When: September 24-October 5, 2025
Where: Egypt & the Nile River
Trip Status: Full, with a waitlist. Sign up to receive a text notification when spots come available.
Join us on our 11-night Egypt River Cruise! We’ll explore ancient treasures and pyramids in Cairo, sail along the Nile to see tombs and temples, visit a Nubian village, learn the art of papyrus, sail on a felucca, and more!
Highlights include:
- Visit to Egyptian Museum and see the treasures of King Tut
- Tour of Alabaster Mosque
- Abdeen Palace private tour and lunch
- Tour of Coptic Quarter
- Visit to the Pyramids of Giza and Ancient Memphis
- Lunch in the historic Mena House
- Exclusive access to the Tomb of Queen Nefertari
- Visit to the Valley of the Kings and Queens
- Temple of Horus visit
- Felucca ride around Elephantine Island
- Visit to a Nubian Village, Philae Temple, and Great Temple of Kom Ombo
- Learn about papyrus art and visit the Luxor Market
- Visit to Karnak, Luxor, and Hathor Temples
- Several of the areas and sites we’ll visit are UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Optional add-on to Abu Simbel
Itineraries for 2025 are still being finalized so listed sites may change, but this is what we’re planning so far.
A cell phone and international data plan for one adult in your party is required for the duration of the trip.
This trip is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Cabins, Cost, and What’s Included
We have a private charter, so our group will be the only travelers on the cruise/tour. Our cruise/tour is discounted and includes all breakfasts starting with Day 2, all lunches starting with Day 2 except for our departure day, all meals on the 7-night cruise portion, all excursions on the itinerary (Abu Simbel is an optional add-on and involves another flight), all transfers beginning when you land in Cairo and ending when you depart from Cairo, roundtrip flights from Cairo to Luxor (where our Nile cruise begins and ends), all gratuities for ship crew, local guides, and anyone else who would normally expect a tip for service.
Cabins have two twins or one queen bed (your choice of configuration) and are meant for two people. (Every cabin must have at least one person 18 years old or older.)
Our ship doesn’t have single, triple, or quad cabins, but does have a few connecting cabins for larger families. Since the price is based on two people per cabin, if you have a party of 3, 5, 7, etc., you’ll have to pay for an unused spot in a cabin. Consider bringing an extra person along to get the best value.
Cabins are on four decks, with the lowest cabin deck mostly below the waterline, except for windows, and the other three above the waterline.
The cabins on the lowest deck are fixed (can’t be opened), while the cabins on the other decks have French balconies* and/or outside balconies. Many cabins are suites (they’re larger, have a separate sitting area, and a tub in addition to a shower). Please read the description of each cabin carefully to decide which is the best choice for you.
*French balconies are similar to a regular balcony, but the space is inside your room. When the patio doors (full glass windows) are closed, it’s an indoor sitting area with a full view. When you slide the doors open, it’s like a balcony, but you can’t step out (there are rails there to keep you from falling into the river). There’s no separate outdoor space.
NOTE: This river cruise/tour is more expensive than my Danube, Rhine, and France cruises because it’s a longer duration, including a land tour in Cairo. It also includes intra-Egypt roundtrip flights from Cairo to Luxor, Visa processing fees (for entry, not a credit card), all transfers, and gratuities (even for local guides), and it’s a smaller ship with fewer (but larger) cabins, so each cabin is more expensive.
PRICES ARE PER CABIN, NOT PER PERSON
Category E – Deck 1 (lowest cabin deck), 194 sq ft
No balcony, windows are smaller and don’t open
2 people: $9,598
1 person: $8,843
Category CB – Deck 2, 226 sq ft
French balcony, no outside balcony
2 people: $11,636
1 person: $10,881
Category CA – Deck 4 (highest cabin deck), 226 sq ft
French balcony, no outside balcony, same as Category CB, but on a higher deck
2 people: $12,180
1 person: $11,425
Category SB Suite – Deck 2, 370 sq ft
French balcony & outside balcony, tub in addition to shower, separate sitting area, we have two sets of connecting cabins in this category
2 people: $13,132
1 person: $12,377
Category SA Suite – Deck 3, 370 sq ft
French balcony & outside balcony, tub in addition to shower, separate sitting area, same as Category SB, but on a higher deck, we have two sets of connecting cabins in this category
2 people: $13,404
1 person: $12,649
Deluxe Suite – Deck 2, 400 sq ft
French balcony & very small (1-person) outside balcony, tub in addition to shower, separate sitting area, front of the ship
2 people: $13,676
1 person: $12,921
Grand Suite – Deck 3, 430 sq ft
Largest cabin, French balcony & outside balcony, tub in addition to shower, separate sitting area, front of the ship
2 people: $14,900
1 person: $14,145
During the cruise, wine, beer, and soft drinks are included for lunch and dinner, and a coffee and tea station is available at all times. Bottled water is provided in the cabins and is replenished daily.
