them by car, but most visitors don’t on their Luxor/Aswan land itineraries.
Kom Ombo Temple
Affordability
Unless you’re opting for ultra-luxury, Nile cruises offer fantastic value. Most cruises, like the Sonesta Moon Goddess, include meals, making budgeting for your trip much simpler (though, food in Egypt is quite cheap anyways compared to Western countries). Just keep in mind that drinks (other than tea and coffee) are typically not included, though we were provided free bottles of water for our rooms. Each ship may have different drink policies though, so it’s best to check.
Ideal for Short Trips
If your time in Egypt is limited, cruises efficiently pack in Egypt’s most impressive historical sites within a short window. In just a week, you can comfortably cover highlights like Luxor, Aswan, and temples in between. We were even able to include a day trip to Abu Simbel and a visit to the Nubian village while in Aswan before we disembarked the last day.
Nubian Village in Aswan
Balconies on Sonesta Moon Goddess
A distinct advantage of cruising aboard the Sonesta Moon Goddess is that it’s one of the few Nile ships offering private balconies in every cabin. Enjoying a quiet sunset or morning coffee while watching the Nile pass by from your private balcony is pretty unbeatable.
Cons of a Nile River Cruise
Aggressive Sellers
One major drawback is the aggressive vendors shouting “hello, hello!” to passengers from small boats alongside the cruise ship near Luxor, trying to sell you things to your balcony. This can disrupt afternoon naps or peaceful moments, so be prepared with earplugs or headphones. Luckily, they’re only an issue for a short portion of the trip on the first day of cruising out of Luxor. There will be also sellers every time you get on and off the ship as well at the docks, but if you firmly tell them no a few times, they’ll eventually leave you alone.
No Elevators
Accessibility can be an issue, especially for travelers with mobility limitations. The Sonesta Moon Goddess, like many Nile cruise ships, lacks an elevator, making it challenging for some passengers to move between decks. Do your research on ship options if you have mobility issues or are not good with stairs.
Limited Dining Flexibility
Meals onboard are delicious but come with restricted schedules. Unlike ocean cruises with diverse dining options open throughout the day, meals on our Nile cruise were served at specific times. If you prefer flexibility, this might be inconvenient. Dinner on our ship was usually at 8pm, which also made a tough turnaround for some of the early mornings we had, like 4am to go to Abu Simbel as a day trip. Most meals we had were small buffets, though they did have a few pre-ordered dinners that were served in courses. I was worried about the food options, but was actually pretty happy with the food quality at almost every meal.
Quick Stops and Crowds
While it’s great to visit a lot of sites in a short amount of time, the downside is that stops can feel rushed. In places like Edfu and Kom Ombo, you’ll often get just a couple of hours to explore the temples, which can feel rushed, especially for photography lovers like me. And since many cruise ships are on the same itinerary, you’re visiting all the main spots at the same time as everyone else, so they’re super crowded. Depending on when you visit and if it’s high season, it can sometimes be wall to wall people at popular temples like Edfu and long lines to go into the tombs at Valley of the Kings.
Kom Ombo Temple
Peak Crowd Times
Cruises often arrive at temples during peak times when multiple ships dock simultaneously. Sites like Karnak Temple or Abu Simbel can become incredibly crowded, making it harder to enjoy the historical ambiance without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
Abu Simbel
Overall, cruising the Nile aboard the Sonesta Moon Goddess was a good experience for me, though I would not call it 5-star by an American standard, more like 3.5-star. It was filled with stunning views, convenience, and cultural immersion. I was worried the food quality would be questionable onboard, which can be the case on a lot of budget cruises, but I was pleasantly surprised by the buffets and the few multi-course meals we had.
While there were some drawbacks, the positives definitely outweighed them, especially for a first-time trip to Egypt or travelers with limited time and on a budget. With a bit of preparedness, you’ll have an unforgettable adventure exploring Egypt from its legendary waters. For most people, this would be the option I recommend because it’s an affordable price, acceptable quality, and works well for people who can only take a week of time off work, especially families who may be coming at a time like Spring Break.
However, if you’re the type of traveler who wants to go at their own pace, have more time to explore, and cares a lot about things being to a 5-star standard, this probably isn’t the trip for you. I would recommend a land itinerary stretched out to more days, and to visit places right when they open (often 6am) to avoid crowds. It will cost a lot more, but there are true 5-star hotels like Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan that you can stay in, and you can even fly to Abu Simbel for the day to avoid spending long hours on the bus. But all of this will cost you a lot more, so be prepared to spend more like American travel prices.
I actually did this cruise as part of an 11-day Egypt/Jordan itinerary via TourRadar and Beyond the Nile Tours. While they don’t guarantee which ship you’ll be on until closer to your time of travel (though you can reach out and ask or request a specific ship), this was a great way to see all the main tourist sites of Egypt and Jordan in the shortest amount of time. If you’re interested in the exact trip I took, you can check out the full itinerary and book at the button below.
Hot air balloon flight over Luxor
