Viking has christened its new riverboat, the Viking Osiris, with a celebration in Luxor, Egypt. As part of the intimate event, the company's first ceremonial godfather, George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, offered a blessing of good fortune and safe passage for the vessel.
Designed specifically to sail the Nile, the vessel was built in the Massara shipyards in Cairo, and will sail the Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary.
The appointment of Viking Osiris comes as Egypt celebrates several key events this year, including the long-awaited opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo and the centenary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb.
“Egypt has always attracted curious explorers with its rich history and ancient antiquities, and since we began operating on the Nile River in 2004, our guests continue to be amazed by the country’s many cultural treasures. Today, we are delighted to officially welcome the Viking Osiris to our growing fleet on the Nile River, allowing us to welcome even more curious explorers to this incredible destination,” said Torstein Hagen, President of Viking.
For guests cruising the Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary on the Nile River, Viking offers a five-day pre-extension to the British Collections of Ancient Egypt, which provides guests with an introduction to Egyptian antiquities in preparation for their Nile experience, including following in the footsteps of Howard Carter and the 5th Earl of Carnarvon.
The new, modern Viking Osiris, accommodating 82 guests in 41 cabins, features its distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit sundeck. The Viking Osiris joins the Viking Ra, launched in 2018. Furthermore, in response to strong demand, the Viking Aton, an identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, will join the fleet in 2023.
During today's naming ceremony in Luxor, Hagen also announced that two other sister ships, the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek, are already under construction and will be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
