Before booking a Nile cruise, confirm the ship, cabin category, number of nights, sailing route and included excursions. A star rating alone cannot tell you how the trip will feel. Ask for the details of the cruise you are buying, not just photographs of a sample vessel.
Is the ship confirmed?
Request the ship’s name and ask whether it is confirmed or an example of the category offered. If the contract allows a substitute, ask what features the replacement must have and when you will be told.
TICO notes that hotel ratings do not follow one international standard. For a cruise, use the same practical approach: inspect the actual accommodation and promised facilities rather than treating a star label as a full specification.
Ask for recent photographs of the cabin category, bathroom, dining room and public areas. Check whether a pool or other advertised facility will be available during your dates.
What cabin are you buying?
Confirm the bed arrangement, deck and window type. Ask whether the cabin has an opening window or balcony if that matters to you. Do not assume every cabin in the brochure has the same layout.
Ask how docking may affect the view. Request information about stairs, lifts and boarding arrangements if anyone has limited mobility. “Accessible” should lead to specific answers about doorways, steps and facilities.
How much of the itinerary is sailing?
Ask for embarkation and disembarkation times, overnight stops and planned sailing periods. Cruise duration includes time spent ashore or docked. It should not be read as a promise of continuous sailing.
Al-Ibrahim’s published options include Cairo with cruises running from Aswan towards Luxor and from Luxor towards Aswan. Compare the daily schedule and number of nights, not just the direction. Our existing Nile cruise versus land tour guide helps you decide whether a cruise suits your holiday.
Which costs are separate?
Check meals, drinks, sightseeing transfers, guides, entrance tickets and optional activities individually. Ask whether a named tomb or extra excursion is included. “Full board” should not be treated as confirmation that drinks and all excursions are covered.
Read our tipping guide and check who handles problems before departure.
Common questions
Does a cruise package always include a private guide? No. Ask whether excursions are private or shared.
Can the ship change after booking? Check the substitution terms and how changes will be communicated.
Is every cabin guaranteed a clear view while docked? Ask specifically about the docking arrangement; a window alone is not that guarantee.
Is a longer cruise always more relaxed? No. Compare early starts, excursions and free time using our itinerary pace checklist.
Plan your Egypt trip
Send us your preferred dates and cabin needs. Ask Al-Ibrahim Travel & Tours to explain the cruise arrangement, included visits and current availability for your Egypt itinerary. Browse our Egypt tours from Canada to start planning.
Al-Ibrahim Travel & Tours
Canadian-based travel agency in Etobicoke, Toronto.
TICO Registration Number 50019642 | IATA-accredited travel agency
Check the TICO directory | About IATA’s Travel Agency Program
Address: 20 Rexdale Blvd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 5Z3, Canada
Phone: +1 647-343-5550
Read our Google reviews: 4.9 out of 5 from 837 reviews when checked on 4 November 2026. This is the agency’s overall rating across its services; the count and rating can change.