This price doesn’t include airfare from the US to Cairo (and back), any extra tours or excursions you do on your own, trip insurance, and any optional pre- and/or post-cruise extensions we decide to do (if any).
Payment Schedule, Cancellation, and No-Refund Policy
A $100 per-person, non-refundable registration fee is required and will be charged to your debit/credit card when you submit your request for spots. This fee is separate from your cruise fare. If I can’t accommodate one of your cabin category choices, this fee will be returned.
Since we’re past our final payment deadline, full cruise payment is due within 7 days of my confirmation of your spots. I can’t hold spots after 7 days.
*NOTE: I need full payment this far in advance because this a discounted custom cruise with unforgiving contract terms. The contract must be signed a year or more in advance, and once signed, I’m responsible for paying for the entire ship, regardless of whether all cabins are filled or not. This is also why I can’t refund any payments for any reason (medical, job lay-off, death in the family, anything). Your cabin/spots aren’t transferable.
Please make sure you understand and agree with this before you register – no refunds, no matter what. I can’t afford to pay for empty spots. Your signed registration form and payment acknowledges your understanding and agreement with my no-refund policy. Spots/cabins are non-transferable.
I accept checks (personal, bank checks, BillPay through your bank) and Zelle transfers through your bank (if your bank allows you to transfer the full amount – no split payments).
I don’t accept credit or debit cards (other than for the registration fee), money orders, PayPal, Venmo, anything that requires me to provide my account number to a third party, or any other payment method.
Travel insurance that covers your expenses if you cancel the trip is strongly recommended. Thoroughly research policies to make sure of the reasons you can cancel, and that it covers emergencies and any unforeseen circumstances such as sickness, death of a loved one, and acts of God (natural disasters, etc.). Pandemics and civil unrest usually aren’t covered, so make sure you check carefully.
Food Allergies, Special Needs
Make sure you list any food allergies or other special needs on your registration form. I’ll check to see if your needs can be accommodated before I confirm your registration. (No refunds or special accommodations can be made due to allergies or other special needs if you don’t tell me about them when you register.)
Transportation
Your flight from the United States to Cairo (and the return) is not included in the price. Don’t purchase non-refundable flights until the trip is confirmed. Airlines have their own refund policies and I have no control over them.
I’ll email flight recommendations/details after the cruise is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this trip still open? Are any spots left? Will you have a waitlist? Is it first come, first serve.
I’ll update this page if we run out of spots. I can’t answer “do you have spots left” questions because I receive registrations throughout the day. What’s available when I get your email may not be available five minutes later.
Waitlists are based on a lottery system (not first come, first serve). Notifications go to everyone who signed up, and everyone has an equal chance of getting spots, regardless of when they sign up.
When the cancellation period for a trip closes, the waitlist also closes since we can no longer replace spots.
To increase your chances of getting spots on my waitlist “lottery,” be sure to follow the instructions in the text you receive and provide the requested information.
Is the price per person?
It’s per cabin, not per person. For example, a Category E cabin is $9,598 total for two people. The cabin is $8,843 if there’s only one person in the cabin.
This is a lot of money to send to someone I don’t know, especially so far in advance and with no refunds. Can you provide references?
I could provide references from families who’ve traveled with me since I began doing these trips in 2006, but references can be faked.
Instead, read my About page to find out more about us, then do a search of “Carolina Homeschooler trips” and “Traveling Homeschooler trips.” If I’ve cheated anyone, it’ll be all over the internet. My “Traveling Homeschoolers” name is newer, created in 2016 to differentiate between my local member trips, and trips that are open to everyone, so search both names.
