What are the best Nile cruise packages for a 7 day trip?

Classic Holidays is a UK Nile cruise specialist offering some of the best 7 day Nile cruise packages for British travellers. Our most popular options are 7 nights Nile cruises on the MS Royal Princess, MS Classic Blue Shadow IV and Classic Semiramis II, plus the 7 night Essence of Egypt tour that combines a 4 night Nile cruise with 3 nights in Cairo by the Pyramids. All packages include flights, transfers and guided Nile excursions with an expert Egyptologist on the cruise.

If you are asking “What are the best Nile cruise packages for a 7 day trip?”, the short answer is that you have two main choices. You can spend almost all of those 7 days on the river itself on a 7 nights cruise, or you can choose a 7 nights itinerary that combines a shorter cruise with time by the Pyramids in Cairo. As the UK’s leading Nile cruise specialists, Classic Holidays offers both styles with 5 star ships, guided excursions included on the cruise and no hidden extras.

Quick answer: our top 7 day Nile cruise packages

If you have around 7 days to devote to the Nile and its highlights, these are the best starting points:

• 7 Nights Nile Cruise on MS Royal Princess
  A traditional 5 star Nile cruiser with an elegant Italian style interior, sweeping staircase and a classic Nile atmosphere. MS Royal Princess also holds the Cristal food hygiene award. Cabins have French Juliet style balconies so you can open the doors for fresh air and views of the river. You enjoy the full 7 night Luxor to Aswan itinerary with guided excursions with a PhD qualified Egyptologist guide included on the cruise.View MS Royal Princess
• 7 Nights Nile Cruise on MS Classic Blue Shadow IV
  A 5 star Cristal awarded ship with French Juliet style balconies on all cabins, 11 guided excursions included, Ideal if you want a full week simply cruising between Luxor and Aswan with modern styling.View MS Classic Blue Shadow IV
• 7 Nights Nile Cruise on Classic Semiramis II
  A modern 5 star floating hotel with large panoramic windows instead of balconies, 11 guided excursions, Cristal food hygiene award and comfortable cabins.View Classic Semiramis II
• Essence of Egypt Tour: 7 nights (4 nights Nile cruise + 3 nights Cairo by the Pyramids)
  The best 7 night Egypt itinerary if you want both a cruise and time by the Pyramids. You enjoy a 4 nights 5 star Nile cruise with guided excursions included on the cruise, plus 3 nights at a Pyramids hotel. During your stay in Cairo you can add optional extra excursions such as the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum.View Essence of Egypt Tour

All of these are 5 star packages with return flights, transfers and guided Nile sightseeing included, so you can treat “What are the best Nile cruise packages for a 7 day trip?” as a choice between a pure 7 nights river cruise or a 7 nights Egypt holiday that blends the Nile with Cairo. All of these 7 day Nile cruise holidays are sold as fully protected UK packages with ATOL and ABTA cover, including return flights from the UK, transfers in Egypt and a clearly defined excursion programme on the cruise.

What makes a Nile cruise package one of the “best” for 7 days?

When we talk about the “best” 7 day Nile cruise packages, we are usually looking at five things:

• Time on the river
  A 7 nights cruise gives you a full week drifting between Luxor and Aswan with no hotel hopping.
• How much is included in the price
  The most hassle free options include flights, transfers, a clear list of Nile excursions and entrance fees, plus a named guide on the cruise.
• Quality of the ship and cabins
  5 star boats with sun decks, pools and well equipped cabins make your down time as good as the sightseeing.
• Expert guiding
  A knowledgeable Egyptologist brings the temples and tombs to life and helps keep timings smooth each day.
• Flexibility
  Some guests want to add Cairo, Luxor or the Red Sea, so the best packages have easy add ons or cruise and stay versions.

Classic Holidays Nile cruise and cruise and stay holidays are built around exactly these points, with 5 star Cristal awarded boats, 11 guided excursions included on the full 7 night cruises and PhD qualified English speaking Egyptologist guides on board.

Best 7 night Nile cruise packages from Luxor

If your ideal 7 day trip means “I want a full week on the river”, then a 7 nights cruise from Luxor to Aswan is the most straightforward choice. You fly into Luxor, board your ship and spend 7 nights on the same boat while you explore the Nile Valley.

1. MS Royal Princess: traditional Nile cruise atmosphere

The MS Royal Princess is our most popular 7 night Nile cruise ship with Classic Holidays guests. It is a 5 star traditional Nile cruiser, decorated in an elegant Italian style with rich woods and a sweeping staircase in the lobby, and it holds the Cristal food hygiene award. On a typical 7 night sailing you can expect:

• The core 7 night cruise itinerary between Luxor and Aswan.
• Guided excursions to Egypt’s main Nile Valley sites, with entrance fees included on the cruise programme.
• Comfortable cabins with French Juliet style balconies so you can open the doors to the Nile breeze.
• Spacious lounges and sun deck for relaxing between visits.
• Full board meals on board, with time to relax on deck or in the lounge after sightseeing.

Pick Royal Princess if you like the idea of a classic Nile cruise ambience, traditional decor, Cristal award and French Juliet style balcony cabins while still enjoying 5 star comforts.

2. MS Classic Blue Shadow IV: modern all rounder with French Juliet balconies

The MS Classic Blue Shadow IV is a very popular choice for a 7 night Nile cruise. It is a 5 star ship with:

• 11 guided excursions included with a highly experienced PhD qualified Egyptologist.
• All cabins with a French Juliet style balcony so you can open the doors and watch the Nile glide by.
• A large sun deck with pool, bar and plenty of space to relax between visits.
• Buffet meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an optional all inclusive drinks upgrade.

