Nile Cruise Hub

What’s Included in a Nile Cruise (And What’s Not)

Inclusions vary by ship, but after reviewing the itinerary details across all 105 ships and packages in our catalog, clear patterns emerge in what’s typically included and what’s typically extra. Here’s the honest breakdown, plus what to double-check before you book any specific ship.

Usually Included

Full board meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner on board, standard across almost every ship in our catalog.
Entrance fees to scheduled temples and sites — the temples on the standard itinerary (Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and similar) are typically covered.
Port taxes — standard on nearly every listing.
Guided shore excursions — an Egyptologist guide for scheduled sightseeing stops is included on most ships.
Airport and site transfers — included on a meaningful share of ships, though not universal; some itineraries and combo packages handle this separately.

Usually NOT Included

Tips and gratuities — almost universally excluded and left to the traveler. See our Nile Cruise Tipping Guide for general guidance.
Personal spending — shopping, souvenirs, and similar out-of-pocket costs.
Drinks beyond water — alcohol, soda, and specialty drinks are typically billed separately or available on a drinks package.
The Cairo portion of the trip (for cruise-only listings) — unless you’ve booked a specific Cairo combo package, Cairo sightseeing, hotels, and transfers are separate.
International and domestic flights — flights to Egypt and, on many listings, the domestic flight or train to Luxor/Aswan are booked separately.
Visa fees — Egypt’s entry visa is handled by the traveler, not bundled into the cruise price.
Optional excursions — add-ons like a hot air balloon ride, Abu Simbel (on many itineraries), or a felucca sail are typically priced separately.

Always Confirm Before You Book

These patterns hold across most of our catalog, but exact inclusions differ ship by ship. Before paying, confirm: cabin category, meal plan details, which specific entrance tickets are covered, whether transfers are included, and whether any optional excursions (like Abu Simbel) are bundled in or extra. Every individual ship page lists its specific inclusions and exclusions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are drinks included on a Nile cruise?
Usually not beyond water. Most ships sell drinks packages or charge per item — check the specific ship’s page or ask when you request a quote.

Is Abu Simbel included?
Not on most standard itineraries — it’s a separate excursion from Aswan on most ships. See our Aswan Travel Guide for details.

How much should I budget for tips and extras?
This varies by trip length and personal spending habits. See the Nile Cruise Tipping Guide for general ranges.

Get a Confirmed Breakdown

For an exact list of what’s included on a specific ship, browse the Compare Nile Cruise Ships tool, or send your dates and preferred style through the request form.

The questions that prevent billing surprises

Nile cruise packages vary more than the listings suggest. Here is what is normally included, what usually is not, and the specific questions that prevent surprises.

Almost always included

Cabin accommodation for the nights of the sailing.
Full board. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, usually buffet.
Guided excursions with an Egyptologist at each temple stop.
Port and service taxes.
Basic drinking water with meals.

Sometimes included, always worth confirming

Entrance tickets. The single biggest variable. Some packages cover every site, others cover none, and many cover the standard sites but exclude extra-ticket tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
Airport and hotel transfers. Often included for packages, often excluded for cruise-only bookings.
Abu Simbel. Usually a paid add-on rather than part of the cruise.
The felucca sail in Aswan. Sometimes standard, sometimes optional.

Almost never included

Drinks beyond table water. Soft drinks, coffee, and alcohol are charged to your cabin account.
Tips. Crew, guide and drivers. Budget for this separately; it is expected rather than optional.
Egypt entry visa.
Optional excursions such as the sunrise hot air balloon over the West Bank or the Sound and Light show at Philae Temple.
Personal spending, laundry, spa treatments and wifi on some ships.

The questions that prevent surprises

Before paying a deposit, get written answers to these:

Which specific entrance tickets are included, listed by site?
Is the guide private or shared, and how many people per group?
What drinks are included, if any?
Is Abu Simbel included, optional, or not offered, and at what cost?
Which transfers are covered?
What is the recommended tipping amount?

Why cheap quotes get expensive

A low headline price with tickets, transfers and drinks excluded frequently ends up costing more than a higher all-inclusive quote. Compare the total you will actually spend, not the number in the advertisement.