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Blue Shadow I Nile Cruise — Rates, Facts, Photos & Booking Help
Sail the Nile aboard the 5-star Blue Shadow I by Princess Cruise Line. Enjoy French balconies, upper-deck cabins, a pool, spa, and expert Egypt tours. Book today!
* **Cabin Inventory:** Features 54 Standard Cabins (21.8 sq.m.), 2 Junior Suites (37.25 sq.m.), and 2 Royal Suites (42.8 sq.m.).
* **French Balconies:** Rooms feature panoramic floor-to-ceiling sliding glass windows that open fully as French balconies.
* **Wellness & Spa:** Onboard facilities include a dedicated fitness room, sauna, and professional massage services.
* **Evening Entertainment:** Regular onboard nightlife features Galabeya parties, belly dancing, and Egyptian folklore shows.
Blue Shadow I Nile Cruise Description
Blue Shadow I Nile Cruise carries an official 5 Stars rating from the Egyptian Tourism Authority, is rated as a Deluxe cruise in our editorial standards, has 58 cabins, with a size of 22 m². Each cabin features a large panoramic window facing the Nile. At that scale, the boat sits in the larger category by Nile-cruise standards — large enough to feel sociable, but not so big that meals require staggered seatings or temple disembarkations turn into queues. Blue Shadow I sails as part of the Princess Cruise Line fleet, a name with a track record on the Nile.
Sailing the historic liquid highway between Luxor and Aswan, the Blue Shadow I operates as a distinguished five-star deluxe floating hotel managed by Princess Cruise Line. Engineered to offer discerning travelers a refined nautical retreat, this modern vessel blends contemporary Egyptian luxury with rigorous international maritime standards. Shielding guests from the intense North African sun, the ship serves as a serene, fully air-conditioned sanctuary following morning excursions to monumental ancient sites—such as the soaring hypostyle hall of Karnak Temple and the breathtaking subterranean tombs of the Valley of the Kings. As the cruiser carves a smooth path against the ancient current, the sweeping upper decks provide a cinematic, uninterrupted vantage point of the changing topography, transitioning seamlessly from vibrant emerald palm groves to the golden ridges of the Sahara.
There is something quietly magical about seeing Egypt from the water. Aboard Blue Shadow I, the Nile carries you from temple to temple in comfort — sunny days on deck, relaxed evenings on board, and the ancient wonders of Luxor and Aswan never far away. A classic, easygoing way to experience the river and its history.
🛏️ Accommodation
The residential layout aboard the Blue Shadow I places an absolute premium on guest comfort, maintaining a strictly curated inventory of fifty-eight accommodations comprising fifty-four standard cabins (21.8 m²), two Junior Suites (37.25 m²), and two expansive Royal Suites (42.8 m²). Crucially, all guest quarters are positioned exclusively on the upper decks, completely avoiding lower-deck machinery noise or water-level obstructions. Every accommodation features panoramic floor-to-ceiling sliding glass windows configured as French balconies, ensuring fresh river breezes and uninterrupted views of the agrarian shorelines. Climate-controlled interiors are outfitted with fine bedding, individual air-conditioning thermostats, LCD satellite televisions, personal electronic safes, minibars, tea and coffee making setups, and direct-dial telephones. The en-suite bathrooms are impeccably finished, featuring deep bathtubs or walk-in showers, hair dryers, and luxury toiletries.
- Private en-suite bathroom with shower, hairdryer, complimentary toiletries
- Individually controlled air conditioning
- Satellite TV, in-house video channels, mini-bar
- In-cabin electronic safety deposit box
🍽️ Dining & Cuisine
Gastronomy on the Blue Shadow I is treated as a core pillar of the luxury experience, expertly matching the culinary standards of a premier land-based resort. The main dining room—located on the lower deck—serves as the ship’s culinary epicenter, operating on a dependable full-board schedule that comfortably accommodates all guests in an unhurried, welcoming atmosphere. The expert kitchen brigade produces a diverse daily menu featuring both gourmet international dishes and authentic traditional Egyptian cuisine, delivered primarily through lavish, multi-station buffet presentations alongside à la carte options. For daytime relaxation and casual refreshment, the open-air sun deck bar provides chilled beverages and light snacks. Meanwhile, the panoramic indoor lounge bar allows guests to sip craft cocktails while enjoying live evening music and entertainment.
🌊 Leisure & Entertainment
The leisure and recreational amenities available to passengers are remarkably comprehensive, ensuring abundant opportunities for relaxation between heavy sightseeing sessions. The topmost deck serves as a sprawling, open-air sun trap crowned with a pristine outdoor swimming pool, sun loungers, and a dedicated pool bar. Below deck, the ship caters exceptionally well to wellness and fitness enthusiasts, featuring a fully equipped fitness room alongside dedicated spa facilities offering sauna and massage treatment services. Practical conveniences are executed with flawless efficiency, including a 24-hour reception desk, an onboard boutique and souvenir gift shop, reading areas, laundry services, and traditional evening entertainment featuring Galabeya nights, belly dancing, and Egyptian folklore performances.
