
MS Movenpick Darakum
Fully refurbished in 2024, the MS Darakum 'perfectly blends modern elegance with oriental charm', making it a truly elegant way to cruise the Nile in luxury.
Good for
Buffet dining, Onshore excursions, Evening entertainment, Fitness area, Plunge pool
What to expect from MS Movenpick Darakum
Overview
Fully refurbished in 2024, the MS Darakum 'perfectly blends modern elegance with oriental charm', making it a truly elegant way to cruise the Nile in luxury.
One of the largest ships on the Nile, with 52 cabins and suites, the five-star ship is managed by the renowned Swiss hospitality company, Mövenpick, and has been designed with a low draft in order to navigate the full length of the Nile in Egypt.
The MS Mövenpick Darakum is currently one of only two five-star vessels cruising the Nile from Cairo all the way to Aswan - so this cruise is very much a bucket list experience!
Appointed to the highest specification and imaginatively furnished with a distinctive Moroccan theme, the MS Darakum offers extensive open deck space on three levels, with plenty sun loungers, sofas and armchairs to relax in. The pool on the sun deck is perfect for a cooling dip. The spacious, yet cosy lounge bar is the social hub of the ship, with board games and evening entertainment including music, wine-tasting and cookery lesson, a black & white party, the ever-popular ‘galabiya’ party and even a belly dancer!
Accommodation
Appointed to the highest specification and imaginatively furnished with a distinctive Moroccan theme. All cabins have tea and coffee making facilities, complimentary bottled water, hotel style beds, wood panelled bathrooms with fixed shower and bath and complimentary toiletries.
Senior Suite
Senior Suites are located on both the Upper and Top Decks. The Upper Deck Suites are 40 square meters and the Top deck suites are 34 square meters.
Senior suites provide stunning views of the river Nile through their panoramic windows. All cabins have a separate spacious seating area with a second bathroom and feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style and can be configured as a double or two twins, with the fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.
Features
- Individual climate control
- Twin beds which can be configured as double
- Tea making facilities
- Ensuite bathroom with bath and shower
- Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, soap
- Towels, bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
- EU plug sockets
- Flat-screen TV
- Safe & mini fridge
- Turn down service
Main Deck Cabin
These cabins are 20 square meters, with large picture-windows offering magnificent river views, with a panel that can be opened. All cabins feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style and can be configured as a double or two twins, with the fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.
Panorama Suite
The forward facing Panorama Suites are 34 square meters and are located on the Upper Deck providing stunning views through the panoramic windows. All cabins have a separate spacious seating area in front of forward facing windows and feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The hotel-style beds are queen size have fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available
Features
- Individual climate control
- King size bed or twin beds
- Panoramic windows
- Tea making facilities
- Ensuite bathroom with bath and shower
- Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, soap
- Towels, bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
- EU plug sockets
- Flat-screen TV
- Safe & mini fridge
- Turn down service
Lower Deck Cabin
These cabins are 20 square meters, with two sealed windows facing the Nile. All cabins feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style twins with fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.
Upper Deck Cabin
These cabins are 20 square meters, with a large picture window offering magnificent river views, with a panel that can be opened. All cabins feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style and can be configured as a double or two twins, with the fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.
Features
- Individual climate control
- Twin beds which can be configured as double
- Tea making facilities
- Ensuite bathroom with bath and shower
- Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, soap
- Towels, bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
- EU plug sockets
- Flat-screen TV
- Safe & mini fridge
- Turn down service
Deluxe Cabin
These cabins are 26 square meters and are located at the front of the ship with a large picture window offering magnificent river views with a panel that can be partially opened. All cabins feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style and can be configured as a double or two twins, with the fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.
Features
- Individual climate control
- Twin beds which can be configured as double
- Large picture windows with panel that can be opened
- Tea and coffee making facilities
- Ensuite bathroom with bath and shower
- Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, soap
- Towels, bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
- EU plug sockets
- Flat-screen TV
- Safe & mini fridge
- Turn down service
Standard Cabin - The Main Deck
These cabins are 20 square meters, with a large picture window offering magnificent river views, with a panel that can be opened. All cabins feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style and can be configured as a double or two twins, with the fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.
Features
- Individual climate control
- Twin beds which can be configured as double
- Tea making facilities
- Ensuite bathroom with bath and shower
- Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, soap
- Towels, bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
- EU plug sockets
- Flat-screen TV
- Safe & mini fridge
- Turn down service
Standard Cabin - The Lower Deck
These cabins are 20 square meters, with two sealed windows facing the Nile. All cabins feature individually-controlled air conditioning, hairdryer, personal safe, fridge, TV and the convenience of tea & coffee making facilities. The beds are hotel-style twins with fine Egyptian cotton sheets, and an evening turn-down service. Clever design allows for all the wood-panelled bathrooms to have a bath with a fixed shower above, along with complimentary toiletries. A laundry service is also available.
