The 8 Best Nile River Cruises (Based on Real Reviews)

Choosing a Nile cruise isn’t easy. Some of the biggest names in river cruising sail here, but the experience, price and level of luxury can vary enormously between them.

So which ones do passengers actually rate the highest? I’ve compared real customer reviews to rank eight of the best Nile River cruises, and there are some big differences between the top and bottom of the list.

Nile River Cruises – Ranking Explained

I haven’t sailed with every river cruise line on this list, and even if I had, ranking them on my opinion alone wouldn’t be particularly useful. Everyone looks for something different from a cruise.

Instead, I’ve ranked them using average customer review scores from Cruise Critic, so the results reflect the experiences of real passengers. Cruise Critic also publishes expert ratings, but I’ve only used the customer scores for this ranking.

I normally combine scores from Cruise Critic, TripAdvisor and Cruiseline.com for my cruise rankings, but many river cruise lines aren’t listed on the latter two. So, to keep the comparison consistent, this ranking is based solely on Cruise Critic customer scores.

The Best-Rated Nile River Cruises

1. Avalon Waterways

• Average Customer Score: 4.7/5
• Approx Nile Cruise Price: From £400 per person, per night
• Children Allowed: 8 years+ only

Avalon Waterways has an excellent reputation for luxury touring. This isn’t just a river cruise – with Avalon Waterways, you can expect packages that combine sailing the Nile with land tours to some of Egypt’s most famous sights.

Guests continue to rate the onboard experience highly, with recent reviews praising the service, food and excursions.

The cruise line isn’t cheap – you’ll pay a premium for the high standards of service and food onboard. But clearly, guests think it’s worthwhile, based on that exceptional average review score.

There are two options for Nile River cruises. The 10-day Taste of Egypt itinerary begins and ends in Cairo, with the Nile portion visiting Luxor, Edfu and Aswan. There’s also a 14-day Taste of Egypt with Jordan itinerary, which continues to Jordan and includes visits to Amman and Petra.

Throughout either itinerary, you can expect included excursions to some of the region’s most famous sights, with expert guides helping to bring Egypt’s ancient history to life.

Suggested read: Avalon Waterways Vs Viking River Cruises

2. Viking River Cruises

• Average Customer Score: 4.5/5
• Approx Nile Cruise Price: From £500 per person, per night
• Children Allowed: 18 years+ only

Viking is one of the biggest names in river cruising, and its Nile offering is much more than a few days spent sailing between Luxor and Aswan.

Its Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary is a 12-day cruisetour beginning and ending in Cairo. Along with the Nile cruise itself, the itinerary includes time in Cairo and visits to some of Egypt’s biggest attractions, including the Great Pyramid and Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum, Valley of the Kings and temples at Luxor and Karnak.

Quite a lot is included in the fare too. Return flights from London and selected regional airports are included, along with all onboard meals, beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, onboard gratuities and one complimentary shore excursion in every port of call. The 12-day itinerary features 11 guided tours in total, with expert Egyptologists accompanying guests through Egypt.

Recent Cruise Critic reviews are particularly positive about the organisation of the trip, knowledgeable Egyptologists, food and service onboard. Viking’s Nile ships score very highly individually too, with Viking Osiris currently rated 4.7 out of 5.

Just don’t expect this to be a particularly lazy holiday. Several reviewers point out that the itinerary is packed with sightseeing and long days exploring, so Viking is better suited to anyone who wants to see as much of Egypt as possible rather than spend most of their time relaxing onboard.

3. AmaWaterways

• Average Customer Score: 4.4/5
• Approx Nile Cruise Price:: From £500 per person, per night
• Children Allowed: 12 years+ only

AmaWaterways currently has two river cruise ships sailing the Nile – AmaDahlia and AmaLilia – with a third, AmaNubia, joining them in November 2026. This gives you plenty of flexibility when choosing dates for your trip.

The UK fares include much more than just the cruise. Return flights from London or Manchester, transfers and flights within Egypt are included, along with onboard meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, the Sip & Sail cocktail hour, Wi-Fi and excursions led by expert Egyptologists.

Recent guests particularly praise the organisation, staff and Egyptologists, with the sightseeing itself one of the biggest highlights. Food gets more mixed feedback, though, with some recent reviewers saying the dining didn’t quite live up to the otherwise high standards of the trip.

The Secrets of Egypt & the Nile itinerary lasts 11 nights, beginning with three nights in Cairo before a seven-night Nile cruise from Luxor and a final night back in Cairo. You can also add an optional pre-cruise extension to Jordan if you want to explore further.

Suggested read: AmaWaterways Vs Viking River Cruises

4. Scenic

• Average Customer Score: 4.3/5
• Approx Nile Cruise Price: From £600 per person, per night
• Children Allowed: 12 years+ only

Scenic offers one of the more luxurious ways to explore Egypt, with prices to match. However, this isn’t a conventional Scenic river cruise. Its Treasures of Egypt itinerary is a 13-day escorted land journey that includes a privately chartered Nile cruise aboard Sanctuary Sun Boat III.

The trip is designed for small groups and includes stays in Giza and Cairo alongside the Nile cruise. There are included excursions, expert Tour Directors who are also qualified Egyptologists and a choice of Scenic Freechoice experiences, while alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with lunch and dinner are included during the Nile cruise.

