Meroe

We arrive just outside of Aswan, near the Aswan bridge, on Friday night where we will dock for the night. Guests depart the boat by 09:30 on Saturday morning, but it is possible to get off earlier on Saturday morning if you need to catch an early flight. We are happy to arrange taxis to the airport (for a surcharge) or to your mainland Aswan hotel (free).

While you are welcome to tip as much or as little as you like, when asked by guests we recommend a tip of 100 Euros per guest. This tip will be split evenly among the entire crew (typically 15-17 staff) who work 12+ hours/day. As you will see, our crew will take great care of you and your tip is a small and generous way that you can thank them for their hard work and care.

Yes, of course! Every week our guests swim in the Nile without any problems or cause for concern. The currents ensure that you are swimming in clean, non-stagnant water. We’ve had everyone from children to the elderly take a dip in the Nile with us and no one has ever become sick as a result.

We are very willing and able to accommodate special dietary requirements. For example, if you are vegetarian or pescatarian, we will include plenty of vegetables and/or fish at each meal. If you have any food allergies, please be sure to alert us as soon as possible so we can ensure that we properly accommodate these concerns.

Absolutely not! Unlike the sea, the Nile is completely calm and experiences no waves or abrupt movements, therefore you can feel completely confident that being on the river will not adversely affect you. We have never had a single guest complain of being “seasick” on the Nile.

We serve only the most authentic Egyptian cuisine, made from fresh ingredients purchased from local farmers and fishermen. From freshly caught Nile Perch to the delicious felafel, you will look forward to each and every meal.

For those who have special dietary concerns, we can adapt to most any allergies or special requests. We ask you to notify us of any special dietary needs as soon as possible so that we can prepare properly.

Yes, we allow and welcome children aboard the cruise. We have found that children, old and young, thoroughly enjoy the cruise and excursions. That being said, please understand that the dahabiya provides an intimate atmosphere and therefore it is important that your children are well-behaved.

Pricing for both the cruise and guesthouse is the same for both residents and non-residents.

All rooms are based on double-occupancy. It is our policy that no more than two people be allowed per room, except in rare instances of young children. If you have special circumstances, please let us know and we will address your case on an individual basis.

The cost for a Single Person to have their own room aboard the dahabiya is the Per Person price plus 50%. There is a limit to 2 single rooms per boat, after which all rooms must be charged at the double occupancy rate. No single occupancy rates/discounts are given during High Season weeks.

Our standard trips last 5 nights/6 days. We are able to shorten or lengthen the trip only in the instance of a privatization (charter), in which case we can customize the trip according to your schedule and desires.

Nour El Nil understands that sometimes plans change as a result of unforeseen circumstances. If you need to cancel your trip, our official policy is:

• Reservation deposits (typically 25% of booking) are non-refundable but can be applied to future trip if your plans change.
• The balance of reservation is due 60 days in advance of your departure date.  Cancellations made after this point are non-refundable, however your balance can be applied to a future trip.

Cruise: While we discourage guests from using WiFi too frequently, as we’d prefer you enjoy the beautiful Nil, internet is available for those who need to use it.

Beit Sabee Guesthouse: Yes, free WiFi is available at the Guesthouse.

Yes, air conditioning is available aboard the cruise. However, much of the year Air Conditioning is not necessary. Each room has multiple windows that typically help keep the room comfortably cool. It should be noted that the air conditioning system runs off of our generator, which we turn off at night, in order to ensure that our guests have a restful sleep. We do provide fans which can run continually throughout the night to keep you cool.

Yes, we will have a guide present with you at all major sites that we visit along the Nile. Guides are available in several major languages. If your preferred language is other than English, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. Of course, you are welcome to leave the guide a tip as a small “Thank You” for the time they will spend with you.

Absolutely! We have special rates for privatizations. Please e-mail us at info@nourelnil.com to get more details and pricing for privatizations.

Yes. Beer, wine, champagne and spirits are available for purchase on the cruise. In regards to spirits in particular, we have managed to acquire a nice vodka and gin, but if you prefer whiskey you should buy this yourself at Duty Free in the airport.

Beer and Wine are available for purchase at the Guesthouse.

Your Nour El Nil cruise includes all room and board, travel from Luxor to the cruise, entrance to the sites that we visit and the guide.

Not included in the cost of the trip is: alcohol, tips for the crew and guide, and transportation at the end of the cruise.

The primary difference between each of our dahabiyas is (a) how spacious the accommodations are and (b) how large the deck is. The price difference between our dahabiyas is based on these factors. Other than that, the design, style, service and experience are the same across all four of our dahabiyas.