For the 2027 season, Century Cruises is choosing the Nile as a new destination for its river cruise programme, with two itineraries offering an immersive journey through the history and culture of ancient Egypt, complemented, in the case of the longer programme, by a stay on the Red Sea.
The move forms part of Century Cruises’ international growth strategy. With more than three decades of experience in luxury cruising along the Yangtze and a recent expansion into Europe, the Nile represents another step in the company’s development, supported in part by longstanding interest from guests in a Century Cruises offering in Egypt.
According to David Fredericks, President and General Manager of Century Cruises Inc., the arrival on the Nile is a direct response to requests from guests who have been asking the company for years to bring its distinctive cruise concept to one of the world’s most important rivers. Egypt was identified as a particularly suitable destination for developing an offering that combines the company’s signature service with cultural discovery and a strong connection to the destination.
The project is also not expected to end with its inaugural season. Century Cruises plans to gradually expand its Nile programme, adding further departures and introducing additional vessels in the years ahead.
The debut comprises Treasures of the Nile and Legends of Egypt, two programmes built around cruising aboard the MS Terramar, but with distinct characteristics. The first brings together many of the landmarks of ancient Egyptian civilisation in just under two weeks, while the second extends the experience to Hurghada, combining archaeological heritage with river cruising.
The first itinerary is Treasures of the Nile, an 11-day, 10-night programme beginning and ending in Cairo. The journey combines a stay in the Egyptian capital with a Nile cruise between Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, before returning to Cairo.
The journey begins in Cairo, where the programme focuses on some of the best-known symbols of ancient Egypt. The first visits include the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, the Sphinx, and the Valley Temple. The itinerary also includes a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world’s most important collections dedicated to Egyptian civilisation, including the treasures of Tutankhamun.
From the capital, guests travel to Luxor, where the cruise aboard the MS Terramar begins. Here, the experience focuses on the city’s extraordinary monumental heritage, starting with Karnak Temple, with its imposing Hypostyle Hall, and Luxor Temple, visited in the evening when the illumination enhances its architecture.
The cruise continues towards Esna, the gateway to the western bank of the Nile and the Theban necropolis. The programme explores the Valley of the Kings, home to the tombs of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, including that of Tutankhamun, as well as the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon, monumental statues associated with Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
The journey then continues to Edfu and Kom Ombo. In Edfu, guests visit the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temple complexes of ancient Egypt, reached by horse-drawn carriage. The itinerary also includes the archaeological site of El Kab, with the remains of temples, tombs and walls belonging to one of Upper Egypt’s oldest communities. At Kom Ombo, meanwhile, the programme visits the temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, the falcon-headed form of Horus.
The southern section of the cruise focuses on Aswan, where historical heritage meets spectacular landscapes. Visits include the Aswan Dam, Philae Island and its Temple of Isis, reached by motorboat, the Tombs of the Nobles, and the Coptic monastery of St. Simeon. Optional experiences also include a sunset sail aboard a traditional felucca, offering a different perspective of the Nile and the islands around Aswan.
One of the itinerary’s most significant highlights is a visit to Abu Simbel, in the Nubian Desert. The UNESCO-recognised complex comprises the Great Temple of Ramses II and the temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari, both relocated stone by stone to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.
After cruising north, the programme returns to Luxor and then to Cairo, where the journey concludes following a final day devoted to the capital. Guests also have the opportunity to explore historic Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili, the city’s famous medieval bazaar.
The second programme, Legends of Egypt, extends the Egyptian experience to 15 days and 14 nights and follows much of the Treasures of the Nile itinerary, while adding a significant extension to the Red Sea. Here too, the journey begins and ends in Cairo and includes Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Hurghada.
The first part broadly follows the shorter itinerary, travelling from Cairo to Luxor, with visits to Karnak and Luxor temples, before continuing to the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. Abu Simbel is once again one of the principal highlights, offering guests the opportunity to admire the two magnificent temples in their dramatic setting in the Nubian Desert.
After the Nile cruise, however, the journey changes character. From Luxor, guests cross the Arabian Desert to reach Hurghada, on the Red Sea. The transfer reveals the transition from the fertile banks of the Nile to the arid desert mountains and, ultimately, the coastline of the Red Sea. Once in Hurghada, guests stay at a resort, combining relaxation with a range of activities and excursions.
The extension places a strong emphasis on discovering the marine environment, with excursions to the coral reefs of the Red Sea, where guests can enjoy diving and snorkelling among corals, tropical fish, moray eels, sea turtles and rays.
The programme also includes a day dedicated to exploring the desert, with a range of optional activities including quad-bike excursions, camel rides, jeep safaris and visits to a Bedouin village. For guests seeking a more relaxed experience, free days at the resort are available, along with the option of an excursion to Mahmya Island, known for its white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and coral seabeds.
Before returning home, the Legends of Egypt itinerary includes a final day in Cairo. The programme features visits to the Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, where the Royal Mummies Hall offers further insight into the history of the pharaohs and ancient Egyptian civilisation.
Both itineraries will operate aboard the MS Terramar, a vessel designed for an intimate river-cruise experience. The ship features 20 cabins, all equipped with private balconies overlooking the Nile, as well as international dining, a swimming pool, spa, fitness centre and evening entertainment. The cultural dimension remains central throughout the cruise, with guides and lectures dedicated to the history of Egypt, its dynasties and the role the Nile has played in the development of civilisation.
The two itineraries therefore offer two distinct ways to experience Century Cruises’ debut on the Nile: Treasures of the Nile brings together the principal sites of Upper Egypt and Cairo in 11 days, while Legends of Egypt extends the journey to the Red Sea, adding the coastal and natural attractions of Hurghada to its temples, necropolises and archaeological sites.
Century Cruises’ Egyptian debut is thus part of the company’s strategy to develop river itineraries with a strong cultural focus, combining destination discovery with a high level of service. Following its experience on the Yangtze and its expansion into Europe, the Nile represents another important step in the company’s international development, with the aim of progressively expanding its Egyptian programme through additional departures and new vessels in the years ahead.
Giorgia Lombardo