Luxury hotel company Mandarin Oriental will offer its first Nile river cruises and take over management of two Egypt hotels.
Mandarin Oriental did not say when Nile cruises would begin. The ship is in development and owned by Garranah Group. Mandarin Oriental will offer three-, four- and seven-night itineraries cruising between Luxor and Aswan.
The ship will "blend a romantic feel with a contemporary finish," said Mandarin Oriental, and feature "generously sized suites," three distinctive dining venues, a wellness space and curated cultural programming. The itineraries will feature talks led by experts.
Plans for the luxury hotels
Mandarin Oriental will assume management of the Old Cataract in Aswan and the Winter Palace in Luxor, with both hotels undergoing renovations. Both are currently operated under Accor's Sofitel brand.
Part of the Aswan hotel will remain open for bookings while its Nile wing is renovated. It will be renamed the Mandarin Oriental Old Cataract. The property overlooks the Nile and faces the Temple of Khnum.
The Luxor hotel, which will be renamed the Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace, will close in early 2026 for a revamp before reopening next year. The hotel overlooks the Nile and is located near the Temple of Luxor.
The hotels are owned by Egypt real estate developer Talaat Moustafa Group Holding.
Commenting on the river cruise and hotels, Mandarin Oriental CEO Laurent Kleitman said, "Egypt is one of the fastest-growing global destinations and presents a rare opportunity to create a journey that is both culturally rich and uniquely Mandarin Oriental.
"By uniting our first river cruise with truly iconic historic hotels in Luxor and Aswan, alongside the upcoming Mandarin Oriental Shepheard Cairo, we are introducing a seamless, end-to-end experience that unfolds across land and water."