Great cruise and amazing tour guide
As soon as we got on the boat we were greeted with friendly and attentive staff. Food was good with a buffet that changed daily. The highlight of our entire Egypt trip was Mina our guide. An Egyptologist with lots of knowledge and enthusiasm about what he was teaching us.
R7274PPjulieb · Feb. 2026 · über Tripadvisor
Great guide and sites, shop definitely not 5 star.
The sites and the guide were easily 5 stars despite the crowds and queues. Our guide ‘King Mena’ was excellent, not only very knowledgeable but went out of his way to make our visit enjoyable. The 4 star review is purely down to the ship, the ‘Coral 2’ , It was certainly not 5 star as advertised and would barely get 3 stars if reviewed on its own. We booked an ‘upper deck cabin’ but were given one deep in the bottom of the ship with only a small dirty window just above water, it smelt strongly of damp with a hint of diesel. Despite our complaining, all we got was shrugged shoulders. Eventually the did find a room the smelt slightly less but still not what we paid for. Food onboard was ok if a bit bland and the whole ship was a bit tired. Staff seem to think a forced smile equates to good service. I don’t mean to be all gloomy, it was still enjoyable, if it was sold as a 3 or 4 star ship it would be fine, pretty clean and everything worked but looking at many other ships around, it was definitely bottom of the pile.
JamesDGould · Feb. 2026 · über Tripadvisor
Great way to see the sights, brilliant guide, but beware of terrible cruise ships
Joined the cruise after taking the overnight night train from Giza.
Our guide for the 4 days was King Mina, who was brilliant and deserves a 5* rating on his own. He was very knowledgeable, patient and excellent at guiding us around all the sights, telling us interesting facts and things to look out for which kept the teens engaged. He looked after the entrance tickets, tips, and all the arrangements which meant we could focus on sightseeing the amazing places we visited. He definitely made the trip.
The cruise ship on the other hand was a huge disappointment. The itinerary we booked stated “5 star cruise with upper level cabin”. We were on the Coral 2 ship, which barely deserves 3 star, and were given cabins on the lowest deck on the waterline. The lower deck was damp and smelt of diesel. The rooms were damp and smelly too, and we couldn’t open the window - all our clothes were damp by the end of the trip. The shower was a trickle, and the stewards didn’t keep things very clean - one morning plates full of food were left in the corridor by the room opposite and remained there all morning until I asked for it to be cleared. The food was very basic using cheap cuts - the chicken served each day was just wings and thighs. Salad bar was good though.
Having seen some of the other ships I can definitely say we didn’t get what we paid for, or what could be possible on this trip. When we complained we were told all the ships were full and there was no alternative. So if you book this trip recommend you ask which cruise ship you will be allocated!
We visited in February, which is not the high season but a lot of the sights were still very busy. All the ships arrive at places at the same time, which means hoards of tour groups all congregate at the entrances at the same time. There is no means of crowd control or funnelling people, so often there is a scrum just to get through the ticket barrier. Be aware if you are travelling with anyone who can’t manage tight crowds. Once inside people spread out a bit, but you still may shuffle in a queue slowly past the famous parts.
Overall, a great family trip, well worth it for seeing the sights of southern Egypt without spending ages in buses or cars. Shame the cruise ship was not aligned with expectations.
ameliag731 · Feb. 2026 · über Tripadvisor
guide good, boat bad
boat: 2/5
guide: 5/5.
our guide (king mina) was amazing. incredibly informative, and recommended us some lovely spaces and even saved us some money and time on tickets. the boat however (coral II) was not great. having seen images of beautiful rooms, with french windows and tasteful furnishings, we expected such, however when on the boat we were placed in small, barely passable rooms with leaking fridges and tiny showers, on the lower deck on the waterline. we had a small, dingy window with painted over seals, and our room constantly smelt of something unidentifiable, and anything left out would be damp within an hour. the corridors always stank of diesel and cigarettes. the food was bland, and unvaried, and drinks costed a fortune. we also sailed with a flotilla of other cruises, however these were all scheduled to arrive at ports and visit landmarks at the same time- this created massive congestion, with packed temples and massive queues. there was also a shop on the middle deck of the boat, selling the same touristy Tat as every stall on land, however nothing useful like water or soap. the only saving grace was the guide, as i said, and some of the staff who were very pleasant, although sometimes playing loud arabic music in the bar (which cleared everyone out quick)
dylong2026 · Feb. 2026 · über Tripadvisor
Versuch auszuweichen!
