HomeMs Salacia Nile cruise
.jpg "MS Salacia Nile cruise")
.jpg "MS Salacia Nile cruise")
.jpg "MS Salacia Nile cruise")
.jpg "MS Salacia Nile cruise")
Some Nile cruise ships carry 140 passengers or more. The MS Salacia carries 59. That difference is something you feel from the moment you step on board — in the space of your suite, the ratio of crew to guests, and the quality of attention you receive at every meal and excursion.
Fully refitted and converted to an all-suite configuration, the MS Salacia is one of the most intimate and refined cruise experiences on the Nile. Every cabin on board is a suite — there are no standard rooms. Sailing between Aswan and Luxor, you travel through the heart of ancient Upper Egypt visiting its most important temples and monuments, with an expert English-speaking Egyptologist guiding every step. The evenings bring their own highlights — a cocktail reception on your first night, a traditional Galabeya party, and a full Egyptian cultural show before your final day.
What to Expect
- Capacity: 59 guests maximum — one-to-one crew to passenger ratio
- Accommodation: All-suite configuration — no standard cabins on board
- Guide: Expert English-speaking Egyptologist on every excursion
- Meals: Full board throughout — all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners included
- Inclusions: All temple entrance fees and ground transfers covered
- Evening entertainment: Cocktail reception, Galabeya party, Egyptian cultural show
- Departures: Every Wednesday from Aswan / Every Saturday from Luxor
On Board Facilities
- Suites: 1 Master Suite (approx. 65 sqm), 18 Royal Suites (approx. 28 sqm), 9 Stateroom Suites (approx. 21 sqm), 3 Single Staterooms (approx. 15 sqm). All suites include individually controlled air conditioning, LCD TV with satellite channels, mini-bar with daily complimentary mineral water and soft drinks, telephone, bathrobes, and complimentary fruit basket on arrival.
- Dining & Lounges: Palm Court Restaurant, Sahara Terrace Café, Oasis Lounge and Bar with dance floor, Atrium Lounge and Bar, Chart Lounge and Library.
- Wellness & Recreation: The Temple Spa with gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam bath and massage room. Lido Terrace with swimming pool, bar and shaded sundeck. Sahara Terrace Sundeck.
- Services: Complimentary Wi-Fi, room service, laundry service, gift shop, ship photographer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temples do you visit on the MS Salacia Nile cruise?
Both itineraries cover the same key sites between Aswan and Luxor — Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk, Kom Ombo Temple, Esna Temple, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. All entrance fees are included.
How is the MS Salacia different from other Nile cruises?
Most Nile cruise ships of a similar size carry 140 to 160 passengers. The MS Salacia carries a maximum of 59 guests with a one-to-one crew-to-passenger ratio and an all-suite configuration. It is one of the most spacious and intimate cruise experiences on the Nile.
Which direction is better — Aswan to Luxor or Luxor to Aswan?
Both routes visit the same temples and monuments. The 3-night Aswan to Luxor direction saves the Valley of the Kings and Karnak for your final day. The 4-night Luxor to Aswan direction gives you more time on the water and ends in the quieter, more atmospheric city of Aswan. Your choice mostly comes down to your wider Egypt itinerary and which city you prefer to fly in or out of.
What evening entertainment is included?
Each sailing includes three on-board evening events: a welcome cocktail reception hosted by the boat manager, a Galabeya party where guests dress in traditional Egyptian robes, and a full Egyptian cultural show performed in the Oasis Lounge after dinner.
What is the best time of year to sail?
October through April offers cooler temperatures ideal for sightseeing and is the most popular season. May through September is hotter but less crowded and available at lower prices. The MS Salacia sails year-round.
How do I secure my cabin?
A deposit of just 25% secures your suite and all included services. The remaining balance can be paid up to two days before arrival or in cash on arrival.
Ready to sail? Send us your travel dates and we'll handle everything from there.
→ Get Your Free Quote
- Meet and assist service upon arrival & departure
- Assistance of our personnel during your stay and excursions
- Free Wifi is included onboard the cruise
- Minbar with minral water and soft drink re-fill daily (1 bottle of mineral water / 1 soft drink / 1 can of juice)
- All transfers by a modern air-conditioned deluxe vehicle
- Accommodation on board 5 star cruise on full board basis
- All Nile Cruise excursions as mentioned in the itinerary sharing group
- Entrance fees to all sights between Luxor and Aswan
- English-speaking tour guide during your excursions
- All service charges and taxes
- Any extras and personal spending
- Tipping
Your journey begins in Aswan, one of the most atmospheric cities in Egypt. Sitting at the southern edge of the country where the Sahara meets the Nile, Aswan feels quieter and more timeless than anywhere else on the river. A Memphis Tours representative meets you at the airport or train station and transfers you directly to the MS Salacia for embarkation before lunch.
