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Setting sail on a Nile cruise is a bucket list adventure that many are keen to tick off and I did just that last year. I spent a week on board the MS Royal Adventure enjoying the Nile scenery and checking out the incredible ancient sights of Egypt.
The MS Royal Adventure is a classic Nile cruise ship option that looks straight out of an Agatha Christie film and it’s a good option for budget travellers, being a little cheaper than other ships. A cruise on this ship is best for people who want to travel Egypt slowly and first-time visitors to the country.
So, if you’ve found yourself here, you might be wondering what the MS Royal Adventure is like. This review will take you through the onboard facilities, the cabins, the food, and the itinerary so you’ll know just what to expect.
Read on to find out more about the MS Royal Adventure.
MS Royal Adventure cabins
I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the cabins on the MS Royal Adventure as I thought that they were going to be really small. My only other experience of a cruise was the overnight mini cruise from Hull to Amsterdam where the cabins are tiny!
The cabins were really spacious and featured:
- large double bed
- bedside tables with draws
- wardrobe
- small table and chairs
- dressing table with mirror
- full length mirror
- mini fridge
- luggage stand with space underneath for storage
- Juliet balcony
Each cabin also had an en-suite bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet.
The reviews I had read beforehand all said that the ship was very outdated but I think the cabins must have recently been refurbished when we stayed as they were very modern and clean. The only thing we struggled a little with was storage as we had two large cases (and a lot of clothes!) but there was enough room to store them upright.
On board facilities
Facilities on board the MS Royal Adventure include:
- Sun deck
- Swimming pool
- Lounge and bar
- Dining room
- Wi-Fi (additional charge)
Facilities on the top deck
On the top deck there is space for sunbathing with sun beds and a small swimming pool. There are plenty of sun beds, so no need to get up early and reserve one, and towels are provided (although there were a couple of times when the towel cupboard was empty).
Be warned – the water in the swimming pool is really cold, but it’s perfect if you want a really refreshing dip! We went in it pretty much every day.
There’s also a bar on the top deck but we didn’t really see them serving drinks from there, aside from afternoon tea.
Lounge, bar, and dining room
The lounge area and dining room were decorated very traditionally and were clean and comfortable. All meals are served buffet-style in the dining room and evening entertainment takes place in the lounge.
Wi-Fi on board
Wi-fi is available on board for an additional charge. You can choose how much to spend with packages started at around £6.
The Wi-Fi is only available near reception and on the top deck and was very hit and miss. Instead, I bought an Egypt eSim so I could keep up with emails and social media, and I found that there was 4G and 5G signal pretty much everywhere we went.
Food and drink
I was really impressed with the food on board the MS Royal Adventure. The cruise is full board and includes:
- Breakfast – pastries, omelette station, salads, tea and coffee
- Lunch – beef, chicken, rice, vegetables salads, bread
- Afternoon tea (selected days only) – cakes, tea and coffee
- Dinner – beef, chicken, rice, vegetables, salads, bread
The food is great quality, the only complaint I could have is that it was a little same-y each day. There were two themed nights – Egyptian and Nubian – where the food was slightly more traditional.
Although I don’t have any dietary requirements myself, I think there was enough on board to satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and anyone like my friend Brooke Williamson following a gluten free diet, although it may have been difficult to tell with ingredient lists not readily available.
Alcohol and soft drinks from the bar
The staff are very attentive and they come round to take your drinks orders, no matter where on the boat you are. Once they’ve brought you your drinks they’ll bring you a bill to sign and you pay for all your drinks at the end of the cruise.
You can pay for these with Egyptian pounds, British pounds, euros, or US dollars, and you can pay with either card or cash.
Wine was about £6 per glass and large beers were a similar price. Soft drinks were about £3.
Tea and coffees are included with breakfast and afternoon tea, otherwise these cost around £1.50.
MS Royal Adventure itinerary
We bought the excursions package on board for £299 per person. This included four days of guided tours around the ancient sights on the Nile.
There’s also plenty of free time so you can do your own exploring, or just chill out on board. Trips tend to be early in the morning with sailing in the afternoon.
We were in a group of about 20 people and we had all of our trips together with one guide throughout the week. This meant that we all got to know each other, so it was really nice.
The itinerary for each day (including meal times) is displayed in the lobby area so you can plan your day around this. I really enjoyed the time we spent sailing – it was so relaxing and you could see the different scenery along the river.