Das war wirklich eine schreckliche Erfahrung. Ich und mein Mann sind gut gereist, erfahrene Backpacker und unsere Kinder extrem flexibel und an Reisen gewöhnt. Ich muss dieses Programm noch mit 1 Stern bewerten. Die meiste Zeit verbrachten wir damit, auf die Informationen zu warten, wann wir irgendwohin gehen sollten, die Wiederholung der Zeit, in der wir auf die Reiseleiter warteten. Um 20 Uhr wurden wir schließlich informiert, dass uns der Fahrer um 8 Uhr abholen wird. 30 Uhr am nächsten Morgen, um uns zur Kreuzfahrt zu bringen. 2 wurden 1 Kabine für 4 Personen ( 2 Betten pro Kabine! ) gegeben, obwohl wir für 2 bezahlt haben. Es war unmöglich, 1 Kabine für 4 Personen zu buchen, glauben Sie mir, ich versuchte: ) . Die nächste Nachricht kam gegen 14 Uhr von einem Guide. Eine Stunde später bekamen wir eine Nachricht von einem anderen Führer, dass er unser Führer sein wird. . um 16 Uhr gingen wir schließlich nach Philae Island, nachdem wir einen Anruf in der Hütte erhalten hatten (zum Glück waren wir dort) . Wir waren zu spät für den Assuan-Damm und sahen ihn nicht. Bitte bedenken Sie, dass wir mehr als genug Zeit hatten, es selbst zu besuchen, wenn wir wüssten, dass die Agentur es einfach überspringen wird. Später erhielten wir Anweisungen, dass wir um 3 Uhr fertig sein müssen. 45 Uhr, um zum Abu Simble zu gehen. Aus irgendeinem Grund ordnete die Agentur einen Weckruf um 3 Uhr morgens an (wer braucht 45 Minuten? ? ) , der Guide erschien um 4 Uhr . 30 und wir verließen Assuan um 5. 30 ! ! ! Der nächste Halt war kom ombu. Der Guide kontaktierte uns, als wir bereits 15 Minuten im Tempel waren. Sie brauchte weitere 15 Minuten, um zum Tempel zu gelangen, wo ihr die Dinge so schnell erklärt wurden, dass ich den Kindern nichts übersetzen konnte, obwohl ich sie freundlicherweise bat, etwas langsamer zu werden. Am nächsten Tag erhielten wir um 15 Uhr einen Weckruf. 10 Uhr zeigte sich die Führung bei 4. 55 ! ! ! ! Und für das große Finale sagten sie uns, wir sollen um 20 Uhr vom Boot kommen, natürlich war niemand da, unsere Jüngste fing an zu weinen, dass sie genug davon hatte. . . der Fahrer tauchte etwa 20 Minuten später auf, ging zum Luxustempel, wo der Guide sagte, dass wir zu spät sind und wir zurück zum Schiff fahren werden. Und dann sind wir zusammengeschmolzen. Die ganze Gruppe flippte aus, unsere beiden Kinder fingen an zu weinen. . .Junge aus der Gruppe teilten noch schlimmere Dinge, die sie durchmachten . . schrecklich!
NATASA_P · Feb. 2026 · über Viator · Übersetzt
Gutes Essen, kurze Besichtigungen und Tempel entlang des Nils
Es ist eine hervorragende Option, wenn man die wichtigsten Tempel Ägyptens besichtigen möchte, ohne extra für die Unterkunft zu zahlen. Die Reise beginnt in Assuan. Wir wurden pünktlich von unserem Hotel abgeholt und zum Boot gebracht, wo wir mit einem Begrüßungsgetränk empfangen wurden und unseren Reiseleiter kennenlernten. Unser Reiseleiter Mani war exzellent, sehr freundlich und stets aufmerksam.
Sie informieren Sie über die Trinkgelder, die 10 Dollar pro Person und Nacht betragen, und nehmen Ihren Reisepass entgegen, den sie Ihnen später an der Rezeption zurückgeben.
Wir bekamen unser Zimmer frühzeitig und konnten uns so entspannen, während die erste Tour zum Assuan-Staudamm begann. Diese Tour findet am Nachmittag statt. Sie ist nicht besonders beeindruckend, aber es wird eine weitere Option für etwa 40 Dollar angeboten (sehr teuer, daher haben wir sie nicht gebucht). Das Essen an Bord ist sehr gut und bietet eine große Auswahl. Getränke sind nicht inklusive, aber man kann vor der Abfahrt Wasser für die Tour kaufen, falls man nicht extra dafür bezahlen möchte. An Bord können Sie Erfrischungsgetränke (80 EGP), Wasser (70 EGP), Cocktails (300 EGP) und Bier (250 EGP) kaufen. Sie erhalten einen Bon und bezahlen die Gesamtrechnung am Ende Ihrer Reise an der Rezeption.
Jeden Tag muss man sehr früh aufstehen, man wird von der Rezeption angerufen, um sicherzustellen, dass man auch wirklich aufwacht. Am zweiten Tag unternimmt man eine vierstündige Bustour hin und zurück, und im Tempel ist man dann nur etwa eine Stunde. Es ist sehr anstrengend.
