Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise - Every Thursday from Luxor for 07 & 04 Nights - Every Monday From Aswan for 03 Nights

We loved every minute of our stay at the Steigenberger Minerva. The food was great, the scenery incredible, the facilities nice and well taken care of. We particularly enjoyed the pool and pool deck. Mr. Michaels, Mr. Attuck and all the staff were incredibly hospitable.

The price of the shore excursions was a little steep ($250 per person), considering it was the off season.

The rooms are nice and clean. The staff was very responsive and helpful. Housekeeping was excellent. Everybody was very nice. Naturally the guests should observe the local protocols with plenty of tipping.

The food was good but not great. We went in the summer (off-peak) so perhaps they did not have enough customers to justify a wider variety of food. But it was still ok. The tours were average for the high price. We took many tours (from Viator) beforehand in Cairo and felt that we paid much less for similar tours.

It's cruising the Nile and visiting the Valley of the Kings and about a gazillion other places I have only dreamed about so it was always going to be awesome but the boat is magnificent and the staff (mostly) even more so. I'm vegan but don't shout about it and just accommodate but when the restaurant found out they went out of their way to provide the most delicious food I can eat. The room was way more luxurious than I expected and the bed super comfy. Housekeeping was great and room super clean. Don't ask for the Nile view, choose the shore side, you'll see more. None of the trips are included. They want you to pay $250 extra to take a guide for the 3 days but I did it without, just taking local taxis and using local guides - way cheaper and keeps the money in the towns.

Hmmm.... the price quoted on Booking.com was NOT the price I ended up paying - I ended up paying almost a £100 more but there wasn't much I could do about that. A kettle in the room would be good. I live in Egypt and quite savvy to the street hustles but got scammed by a worker from the boat who saw me on the street and said 'hi'. I only wanted directions to a pharmacy but of course i got 'guided' to his local spice shop and scammed into paying way over the odds for teas i didn't want/ need and then he asked for more baksheesh (tips) on top. Not ok. Not professional. Left a bit of a bad taste.

Wonderful trip with Steigenberger. The cruise is a little bit old and we didn’t get the best room. Having said that, the staff made the trip pleasant. Food was great and the view is spectacular.

Room facilities is a bit old.

- [x] We had a wonderful time on our 3 night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor and it really exceeded our expectations. Our rooms were spacious and comfortable, the staff were friendly and very helpful and the food was delicious varied and plentiful. We had our own private guide and driver Salah and Mahmoud from Egypt Tailor Made who took us to all the sites Temple of Philae, KomOmbo, and Edfu, Karnak and Luxor and the Valley of the Kings etc. and a sail in a felluca at Aswan. We visited Abu Simbel the day before joining the cruise and stayed the night there which I definitely recommend, we visited in the afternoon without all the day tours so it was very quiet and we saw the Sound and Light show in the evening so had a second look at the temple exterior. It was a magical experience. Our cruise wa There is a tip box in reception for all the many staff who make this memorable, the suggested tip from previous reviews is 10 usd per traveler per day so for 5 of us and 3 days was 150 usd but was so happy with everything we did 200 usd. We also tipped a little Egyptian money to our waiter, the bag carriers and the guy who made beautiful and hilarious sculptures with our towels. I do think travelling from Aswan to Luxor was better for our group we loved finishing with the Karnak and Luxor Temples and the Valley of the Kings and more economical being 3 nights.

Nothing

We loved the whole experience from the very nice and cooperative staff to the food and the program itself and the room with private balcony and the boat. All were superb and to a high standard of service.

I hoped that they could accommodate early check-ins. As we experienced like other guests some flights arrive early. It would be highly appreciated if the boat management would offer a solution for early arriving guests.

All was great

Food

I had the hardest time finding reviews and pictures for specific Nile river cruise boats. Booked this one as there were few availabilities and many ships sell out early. I think the tour companies book blocks of rooms in advance. Because I enjoy planning/booking my own travels, limited availability was challenging. I didn’t want to fly and stay in Luxor and Aswan as that would have involved two hotel stays where the cruise was just one. I could not book direct but was able to use one of the bigger travel websites. This wasn’t the most expensive nor was it the cheapest cruise - middle ground. It’s rated 5 star but I would put it at 4. Payment is taken by the ship on checkin. They do keep your passport that first day but then return it. My flight was canceled and I had to take an earlier flights. They were able to accommodate early check in which was appreciated. Ship is docked next to Luxor Temple and is tethered to other boats on and off throughout the cruise which means crossing the lobbies of other boats at times. Bring ear plugs as you may have city noise and/or engine noise from tethered ships in different ports. Ship and room are clean, cabin is small, beds are firm and staff is friendly. There is a fridge and safe in the cabins. While it had been updated, it does show some signs of wear. I have cruised before on the big ships but this was my first river cruise. The river is very busy with several nile cruise companies. I had no issues with motion sickness like I usually do on the big ships. The river was very calm and the sailing was very smooth. There are no safety drills like the big ships. So know that life vests are in the room beneath the beds and upper deck rear has life rafts. If you are wanting high end/luxury cruise experience, this not that. If you want clean comfortable accommodations, friendly staff and midrange budget, then give it a try. If you need handicap accessibility, inquire ahead of time because I saw no elevators or ramps.

Food is buffet style and was good but not great. Egyptian dishes were the best but not offered consistently. Smoking is allowed on board in all common areas which I found surprising. 2 bottles of water are provided in room daily, you can purchase others onboard or onshore and bring with you. Use bottled water to brush your teeth. Most staff understand basic English. I was traveling solo and chose to book tours through the ship. Cost was $250 during my 4ni/5day cruise, for private tours and most entrance fees. It includes Karnak and Luxor temples on the east bank and Valley of the Kings on west bank. King Tut is an additional $15. If you want to see Valley of the Queens, let the guide know in advance. It is an extra $16.50 for transport and $50 for queen Nefatari’s tomb which I was glad I got to visit. Some cruises include tours in the price of cabin, so be sure to clarify ahead if time. I also wanted to do the optional Abu Simbel tour which was $200 for private tour and $120/person for group bus tour. On Viator, the group bus tour is cheaper. I messaged the ship prior in order to arrange my flight for late afternoon to partake on the tour. However, the tour guide told me it is about a 3.5-4hr drive because of security check points, 75mins at the temple and then return. While the ship said we would return by 11-12pm, the guide said it would be closer to 1:30. I had a flight out booked at 3 pm and decided not to take the chance and miss my flight out as it was the last one of the day. Lastly, this is Egypt so pack your patience and adjust your expectations. I had read many travel sites prior and wasn’t surprised by much. Bring small bills (I used Egyptian pounds and US dollar) as tipping culture here is pretty much mandatory and cuts down on the foolery.