Sonesta Moon Goddess Nile Cruise 2026 — Facilities & Prices

Sonesta Moon Goddess Nile Cruise 2026 — Facilities & Prices

$ 799
Per Person
  • Schedule: Every Monday from Luxor (4 nights / 5 days) · Every Friday from Aswan (3 nights / 4 days)
Sonesta Moon Goddess Nile cruise ship exterior — all 49 standard cabins with private balconies, sailing between Luxor and Aswan Egypt 2026
Sonesta Moon Goddess deluxe cabin with private balcony and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors — Nile view, full-size bathtub, free WiFi, 5-star classic Egypt 2026
Sonesta Moon Goddess oversize outdoor pool with shallow water extension, Jacuzzi and sun deck bar with panoramic Nile views, Egypt 2026

Overview

Sonesta Moon Goddess at a Glance:  5-Star Classic · Built 2000 · Belgian interior design · From $799pp triple / $849pp double · All 49 standard cabins — private balcony with sliding glass doors · Bathtub all categories · Complimentary WiFi · Oversize pool + Jacuzzi · Jogging track · Full spa · Monday ex Luxor / Friday ex Aswan · Enquire → 24hr response

Sonesta Moon Goddess Nile Cruise 2026 — Honest Review, Facilities & Prices

Ahmed’s honest take: The Moon Goddess does something no other ship at this price point in our Classic range does consistently: every one of its 49 standard cabins has a private balcony with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. Not just the suites — every standard room. You book the entry-level cabin and you still wake up to your own outdoor Nile view. That matters a great deal when you’re spending four nights on a ship — the quality of the morning, the light on the water, the feluccas drifting past at dusk are experienced very differently from a balcony versus a window. The ship was designed by Belgian interior designer José Vanden Bossche, and that detail is visible in the cabin quality — materials, proportions and finishes that feel considered rather than standard-issue. Add complimentary WiFi in all cabins, a bathtub in every category, and an oversize pool with a shallow water extension and Jacuzzi, and this is the most compelling ship at its price point in the Sonesta fleet. The one honest comparison I will always make: the older Sonesta Nile Goddess costs less and offers the same Sonesta service — but standard cabins have windows only, and WiFi is charged. If those two differences matter to you, Moon Goddess is worth the slightly higher rate.

Quick Facts — Sonesta Moon Goddess

Key distinction All 49 standard Deluxe cabins have a private balcony with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors — the only ship in our Classic fleet where this applies to every standard room
Built / design Built 2000 · Interior by Belgian designer José Vanden Bossche · 106-passenger capacity
Departure days Every Monday from Luxor (4 nights / 5 days)  ·  Every Friday from Aswan (3 nights / 4 days)
Price from $849 per person double  |  Triple from $799 pp (summer, USD)
Total cabins 53: 49 Deluxe Cabins (~23m²) + 4 Presidential Suites (~38m² with separate lounge)
Balconies Private balcony with sliding glass doors on all 49 standard Deluxe cabins — not just suites
Bathroom Full-size bathtub in every cabin category — confirmed for Deluxe and Presidential Suite · Hairdryer included
WiFi Complimentary WiFi throughout the ship and in all cabins — included in the room rate, no extra charge
Signature spaces Oversize pool + shallow water extension + Jacuzzi · Spa (gym, massage, sauna, steam bath) · Jogging track · Billiards & table tennis · Beauty salon
Best For Couples who want a private balcony on a standard cabin · Honeymooners · Active travellers who want a jogging track and full spa · Guests who need complimentary WiFi included

Is the Sonesta Moon Goddess Worth It?

Yes — it delivers three features together at $849pp double that no other ship in this price band matches simultaneously: a private balcony on every standard cabin, complimentary WiFi in the room, and a bathtub in every category. The oversize pool with Jacuzzi, jogging track, and full spa round out an on-board package that is hard to match in the Classic range. The only trade-off worth naming: the ship is built to a larger, more social scale than boutique options like Alexander The Great or Le Fayan. If you want the quietest, most intimate Nile experience possible, a smaller ship serves that better. But for the combination of balcony, WiFi, bathtub, full sports and wellness facilities, and Sonesta’s reliable service standard, Moon Goddess is the strongest all-round offer at this price point.

