Movenpick MS Hamees

Movenpick MS Hamees cruises on the Nile River in Egypt, departing from Aswan and Luxor. This large, top-luxury riverboat (hotel ship) features a restaurant, library, bar lounge, and a Sun Deck with a fore-located swimming pool. MS Hamees cruises can also be booked through the European travel company Emerald Waterways.

The hotel ship is owned by Movenpick Group and operated by its subsidiary Movenpick Hotels and Resorts Egypt. Built in 2001 and fully refurbished in 2008, MS Hamees underwent her most recent refurbishment in 2018, making her one of the most luxurious hotel ships in Egypt.

Movenpick Group (founded in 1973, headquartered in Baar, Switzerland) is a joint venture between Movenpick Holding (66.7%) and Kingdom Holding Company (Saudi Arabia, 33.3%). The company operates around 110 hotels, resorts, and Nile cruise ships.

MS Hamees’ fleetmates (Movenpick-owned Nile cruisers) include Prince Abbas, SS Misr, Darakum, MS Sun Ray, MS Royal Lotus, MS Royal Lily, and SB Feddya.

Cabins

MS Hamees staterooms (a total of 72) are spread across three of the ship’s five decks and are mainly categorized by location. There are two main cabin types – Double Cabin (on decks 1, 2, 3, and 4) and Single Cabin (deck 2 forward). The ship does not offer Suites or step-out balconies; however, all cabins feature French balconies (large windows opening to a railing).

All cabins measure 23 m² (245 ft²) and have en-suite bathrooms (single-sink vanity, WC, glass-door shower, bathtub, hairdryer, deluxe bath products, towels, bathrobes and slippers on request). They are equipped with modern furniture, King or twin beds (convertible to Queen-size), premium Egyptian cotton linens, a sofa, tall bedside tables doubling as writing desks, HDTV (satellite reception and infotainment system with Internet and on-demand movies), phone, large mirrored wardrobe with drawers and two life jackets, electronic safe, individually controlled air-conditioning, 220V power outlets, LED lighting, minibar, complimentary bottled water (replenished daily), and tea/coffee making facilities.

Single Cabins can be booked without a single supplement (subject to availability).

All staff and crew cabins are located aft on deck 1 (Restaurant Deck) and have non-opening windows positioned near the ceiling.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Main onboard facilities include a Bar Lounge (with full-service bar, Afternoon Tea, signature cocktails, and evening entertainment), a Dining Room Restaurant, Reading Room (Library), Playing Room (Card/Billiard Room), and a Bazaar (two boutique shops selling gifts and souvenirs). The Sun Deck features a plunge pool, sunbathing area with loungers and deckchairs, shaded seating with tables, and a full-service open-air Bar offering beverages and snacks.

Dining is complimentary and includes buffet breakfasts (international and local specialties) and waiter-served lunches and dinners. Daily entertainment features Egypt-themed lectures and port talks about upcoming destinations.

The riverboat has no wellness facilities (gym, spa, or salon) and no elevators. Medical service (doctor on call), room service, and laundry are available at extra cost.

Emerald Waterways Nile River cruise itineraries

When chartered by Emerald Waterways, MS Hamees operates two itineraries – a 10-day “Cairo and Ancient Egypt River Cruise” and a 16-day “Israel and Ancient Egypt River Cruise.”

Both itineraries include custom-designed land tours in Egypt and Jordan, featuring 4-night Nile River cruises.

The included excursions are part of the EmeraldPLUS program, offering exclusive experiences such as tours of Cairo, the Egyptian Museum, the Great Sphinx and Giza Pyramids, and a home-hosted dinner with a local family. In Jordan, guests visit Mount Nebo, John the Baptist’s cave, and Al-Khazneh Temple (The Treasury) in Petra. Additional optional excursions (DiscoverMORE) are available at extra cost, including Aswan’s Botanical Gardens and the Giza light show.

10-day “Cairo and Ancient Egypt River Cruise”

• Day 1 – Cairo
• Day 2 – flight Cairo to Luxor
• Day 3 – Luxor (embarkation)
• Day 4 – Luxor–Dendera–Luxor
• Day 5 – Luxor–Esna–Kom Ombo–Nile River cruising
• Day 6 – Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan
• Day 7 – flight Aswan to Cairo
• Days 8–10 – Cairo hotel stay

The 10-day cruisetour includes 4 nights aboard MS Hamees, 4 nights in Cairo, 1 night in Luxor, airport transfers, tour director services, port taxes and fees, gratuities, and excursions to Karnak, Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Esna, Kom Ombo, Philae, the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum. EmeraldPLUS experiences include Dendera, Abu Simbel, a felucca cruise in Aswan, and a home-hosted dinner in Cairo.

