Reviews of Domina Prestige Emilio Cruise, Nile Cruises

I have been on a cruise before, on the RAII about 13yrs ago. How times have changed, even though Egypt remains much the same.

The Domina is an okay boat, but as previous reviews, there is a lot of niggles.

I knew to take the kettle and tea bags and instant coffee, plus alcohol, as these are very expensive on the boat and money seems to just disappear if you have to keep paying for all the extra's and the tips. The food was nice to start with, but when it is very much the same everyday, it does get a little bit boring, but I suppose this is the same on many of the boats. On the RAII we had waiter service at the night time meal, but I believe this is very rare on boats now.

The Bingo night, which is on all the boats, was a RIP OFF on the Domina. We paid 10 English Pounds for 4 tickets, and one that was free (making 5 in all) and the prize for two lines and a full house, was a gold cartouche (not sure of the spelling, but you will know what I mean no doubt). I would have said that they came out of a lucky bag! There were no cash prizes and they must have pocked a whopping amount from that little scam, so BEWARE, don’t bother to play Bingo if you are on the Domina.

One thing I will say in support of the Domina was our guide AZZA. She was a very large Egyptian lady who spoke very good English - which believe me you need, as some of the guides are very hard to understand. She made the visits to the temples a trip to remember for a life time. Instead of the usually rhyming off of all the gods, which you cannot remember two seconds later, she told us about the temples in a story fashion (much like we were kids at school) but with great humour and boy did we remember the temples. He famous words were 'my great grand father Ramses II' and she had us enacting out the scenes as though we were the gods, but put lots of humour into the scenes. Her special way of getting us all back together from the temples was a loud whistle and boy could she whistle for Egypt! We felt like a gang of school kids in no time at all and we used to laugh at the way we all just fell in line and were together in no time. We never lost one of the group in those temples!

I would only go on a trip again if I could have AZZA as my guide. We bombarded her with questions in the lounge bar, at night, if we did not understand something and she would sit all night explaining what it was we didn’t understand, or go into more depth regarding scenes on the walls, if we wanted to know more information. Nothing was too much trouble for her.

I event learnt more things about the temples than the first time around, because she took so much trouble to explain the temples before you started clicking the camera and anyone who started taking pictures before she had done her lesson, got a humourous reminder that there was 'plenty of time later for taking pictures'! She was a very special lady to us all by the end of the trip and everyone said what a good time they had!

Abu Simbel was good - even though you had an early start at 3pm and it was a 6hr round trip - buy hey you only go to Egypt once (well in my case two) but I had never been the first time around and it was well worth the money and effort!

The lock had the usual fascination, on rising from one level to another, and the delicate manoeuvres they had to do in getting two boats in at one time and I even got up at 5am to see the boat going through the lock. (Must be mad, I know)!

Never went on the balloon ride, but all the rest of the gang who did, said it was awesome - so if you have the pennies (or pounds to spare) I would say it was worth it. Although it was another early rise.

I must have bored you by now, so I will go, with my thoughts of Egypt and AZZA saying that everything that was ever invented - 'It was invented by the EGYPTIAN's'! Mind you - it probably was!

We have just returned from a 7 day cruise from Luxor to Aswan & had a wonderful time. We booked last minute (Saturday evening for a departure on Monday morning!) and must say that Libra's organisation throughout the holiday was faultless. The tickets were ready & waiting for our collection at the airport, our egyptian guide was wonderfully friendly knowledgeable and helpful, the same coach accompanied us throughout the journey so we always had someone whom we knew with us. Rooms were ready immediately on arrival, late checkouts arranged for departure and all tours and connections were dealt with promptly & efficiently.



