What to Expect on Your First Nile River Dinner Cruise in Cairo

What to Expect on Your First Nile River Dinner Cruise in Cairo

Cairo is the city which has no sleep at all. During the day, Cairo looks like an active city with cars honking, noisy markets, historic sites and bright sunlight. However, once the daylight disappears, the city gets its second life – the citylights appear on the dark surface of the river Nile and the cold air makes you forget about the heat of the previous day.

For those who have just arrived in Cairo, a popular entertainment is the dinner Nile River cruise. It seems to be so perfect – dinner boat, delicious dishes, traditional music and festive lighting. But if you haven’t experienced it yet, you can have some doubts: what does the cruise include, what to eat there, how long will it take and what clothes should I put on?

In this article, you will find all the necessary information in order to spend the best night possible.

Step 1: Getting to the Dock and Boarding

Typically, the Nile cruises start from the docking stations located either along the Cairo waterfront or in Zamalek/Garden City area.

If you book a Nile Dinner Cruise package, you might be picked up from your hotel by a private chauffeur; alternatively, you could travel there in a short ride share.

It is a good practice to come half an hour to one hour earlier than the scheduled starting time since Cairo traffic is sometimes hard to predict, particularly during rush hours.

When boarding, you will be greeted and directed to your table by the crew working on the boat. Typically, the cruise boats have two main areas:

Main Indoor Dining Deck: The air-conditioned area with glass windows where you can enjoy both dinner and view of the city floating by.

Open Upper Deck: An open-air deck that gives you a chance to admire the skyline and make photos before or after your dinner.

Step 2: The Sailing Route and Cairo Night Views

Once everybody is on board, the boat slowly departs from the pier. The cruise normally lasts for about two hours and is made at a leisurely pace down the length of the Nile River in central Cairo.

Cairo from the water will be a completely new view compared to the city on the streets. You'll see bridges illuminated in beautiful colors, luxurious hotels towering by the riverside, and old neighborhoods lit up by dim yellow lights. On a clear night, taking in the river life—traditional sailboats floating near luxury cruisers—from the upper deck of the boat is one of the most tranquil moments one can experience in Cairo.

Step 3: The Dining Experience

Cruise ships offer various meals for their clients, where an open buffet is served with a variety of dishes to satisfy tastes of the international tourists and the locals.

Here’s a preview of some of the foods served in the buffet line:

Appetizers & Salads: Crispy pita bread, hummus, baba ghanoush, tahini, fresh greens salads, pickled vegetables.

Main Dishes: Grilled meat dishes like chicken shish tabook, beef kofta, roasted chicken, fish, oriental rice, pasta, and seasonal cooked vegetables.

Desserts: Sweet traditional Egyptian deserts like baklava, basbousa, and kunafa, along with seasonal fruits, cakes, and pudding.

There are plenty of vegetarian dishes, such as salads, rice and grilled vegetables. Beverages, including bottled water, sodas, fresh juice, tea, and coffee, are ordered separately from your waiter.

Step 4: Live Cultural Shows

As the dinner comes to an end, the entertainment show is performed. Two primary shows are done on most two-hour dinner cruise to let you experience the traditional Egyptian music and dancing performances.

1. Tanoura Dance Performance
The Tanoura is a folk dance which originated from the Sufi religious practices. Dancers wear heavy, colorful skirts and perform continuous spinning in one spot to the sound of drums and flute. The amazing part of this performance is not only the ability of dancers to spin for 15 to 20 minutes without feeling dizzy but also their ability to manipulate with the skirts in spinning by lifting them, folding into different shapes, and turning on the LED lights during increased speed of spinning.

2. Oriental Belly Dancing
After the Tanoura performance, an oriental belly dancer performs with a live band or music. This performance is energetic and interactive. The dancer walks around the room and encourages people to stand up, clap, and perform some simple movements of the belly dance.

Practical Tips for First-Timers

Remember the following useful tips to have an enjoyable night:

Dress code: You should dress smartly, but not too formally. Typically, men will be dressed in trousers and shirt or t-shirt. Women typically choose dresses, pants, or skirts. You may need a shawl or sweater if you are traveling there during winter.

Photo taking: Go to the upper deck of the boat at the start of the tour to take photos of the city of Cairo before the performance begins.

Seat: If you want to have a window seat, request it from your tour provider or boat manager beforehand. Although the window seat is desirable, boats in Egypt are constructed in such a way that every passenger has a chance to see well.

Tipping: Tipping for a service in Egypt is a custom and appreciated by the locals.

Final Thoughts

Nile dinner cruise is not only dinner but also the most enjoyable opportunity to get a new view on Cairo. The combination of local food, folklore shows and boat cruise makes for a good rest from the rush of sightseeing in the city. So be ready to take a camera and have a great time!