MS Alyssa Nile Cruise 2026 — Honest Review, Itinerary & Prices

MS Alyssa Nile Cruise 2026 — Honest Review, Itinerary & Prices

$ 529
Per Person
  • Schedule: Monday from Luxor (4 nights) · Friday from Aswan (3 nights)
ms-alyssa-nile-cruise-5-star-deluxe-luxor-aswan-2026-Exterior
ms-alyssa-nile-cruise-5-star-deluxe-luxor-aswan-2026- Restaurant
ms-alyssa-nile-cruise-5-star-deluxe-luxor-aswan-2026- Cabins

Overview

MS Alyssa at a Glance:  5-Star Deluxe Motor Yacht · Built 2006 · Swiss designer interior · From $559 pp double · 66 cabins · Fiori Restaurant + Sir Livingstone Lounge with live pianist · Pool · Full board · Enquire now →

Bottom line: The MS Alyssa is not a standard Nile cruise ship. Built to Germanischer Lloyd international specifications and designed by Swiss designer Pia Schmid in a fusion of European, Egyptian and Nubian elements, the Alyssa has an interior atmosphere that feels genuinely crafted rather than produced. The Sir Livingstone Lounge and Bar — created in unique African explorer style with hand-painted artifacts and a live pianist playing jazz, blues and easy listening — is one of the most distinctive social spaces on the Nile. If on-board character and atmosphere matter to you alongside the budget price point, the Alyssa earns serious consideration.

Quick Facts — MS Alyssa Nile Cruise

Category 5-Star Deluxe Motor Yacht — Germanischer Lloyd classified
Built 2006 — designed by Swiss designer Pia Schmid
Departure Days Every Monday from Luxor  ·  Every Friday from Aswan
Price from $559 pp double  |  Triple $529 pp  |  Single $799 pp
Cabins 66 total: 58 Standard Twin (21m²) · 6 Standard King (21m²) · 2 Deluxe Suites (31m²)
Signature Spaces Fiori Restaurant · Moroccan Café (2nd deck) · Italian Terrace (3rd deck) · Sir Livingstone Lounge with live pianist
Best For Couples who appreciate atmosphere · Travellers who want character · Those departing Monday/Friday

Is the MS Alyssa Worth It?

Yes — particularly if atmosphere and design matter to you. The Sir Livingstone Lounge and Bar, with its African explorer aesthetic, hand-painted artifacts, and live pianist, creates a social space unlike anything else in the budget 5-star category. The three dining and drinking spaces — Fiori Restaurant, Moroccan Café on the second deck, and Italian Terrace on the third — also add variety that budget ships rarely offer. The cabins are 21m² (twin and king) with UV panoramic windows, bathtubs, and full amenities. Comfortable rather than spacious, but well-specified.

Honest note:

At 21m² for standard cabins, the Alyssa is comfortable but not large. If cabin size is a priority, see our Classic Nile Cruises from $680 pp with larger cabins and balconies. Ask us which ship suits your group.

Cabins — MS Alyssa

Cabin Type Size Count Features
Standard Twin 21 m² 58 Panoramic UV windows · Bathtub & hairdryer · Mini bar · Safe · LCD TV · Movie channel · AC · Phone · Luggage rack
Standard King 21 m² 6 Panoramic UV windows · Bathtub & hairdryer · Mini bar · Safe · LCD TV · Movie channel · AC · Phone · King-size bed
Deluxe Suite 31 m² 2 Larger living area · All cabin amenities above · Ideal for couples seeking more space at budget pricing

Sites Visited — MS Alyssa (same standard itinerary as all Best Nile Cruises budget ships)

Area Sites
Luxor East Bank Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple
Luxor West Bank Valley of the Kings (3 tombs) · Hatshepsut Temple · Colossi of Memnon
Nile Stops Edfu Temple · Kom Ombo Temple & Crocodile Museum
Aswan Philae Temple · High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk · Botanical Garden

MS Alyssa Prices 2026

Programme Double (pp) Triple (pp) Single (pp) Departure
3 Nights — Ex Aswan $559 $529 $799 Every Friday
4 Nights — Ex Luxor $559 $529 $799 Every Monday

Book the MS Alyssa — Response Within 24 Hours

Monday departures from Luxor — Friday from Aswan. Fixed rate from confirmation.

Enquire About the MS Alyssa →

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

On-Board Facilities In Every Cabin
Fiori Restaurant — full-board international & Egyptian buffet Large panoramic UV-glass windows
Moroccan Café (2nd deck) Private bathroom with bathtub & hairdryer
Italian Terrace (3rd deck) LCD TV with movie channel · Mini bar · Safe · Phone
Sir Livingstone Lounge & Bar — African-style, live pianist Individual AC · Luggage rack
Outdoor swimming pool & pool bar First aid box
Sun deck with day beds & curtained loungers International telephone

 

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 $ 529 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 MS Alyssa

The MS Alyssa was launched in early 2006 and built to the international specifications required by the Germanischer Lloyd classification society. The ship was designed by renowned Swiss designer Pia Schmid, who created a distinctive mixture of European, Egyptian and Nubian interior elements that give the Alyssa its unique onboard atmosphere. The ship carries 66 cabins — 58 standard twin (21m²), 6 standard king (21m²), and 2 deluxe suites (31m²). All cabins feature large panoramic UV-glass windows, private bathrooms with bathtubs, and complete cabin amenities.

Cruise Prices — MS Alyssa Nile Cruise

Rates are in US dollars per person. Double cabin from $559 pp. Triple sharing from $529 pp. Single $799 pp. Payment also accepted in EUR and GBP. Prices shown are summer rates and may differ in peak season (October–April). Once confirmed, your rate is fixed. Contact us for peak season pricing.

Check-In & Check-Out — MS Alyssa

Check-in: 12:00 PM  ·  Check-out: 08:00 AM

Children Policy — MS Alyssa

  • Under 6: free sharing parents' cabin
  • 6–11.99 years: 50% of double rate (max one child per cabin)
  • Two adults + two children under 12: two cabins — one double + one single rate
  • 12 and over: full adult rate

Payment Policy — MS Alyssa

  • 25% deposit to confirm booking  ·  50% deposit for Christmas/New Year
  • Balance: up to one week before arrival or in cash on arrival
  • Currencies accepted: USD, EUR, GBP

Additional Entry Tickets

Tutankhamun's Tomb ($20) and Nefertari's Tomb ($120) require separate tickets. Your Egyptologist guide will advise on the day.

Last verified: June 2026. Cabin and facility details sourced from the official MS Alyssa website (alyssanilecruise.com) and Germanischer Lloyd classification records.