The steamship Sultan is a living history that has been sailing on the Nile for nearly a hundred years. Traveling on a big river that carries more than 7,000 years of ancient Egyptian civilization, what really matches it is not a brand-new cruise ship, but a legend like the Sultan, which is itself engraved with stories of years. The story starts at the end of the 19 th century. After the Suez Canal was opened to navigation in 1869, tourism in Egypt rose rapidly. Thomas Cook, a discerning English traveller, saw an opportunity and in 1880 won a concession to operate travelling on the Nile. He was ambitious to build a fleet, but encountered an accident: newly launched ships were requisitioned for military operations in Sudan and severely damaged. But that didn’t break Cook’s resolve. He spared no expense to customize parts from Scotland and transport them all the way to Cairo to reassemble them. Finally, he created a shining fleet of steamships, which started the golden age of Nile travel. From 1920 s to 1930 s, it was the most glorious period of the Nile river wheel. Diplomats, businessmen, archaeologists, and Agatha Christie, the world-famous queen of mystery, were all passengers on the ship. It is said that it was during the voyage of the Sultan that she conceived the immortal classic “Massacre on the Nile”. However, the outbreak of World War II brought everything to an abrupt end. The Sultan was silently sealed and slept in the dust of time for more than sixty years. It wasn’t until 2020 that a French businessman was moved by its legend and spent half a year carefully repairing it before the “first generation river ship of the Nile” was bathed in the golden sunshine again. Nowadays, when you stroll along the retro-style corridors and decks, it seems that you can still see a glimpse of that era: elegant ladies holding parasols, scholars arguing about archaeological discoveries in front of the bar, old photos of King Farouk with “sensual dogs and horses” hanging on the wall… The crew greeted every guest with the most sincere smile regardless of their beliefs. There are eighteen guest rooms and six suites on board, and every detail is engraved with the elegance of the early 20 th century: warm wood paneling, gilded copper beds, vintage furniture, dial phones, and handicrafts from Cairo’s antique market, which makes people feel like living in an old movie. A 6-day, 5-night voyage from Luxor upstream to Aswan. You will live comfortably on the boat, and then go ashore to explore those shocking monuments: the temple of Seti I engraved with the names of 76 pharaohs, the best-preserved mausoleum of Queen Nefertali, and the temple of Kang Wengbo dedicated to the eagle god and the crocodile god… History slowly unfolds on both sides of the river. Come on board, the wine is ready. Set sail, along the churning river. Go reminisce, like pilgrims in the morning, gaze at the magnificent temples of pharaohs, and the sun rises and sets, shuttling through the glory and legends of ancient Egypt. 🕳