Choose Blue Shadow IV if you want modern comfort, French Juliet style balcony cabins and the classic 7 night Luxor to Aswan itinerary with your excursions on the cruise clearly included.

3. Classic Semiramis II: panoramic windows and floating hotel feel

Classic Semiramis II gives a slightly different feel. Instead of French Juliet style balconies, cabins have large panoramic windows and the design is closer to a modern floating hotel.

• 11 guided excursions included with no hidden extras.
• Cabins with panoramic windows for Nile views.
• Cristal food hygiene award and a focus on high standards on board.

Choose Classic Semiramis II if you like big picture windows and a sleek, contemporary look.

To compare all three options at once, visit our Nile cruise boats page, where you can see the 7 nights cruises on MS Royal Princess, MS Classic Blue Shadow IV and Classic Semiramis II side by side.

Best 7 night itinerary if you want both the Nile and the Pyramids

For many people, the best answer to “What are the best Nile cruise packages for a 7 day trip?” is actually a combination, a shorter cruise plus a few nights in Cairo by the Pyramids. That is where the Essence of Egypt Tour comes in.

Essence of Egypt Tour: 7 nights (4 nights Nile cruise + 3 nights Cairo)

The Essence of Egypt Tour is designed for guests who only have one week off but still want:

• A proper Nile cruise experience with a 4 nights 5 star cruise including guided excursions along the Nile.
• 3 nights in Cairo at a 5 star hotel near the Pyramids, with half board as standard.
• The flexibility to add optional extra excursions in Cairo such as the Pyramids, Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
• Return flights, transfers, ABTA and ATOL financial protection all included in one package.

You can depart from Heathrow or Manchester on selected days, and there are alternative patterns such as 4 nights Nile cruise followed by 2 nights in Cairo, or 3 nights Cairo followed by 4 nights cruise, depending on which direction you wish to travel.

Essence of Egypt is the best fit if “7 days” really does mean a single week of holiday, yet you still want to see both the Nile and the Pyramids without having to organise separate hotels and flights.

What will you see on a 7 night Nile cruise?

A typical 7 nights Nile cruise from Luxor follows a tried and tested itinerary. You can see the full day by day breakdown on our Nile Cruise Itinerary page, but in simple terms you can expect:

• In and around Luxor
  Valley of the Kings and Queens, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.
• En route between Luxor and Aswan
  The riverside temple at Kom Ombo, often visited at sunset, and views of traditional life along the Nile banks.
• Around Aswan
  Aswan High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, the Temple of Isis on Philae Island and a boat trip around Elephantine Island and the Botanical Gardens.
• Optional extras
  Sunrise hot air balloon over Luxor, Abu Simbel by road or air and evening sound and light shows, which can be added locally at extra cost.

Most days follow a comfortable pattern with sightseeing in the cooler morning, sailing and relaxing at lunchtime and in the afternoon, then dinner and gentle evening entertainment on board. For a more detailed feel for daily life on board, you can also read our blog What is a typical day like on a Nile cruise holiday?

When is the best time to take a 7 day Nile cruise?

We operate Nile cruises throughout the year, but for most guests the prime season is from September to May. During these months daytime temperatures are usually warm rather than extreme, and evenings are more comfortable for walking around the temples.

• September to May
  Warm, sunny days and cooler evenings, ideal for sightseeing and relaxing on deck.
• June to August
  Much hotter, particularly at midday, although the ships are air conditioned and there is usually a breeze on deck.

If you are flexible, we can suggest dates in the core season that match your preferred 7 day itinerary and departure airport.

How to choose the right 7 day Nile cruise package for you

To narrow down the best options for your 7 day trip, ask yourself:

• Do you want a full week on the river, or do you also want Cairo?
  If you want pure river time, choose a 7 nights cruise on MS Royal Princess, MS Classic Blue Shadow IV or Classic Semiramis II. If you want the Nile and the Pyramids in one week, look at Essence of Egypt.
• Do you prefer French Juliet balconies or large windows?
  Royal Princess and Blue Shadow IV offer French Juliet style balcony cabins. Classic Semiramis II has big panoramic windows. All three give you good Nile views, just in slightly different ways.
• Are you happy with shared group excursions?
  Our standard packages include guided excursions with a small group and a qualified Egyptologist on the cruise. This keeps your costs clear and avoids the need to organise separate Nile touring.
• Do you want to add extra nights by the Red Sea or in Luxor?
  If you decide that 7 nights is not quite enough, you can step up to cruise and stay itineraries such as Wonders of Egypt, Enchanting Egypt or Treasures of Egypt, all of which include a full 7 night cruise plus additional stays.

FAQs about 7 day Nile cruise packages

Ready to plan your own 7 day Nile cruise?

If you would like personalised advice on “What are the best Nile cruise packages for a 7 day trip?” based on your dates and departure airport, our Egypt specialists can talk you through the options and current offers.

• Browse all our Nile cruise and cruise and stay holidays.
• Read more about the Nile cruise itinerary and Grand Egyptian Museum options.
• Request a tailor made quote for your preferred dates via our quotation form.

However you choose to use your week, a carefully planned 7 day Nile cruise holiday will give you a blend of temples, tombs and timeless river views that you simply cannot experience any other way.