Our Story
Crafted from passion, tradition, and the timeless Nile
Princess Donia is a boutique luxury dahabiya, hand-crafted to combine the tradition of Egyptian river sailing with modern comforts. With five spacious en-suite cabins (including one suite with private terrace), air-conditioning, large panoramic windows, and a serene sundeck, the boat is designed for travelers who expect both authenticity and refinement.
With Solar power, modern electrics, and a quiet power system we ensure the comfort of a luxury hotel—while preserving the tranquillity of a classic Nile sailing experience. This is slow travel at its finest: smooth, silent, elegant.
Princess Donia began as a deeply personal project; a dream born after the boat's creator survived a life-threatening medical challenge and decided to build something meaningful.
Lee and Engineer Allah Warrass designed and built the most modern, technically efficient Nile sailing Boat - yet Princess Donia retains all the beauty, elegance and originality of the traditional Egyptian Dahabiya,— through language barriers, long days, and limited resources — the vessel was built by hand in collaboration with an experienced local captain and more than 30 local craftsmen.
The name "Donia," inspired by the captain's daughter and meaning "the world" in Arabic, symbolizes heritage, family, and a love for Egypt's river culture. Today, Princess Donia is not just a boat, it's a legend - a story of resilience, craftsmanship, and the belief that travel can be personal, soulful, and life-affirming.
A dahabiya cruise is the most intimate way to visit Egypt's legendary temples — often without crowds and without rushing.
Your itinerary can include Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, and Philae Temple in Aswan.
Because Princess Donia is a smaller vessel, we can arrive at quieter times, moor at beautiful islands, and give you a front-row seat to ancient Egypt from the river itself — a perspective large cruise ships can never offer.
Our highly trained, English-speaking crew is the soul of the Princess Donia experience. Led by the respected Captain Hassan, our team includes a talented private chef trained in Egyptian, Mediterranean & Western cuisine, a dedicated house manager, stewards, and deckhands.
For American travelers accustomed to high standards of service, our crew consistently delivers warmth, professionalism, and genuine hospitality — treating every guest like family.
Princess Donia functions as a floating boutique Hotel on the Nile, offering elegant rooms, private terraces, intimate lounges, and a spacious sun deck.
Features include en-suite bathrooms, power showers, air-conditioning, daily housekeeping, high-quality linens & amenities, a serene shaded deck for reading, and a sun deck for photography & relaxation.
It has the comfort of a luxury Hotel — surrounded by the timeless beauty of the Nile.