Who Should Book the Sonesta Moon Goddess?

  • Couples and honeymooners who want a private balcony on their standard cabin — the only ship in this range where every standard room has one
  • Guests who need complimentary WiFi in the cabin included without extra charge
  • Active travellers who want a jogging track, full gym, sauna, steam bath and Jacuzzi on board
  • Families who want connecting cabin options and the flexibility of a 53-cabin ship
  • Guests on a Monday from Luxor or Friday from Aswan schedule within the Sonesta fleet

Honest advice — when to consider a different ship:

If you want the most intimate boutique experience on the Nile, Moon Goddess at 53 cabins is not that — consider Alexander The Great (30 suites) or Le Fayan. If you want the same Sonesta quality at a lower rate and can accept WiFi at a charge and windows rather than balconies, the Sonesta Nile Goddess is the right choice. For a tighter budget, our Budget fleet starts from $479pp. Ask us and we will find the right ship for you.

What You Will See — Sites Included

All Sonesta Moon Goddess programmes booked through Best Nile Cruises include a private licensed Egyptologist guide dedicated exclusively to your group and a private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers — not the ship’s shared group excursion.

Area Sites visited with your private Egyptologist guide
Luxor — East Bank Karnak Temple — the largest ancient religious complex ever built, with the Great Hypostyle Hall of 134 columns inscribed 3,300 years ago · Luxor Temple — the sanctuary of Ramesses II, illuminated at dusk along the Avenue of Sphinxes
Luxor — West Bank Valley of the Kings — royal tombs with painted afterlife journeys cut 3,300 years ago · Temple of Queen Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Nile Stops Edfu Temple — the best-preserved temple in Egypt, dedicated to Horus · Kom Ombo Temple — the unique double sanctuary of Sobek and Horus, with the Crocodile Mummification Museum
Aswan Aswan High Dam · Philae Temple — the island goddess temple reached by motorboat across the First Cataract · Unfinished Obelisk · Felucca sail around Kitchener’s Island & Botanical Garden

Frequently Asked Questions — Sonesta Moon Goddess

Do all standard cabins really have a private balcony?

Yes — all 49 standard Deluxe cabins on the Sonesta Moon Goddess have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a private balcony. This is confirmed on the official Sonesta website, by CruiseCritic’s editor review, and by nilecruisen.com. It is the defining characteristic of this ship and the reason guests specifically seek it out over other Monday/Friday-departure ships in the same price range.

How does Moon Goddess compare to the Sonesta Nile Goddess?

Both are Sonesta fleet ships on the same Monday/Friday schedule. The Moon Goddess (built 2000) offers private balconies on all standard cabins, complimentary WiFi and a larger wellness deck with jogging track and oversize pool. The Nile Goddess (built 1989) has no balconies on standard cabins, charges extra for WiFi, and is priced lower. If balconies and free WiFi matter, Moon Goddess. If rate is the priority and you’re happy without, Nile Goddess.

Is WiFi complimentary on the Moon Goddess?

Yes — complimentary wireless internet access is available throughout the ship and in all cabins on the Sonesta Moon Goddess, confirmed on the official Sonesta website. This distinguishes it clearly from the Nile Goddess, where WiFi is charged at extra cost.

What is the Presidential Suite like?

The 4 Presidential Suites (~38m² / 409 sq ft) have a separate lounge and bedroom, a queen-size bed, and a private balcony. They sleep two and are the most spacious cabins on the ship. Contact us for Presidential Suite pricing and availability.

Can I combine the Moon Goddess with Cairo and Abu Simbel?

Yes. The most popular full-Egypt combination is 2–3 nights Cairo (Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum) + 4-night Moon Goddess from Luxor + Abu Simbel day trip by early morning flight the morning after disembarking in Aswan. See our Cairo & Nile Cruise packages or contact us to build your complete programme.

