The cruise ship Amwaj (Wave) set sail Oct. 1 from Luxor to Aswan with a group of American, Swiss and British tourists on the very first trip on the Nile River since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the shutdown of the tourism sector. The floating hotel was the first to obtain the required license from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to get back on track, following the announcement that cruises would be allowed to resume work bearing restrictions this month.

“For us, resuming the cruises for tourists has been like giving the kiss of life to a dying person,” Mohamed Rabie, manager of Amwaj, told Al-Monitor. “We are very honored to be the first cruise ship on the Nile to start operating. We do not have many guests on board yet, but for next week the numbers are increasing.” 

Rabie said eight passengers and 35 crew members are on board, while the ship can accommodate 124 passengers and 70 staff.

Amwaj took over from Le Fayan, which departed in mid-March from the lock of Esna, halfway between Luxor and Aswan, in what was the last trip on the Nile before the coronavirus preventive measures took effect. Le Fayan's last trip ushered in the unprecedented shock that the pandemic has had on the tourism industry.