After settling into your suite, your first afternoon takes you to two of Aswan's most remarkable sites. That evening, the boat manager hosts a welcome cocktail reception in the lounge a chance to meet your fellow travelers and hear what lies ahead over the next four days.
- Meet and assist at Aswan airport or railway station
- Private transfer to the MS Salacia for embarkation (10:00–12:00)
- Lunch on board
- Check in and settle into your suite
- Guided visit to Philae Temple
- Guided visit to the Unfinished Obelisk
- Dinner on board
- Cocktail reception and boat manager presentation in the lounge
Philae Temple sits on an island in the middle of the Nile and is reached by short motorboat — which makes arriving feel like a genuine discovery. It was saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser in one of history's most extraordinary engineering operations: dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt on higher ground. The Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in the granite quarry where ancient workers abandoned it, would have been the largest obelisk ever erected — at 42 meters long. The crack that stopped its completion gives you a rare window into exactly how these monuments were made.
Overnight: Aboard the MS Salacia in Aswan
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Entertainment: Cocktail reception
After breakfast you sail north along the Nile toward Kom Ombo. The morning is yours to enjoy — sit on the sundeck, take in the desert cliffs and riverside villages drifting past, and let the pace of the river slow everything down. By early afternoon you arrive at Kom Ombo for one of the Nile's most unusual temple visits. In the evening, the MS Salacia hosts a Galabeya party — one of the most fun and memorable on-board events of the cruise.
- Breakfast on board in Aswan
- Morning sailing toward Kom Ombo (departs 14:00)
- Lunch on board
- Afternoon tea on the sundeck (17:00)
- Guided visit to Kom Ombo Temple (17:30)
- Evening sailing toward Esna
- Dinner on board
- Galabeya party on board
Overnight: Aboard the MS Salacia in Esna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Entertainment: Galabeya party
Kom Ombo Temple is dedicated to two gods simultaneously — Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the Elder — and the entire structure is perfectly mirrored as a result, with duplicate halls, sanctuaries, and corridors running side by side. It sits directly on the riverbank, and the late afternoon light across the stone columns at 17:30 is one of the most photogenic scenes on the entire Nile.
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Today covers the most ground of the cruise. You start the morning at Esna Temple before boarding again and sailing north through the Esna Lock — a working river lock that brings cruise ships through one at a time and is a surprisingly compelling experience to watch. By afternoon you arrive in Luxor for visits to two of the greatest temple complexes in the ancient world. The evening closes with a full Egyptian cultural show in the Oasis Lounge.
- Breakfast on board
- Guided visit to Esna Temple (08:00)
- Lunch on board while sailing toward Luxor through the Esna Lock (10:00)
- Guided visit to Karnak Temple (East Bank)
- Guided visit to Luxor Temple (East Bank)
- Dinner on board
- Egyptian cultural show in the Oasis Lounge (21:00)
Overnight: Aboard the MS Salacia in Luxor
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Entertainment: Egyptian cultural show
Esna Temple is dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed god believed to have fashioned humanity on a potter's wheel. Much of it was buried under the city for centuries — the surrounding streets still sit several meters above the temple floor, making it feel like descending into another world. Karnak Temple, visited the same afternoon, is the largest religious complex ever built on earth — 200 acres of temples, sanctuaries and columns constructed by 30 different pharaohs over 1,300 years. Luxor Temple glows golden under floodlights in the early evening, its colossal entrance statues reflected in the Nile just steps away.
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Your final morning crosses to the West Bank of Luxor — the side of the Nile where ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs, believing the setting sun represented the passage into the afterlife. After breakfast and check-out, your Egyptologist takes you to two of the most dramatic sites in Egypt before transferring you to Luxor airport or the train station.
- Breakfast on board
- Check-out
- Guided visit to the Valley of the Kings
- Guided visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Transfer to Luxor airport or railway station
Meals: Breakfast
The Valley of the Kings holds more than 60 royal tombs carved deep into the limestone cliffs of the West Bank. Inside, painted walls and hieroglyphics remain as vivid today as when the tombs were sealed thousands of years ago. Tutankhamun's tomb — discovered here in 1922 almost entirely intact — is one of the most famous archaeological finds in history. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut rises in sweeping colonnaded terraces directly against the cliff face behind it. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt as pharaoh for more than 20 years and was one of the most successful rulers in the country's entire history — her temple is as bold and ambitious as anything built by the male pharaohs who followed her.
