A&K Building Sixth Luxury Riverboat for the Nile River
by Dori Saltzman
Nile Seray. Rendering: A&K
Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group (AKTG) will add a sixth riverboat on Egypt’s Nile River, with delivery scheduled for 2028.
According to the company, the addition of a second vessel marks “the most significant expansion of A&K’s Egyptian fleet in the company’s nearly five-decade history on the Nile.”
The vessel, which will be a sister ship to the upcoming Nile Seray, An A&K Sanctuary, will be built by Egyptian shipbuilder The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.). The name of the ship will be revealed in the coming months.
Both Nile Seray and its sister ship will accommodate 64 guests across 32 suites, with each suite offering a minimum of 355 feet of space with floor-to-ceiling windows and Juliet balconies. Two larger suites will boast full private balconies with outdoor spa pools overlooking the ancient river.
The ships also will feature two restaurants helmed by world-class chefs, a spa with two treatment rooms, a well-equipped gymnasium, and a top deck with canopied daybeds, swimming pool, and outdoor bar with wraparound views of the Nile valley.
“This second vessel represents our absolute confidence in Egypt’s enduring appeal and our commitment to setting new standards in Nile cruising,” said Cristina Levis, CEO of AKTG. “Having two sister ships of this caliber allows us to offer even more travelers the exceptional experiences that have defined A&K’s presence in Egypt since 1977.”
The expansion comes as A&K reports that bookings for Egypt have increased significantly year-on-year, with particular demand for its Tailormade holidays and private experiences.
A Legacy Reinvented
A&K’s presence on the Nile dates back to founder Geoffrey Kent’s pioneering vision, inspired by a chance encounter with David Niven on the set of Death on the Nile in 1977. Kent subsequently leased the SS Memnon, launching A&K’s first Nile cruise. With this expansion, A&K’s Egyptian fleet will grow to six luxury vessels, including the Zein Nile Chateau dahabiya and the Sun Boat III and Sun Boat IV riverboats.
“Egypt is experiencing a remarkable renaissance in luxury tourism, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this transformation,” said Amr Badr, senior vice president for Egypt and the Middle East at A&K. “These new vessels represent not just an expansion of our fleet, but a deepening of our commitment to Egypt and its people. Working with The Arab Contractors shipyard and in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism demonstrates our confidence in Egyptian craftsmanship and our dedication to supporting the local economy.”





