Nile River cruises are back in flavour again with several operators offering iconic sailings in Egypt.

Emerald Waterways will make its first foray into the ancient civilisation with two new Egypt cruise and tour itineraries including free flights to Egypt or $2000 savings per couple off the cost of the cruise, provided bookings are made before 31 August. Seven departures are planned for next year and another eight for 2020.

The line is offering a 10-day Egypt and Nile River cruise tour which includes five days on the MS Hamees and four nights in Cairo and a longer 15-day Egypt and Nile River cruise which also visits Jordan, Amman, Petra and the Dead Sea.

MS Hamees is a newly refurbished, 142-passenger river ship by Movenpick. Its modern cabins provide panoramic views of the Nile, the main restaurant has international and local cuisine, there is a sun deck and swimming pool.

In Cairo guests will visit the pyramids, see the remains of Tutankhamun’s tomb and have a home-hosted dinner and cooking demonstration with a local family. On the cruise, guest will experience excursions to Hathor Temple, Luxor Temple in Dendera, the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the Osiris Temple Complex of Philae. Prices for the 10-day itinerary start at $3895pp based on double occupancy.

For the longer 15-day itinerary, guests will spend two nights at Amman, two nights in Petra with a visit to Mount Nebo, the burial site of John the Baptist, a jeep adventure in Wadi Rum before heading for the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea for an overnight stay. Prices start from $6195pp.

Viking River Cruises is offering a 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids cruise itinerary on its newest and most upscale river ship in Egypt, Viking Ra. Built specifically to navigate the Nile, she is a modern, elegant ship which can accommodate 52 guests. It has a pool, two Jacuzzis, free WiFi and a restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows. The round-trip, all-inclusive cruise between Luxor and Aswan will uncover ancient secrets and culture of the picturesque Nile with excursions to awe-inspiring pyramids and well-preserved temples. Prices start from $7395.

APT has a nine-day itinerary to Egypt including a four-night cruise aboard the Oberoi Philae from $9495 pp which includes all internal flights in Egypt. The luxury Oberoi Philae has 22 cabins and suites with a spa, an outdoor swimming pool and a gym. The restaurant offers fine western, Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Guests will visit the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Temple of Edfu and Aswan High Dam. The cruise will take in Luxor, Essna, Kom Ombo and Aswan.

Abercrombie & Kent is offering a 10-day itinerary to Egypt including a four-night Nile cruise on Sanctuary Sun Boat IV from US$5395pp. The tour includes Cairo, Giza, the site of the pyramids, Luxor where guests will visit the burial ground of the pharaohs and a World Heritage Site, the tomb of the “boy king” Tutankhamun and the Temple of Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s first female pharaoh.

Sanctuary Sun Boat IV is a spacious 40-cabin river ship with luxury cabins, heated plunge-pool, two sundecks, gym, library and games room.

Sanctuary Retreats has four luxury river ships to cruise the epic Nile between Aswan and Luxor. The three or four night cruise on Sanctuary Sun Boat III has 18 cabins including two presidential and two royal suites. All have views of the Nile with private bathroom and bathtub. The Sanctuary Nile Adventurer has 32 cabins decorated in contemporary style with gourmet cuisine, Sanctuary Sun Boat IV is a 40-cabin contemporary river ship with art deco influences and the Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau is a bespoke six-cabin river ship offering a la carte itinerary of 7-nights between Aswan and Luxor. It is available for private charter.