Book Sonesta Moon Goddess — Response Within 24 Hours

Tell us your dates, group size, preferred direction (Monday from Luxor or Friday from Aswan) and cabin preference. We confirm availability and your fixed rate immediately.

Enquire About Sonesta Moon Goddess →

Sonesta Moon Goddess Nile Cruise · Classic 5-Star · Monday from Luxor · Friday from Aswan · Also see: Sonesta Nile Goddess · MS Acamar · Compare all ships · Last updated July 2026

Information accuracy: All specifications verified against official sonesta.com/sonesta-moon-goddess-nile-cruise-ship, cruisecritic.com editor review, nilecruisen.com (April 2025), and liveaboard.com, July 2026. Private balcony on all 49 standard cabins confirmed across all three sources. Complimentary WiFi confirmed on official Sonesta site. Cabin sizes approximate conversions from sq ft. Last verified: July 2026. Contact us if you notice any inaccuracy — we correct within 48 hours.

Itinerary

4 Days - Aswan / Luxor Every Friday
Day 01: Aswan — Embarkation and Temples

Arrive at Aswan airport or train station. Your private guide meets you and transfers you to the cruise ship for embarkation. After settling in and having lunch on board, begin exploring Aswan. Visit Philae Temple — the island temple of the goddess Isis, reached by a short motorboat ride. One of the most beautifully situated monuments in Egypt, Philae was relocated stone-by-stone during the UNESCO Nubia Rescue Campaign of the 1970s. Visit the Aswan High Dam — one of the world's largest embankment dams, built in the 1970s and transforming Egypt's agriculture and electricity supply. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk — still lying in the granite quarry, showing exactly how ancient Egyptians carved 1,000-tonne monoliths from solid rock. Optional: Abu Simbel day trip can be arranged for this afternoon (+$180 pp — must be pre-booked). Welcome dinner on board. The ship sails north overnight toward Kom Ombo. Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 02: Kom Ombo and Temple of Edfu

Morning: visit Kom Ombo Temple — the unique double temple built simultaneously for two gods: the crocodile god Sobek (fertility and military power) and the falcon god Haroeris. The adjacent Crocodile Museum displays over 300 mummified crocodiles recovered from the area. The temple walls contain rare medical instruments carved in relief — evidence of ancient Egyptian surgery. The ship continues north. Afternoon: visit the Temple of Edfu — dedicated to the falcon god Horus, this is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. Its towering entrance pylons, inner halls and sanctuary have survived almost intact for over 2,000 years. Hieroglyphic texts on the walls describe the eternal battle between Horus and Seth. Nubian show and Galabeya party on board in the evening — guests are invited to dress in traditional Egyptian galabeya robes. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 03: Luxor West Bank

Optional: hot air balloon over the West Bank at sunrise — one of Egypt's most breathtaking experiences, floating above the Valley of the Kings as the sun rises over the Nile (+$120 pp, must be pre-booked). Visit the Valley of the Kings — the ancient royal necropolis where pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried for over 500 years. Choose 3 tombs from 65 available, including those of Ramesses II, Seti I and Merenptah. The Tomb of Tutankhamun requires a separate ticket (+$25 pp). Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari — carved into the cliff face in three colonnaded terraces, dedicated to Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh. Visit the Colossi of Memnon — two 18-metre quartzite statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that have guarded the entrance to his mortuary temple for 3,400 years. Afternoon: Karnak Temple — the largest ancient religious complex ever built, covering 100 hectares. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive columns, the Sacred Lake and the Avenue of Sphinxes. Farewell dinner on board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04: Luxor Temple and Disembarkation

Morning: visit Luxor Temple — built on the east bank of the Nile by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramesses II. The temple is particularly beautiful when illuminated at night. Its entrance features a remaining obelisk (the twin stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris), colossal statues of Ramesses II and a Roman chapel built inside the ancient walls. Breakfast on board. Disembark after the Luxor Temple visit. Your guide transfers you to Luxor airport or train station. Optional extension: fly to Cairo for the Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum, or add 3 nights at the Red Sea. Meals: Breakfast

5 Days - Luxor / Aswan Every Monday
Day 01: Luxor — Embarkation and East Bank Temples

Arrive at Luxor airport or train station. Private transfer to the cruise ship for embarkation. Settle into your cabin and have lunch on board.

