With its glamorous décor, fine-detail luxury and gobsmacking Egyptian setting, the S.S. Sphinx is pretty much the most deluxe way to tour the River Nile. In fact, it looks just as lavish as anything in Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming Agatha Christie adaptation Death on the Nile – minus, y’know, the whole ‘death’ bit.
Each suite on the Sphinx is fashioned out of locally sourced marble and wood, and is crammed with dazzling colours and patterns. There’s no mistaking this thing for a bog-standard Hilton or Premier Inn, that’s for sure.
The list of stuff on board is impressive. Alongside its 42 suites – all with balconies – the Sphinx features two restaurants, a swimming pool and a massage room. It’s got a distinctly five-star luxury hotel vibe… only it’s also floating, and happens to be in one of the world’s most historically and geographically fascinating settings.
Tour operator Uniworld offers the chance to stay on the S.S. Sphinx as part of its ‘Splendours of Egypt and the Nile’ package. That 12-day trip includes a flight from Cairo down to Luxor, and a boat trip from Dendera to Aswan. The journey allows travellers to visit a whopping 15 Unesco World Heritage sites, including the Sphinx (duh), the Temple of Karnak and the Pyramids of Giza.
Which, if you ask us, all sounds pretty damn magical. Package trips start from $6,699 (£4,961) per person, and you can check availability on the Uniworld website.
Did you see this Airbnb with mind-melting views of the Giza pyramids?