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Your cruise ends in Luxor — but Egypt doesn't have to. Ask us about combining this cruise with Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, or the Red Sea. We'll build the itinerary around your schedule.
→ Talk to Our Egypt Travel Experts
Luxor is where ancient Egypt is most alive. No city on earth has a higher concentration of temples, tombs, and monuments — and your first afternoon puts you at the center of it. A Memphis Tours representative meets you at Luxor airport or train station and transfers you directly to the MS Salacia for embarkation before lunch. After settling into your suite, your Egyptologist takes you to two of the greatest temples ever built. That evening, the boat manager hosts a welcome cocktail reception in the lounge — a chance to meet your fellow travelers and hear what lies ahead over the next five days.
- Meet and assist at Luxor airport or railway station
- Private transfer to the MS Salacia for embarkation (10:00–12:00)
- Lunch on board
- Check in and settle into your suite
- Guided visit to Karnak Temple (East Bank)
- Guided visit to Luxor Temple (East Bank)
- Dinner on board (19:30)
- Cocktail reception and boat manager presentation in the lounge
Karnak Temple is the largest religious complex ever constructed — covering more than 200 acres and built by 30 different pharaohs over 1,300 years. Walking through its hypostyle hall, with 134 massive columns rising around you, is one of those experiences that makes everything you've read about ancient Egypt suddenly feel real. Luxor Temple, just a short drive away, sits at the edge of the modern city and glows golden under floodlights in the early evening — its colossal entrance statues and towering pylons reflected in the Nile just steps away.
Overnight: Aboard the MS Salacia in Luxor
Meals: Lunch, Afternoon Tea on Sundeck, Dinner
Entertainment: Cocktail reception and boat manager presentation
This morning crosses to the West Bank of Luxor — the side of the Nile where ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs, believing the setting sun represented the passage into the afterlife. After your West Bank visits you board again and sail south toward Esna, passing through open desert countryside as the afternoon unfolds on the river.
- Breakfast on board
- Guided visit to the Valley of the Kings (West Bank)
- Guided visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (West Bank)
- Sail from Luxor toward Esna (13:00–14:00)
- Lunch on board while sailing and passing through the Esna Lock (17:00)
- Afternoon tea on the sundeck
- Dinner on board (20:00)
- Overnight in Esna
The Valley of the Kings holds more than 60 royal tombs carved deep into the limestone cliffs. Inside, painted walls and hieroglyphics remain as vivid today as when the tombs were sealed thousands of years ago. Tutankhamun's tomb — discovered here in 1922 almost entirely intact — is one of the most famous archaeological finds in history. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut rises in sweeping colonnaded terraces directly against the cliff face behind it. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt as pharaoh for more than 20 years, and her temple is as bold and ambitious as anything built by the male pharaohs who followed her. The Esna Lock, passed in the late afternoon, is a working river lock that brings cruise ships through one at a time — a surprisingly compelling experience to watch from the deck.
Overnight: Aboard the MS Salacia in Esna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea on Sundeck, Dinner
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Today is the fullest day on the water. You start before breakfast sailing from Esna to Edfu, visit one of Egypt's most spectacular temples in the morning, then sail on to Kom Ombo for a late afternoon visit before continuing south toward Aswan. The evening closes with a Galabeya party in the lounge — one of the cruise's most fun and memorable nights, where guests dress in traditional Egyptian robes and celebrate on board.
- Early morning sailing from Esna to Edfu
- Guided visit to the Temple of Horus in Edfu (08:00)
- Sail toward Kom Ombo (10:00)
- Lunch served on the sundeck while sailing (weather permitting)
- Afternoon tea on the sundeck
- Guided visit to Kom Ombo Temple (17:00)
- Sail to Aswan (18:30)
- Dinner on board (21:00)
- Galabeya party in the lounge after dinner
The Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. Its towering entrance pylons and vividly carved walls — depicting the mythological battle between Horus and Set — look almost new compared to other sites, which makes the sheer scale of it even more striking. Kom Ombo Temple, visited the same afternoon, is one of the most unusual in Egypt — built for two gods simultaneously, Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the Elder, with the entire structure perfectly mirrored side by side. The late afternoon light across the riverside columns at 17:00 is one of the most photogenic scenes on the entire Nile.