The Nile portion takes place aboard the intimate Sanctuary Sun Boat III, which carries just 36 guests in 18 cabins. The itinerary also includes plenty of sightseeing, covering major attractions such as the Pyramids and Sphinx, Luxor, Abu Simbel and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Scenic is one of the more expensive options on this list, but you’re paying for a much broader luxury tour of Egypt rather than just the river cruise itself. It’s best suited to anyone who wants an organised, small-group experience with plenty of sightseeing included.

Suggested read: Scenic vs Emerald River Cruises

5. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

• Average Customer Score: 4.1/5
• Approx Nile Cruise Price: From £570 per person, per night
• Children Allowed: 5 years+ only

Another cruise line offering a premium experience, Uniworld is aimed at travellers looking for luxurious accommodation, attentive service and plenty included in the fare. Children are permitted from 5 years old, and selected River Tosca sailings even offer Uniworld’s Generations programme with activities designed for families.

The Splendors of Egypt & the Nile itinerary runs for 12 days, combining a 7-night Nile cruise with 4 nights at a luxury hotel in Cairo. You can also add a pre-cruise extension to Jordan, or extend your trip afterwards with a stay in Jerusalem or on the Red Sea.

An experienced Egyptologist accompanies the trip, with 8 days of guided excursions included in the fare. Flights between Cairo and Luxor, gratuities, Wi-Fi and drinks including house wine and local beer with lunch and dinner onboard are included too.

Cruise Critic reviews for S.S. Sphinx are generally very positive, with the ship currently scoring 4.5 out of 5. However, the most recent reviews are more mixed, with some repeat Uniworld guests saying the Nile experience didn’t quite match the standards they’d experienced with the cruise line elsewhere.

Uniworld uses two ships for this itinerary, S.S. Sphinx and River Tosca, with departures available across much of the year.

6. CroisiEurope

• Average Customer Score: 4.0/5
• Approx Nile Cruise Price: £200-£300 per person, per night
• Children Allowed: 5 years+ only

CroisiEurope is worth considering if you want plenty of choice, with more Nile itineraries than most of the cruise lines on this list. Options currently range from 8 to 11 days, including straightforward Luxor round trips, longer trips combining Cairo with the Nile and even a more intimate sailing aboard a traditional dahabeah.

The standard Nile cruise is all-inclusive onboard, with all meals and drinks included. Many of the major excursions are included too, covering sights such as Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple and Philae Temple, although some experiences such as Abu Simbel cost extra.

You can choose a port-to-port Nile cruise or a longer itinerary that includes time in Cairo. CroisiEurope also offers a very different option aboard a traditional dahabeah, sailing a more unusual route between Luxor and Aswan.

One thing to be aware of is that the ship used for the standard Nile itinerary isn’t actually part of CroisiEurope’s own fleet. CroisiEurope itself warns that the cuisine and table setting aren’t comparable with the standards on its own ships, so don’t necessarily expect the same onboard experience you’d get on one of its European river cruises.

CroisiEurope currently scores 4.0 out of 5 on Cruise Critic overall. Recent reviews of the cruise line praise its itineraries, value and service, although experiences with food and organisation are more mixed.

7. Riviera Travel

• Average Customer Score: 4.0/5
• Approx Nile Cruise Price: £400 per person, per night
• Children Allowed: 12 years+ only

Riviera Travel is one of the more British-focused cruise lines on this list, with its Egypt holidays designed as complete touring packages rather than just a Nile cruise.

Its itineraries combine a Nile sailing with stays and sightseeing on land, with return flights from the UK included. Riviera currently uses two ships on the Nile, the Mövenpick Darakum and Steigenberger Regency, which are chartered exclusively for Riviera guests rather than owned by the cruise line itself. Drinks packages are also available for an extra charge.

Recent Riviera Travel reviews are particularly positive about the friendly and attentive crew, with guests also praising the food and overall organisation of the trips.

There are several different Egypt itineraries to choose from, so you can opt for a shorter Nile-focused holiday or spend longer exploring the country, depending on how much you want to see.

8. TUI River Cruises

• Average Customer Score: 3.2/5
• Approx Nile Cruise Price: £240-285 per person, per night
• Children Allowed: No

TUI River Cruises is a great option for British travellers looking for an easy way to package up a Nile cruise from the UK.

Its Nile cruises are adults-only and all-inclusive, with flights and meals included in the package. The cruises sail round-trip from Luxor, visiting Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, with plenty of opportunities to explore Egypt’s ancient temples and tombs along the way.

You can also turn the cruise into a longer holiday with one of TUI’s Cruise & Stay options, adding extra time in Luxor or Hurghada before or after your sailing.

TUI Al Horeya is the ship currently sailing the Nile, with guests praising the food, friendly staff, well-organised excursions and overall experience.

TUI is a particularly appealing option if you want a straightforward Nile package with flights and plenty included, without paying the premium charged by some of the luxury river cruise lines on this list.

Read more: TUI River Cruises – Your Ultimate Guide

Final Word

There’s no single best Nile cruise for everyone. Some are all about luxury, while others offer better value or combine the cruise with a more extensive tour of Egypt.

The right choice really comes down to your budget, how much you want included and how much time you want to spend exploring on land.

Whichever you choose, a Nile cruise is an incredible way to see some of Egypt’s most famous sights while enjoying the scenery along the way.

Related Posts:

• How Much Are River Cruises?
• The 5 Best European River Cruises for Families
• 27 Most Thoughtful Little Touches on River Cruise Ships