✨ What Makes It Unique
What definitively sets the Blue Shadow I apart from its five-star competitors is its commitment to upper-deck guest positioning, ensuring every single cabin resides above the waterline with panoramic French balconies. Operated under the signature standards of Princess Cruise Line, the vessel provides a perfect balance of spacious suite upgrades (including 42.8 m² Royal Suites) and pristine public spaces. Backed by expert onboard tour coordinators and flawless logistics, it delivers a deeply secure, highly refined environment for discovering antiquity.
🛎️ Onboard Facilities
- 24-hour reception
- Laundry service
- Onboard gift shop
- Internet access in designated areas
- Major credit cards accepted (VISA, Mastercard)
Specs verified · cabin counts, cabin sizes, deck features, and facility list confirmed against the operator’s published sheet.
Blue Shadow I Nile Cruise Photos
Browse the gallery to see Blue Shadow I's cabins, dining, sundeck and exterior. Click any image to enlarge.
Blue Shadow I Nile Cruise Rates in USD
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Add More Optional Tours
- All rates are per person in USD, full-board with all sightseeing included.
- Holiday seasons (Christmas, Easter, New Year) carry a supplement reflecting peak demand.
- Dates marked with a ✨ tab above are special events (e.g. eclipses) or limited promotions; the supplement or discount shown on each tab applies to trips sailing on those dates.
- Single supplement 50% of Adult in Double cabin rate.
- Triple reduction 3% of Adult in Double rate.
- Suite Supplement start from 80% on Person in Double Cabin Rate based on suite Type. (Only in mixed Cabins / Suites Cruises)
- Royal & Presidential Suites Rate is equal to two Double Cabins.
- For cruise-only without sightseeing, deduct $120 from the 3-night price and $160 from the 4-night price.
Blue Shadow I Nile Cruise Children Policy
| Age category / arrangement | Rate |
|---|---|
| Infant (under 3 years) | Free of charge — Maximum 1 free Infant per Cabin; second Infant in cabin will be charged Child Rate |
| Child (3 – 12 years) | 50% of the adult rate |
| Child (12 years or older) | Full adult rate |
| Maximum children per cabin | 1 child sharing 2 adults, or 2 children sharing 1 adult |
| 1 child + 1 adult sharing one cabin | No discount — same rate as 2 adults in double cabin |
| 2 children in a separate cabin | Same rate as 1 adult in single cabin |
What's Included & What's Not
✅ The Rate Includes
- Accommodation for 3 or 4 nights in your chosen cabin category
- Transfer from airport, train station or hotel on arrival
- Full-board dining: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All guided sightseeing tours per the standard 3 / 4-night itinerary
- Services of a licensed, professional Egyptologist guide
- All entrance fees to historical sites named in the itinerary (Except Optional Tours)
- Departure transfer to airport / train station
❌ The Rate Excludes
- Tours not mentioned in the itinerary
- Optional excursions (e.g. Abu Simbel, hot-air balloon)
- Beverages: water, soft drinks, alcohol
- Tipping for cruise crew and guide (gratuities)
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, etc.)
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
Before you book: Review the full payment, amendment, and refund terms in our Cancellation Policy.
Blue Shadow I is your best fit if
- You prefer a traditional window cabin over a balcony — Blue Shadow I's cabins have river-facing windows.
- You want the amenity range of a larger Nile vessel — Blue Shadow I has 58 cabins, among the larger ships sailing the Aswan–Luxor route.
- You want 5-star quality at value-tier pricing — Blue Shadow I delivers deluxe-class amenities without the ultra-luxury premium.
- You want a pool for cooling off during Upper Egypt's afternoon heat — Blue Shadow I has an outdoor pool on the sun deck.
- You want spa facilities after excursion days — Blue Shadow I has a sauna and dedicated massage treatment rooms onboard.
- You want to maintain a fitness routine while cruising — Blue Shadow I has an onboard gym.
Blue Shadow I isn't your best fit if
- You're booking for three adults sharing a cabin — consider booking 1 Double + 1 Single instead of a Triple Cabin, or book another cruise with a larger cabin size.
- If you need an elevator between decks, consider JAZ Crown Empress Nile Cruise, JAZ Crown Emperor Nile Cruise, and MS Alma Nile Cruise.
- If you need a wheelchair-accessible cabin, consider MS Acamar Nile Cruise.
- If you specifically want suite-only accommodation, try to use our search bar and find an All-Suites cruise.