Afternoon: visit Karnak Temple — the largest ancient religious complex ever built, covering 100 hectares. Highlights include the Great Hypostyle Hall (134 massive columns, some 21 metres tall), the Sacred Lake, the Avenue of Ram-headed Sphinxes and the sanctuary of Amun Ra built over 2,000 years by successive pharaohs from the Middle Kingdom to the Ptolemaic period.

Evening: visit Luxor Temple — built by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II on the east bank. Spectacular when illuminated after dark. The entrance obelisk, colossal statues and inner colonnade are among the finest surviving examples of New Kingdom architecture.

Welcome dinner on board. The ship sails south overnight.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 02: Luxor West Bank — Valley of the Kings

Optional: hot air balloon at sunrise over the Valley of the Kings (+$120 pp — must be pre-booked the evening before).

Visit the Valley of the Kings — the royal necropolis of the New Kingdom pharaohs. Choose 3 tombs from 65 available. The walls are covered in detailed paintings from the Book of the Dead guiding the pharaoh through the underworld. Tomb of Tutankhamun requires a separate ticket (+$25 pp).

Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari — three colonnaded terraces carved into the cliff face, one of the most elegant temples in Egypt.

Visit the Colossi of Memnon — two 18-metre quartzite statues that once marked the entrance to the largest mortuary temple ever built in Egypt.

Afternoon: sail south through the Esna Lock. Nubian show on board in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 03: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

Morning: visit the Temple of Edfu — dedicated to the falcon god Horus, this is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. Its towering pylons, colonnaded halls and intact sanctuary have survived over 2,000 years. The walls are covered in hieroglyphic texts describing the Myth of Horus and the eternal battle between good and evil.

Sail south to Kom Ombo. Afternoon: visit Kom Ombo Temple — the unique double temple dedicated simultaneously to Sobek (crocodile god of fertility) and Haroeris (the elder Horus). The symmetrical design means every hall, column and sanctuary is doubled. The adjacent Crocodile Museum displays over 300 mummified crocodiles with golden death masks.

Galabeya party on board in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04: Aswan — Philae Temple and High Dam

Arrive Aswan. Morning: visit Philae Temple — the island temple of the goddess Isis, reached by a short motorboat ride across the Nile. Relocated stone-by-stone to its current island during the 1970s UNESCO rescue campaign. Its columns, painted ceilings and Nilometer are among the finest in Egypt.

Visit the Aswan High Dam — completed in 1971, this 3.8-kilometre dam created Lake Nasser (the world's largest man-made lake) and transformed Egypt's agricultural and electrical capacity.

Visit the Unfinished Obelisk — still attached to the bedrock in the ancient quarry, showing clearly how ancient Egyptians shaped and separated enormous granite monoliths using wooden wedges and water.

Optional: sunset felucca ride on the Nile around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island (+$25 pp).

Farewell dinner on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Aswan — Disembarkation

Breakfast on board. Disembark after breakfast and private transfer to Aswan airport or train station.

Optional: Abu Simbel day trip from Aswan on this morning (+$180 pp — departs 4:00am, returns by 1:00pm — must be pre-booked).

Optional extension: continue with a Lake Nasser cruise to Abu Simbel, or add Cairo and the Pyramids to your trip.

