NILE-Lounging on pillows stuffed with Egyptian cotton on the top deck of Nour El Nil’s Meroë, you’ll feel like a modern-day pharaoh as you journey past date palms, ibis, and the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY DYLAN CHANDLER, NOUR EL NIL
National Geographic has rounded up the best cruise holidays around the world – from the heart of the Amazon to the paradisaical Pacific, and Egypt’s Nour El Nil cruise is on that list. Twice.
Cruise holidays are a perfect way to see the world, from the opulent luxury of your boat. From around-the-world journeys to bespoke river rides, there’s a cruise to suit all tastes. National Geographic has revealed the 21 best cruises in the world and the lineup is exotic. We have gathered here the top 10 only.
For the more bespoke traveler, river and ocean holidays offer the best of both worlds – all the luxury of a cruise combined with plenty of time off water.
The benefit of these trips is their focus on specific regions and hard to reach places, with experts to provide local insight.
Prime examples are Nour El Nil’s 16-passenger Melouka and 20-passenger Meroë – the elegant ships cruise Egypt’s Nile River for views you’ll never forget.
Removed from the rush and crowds of typical Egyptian tours, you will find yourself traveling to Egypt’s finest destinations at your own leisurely pace, while Nour El Nile cruise provides you with all the comforts and amenities that other Nile cruises can only claim to offer, the cruise says on its website.
RIVER AND OCEAN CRUISES-You may think of cruises as floating resorts, but plenty of ships help you get more intimately acquainted with ports of call. They focus on specific regions, employ experts to add local insight, and can transport you to places that are otherwise hard to reach. For example, Nour El Nil’s 16-passenger Melouka and 20-passenger Meroë skim Egypt’s Nile River in an elegantly updated version of the classic dahabeah, crowned by candy-striped sails. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY NOUR EL NILDANUBE-Tauck’s 130-passenger M.S. Joy is smaller than most of the vessels on this waltz-inspiring river, making it easier to execute the line’s famous level of detail. Everything is covered on these trips, including the euros (or Hungarian forints or Czech korunas, as the case may be) needed to use the bathroom in port. Tauck also arranges exclusive access, such as dinner at the private Akademia Club in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and tours of the Hungarian State Opera House, both in Budapest, and an intimate look at Engelszell Abbey, Austria’s only Trappist monastery. PHOTOGRAPH BY EMAILWALLACE.AMAZONAqua Expeditions’ Aria Amazon sails through the Peruvian rain forest, with visits to indigenous villages and a chance to fish for piranha. Onboard, menus celebrate local fare with ceviche, river fish, and hearts of palm salad. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AQUA EXPEDITIONSCHOBE-The Zambezi Queen sails the Chobe River, which borders Botswana and Namibia, year-round. You’ll see a menagerie of animals along the banks of Chobe National Park, home to the highest density of elephants in Africa. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY ZAMBEZI QUEEN COLLECTIONBURGUNDY CANALLike all of French Country Waterways’ canal cruises, the 12-passenger Nenuphar stops for sojourns at markets, cafés, and bakeries as it leisurely sails a northern Burgundy route past small French villages and Burgundy’s acclaimed vineyards. The two-deck luxury barge has bicycles available for when you want to head off down a tree-shaded rural lane. One itinerary highlight: the visit to the Forges de Buffon, where guests are invited into the owner’s home (circa 1768) for a glass of wine, stories of local legends, and a stroll in the vegetable garden. PHOTOGRAPH BY LIANEM.NILE-Lounging on pillows stuffed with Egyptian cotton on the top deck of Nour El Nil’s Meroë, you’ll feel like a modern-day pharaoh as you journey past date palms, ibis, and the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY DYLAN CHANDLER, NOUR EL NILMISSISSIPPI-As the 436-passenger iconic paddle-wheeler American Queen sails up the river, take in the view from the rocking chairs before heading to a meal of proper southern fare (biscuits, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, beignets). PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMERICAN QUEEN STEAMBOAT COMPANYMEKONG- The orchid adorned 68-passenger Scenic Spirit launched last year with every cabin a one-bedroom balcony suite. On land, tour the monastery in the old Cambodian capital of Oudong and receive a monk’s blessing. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY SCENIC SPIRITThe 36-passenger Avalon Myanmar is the only ship that sails to Myanmar’s northern border all year. Take part in sing-alongs with Burmese schoolkids, visit the home of a fisherman, and give alms to monks. PHOTOGRAPH BY OVERSNAP.Half cruise ship, half freighter, the Aranui 5 spotlights its friendly local crew on its 14-day voyage to this remote South Pacific archipelago. They share family stories while leading trips to ancient tiki sites and tropical gardens. PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMES D. MORGAN.
