These boats typically have between 20 and 100 cabins, all air-conditioned and ensuite. They will also have a sun deck, a bar, a restaurant and a small swimming pool. When booking, ask about the ratio of passengers to Egyptologists (the lower the better), and whether your craft has a private mooring. If it doesn’t, you’re likely to find yourself trekking across three other boats to reach shore.
Apart from variations in size, these vessels are really much of a muchness. Discover Egypt (020 7407 2111, www.discoveregypt.co.uk) offers some of the cheapest all-inclusive cruises, but its boats are as good as any, with airy central areas and good-size cabins. Go for the smaller Viking I or Viking II (about 30 cabins each), rather than the company’s flagship, Viking Premiere, which is comfortable but, with 58 cabins, just a little too big. Week-long trips start at £449pp, including return flights to Luxor from Gatwick or Manchester; an extra week at the swish and spacious Mövenpick Jolie Ville hotel, in Luxor, starts at £159pp.
Some vessels do stand out from the crowd, though. Voyages Jules Verne (0845 166 7035, www.vjv.co.uk) uses perhaps the prettiest of all the Nile cruise boats, the SS Karim. It’s a restored working steamer from 1917, with 15 cabins, teak panelling and nice touches throughout, including an old gramophone in the corner of the country house-style bar. Ask nicely and the captain will show you the piston room — a reminder that machinery really can be beautiful. The boat also has the advantage of being particularly slow, which means more time to soak up your surroundings. Its pool, though, is tiny. A week starts at £825pp, including flights from Gatwick.
The most stylish cruisers on the Nile are run by Abercrombie & Kent: (0845 070 0612, www.abercrombiekent.co.uk): Sun Boat III (18 cabins) and Sun Boat IV (40 cabins). These are like river-going boutique hotels: minimalist design, low lighting, chic lounge areas, wicker sunbeds and on-board satellite internet. The company pledges never to book more than 15 passengers per guide, and has private mooring sites in Aswan and Luxor. A week starts at £1,445pp, including flights from Heathrow.
Cox & Kings (020 7873 5000, www.coxandkings.co.uk) uses the eyecatching Oberoi Philae, voted best Nile cruiser for the past five years running thanks to its combination of big-boat facilities and period trimmings. The Philae is styled like a 19th-century paddle steamer, with lots of polished teak and twirly ironwork, but has a proper pool, bars, a library and fitness gear. Yes, there are 58 cabins, but each has a balcony and minibar, so private sundowners come as standard. The 10-night itinerary (from £1,475pp, including flights from London) also gives you two full days in Cairo.
Thomas Cook Signature (0870 443 4481, www.tcsignature.com) offers a more intimate cruise experience than many of the big-name operators, but be sure to book on its Royal Rhapsody or Royal Serenade boats, rather than the much larger Ra II — they have just 27 cabins and an atmosphere of dressed-down sophistication. Your tour group will be no bigger than 25, and the guides are usually happy to deliver a bit of informal Egyptology in the evenings. Seven nights start at £779pp, including flights from Heathrow.
Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk) is worth considering if you fancy combining a shorter cruise with some overland exploring. Its two-week Egyptian Classic trip includes a detailed delve into Alexandria, an epic desert drive to Siwa and a night at Abu Simbel, as well as three days on the Nile. From £1,676pp, including flights from Heathrow.