Meals: Breakfast

Cruise

Ship Facilities All Cabins Include
Main Dining Room — buffet breakfast & lunch; à la carte dinner; welcome fruit drink Private balcony with sliding glass doors (all 49 Deluxe cabins)
Lounge & discotheque — cocktails, beverages, nightly entertainment Full-size bathtub & hairdryer (all categories)
Sun Deck Bar & barbecue facilities — Nile views until sunset Complimentary WiFi (in cabin & throughout ship)
Oversize outdoor pool with shallow water extension + pool bar service Mini bar · Electronic safe deposit box
Jacuzzi on sun deck Satellite TV & in-house movie program
Spa & wellness centre — gym, massage, sauna & steam bath Individual air conditioning control
Jogging track on deck Private direct-dial telephone
Billiards & table tennis Premium bedding & daily housekeeping
Beauty salon · Bazaar · Elevator · Dry cleaning service Sofa bed available for third passenger (on request)
Room service until midnight · Daily laundry service Connecting cabins available (on request)
Nightly entertainment: belly dance, Captain’s cocktail, Galabeya party, Nubian folkloric show Presidential Suite only: separate lounge + bedroom, queen bed, ~38m² — enquire for pricing

Included in Cruise

Meet & greet by Best Nile Cruises representative at Luxor or Aswan with name sign
Accommodation on Sonesta Moon Goddess in your chosen category — Deluxe Cabin with private balcony or Presidential Suite — all with full-size bathtub and complimentary WiFi
Full board: buffet breakfast & lunch daily · à la carte dinner in the main dining room · Welcome fruit drink
Private licensed Egyptologist guide in English, Spanish or Italian for all shore excursions — dedicated to your group only, not the ship’s shared tour
Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers between ship and sites
Nightly entertainment: belly dance show, Captain’s welcome cocktail party, Galabeya party, Nubian folkloric show, discotheque
Bottled water during all shore excursions
All service charges and local taxes
All entrance fees: Valley of the Kings (3 tombs) · Hatshepsut Temple · Colossi of Memnon · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Edfu Temple · Kom Ombo Temple · Philae Temple (motorboat crossing included) · Aswan High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk · Botanical Garden

Excluded in Cruise

International and domestic flights
Egypt entry visa — $25 USD, available on arrival at Cairo, Luxor or Aswan airports or in advance at visa2egypt.gov.eg
Optional premium tomb entries: Tutankhamun’s Tomb ($20 USD) · Nefertari’s Tomb ($120 USD, max 150 visitors/day)
Abu Simbel day trip by early morning flight from Aswan — highly recommended, available as add-on, book in advance
Hot air balloon over Luxor — available as add-on, book at time of enquiry
Cairo hotel nights and domestic flights — see our Cairo & Nile Cruise packages
Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and bottled water on board (water provided on shore excursions only)
Spa treatments, massage & sauna · Beauty salon · Dry cleaning service · Personal expenses
Travel insurance — strongly recommended; must be purchased before travel
Gratuities for Egyptologist guide, driver and ship crew — optional but customary and appreciated

Prices

3 Night Nile Cruise From Aswan to Luxor
 Low Season (May–Sep)High Season (Oct–Apr)Peak Season (Dec–Jan)
Per Person In Triple $ 799 N/AN/A
4 Night Nile Cruise From Luxor to Aswan
 Low Season (May–Sep)High Season (Oct–Apr)Peak Season (Dec–Jan)

Notes

About the Sonesta Moon Goddess

The Sonesta Moon Goddess is a 5-star Nile cruise ship built in 2000 and designed by Belgian interior designer José Vanden Bossche, whose attention to materials and proportion is visible throughout the public areas and cabins. It carries 106 passengers across three accommodation decks and is one of four Goddess-class vessels in the Sonesta Cruise Collection fleet. The ship has 53 cabins: 49 Deluxe Cabins (~23m²) and 4 Presidential Suites (~38m² with separate lounge and bedroom). Every one of the 49 standard Deluxe cabins has a private balcony with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors — a feature confirmed on the official Sonesta website and by independent cruise reviewers. All cabins also have a full-size bathtub, complimentary WiFi, hairdryer, mini bar, safe, satellite TV, music system, direct-dial telephone and individual climate control. On-board facilities include the main dining room (buffet breakfast and lunch, à la carte dinner), lounge and discotheque, sun deck bar and barbecue, oversize outdoor swimming pool with shallow water extension and pool bar, Jacuzzi, spa and wellness centre (gym, massage, sauna, steam bath), jogging track, billiards, table tennis, beauty salon, bazaar, elevator, room service until midnight, and dry cleaning service. Operated by Sonesta Cruise Collection, a subsidiary of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation.

