I’m Ariana and welcome to my Nile River Cruise article! A little bit about me: I grew up on a farm in a small village in Switzerland. Even as a child, I spent a lot of time outdoors and with animals. This is where my connection to nature and my thirst for adventure come from. Sport and outdoor activities are my passions as a balance to my office job, but also to stay in shape.
I go to the gym several times a week, and I like running and crawl swimming. I love our Swiss mountains, so I often go hiking and skiing. My active lifestyle also means that I pay attention to nutrition. This works best when I cook myself. That’s why I like to try new recipes and get inspiration from international cuisine – bringing ideas from my travels back home.
Travel is another big passion of mine. I love getting to know new cultures. I speak four languages, which is why I’m able to communicate easily with people on my trips and learn more about their lives.
My Two Week Adventure in Egypt
My wanderlust became so strong that about a year ago I decided to quit my job and my apartment, and travel around the world for an open-ended time. After exploring China, South America and the USA, I was tempted to discover the continent of Africa – starting with Egypt as I wanted to see the Pyramids. I flew to Cairo and my first tour was visiting the Pyramids.
I was amazed by the mystical atmosphere there. Then I took a flight to Luxor where I began an eight day Nile River Cruise, through the timeless wonders of Luxor to Aswan and back. In total, I was in Egypt for two weeks.
Nile Cruise on the M/S Semiramis II
My fascination with cruising was sparked on my world trip. It was obvious that after cruising on the high seas, I would take a Nile River Cruise. So I did some research, and found a local provider who offered a package that met my needs and offered good value for money. I embarked on the M/S Semiramis II on an eight day journey from Luxor to Aswan and back.
In addition to the seven nights with breakfast, lunch and dinner – the package also included transport and a guide for tours. For example, we visited ancient temples and soared above Luxor in a hot air balloon. I can absolutely recommend this Nile River Cruise! The mix of days ashore with excursions and the sailing days made this a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Relaxing on a cruise ship along the Nile River, taking in the landscapes, was simply unforgettable! Keep in mind that solo traveling around Egypt as a female is a challenge, as you’re often besieged by locals who want to sell you something. However, this cruise was the perfect way to get into the heart of Egyptian culture without the stress. Moreover, I met a lot of interesting people who made my time on the ship even more enjoyable.
Highlight of My Nile River Cruise
The highlight of my Nile River Cruise was the hot air balloon ride excursion in Luxor. We left early, at 6am, and the ride lasted for about 30 minutes. The incredible panorama of the Valley of the Kings and the Nile River was indescribably beautiful. Getting up early was definitely worth the effort!
10 Tips for Taking a Nile River Cruise
- Compare different offers as prices vary greatly from provider to provider.
- Use regional providers or book locally to secure the best prices.
- Note that if you’re solo traveling, you’ll pay a single supplement.
- Book a package that includes the cruise itself and shore excursions. However, keep in mind that the excursions only include transport and the guide, and not the entrance fees to the sights (such as the temples). The entrance fees usually cost between 5 and 10 dollars each.
- I recommend booking a package that includes a hot air balloon ride. This was the highlight for me and is cheaper than booking it separately.
- If you book a Nile River Cruise package, the tour provider will suggest a travel program with excursions. Just know that the days are packed! Some excursions require getting up early (4am) or they take place in the afternoon when it can get very hot depending on the season. I was there in May and we sometimes had temperatures over 40 degrees, which was very hot. But what I liked about this time of year was that there weren’t many tourists. It was relatively quiet in public areas and on shore excursions, so I can definitely recommend this time of year.
- You don’t have to take part in all of the excursions. Many sights, such as the temples, are repeated. Sometimes I decided to stay on the ship. This is a good way to reduce costs, since you have to pay the entrance fees.
- Internet access on the ship is paid per GB of data. Get a SIM or a cheaper data package in advance. I recommend using Airalo for this.
- The M/S Semiramis II ship is small and doesn’t offer a large entertainment program like other cruise ships. So be aware that you have to find something to do yourself (like reading), especially on sailing days. And for the sporty ones, the ship has no gym – just a few machines on the sun deck. This is enough to get you moving everyday but you should do it early in the morning, otherwise it will be too hot.
- As a solo female traveler, you’ll be very popular with the local staff on the ship. They are very courteous and more reserved than the Egyptian men on land, but they will still try to make contact with you.
Looking Back on a Magical Trip
I had many beautiful moments on the Nile River Cruise. I enjoyed relaxing and marveling at the scenery as we cruised. This cruise was the perfect opportunity to discover Egypt’s rich history – with its fascinating temples and monuments – while admiring the breathtaking landscapes from the ship and enjoying a beautiful sunset every evening. You’ve got to do it!