Wednesday, August 21, 2024 Viking has proudly unveiled its latest addition to the Nile River fleet, the Viking Hathor. This new ship was officially delivered during a ceremony at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt. The Viking Hathor, designed to accommodate 82 guests, now joins Viking’s expanding fleet of cutting-edge vessels on the Nile and will embark on the popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
“We are proud to welcome the Viking Hathor to our award-winning river fleet,” said Torstein Hagen , Chairman and CEO of Viking. “With its abundance of cultural treasures and ancient antiquities, Egypt has always been a destination of great interest to curious travelers, including our guests. We believe our ships are by far the most elegant vessels sailing the Nile River, and we look forward to introducing even more explorers to this fantastic destination in the years to come.
” The Viking Hathor, hosting 82 guests across 41 staterooms, embodies the refined Scandinavian design that Viking is renowned for, mirroring the elegance of its award-winning river and ocean ships. As a sister ship to the Viking Osiris and Viking Aton, the Viking Hathor features signature elements familiar to Viking’s passengers, such as a distinctive square bow and the indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. The Egypt fleet also includes the Viking Ra and MS Antares.
On the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests start with a three-night stay at a luxury hotel in Cairo, exploring iconic landmarks like the Great Pyramids of Giza, Sakkara’s necropolis, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The journey continues with a flight to Luxor, where guests visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile. Highlights of the cruise include visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens, the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, Abu Simbel, and the High Dam in Aswan.
Guests will also experience the vibrant culture of a Nubian village and visit a traditional elementary school. The journey concludes with a return flight to Cairo for a final night in this ancient city. Viking continues to earn top accolades, including being rated #1 for Rivers, Oceans, and Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the latest Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Viking Aton was recently named one of the “Best New Cruises” in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List 2024,” while the Viking Osiris received similar recognition in the “Hot List 2023” and was named the “Best Luxury River Cruise of 2024” by Forbes. TIME magazine also highlighted Giza and Sakkara on its “World’s Greatest Places” 2023 list, noting that Viking is among the few who offer stops at both locations, including the active excavation sites of animal and human mummies in Sakkara. For guests seeking to enhance their Egypt experience, Viking offers exclusive Pre and Post Extensions with Privileged Access to special archives and exhibits.
The five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension begins in London, where guests, led by a Viking Tour Director and expert Egyptologist, enjoy a private, early morning tour of the British Museum’s Egyptian Collection before it opens to the public. The journey continues with a visit to the candlelit home and personal museum of Sir John Soane, showcasing his extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus. Guests will also explore London’s Petrie Museum, Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, and enjoy behind-the-scenes access at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute to view Howard Carter’s archives on the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
The extension concludes with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle, featuring the Earl of Carnarvon’s private collection of Egyptian artifacts. Additional extensions include a three-night stay in Istanbul, offering visits to iconic sites such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Post-cruise, guests can extend their adventure with a 4-night journey to Jordan, exploring Petra, the Dead Sea, Amman, and other historic sites like the Roman ruins at Jerash and Crusader-era castles at Kerak or Shobak.
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