Overnight: Aboard the MS Salacia in Aswan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea on Sundeck, Dinner
Entertainment: Galabeya party in the lounge
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Aswan is the most atmospheric city on the Nile — quieter and more unhurried than Luxor or Cairo, with granite boulders rising from the river and Nubian villages lining the banks. Today is your day to explore it fully, with the option to add one of the most extraordinary excursions in all of Egypt. The evening brings a Nubian cultural show in the lounge — a fitting finale in a city that has been the gateway to Nubia for thousands of years.
- Breakfast on board
- Guided visit to Philae Temple
- Guided visit to the Unfinished Obelisk
- Optional Abu Simbel excursion (recommended — see note below)
- Lunch on board
- Afternoon tea on the sundeck
- Dinner on board
- Nubian show in the lounge after dinner
Philae Temple sits on an island in the Nile and is reached by short motorboat — making the arrival feel genuinely special. It was saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser in one of history's most extraordinary engineering operations: dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt on higher ground. The Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in the quarry where ancient workers abandoned it, would have been the largest obelisk ever erected at 42 meters long — the crack that stopped its completion gives a rare look at exactly how these monuments were made.
Overnight: Aboard the MS Salacia in Aswan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea on Sundeck, Dinner
Entertainment: Nubian show in the lounge
Your final morning on the Nile. After breakfast and check-out, your Memphis Tours representative transfers you to Aswan airport or the railway station onward to your next destination. We hope this journey through ancient Egypt has been everything you imagined — and we can't wait to welcome you back.
- Breakfast on board
- Disembarkation after breakfast
- Transfer to Aswan airport or railway station
Meals: Breakfast
MS Salacia Nile cruise, best Nile cruise in its category, is renowned for its high standards of luxury and hospitality. Guests can enjoy three, four, and seven night itineraries on the board of M/S Salacia Nile cruise, exploring the wonders of the Egyptian Nile.
M/S Salacia Nile cruise is completely refitted, refurbished, and converted to an all-suite configuration; no other ship of its size cruising the Nile offers so much space per client. Most vessels of this size carry 140-160 passengers or more, while this ship will cater to only 59 discerning travelers, with a crew to passenger ratio of one to one.
Accommodation:
- 5 Decks
- 1 Master Suite: (Approx. 65 Square meters, 5 full Size Windows, Separate Bedroom, Double Bed, Separate Lounge, Dining Area, Bar, Two W.C).
- 18 Royal Suites (6 with Large Beds and 12 with Twin Beds), Approx. 28 Square meters each with two full Size Windows One Bed Room, Lounge Area and Two W.C.
- 9 Stateroom Suites (Large Bed), Approx. 21 Square meters, 2 full Size Windows, One Bed Room, Lounge Area, and One W.C.
- 3 Proper Single Staterooms, Approx. 15 Square meters with one full size window, One room, One Large Single Bed, chair and One W.C.
Guest Suite Facilities:
- Individually Controlled Air Conditioning
- Telephone.
- LCD T.V with Satellite Channels.
- Mini-Bar with daily complimentary mineral water and soft drinks.
- Complimentary Fruit basket & Biscuits/Chocolates upon arrival.
- Stationary.
- Shampoo, Conditioner, Shower Gel, Soap and Bathrobes.
Cruise Facilities & Services:
- Oasis Lounge and bar (Main Lounge with dance floor featuring local shows).
- The Atrium Lounge and Bar (Casual Lounge).
- The Chart Lounge & Library (Reading Lounge & Library).
- Palm Court Restaurant (Main Restaurant).
- Sahara Terrace Café.
- The Temple SPA (Including Gym Area, Sauna, Jacuzzi, Steam Bath and Massage Room).
- The Lido Health Club (Including Sauna and Jacuzzi, situated on Lido Terrace).
- The Lido Terrace (Swimming Pool, Bar and Shaded Sundeck).
- The Sahara Terrace Sundeck.
- Gift Shop.
- Ship Photographer and Galabeya Kiosk.
- Room service, Laundry service.
- Complimentary Standard Wi-Fi.
$
1290
$
835
$
797
$
1690
$
1095
$
1055
$
1955
$
1205
$
1169
$
2575
$
1595
$
1549
Our Travelers Testimonials
See how we’ve made every journey exceptional — straight from those who’ve traveled with us.
1737 Reviews
