Forget the butterfly effect – the Joanna Lumley effect is just as powerful. Whether she’s campaigning for Gurkhas’ rights or chasing Norway’s northern lights, the plummy-voiced glamour-puss attracts followers like a comet’s tail.
Her latest outing, Joanna Lumley’s Nile, traced the world’s longest river from mouth to source, and 4.7 million viewers tuned in to see her donning a white kaftan and charming the Egyptian population as she glided by.
If her previous TV escapades are anything to go by, many of those watching will now be considering a Nile cruise for their next holiday. With many big-draw sights and the pleasant experience of cruising itself, the Nile wasn’t a difficult sell even before this latest publicity push.
And the good news for clients is that they don’t need to earn a celebrity’s salary to afford to go there, though there are plenty of deluxe options if that’s what they’re after. Even the cheaper choices listed below are on vessels of a good standard. The pricier options are luxurious, and typically include extra days in Cairo.
We’ve quoted prices for seven-night cruises to make comparisons easier, but there are three and four-night cruises available too.
Bear in mind that although clients will get the best prices by cruising in summer, it can be punishingly hot in June, July and August – sometimes pushing 40C. November and March, when temperatures reach the high 20Cs, will suit most travellers best.
Also remind clients that while shorts and sunwear are fine around the pool, in public places it’s advisable for visitors of both genders to cover their legs and upper arms.
Save the pennies
Viking Princess
Clients needn’t slum it to save their pennies – Discover Egypt is offering a five-star Nile Cruise option for less than £600. The refurbished Viking Princess has 49 cabins, with traditional wooden furnishings.
There’s a plunge pool, bar and restaurant, and a variety of nightly entertainment. The seven-night cruise includes 10 excursions, and can be twinned with an extra seven nights in Luxor, seven nights in a Red Sea resort, or with a combination of time in Cairo and other Egyptian destinations.
Discover Egypt offers a seven-night full-board Nile Cruise itinerary from £599 including flights from Gatwick on departures up to July 12. discoveregypt.co.uk, 0844 880 0462
Angelotel
Clients can save cash by deciding how active they want to be on their Nile cruise. All the itineraries tend to be quite laid-back, but if they’re after a few truly lazy days they should choose an option that allows them to include less in their package.
Med Hotels offers a seven-night itinerary on board the Angelotel in June from £403 with a mini excursion pack which includes trips to Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut Temple, Madinet Habu, Philae Temple and a felucca sail around Aswan Botanical gardens. A maxi excursion pack adds on Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu and Kom Ombo, from £496. medhotels.com, 0871 472 5256
Thomas Cook offers flights from Gatwick to Luxor from £249 return. thomascookworld.com, 0871 230 2399
Lady Carol
Though it has a slightly higher upfront price than other options, this cruise could be cheaper in the long run as it is sold on an all-inclusive basis, not the usual full-board. Buffet-style meals, and soft and local alcoholic drinks are included. Alongside the excursions, evening entertainment is included, with a disco in the lounge bar plus shows such as belly dancing, and a galabeyah party where cruisers can dress up in local costumes.
Refitted in 2008, the Lady Carol is a comfortable and stylish option with large windows in the air-conditioned cabins and a large sun deck.
Cosmos Tourama offers a seven-night all-inclusive Glories of the Nile cruise on Lady Carol from £775, departing Gatwick on June 7. cosmostourama.co.uk, 0871 423 8695
Splash out
Darakum
The interior of this stylish cruiser is Moroccan-inspired, especially in the public areas. The bar has teardrop-shaped wrought-iron lanterns and deep, velvety armchairs, while the restaurant has scallop-edged ceiling arches. The 44 cabins and eight suites are sleek and modern in style, furnished in tones of red or green. The sun deck has canopied day beds and a pool.
Kuoni offers 10 nights in Egypt, with three nights’ bed and breakfast at the Four Seasons Cairo and seven nights’ full-board in a standard cabin on the five-star Darakum, including Egyptair flights from Heathrow and transfers, from £1,308. kuoni.co.uk, 01306 747008
Bales dahabiyyas
Dahabiyyas are perfect for those who prefer old-school authenticity to modern luxury. Languorous afternoons spent cruising the Nile on these 19th-century-style wooden sailing vessels will make clients feel like Victorian aristocrats.
Bales operates four such boats – the Musk, Nesma, Amber and Zahra – the latter not to be confused with the Oberoi ship of the same name. All have six cabins and are fitted out in colonial-style luxury. The small size means that groups of family or friends can charter the ships privately too. Cruises avoid the worst of the heat by running from August to late May, and Bales offers a shorter eight-day cruise-only holiday, alongside the classic journey with time in Cairo too.
Bales Worldwide offers a 12-day itinerary with a full-board seven-night cruise, and four nights’ bed and breakfast in Cairo, flights and transfers from £1,595. balesworldwide.com, 0845 057 0600
The Oberoi Zahra
Oberoi’s most luxurious Nile cruiser has 25 cabins, a la carte dining, a full-size swimming pool, gym, spa, an internet and games room and even a library and cigar lounge.
It’s not just the on-board experience that differentiates the ship. Most ships go from Luxor to Aswan and back in seven nights. The Zahra and sister Oberoi ship the Philae travel one-way, allowing more time to include visits to Dendera and Quina in addition to the usual stops. The Zahra also leaves Luxor on a Tuesday, meaning guests will miss the worst of the crowds as most ships leave on a Monday.
Cox & Kings offers an 11-night journey from £3,295. It includes a seven-night cruise on the Oberoi Zahra on a full-board basis, plus four nights in Cairo on a bed-and-breakfast basis with a private guide, flights and transfers. coxandkings.co.uk, 020 7873 5000
Top tip…
Baksheesh, as tipping is called in Egypt, is a way of life. Some Nile cruises include tips in the price; on others, clients will be expected to leave some collective tips for staff in an envelope. Check with operators so clients know before they go.