The ship itself is very nice. Being on a lower deck we were worried that we might have issues with drainage etc., but these were unfounded. Our cabin was quite roomy & had french doors to open onto the Nile. If you expect a UK-style 5 star accomodation/service though, you will be disappointed. The level of cleanliness in the bathroom was not great, although the cabins were cleaned & tidied twice daily. The rest of the boat was fine though. There is a good range of food at each sitting, but this is buffet-style and not cordon bleu style cuisine. The highlight for me was definately the Egyptian nights with the local dishes which were wonderful. A few people on the cruise had upset stomachs, but none that I spoke to thought that this was because of dodgy food, because even the salads were prepared with mineral water.



Staff themselves were very courteous & helpful, although the waiters in the sunlounge dissappeared from time to time without explanation. Reception had to be asked repeatedly before things were actioned but these are real nit-picking points as the cruise generally was great. Most importantly, there were a number of people who had already been on the cruise & were returning for a second time, which speacks volumes.

Egypt was wonderful and a cruise is a great way to see it. No moving hotel every night, fewer long bus rides although still a few of those. We had a very knowledgeable guide and a congenial group; all British except for me, the lone American. We were a bit disappointed with the Domina Prestige. It was all fine and servicable but no better than a high end 3 star or low end 4 star. The food was plentiful but undistinguished except for the 2 "Egyptian nights." The rooms were comfortable but somewhat "tired' and the draperies and upholstery and bedspread would all benefit from a thorough cleaning. The bathroom amenities were minimal; we had to repeatedly request replacements for the tiny soap bars and shampoo and a minimum number of towels were provided. None of that diminished our enjoyment of the sites which are spectacular. It's a shame that all the boats travel in lock step and all the groups go to the sites at more or less the same time. At some temples that made for an unpleasant crush. But that was all pretty marginal and our overall enjoyment of the experience was still great. Our problem was with Libra. We had bought and paid for the 5 star Nile Festival. We weren't informed until our charter flight arrived in Luxor that we had been bumped to the Domina Prestige. The explanation was "contractual difficulties" that were "sudden." We were given no options, no reimbursement, not even much in the way of sympathy for the demotion. Only when we complained to Libra did they send each of us a paltry 30 British Pounds. Egypt was marvelous; Libra was lousy.

A good holiday, action packed and well structured tours. We saw a lot of Egypt's temples and tombs. We had an excellent guide 'Sam'. Boat was clean and food good and varied. We had to wait a while at the first lock in leaving Luxor which all boats waited for, other than that no complaints!

Had a wonderful holiday in November . Staff were excellent and the excursions were well supported by the reps. Good food and a wonderful boat. The only flaw was we flew with Thomas cook and the leg room on the plane was appalling

Very nice beautiful boat.



Everything is perfect. The staff is very fantastic and helpfull.



The rooms are comfortable. I had the chance cruising as well in a single as in a double room. the single a bit little. they were also very clean. It was a pleasure to going back to my room in the evening because they put things on my bed making out with my towels. a joking each evening.



The food was very suitable and varous. Even their little white wine was not too bad

I will recommand this boat to everybody and will surely come back.

Overall this is an excellent boat. The rooms are of high standard with full height sliding windows on upper 2 decks (but no balcony). (Windows on the “standard” deck do not open). The suite 402 is well worth the upgrade, but NOT suite 401.



The staff are professional and good fun, and seem to enjoy their work. The sundeck is fine, with enough loungers. Its roughly 50% UK and 50% European guests, each having their own half of the restaurant. The food is good, especially the salads & mezze and there is a reasonable choice even for vegetarians, though beware buffet queues. Veg mains however needed just a little more variety, (we got a bit fed up with just potatoes, and “single veg stewed” . Also, less fried food (fritters etc) would be welcome

As others say, it is as good a boat as you see on the Nile. It’s a pity its let down by several attempts at cost cutting.



They don’t offer “brewed” coffee , only offer Nescafe, and then its only free at breakfast and “tea”. Other times it’s a whopping £1.50 a cup. There is no complimentary hot drink point. Take a kettle & supplies of your own!



