Are you planning on arranging all the accommodation for the trip yourself? You might want to use a travel agent or planner who knows the boats and can even get better rates?

Have you, or might you, consider not bothering with a Nile Cruise? You can see everything they see and stay on land if you want. Take an affordable hotel in Luxor and use that as a base camp to travel up river on the highway to see the temples along the way, or travel one way to Aswan and spend a night or two in Aswan. This way you can go via the highway down to Abu Simbal too if you want to.
The Nile Cruise is not the be-all end-all of Egyptian holidays IMHO. You can see just as much, perhaps more from the road and enjoy the swimming pool at your hotel when you want the relaxation time.
The other thing to do, if a Nile cruise is REALLY important to you is to take the Aswan to Luxor route and eliminate one night. It will be a 3 night instead of 4 night cruise and they charge by the night, so automatically you save 1/4 of the price. You will see all the same things, just with one less night on the boat - meaning 3 less buffet meals - which HAS to be a good thing.

Thanks to Elizabeth and Casual Cairo for the responses. Unfortunately, we are needing to make our own plans for this part of the trip on our own but were trying to do a package for the flight and diving week.
The Nile cruise has not been on my list of must do's but we did think it would be interesting, relaxing, and a tad bit fun but the glamour of it all is starting to wearing off. I want to continue to work on making the 3 or 4 night cruise work but do not want to be on a boat that is making me wish I was not on it....but not spend $4,000 USD doing it. I am going to put forth the idea presented by Casual Cairo and see how that goes over.
Any one else have any ideas or suggestions of nice boats to explore for the Nile cruise that will not break the bank?

We loved the cruise and this from someone who does NOT do cruises. Only because it was a flat bottom boat and I could see both shores did we go for it. We were on the Movenpick I, but this was back in 2001, which has since been refurbished and even a Movenpick II. Hey, there might be a Movenpick III.

Some people swear by the Oberoi boats, but the top of the line vs the others (can't seem to recall the name). And, while I've had better food when on safari, the meals were fine and no one got sick. We cruised from Aswan to Luxor after a visit first at Abu Simbel, but did spend the last nt on-board, our choice rather than hotel in Luxor.


Am sure there are other threads here on Fodor's about those who have cruised, which boat, etc. the pros/cons.

Of course, you can as Debbie mentions go by land but it darn better be an air conditioned vehicle, and for sure would hate a breakdown in the desert... but do tourists still have to travel by caravan? Debbie, what's the situation regarding this.

For whatever reason you wish to book this holiday on your own, I'd still recommend you contact a tour operator - Lady Egypt that many here have used - at least for a name of boats that might fit your wishes and for all you know they might be able to book cruise, coordinate internal flights and diving which I assume is at Sharm. Good luck!

If you want to see what your options are other than a cruise, especially for a family consider this place we stayed last Christmas in Luxor. http://www.egyptwithmara.com/

We had a huge two bedroom suite, with small kitchen too, lovely breakfast and great land based tours in small van arranged by the hotel. You are in a "real" neighborhood but close walk to sights, restaurants, etc. Not a pool but a lovely roof deck. (And we didn't miss a pool, while the weather was nice, was not quite warm enough for swimming.)

Even if you don't stay there, the information the website provides about Luxor and the Nile is very valuable.

There many and many cruise ships in the Nile, sure you will find a deluxe cruise with normal price, I had a cruise for 3 nights at 5 star deluxe called M/s Royal Ruby with 290 $ included van, guide entrance fees, try to search again
It will best for you to book this cruise from local travel agent it will be cheaper than cruise itself, if you need any help already I had few cruises email, hope that will help you