- If you want a restored heritage vessel, consider Mövenpick SS Misr and Steam Ship Karim Nile Cruise.
- If you specifically want an international brand operator, consider JAZ Crown Empress Nile Cruise, JAZ Crown Emperor Nile Cruise, and JAZ Crown Jubilee Nile Cruise.
- If you want a walk-out balcony instead of a French balcony, try to use our search bar and find an Outside Balcony cruise.
Itineraries
Blue Shadow I sails the classic Aswan↔Luxor route. Choose between a 3-night cruise (Aswan → Luxor) or a 4-night cruise (Luxor → Aswan). 3-night departures from Aswan are typically on Wednesday. 4-night departures from Luxor are typically on Saturday.
3-Night Itinerary: Aswan → Luxor
Full detailed 3-Night Aswan → Luxor itinerary →
4-Night Itinerary: Luxor → Aswan
Frequently Asked Questions
Specifics about Blue Shadow I — class and rating, cabin layout, itineraries, departure days, and the practicalities of sailing on this particular vessel.
What is the official Egyptian Tourism Authority rating of Blue Shadow I?
What is your editorial rating of Blue Shadow I?
How many cabins does Blue Shadow I have?
What is the average cabin size on Blue Shadow I?
Does Blue Shadow I offer lower-deck cabins?
Do the cabins onboard Blue Shadow I have a balcony?
Does Blue Shadow I have an elevator on board?
Are all cabins on Blue Shadow I configured as suites?
Is Blue Shadow I a modern build or a restored heritage vessel?
Is Blue Shadow I currently in active service?
What cruise lengths does Blue Shadow I offer?
What route does Blue Shadow I sail, and what does each itinerary cover?
Which days of the week does Blue Shadow I depart?
What are the check-in and check-out times on Blue Shadow I?
What languages are spoken on board Blue Shadow I?
What currencies are accepted on Blue Shadow I?
What payment methods does Blue Shadow I accept?
How much deposit do I need to book the Blue Shadow I Nile cruise?
Can I pay for the Blue Shadow I cruise in monthly instalments?
Can I change my Blue Shadow I cruise date or swap cruises for free?
Is the Blue Shadow I cruise price protected against future increases?
What happens if my Blue Shadow I cruise is cancelled or disrupted?
What is the cancellation and refund policy for the Blue Shadow I Nile cruise?
Looking for general Nile-cruise information? For visa requirements, packing checklists, tipping etiquette, dress codes, optional excursions, and the daily rhythm of cruise life, see our Comprehensive Nile Cruise Guide for First-Timers — the answers in that guide apply to every Nile cruise on the route, including Blue Shadow I.
Why Book With Nile-Cruise-Egypt.com?
We’ve spent 25+ years booking Nile cruises and treat every reservation as the start of a long-term relationship, not a one-off transaction. Here’s what that means in practice:
- Honest cruise matching, not the highest commission — we recommend the boat that fits your budget, dates, and travel style, even when it isn’t the one paying us the most.
- One named consultant from enquiry to disembarkation — you won’t be passed between agents or talk to a different person each time you email.
- No bait pricing — the rate you see is the rate you pay; cabin upgrades, optional excursions, and seasonal supplements are quoted up-front, never sprung at checkout.
- Operator-direct rates — we work directly with Nile cruise operators, so what you pay is comparable to booking the boat yourself, with the added safety net of our support throughout.
- Egypt-based, on-the-ground support — our office is in Cairo, not a call centre in another country; if something needs fixing during your trip, we can act on it locally and immediately.
- Most travellers return or refer us — repeat bookings and word-of-mouth referrals make up the majority of our work, which is the only customer-satisfaction metric we trust.
From your first enquiry through to disembarkation, our priority is honest guidance, peace of mind, and a Nile cruise you’ll remember as a personal experience — not just a trip.
Family Travel, Made Effortless
A Nile cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel Egypt with family. Unpack once — your floating hotel moves with you, so there are no early-morning hotel checkouts, no repacking, and no long road transfers between cities. You wake up already at the next temple.
We take the logistics off your plate so you can focus on the experience:
- Transfers handled — airport pickups and all moves between the boat and the sites are arranged for you.
- Meals included — full-board dining on board, so there’s no hunting for restaurants with tired, hungry children.
- Expert Egyptologist guides — licensed guides bring the temples to life at a pace that keeps all ages engaged.
- Everything in one place — pool, dining, sun deck and cabins together, so families stay close and relaxed between excursions.
The result: less stress, fewer logistics, and more time making memories together.
A Shared Ship, Your Own Experience
You travel alongside other guests, but your experience stays very much your own. The ship is the setting — how you enjoy it is up to you.