The “cakes” on offer at tea time are dreadful : stale, tasteless and dry. This is odd given the sumptuous cakes at lunch and dinner. “Elevenses” and tea are only occasionally served. Both the “welcome drink” and the “cocktails” at the group cocktail party were pathetic. The former a tiny half glass of “I don’t know what” (nor did the crew); the latter was a choice of a green or purple drink, both tasting of absinthe.



All the above points make me think someone is trying to save money. It is petty and mean.



As you’d expect there are rather cheesy “participation” entertainment nights, but they are easy to ignore if that’s not your scene. Drinks are expensive, so take your own alcohol, and buy water & coke on shore. The chit system for drinks works fine as you get to keep a carbon copy receipt each time. Luxor is a buzzy town , and I recommend a taxi in there on the last evening to sample the scene, and a sunset cocktail at the Winter palace hotel.

What more can I say, absolutely wonderful. I had seven days holiday to take before Xmas and it’s nearly end of November. Some where warm, just me and myself for the first time. The thought of it felt a little uncomfortable, but it turned out fine. There were other single people in this group of about twenty five. Never felt alone right from the start as people invited each others at reception, dining hall, lounge, sun deck, couch and outing trips. Must thank everyone for being such a pleasant friendly bunch. You made it even more enjoyable experience.



Reviews - I can relate and agree to the last twelve submitted reviews very closely. Though few of the comments with pointy finger were I thought was a bit harsh.



Libra’s cruise programming, impeccable, couldn’t have done it any better than they have for me. One early retired Australian couple did have a problem at Luxor airport on their way back. Boarded, like me from Manchester UK with only Libra’s itinerary‏ letter, they were issued boarding cards without tickets. At Luxor however, panic and lots of bother. For reissue, they’ve had to pay £30 and pronto before boarding card.



Visits to perfume/alabaster shop- They do say you pay more for their perfume because it’s pure oil. The ones you buy in duty free are diluted with alcohol. So you get less and smell diapers sooner. Anyway, ask me if I care. It still isn’t on my list of highlights as I’m trying to figure out which bit I’m supposed to have benefited from.



Visa - is £7.50 each in airport. Don’t forget to collect your change at next window!



Guide - Our guide was Hassan. Walking encyclopaedia of Egyptian history. His memory for names of Gods, pharos, queens, relations, when, where, why, how. If you ask him what time to the minute Ramses II was conceived he could tell you. Very proud of his ancestral history and his country.



Optional trips - can be expensive but I would recommend the hot air ballooning at Luxor £135. It was a piece of cake for one who usually avoids those fair ground rides. Desert drive 2.5 hours each way to Abu Simbel £75.



Airport car park - £21.50 for eight day secure parking next to J5 M62, plus free transfer service, 5 to 8 minutes ride. Perfect.



Money - Best rate I think is at airport next to visa. Get some small dominoes as you have to tip everywhere. Street sellers, taxi drivers, even shopkeepers pretend they don’t have change!



Hot drinks - Take an electric travel jug. If you are a tea or coffee bug like me £1.50 a small cup on ship soon adds up.



Food - in moderation I kept telling to myself. Then I find I’m carrying a heaped full because I had to try everything. That anti diarrhoea packet of tabs in the suitcase kept daring me. Sorry, I didn’t realize it was going to be this long.



Read all the reviews, you’ll find time is well spent when you enjoy your excursion with more confidence. Did I read it somewhere, it’s not just a holiday it’s an experience.

We booked very last minute (3 days before sailing) and had a wonderful time. The food on the boat was plentiful but did get a little repetitive after 7 days. The ship's staff were excellent and the organised trips were great. We missed the Abel Simbel trip as it meant a very early start (3.15am) and a total journey of over 6 hours. If you do intend to do any trips make sure you take plenty of English money with you as its much cheaper to pay in cash than by credit card.



We especially enjoyed the optional boat trip (called a bird watching trip) but the absolute highlight of the trip was the hot air balloon ride. We had to get up early (4.45am) but the trip itself was magnificent. We rose into the sky just after the sun had begun to rise and floated serenely over the Valley of the Kings and Queens and along the Nile for the best part of an hour. Truly breathtaking.