The itinerary was:
- Day 1: Board the boat in Luxor (free time to explore)
- Day 2: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, Amenhotep III Sun Temple
- Day 3: Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo (night visit)
- Day 4: Aswan Dam and Philae Temple
- Days 5 & 6: Free time in Aswan
- Day 7: Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple
Sightseeing days weren’t too strenuous – there was a bit of walking but anyone with a moderate fitness level would be able to manage it.
You were also able to add on trips on the days where there was nothing organised if you wanted to. We added on a balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings but unfortunately the weather was too windy and we didn’t get to do it.
You can of course organise your own trips if you’d prefer, but we found that adding the package was perfect for us as first-time travellers to Egypt. It also meant that the ship worked around our schedule – if we were late back then lunch was later, and they didn’t sail until we returned each day.
We did the Nile cruise as part of a larger Egypt itinerary which also included a visit to Cairo and a stay in Hurghada.
Entertainment on board
On a few nights of the cruise, there was entertainment on board including traditional Nubian dancing and belly dancing. It is the kind of entertainment where they like to get everyone up and involved which isn’t really our bag so we mainly just played cards and had a few drinks together instead.
Service and staff
I thought the service on board was fantastic. You see the same staff at most mealtimes which means you get to know them and they can’t do enough for you, clearing your plates as soon as you’ve finished and taking drinks orders.
Some of the staff knew that my mum and I would order two white wines and would ask if we were ready for them! Everyone was super friendly.
Something we noticed was that all the staff on board were male and I think this is a cultural thing as they are away from home for weeks at a time.
Tipping on board
Tipping is expected everywhere in Egypt – it’s a big part of the culture. At the end of the cruise, you are given an envelope to leave tips in for the staff and it’s up to you how much you decide to leave.
We also left tips for the cleaning staff in our rooms, and we gave extra to our favourite waiters, but this isn’t mandatory.
Top tips for a Nile cruise
- Bring water from your hotel. Water isn’t free on board so if you’re staying at a hotel beforehand, bring this water with you. Bottles of water are around 1-2 US dollars and you can buy them on board or at any of the attractions you visit.
- Bring extra layers for night time and morning – it can be quite chilly at these times but it’s nice to sit up on deck and watch the sunrise and sunset.
- Bring earplugs for night time. It can be quite noisy during the night and early morning as you are sometimes parked next to other boats.
- Get an eSim if you want to stay connected while you’re away. Or, just make the most of being unreachable for a week!
- Take the miniature toiletries from the hotel or bring your own. The showers did have shampoo and body wash but ours wasn’t refilled during the week and there was no conditioner.
- Don’t rely on a Nile view. Although all the cabins have Juliet balconies, the boats park next to each other at the stops, so sometimes you just have a view into another boat! You also have to walk through the other boats to disembark sometimes, although this is quite fun as you can have a nosy at them all.
Nile cruise FAQs
Who is the best company to book a Nile cruise?
We booked our Nile cruise through Egypt Escapes.
The reviews of the company are mixed if you Google them, however, I found that the booking process was quite simple and straightforward. We didn’t come across any problems or difficulties and I found them very responsive and helpful on email.
The one thing that we had an issue with was the pick up time for the transfer to the Nile cruise, but I think this was more the fault of the tour company on the ground in Egypt, although Egypt Escapes had no way to really deal with it.
What is the best month for a Nile river cruise?
October to April is the best time to take a Nile river cruise. During these months you’ll find mild day time temperatures that are ideal for exploring.
We went in November and the weather was great – nice and warm in the day time but not too hot to walk around. You do need a jacket for night times and mornings as the temperatures tend to drop quite cool.
Is a Nile cruise in Egypt worth it?
In my opinion a Nile cruise in Egypt is definitely worth it. It’s an easy, hassle-free way of seeing a lot of sights in a short amount of time and it’s a fantastic way to see the country.
What is the dress code on a Nile cruise?
The MS Royal Adventure didn’t really have a dress code. Men could wear either shorts and trousers in the restaurant and most people dressed quite casually.
You should respect the culture and women should dress modestly, although bikinis and swimwear were absolutely fine on deck. Find out more about what to pack for a Nile river cruise in my blog post.
Why is a Nile cruise so expensive?
We actually didn’t find this to be the case as we booked with a budget tour operator. Of course, some Nile cruise ships are more luxurious than others, so you can choose how much you want to spend.