You can also follow me on Facebook and read the featured post where a lot of families have shared their experiences about traveling with me.
It’s too stressful to send money if you don’t trust me. Please research before you register and pay.
Do you think you’ll fill the ship and be able to confirm the cruise?
We were able to confirm our first (Danube), second (Rhine), and third (Paris to Normandy Beaches) river cruises. This cruise is more expensive, but there aren’t as many cabins to fill, so I hope we’ll be able to confirm this one, too!
I’ve never been on a river cruise before. Can you give me an idea of what the ship is like, activities, etc.?
The ship may change (since it’s 2 years out), but most river cruise ships are similar – the top deck is open for viewing and hanging out with friends. The remaining decks are half cabins, half social areas (lounge, seating areas, restaurants, etc.).
The lowest category (and less expensive) cabins have fixed windows, while the higher category cabins have French balconies with full-length windows that open, and some also have outdoor balconies. All cabins have two twins or 1 queen (your choice, they hook the twins together if you want a queen).
You don’t have to pay extra to get better food (like you do on ocean cruise ships) or pay extra for drink packages (soft drinks and adult beverages). You don’t have to pay extra for excursions, either. (Except for Abu Simbel – it’s an added cost.) Port charges and gratuity are also included in the price.
The focus of river cruising is on the places we visit, not the ship (the opposite of ocean cruises), so there aren’t a lot of planned ship activities during the day (because we’re out touring the sites).
In the evenings, we enjoy socializing, playing games, and just spending time together. They also bring local entertainment (musicians, etc.) on board.
There’s plenty to do, but also time for parents and children to socialize and bond. And we did plenty of socializing on our Danube cruise. We left that ship feeling as if we were one big, extended family. It was amazing!
Does the description list everything we’ll be doing?
This cruise and land tour has a full itinerary so we can make the most of our once-in-a-lifetime trip to Egypt. You’ll be able to opt out of excursions if you need some downtime. I’ve listed some highlights and will give travelers a complete itinerary closer to our sail date. (The itinerary for 2025 is still subject to change, but it should include the highlights I’ve listed and more.)
Will we visit Abu Simbel? Does it cost extra?
A visit to Abu Simbel can be added for $425 per person, which includes another intra-Egypt flight.
When will you post information about any optional pre- and post-cruise extensions?
I’ll share more information when I confirm the cruise.
I have young children. Can we all share one cabin? I have a baby, toddler, preschooler – do they count in the price?
We can’t accommodate younger children on this trip. It’s recommended for ages 10 and up, and everyone counts in the price. Cabins are limited to two passengers per cabin, and one must be an adult.
Should people with mobility issues go on this trip?
We’ll have “gentle walker” versions of most tours to accommodate travelers with mobility issues. There’s no elevator access to the top (open, non-cabin) deck. There’s very limited access for guests confined to wheelchairs.
Describe your issues in the “special needs” section of the registration form and I’ll make sure we can accommodate your issues before I confirm your spots.
What cities will we fly into and out of?
We’ll arrive and depart from Cairo for this cruise. I’ll provide more flight information when I confirm the trip. Please don’t book your flights until I confirm and send you more details.
What payment methods do you accept?
The non-refundable $100 registration fee must be paid by credit/debit card when you submit your registration. It’s separate from your cruise fare.
For your cruise fare, I accept checks (personal, bank checks, BillPay through your bank) and Zelle transfers (if your bank offers that, and if they allow you to transfer the whole amount in one transfer – no split payments).
I don’t accept credit or debit cards (other than for the registration fee), money orders, PayPal, Venmo, any payment method that requires me to provide my account number to a third party, or any other payment method.
What are COVID or any other health requirements? Are vaccinations or masks required?
We don’t know what health requirements (COVID or others) will be in place for 2025. Even if we did, requirements could change even a week or two before our cruise. Only register if you’re willing to accept whatever requirements are in place when we travel.
Want to go?
- Registration is closed.
- If you don’t receive a confirmation with payment information within 5 days, please email me.
- Half of your cruise fare is due within 7 days of receiving my confirmation of your spots. The remaining balance is due by March 31, 2024. (Your registration fee is charged upon submission of this form and is separate from your cruise fare.)
- And that’s it! Email me if you have any questions.
