The Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise offers a luxurious and unforgettable experience on the Nile River. This review provides an in-depth look at the cabins, suites, amenities, itineraries, and overall experience on board.
A typical Nile cruise ship sailing along the river.
Accommodation
Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise is known for its spacious accommodation. The cruise features 25 luxurious cabins and 2 spacious suites. Each cabin is spread over 26.4 square meters and furnished with a choice of a king-size bed or twin beds. Large bedside tables and two lounge chairs with a coffee table add to the comfort.
The interior of the cabins and suites is complemented by expansive views of the river, framed by large windows. The luxurious cabins are appointed with timber floors and elegant interiors.
Cabin Amenities:
- King size or twin beds
- Large bedside tables
- Lounge chairs with a coffee table
- Timber floors
- Elegant interiors
Bathrooms
The bathroom of MS Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise is finished in marble and mosaic. It features a vanity counter and a separate glass-enclosed steam and shower stall. The bathroom also includes a picture window, offering magnificent views of the passing scenery.
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Suites
The luxurious suite of MS Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise is spread over 50 square meters. It offers the extra amenity of a separate living room, a private terrace, and an open-air Jacuzzi.
Amenities
MS Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise is the only boat on the Nile with a full-service spa. The cruise also includes a temperature-controlled pool, a gym, and a library of DVDs.
- Full-service spa
- Temperature-controlled pool
- Gym
- Library of DVDs
Egypt's Ancient Empire | Egypt From Above (Full Episode) The Nile River
Itineraries
The Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise offers several itineraries. These are designed to showcase the best of ancient Egypt between Luxor and Aswan.
5-Day (4-Night) Cruise
This cruise sails between Luxor and Aswan. It includes visits to:
- Valley of the Kings and King Tutankhamun’s tomb
- Temples of Luxor and Karnak in Luxor
- Twin temple in Kom Ombo
- Temple of Horus in Edfu
- Temple of Isis on the island of Philae
The temple at Edfu is the best-preserved of its kind, making this itinerary an excellent introduction to the archaeology of Egypt.
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7-Day (6-Night) Cruise
This cruise allows for an optional visit to Abu Simbel in the south. It also sails north of Luxor to visit the temples at Qena and Abydos. Both itineraries are available for sailing up or down the Nile, from Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor respectively.
Day 01: Luxor
Upon arrival in Luxor, you will be met and assisted by a representative. There will be a transfer to Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise. Embarkation on the Nile cruise board will be before lunch.
Day 02: Luxor - Edfu
After breakfast on board, you will cross to the west bank of the Nile to visit the Colossi of Memnon. The statues stood for the past 3400 years in this necropolis.
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Day 03: Edfu - Kom Ombo - Aswan
After breakfast, you will visit the well-preserved Horus temple. Then, you will return for lunch on board the Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise while sailing to Kom Ombo.
Day 04: Aswan
After breakfast, you will visit Aswan High Dam. Then, you will visit the Unfinished Obelisk. In the afternoon, you will sail on the Nile by traditional Nile boat along the shores of Elephantine Island and visit Philae temple.
Day 05: Aswan - Disembarkation
After breakfast, you will disembark from the Nile cruise. There will be a transfer to Aswan airport to catch your flight back.
Enjoying the stunning views of the Nile River during a cruise.
Detailed Itinerary Example
Day 02 Sunday: Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu
The day starts with breakfast on board the Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise. A visit to the Aswan High Dam, built in 1960, is next. The dam contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Next, you will proceed to visit the Unfinished Obelisk. The obelisk is made of red granite used for ancient temples and colossi. The granite was brought from quarries in the Aswan area. Then, you will visit the beautiful Philae temple, which rises from the water of the Nile River.
After returning to the cruise for lunch, you will sail to Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, you will visit the Ptolemaic temple of Sobek and Haroeries. Relax on the sun deck and watch primitive villages on the banks of the river glide by. Tea and coffee are served in the early evening. While sailing to Edfu, enjoy a sumptuous oriental dinner with dance all night away, including an Egyptian folklore party.
Day 03 Monday: Edfu - Luxor
After breakfast on board, visit the well-preserved Edfu temple, also known as the Horus temple. This temple built in 237 BC during the reigns of six Ptolemy’s. It is the best-preserved temple in Ancient Egypt. Horus temple built from sandstone blocks and oriented east to west towards the Nile River.
After returning to the cruise for lunch, Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise will sail to Luxor. Tea and coffee will be served on board in the early evening. Dinner and overnight will be on board.
Day 04 Tuesday: Luxor - Disembarkation
Following breakfast, disembark from the cruise. Cross to the west bank of the Nile to visit the Colossi of Memnon. These are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III which stood in the Theban necropolis for the past 3400 years since 1350 BC.
Then, visit the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, including Hatshepsut temple. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Visit the awe-inspiring Luxor temple, founded in 1400 BC and built with sandstone blocks from Aswan. Continue to Karnak temple, which houses a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings. Finally, transfer to Luxor airport to catch your flight.
Optional Tours
An optional excursion to Abu Simbel temples is available, either by private coach or by domestic flight. Abu Simbel twin temples are 300 km southwest of Aswan. The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Nubian Monuments”. The temples carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC.
Dining Experience
Three multi-course meals a day are included in the room fee. Meals include a mix of Western, Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Each day the menus change, with a number of dishes for each course to choose from, including vegetarian and vegan options.
Evening meals are served in the dining room, and lunch is served on the upper pool deck. While meals are included in the cost of the cruise, beverages are extra. Wine, beer, and spirits are available.
The elegant dining room on an Oberoi Nile cruise ship.
Service Quality
The service on the Oberoi Zahra is generally excellent, with staff members striving to fulfill all wishes and being beyond friendly. However, some guests may find that the service lacks the personalized touches that truly define luxury experiences.
Oberoi Zahra vs. Oberoi Philae
When comparing the Oberoi Zahra vs. Philae, it should be noted that the latter is the older ship but shares, more or less, the same design. Overall, there really isn’t that much of a difference between the two. If you are looking for a larger cabin, then you’d probably have to pick the Philae as even the standard cabins are considerably larger (36 square meters compared to 26!). While the standard cabins do not have a balcony, they have large French windows that will convert your room almost into a terrace.
| Feature | Oberoi Zahra | Oberoi Philae |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Cabin Size | 26 square meters | 36 square meters |
| Balcony | No (French windows) | No |
| Design | Similar | |
| Age | Newer | Older |
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tags: #Egypt
