I've always been the type to avoid cruises. I'm more of a road trip and camping kind of guy, dragging my family across Europe for a week or making them camp in Scotland in March.

We're the type to miss ferries, delay flights, and cram more activities into a day than there are hours. I'm not one to sit still.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. I always thought that a cruise was the complete opposite of my idea of a holiday or "relaxation".

So, jetting off to an obscure airport on a route established just two weeks prior to board a boat wasn't exactly on my 2024 bucket list.

But it turns out, there's a lot I didn't know. I had no idea that a luxurious 330ft "motor ship" like the Iberotel Crown Emperor could be the most efficient way to see some of the world's most incredible sights.

I also didn't know what to wear on a cruise (turns out, it's as casual as going to the pub), which was fine because I also didn't know that easyJet offers a generous 23kg free hold baggage allowance.

And I certainly never would have guessed that a budget airline could offer such a lavish five-star holiday experience with their newly-launched Nile river cruise. I also didn't realise that being forced to relax in peaceful surroundings and being waited on hand and foot was exactly what I needed to learn how to unwind or that I'd love every minute of it.

After a chilly farewell from the UK, our early winter arrival in Luxor was greeted with a stunning sunset and warm air, as well as a friendly easyJet representative who spoke perfect English. Upon boarding our 136-passenger ship, we were pleasantly surprised to find our luggage waiting for us outside our rooms, thanks to the attentive staff.

Our room was light and airy, featuring a large, comfortable bed. However, the highlight was undoubtedly the full-wall window overlooking the Nile, providing a constant view of the ever-changing shoreline.

The inviting bed and comfortable chairs made it easy to spend hours simply taking in the scenery.

The five-star service quickly became apparent daily replenished snacks, a constantly stocked fridge, regular room cleaning, nightly bed turn-down service, satellite TV with English language news and films, luxurious toiletries, a high-pressure shower, and numerous unexpected extras such as a personal ironing service.

This is not the typical cruise ship that comes to mind, with its dozen bars, water slides, cinema, shops, casino and hordes of children. Instead, it exudes a refined elegance, boasting a spacious lounge bar, fitness area, gift shop and a tastefully designed dining room at water level, offering a unique experience in itself.

However, the top deck is the real showstopper. There's an almost surreal tranquillity to sunbathing or swimming in the sun-soaked pool as the call to prayer resonates and the lush shores glide by, from quaint villages to open fields and wetlands teeming with grazing livestock and wildlife.

The journey takes you past verdant greenery and palm trees, deserts reaching right down to the shore and rugged hills, ancient dwellings and caves, as well as the vibrant hustle and bustle of Egyptian city life. All this can be observed from the comfort of plush deckchairs under umbrellas.

With a bar and staff always on hand to cater to your every need, even I found myself succumbing to a state of relaxation.

I was unaware that cruising could be such a uniquely charming and efficient way to travel between the remarkable locations that beckoned. Given the hot, dry climate, all life congregates near the shores of the mighty river that serves as Egypt's lifeline, making cruising an ideal way to access everything while enjoying dreamy catering.

In a delightful surprise, the buffet meals served three times a day were delectable, featuring a variety of "themes" that included fish, all types of meat, salads, two kinds of soup, saute and fried food stations, and over a dozen bread varieties. We found ourselves proclaiming each meal as "the best yet", thanks to the incredibly attentive service.

Who knew Egyptian wine was even a thing? Made from grapes grown along the Nile, the extensive wine list could compete with any European or international selection. When we chose to spend an evening on deck, following another breathtaking sunset and passing through a colossal lock, the staff were there with warm blankets.

On land, forget about Cairo's chaos and the one-dimensional Pyramids. The Nile Valley is home to some of the most captivating ancient treasures.

Perhaps the most notable among these is the Valley Of The Kings, a labyrinth of underground tombs belonging to famous pharaohs, none more so than Tut Ankh Amun (that's how they spelled it, so when in Rome...) himself. His tomb is the shallowest they were dug throughout the ruler's reign, his being the shortest before he faced Osiris, Lord of the Afterlife, who decides who faces eternity in their equivalent of Heaven or Hell.

Coming face to crinkly, blackened face with the child king you've learned about since primary school sends a chill down your spine, despite the scorching heat.

This region is brimming with ancient artefacts and magnificent structures, with archaeologists constantly uncovering more in a landscape that's practically strewn with them. Entire neighbourhoods in Luxor are being moved to reveal further wonders from the past.

Key attractions include the beautifully ornate Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the great-great-great... grandmother of modern feminism a ruler who was both reviled and revered in Egyptian history for her refusal to follow convention and insistence on doing things her way and the monumental Colossi Of Memnon statues.

The towering and remarkably well-preserved Edfu temple is a sight to behold, and after another delightful sail, the night-time allure of Kom Ombo, where entire towns are yet to be discovered, was captivating.

The enormous Aswan dam, a much more recent marvel of epic proportions, created the vast Lake Nasser, necessitating the relocation of 22 temples and 100,000 villagers. The extraordinary Philae Temple, situated on a small island, was literally moved across water over a nine-year period in the 1970s to prevent it from sinking.

A tranquil journey across the river in a traditional felucca sail boat, with the breeze tempering the 25C heat, provided a delightful interlude, leading to a botanical garden gifted to Lord Kitchener, who imported trees from around the globe.

The region is brimming with ancient tales of idolatry, betrayal, heroism, travel, curses, deaths, adoration and illnesses, all etched in hieroglyphics and incredibly ornate figures.

The towering walls, tombs and columns narrate every detail of lives lived millennia ago. The unbelievably intricate carvings were crafted to demonstrate their virtue, securing a comfortable afterlife, as they believed life in physical form was merely the brief beginning of eternal existence.

Their work also embellished the vast Karnak, constructed over 2,100 years at Luxor, potentially the world's largest temple; a backdrop for a James Bond film and an open, living history book recounting stories from 2,200 years ago.

Our guide, Bessam, is the superstar of tours. We attempted to ask obscure questions to baffle him but failed to perplex the affable chap.

Be warned, a trip here may affect your movie-watching experience; I've already found myself fact-checking films like The Mummy and calling them out on their revisionist versions of history.

I will, of course, continue my frantic, try-to-do-too-much-in-too-little-time trips, but now have a newfound fondness for a sojourn that compels me to relax. And if Osiris smiles upon me, I may be able to spend my afterlife cruising the Nile.

easyJet holidays is offering a seven-night, full-board Nile cruise on the Iberotel Crown Emperor. Prices start from £653 per person, which includes flights from Gatwick to Luxor on March 13, 23kg baggage allowance and transfers. For more information, visit experienceegypt.eg