We really enjoyed our time on the Domina Prestige. The staff were wonderful and very entertaining. Our trips were well planned and we always felt safe and part of a well run operation.



Our only complaint was we made the mistake of booking with Libra holidays who managed to mess up our whole second week which we had arranged in Hurghada. The whole thing was a shambles where they managed to not book our rooms correctly and lied to us continuously as to our new arrangements making one excuse after another.



We felt they ruined our whole experience and hope to travel again to Egypt to try and remember it in a better light with another operator.



We only have fond memories of the time on the boat though and would definitely recommend it as a great way to see the sights and enjoy the Nile.

We have just got back from a great holiday. Just thought we would add a few lines which I didn’t see covered above.



If we have to add some comments, they would be as follows -

There didn’t seem to be much of a positive representation from Libra themselves. On the boat we were taken care of by the hotel staff that were quite pleasant, and for outings we were in the hands of Sam our well experienced (but freelance) guide.



For instance the lack of a safety briefing concerned most of us as we had seen the remains of some burnt out vessels on the river (which had clearly been moored up adjacent to each other). The fire had obviously spread rapidly from one to the other and when 10 vessels are docked adjacent to each other I can imagine it may be difficult to separate them promptly in the middle of the night.



The boats really are on top of each other when they are moored up and there is possibly a 1m gap between your cabin and the cabin of the adjacent ship! There isn’t much time when you can actually sit and enjoy the view from your room as 90% of the time it is a view of another cabin! If I had to recommend a cabin I would choose a cabin on the right hand side of the boat, as it is more likely to get a view. We took a top deck cabin, but to be honest I don’t think it made a huge difference - if we wanted a view we went up to the sun deck, from which you could at least see across the other sun decks of other boats.



The other disappointing aspect was how long we sat waiting to go through the lock. It seems standard that you wait 20 hours to get your turn. So a lot of time is wasted parked up next to another boat.



We were also up early the first morning so the boat could sail while we visited Karnak temple. We were later bussed up to meet the boat near the lock, and then we still waited our turn. While we were sleeping the boat moved again and the next morning were docked again! We had imagined more cruising than parking!



There were rumours about some boats having private moorings but I would suspect they would be a lot more expensive and we certainly didn’t see any moored up on their own so I am not sure about that.



Generally speaking the Domina Prestige, Emilio is probably one of the better boats, certainly clean and tidy compared to others you see which look rather tired. The food as suggested above is nothing special but perfectly adequate. The menu can get really repetitive, but on the whole there is plenty of food.



You can buy water on shore from the locals which is all sealed for a fraction of the cost on the boat, as for Sprite / Coke etc. We managed to get the bottles of coke down to 4 Egyptian pounds and 2x 1.5l bottles of water for 5LE.



The markets, particularly the market in Aswan was a great trip out.



The camel ride (optional excursion in Luxor), was a little disappointing as we only managed to wonder around the local village on the roads. We had seen a similar activity on the west banks of Aswan, where they walked on the sand (desert) starting just after the camel market. It might be worth enquiring about this one if it’s something you want to do.



The hot air balloon ride was good fun, lasted just short of an hour and our pilot had a good sense of humour.



You get used to haggling very quickly and often walk away feeling like you have haggled the price too low! More than often if you walk away they will come back with a lower price, unless you are being totally unrealistic.



Our return flight was booked for late on Monday night, we were up at 4am to go to the balloon flight so we were pleased that the management of the boat allowed those of us catching a late flight to remain on board all day and they even gave us a few cabins to share amongst those who were flying late, so we could take a shower and refresh before our journey home.



Finally - we rarely take a packaged holiday where everything is all inclusive but on this occasion I am glad we did. The early mornings really got the better of us, we are not ones to give up an opportunity to see something, and that is our weakness. If you are lucky enough to get Sam as you guide you will enjoy the trip, he tells you everything you need to know, like how to deal with the locals and what you should expect to pay where.