Dining includes 21 meals (9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners) with two drinks per lunch and dinner onboard. Prices start at ~GBP 3350 (~USD 4200 / EUR 3750) per person.

16-day “Israel and Ancient Egypt River Cruise”

• Day 1 – Cairo
• Day 2 – flight Cairo to Luxor
• Day 3 – Luxor (embarkation)
• Day 4 – Luxor–Dendera–Luxor
• Day 5 – Luxor–Esna–Kom Ombo–Nile River cruising
• Day 6 – Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan
• Day 7 – flight Aswan to Cairo
• Days 8–9 – Cairo hotel stay
• Day 10 – flight Cairo to Amman
• Day 11 – Amman
• Day 12 – Amman–Wadi Rum–Petra
• Day 13 – Petra
• Day 14 – Petra–Dead Sea
• Day 15 – Amman (departure)

This 16-day cruisetour includes 4 nights aboard MS Hamees, 4 nights in Cairo, 1 in Luxor, 2 in Amman, 2 in Petra, and 1 at the Dead Sea. It also includes airport transfers, tour director services, port taxes and fees, gratuities, and excursions to the main historic and cultural sites in Egypt and Jordan. EmeraldPLUS highlights include Hathor Temple, Abu Simbel, felucca cruise in Aswan, home-hosted dinners in Cairo and Amman, and Jerash ruins. Dining includes 30 meals (14 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 10 dinners) with two drinks per lunch and dinner onboard. Prices start at ~GBP 4900 (~USD 6160 / EUR 4500) per person.

Movenpick Hamees Nile Cruise itineraries

When operated by Movenpick, MS Hamees offers three itineraries:

• 3-night (4-day) from Aswan to Luxor
• 4-night (5-day) from Luxor to Aswan
• 7-night (8-day) roundtrip from Luxor

Departures are on Mondays (from Luxor) and Fridays (from Aswan). Below are the daily schedules and ports of call.

3-night (4-day) from Aswan to Luxor

• Day 1 – Check-in (12:00), lunch (12:30), tours (High Dam, Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk), Welcome Cocktail (19:30), dinner (20:00), overnight in Aswan
• Day 2 – Breakfast (07:00), cruise to Kom Ombo, visit Kom Ombo Temple (12:30), lunch (13:30), Afternoon Tea (16:00), cruise to Edfu, visit Edfu Temple (17:00), cruise to Esna (19:30), dinner (20:00), Galabia Party (21:30), overnight in Esna
• Day 3 – Cruise to Luxor (06:00), breakfast (08:00), lunch (13:00), tours to Karnak and Luxor Temples (15:00), dinner (19:30), belly dance show (21:00), overnight in Luxor
• Day 4 – Breakfast (07:00), check-out (08:00), tours to Valley of the Kings, Queens, and Hatshepsut Temple

4-night (5-day) from Luxor to Aswan

• Day 1 – Check-in (12:00), lunch (12:30), tours to Karnak and Luxor Temples (14:00), dinner (19:30), overnight in Luxor
• Day 2 – Tours to Valley of the Kings, Queens, and Hatshepsut Temple, lunch onboard and cruise to Esna (13:00), Afternoon Tea (16:30), Welcome Cocktail (19:00), dinner (19:30), overnight in Esna
• Day 3 – Breakfast (07:00), visit Edfu Temple (08:00), cruise to Kom Ombo (10:30), lunch (13:00), Afternoon Tea (16:00), visit Kom Ombo Temple (17:00), dinner (20:00), Galabia Party (21:30), overnight in Aswan
• Day 4 – Breakfast (07:00), tours (08:00, High Dam, Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk), lunch (13:00), felucca cruise around Kitchener Island (16:00), dinner (19:30), Nubian show (21:30), overnight in Aswan

The 7-night (8-day) roundtrip from Luxor is a back-to-back voyage combining the above itineraries.

Movenpick Nile cruise fares include:

• Airport transfers (to/from the ship in Luxor/Aswan)
• All transfers by air-conditioned coaches
• Meet-and-greet service on arrival/departure
• Crew and tour guide (certified Egyptologist) assistance
• Stateroom accommodation
• All listed excursions and entrance fees
• Taxes and service charges

Optional tours, personal expenses, and gratuities are not included.

Note: The complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats is available in the “itinerary” section of CruiseMapper’s River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.