Das Schiff legt am zweiten Tag nachts ab und am Morgen befinden Sie sich bereits an einem anderen Ort. Am letzten Tag reisen Sie sehr früh ab und geben Ihren Koffer an der Rezeption zum Auschecken ab. Dieser wird dann zu dem Fahrzeug gebracht, mit dem Sie am letzten Tag transportiert werden.
Das Mittagessen am letzten Tag ist nicht inbegriffen; man wird zu einem Lokal gebracht, das „typisch ägyptisches Essen“ serviert, aber es ist sehr teuer (750 EGP) und wir haben dort nicht gegessen, weil es sich nicht lohnt.
Bedenken Sie, dass Sie an jedem Tempel nur 20 bis 30 Minuten Zeit ohne Reiseleiter haben, um Fotos zu machen. Beeilen Sie sich also etwas, wenn Sie gute Fotos machen möchten.
Insgesamt ist es eine gute Wahl, wenn man sich keine Gedanken um den Transport machen und auf Verpflegung Wert legen möchte. Wer die Tempel in Ruhe und mit viel Geduld besichtigen will, ist hiermit nicht optimal beraten. Für uns, die wir nicht so geschichtsbegeistert sind und nicht jedes Hieroglyphenbild fotografieren wollen, war diese Option ideal.
Sebastian_O · Feb. 2026 · über Viator · Übersetzt
Wonderful Nile Cruise Experience on MS Monaco
Wonderful Nile Cruise Experience on MS Monaco
We had an amazing experience on the MS Monaco Nile cruise. Everything was very well organized from the beginning to the end of the trip.
The ship has a beautiful and comfortable interior — clean cabins, cozy common areas, and a very pleasant atmosphere on board. The food was excellent, with a wide variety of fresh and delicious dishes at every meal.
The organization of the excursions was excellent. All visits were well planned, punctual, and smooth, which allowed us to enjoy the temples and historical sites without stress.
Special thanks to our guide Khaled, who was professional, knowledgeable, and very friendly. His explanations were clear, interesting, and full of fascinating historical details. He made ancient Egyptian history come alive and was always attentive to the group.
The service on board was outstanding. The staff were polite, helpful, and always smiling, making the whole journey comfortable and relaxing.
Cruising on the Nile was truly unforgettable — beautiful views, peaceful atmosphere, and perfect balance between sightseeing and relaxation.
We highly recommend the MS Monaco Nile cruise to anyone looking for comfort, great food, excellent service, and perfectly organized excursions.
georgesK4976WC · Jan. 2026 · über Tripadvisor
Good experience on the cruise from Aswan to Luxor
Khaled is a knowledgeable and informative guide. The cruise experience is good and the crew on the ship are friendly. Got to see many temples and places of interest.
Pioneer52412078966 · Jan. 2026 · über Tripadvisor
A perfect way to explore Egypt and the Nile
Our experience with Mr. Khaled was truly exceptional from start to finish. As a guide with a PhD in Egyptology, he combines deep academic knowledge with practical experience, making every site we visited come alive with fascinating historical context and stories. He is extremely well organized, professional, and clearly passionate about sharing his expertise.
Even though this was not our first time in Egypt, we learned an incredible amount of new and interesting information at each location. Mr. Khaled has a remarkable ability to point out details that most visitors would easily miss and to explain them in an engaging and understandable way. His guidance added a whole new dimension to places we thought we already knew well.
He was also very considerate and attentive to our needs throughout the trip. After the tour he kindly gave us a ride back to our hotel, which was greatly appreciated and showed his genuine care for his guests. Thanks to his planning, we were able to visit a large number of sites without ever feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
The Nile cruise on the “Moon River” was another highlight of the journey. The boat was comfortable, clean, and well maintained, with private bathrooms and showers in each cabin. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the overall atmosphere was very relaxing. The food on board was delicious, with a wide variety of options. As vegetarians, we were especially pleased to find plenty of tasty and well-prepared dishes that suited our diet.
Overall, this tour exceeded our expectations in every way. For anyone looking to explore Egypt in a meaningful, comfortable, and well-organized manner, we cannot recommend Mr. Khaled and this experience highly enough.
edgarasz2026 · Jan. 2026 · über Tripadvisor
Perfect way to explore Egypt - much recommended
Mr Khaled has a phd in egyptology and is a very organized and experienced guide. He is clearly an expert in his field and in every location we’ve visited we found many new interesting things about the sites although it’s not our first time here. He was very considerate and gave us a ride to our hotel after the tour. We visited a lot of objects and had a truly good time. The cruise “Moon river” was comfortable and clean. We had bathrooms and showers en-suite. The food was tasty and fitting for vegetarians with good variety.
tomassE4010WP · Jan. 2026 · über Tripadvisor