MS Mayfair

MS Mayfair cruise ship is a 2010-built Nile River cruiser and floating hotel featuring luxurious staterooms, elegant interiors, and exceptional service. Before 2018, when the Viking Ra was launched, MS Mayfair was chartered by Viking Cruises alongside Omar El Khayam.

The ship’s owner and operator, Mayfair Cruises Egypt, is a Luxor City-based company specializing in regular Nile River cruise operations between Luxor and Aswan. The company offers 3-, 4-, and 7-night itineraries featuring guided daily shore excursions to Egypt’s ancient temples, royal tombs, and archaeological sites, all led by certified Egyptologists.

Alongside Mayfair, the Mayfair Cruises fleet includes Esplanade (2012) and Mayflower (2019 newbuild).

Cabins

MS Mayfair has 104 staterooms, including 2 Suites and 10 Balcony Cabins. Standard complimentary amenities include an en-suite bathroom (bathtub, shower, toilet, single-sink vanity, hairdryer), flat-screen TV (satellite channels), international direct-dial phone, electronic safe (in the closet), mini-fridge, coffee maker, Internet access, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Standard occupancy is two passengers per cabin. Additional amenities in Presidential Suites and Executive Cabins include complimentary minibar soft drinks (replenished daily) and unlimited soft and alcoholic beverages (served in the Bar Lounge).

• Presidential Suite (category PS) – 350 ft² (33 m²).
• Balcony Staterooms – two categories: Category B (Balcony) and Category FB (French Balcony with sliding glass doors), both sized 225 ft² (23 m²).

Shipboard facilities

Designed with elegant interiors and large panoramic windows, MS Mayfair offers exceptional views of the Nile. Her modern yet relaxed atmosphere blends luxury and comfort. The Bel Air Deck bar and lounge provide a welcoming space to unwind after a day of sightseeing. All meals are served on the Nile Deck in the Nile Avenue Restaurant, offering both local specialties and international cuisine in a lavish buffet prepared by skilled chefs. The restaurant accommodates 6-, 8-, and 10-seat tables. In the evenings, dinner is served à la carte. The Sun Deck features a small swimming pool, Jacuzzi pools, and comfortable loungers and daybeds for relaxation and scenic enjoyment.

• Sun Deck (5) – Observation lounge (covered bar area with loungers), two Jacuzzis, and a swimming pool with pool bar.
• Bel Air Deck (4) – Bel Air Lounge & Bar, boutique and two souvenir shops, Presidential Suites (x2, cat PS), Balcony Cabins (x8, cat B), and French Balcony Cabins (x8, cat FB).
• Upper First Deck (3) – Salon, two gift shops, Balcony Cabins (x4, cat B), and French Balcony Cabins (x30, cat FB).
• Main Deck (2) – Reception and lobby area, French Balcony Cabins (x22, cat FB; two are connecting).
• Nile Deck (1) – Nile Avenue Restaurant, galley/kitchen, spa (steam room, sauna, aromatherapy, massages), hair salon, doctor’s office, French Balcony Cabins (x6, cat FB), and engine room.
• Dress code is casual, though T-shirts and shorts are not permitted during meals.
• Age restriction: passengers must be 30 years or older.
• Launched in May 2010, MS Mayfair is one of the most luxurious and spacious Nile River cruise ships in Egypt, designed to deliver an exceptional travel experience through the land of ancient wonders.
• Signature amenities include spacious decks, elegant furnishings, beautifully appointed venues and cabins, modern facilities (spa, pool, Jacuzzi), gourmet cuisine (Western and Egyptian dishes prepared by local chefs), à la carte dinners, rich buffets, onboard receptions, friendly and professional staff, tour director, full air-conditioning, complimentary 24-hour room service, bottled water and coffee, English-speaking crew, Galabeya parties, cultural lectures, and guided excursions with headsets and Egyptologist guides.
• Other notable Nile and Lake Nasser riverboats include Kasr Ibrim, River Tosca, Steigenberger Omar El Khayam, and Sonesta St. George.

