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Splendors of Egypt & Nile River Luxury LGBT Cruise & Tour
11 nights from/to Cairo, Egypt
January 20 – 31, 2024
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises S.S. Sphinx
 Cruise the Nile in a manner once reserved for queens and pharaohs. For 12 adventure-filled days, experience Egypt and the Nile’s most wondrous sites in style and luxury. Wander amongst the towering ruins of the Temple of Karnak, the world’s largest ancient religious complex, and the entrancing Temple of Luxor. Visit temples dedicated to Hathor, Horus, and other mythological figures, and pay homage to the country’s first female ruler at the Temple of Hatshepsut.
Follow in the footsteps of renowned scholars and explorers as you venture forth into the Valley of the Kings, the ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty. You will enjoy an exhilarating ride in a felucca, a traditional Nile River sailboat.
This captivating gay & lesbian cruise & tour itinerary begins and ends in Cairo, where you’ll visit the famous Egyptian Museum and its stupendous and unrivaled collection of pharaonic artifacts, including treasures recovered from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
Journey to Giza to gaze upon the mighty ancient Pyramids and the timeworn, enigmatic Sphinx—iconic images that continue to amaze.
An enchanting land of marvels, myths, and wonders old and new, Egypt is an extraordinary destination no culturally curious traveler will want to miss.
A cruise with Uniworld...
Boutique hotels are known for their destination-specific interior décor, gracious service, and carefully selected amenities, all of which provide an intimate, elegant, and relaxed experience.
Similarly, Uniworld’s boutique river cruises allow guests to travel from one exciting destination to the next aboard a stylish floating hotel with inviting lounges, cozy libraries, panoramic restaurants, sumptuous cuisine, exquisite antiques and original art and luxurious river view staterooms and suites. Meticulous attention to detail is readily apparent on every company-owned ship.
All Inclusive!
Dining
• Meals onboard prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
• 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
• Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner
• Farewell Dinner
• Complimentary house wine, local beer, soft drinks, tea, and coffee will be served during lunch and dinner onboard
Accommodations
• 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the gorgeous S.S. Sphinx
• Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites
• 4 nights in Cairo at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza (or similar)
Excursions
• 8 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking trained Egyptologists
Experiences
• 1 country: Egypt
• 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Services of an experienced Egyptologist
• Cultural enrichment
• Group Transfers are included on arrival and departure days
• Flights included between Cairo and Luxor
• Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
Luxury S.S. Sphinx
The S.S. Sphinx offers two gourmet dining venues, a swimming pool, massage room and 42 gorgeously appointed suites. This Super Ship offers an authentically immersive onboard experience, with bespoke decor by local artisans and materials sourced regionally—such as fine Egyptian cottons, marble and hand-carved blonde wood—to highlight Egyptian craftsmanship while minimizing our carbon footprint.
The S.S. Sphinx is the latest over-the-top ship from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, which just took the top spot in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards. While it's not the first high-end ship on the storied river, Uniworld is aiming to set a new bar for luxury with its 84-passenger, 42-stateroom cruiser.
Uniworld's new super ship in Egypt, providing guests with the most luxurious way to sail along the Nile with its exquisite design and experiences they won't find anywhere else.
The eye-catching design of the Sphinx incorporates "locally sourced Egyptian artwork, fabrics and hand-carved furnishings," according to Uniworld, as well as sumptuous seating, rich colors, and marble-trimmed bathrooms.
The maximalist decor carries through the ship's staterooms, all of which feature French balconies. Other this-must-be-Egypt features include carved wood ceiling and door panels, ornate furniture, and accent pieces like Arabic coffee sets. Bedrooms feature upholstered walls covered in blue Egyptian cotton and custom carpets.
The Sphinx has two onboard restaurants — including one al fresco option on the top deck — as well as a private dining room for small groups. Egyptian cuisine is a focus with "menus that reflect the destination," Uniworld says, paired with locally made wines. The ship also has a massage room, a gym, a small pool, and other spaces for lounging.
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Splendors of Egypt &
Nile River Luxury Gay Cruise & Tour
Itinerary
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Date |
Port |
Arrive |
Depart |
| 20 Jan |
Cairo, Egypt |
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| 21 Jan |
Cairo, Egypt |
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| 22 Jan |
Cairo / Luxor / Dendera |
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| 23 Jan |
Dendera / Luxor |
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| 24 Jan |
Luxor / Kom Ombo |
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| 25 Jan |
Kom Ombo / Aswan |
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| 26 Jan |
Aswan, Egypt |
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| 27 Jan |
Aswan / Edfu |
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| 28 Jan |
Esna / Luxor |
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| 29 Jan |
Luxor / Cairo |
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| 30 Jan |
Cairo, Egypt |
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| 31 Jan |
Cairo / Departure |
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Note: This program includes some early morning activities. Flights between Cairo and Luxor may require wake-up calls at 5:00am or earlier. Guided tours typically begin in the morning and may include a motor coach drive.