That’s all from me!

What a time we had. It was brilliant. If you are going on a Nile cruise go on the Domina Prestige - fantastic.



Well looked after by all. Trips were out of this world. Guide was excellent is name was Sam.



If you go on this boat you will not be sorry. Rooms were brilliant and food, there was plenty of it, could not fault it, had a wonderful time.



Staff were ever so good to everyone. When you went back to your room there would be things on your bed`s made out of your towel`s.



Libra’s cruise on the Nile was the best I have been on.

This was one of the best holidays I have had. My family all enjoyed it with no exception.



The quality of our stay was first class and could not fault anything. We felt safe, enjoyed good food, saw some most amazing sights, and were completely spoiled.



Our guide Tarek was first class and was exceptionally kind to us. This did not seem an exception to us every one had the same treatment.



The staff on the boat were outstanding and even made a cake for my daughter who passed her A-Levels whilst we were away, and this they did so complementary.



Well done to Libra for choosing this boat. I would be glad to answer any questions about this trip.

Five of us have just returned from this holiday! My husband, myself and two of my children Charlotte 18 and Ben 11. A family friend also travelled with us. 100% enjoyed by all!



Food was good loved by us all although Ben was fussy at the table but could always find something. They let the children take fruit to their rooms from the restaurant which was every fruit you could think of and much appreciated!



Nothing seems too much for this boat and its staff. My daughter had her A-level results while we were there, they made her a congratulations cake and the restaurant staff came out singing traditional music and playing instruments to her which she was well taken back with and this was all complimentary.



Our guide was Tarek and was exceptional and very warm to us. Nothing was too much for him and he seemed to get us round all of the tours with considerable ease at the best time of the day. He took my two out shopping for some bits has he could handle the bartering better than us! My son is quite shy but he had no problems about going with him and we totally trusted him with them. He told us lots of history with out going over the top but he also told us how much we should be paying for things and gave us plenty of other helpful tips.



The boat was beautiful and the service outstanding. The boat was spotless and the staff were cleaning all the time. Our rooms were cleaned every day and at night they turned down the beds for you and made novelty figures with the towels which my son loved.



The pool was enjoyed and their seemed enough room for all, that was cleaned every day and completely emptied on one of the days for a proper thorough clean. The sun beds seemed plentiful and the seating areas. Never had a chance to get bored, pool table on deck, entertainment some nights.



No one should worry about safety as this place seemed very calm and really tranquil. We were met at Luxor airport which by the way the visa is £7.50 not £15.00 as some have reported, from that point we were directed to our coach and Tarek greeted us.



Our bags were taken straight to our rooms and we were told our number cabin as soon as we got sent to the coach.



All in all a fabulous holiday, safe luxury and beautiful scenery, that I will never forget and we also made some lovely friends. If you are thinking about doing this holiday don't book it you won't regret it.

My husband, myself and a friend thoroughly enjoyed our cruise up and down the Nile this year. It is our second time on the Domina Prestige and we are certainly looking to go again, maybe next year. Despite the summer heat, the excursions were well prepared and informative, especially the help given to us for dealing with the street and market vendors.



Our guide Hassan was wonderful; a mine of information and his genuine enthusiasm for his country was infectious.



The food on board the ship was excellent, I had no problems with the 'Egyptian Quickstep' whatsoever, but I might add that I sanitised my hands each time after handling money and before meals, and always brushed my teeth with bottled water.



The cabins were spacious and well appointed, the towel sculptures were a nightly conversation piece and much anticipated by all aboard.



The staff on board must all be commended for their friendliness and efficiency in spite of the gruelling hours and constant stream of tourists; I never cease to be amazed at their memories for names!



To sum up, our whole trip was wonderful right from our arrival at Luxor airport to our departure seven days later and I will recommend the Domina Prestige to every one who asks about our trip.



Thanks for a truly memorable journey through a breathtaking land and we shall see you all again soon.