Prices & Rates — Sonesta Moon Goddess

Rates are per person in US dollars (summer season). Deluxe Cabin double: from $849 pp. Triple sharing: from $799 pp. Presidential Suite rates available on request. Payment also accepted in Euro (EUR) and British Pounds (GBP). Peak season (October–April, Christmas, New Year, Easter) rates may differ. Contact us for current peak season and Presidential Suite pricing. Rate is fixed from confirmation — no changes after booking.

Check-In & Check-Out — Sonesta Moon Goddess

  • Check-in: 12:00 PM (noon) on embarkation day. Embarkation in Luxor for Monday sailings, Aswan for Friday sailings.
  • Check-out: 08:00 AM on disembarkation day.
  • Contact us at least 72 hours before travel to confirm exact boarding time and location, as these can shift with Nile conditions and seasonal scheduling.

Children Policy — Sonesta Moon Goddess

  • Children under 6 years old sharing parents’ cabin: free of charge (meals included)
  • Children 6 to 11.99 years: 50% of the per-person double cabin rate (maximum one child per cabin)
  • Children 12 years and over: full adult rate
  • Sofa bed available in Deluxe cabins for a third passenger on request · Connecting cabins available for families needing adjacent rooms

Payment & Cancellation Policy

  • 25% deposit required to confirm booking
  • 50% deposit for Christmas, New Year and Easter sailings
  • Balance payable up to one week before arrival, or in cash upon arrival in Egypt
  • Accepted currencies: USD · EUR · GBP
  • Rate fixed from confirmation — no changes after booking
  • Cancellation: full refund 30+ days before departure · 50% refund 15–29 days · no refund within 14 days. Confirm exact terms at booking.

Special Site Entry Tickets

Standard entrance fees to all programme sites are included. Separate tickets required (not included): Tutankhamun’s Tomb at the Valley of the Kings (approx. $20 USD) and Nefertari’s Tomb at the Valley of the Queens (approx. $120 USD, limited to 150 visitors per day). Your Egyptologist guide will advise which premium sites are worth prioritising based on your interests and time available.

Extra-Charge On-Board Services — Sonesta Moon Goddess

The following are available at additional cost, settled at reception: alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and bottled water on board · spa treatments, massage and sauna · beauty salon services · mini bar consumption · dry cleaning and laundry · international telephone calls. Optional excursion add-ons (Abu Simbel, hot air balloon) are also priced separately.

Itinerary Flexibility Note

Visit sequence may be adjusted without prior notice due to Nile water levels and Esna Lock government scheduling. The ship passes through the Esna Lock but does not stop in Esna town. All sites will be visited — only the order may change. Best Nile Cruises will notify you of any significant changes as early as possible.

Overbooking Policy

In the rare event of an overbooking situation, Best Nile Cruises guarantees confirmed clients will be transferred to an alternative vessel of equal or higher category at no additional cost. Your guide, itinerary and programme remain unchanged. Best Nile Cruises manages the full transfer on your behalf.

Smoking Policy

All cabins and suites are non-smoking. Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas on open decks.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical expenses, trip cancellation and repatriation is strongly recommended for all travellers. Best Nile Cruises does not sell travel insurance but can advise on suitable policies for Egypt travel on request.

Information accuracy: All specifications verified against official sonesta.com/sonesta-moon-goddess-nile-cruise-ship, cruisecritic.com editor review, nilecruisen.com (April 2025), and liveaboard.com, July 2026. Private balcony on all 49 standard cabins confirmed across three independent sources. Complimentary WiFi confirmed on official Sonesta site. Cabin sizes approximate conversions from sq ft. Last verified: July 2026. Contact us if you notice any inaccuracy — we correct within 48 hours.