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At a Glance — sorted by status, then price (6 pax)
| Boat | € / 6 pax | Departure | Pool | Verdict | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Tulip | 2 900 €* | Wed + Fri ✓ | small, cold | Cheap list — off-contract at ETP | shortlisted |
| Storia Dahabeya (SLH) | 3 900 €* | Fri ✓ | plunge pool | Sailing charm + pool + right date | shortlisted |
| Sonesta St. George I | 5 300 €* | Fri ✓ confirmed | ★ best for kids | Best family pick | shortlisted |
| MS DWA | 5 970 € | Fri ✓ | ✓ | Best reviews — boutique | shortlisted |
| Egypt Tours Portal — 5★ Group Cruise | 6 700 €* | Fri ✓ | ✓ (unnamed boat) | Unnamed boat · EN guide · dominated by DWA | shortlisted |
| L'Égypte Autrement (Paul Bedros) — dahabieh | 7 050 €* | Sat / custom | ✗ (verify) | Cheapest francophone dahabieh | shortlisted |
| Les Gréements du Nil — private charter | 10 000 €* | any (private) | ✗ Nile swims | French-run charter — devis pending | shortlisted |
| Egypt Tours Portal — 5★ Dahabiya | 4 900 €* | daily (claimed) | ? | Special request only — price TBC | pending |
| Mövenpick Royal Lily | 6 599 € | Fri ✓ | plunge + jacuzzi | Outclassed by DWA at −€629 | pending |
| Nour El Nil (premium reference) | 12 900 €* | Thu (3N) | ✗ | Premium benchmark — over budget | pending |
| Steigenberger Minerva | 6 500 €* | Mon only ✗ | ✓ | Wrong day — rejected | rejected |
| Steam Ship Sudan (Agatha Christie) | 15 000 €* | on request | ✗ | Icon — rejected on price | rejected |
* estimated — real quotes pending. All Friday boats keep the locked flight frame (GVA out · HRG→LYS Sat Oct 31).
MS Tulip
Aswan → Luxor (northbound)
3 nights
Researched June 6 (Egypt Tours Portal). 3N Aswan→Luxor $525/pp on the ship page vs $770+ in the catalog. | UPDATE Jun 8: Reem (ETP) says MS Tulip is NOT contracted — bookable only on special request at higher rates, so the $525 list isn't what ETP will charge. Either re-source it elsewhere or drop. Includes transfers, full board, admissions, guide. Excludes tips + domestic flights.
Sonesta St. George I
Aswan → Luxor (northbound)
3 nights
Researched June 6. The family-experience pick. Sail-dates page confirms Oct 23 departure exists and is open. Operator rate $950/pp (3N); Expedia/Booking show ~$1,399/pp triple. | UPDATE Jun 8: Reem (ETP) confirmed Sonesta is NOT contracted at ETP — special request only. Still alive via Memphis (€11,685, but ~2× the operator list) and direct booking.
MS DWA
Aswan → Luxor (northbound)
3 nights
Researched June 6. Best boutique pick. TripAdvisor sentiment outstanding (service, food, families called out). Re-quote with Memphis Tours (Abdo) for Oct 23, 2026 — Feb quote €5,970/3 cabins is the realistic floor.
Storia Dahabeya (SLH)
Aswan → Esna/Luxor (northbound)
3 nights
Added June 6 from dahabiya research. The sleeper hit: charm of a sailing dahabiya + the Friday Oct 23 slot + a pool. ~$1,399/cabin for 3N. Ask for 3-cabin price AND full-charter price. Contact: [email protected].
Les Gréements du Nil — private charter
Both directions — private charter boards ANY day
3–7 nights (3N Aswan→Luxor minimum)
Added June 6 from HEC mailing-list research. THE francophone dahabiya specialist. Ask for: private charter, 3-4 nights Aswan→Luxor (northbound), boarding Thu/Fri Oct 22-23, devis for 6. Contact: [email protected] / +20 100 188 22 54.
L'Égypte Autrement (Paul Bedros) — dahabieh
Luxor ↔ Aswan — custom dates available
8-day standard (custom possible)
Added June 6. Paul Bedros, Coptic francophone, recommended by 2 separate HEC families (Nathalie Derangère-Maïla's parents, Laurent de Longvilliers + friends). Mention 'de la part de Bruneau'. WhatsApp +20 122 311 8111 / [email protected].
Egypt Tours Portal — 5★ Dahabiya
Aswan → Luxor (northbound)
3 nights
Added June 6. ETP's site lists dahabiya cruises at $840–925/pp but names no boat. | UPDATE Jun 8: Reem confirmed ETP doesn't contract dahabiyas — special-request only at higher rates. To pursue, ask Reem for the actual special-request price + a NAMED boat + whether 6 pax = private. Otherwise prefer Storia, Gréements du Nil, L'Égypte Autrement or Baltayan for the dahabiya experience.
Egypt Tours Portal — 5★ Group Cruise
Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor (northbound)
3 nights
Reem's quote (ETP), email Jun 8. $1,320/adult ×5 + $660 child ×1 = $7,260 (5 adults + 1 child = our family; the 8-year-old is the only <12 child). The 3 boats Emmanuel asked ETP for (Tulip/Sonesta/dahabiya) are OFF-CONTRACT — this generic group cruise is what ETP actually contracts. 25% deposit by Visa/MC, balance on arrival. ACTION before considering: ask Reem for the special-request DAHABIYA price + a named boat + a French-speaking guide.
Mövenpick Royal Lily
Aswan → Luxor (northbound)
3 nights
Downgraded to pending June 6: DWA beats it on reviews at -€629, Sonesta beats it on family fit. Keep as comparison anchor in the Memphis Tours re-quote.
Nour El Nil (premium reference)
Aswan → Esna (Thu, northbound) / Esna → Aswan (Mon)
3N (Thu from Aswan) or 4N (Mon from Esna)
Added June 6 as the luxury benchmark. Out of budget unless the trip is restructured. [email protected].
Steam Ship Sudan (Agatha Christie)
Luxor ↔ Aswan
7–8 days
Added June 6 as benchmark, rejected on price + duration. The kids get the Agatha Christie story at the Old Cataract tea instead.
Steigenberger Minerva
Aswan → Luxor
3 nights
Rejected June 6: schedule incompatible with the Fri Oct 23 anchor (Monday departures only).