Features
- Individual climate control
- Twin beds which can be configured as double
- Tea making facilities
- Ensuite bathroom with bath and shower
- Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, soap
- Towels, bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
- EU plug sockets
- Flat-screen TV
- Safe & mini fridge
- Turn down service
Decks
Sun Deck
- Pool
- Open-air bar
Please note: The Sun Deck is only accessible by stairs.
Top Deck
- Senior Suites
- Lounge
- Lower Sun Deck
- Patio
Upper Deck
- Senior Suites
- Panorama Suites
- Cabins
- Fitness Room
- On-board Shop
- Rear Sun Deck
- Lobby
Please note: The Upper Deck is only accessible by stairs.
Main Deck
- Reception
- Cabins with Picture Windows
- Deluxe Cabins
Please note: The Main Deck is only accessible by stairs.
Lower Deck
- Restaurant
- Lobby
- Cabins
Please note: The Lower Deck is only accessible by stairs.
Kids and Teens
Please note: there are no dedicated kids or teens facilities onboard.
Gratuities
Giving a gratuity is entirely at your discretion, so we have not included these in your holiday cost, and we don't add it as a set percentage.
If you would like to tip the staff, a good guideline is to give €8-12 per person per day should you feel that is appropriate.
If you do choose to give a gratuity, there will usually be an envelope is left in your cabin on the final evening. This is for you to be able include any tips, and you can then drop it off at reception the following morning. The tips are divided equally between the crew.
Should you also wish to give a gratuity directly to your Riviera Travel Cruise Director and Concierge, this is also at your discretion.
Entertainment
On board you will find a spacious sun deck with loungers, sofas and armchairs, a lounge and bar area to relax in, evening music entertainment and a selection of board games to enjoy.
Lounge/Bar
- Lounge and bar area to relax in
- Evening music entertainment
- A selection of board games to enjoy
Enrichment
A daily programme is produced on board and delivered to your cabin each evening, detailing the following day’s activities.
On our river cruises we love to take you right into the heart of each town or city you visit along the way, and during your cruise local guides will offer a variety of guided walking tours, panoramic coach tours and/or visits to museums and local cultural favourites such as a wine tasting in Burgundy and a train journey through the Swiss mountains.
You will have a good mix of touring and free time to learn about the history and the little quirks of each place, with plenty of time to explore at your own leisure. Please check the itinerary of the cruise for more specific details.
Visits to places of interest are organised for most of the days of your holiday, but it it is not compulsory that you go on all the included experiences that have been arranged.
Please note: entrance fees to museums are not usually included in the price of your holiday.
Onshore Experiences
We are a well-travelled collective - made up of our guests as well as our team. We'll admit it - we're obsessed with travel.
But that's not our only interest. We also love architecture, history, the arts, and gastronomy - everything that makes a culture unique. And we plan our itineraries to ensure we're catering to those interests. Perfecting every excursion to ensure you get the most out of your onshore adventures.
Most days are filled with full or half-day excursions. Whether that's a city tour, an introduction to a brand-new town or a more in-depth visit to a specific landmark or attraction. You'll see the very best of every destination. Not just the legendary locations, we'll uncover the top-secret local spots too.
World-famous landmarks
You'll get to experience some world-famous destinations in the company of our passionate local guides. Sites like the Benedictine Melk Abbey on the Danube, spectacular Pont du Gard on the Rhône, Keukenhof Gardens - the world's largest flower gardens - on the Dutch Waterways and Cologne with its cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe.
A taste of your destination
Food has the uncanny ability to reveal the softer parts of the destination most tourists overlook. Recipes passed down through the generations slowly become ingrained within a culture, featuring fresh local produce and traditional cooking techniques. Our excursions often include delicious local produce perfected over centuries - sample cheese in Switzerland and chocolate in Germany (it's not a cruise for those watching their weight), wine tasting in the world-famous wine region of Burgundy and port in the port wine cellars of Porto.
For even more, why not choose one of our Gastronomy themed departures?
Authentic cultural experiences
Our river cruise itineraries deliver authentic and engaging moments to fully immerse you in the culture. You'll remember being seduced by the fiery passion of flamenco dancing after a cruise along the Douro. Hold on to that feeling of wonder you felt as you watch the glassblower creating the most beautiful vase out of a glowing mass. And tell the stories you heard during a Hungarian folklore show to your grandchildren at bedtime. The memory of these authentic cultural experiences will last a lifetime.
Images Copyright: Travel Europe
Dining
Located on the lower deck is the main restaurant, serving a varied buffet dinner every evening.
Restaurant
Located on the Lower Deck
Health and Fitness
There is a small fitness area and a plunge pool on the sun deck.
Fitness Room
Located on the Upper Deck
Other Cruise Information
ClassCruise Type: river
Class:
Ship Size: boutique
Style: luxury
Operator Reference: riviera-travel
Nursery: none
Child Facilities: none
Our Cruise Consultunts
Whether you're an avid fan or new to cruises, our experienced consultants will help you find the best value on a cruise holiday that's tailored to suit you perfectly.