- Your private cabin — every cabin has its own en-suite bathroom and individual climate control, so your space is entirely yours, set to your comfort.
- Dine your way — share a table and meet fellow travellers, or keep to yourselves; the choice is yours at every meal.
- Private excursions on request — prefer to explore the temples with your own guide and vehicle rather than the group? We can arrange private touring for you.
- Your own pace — join every activity or simply relax on the sun deck and watch the Nile drift by. Nothing is compulsory.
It’s the ease of a guided cruise with the privacy and flexibility of independent travel.
Why Book Now Rather Than Later
There’s no pressure here — but there are real, practical reasons not to leave Blue Shadow I sitting in a browser tab. Booking now removes risk rather than adding it:
- Cabins and dates are limited — each boat sails on a fixed schedule with a fixed number of cabins. Popular dates and the best cabin categories sell first; once a departure fills, no amount of budget brings it back.
- Today’s price can rise — Nile cruise rates move with fuel costs, temple entrance fees, and government taxes. When those go up, published prices follow. The figure you see today is not guaranteed to be there next month.
- Your deposit locks today’s price — place your 20% deposit and the rate you were quoted is held for your booking, even if prices rise afterwards. You are protected from increases the moment you confirm.
- There’s no downside to securing it — with a low 20% deposit, 0% interest instalments on the balance, and free date, cruise, and name changes, booking early costs you nothing in flexibility. You simply lock the cabin and the price, and keep your options open.
In short: waiting risks losing your cabin or paying more, while booking now secures both — with every guarantee below standing behind your reservation.
Booking Guarantees & Flexibility
Every Blue Shadow I booking with Nile-Cruise-Egypt.com comes with the guarantees below. These are the same terms set out in our booking contract and cancellation policy — summarised here so you know exactly where you stand before you pay.
Flexible, transparent payment
- 20% deposit to book. You secure your cabin with a 20% deposit at the time of booking — not the full amount up front.
- 0% interest instalments. Pay the balance in equal monthly instalments at no added cost. The final instalment is due 30 days before your travel date.
Cabin guarantees
- No lower-deck cabins, guaranteed. You will never be placed in a lower-deck cabin.
- Top-deck assurance. A guaranteed top-deck cabin is available for a 10% supplement — or free of charge as top check-in priority, subject to availability on the day.
Change & cancellation flexibility
- Free date change up to 30 days before your travel date (subject to any seasonal price difference).
- Free cruise swap up to 30 days before travel (subject to any price difference between the two cruises).
- Free name change up to 7 days before travel.
Price protection
- Locked-in price. Your price is protected against any future increase in cruise rates, fuel prices, government taxes, or entrance fees.
- Price-drop refund. If the price drops after you book, you receive the difference back (same booking conditions apply).
If an operational issue affects your cruise
Examples: urgent maintenance, administrative issues, or a cruise-specific force-majeure event.
- Reassignment to a similar or higher-category cruise.
- Conditions guaranteed — your original plan’s terms stay exactly as booked.
- No downgrade — you keep all rights, privileges, and cabin guarantees.
If there is a national or global shutdown
Examples: pandemic, airspace closure, navigation suspension, or any force-majeure event affecting all cruises.
- Postpone free of charge — move to a later date keeping the exact same booked plan, benefits, and conditions; or
- Full refund — receive a 100% refund.
Full terms, definitions, and any conditions are set out in our booking contract. If anything here is unclear, your dedicated consultant will walk you through it before you commit.
Available Nile Cruises with Same Sailing Days
3-Night Every Wednesday / 4-Night Every Saturday
Browse every Nile cruise in our fleet that shares Blue Shadow I's departure schedule. Each link opens the full cruise page with rates, photos, and itinerary.
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- King Of Egypt Nile Cruise Moderate
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- M.S. Esplanade Nile Cruise Nile Cruise Ultra Luxury
- M/Y Savoy Nile Yacht Nile Cruise Deluxe
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- Magic II Nile Cruise Nile Cruise Deluxe
- MS Champollion II Nile Cruise Nile Cruise Moderate
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- MS Da Vinci Nile Cruise Nile Cruise Moderate
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Ready to Sail on Blue Shadow I?
In essence, the Blue Shadow I Nile Cruise provides a highly reliable, exceptionally luxurious platform for discovering the monumental heritage of Upper Egypt. By combining high-end residential accommodations with expansive French balcony views and a comprehensive cultural itinerary, the vessel completely removes the unpredictability of regional travel. The generous cabin dimensions, exceptional culinary spreads, and robust wellness infrastructure ensure that guests remain utterly comfortable from embarkation to departure. Supported by an attentive, professional crew, it stands as a premier option for holidaymakers who prioritize pristine comfort, comprehensive amenities, and flawless logistics during their Egyptian adventure.


