Viking takes delivery of the company's newest Nile River vessel, the Viking Sobek. The handover ceremony took place during the ship's presentation at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt.
The Viking Sobek, with a capacity for 82 passengers, joins the company's growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking's popular 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary.
“We are proud to welcome the Viking Sobek to our award-winning fleet. In our opinion, these identical sister ships are by far the most elegant on the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, President and CEO of Viking. “Egypt has always been a destination of great interest to our guests, and demand for these voyages remains strong. With the arrival of the Viking Sobek, we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the country’s rich history and fascinating cultural treasures.”
The Viking Sobek and the growing Egyptian Viking fleet
The Viking Sobek, an identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, Viking Aton, and Viking Hathor, features several familiar aspects for Viking customers, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit deck. Other vessels in the Egyptian fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares. Viking plans to take delivery of four more ships in the next two years—the Viking Amun and Viking Thoth in 2025 and the Viking Sekhmet and Viking Ptah in 2026—bringing Viking's Nile River fleet to 10 vessels.
Viking Itinerary: Pharaohs and Pyramids
During the 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay in a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Saqqara necropolis, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before embarking on an eight-day round-trip Viking riverboat cruise along the Nile River. This cruise includes visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, as well as excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples of Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village where guests can experience a traditional primary school. Finally, the trip concludes with a flight back to Cairo to spend the last night in the old city.
Highclere Castle, Egypt & Viking
George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon, is also the godfather of the Viking Osiris. His great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, was, among his many talents, an avid photographer. His photographs are currently housed at Highclere Castle, preserved in photo albums in The Library, and depict the discovery and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, as well as scenes of daily life in Egypt at the time. With their permission, the Carnarvons have allowed Viking to share this private collection with guests sailing aboard the Viking Osiris and her sister ships.
British Ancient Egyptian Collections Extension
For guests wishing to extend their Egyptian journey, Viking also offers Pre- and Post-Extensions that provide privileged access to archives and exhibitions. The five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension begins in London, where guests meet their Viking Director of Tourism, an expert Egyptologist, and experience privileged access to two museums: a private, early morning visit to the British Museum's Egyptian Collection before it opens to the general public, followed by a visit to the personal home and museum of world-famous architect Sir John Soane. The tour is illuminated by candlelight, a recreation of how Soane entertained his guests and displayed his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus. Guests will also visit London’s Petrie Museum, home to over 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, guests will visit the Ashmolean Museum, which houses a diverse collection of Egyptian mummies and art, and go behind the scenes at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, where they will enjoy a Privileged Access tour of the Howard Carter Archives, detailing the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Finally, guests will have privileged access to an exclusive tour of Highclere Castle to view the Earl of Carnarvon’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts, as well as archives and exhibitions not normally open to the public.
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