The ship is frequently chartered by Globus-Avalon and other luxury cruise operators offering Nile River travel packages. Before 2016, it was chartered by Avalon Waterways, which later replaced it with MS Sonesta St. George for its 2016 Egypt season.

MS Mayfair Nile River cruise fares are based on double occupancy. Prices may vary depending on promotions, special offers, group bookings, or last-minute deals. European river cruise operators often include flights from the USA and complimentary airport transfers in their Nile cruise packages.

Mayfair Nile Cruise Itineraries

MS Mayfair operates 3- and 4-night itineraries year-round, sailing between Aswan and Luxor, as well as in the reverse direction. Viking’s 7-night round-trips from Abu Simbel to Aswan are operated on Lake Nasser by the Kasr Ibrim ship.

• 9-Day “Highlights of Egypt” Tour: Begins in Cairo with a UK–Egypt flight, followed by a 2-day/1-night hotel stay in Cairo. Guests then fly to Luxor for embarkation. Disembarkation is in Aswan on day 7, followed by a return flight to Cairo.
• 12-Day “Pyramids, Lake Nasser and Nile” Tour: Round-trip from Cairo. Includes a 4-day/3-night stay in Cairo, then a flight to Abu Simbel for embarkation (day 4). The cruise continues from Abu Simbel to Luxor (via Lake Nasser and the Nile), ending with a Luxor–Cairo flight and farewell dinner.
• 16-Day “Egypt and Nile River – Lake Nasser Cruise” Tour: Round-trip from Cairo. Includes 3 days/2 nights in Cairo, overland transfer to Alexandria (1-night stay), and return to Cairo for the flight to Aswan. The itinerary features a round-trip Aswan Nile cruise and a Lake Nasser voyage from Aswan to Abu Simbel, concluding with a flight to Cairo.
• MS Mayfair itineraries may change due to Nile River conditions or river traffic. Occasionally, itineraries are modified if the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities closes archaeological sites for restoration or research.
• Cruises must be booked at least 45 days before departure.

Mayfair Nile Cruise Package Inclusions

• Door-to-door pickup (within 75 miles / 120 km of the airport), flight from Heathrow (London), all local transfers, port charges, and airport taxes. Regional flights available at a supplement.
• Hotel stays: Cairo (Oberoi Mena House), Alexandria (Helnan Palestine), and final night in Cairo (Fairmont Heliopolis). For more information on hotel partnerships, see the top-page Viking link.
• All onboard meals included, with soft drinks at lunch and a glass of wine or beer at dinner. The onboard program includes live performances by local entertainers and artisans. All guided tours and excursions are included, led by certified Egyptologists.

Mayfair Nile Cruise Tours and Excursions

• Cairo: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, Saqqara “Stairway to the Sky,” Egyptian Museum, Saladin’s Citadel, and the Alabaster Mosque.
• Alexandria: National Museum, Catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar, Library, and Lighthouse.
• Kom Ombo: Temple of Horus and Sobek, ancient calendar site. Edfu: Temple of Horus.
• Luxor–Edfu–Kom Ombo: Valley of the Kings and Queens, Museums, Temples of Karnak and Amun-Ra, Deir el-Bahri, and the Colossi of Memnon.
• Dendera and Aswan: High Dam, Temples of Isis, Hathor, and Kalabsha, ancient quarries (Unfinished Obelisk), Kitchener Island, Botanical Gardens, and Aga Khan’s Mausoleum.
• Abu Simbel–Kasr Ibrim–Amada–Wadi el-Seboua: Temples of Dakka, Meharakka, Amada, and Derr, the Tomb of Penout, and rock temples.

Note: For a full list of river cruise ships and itineraries, visit the River Cruises hub, where all companies and fleets are listed.