Day 1 - Cairo, Egypt
Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI). If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and escort you to the opulent Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza.
Day 2 - Cairo, Egypt
The ancient quarter of Cairo is intense—the colors, the sounds, the density of people—and it’s likely been this way for thousands of years. Your local expert will show you a 12th-century citadel, the beautiful Alabaster Mosque and an unsurpassed collection of priceless artifacts, including mind-boggling treasures once buried with the boy king Tutankhamen.
Featured Excursion:
• Citadel of Salah al-Din, Alabaster Mosque and Egyptian Museum
Day 3 - Cairo, Fly to Luxor (Embark) Cruising the Nile River, Dendera
Prepare to be amazed at the legendary Temple of Karnak, a massive and absolutely astounding site, with gigantic columns, broad avenues lined with stone sphinxes and halls of truly epic proportions. This evening, you’ll revel in a Welcome Reception and Dinner onboard.
Featured Excursion:
• Temple at Karnak
Day 4 - Dendera, Cruising the Nile River, Luxor
Like its twin shrine, the Temple of Karnak, the Temple of Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, the once flourishing capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom. It was built over hundreds of years and even in ruins it is still an extraordinary place. You’ll also visit the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty.
Featured Excursions:
• Temple of Hathor
• Temple of Luxor
Day 5 - Luxor, Cruising the Nile River, Kom Ombo
The word “colossal” will take on a whole new meaning after today’s excursion to the gigantic twin statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. And that’s just the beginning—you’ll also visit the temple of one of Egypt’s rare female pharaohs as well as the Valley of the Kings, used as a royal burial place for nearly 500 years and where the mummified remains of Tutankhamen are on display.
Featured Excursion:
• Colossi of Memnon, Hatshepsut Temple and Valley of the Kings
Day 6 - Kom Ombo, Cruising the Nile River, Aswan
After visiting a temple dedicated to a crocodile god today (don’t miss the display of some of the 300 mummified crocs found in the local area), hop aboard a small boat for a bird-watching excursion along the Nile.
Featured Excursions:
• Kom Ombo Temple
• Bird-watching boat ride
Day 7 - Aswan
Today is an epic day, filled with wonders from start to finish. You’ll visit a marvel of modern engineering—the Aswan High Dam—as well as the Unfinished Obelisk and the beautiful Philae Temple complex, which was moved from one island to another back in the 1970s. But wait, there’s more. You’ll also take a ride in a felucca—a traditional Egyptian sailboat—and enjoy afternoon tea at a famous hotel depicted in Agatha Christie’s novel Death on the Nile.
Featured Excursions:
• Boat ride in traditional Nile River felucca and afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan
• Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Temple of Isis
After dinner onboard this evening, you’ll be treated to an enchanting Nubian show featuring traditionally attired performers, live music and dancing.
Day 8 - Aswan, Cruising the Nile River, Edfu
Spend the day at leisure or join us for an optional excursion to see the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel.
Day 9 - Esna, Cruising the Nile River, Luxor
On today’s excursion, you’ll learn how the Temple of Esna was buried under debris for many centuries and is one of the last great Egyptian temples ever built. Your Egyptologist guide will share all sorts of fascinating insights about this significant cultural site and show you the façade bearing the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded in Egypt.
Later, savor the Nile’s majestic scenery as the ship cruises to Luxor.
Featured Excursion:
• Temple of Khnum
Day 10 - Luxor (Disembark), Fly to Cairo
Disembark in Luxor and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. Then, check in to your luxury hotel where you’ll have time to relax before dinner.
Day 11 - Cairo, Egypt
It’s a day of Bucket List Moments today as we venture to Ancient Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a number of amazing monuments to see—including the enigmatic Great Sphinx. You’ll have a thrilling opportunity to view the pyramids from an up-close perspective, the only way to fully appreciate their remarkable size and grandeur.
Featured Excursion:
• Ancient Memphis sites, including the Pyramids of Giza with small pyramid entry, the Great Sphinx and Sakkara visit
Day 12 - Cairo Departure
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the Cairo International Airport for your flight home, or extend your trip with a memorable optional extension in Jerusalem.
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