Sanctuary Sun Boat IV

Sanctuary Sun Boat 4 is a premium Nile River cruise ship operating 3- and 4-night itineraries, 7-night B2B cruises, and 10-night cruise tours in Egypt. The riverboat departs from Aswan and Luxor. Sanctuary Retreats' fleet of fully owned vessels also includes Nile Adventurer and Sun Boat 3 (Egypt), Ananda (Burma), and Yangzi Explorer (China).

Shipowner

Sanctuary Retreats owns luxury lodges and safari camps in Eastern and Southern Africa, as well as a fleet of six premium riverboats operating regular cruises in Burma, China, and Egypt. Established in 1999, the company focuses on adventurous safari-style cruises combined with stays in some of Africa's most luxurious lodges and nature camps, with professional tour guides who have intimate knowledge of the local environment.

Sanctuary Retreats Egypt cruise deals include all shipboard meals (plus 6 lunches and 3 dinners ashore), beverages with all meals (local beers, house wines, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee and tea), private bus travel and entrance fees (on scheduled sightseeing tours), scheduled shipboard activities and entertainment, overnight hotel stays (Four Seasons Hotel Cairo, Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor), airport-hotel-airport and hotel-ship-hotel transfers, private charter domestic flights (Cairo to Abu Simbel/Aswan and Luxor to Cairo), government taxes, porterage charges, and tour guide gratuities.

Not included in cruise fares are international flights, passport and visa fees, alcoholic beverages (except wines and beers served at lunch and dinner), onboard gratuities, personal expenses, and travel insurance.

Sanctuary Retreats Egypt cruise prices also include the following ashore group activities (excursions, sightseeing tours) and services:

• Meet and greet (upon arrivals/departures), bus transfers (air-conditioned motor coach), all service charges, and all government taxes
• Excursions to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Valley of the Queens, Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Hathor (Dendera-Qena), Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temples, Philae Temple, and the Unfinished Obelisk
• Entrance fees and English-speaking guides

On the North American market (the USA and Canada), Sanctuary Retreats is represented by the luxury travel company "Abercrombie & Kent Ltd". The company is a subsidiary of Abercrombie & Kent Group and is headquartered in Cheltenham (Gloucestershire, England, UK).

Cabins

The cruise ship Sun Boat 4 has 36 Standard cabins and 4 Suites (2 Royal and 2 Presidential). All staterooms (except those on the Nile Deck) have opening windows.

• Standard Cabin (36 rooms) measure 15–18 m2 (160–195 ft2) and are located forward-midship on decks 1-Nile, 2-Main, 3-Bridge, and 4-Promenade. Nile Deck cabins have non-opening portholes (half-height windows).
• Presidential Suite (2 cabins) measure 38 m2 (410 ft2), are located forward on Deck 2-Main, and feature a shared step-out balcony.
• Royal Suite (2 cabins) measure 55 m2 (590 ft2), are located forward on Deck 4-Promenade, and feature private step-out balconies.

Standard cabin amenities include convertible twin beds (some with King-size double bed only), four-poster bed with canopy and drapes, premium Egyptian linens, bedside tables with drawers, wall-mounted reading lamps, wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), mini-bar (drinks cost extra), telephone (onboard calls only – Reception Desk and passenger cabins), flat LCD TV (satellite reception, on-demand movies), CD player, mirrored dressing table/writing desk with chair, armchair, en-suite bathroom (L'Occitane bath products, glass shower, bathtub, mirrored single-sink vanity, magnifying mirror, hairdryer), wall-to-wall windows (half-height, with curtains and shutters), and individually controlled air-conditioning.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The Dining Room Restaurant (on the Main Deck) offers breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea service, and dinner. An early-riser tea and coffee service is also available. Onboard dining options include:

• American buffet and a la carte items for breakfast
• Buffet-style lunch (Egyptian, BBQ, and international buffets)
• Afternoon tea (with fresh fruits, pastries, and cookies)
• A la carte menus for dinner
• 24-hour room service
• The ship’s expert chefs cater to all dietary requirements
• Menus with gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, healthy, and kids’ options

Weather permitting, al fresco dining on the Promenade Deck aft / Lower Sun Deck (breakfast, BBQ lunch, afternoon tea, Egyptian dinner) is provided with waiter service throughout the voyage. International and local wines are served at lunch and dinner.

Onboard activities include a "galabeya party" (Egyptian costumes, traditional meals, and live performances by whirling dervishes and belly dancers), Egyptian cooking classes, history-themed lectures by the ship’s Egyptologist (professional tour guide), and movie screenings.

The Upper Sun Deck has a heated swimming pool with a sunbathing area (loungers and low tables) and a shaded seating area (awnings / canvas-covered tents with padded lounge furniture – outdoor sofas and armchairs). The ship also has a small gym (with exercise machines), a spa (rooms for massage treatments), a gift shop, a library, a clinic (infirmary served by a resident doctor), and a gaming room (with computers and Internet access). Wi-Fi is complimentary and available in all staterooms and public areas. International phone calls can be made at the 24-hour Reception Desk. Laundry service is available at an additional cost.

Private meetings and special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons) can be arranged for an additional charge. These services are available upon request and may include fresh flowers, romantic dinners, custom-made cakes, themed ceremonies with live performances, and dedicated staff.

Sanctuary Retreats Egypt cruise itineraries

Below are the Sanctuary Retreats Egypt cruise tours on the Nile River.

3-DAY from Aswan to Luxor (downstream/northbound) itinerary

• Day 1 (Aswan embarkation) – check-in, lunch, Philae Temple (Aswan Low Dam), Unfinished Obelisk, onboard events (Cocktail Reception, Gala Dinner)
• Day 2 – breakfast, Kom Ombo, onboard lecture, Edfu Temple, onboard cooking class, dinner
• Day 3 – breakfast, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, lunch, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, dinner
• Day 4 (Luxor) – breakfast, check-out, debarkation

4-DAY from Luxor to Aswan (upstream/southbound) itinerary

• Day 1 (Luxor embarkation) – check-in, lunch, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, onboard events (Cocktail Reception, Gala Dinner)
• Day 2 – breakfast, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, lunch, dinner
• Day 3 – breakfast, Esna Temple, lunch, Edfu Temple, onboard cooking lesson, dinner
• Day 4 – breakfast, Kom Ombo, lunch, Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk, felucca boat tour, dinner
• Day 5 (Aswan) – breakfast, check-out, debarkation

B2Bs (back-to-back cruises) are also offered, with both itineraries combined into either a 7-day roundtrip from Luxor or a 7-day roundtrip from Aswan.

Note: You can see CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.