New Ship on the Nile River
By Anne Kalosh
Waldorf Astoria's luxurious style is joining the growing selection of Nile River cruises with a new vessel to debut in 2026.
The five-deck, 29-suite riverboat will operate four- and six-night itineraries, down river from Luxor to Aswan or the reverse. It will moor at a private dock in both locations.
Travelers will get to explore grand temples in Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, and many more cultural attractions in Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan.
For their new ship on the Nile River, Waldorf Astoria service is promised throughout, delivered by dedicated personal concierges.
Luxor. * Photo: Ted Scull
Suites, Dining & Amenities
Renderings of the suites show floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies and Waldorf Astoria's sophisticated style and attention to detail.
A rendering of the suite bedroom shows the luxurious Waldorf Astoria style. * Rendering: Hilton)
Curated and distinctive food and drink experiences will be offered including Waldorf Astoria’s signature Peacock Alley, a brasserie serving Egyptian, Mediterranean and international cuisine, and a rooftop deck. A fitness center and spa are among the amenities.
Further details and pricing are awaited, but likely the cruises will be paired with a Waldorf Astoria hotel stay. The brand's lone Egypt property is the five-star Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis, which opened in 2023 near the presidential palace. The 252-room hotel sports a soaring atrium lobby and botanical gardens.
The Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis. * Photo: Hilton
This is among the 14 hotels parent company Hilton currently operates in Egypt, with plans to triple its presence there.
We look forward to hearing more about the Waldorf Astoria Nile River experience.
Waldorf Astoria Joins Many Other Lines on the Nile
The hotel brand will join established cruise operators fielding new Egypt vessels, including Viking, AmaWaterways and Century Cruises.
RELATED: QuirkyCruise reviews these 4 Nile River cruises.
Some Background About the Nile River
Here's an excerpt from a Nile River cruise backgrounder that QuirkyCruise Co-Founder Ted Scull wrote, offering a good overview of what a Nile River cruise is all about:
“The Nile is the world’s longest river at some 4,160 miles from source to mouth — in Egypt, the Upper Nile is in the south and the Lower Nile is up north. Most Nile River cruises sail between Luxor and Aswan, a 120-mile stretch. The four-night option visits the ancient temples and monuments at Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Esna; longer seven- and eight-night options add on the bit north of Luxor, stopping at Dendera and Abydos.
Valley of the Queens, located on the West Bank of the Nile. * Photo: Ted Scull
When contemplating a trip to Egypt and the Nile Valley, be sure to go prepared. Those who don’t know Isis from Osiris (wife and sister; husband and brother) and who think that they are looking at Cleopatra’s Needles (chiseled 12 centuries before she was born) in Central Park, London, Paris, Rome and Istanbul will be crying uncle after a few days exploring the temples and tombs of Ancient Egypt.
The high-end operators provide not only good reading lists, but also suggest which ones to read if you have limited time. Take the suggestions to heart or be prepared to get stuffed with more myths, tales and hieroglyphs than you can keep straight.
While some travelers shy away from taking an organized tour, it is really the only way to navigate the Nile Valley and come away with a successful trip, rather than one beset by having to deal with overly eager “official” guides, touts galore, canceled reservations, long queues to get into nearly everything, and far too many other tourists intruding into your space…”
Read more of Ted's Nile River cruise overview HERE.
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HEIDI SARNA
