VIKING ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL NILE RIVER SAILINGS THROUGH 2026

Bookings Now Open for the Inaugural Season of the Company’s Sixth Nile River Ship

Viking announces additional Nile River sailings through 2026, including voyages on its newest Nile River ship, Viking Sobek. These voyages are now available for booking. Set to debut in 2025, Viking Sobek will join the company’s growing fleet as its sixth ship sailing the popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

With Viking’s 2024 Egypt season nearly sold out and 2025 selling well, strong demand has led to an early opening of the Viking Sobek’s inaugural season and 2026 departure dates across the entire Nile River fleet.

“We are very pleased with the continued interest in Egypt and are proud to be the only western company to build, own and operate ships on the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “With the addition of the Viking Sobek, we will offer the largest fleet and the most elegant ships on the Nile, by far. We look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the rich history, culture and antiquities of Egypt in the coming years.” 

In its first year of sailing, the Viking Sobek’s identical sister ship, the Viking Osiris, was named one of the “Best New Cruises” in Condé Nast Traveler’s “2023 Hot List” and the “Best Luxury River Cruise” in Forbes’  2023 “Best Luxury Cruises” list. Additionally, TIME magazine featured both Giza and Saqqara on its “World’s Greatest Places of 2023” list, recommending sailing the Nile River with Viking. TIME notes that Viking is among the very few who stop in both Giza and the village of Saqqara, where excavation sites, like the megatombs of animal and human mummies, are active.

The Viking Sobek & Viking’s Growing Egypt Fleet

Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art Viking Sobek is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships. It will feature the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The Viking Sobek is the identical sister ship to Viking Osiris (2022), Viking Aton (2023), and Viking Hathor, which will debut in 2024. 

Other ships in Viking’s Egypt fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares. With the addition of the Viking Sobek, Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile River by 2025.

Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary

During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo. Here, they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Saqqara (also known as “Sakkara”), and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali.

Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River. The voyage features Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings. It also includes excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school.

Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

Pre and Post Cruise Extensions

For guests looking to extend their journey, Viking also offers Pre and Post Extensions that provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. Guests on the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension will begin the journey in London. Here, they will meet their Viking Tour Director, an expert Egyptologist, and experience Privileged Access to two museums. First a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public. Then a visit to the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane, to see his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus.

Guests will also visit London’s Petrie Museum, which houses more than 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, guests will visit the Ashmolean Museum, one of the oldest in the world, and home to a varied collection of Egyptian mummies and art. Guests will also go behind the scenes at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, where they will enjoy a Privileged Access visit to see Howard Carter’s archives, which detail the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb.

Lastly, guests will have further Privileged Access with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to view the Earl’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts, as well as archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.

Additional offerings include a new three-night Pre-Extension in Istanbul, where guests can visit the timeless city and important religious sites including the “Blue Mosque” and the legendary Hagia Sophia. Before their voyage, guests can also choose to extend their journey in Jerusalem, exploring the ancient history and vibrant culture of Israel’s fascinating capital.

After concluding the river voyage, guests can also extend the journey with a four-night Post-Extension to Jordan – Petra, Dead Sea & Amman to view Roman antiquities at Jerash, Crusader-era castles at Kerak or Shobak, and experience the lost city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

SOURCE Viking

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